Getting to know our little Shui Shui...

We had a sweet surprise in my email this morning! I had sent the foster family a letter through Red Thread China who sent Maylynn a package and got an update for us. Well, in my email this morning was the answer to our questions:) It looks like she'll fit right in! We can't wait!!

Dear Family :
Below are answers to your questions :

How would you describe her personality?
Outgoing and active ,she loves to play outside.

Does she like animals?
She likes animals but she is afraid to touch them .

Does she have any likes/dislikes/sensitivities?
she likes singing ,jumping ,her favorite toys are ball toys ,she loves to read picure
books ,she is a little crazy with cookies ,when she eat cookies ,she will
cough.

What makes her happy?
Play outside will make her veryhappy.

What makes her angry or upset?
when she wants something but adults does not want to give it to her ,she will be angry .

Is she frightened of anything?
She is frightened of being alone ,she likes to stay with adults .

What do you do that soothes her?
When she is not happy ,adults needs to tell what is right what is wrong ,why this is right or why that is wrong ,she is a good girl ,after she realize this is not right ,then she will be a happy girl again .

What are her favorite activities?
Play balls`games .

Does her name have any special meaning?
Her name means she will be a sweet and gentle girl like water.

What name(s) do you call her?
shui shui is her nickname .

Who chose her name and why?
workers picked her name .

Has she had any health problems or allergies?
We have not found any of her health problems or allergies yet.

What medical treatments has she received?
Shui shui only received child mecial examination ,she is quite
healthy ,She has not received any other medical treatments yet .

What kind of food is she eating now?
rice ,noodles ,steambums ,rice noodles ,ect.

What is her favorite food?
her favorite food is noodles .

What is her least favoritefood?
congee.

What kind of vegetables and fruits does she like?
She likes to eat all kinds of vegetables and she loves all kinds of
fruits too,such as watermelon and apple .

Article 5 - Yippee!!!

I just got an email from our agency saying that "your paperwork is already signed and back at the CCAA" as per our agency's chinese liasion!!! From what i understand, this is the Hague Article 5 step COMPLETED!!! This is amazing news - many other people are having to wait at least 8-10 days for this paperwork to be signed!!! I love our agency:)

So, now we are just waiting for our TA - UNBELIEVABLE!

NVC cabled our Papers to Guangzhou!!! WOOHOO!!!

Yeah! We are so excited that this new Hague requirement step is almost done!!

I called the NVC this morning (i got the feeling that i needed to call today -so i did!) I tried 3 different phone numbers -
1st: The Dept. of State Visa Center (i think?) 202-663-1225 - i spoke to someone at this number on Monday and they had said that the NVC had our paper but hadn't cabled them yet - i thought they would be the ones to call but by the time i listened to all of the automated options , they said they were closed! Crazy - it's not a holiday or outside of biz hrs. -
2nd: So, i decided to perserve and find someone else to call... I went to the Hague adoption visa requirement page and got a phone # - they said that they didn't have this info available but to call the NVC at 603-334-0700.
3rd times a charm!!! I spoke to a wonderful lady that told me that "our papers are at the "post"". So, i said, "you mean that you've cabled them to Guangzhou?" - she said "yes, they are in Guangzhou" - i immediately started to cry and had to appologize- i think the lady thought i was a fruitcake - or hopefully, just an anxious mommy wanting to bring home her baby girl:)

I still crying thinking about it- 1 step down and only a few more to go! My agency suggested that i start packing - i think i will just in case God does work a miracle for us and that we are able to leave in a few weeks! WOW! but, i don't want to get my hopes up too much... please pray for us:)
Also - i just checked out the Rumor Queen's chart for the statistics on the wait times... It looks like we could be waiting anywhere from 4-10 days for our Article 5 to be issued and then anywhere from 7-20 days for our TA (Travel Approval) to be issued.

BTW - i've posted the phone #'s here so anyone else at this step can be a crazy, anxious mommy adopting from china wanting info NOW person! :)

H1N1 - Swine Flu stuff

Swine Flu Kit

In addition to all of the "new" paperwork hassle, we get to deal with the swine flu stuff too... Please pray for this family that has been quarantined on their way to adopt their child from China and pray that our travels will be uneventful:)

Also, here is an email i just got regarding flying to and from China and what we'll have to look forward too... I am pretty sure we will be wearing masks:)

I flew from Los Angeles to Guangzhou on May 31. All of us had
our temperature checked right before we boarded the flight. I noticed at least
20-30 passengers wore masks. I wore mine through the entire flight back to
China. My dear husband bought me ten of them in China, I only used one mask
after I landed at Los Angeles airport from China and I was one of the very few
wore mask at LAX. Obviously people were more concerned for arriving in China.Ten
minutes before the plane landed at Guangzhou BaiYun International Airport, we
were told to remain seated after landing and people from Health and Immunization
Department would come straight to our plane to check individual's temperature.
Soon after landing, four of them wearing Hazmat suits and seriously checked our
temperature. There were four passengers' temperature over 98.6 degree Fahrenheit
and they were taken off the air plane immediately for further observation. We
were told that people who seated three lines in front and at back of these
people need to have their temperature checked again and leave detailed contact
info such as phone number, address and itinerary in order to make contact in
case any of these four people were identified H1N1.

