Getting There, And Back

Our itinerary looks like this:

6/25 Depart Des Moines ---> Minneapolis ---> Tokyo ---> Beijing
6/27 Tour Beijing, travel group has Peking Duck dinner
6/28 Tour Beijing - Tienanmen Square, Forbidden City and Great Wall
6/29 Fly to Nanning, Guangxi Province
6/30 Gotcha Day - We are united with Miaya!!!
7/1 File adoption papers - in China's eyes Miaya is ours Forever - We are a Family at last!!!!
7/2 Shopping
7/3 Sightseeing
7/4 Sightseeing, get Miaya's passport
7/5 Fly to Guangzhou, Guangdong Province
7/6 Sightseeing trip
7/7 Miaya's visa picture and medical exam for entry to USA
7/8 American Consulate paperwork
7/9 American Consulate for Swearing In Ceremony
7/10 8:20 AM (local) Depart Guangzhou ---> Tokyo ---> Detroit- Arrive 1:45 PM, Miaya touches American soil and becomes US Citizen! --> Champaign, ILL - Arrive 5:31 PM CST July 10.
7/10, 9:12 PM CST - Collapse completely due to total exhaustion.
7/11-12 Visit Michael's family and friends.
7/13 Board Amtrak at Rantoul, ILL for return trip to Creston, Iowa, arriving at 8:41 PM CST.

(Please pray that the Mississippi River floodwaters recede and Amtrak resumes service on the line across southern Iowa, or this whole thing falls apart!)

Eight Days -- Again!

E i g h t D a y s until we hold Miaya for the first time. Eight days till we become a family. Eight days till we hold and look upon our daughters face. Eight days till we are complete. The schedule says we will get our daughter at 2:30 pm on June 30, about 1:30 am CST.

In a few days we will board the first of several airplanes that will carry us to our daughter's homeland. We are looking forward to the trip, not only to be united with her, but to also learn about and experience some of the culture of her land. There is also an element of fear as we face the responsibility we are about to assume.

Packing Dilemma

It looks like a lot of stuff, but after the packaging is off, it gets smaller, and not all of everything goes. But, still it's a challenge deciding what goes and what stays.

But, we have it easier than the adoptive parents went to China 10 or more years ago, proliferation of WalMart across China, as well expansion of local retailers have made finding baby needs much easier than it was then. I read of one family's experience some years ago where no disposable diapers were to be found because the previous wave of adoptive families had bought the entire supply! We are going prepared, but realize we cannot possibly anticipate everything.

Our Motto: "Pack Light - Pack Smart - Be Prepared"

Gotcha Day

Gotcha Day is how many people refer to the day their adopted child was place in their arms. "The day we got you".

Well, ours has been scheduled for Monday June 30, at 2:30 pm in Nanning, the capital of Quangxi province.

Yippppppeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

TA-da

TA

We got our TA - or Travel Approval late Friday!!!!

That means our referral acceptance document has been processed, and that Jin Yu Zhu is still there, healthy, and available. Just one more step, we are now awaiting confirmation of our appointment at the American Consulate in Guangzhou. After that, our agency will backtrack to determine our departure date.

Whew!

Sorry about not posting more about Miaya, but with finishing up on the moving, and work, and etc, it has been a very busy few days here.

What more do we know? Well, she was found on the steps of the Middle School next door to the orphanage, and there was a slip of paper in her clothing that gave her birthdate. We have also seen the Chinese text of her Finding Advertisement that was published in the local newspaper, we also have the English translation. She is described as an active, outgoing baby, and in December she was beginning to crawl.

I cannot begin to truly describe the way I have been feeling now, relief is probably a big part of it.
Relief that we finally knew who our daughter was, relief that the endless uncertainty was behind us, and relief that we could begin to really live our lives again. Also, relief that we now had something to show that we really were doing this thing!

WE FOUND HER ! ! ! ! !

WE GOT OUR REFERRAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jin Yu Zhu (Soon to be Miaya AnnaLyn Marie Fourez)

We were pretty sure it was coming, but thought it would be Monday. Apparently the courier service was extra efficient, and got here sooner.

Here are the early details:

Chinese Name: Jin Yu Zhu, (Last, first, middle names) (pronounced Jean You Shu)
Born: May 15, 2007
Weight: 17.5 pounds
Height: 26 inches
Living in: Guiping Social Welfare Institute (orphanage), Guangxi Province (Southern China)

Bummer!

It does not look promising, but then we pretty much knew that already. The latest from the rumormongers has the cutoff looking to be January 9, 2006. This is good and bad, five days were crossed off the calendar, which good, even though there was a weekend in there. The bad part is that according to the survey on the rumormonger's website, January 12 may be a pretty large day in terms of applications, which raises the possibility that it may not be included in the next batch.

If we miss the May referral batch, and wind up in June, this would likely put our travel time in the weeks leading up to the Beijing Olympics, when airfare, hotels, and everything else is expected to be costlier, and airline seats will be harder to book.

