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She is True JOY

Jing Huan came only with the pink dress I got her months ago and the blue Chinese traditional outfit. Her shoes were too big and she kept fastening them, so this meant a trip to the mall. She was awesome, she was so good during our walk over...exploring everything!! Not afraid of anything!  When one of entered down another aisle, she said our name Papa.....(i wish I knew what she is saying, coz she talks all the time!) She let us know what shoes she liked and those she didn't. and guess what! she is a pink little girl! so her new shoes are pink crocs and pink sneakers!!

 

We then ate at the Western cafe buffet. It too was perfect. I held her so she could see the buffet and Joey prepared her plate. She at every last nibble!!!  Noodles, rice, potatoes, bok choy, soup!! She rubbed her tummy when she was finished, stepped down and asked me to take her to the bathroom!!!  Ok, something has to give....I am dreaming!!  Wake me, this child is tooo perfect! Joey can't believe it! Thank you my friend, Lisa, my friends at Rumor Queen, and all the yahoo groups for helping me to prepare!

 

It is 2AM as I type this. It was an incredible day. We go to register the adoption tomorrow..or this morning. Jing huan was already up at 1AM to go the bathroom. She is sleeping very well now. She is so excited about her pile of clothes. I can't wait for her to pick something out to wear in the morning. 

 

I feel she has always been mine. I love her!

We have her!

It was the most incredible day! As soon as Jing xin stepped out to find us, she stooped down to pull out our photo to show us she had had it. Her beaming smile is more bright in person. She lit up when I gave her the purse and pulled out the sunglasses! Then the digital camera and she was incredible. She did as I had hoped and took nonstop photos of her nannies from her SWI. She also took pictures of her Mama and Baba. She is spunky alright, but soooo sweet.

When she saw the pictures of the dogs and her room, she lit up too. She already says Molly and Mocha and she pointed to herself when she saw her room.

 

Some of her documents say Jing Huan. The nannies call her this "they said they could not call her Jing xin, but had to give her the nickname of Jing Huan, because she is such a happy little girl." So we are calling her Jing Huan and she is much more responsive.

 

She is the Perfect Gift. We are both pinching ourselves. The day was too perfect.    

12 hours to Jingxin Day!

It is 3:30 AM and both Joe and I are up.

I am thinking about Jingxin and I think Joey is just not sleepy. I posted lastnight, but I sent too many photos and I believe it did not publish. So I hope I won't be repeating anything again. I walked back to the mall yesterday afternoon. I entered the front this time and noticed that it is the Admiral City Mall and Walmart is one of very many stores inside it. I bought the Minnie Mouse from a cute small store that had popular childrens items. Not one panda bear! also got some cute stickers. I took a couple more photos.

 

Last eveing, we had dinner with our guide, Kathy, at the Western Cafe. Again, I enjoyed the food and getting to choose and try the many delicacies.  We asked our guide many questions and she obliged us. I know I shouldn't, but I do feel some guilt about taking this beautiful child away from her country and immersing her in a world so far from her own. Kathy assured me that as long as I meet her needs for the first few days, weeks, Jingxin will do well. It is harder on the older children. But Kathy commented we seemed to be well prepared (I have Lisa and her experience, friends from Rumor Queen and the many yahoo groups to thank). She said food was a big deal and that we should not force any different foods upon her....well, I've already decided I won't be doing that. The Chinese have a very healthy diet here and I'd like to keep Jingxin on that diet as long as I can.   

 

Kathy shared how the one child policy is changing. The government is acknowledging that one child in a family is having adverse affects...the child is usually very spoiled, does not readily share, and is selfish. The govt is easing up on the restrictions and there is more domestic adoption. I asked about the thoughts of the Chinese regarding the adoption of their children by foreignors. She said that in the bigger cities, it is common and the people are accustomed and accepting to it. They know that children will have families, have better access to education and a better chance at a sucessful future. But they do worry about the children losing their Chinese heritage and culture. In the smaller cities, such as Nanning, many are not aware of the many adoptive families and will ask many questions. But once they know, they are fine. Kathy also shared her family experiences, her parents, her work and the social system here.

 

So in just less than 12 hours, we will have Jingxin with us. We think that we will probably go to the Western Cafe again for dinner. We will probably be with the other families too and Jingxin will get to meet the other girls. I am very excited about her skyping with her friend and SWI sister, Jingju, who is now in Connecticut with her mother, Lisa. I hope to video that event. Joey is going to try to video our meeting...this is a big deal, since he doesnot like cameras.

