Punjab: Buddha says "A child without courage is like a night without stars!" from Annie

Yesterday we visited Betty-June's FORMER orphanage. 

It was hard. From the moment my sweet girl woke up her countenance was downcast. All morning she was sad. 

Betty-June chose to wear the new dress she picked out at the mall. I know she was afraid I was going to leave her. I guess she wanted to make sure she at least had her new dress. I used the translator app to tell her. I was going to take her to my home to be my daughter forever. But she wasn't convinced. 

We met Miko, our guide at 1 for the 45 minute ride. Baby girl fell asleep in the van on the way there. 

When I woke her up she was still unsure. We went in and did the usual 'go to the conference room exchange pleasantries and exchange gifts'. They were very kind.  Her teacher brought in her workbooks for her to take with her. One nanny brought in a little girl I was checking  on for her mom-to-be. Them we went to see some important places to Betty-June.  Along the way we we met her two best friends. She just clung to me the whole time. One of the boys pleaded with me to find a family for him. He is seven and he has a repaired cleft lip and palate. His speech is effected but his mind is sharp. 

Here is his picture

He is Bart Simpson boy from Betty-June's birthday pictures 

He really, really wants a mama and baba. He also said he is a good big brother(guhguh). Break my heart much?

Then I got to meet  2 if their newest additions. 2 thal babies, a boy and a girl. The director said they were preparing their paperwork to make them available for adoption. She gave me their info and Miko is translating it for me. Here are there pictures. 

Baby boy looked so pale. There isn't a lot of color in his lips. 

Here is the girl

She looked better but oh my heart these kids!

When it was time to go Betty-June could not leave fast enough. 

It was a hard day, a very hard day. If you can walk thru an orphanage and hear the little voices begging, begging I tell you, for a family and not be moved, you my friend have no heart. 

After the visit we have turned a corner.  I'm not calling her Ling any more. She is no longer Liu Ling the orphan. I have started calling her Betty-JuneLing. Easing into just Betty-June. 

Adopting a 7 year old is a lot different than adopting a baby. Her fear and sorrow is so real, so palpable it blankets the whole experience. 

I promise a lighter post next time. 

So much to say. So little energy

The last 2 days have been really difficult for us. Medical appt and orphanage visit. Today I will share the medical visit. 

I left you last time as we were going to the required medical appt. Yikes. 

Everything started off just fine. 

She was playing with another little girl in our group. 

Had her vitals taken. 

Quick eye check. 

Then things got scary for me. We got to the part where they do an actual physical examination. The younger female dr started out just fine until she got to Betty-June's abdomen. She got a very serious look on her face and went for the older male dr. He checked her belly and asked me when her last transfusion was. When I told him Aug 4 his face went dark and he told me she needs a transfusion every month. Wel gee why didn't I think of that?  He wanted her hgb checked and thought she would need a transfusion before we left China. The hospital we would need to go to requires a 2-3 day stay in the PICU ward. And the worst part is, I could not go with her. 

It was a long night while I waited to find out her hgb. It was impossible to get a straight answer from our at home medical team regarding how low is too low to travel. IMPOSSIBLE. 

Dear Medical Community,

We all know no 2 cases are the same. We get it. But someone somewhere says normal hgb is between 11-15. Someone sets standards. Just say 'don't travel in a pressurized cabin with a hgb below X'. 

Her hgb level came back at 6. Not great by anyone's standard. But good enough I can say no thanks to transfusing her here.  

I felt a lot better after that. 

Next post will be about the orphanage visit. 

Introducing Miss Betty-June

Meeting your child at 3 pm is cruel. All day you fret and pace and you are expected to be able to fill our official paperwork. 

Don't I look like a big bundle of nerves?

When we got to Civil Affairs she was there waiting for me. 

I had tears running down my face like crazy. She was a beautiful stoic princess. 

It took a while but she did eventually smile. 

The required dum dum lollipop helped. 

There is a million dollar smile 

I brought her a Minnie Mouse of course. 

After all the excitement we came back to the hotel and went for Chinese food. 

We tried to call Dad after dinner but the video chat couldn't work because something was wrong with the wifi. That really bothered me. I miss the folks at home. And I wanted the sisters to meet each other. 

At breakfast this morning somehow it started working. 

Salted fish and peanut congee. I know, I know but she scraped the bowl clean!

After breakfast we came back to our room for an hour to play. 

Play doh was a big hit. 

Today was the official adoption appointment. What a looooong morning. I don't remember it taking so long. While waiting I met a couple from France and a couple from Australia adopting babies. 

Once we finally left we stopped at the market for some supplies then it was back to the room. 

Some families were going to McDs for lunch but we were dragging. We came back to the room for cup o noodles and Chinese kiddie shows. 

Tomorrow is the medical appt and applying for passport. But I will leave you with this face 

I have a lot if respect for that chicken

Up at 3:30am to face another day alone in Guangzhou. Watched some international TV

asianwiki.com/What_Happens_to_My_Family?_(Korean_Drama)

This is one thing I watched. It was odd but it beat America's Funniest Videos. 

I was able to video call my family. That was awesome. I miss them so much. I am not a loner! 

I was suppose to meet someone for breakfast but something must have came up because she didn't show up. So I had breakfast alone. BooHoo

It was time to leave the hotel. I needed to find a supermarket to get a few things. And I was able to do it !  In order to cross the street it involves going down to the subway and going UNDER the street. Yep I did it, yea me!  I was there 20 min before the mall opened so I sat in the square to wait. People watching !

By way of gender imbalance, while waiting I saw 5 boys, 4 girls and 2 infants. But this is in a major urban area the countryside. 

So the mall opens and I head up to the 4th floor where the groceries are. I wandered and perused the offerings. I wasn't sure what to get Betty-June for snacks and goodies. So I found a family with a 7ish year old girl and tried to notice what she asked for. Hopefully she had good taste! 

