IA clinic

James had his first visit to CHOP today. I feel fortunate to be a drive away.

He did great. Developmentally he's on target and he moving along his growth charts well. Head is still smallish but was completely mismeasured in China. He's short too. But again, moving along.

He's gained weight and is well. He's gotta get a load of blood work done to check for things like traces of antibodies of vacinnes to see if the vaccines in China were ok.

He's getting pickier in his food tastes. But still likes variety. I know that sounds strange. For example, he liked the beans from my mexican salad today but didn't like the chicken finger.

He liked the reverse in China. I guess he's testing new foods.

Joseph is back to school and doing well, except it's hard to get homework done with little guy running around.

Next appointment will be cleft lip palate surgeon!

Kelly

sleep deprivation

Like a newborn.

Y'know from 12 to 2 am our time is lunch and play time in China.

F.U.N.

Kelly

We are home

We are home safe and sound and dealing with jet lag. It's crazy getting aahmcnhnjvfxmhfhghjfjfjgvmj grm vjgvj gjfj,f


That's all for now


must go now! that's James typing.

Kelly

It's Official -- and Tomorrow we leave 10.22.08

Hello all,

Apologies to everyone for not posting sooner. As expected, the whirlwind started as soon as we landed. Joe filled out loads of paperwork with our Guangzhou guide Lucy on Sunday. On Monday, we had the medical. Today we went sight seeing and then we had our consulate appointment. The consulate is on the 5th floor of a very nondescript building in a newer part of Guangzhou. Security was tight. We all walked up to a window so someone could match us to our passports then we all sweared that all of the information we provided was true and we heard a little speech about adoption and immigration from China.

Very nice, very noneventful considering the AMOUNT OF WORK AND WAIT it took to get that far. But alas, James's Chinese passport has a beautiful American visa in it. If all the flights go ok, when we land at JFK we will have to go through the immigrant line. That should be quite interesting.

SHaiman Island had been very nice. We always run into other adoptive families who are staying either in our hotel or another in this very nice part of Guangzhou. THere are lots of stores and shops that cater to adoptive families.

We have eaten every dinner here at Lucy's which has American food. It's been quite nice. And Yummy.

We did go to a garden this morning that was nice. But hot.

James is really a trip. He's VERY ACTIVE and can get quite wound up when he's not on schedule (like today due to consulate). His eating seems to be slowing so perhaps his other issues are coming out. He can be aggressive -- so I'll have to keep an eye on that part and work with him on it. I've learned gentle -- Wen Jo.

Either it's from being in an orphanage and being the tough guy on campus or from being 2 or all of the above.

So tomorrow is our travel day. We leave here at 5AM. That's 5pm your time. Our first flight is on Dragon Air operated by China Southern at 9:30AM from Guangzhou to Hong Kong. We are scheduled to land in Hong Kong at 10:15. Then we have the LLLLLLLLLLONG layover before the our 5:50 flight. Since we are leaving China technically when we leave Guangzhou (a hold over from British Colonialism), we will need to keep to the international part of the HOng Kong Airport. Here's hoping that the free Playstation store is operation and in the international zone.

Hong Kong is a very nice airport so I am looking forward to it in a sense. Everything is more western. Beijing and Chengdu were not western at all, Shaiman Island was more western, and Hong Kong more so.

It's been such an experience. Today, in the US eyes our adoption is official. That means China and the US both agree James is ours!. The next step is touch the ground at JFK and get through immigration. Then he's a citizen of the USA. WOOOOHOOO.

Our little fighter definitely still has cleft palate issues but it doesn't stop him. He just keeps going and going and he loves when Joseph gets him all wound up and they run through the halls of the hotel.

Well, I have to sign off for now. Jolie I am sorry I missed you!. I just got back to my blog today. Good luck tomorrow.

We love and miss all of you. If all goes well, we should arrive on Cathay Pacific from Hong Kong on October 22, 2008 at 9pm. Don't try to figure out the timing -- it's too much with crossing the date line.

Take care, Kelly, Joe and Joseph

We are in Guangzhou!

James had some moments on the Air China flight and we all said goodbye to Chengdu. James waved his hands.

He finaly settled and had a short nap.

We landed in Guangzhou and immediately ran to get pictures of James for his US VISA. Tomorrow, he has a doctor's appointment early in AM and then our Consulate Appointment is at 10:30. Then we wait about 24 hours for James Visa to enter the US and can leave on our flights Wednesday.

It will be a whirlwind, so I may not post much in the next few days.

