Tuesday, November 27, 2012
DAY TWO WITH OUR DAUGHTER

Mei-Li slept throughout the night, only interruption was a couple of times coughing. She has a little bit of chest congestion (no fever). We are scheduled to see a doctor on Thursday. In all, Mei-Li slept about 9 hours and probably would have slept a little more, but we had to wake her up in order to get breakfast before meeting Michael at 0930 to go to the Civil Affairs Office. This initial wake up started our first Mei-Li parenting lessons for today and third one to date:

(3) When you wake up Mei-Li you must be ready with a bottle for her to eat.

We did not know this, so she began to cry. We tried taking her to the bathroom, changing her pull up, nothing worked. It was Daddy who put her bottle together, and as soon as her put it in her mouth the crying stopped. After talking to Michael later, we found out that the orphanage would wake up the kids and give them bottles right way. Okay, it all makes sense now! Tomorrow morning’s start will be better than today:)!

After we finished the bottle, we got ready and went to breakfast. So, we started with Mei-Li’s favorite breakfast cereal, congee or conjee. This is thick porridge or soup of rice. While I think it’s very bland, she loves it. Thank God for daddy, as I was feeding her, daddy got our breakfast plates together. If he hadn’t done that I probably would not have been able to eat breakfast, because the next two Mommy lessons were just about to unfold. Mei-li finished cereal then up-chucked most of it all over the high chair. She just missed her outfit – that was a miracle, as she was not wearing her bib. I forget the bib in the room:

(4) Eat with bib

(5) Not too much cereal after her bottle

At least she could still wear her black/red warm up suit with red ribbon/bow. Then Mei-Li facial expressions changed – Felice quickly said, I think she is pooping, can’t you smell it? Of course I said no, I do not have a good sense of smell. As soon as I picked her up to go change her, I could smell it. Yes, I concurred with Felice’s assessment – pooping action had occurred. I quickly took her back to the room and was introduced to lesson # 6:

(6) Pull-ups can release from the sides, like a diaper. I did not know this. I pull the pull-ups down. There was poop everywhere.

I had to pick her up and put her in the bath tub. This turned into lesson #7:

(7) Check/verify the shower is not engaged

I turned on the water and the shower came on. By this time, Mei-Li was screaming and I wanted to throw-up. All things turn out okay, I was able to avoid throwing up, cleaned her up quickly, changed her into her pink warm-up suit and get downstairs in time to meet Michael. Thinking about it now, the pink warm-up suit actually matched her raincoat – so it’s all worked out for the best, with some lessons learned included.

Shortly after arriving at the Civil Affairs Office, we had our first interview with the director. The only question asked is if we would ever or consider abandoning her. She finished the paperwork and went up stairs to the notary office. She asked us a few more questions and we signed a bunch of papers.

Within a half hour, we were done with the day’s paperwork. However we were asked to stay a little longer, because the director wanted to get extra pictures with the missionary that is adopting the four year old girl (Naomi) with albinism. The director and staff were amazed that a family wanted to adopt “this type of child”. In fact the orphanage decided not to take the “required donation fee” because of this.

Apparently, albinism is extremely looked down upon here. The children with these characteristics are treated differently and considered un-adoptable. We learned that by Chinese law, she could never hold a job or go to any school. Unbelievable! Just looking at Naomi, you can see some of the things that appear to reveal difference in care (no denial care – even brushing her teeth, hair shaved off). Her emotional state seems to show an extreme lack of any love and/or caring. Her mom said at breakfast that Naomi would not drink anything and that she will not walk – she has to be carried everywhere. Felice prayed with her this morning at breakfast. My heart breaks for this little girl and all other albinism kids within the system. I would ask that you guys pray for this little girl and her family too.

FYI…The money the orphanage did not take is the exact amount this family needed to move into their house in Puerto Rico. This missionary family just arrived in PR and was looking for a house/home. The only house in the area that could accommodate their family required 4,000 USD down. Wow, God is good!

After leaving the civil affair office, we headed to a “Wal-Mart” like store. We got diapers, treats for the kids at the orphanage, yogurt for Mei-Li and water.

We got back to the room, feed Mei-Li lunch. Then we all went down for a nap. Mei-Li slept for about 3 hours! :)

Before dinner we spend time playing together (check out Mei-Li’s first picture – she only broke two crayons). Walking down to dinner, Mei-Li held both mommy and daddy’s hands. It’s so cute – unfortunately, we do not have anyone to take this picture. Believe me, it’s cute!

After dinner, more play time before bed. She has no issues with bed time, washing her face or brushing teeth. However, she does not like baths. I hope that will change in time. Overall, today was calm. We started to see Mei-Li coming out of her shell and let her personality show (e.g. laughing, playing games with daddy), as we continued to gather our parenting lessons. Please continue to pray for sun, it’s been rainy since we arrived. We would love to take Mei-Li to the Zoo, but need a nice today to do so.

Tomorrow we are off in the morning. We meet Michael at 1420 to go the police station and back to civil affair notary office. Tomorrow is the day that finalized the adoption on the Chinese side.

“He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.”
Matthew 18.2-5 (NIV)