Time will reveal all, and there is also the possibility that the winter storms in China delayed the paper work on some children and that they may just now be arriving in the CCAA office on Beijing, raising the possibility that more children will be available for placement the next time around.

Panic Time??

The Caller ID said Great Wall China Adoption -- I thought about having a panic attack, but decided not to. It was our referral counselor verifying contact information in case we did get our referral next week. I knew it was not THE CALL, but still it threw me off balance for a moment.

The rumor mill is unusually quiet for the end of the month. Normally at this time, rumors of all kinds are flying around, but it's very thin. What little is out there seems to focus around a cutoff date of Jan. 10 to Jan. 13 of 2005. With our Jan 12 LID date, we are "on the bubble", and it's a delicate balancing act. I have the suspicion we may miss it by 1 or 2 days, but that would pretty much guarantee a May referral. Whatever the case, we will get some life changing news in a few days.

Things are very hectic, the adoption countdown, getting our stuff moved to the new place, and making plans for the disposition of the last of the farm business. We have been busy packing and have moved some things, but have a long way to go. At least it's only 7 miles this time, not 400 like the last time.

Will We? Or, Won't We?

In about 10 days or so, we will find out if our turn has come! I think we will fall short a little, but there is the chance we could get our referral in early April. If we only miss it by less than four days, then we can be pretty certain of May!

We have so many other things going on right now that we are not obsessing, but still it's right there all the time. The little girl who will be Miaya is waiting for us right now, even though she does not know it.

Please help us hold her in our hearts until we can hold her in our arms.

A Little Trip - Pt.2

The business part of the trip was educational, we learned a lot about policy issues in agriculture, and how the lobbying process works. Along the say, we met both of Iowa's senators, and a number of other top officials. We got the security process down pretty well, but it's always a kind of roulette game, you never know what each metal detector will trigger on.


On our free afternoon, we visited the Air and Space Museum, the American History Museum was closed for renovation. Seeing so many pieces of aviation and space history was a bit awe inspiring, especially looking at the primitive aircraft, and contemplating the courage it took to fly them. Of course, those machines were cutting edge technology at the time. It was interesting the see the number of international visitors there.

Although the fabric was replaced some years ago, this IS the original Wright Flyer, 105 years old. The engine is not the original, and the propellers are from a later Flyer, but it is the ONE that all of todays aircraft are derived from.

Later, we took the Metro out to Arlington Cemetery and visited the Kennedy grave site.

What would our world be like if events had unfolded differently on that day in Dallas?

I remember well the day it happened, the shock felt throughout the nation. The feeling that the world had turned upside down for a moment. That this sort of thing was supposed to happen elsewhere, not here, not in our land.

There were a number of school groups there, and we were a bit disturbed by the lack of respect exhibited by some of the students. Surrounded the graves of those who in some cases sacrificed all for our freedom is a sobering experience.

A Little Trip

We took a little trip to Washington D.C. last week with the Iowa Farm Bureau. It was a legislative/policy trip, so it was part fun and part very serious. I had been to DC before, but it was in 1969 - 39 years ago! I feel very old when I say that.

But, to back up a little, on the night before we flew out of Des Moines, we had supper with another waiting family in Des Moines. Both they, and their neighbors have daughters from China, so we got our "Baby Fix" that night. Supper was Chinese Hot Pot, a new and interesting experience for us, and one I would be more than willing to repeat. They also had two house guests from Tajikistan who were on an exchange visit. We had excellent conversation, and one of the men made a very good flatbread that served as part of the desert. We learned a lot about what to expect, and for while, felt a little less alone as we shared in their experiences.

The flight to Washington was smooth, and arrived on time. We were supposed to tour the Capitol, but due to some mix ups at the hotel, we were left behind with no idea where to go. It all worked out well, we joined up with another lady and braved the Metro (subway), and toured most of the monuments and memorials on the National Mall. It's kind of neat, up the escalator from the Metro station, walk about 50 feet, and your e there, right in the middle of the Mall, not far from the Smithsonian. We were able to see most of the monuments and memorials in the area.

Hopefully this boy's reflection is the only way he will ever appear on a wall.

We spent a while listening to the volunteer at the Vietnam Memorial, he knows his stories and tells them very well.

A Good Chance

There is a good chance, probably 50-60% that we will see a picture of the girl who will be Miaya next month. If that doesn't happen, then it is probably better than 90% likely that we will get the referral notice in May.

With an April referral, we would likely be traveling in the last half of May, and the May referral would have us in China in the last half of June.

Either way, we are getting close. We are happy, scared, worried, a bit impatient, and wearing a lot of goofy grins!

Back In The Deep Freeze!