We are on Shaiman Island, it's so different from downtown Chengdu. It's the part of Guangzhou where the Mandarins located the Westerners. It looks European and is very walkable. We ate at a Western style restaurant and we met lots of other families. It was nice.

Take care, Kelly

Pics from October 17

A full and happy Lie Lie

Here we are eating. Somethings to notice - Joseph is wearing his Phillies Jersey and has Pizza. I am trying to keep up with Lie Lie and get him food. Lisa's friend is at the head of the table, her sister in law is at the other end and Lisa is next to me. Joe is taking the picture. The host, Shu, offered fire water, but we stuck to beer, juice (Lie Lie) and water.

The wonderful dinner we had at Lisa's Friends' House.

James Lie Lie and Ba Ba (Daddy)

The family in line to rub the happiness symbol.

Wen Shu Monastary

Joseph and a little boy at the Leather Factory

Leather Factory

Read the post below for more of the story behind the pics!

Love, Kelly, Joe, Joseph and James

Friday October 17 and Saturday October 18

We continue to be utterly amazed, awed and at times overwhelmed both by being the parents of 2, and the wonderful province of Sichuan and Chengdu.

Sorry for the late update. Yesterday was an exhausting day, and today we are packing alot. Tomorrow we leave on a 12:45 China Southern Airlines flight to Guangzhou. We are sticking close to the hotel today.

. First off, James is doing great. His personality is really coming out. He's outgoing, active and aggressive. He's also very attached to Joe. Though after a few minutes of Joe being gone, he's good with me. Yesterday he gave me kisses.

He's eating so much. SO MUCH that we have to slow him down and try to make sure he doesn't throw up. He will definitely need more surgeries but otherwise he can hold his own with eating and drinking.

So on Friday we went to a leather factory of a friend of our guide Lisa and bought 2 really nice coats for Joe and I. They will ship directly to US. Joseph played with a little boy and got a chance to run around the parking lot. They were all trying to figure out what size I am in!! Heheh..

Then Lisa took us to Wen Shu Monastary. It was so pretty. So nice. And we did a little shopping. Some things in Chengdu are pricey so I haven't bought a lot. I wonder what it will be like in Guangzhou. The exchange rate isn't as good.

At the Monastary, there were lots of elderly who were impressed with Joseph. We were able to burn incense, pray, and rub a symbol for luck. We had James Lie Lie rub the symbol. It was moving.

After all this we rested, then.......

We went to the Shu, the leather factory owner's apartment for Dinner. We ate at a real home of a Chinese person. It was such an honor. The dishes were great and I'll add them later. Her generosity was amazing and her cooking was fabuluous. We had seafood, beef, shrimp, bamboo shoots, potatoes, 1,000 year old egg, lotus root, fruit and some type of after dinner concoction. James wanted to eat everything and got pepper in his mouth adn SCREAMED!!!! Oh it was ugly at the table. But they were so nice. And he settled.

Joseph brought his own pizza which was really good for him. The host did not seem upset.

We gave her a small present. Her sister in law was there and is very pregnant so we bought a few things for her.

The sister in law is having her first birth. She asked me how things went with Joseph. SO then the whole conversation shifted to me trying to explain my birth experience in English to her sister in law through Lisa. And then the host adding her own experience. It was a universal moment. I think Joe and Joseph were a bit red.

And by the way, their doctors are recommending nursing now.

We are all looking forward to going to Guangzhou and being close to other adoptive families that may be around. We are also looking forward to seeing how Guangzhou is different from Chengdu. And then there's the sadness about leaving James home. For a long time. Very sad.

We are ok and love all of you and miss you and want to say

GO PHILLIES!

More pics! And we have our certificate!

We got our adoption certificate. Lisa, above, worked very very hard to make it happen. The paperwork must be perfect and they had some issues with the MC of our last name. It's all ok now.

The rest of today was fairly low key. We stuck to the hotel. James is very very attached to Joe and cries when he sees him go out of the room. However, he is settling at times. We played a lot in the hotel room. We did go out for a walk. That was nice and we did have dinner with Lisa. She's our most awesome adoption guide.

Now for some food pics as promised!
Spicy Dry Fried Green Beans. Joseph ate this dish at another restaurant but didn't like it tonight. I have to say I agree, they were slightly less fiery at the other place and thus better for us.

Looks kind of funky eh? Kind of like Andrew Zimmerman's show? Well this dish ROCKED. Lisa picked it of course. It's Sichuan fish of some kind in a really wonderful spicy broth with greens. This one hit the back of my throat and I started sneezing.