 

I have a mixture of feelings...nervous, scared...but most of all happy! I just hope Jingxin will be as happy with us......

 

 

 

 

     

2nd Day in Nanning

ok, our first day in China, not spent sleeping. The breakfast buffet was great. I enjoyed it very much. Our guide, Kathy, says it is a mixture of traditional Chinese mixed with traditional western breakfast food..pastries, omeletes. I enjoyed noodles, fruit, some vegetables, tofu, potatoe hash browns, and ginger bread.

 

Kathy called Jingxin's SWI yesterday and was told that Jingxin says she is happy about metting her new family.

The SWI staff reported that Jingxin is neither extroverted or introverted....i'm guessing this means even tempered...

They report she is in kindergarten and is very smart. Our meeting is set for 3:00 PM on Monday.

 

So Joey and I walked literally across the sreet, past an arena and were at the Walmart Supercenter. Frankly, I don't know why it is called a Walmart Supercenter. It is a western style mall; we couldn't find the Walmart! It is located in the 1st floor basement (2 basement floors). I LOVE this mall. The 4th floor is all kids stuff, toys, clothes, arcade, gymboree, kids salon (so cute! kids were sitting in cars getting their hair cut), and a movie theatre!

 

I was looking for a panda bear for Jingxin for gotcha day, but have decided on a cute Minnie Mouse stuffed toy. I also have a purse with some candy and a digital camera to give her on gotcha day. I took pictures of the dogs, Mocha and Molly, her room and some of the house with the camera to share with her. I am hoping that if one or two of her nannies accompany her, she will want to take their picture and I can take some of them together and she can look at the pictures when she takes her camera out. I didn't get the minnie mouse yet...we walked the mall first. I plan to go back this afternoon.  

 

Prices here are not as cheap as I thought they would be. Actually, they are slightly more pricier, (at least in Walmart). I didn't pack any shampoo, because of the luggage weight restriction, thinking I would buy here. But now I will use the hotel shampoo. 

 

About the airline weight restriction. The carry-on 11 pound limit was not adhered to on Air China, international nor intraChina. I'm ditiching my cheap 1 pound duffle bag. 

 

And the gifts I brought...not sure I bought the best items. The UM caps are great for the guys, but I got makeup for the nannies and I saw Loreal makeup at Walmart. I got a huge batch (50 compacts if different duo colors)of ELF eyeshadows and lipsticks. Maybe there are less resources where the SWI is located.

 

So we bought a 3 DVD set of Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf. Also got a toy figurine. It will not play on the Sony DVD player, but plays on my Dell laptop. The cartoon was playing on the TV at the display and the children were glued to the screen. Thank you Lisa for alerting me to this great cartoon series.

 

I did not bring crayons, only markers, thinking I could buy them at Walmart...wrong! couldn't find any! But I did get some bubbles and a nice puzzle. I was so tempted to get more...but we will have a shopping day on Wednesday with our guide and Jingxin can pick out some things for herself.

 

We briefly met the other GWCA families. They are all tired from their journeys. There will be 3 children aged 6-9, so I hope they will play and have together. We will all be traveling to Guangzhou too.

 

We are obviously in an area of Nanning that is modernized. We feel like we are in Miami...the weather, just like Miami...super hot! I didn't take many pictures today, but hope to take some of the hotel. It is very nice and we like it a lot. I did get a picture of the mall.

 

ok, more later.

 

 

 

IN China!!

We are here! We are in Nanning, Guangxi Province. The province of our daughter! The flight was good. Air China was very nice. We thought the Beijing Airport was very clean, very nice and very organized...we compare this to the Miami Airport!  Flying and driving into Nanning, I felt like I was in the Philippines. I know I was only a baby when there, but this is how I envisioned it> And we are not very far from the PI from here. BeiHai, where Jingxin is from is even closer.

 

We are at the Best Western Red Forrest Hotel. It is very, very nice. and we are very comfortable.  Some perks which are very improtant to me, is free internet and free bottled water. To Joey, a comfortable bed and AC!

It was long flight, and for a while I felt like we were on the Amazing Race trying to find our airline in LA.  Yes, Joey and I had a blow out. But all is fine now. Getting around was actually more simpler in the China airports.