Last weekend, mild temperatures and lots of sunshine pretty much got rid of the snow we have had for so long. Oh, it was not a lot of snow, but a nuisance none the less. However, the thaw, and the rain Sunday night turned our lane into a mud bog! It's a good thing we traded the minivan for the all wheel drive Mountaineer a couple of years ago. But, the rain changed to snow, and now we have snow and mud filled frozen ruts to deal with - depending on the time of day.

It looks like Canada is kind enough to send us another blast of frigid air this weekend, but luckily only a few flakes are expected.

We are so ready for spring!

Babies!! March Referrals Arrive

The referral batch for March started arriving in the US today, so far no official word on the official cutoff date, but it appears to be January 4, 2006.

We want to say congratulations to Cris and Brian Catlett from Arkansas who got the call today! We met Cris and Brian in Des Moines for lunch last winter, a very nice couple. It makes the process a little more real when someone we've met is seeing their child's face for the first time.

Eight Days This Time?

We are hearing rumors that the cutoff date may be January 4, 2006.

This would be 8 more days crossed off the calendar!

Eight days closer to Miaya.

Eight days closer to being a family!

That would leave eight days until our January 12, 2006 Log In Date comes to the top of the pile.

Eight days till we see Miaya's face in the referral picture.

EIGHT DAYS till we start the countdown to the day we hold Miaya in our arms.

Isn't eight a wonderful number?

Attitude Readjustments

What a difference a day makes! Well, not really a day, more like two years or so. It still amazes and astounds us that we are within reach of referral. Yes, the chance is pretty slim of something happening in March, but if good progress is made this time, then April is possible, and May is more likely. It just kind of sneaks up on us occasionally "hey, it's really going to happen", and quicker than we will expect.

We are both getting a bit scared, this has been so far off in the future for so long, that it was safe and easy to think about. At least now, we are working on the reality of Miaya instead of just the concept of Miaya. We are still getting our heads around it.

Update On Cutoff Date

It's official, several days ago, we learned that the cutoff date was December 27, 2005. So that does make us the 16th day ahead. Some of those 16 days are weekends, and no dossiers are logged in over weekends.

Hopefully there will be no problem clearing the rest of December and getting into January with the next batch. Obviously there is no real way to tell what will happen, but April is still looking like a possibility, and if not, then May looks real possible. So far, families have been traveling right at 6 weeks after getting the referral.

We do wonder how the winter storms might affect referrals in the coming months. Orphanage personnel have had their hands full just keeping the children warm and fed, and transportation problems could delay paperwork reaching the central office. Oh well, only time will tell.

China's Orphans In Danger From Winter Storms!

China has been paralyzed by the worst winter storms in over 50 years, and as is usual, the poor and disadvantaged are hit hardest of all. For nearly a month, some parts of China have seen heavy snowfalls and ice on a near constant basis. Deep snow and much below normal temperatures are wreaking havoc throughout wide areas. Throughout a large portion of China roads are impassable, trains are stalled in snowbanks or stranded due to massive power outages. Power generation is a problem due to coal shortages caused by rail shutdowns. Power lines are down in many places, and it may be months before power is restored everywhere. Millions of people who normally travel home for the upcoming Chinese New Year celebrations have found themselves stranded as travel by train, bus, and air is sporadic at best.

Many orphanages are in desperate straits, electric outages, shortages of fuel for heat, broken equipment with no way to repair it, shortages of food, skyrocketing prices as local supplies dwindle, and the lack of safe drinking water are putting children in danger. While conditions at all affected orphanages are not known, news is getting out from a few.

Half The Sky is a charitable organization that helps support orphanages with supplies, equipment, and educational support. They also supply medical assistance to children needing life saving surgical intervention. Half The Sky took their name from a speech by Mao Zedong decrying the lowly status of women in Chinese culture, saying that "Women hold up half the sky".

Please follow this link to see updates on the conditions at the orphanages supported by Half The Sky.

We would like to call your attention to Half The Sky's Little Mouse Emergency Fund . Half The Sky does not normally function as a relief agency, but they are bending their own rules in this situation. They are hoping raise funds to bring in or purchase emergency supplies of food, diapers, blankets and warm clothing, and heaters and other equipment to help the children in danger. We have made a donation to the emergency fund, as the little girl who will become our Miaya could well be one of the cold and hungry children in danger of frostbite and/or sickness as the crisis conditions continue. If your heart leads you to follow us in making a donation (and we don't need to know who you are), the children, their caregivers, and all parents of children from China as well as those of us still waiting to be united with our angels will be grateful.

Thank you,
Michael and Kimberly

16 Days!

Referrals have begun to arrive, and so far the cutoff date is at least December 27, 2005. This covers 8 LID days, and is more progress than most people were expecting to see. People have posted that they got THE CALL who have the LID of 12/27/05.

This would leave us 16 LID days from referral! Whoa, it's beginning to get real around here! This gives us a good chance of referral in April, and a better chance in May.

(LID=Log In Date, the date an application dossier was logged in (registered) at the Adoption Affairs office in Beijing, China.)