This is the awesome shower in my room. I.LOVE.IT

Courtyard by the mall

Mall front

7-11 selfie

Medallion on the ceiling of the lobby

Waterfall outside of 4th floor

Lobby

Water feature reflecting in mirrored escalator 

Blue skies

"The Guide says there is an art to flying". Hitchhiker's Guide 3

Here I am one again in beautiful China. 

My flights were pretty uneventful. My flight from Pittsburgh was 45 min late leaving but I had a 4 hours wait in Chicago for my flight to Hong Kong so if I sat in Pittsburgh or Chicago didn't matter to me. 

When I finally got to Chicago I was pretty proud of myself for navigating the airport even changing terminals all by myself. 

I grabbed a bottle of coffee from a shop and settled in at the gate waiting for my long flight. As I was checking out Facebook I saw that someone had posted on a friend's wall they had made it to the gate for their flight. I looked up and saw a couple sitting across from me. I took a chance and said ,"Are you the Browns?"

They were so we started chatting when we were joined by another young man,Nathan, who was traveling to help his sister on her adoption trip.  Finally, friends of the Browns joined us. The Powells too were traveling to Guangzhou for their adoption. Turns out their daughter has thalassemia also. 

The waiting time for our flight flew by. When we boarded our flight it was only half full. Nathan and I shared a row with a seat between us. After takeoff we had a light dinner and settled in for the long hall. The flight attendant came thru and asked if we were together. When we told her we weren't she told Nathan there was an empty row he could have. When he moved I had 3 seats to myself. I was able to stretch our to sleep. 

Landing in Hong Kong I knew I was that much closer to my daughter. Again, I've gotta pay myself on the back for navigating thru the airport. Bought a Coke and found my gate. I called my hubby, told him how much I miss him and the kids and ran into the Powells again. Turns out they are on the same flight. 

It was a quick flight to GZ. I made it thru immigration with no issues, collected my luggage and found my guide. Guess who had the same guide?  Yep, the Powells!  Turns our our agencies share a guide. 

Now I'm at the Garden Hotel. I napped on and off this afternoon. When I turned I. The TV I found a replay if the Steelers/Ravens game. 

Tomorrow I'm meeting another Thal mom for breakfast. 

Goodnight From Guangzhou!

"Don't Panic." — The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

So, ok, here I am at 4:15 am unable to sleep.  Too many thoughts making too much noise in my brain keeping me awake.
Few bits about my upcoming adventure to share with you, asking for prayers all along the way.
1. It will be a 25 hour trip to get to the city that Betty-June is in. I will leave Pittsburgh at 8 tonight and arrive in Guangzhou, China at 9am Saturday morning(9pm Friday night EST) That is right folks, for the 4th time in my life I will experience the miracle of time travel!  Seriously though, what an age we live in that we can travel half way around the world in only 25 hours! The plane from Chicago will fly for 15 hours to Hong Kong WITHOUT STOPPING!

2. Once in Guangzhou (gwan jo)I will have a few days to get adjusted to the time difference before I will meet my sweet girl on Monday.  My guess is it will be around 3 pm, so 3 am Monday morning for folks at home.  We will both travel to the Civil Affairs office, me from the hotel and her from her orphanage. Once I meet her(and have tears running down my face like a goof) she will stay with me after that.  It is a 'jump in the deep end of the pool' kind of moment.  I pray she isn't too scared of me or the situation, but if she is she has every right to be. Let the record show, however, that I am not above bribery! Toys, snacks and goodies are packed and I will be buying more goodies in country before I meet her.

3. After our first night together we will go back to the Civil Affairs office the next day to make her adoption final.  She officially becomes our daughter there.  Hallelujah! At this point I grab her in a bear hug and squeal, "Mine, mine, all mine."  Well, at least in my mind that is what is happening, in all reality I will be crying and hugging her.

4. At some point during the next week we will probably visit her orphanage, a step meant for closure for her. We will go back so she can say goodbye to her nannies and friends.(cue more waterworks)   At 7 years old she has a whole life she knows and she will be leaving everything and everyone familiar.  A chance for a proper goodbye will be important.

5. Also at some point during the week she will have her medical examination.  Since she is over two years old, she will have a blood test for TB. Parents are not allowed to accompany the kids for the blood draw.  Ya, I'm not a fan of that policy and it would certainly not fly here at home but when in Rome....  Plus I know that needle sticks are routine for her so she should have an idea what is going on.  Then Mommy gets to be the hero by loving on her and smooching the boo-boo afterwards.

6. Monday the 22nd we will go to the US Consulate for our appointment.  It's usually a quick appointment, but after that Betty-June will be a US citizen as soon as we get back to Chicago.

7. Early the 25th we will take a van back to Hong Kong and board the Chicago-bound plane for Betty-June's first plane ride.  Talk about baptism by fire!  First flight=15 hours,  Dramamine all around! And after a quick stop in Chicago it is on to Pittsburgh and home.

8. I will be in Guangzhou for 10 days with a few official appointments.  During the in between time we will be doing some touristy fun stuff, eating some yummy food, playing games, hitting the hotel pool and doing our best to communicate.  Remember she speaks Mandarin and I know enough Mandarin to order a fruit salad and glass of water!

I wish I could take you all with me.  But I know your prayers go with me.  Not going to lie, I'm more than a little nervous going without Matt, he's my best friend and co-conspirator.  I'm going to miss him and the kids like crazy. But one of my kids is in China and needs me to come get her.  So what's a mommy going to do but go.

This is going to be a Glorious Unfolding---SCC

Every time I hear this song on K-Love I fight back tears.  It so speaks to me about this journey we will be on with Betty-June.