Always something

Mary Clare had her first US doc visit and seems to be in excellent
health. She weighed in at 17.4 which is exactly what her weight was in
China. She is below the 50 percent mark on the US growth charts for
weight, but still a very respectable size. Also she is very tall. She
is on the 75th percentile on the US height charts, amazing for a
southern China girl! The blood draw was horrific though and we have to
go back on Tuesday for another try. It was a nightmare. I am hoping
the Tuesday nurse is better at this and that MC's veins are in strong
pumping mode.

She is sleeping well and eating well. She eats cereal and we have
started on some veggies and fruit. Last night she had her first bits
of lasagna at my moms house! All in all seems to be your normal 9 mo.
old baby. In the past week the baby babbling has increased and there
is lots of squealing too. She is sitting up unassisted and is army
crawling around. Her fine motor skills are progressing too, but she
isn't quite ready to self feed or pick up cheerios for example, but
she concentrates and tries very hard.

I am keeping my eyes and ears open and trying to be aware of any
underlying issues, but truthfully, she has adjusted so quickly. I look
at how she interacts with our other kids, with me and Lee and how she
handles new situations and I continue to be just shocked that we have
only been together for less than a month!

One of the bonding or attachment problem flags is a baby that is too
good. One who never cries at all or demands any attention could be
having some bonding problems. I was a bit concerned at first. (I can
always find something to fret about) MC is just so, so good. However,
she is crying to be held and even holds out her arms for me. She
fusses if she is bored or no one is paying attention to her, though
with 4 siblings that is pretty rare. She fusses when she is sleepy or
hungry and also when she is getting too much attention or squishy hugs
and just wants everyone out of her face already. At this point I am
fairly assured that bonding and attachment is going as it should.

We're home!

After a travel marathon spanning thousands of miles and hours, we're home.

Lee and I were just dying to see the kids. I missed them so much that at the end I felt nauseated with wanting to see them.

My dad, step-mom, sister and her fiance came to pick us up at the sirport.

Mary Clare is one amazing kid. She slept for a good 7-8 hrs total on the plane and when she was awake she was not fussy and in pretty good spirits. She has already begun to adjust to the time change, in fact she seems to be handling it better than I am.

She is curious, but wary around the kids. She has already grab/scratched them all. They are just so happy to have her here. Jake said, "I can't believe she is finally here with us!" The first time we all rode in the minivan together, they immediately wanted to add her to our Cullom family song. It is really more like a chant or cheer where everyone's name is called.

It feels unreal to me too, for her to finally be physically present here with the rest of our kiddos. She has been with us in our hearts sonce the beginning of our paperwork, bt to be able to hold and kiss her and see her smile at her brothers and sister is just magical.

Here is the link .....

HERE

is where I'll be posting from now until after we get home from China

Travel Blog

I am trying to make a seperate blog that we will just use for our travel. I will definately post a link here, I just wanted to have a bit o privacy.

Itinerary (that is a wierd word)

4/1 Leave the U.S. for Hong Kong.

4/2 Arrive in Hong Kong.

Go to the Regal Kowloon Hotel. Free time. **it will be like 10 pm! probably no partying or sightseeing for us**

4/3 Pre-paid tour of Hong Kong. **not so into this. but oh well**

4/4 Leave Hong Kong for Guangzhou on China Southern flight



4/5 Please be sure you are dressed in Business Casual attire for today’s events. Thank you!
Go to the Provincial Civil Affairs Office this afternoon to receive your child. Congratulations!
The children will be delivered by the Orphanage Director and orphanage staff.

4/6 Adoption registration and notarization and apply for your child’s passport.


4/7 Your child’s visa physical exam and visa photo today. You will be walking to the clinic. Bring baby/child supplies (bottle, diaper, water, snack, etc.). Be ready to go!

4/8-10 Free time.
Optional city tours are available.

4/11 Receive your child’s adoption registration certificate & notary paperwork.


4/12 Receive your child’s passport.


4/13 Today is your Consulate appointment.

If you have medicines you are not using, please consider making a donation by leaving these items with your local rep. Thanks!

4/14 Go to the U.S. Consulate to take the oath in the afternoon. Please bring as few items with you to the Consulate
as possible. Backpacks, baby bags or purses are not permitted inside the Consulate.
Cell phones or cameras are not allowed in the U.S. Consulate or on the U.S. Consulate grounds.
Note: The U.S. Consulate prohibits your adult travel companions from entering the building. Your adult travel companions must remain at the hotel.

Receive your child’s visa packet at the U.S. Consulate.
DO NOT OPEN YOUR CHILD’S VISA PACKET!

4/15 Leave Guangzhou for Hong Kong on China Southern flight

Leave Hong Kong for the U.S.

The craziest thing EVER

We are leaving for China on April 1st. We will meet our new daughter April 5th.
Unbelieveable.

I will update more details later.


***********UPDATE**********

So Lee's mom and I went to orlando this past week with the kids for spring break. On Tuesday Lee just happend to check my email and saw that we got our TA (travel approval) to China. The email said we could leve as early as April 1st, but that was a small possibility. Well.........two hours later or so we found out that basically a miracle occurred and we get to leave on the first.

The next day we went to disney World and had a wonderful time. Yesterday we drove home and here I am with 400 lists of stuff do do and pack. I am a notorious procratinator so I have been caught way off guard.

I am just thilled about this, but completely overwhelmed.

Thankfully our families have jumped in and my kiddos will be well cared for while we are gone. I am heading to Babies R Us later and trying to find some lightweight, good sized suitcases too. (see I told you I was a procrastinator)

I am like a wacky cartoon character at this point. These checklists are swirling above my head taunting me. It is not a bad feeling really I must thrive on adreneline or something.

Also is this like a record in the China adoption world or something? I mean we just got our match 2-28 and we are leaving 4-1. That is just amazing. It is like 5 weeks from match to when we meet her on April 5th. How wonderful!

Where is Lianjiang SWI anyway?

Mary Clare is in the Lianjiang SWI (orphanage) which is in the Guangdong province. It is in southern china.

  


  

Here is a close up of her province. Lianjiang is near Zhanjiang down in the southern crescent.