For Those Yet To Travel - Part Two

As I was giving LuLu her bottle last night, I realized how far we have come. We all hear over and over again that the caretakers in China have probably cut a larger hole in the bottle's nipple. Most packing lists include several nipples and something to cut the hole larger. Even though I had heard this for over three years, I had no idea just how big the hole would be.

When we received LuLu, we also received two boxes of the formula and a bottle that she was using. If I had not seen the nipple myself, I would never have realized how big they make the hole. About one third of the nipple was gone. No sucking required as with a hole that big, the contents would literally pour out.

We immediately went to a smaller hole. Even with that, she would not suck but would just move her tongue around to get something out. We have gradually worked our way to a slightly modified fast flow nipple. In the last couple of days, she has also been drinking out of a straw style sippy cup. She is so proud of herself when she is successful with that cup.

I know this was our experience and yours may be different but I thought I would mention just how big of a nipple your child may be used to. If I had not seen it myself, I would never have guessed.

Here she is with her new sippy.

For Those Yet To Travel

Last night, I was reading through the posts from China and it occurred to me that it really doesn't tell the entire story. Don't get me wrong, in many ways I think our trip was a "best case scenario" and I don't take that for granted. However, for those yet to travel to meet their little ones, there are a couple of things I wanted to point out.

First of all, even under the best of circumstances there are some tough moments. LuLu came from what some say is one of the "better" orphanages. I do think she was shown lots of affection and I am grateful for that. I will admit however, that I wasn't quite prepared to be handed a child in her physical condition. I won't go into details because it's her story not mine. I've travelled all over this world enough to know that different cultures have different standards for cleanliness. It's just different. But when you are handed your child in that condition, it's hard. I would have told you I was prepared but I wasn't.

Also based on updated measurements and these pictures that we received just before we travelled, I knew she would be tiny. However, her size literally took my breath away. Even our facilitator (who has seen lots of babies over the last 12 years) was concerned about her size. I fought back tears everytime I changed her diaper.

Now all of these things are EASILY overcome. But they are real and they were hard to see so I wanted to mention them for my friends still PATIENTLY waiting.

Now that I see more of LuLu's personality I know that much of her "contentment" the first few days was really just her being overwhelmed. Or it could just be that there was never any reason to fuss before, I don't know. And although she is a generally happy child I can promise you she has now learned the fine art of fussing. So my advice is that even if your child seems "fine", keep it very low key those first few days. Since we were a travel group of one family, we were able to keep it very low key and that certainly helped. Actually we were probably downright boring the first few days.

Most of this is probably things you guys already knew but I wanted to pass it on anyways.

EDITED TO ADD: Stephe's question in the comments regarding sizes reminded me of something else to share. We always hear to bring several sizes of clothes when you travel. It's true. Even if you have updated measurements like we did, it's still a good idea. Based on measurements we received just before we travelled, I could look at the clothes size charts and tell that she fell into the 6 month clothes. However, that wasn't completely accurate because most of her weight was from the belly up. So 6 month tops fit but bottoms were a different story. Most of those were too big. Of all the clothes I brought for her, I think she wore the same 4 or 5 outfits over and over. We just did laundry. You can also find what you need in most cities in China. However, for me personally I would not have wanted to worry about that in the first couple of days. As a new parent, I had enough to process those first couple of days without going clothes shopping.

Back Home

We arrived back home last Wednesday right on schedule. Everyone is doing great, despite the jet lag. We actually felt human today. We were welcomed by pink balloons and American flags lining the driveway and a huge Welcome Home sign made by my out of town relatives. And I thought I had cried all the tears of joy I could possibly cry. Thanks Guys!!! My parents have been a HUGE help since we got home. My poor Mom is cooking and cleaning like Cinderella so Jon and I can enjoy LuLu. Our friends Becky and Larry brought a Mexican feast last night complete with Corona and limes. We continue to be spoiled by everyone's love and generosity and I hope that someday we can pay it forward.
I promise to be back soon with some pictures of our first few days home. I will say that LuLu has become quite the daredevil and can't decide if she wants to crawl or walk first.

Free Souvenir from the hotel

Don't panic Mom, we are fine.
I didn't mention the H1N1 Quarantine procedures because really it was a non issue for us. We connected through Tokyo and since we did not enter China from an "infected" country, the procedures seemed a lot less involved. No one boarded our plane and took our temperature when we landed in Beijing. We had to fill out a health questionnaire and have our temperature scanned a couple of times in the Beijing airport. No big deal.
This evening we had a note under our door to call the front desk. The hospital called our hotel and wants our temperature readings done twice a day. So the hotel gave us a thermometer and asked us to report our temperature to the front desk twice a day. I asked if anyone on our plane is sick and the front desk said No. Hopefully that's the case.
So here's Jon getting his temperature taken. Despite leaving the thermometer under our tongue for SEVERAL minutes, our temperatures were both below normal. Does hand sanitizer ruin a thermometer? Because I used a lot of it before this picture was taken. The random thermometer seemed like a bigger health risk than that plane ride two days ago.

Birthday Girl

We received pictures from LuLu's birthday party!!!! Looks like she had a proper party with a cake and a few friends. The size of that cake just kills me - it's almost as big as the table!!! Looks like they put a dent in it though!! Oh, that sweet sweet face!!

