Monday, July 24, 2006
WE HAVE OUR GRACIE!

Well, it’s Gotcha Day and we got her!!! :) I could not sleep at all last night, I was so nervous and excited and nervous….. but eventually it was a decent hour to get up and get ready, and so we had some breakfast and then headed down to another meeting with Lily and David to do some adoption paperwork….. after that it was a quick trip to downtown to shop and take my mind off of the anticipation of the afternoon….and then a quick bite for lunch…. and…. dadadadaaaaaa........ gathering on the bus to go get our babies!

We were so excited and nervous and I said to John I couldn’t remember the last time I felt that nervous, with my heart beating out of my chest like that! The Civil Affairs Office was actually in a nearby hotel and so they took us upstairs to wait in a room while we could hear the buzz of all the babies and toddlers in a holding room a few doors down. As we walked by, John got a peek of Grace playing on a see saw and couldn’t believe it. She was so cute, all dolled up in pink ruffles! We all waited in the room for sooooooo long (maybe 15 minutes) but everytime we would hear or see movement in the hallway we would all get our cameras turned on and pointed toward the doorway. There were several false alarms, and then the directors of the orphanage came in with an official who gave us a welcome speech and also a challenge to love and care for our new children and never abandon them. And then! They announced that the first little one to come to the room would be Fu Qingrong! Actually she walked in second, but we were the first to go up to greet her….after that, it was tunnel vision! We were so happy to see her and she looked so wary and sort of shellshocked, but after I told her in mandarin that she could have candy if she came with me, she walked right into my arms without a fuss. :)

The entire time we were there, she just stared at everything going on around her, clutching tightly her dumdum sucker we gave her, and the little photo album she came with…she did not utter a peep or weep a tear, and went to both John and I equally easily. The same for the bus ride home, where she sat in my lap and stared out the window….but after about an hour of her shellshock, she started to make little fussing sounds and would cry a bit. She would be soothed for a bit and then cry a bit, which was actually better than no reaction at all. When we took her to dinner, she really let loose with some screaming but quieted as soon as we gave her some garlic broccoli and noodles…..we tried your “whistling” trick to get her to pee, Lisa, but so far, no pee or poop…but we did clean her up and get her into her first new outfit so she was camera ready. She does not like taking pictures and turns her head the minute John whips it out.

By the end of the evening, she was clinging tightly to me, although crying quite a bit more….the only thing which seemed to soothe her was staring at the lights of Nanning from our picture window on the 14th floor and going for a small walk around the grounds of the hotel after dinner. At bedtime, she hollered and hollered, but finally gave in when I gave her the choice to sleep in her crib or go to sleep with me….she fell into my arms reluctantly and then within seconds was fast asleep. Right now she is snuggled up next to John in bed while I snuck out to get the update done. It was a wonderful, but scary day, and I am filled with both anxiety about how best to soothe and comfort and care for her and show her we love her, desire to see her smiling and happy, and thankfulness that God has blessed us with this beautiful little girl.

I will try to write more tomorrow asap. We will have family pictures first thing and then back over to the civil affairs office for more paperwork and adoption finalization for the China end of things. Her orphanage director was so nice, and Lisa, it was Selah’s nanny that brought Grace into us….I can’t wait to visit with them tomorrow. They also returned to us our photo albums we sent to Grace and the two cameras we sent as well. I cant’ wait to see the photos! Please pray that we will know how to make Gracie feel more happy and at home as time goes on. We are so glad to have her in our arms and now sleeping soundly in our bed. :)