Some kind of cooked pumpkin with sticky rice. This was sweet and James and I both really liked it.

Sichuan spicy noodle with meat. It was good and spicy!

James Lie Lie and Joseph

The view from our hotel, very hazy today.

Part of our hotel room. We have a two room suite, it's been useful.

We are hoping to go out and about tomorrow with Lisa our guide. She has plans to go to a leather jacket factory, a park and dinner with a good friend. We are most excited for the latter and our keeping our fingers crossed it all works out.

We miss everyone in Philly. And finally last but not least -- GO PHILLIES!!!!

Love, Kelly Joe and Joseph

Brotherly Love

Short video of Joseph and James playing.

Joe

More info!

(More pics above from Chengdu Panda Breeding Center.)

Well, now no one really posted and I realized it's because we posted the last one in the middle of the night.

Today was yet another really busy day. I am still curious why we couldn't get the adoption certificate today but tomorrow it is.

After the last post, we all went swimming. That was a blast and James (Lie Lie) loved it but got cold fast. So we went to lunch. OF course we did. We all overate at each meal because we kept thinking we wouldn't like the next meal. But I have to say here in Chengdu the food rocks. Even Joseph has tried some new things. Sichuan beef, a little dry green beans and ....green tea. He's also very loving to his little de de (little brother).

Lie Lie is something else. He's far larger then we thought. He's out of 18 months and easily in 24 months. We had to buy him new clothes but only heavy weight ones as it's autumn even though it's 70 degrees out. The stores do not have summer clothes out and everyone is wearing long sleeves and we are wearing summer clothes! It is 76 degrees and humid. Odd.

Lie Lie does have some typical orphange behaviors. He's hoarding food. He doesn't stop eating. We have to learn how to figure out when he's truly full. He would eat until he threw up if we let him. Tonight his tummy ached.

He's also very very attached to Daddy. It's sometimes hard on Joseph and I but he is making more eye contact and smiling at us. And he has no problems with touching or hugs. When Joe and Joseph left for the swimsuit hunt, he cried but then he was good.

Late afternoon we went to a huge beautiful plaza with the biggest statue of Chairman Mao ever. We were the tourist attraction until we met another couple adopting from the Netherlands that we saw at the Civil Affairs Office. Joseph and Lie Lie got to run around and play with toys. They also had their first battle over one of those drum things. But it all worked out -- we bought another. Yes, we spoiled Joseph and now we'll spoil Lie Lie.

We also learned that Lie Lie is speaking quietly some things. He's saying car. But we learned the word "DA". It means to beat. It's a kid way of saying I'll get you playfully. He's was hitting Joseph nicely alot. It was very brotherly! Joseph is learning more Mandarin. He was counting 1,2 3 in Mandarin today at the park. Amazing.

Tonight we ate at a crazy fast food dumpling type of place. Joseph was not happy. He's exhausted. And his throat is scratchy. But the rest of us ate all kinds of crazy crazy stuff. I think my new favorite are fried sticky rice and fried wheat. It's really really good. I have to start taking pictures of the beautiful food. Lie Lie loves anything with eggs.

JOe and Joseph are ending the night by watching --- JAPANESE TV. The game shows are a riot. Lie Lie goes to bed easy. For now.

Ok. off to bed we are exhausted.

Love, Kelly, Joe and Joseph

What a 48 hours!

Ok,

James (Lie Lie) is ALMOST ours. Today October 15, we processed everything we could at the Civil Affairs Office. Tomorrow we receive the adoption certificate. It was hot at the office but everybody was nice.

Yesterday, we saw the pandas. It was amazing. They are gorgeous. I could not believe my eyes.

James is doing great. He LOVEs his Daddy and is warming up to both Joseph and I. Usually children from an orphanage bond with one person first. It's normal. Today he really came out of his shell. Smiling and babbling more. He's generally quite and only says a few words but he's bright. He knew EXACTLY how to get to our room from the elevator.

Joseph is off with his father looking for swim trunks. See it's autumn in China and ALL summer clothes go away in Chengdu. We'll see.

Must run now. We love you

By the way HAPPY ANNIVERSARY MOM AND DAD!

Kelly, Joe and Joseph

This is what Joseph says about James

James is funy because once we put a photo album on a table he just took it right off the table.

he eats up a storm.
he liks kards.
and he makes noysis.

from joseph

James Lie Lie

We met him this morning about 9am Monday October 13. He toddled into the office at about 10ish. Then We had a whirlwind tour of the orphanage. We have him right now in the hotel.

