U. S. Consulate Appointment

We went to the U. S. Consulate today to apply for Naomi's passport to come with home with us.  There were hundreds of Chinese people queued up outside and inside to apply for US VISAs.  Now I know why you can't get them to answer the phone on Monday mornings. 

Tomorrow, we will get Naomi's passport and start our journey home!!!

Guangzhou at Night

We walked over to the White Swan hotel to view the city at night. 

They also have some very large pieces of Jade!

Pool Time!!!

We got a chance to use the swimming pool.  We had to time it between the periods of rain.  Naomi got to swim for the first time!!!  She was surprised when she put her head under the water and couldn't breath.  She swallowed some water.  Daddy was there to help her but she is relunctant to go swimming again.  This is something we work on when we get home.

TB test is Negative

We got the results of the TB test today.  It was negative!!!  Praise the Lord.

We went for dinner tonight.  Karen, John, Joseph and Ruth all had Chinese dishes, but Naomi had pasta.  She ate a 9 inch cheese pizza last night all by herself.  Maybe she is part Italian - or is it environmental?

First plane ride and medical exam

Naomi was looking foward to her first plane ride.  Hopefully, things will be better with her next flight.  We left at 3:20 for what was suppose to be a 2 hour flight.  We left the gate on time. Were stuck on tarmac for 2 hours, deverted to Nanchang for 2 hour layover. We all had to get off the plane and then sit and wait in the airport in Nanchang.  Everytime the annoucements were made in Chinese everyone would let out yells so we could never hear the muffled and not very clear english part.  Finally we were able to get back on the plane but they lost three of the passengers, luckily not us!. Arrived  at out destination Guangzhou after 10:30 pm - over 5 hours late!!!

Finding things to do in the hotel room. Monsoon outside. Ruth is very resourceful. The sisters are having fun together!

The medical exam went smoothly until Naomi had to get 3 shots and a TB test.  We will get the results on the TB test Friday.

Side trip to Shanghai

While waiting for Naomi's passport, we took a day trip to Shanghai.  We took a bullet train from Hangzhou to Shanghai in 45 - 60 minutes.  This was Naiomi's first train ride! We met our friend Sunny (Haixiao Chen).  He showed us around Shanghai.

Silk Museum and Baochu Pagoda

We visited the Silk Museum

Then walked back past the West Lake and up the hill to Baochu Pagoda

Wallmart and Notary

We went shopping at Wallmart to get some clothes for Naomi.

John also went with our rep to the Notary to get official and translated copies of the adoption, birth, and abandonment certificates.

West Lake and the night market

Raining everyday since we have been in Hangzhou but  finally there was a break in the clouds so we were able to do some sightseeing.  Hangzhou is known for its West Lake area.  It is visited by couples on their honeymoon as well as vacationers. We took a boat ride to moon island and walked around.

Later we visited the Night Market area and practiced our haggling. Lots of people, music, street vendors with all types of smells and sights.

An Emotional Day

It was a very emotional day.

We visited Naomi's orphange.  Her class threw us a party for her.  Each of the kids drew a picture and gave it to her, some of her classmates were near tears.  They all then drew a picture together in the classroom with Naomi and we had them all sign their names, a treasure to keep and remember. Then they did a song in sign language for her. None of the children in the classroom are on the list to be adopted so it is very unlikey they will ever have a forever family.    

Then we visted the deaf school.  We were told we couldn't go inside.  However, after a call by one of the guards, our daughter's teacher came out and met with us. 

Lastly, we visited the bus station where our daughter was abandoned 8 years ago.

"And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes." Revelation 7:17

Adoption Approved by China today

We completed the adoption per China today!! 

We started the passport process.

Mom and Naomi got some valuable bonding time.

We have our new daughter - Naomi!!!

Naomi Xin became part of our family today.  Praise the Lord!!!! 

Sisters :)

As you can see, her brother Joseph, has already made her an Apple fan.

Shanghai Book City and on to Hangzhou

We did some shopping for Chinese books in Shanghai.  I was able to get some CSL (Chinese Sign Language) books for other families with deaf Chinese children in the US.  We also got some Chinese language material for our girls.  All this was at the largest and our favorite book store in Shanghai; Shanghai Book City.
After navigating the Shanghai Train Station (with a multitude of stairs) we caught a bullet train to Hangzhou.  They did have escalators when going up more than a few stairs so it was fine.  It was a great ride and we got to see some of the countryside.

Naomi will become part our family tomorrow morning!!!  We can't wait!

We made it to Shanghai!!

After a 14 hour flight we have made it to Shanghai.  We took a minivan cab to the Courtyard by Marriott Shanghai Puxi.  The rooms are beautiful.  We are glad we will be staying here on our way back home.  We went walking around (so that we can get our bodies use to the time change).  We walked by the train station (about 3 blocks from the hotel) where we needed to catch the bullet train to Hangzhou tomorrow.  Now to get some sleep.

Naomi