I was lucky that the line I was sitting was the cut off, so we
did not have the temperature check again. I thought we might be able to excuse
ourselves to leave. But the crew announced that all passengers should remain
seated until the procedure was completed. It took about 1 ½ hours. I had two
carry-on luggage pieces and ended up as the last one went through customs and
immigration. Before I went to pick my checked luggage, I asked if any of the
four were identified as positive for H1N1l. I was told it was too early to tell
and they would be kept at airport for further observation. But at least I did
see one of them released before I left airport.

The whole temperature checking process was in good order. If
nobody in the plane has a temperature higher than normal, the process should not
take more than ½ hour. It is recommended to have your travel contact phone
numbers with you if you are delayed.

There are a few basic general recommendations as bringing
hand sanitizer wipes, and practicing good hygiene. I highly recommend families
take Tylenol or other temperature-reduce medication in case anyone has a
naturally higher than normal temperature. Do not drink any alcohol in the
airplane and have cold drinks on hand to help reduce any unexpected high
temperature I hope this helps any of you who have questions about travelling to
China right now.

Lea in Guangzhouhttp://www.lotustours.net/Lotus Travel:
Uniting Families and Connecting Cultures

Care Package

This is the care package that Maylynn should be recieving in the next few days from Red Thread China.

As you can see, we are giving her foster family a camera to take pictures of her and her foster family and a letter with many questions - we are hoping to get these things back when we get her. It will give us SO much valuable information about her likes and dislikes etc...

We gave her a pretty prink dress and a little musical stuffed animal to enjoy -as well as, some candies for the family. The red bag on the top left has a tag with it - and this is being given to her with the hopes that the foster family with send with her a few precious things that they feel that Maylynn will treasure for her life. I am really praying that some things will come home with her.:)

Paperwork update - ??? not too sure... On Monday, we were issued our provisional approval letter - this gets sent to me, our agency and the Dept of State Visa Center (to learn about the Hague process we are going thru - click HERE) The D. of State then cables our information to the Consulate in China - we are waiting to hear about this step! Please keep praying for quick paperwork processing!!!

BTW- thanks for the prayers for the update on Maylynn - we are so very grateful for them!

BTW - we compared the measurements with Hayleigh and Maylynn is 2.5 years younger than Hayleigh but is only 5 pounds lighter and will be at Hayleigh's nose! They will look like little twins!!! :):) Too funny!

Praise the Lord! New Pictures!!

What a wonderful morning surprise! We were so excited to wake up to find some new pictures of Maylynn in our email! Ann at Red Thread China was so faithful in getting us this information - we are SO, SO grateful!!! Our hearts are so full of joy right now:) She is so beautiful and we are even MORE anxious to bring her home. It give me so much peace though because she looks so happy and well cared for. We finally have some updated measurements too - now i know what i can start packing!

height :88.5cm = 34.8 inches
weight :14kg = 30.9 pounds
head :47cm = 18.5 inches
chest :51cm = 20.1 inches
feet:20cm = 7.9 inches

Her foster mother is also in one of the pictures - a treasure that we are so grateful for too! And, it give us hope that she may still be living with her -sometimes, once they find out that a family is coming, the orphanage will take them out of foster care and put them back into the orphanage until the family comes.

What to do??? Maybe SHOPPING!

I need to keep my mind focused on something productive - so... how about shopping!! that's always fun - right?? Well, it's more fun if i know what to get :) Last week we had our Travel Meeting with our agency and they reminded us of the gifts that we need to bring. China is really BIG on giving gifts - from what i understand, it really doesn't matter what it is but just that you gave a gift and it's wrapped in a red bag with tissue paper. So, i've been doing a little bit of research on gifts but i need help.

I needed 6-8 small "random" gifts for women and 2-3 small "random" gifts for men - these are for the caregivers at the orphanage and consuluate workers - after researching, i decided to purchase about 6 fingernail polishes & lipsticks and deoderant for the women's gifts and then men's deoderant for the men's gifts. From what i understand, the women LOVE "american" cosmetics and all chinese love deoderant as a gift because they don't sell it there. ??huh?? i thought this was a little bizarre and i thought twice about buying deoderant and giving it to someone as a gift but -oh well - i guess it's what they like... if someone out there knows anything different - please let me know:)

I also need a gift for the Orphanage Director and her foster family - if anyone has any ideas on what would be a good gift for them - PLEASE, let me know:)

Then i need to get a gift for our guide in Nanning and our Agency's guides - so, if there are any awesome ideas for them - please let me know:) I've heard that our agency's guides like trendy things - but i'm not a trendy person, so i have no clue - HELP!!!

We will also need to give the orphanage a gift - last time we went to Walmart and bought some supplies that they need. I'm not sure if we'll do that, or try to collect some "valuable" things here to bring... I think Lance's cousin might be donating some "american" medicine to take - it think they will really appreciate that:) If anyone has anything hanging around, like formula or blankets - let me know if you'd like me to take them off your hands;)