Monday, March 27, 2006
FAMILY DAY!

Wow!!!! The emotions of today! We were supposed to go get the babies at 10:30, and Karl and I were still wrapping up some last minute details with the gifts and fees, when we got at call that it was time to go get the babies NOW! It was only 10:15, so we should have been ready....but are you ever really ready for a moment like that?? Well, my emotions sort of skyrocketed at that point, and I really started to get teary, and frantic, LOL. It’s just the way I am. Turns out the Fengcheng Social Welfare Institute (SWI) personnel had arrived with the our baby half an hour early and had called our guide, Mary, to move the appointment up.

But I thought of all the people who were praying for us and for Vivi, for this day and transition, especially, and I knew that that was not the way Vivi needed to meet us. So I prayed all the way over there and began to feel a peace and strength that I know was not mine. Anyway, our meeting was absolutely priceless and wonderful! I asked our guide what Vivi was likely called by her foster mom, and she said Ling Ling. So I said Ni hao, Ling Ling, and she just sort of looked at me curiously and gave me a half smile. Then the gentleman holding her handed her to me and I could tell that she was receiving that peace as well. She went willingly to both Karl and I, although I can tell she favors Daddy just a little bit. Vivi took us in very curiously and didn’t cry at all. She enjoyed the small bells and bangles that we had brought along for her. The orphanage director also handed us a bag with the gifts we had bought for Vivi when we got her after the referral - A panda bear stuffed animal and the disposable camera for taking pictures at the orphanage and foster home. We can’t wait to develop these pictures. The Fengchang SWI also gave us a special gift of a small bronze wuyuanmudiao mask in a boxed frame. It is very nice.

The “Gotcha Day” ceremony was over quickly and then we went back to our hotel with Vivi for a few hours. She wouldn’t eat any food but fell asleep on BaBa (Karl) for 20 minutes watching Cat in the Hat on TV (In English). After that we went back to the Nanchang Provincial Adoption Agency to finalize the adoption. After swearing to care for Vivi forever, signing paperwork, and paying fees - Vivi was officially ours. The Nanchang Provincial Adoption Agency also gave us a gift of a beautiful small porcelain vase. The Jiangxi province is known as it’s porcelain and is why China dishware is called China.

Vivi still wouldn’t drink the formula that we brought after arriving back at the hotel, and we found out the bottle was rather different from the one she was used to, but our guide, Mary, took us to the store to get her usual formula and bottle, and she downed it like a champ. Mary has turned out to be like a second mother for us and has tried to help with the adjustment as much as possible. Vivi even took a nap in her crib, for about 15 minutes after finally eating.

Genevieve has been very quiet today, rather stoic, but giving us a few sneaky smiles here and there. She has some drainage in one eye and we can tell she’s had a respiratory illness going on, so we are keeping an eye on it, but for tonight we are just going to stay in, and cuddle her to pieces......we have waited a long time to do that!

With Love,

Jen & Karl