I LOVE this picture of them gathered around the table.

(I've been in touch this morning with another adoptive parent whose daughter is likely to be in this picture. If you think you child is in this picture, email me with the link to the right or leave a comment and I will email you all the pictures I have. Of course I am getting on a plane to China a a few hours so I probably won't get to it immediately.)

We also received updated measurements. She is now 15 lbs and 28 inches long. Tiny but growing. We are so GRATEFUL for these pictures. Jon and I were both up early, couldn't sleep and I saw these about 4:30 this morning.

We leave for the airport in a couple of hours. See ya on the other side.

Our Itinerary

For those playing along at home, here is our itinerary. We are packed and just about ready to go. I am actually fairly calm about it all. Guess that ridiculously detailed packing and to do list helped. Maybe I'm just in shock.

Tuesday, July 21, 2009 - Depart 12:05 PM
Wednesday, July 22 - Arrive In Beijing
Thursday, July 23 - Saturday July 25 - Tour Beijing

Sunday, July 26 - Leave Beijing for Nanchang

We will meet Lulu either the afternoon of the 26th or the 27th.

Monday, July 27 – Friday, July 31 - Adoption process in Nanchang.
Friday, July 31 - Depart Nanchang for Guangzhou
Saturday, August 1 - Tuesday August 4 - US Immigration process in Guangzhou

Wednesday, August 5 - Return Home

We hope to be able to post some updates and a few pictures along the way. Direct access to blogger will probably be blocked but we have worked out a plan B, C and D. They all rely on a bit of free time and an internet connection though.

Four More Sleeps!!!

Not that I'm able to sleep these days. It's more like four more times I put my head on a pillow and start analyzing the packing list. I eventually fall asleep. Then I wake up and do the same thing to the "to do" list. My monkey brain is in full swing.
But whatever it is, there are only FOUR more of them before we leave!!!! I'm hoping to get our In China itinerary today.

I think I have all the major errands done. I still need to make copies of some documents that we are taking. And we still have to install the carseat. We will do that today so we can have it inspected at the firestation on Monday.

This weekend we will do a trial run of getting everything packed. LuLu's clothes and supplies are packed. I've been making piles of our stuff. By the looks of it, when I am done with LuLu's stuff and my stuff, poor Jon is going to have an outside pocket of the suitcase left. And maybe a small inside pocket.

Oh, and I still have some thank you notes to finish. If you haven't gotten a thank you note from me, I promise I'm not an ingrate. It's coming.

Confirmed!!

We have written confirmation that our Consulate appt. is 9:00 am August 3rd. We leave in less than a week!! Our Visas were expedited and should be here today. I booked plane tickets last night. We don't have our exact itinerary as some of the details are still being worked out. What I do know is we leave July 21, meet LuLu July 27 and return home August 5th. The rest will be filled in today or tomorrow.

Still Looking Good

We have "verbal confirmation" that we can leave next Tuesday. Should have written confirmation and an itinerary tomorrow. Then we can book tickets - we have them on hold at the moment. We hope our Visas and passports will be in our hands this Friday. If all goes as planned, "LuLu Day" will be on July 27th. Two weeks from today.

We are crazy excited.

TENTATIVE Dates

Looks like we could be leaving as early as July 22nd!!! We could meet LuLu on
July 27th - exactly one week after her first birthday. There are still some big things to be worked out so that could change. However, that is what we are currently planning for!! I will know for sure some time next week. Which is of course convenient since we may be leaving the following week.

Unfortunately it looks like we will be a travel group of 1 family. We were really looking forward to travelling with another local family that we have been in contact with lately. Due to a whole bunch of red tape nonsense, their travel will be later. Not sure how much later at this point. Still hoping for a miracle for them but I feel terrible that they are still in limbo.

OK, lots to figure out.

Nothing New on Travel

We've had travel approval for almost two weeks. Still no travel dates. Every day is getting harder and harder. Not the usual "I wish we would hear something" hard. More like "constant knot in my stomach and lump in my throat" hard.

There is also a small issue with my fingerprints. NO, I didn't rob a bank or forget to return a library book. They expire August 9th. I applied for refingerprinting back in June. I finally received a fingerprint appt. for July 22nd. Since I don't have travel dates, I don't know if that is soon enough or not so I am begging for an earlier appt. No luck so far.

We have a travel meeting tomorrow afternoon with our agency. If I come out of that meeting without travel dates please send chocolate. Or tequila. Or chocolate AND tequila.

Visas

Now that we have Travel Approval, we sent off for our Visas today!! I hate that whole process of sending away your passport. I've had to do that twice in the past for other Visas and the entire thing makes me nervous. But, I am sure it's going to work out great. Right?

Still no word on travel dates. However, I hear that our agency is trying to get us there by July 21st!!!! We always said we would go early to do Beijing which means we could be leaving in less than three weeks!! Oh, I hope that holds true.

Travel Approval!!!!

We received our Travel Approval!! We do not have travel dates yet but our Agency is hoping for the "late July" timeframe. I of course am hoping for the earlier part of "late July."

Other happy new is I have TWO showers that I need to blog about. Off to do some travel paperwork and then will be back with shower news.

Hopeful yet Annoyed

I am HOPEFUL that we will hear something on our travel soon. I am annoyed that I will be on 4 planes this week, none of which are headed for China.