He's had a bit of formula and he had a nap. He's very overhwhelmed. Joseph is hovering like a wonderful big brother. It's crazy. We are all crazy in love with him.

Our heads are spinning and we are off to do shopping in a short amount of time.

Love,

Kelly

The Great Wall

We made it to China. We had an absolutely wonderful time and all flights made the right connections were made. Even our baggage survived. All the way over the north pole and through Hong kong and then the whirlwind tour of Beijing with our lovely guide Linda. Here's where we were today- the Great Wall. We walked up those steps behind us. 700 steps. Woohsh. We needed the workout. Joseph had his own paparazzi. People thought he was beautiful and wanted to take pictures with them.

We also saw the Forbidden City and Tiannamen square and have been eating very well, even Joseph.

Tonight we are in Chengdu and in 9 short hours we'll meet our baby, Dong Lie. James. I can't really type a coherent sentence anymore. More later. Tomorrow is the day!!!!!!!!! I want to cry but can't cause of jet lag!

Love, Kelly and Joe and Joseph

October 9 - One more day to takeoff

Today is our last day at home. We are so going to miss everyone so so much, including our cats Hannah and Seamus. We love you kitties! Grandpop will take real good care of you.

We are running around busy as ever getting ready for this trip of the lifetime. Thank you so much for all your support.

As an FYI, here is our general itinerary.

Friday, October 10 - FROM JFK Cathay Pacific to Hong Kong, Hong Kong to Beijing on Air China
Saturday, October 11 - Arrive in Beijing ,
Sunday October 12 - See Great Wall, fly to Chengdu Sichuan

October 13-18, 2008 - Meet and get to know James, Fill out lots and lots of Paperwork, Eat Hot Pot, Take Tums and maybe see a Panda or 2.
October 19 - Fly to Guangzhou
October 20 - US Consulate appointments
October 21 - US Visa for James
October 22 - Fly home -- with an 8 hour layover at Hong Kong International Airport, Arrive JFK at 9PM at night EST.

It's quite the itinerary. It's really really something.

Take care and lots of Love,

Kelly, Joe and Joseph

October 7 -- Attachment and Adopting

Dear Friends and Families,

We are leaving in a few short days and I wanted to share you with some important information on adoption and attachment. We are also including some links to some reading that you can do while we are on our journey. It may explain why we might be acting stranger than usual when we return. And it may not be just jet lag or James induced sleep deprivation.

We’ll start with a scenario you might just experience. You call us, we don’t pick up and we don’t call back soon. Or we do, to tell you we are ok, but we don’t make any plans to visit. We act a little standoffish.

What’s going on? We might just be following the advice of scores of adoptive parents, doctors and therapists. We may just be getting to know our new son and younger brother for Joseph, James.

We still love you all very much. James will need time to get to know his Mommy, Daddy and big brother and we need to give him that time. James does not know us at all. He only knows his caretakers from his orphanage. We are strangers – we look strange, sound strange and even smell strange. Time is needed for us to start the process of bonding.

Here are some great articles I found that do explain the process:

http://attachment.adoption.com/bonding/what-is-attachment-2.html
http://attachment.adoption.com/bonding/nurturing-activities.html
http://www.a4everfamily.org/index.php
http://www.a4everfamily.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=57&Itemid=78
http://www.a4everfamily.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=56&Itemid=78

So if we act oddly or demand that one of us REALLY must change his poopy diaper even though you are offering – you’ll know why.

Now get reading!

Thanks,
Love, Kelly and Joe

One week and counting

Well folks, it's one week and counting now. In a little less then 7 days, we will have James. Let's just pray all those flights work and connect and we get to Chengdu on time.

We are in the midst of packing, packing packing. Oh and more packing.

We'll post more later.

Kelly

Now I am excited....

I went to www.weather.com and I could get a 10 day forecast that includes the day we land in CHINA!!! October 11. Supposed to be Sunny and 64 with a low of get this 47.

Chengdu is supposed to be in the 70s and 80s and DAMP, per historical forecasts at www.wunderground.com

Guangzhou is changeable.

Have a nice day,

Kelly

10/1/08 - A good mail day

Good evening,

Today, we received our visas for China well as our airline tickets and the hard copy of the USCIS Immigration Approval.

I am so glad that Joe called and received an email copy of the approval from USCIS. If we had waited for the hard copy in the mail, who knows when we would be leaving.

We are all very anxious and tired. Here is a link to the organization, Half the Sky Foundation that supports James's orphanage.

Take care everyone,

Kelly