 

There were no personnel in Hazmat suits when we arrived, but young officials wearing uniforms, masks and goggles. They were armed with temperature guns and shot them at our foreheads to het our temps. Looked like we were a good group as no one was separated to be taken quaratine....as of this date and time....I am actually feeling sick tonight. I was feeling sick before we left and saw the MD to get some antibiotics. I went ahead and started them tonight. I know it is the stress...this is the biggest life change of my life!

 

Our GWCA guide met us and it was a 50 minute ride to the hotel. The roads were clean and landscaped and to me, did not look like a communist country (my memories of the Soviet Union in the 1980's). There was commercialism and advertising everywhere; we didn't see Chairman Mao anywhere yet...vs Lenin on every block in communist Russia.

 

Anyway, we arrived at our hotel at about 12:30 PM. The power in our room is powered by our door card. We got two of them, not for the power, but we are using it to keep the AC on while we are out, so the room will be cool when we get in. We unpacked and slept 10 PM ! We missed dinner, but had a Chinese beer (Tiger) at the hotel bar. We had good food on the flight (Chinese flight, none on US). We chose a local meal on the flight to our province...i'm guessing it was congee. We watched the locals mix the other foods with the congee. It was good.

 

We have free breakfast in the mroning. The local Walmart is across the street. We plan to go tomorrow and purchase some more water, snacks and more gifts for Jingxin. I'd like to have some Chinese DVDs here for here until we go shopping together. There are 4 families here in Nanning. They are touring in Biejing now and will arrive tomorrow. We go to the Bank tomorrow to exchange our $ for RMB for the orphanage donation. It is Sunday tomorrow..yes, the banks are open.

 

We meet Jingxin on Monday @ 2:30 PM. We will go to the Civil Affairs building. One family is adopting a 7 y/o from Nanning SWI. I am glad of this and hope we will get to spend lots of time with that family and the girls can play together in the hotel.

 

This server is slow, but I am gald to have it. I will try to post pictures,although I don't know if I will be able to. I am very excited about Jingxin Jingju skyping and hope to do that our first night.

 

Ok, more tomorrow. I am so happy to be here!!  

1 week countdown!

Testing my Flip Video Camcorder.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JINGXIN !!

Happy 6th Birthday Jingxin!!
Your smile melts my heart...and although I had wanted to spend your birthday with you, I am glad that you were able to spend your special day with your friends and family in China. I know your contagious smile will be greatly missed.
I can't wait to hold you tight!!
I love you!

Birthday Pictures!

Care Package 7

I sent my last package to Jingxin last Friday. I ordered her a Birthday Cake, a backpack, some tea and cookies and of course a camera for pictures of Jingxin with her friends and nannies. I thought I ordered 2, but I see I ordered only 1. I hope there are lots of pictures taken. I also sent 2 recent photos of Joey and me and one with the Tessa Cake from last week. I can't wait to see the pictures from her Birthday. She will be 6 years old!
Thank you Ann from Redthreadchina for offering this priceless service!!

Tessa Cake

China came to Gloria's House
My MSW Sisters gave me a magnificent Tessa Shower!!
It was the Best baby shower ever!!!
I am sooooo grateful to have such beautiful friends.
Tessa got lots of wonderful things!
Her new Mommy gives HUGE Xie Xie's!

I will post more pictures for the blog as I get them.
Mine came out blurry!
I tested my new camera and the pictures were not good.
So I am on the search for another digital camera for China!

I can't wait to introduce Tessa to everyone
when China comes to Cathy's House!!

We're Booked!

Yesterday was a very strange day for me...

saying goodbye to one life and saying hello to another!

My last day at work was yesterday and it was very difficult trying to focus on closing everything up when I knew I had to rush home and try to get the best flights for our trip. I was very anxious and a nervous wreck worrying about making these flight arrangements. This is REALLY happening now and we are finally on our way!!

Ok, so today is the beginning of my new life!! Here are our flight plans.

July 9, Depart for China,
6:20 PM American Air, Miami-LAX
1:40 AM China Air, LAX-Beijing
7:45 AM China Air, Beijing -Nanning
July 11, Arrive in Guangxi Province, 11:00AM
July 12, Sleep off Jet lag, Mentally prepare for daughter!
July 13, Gotcha Day, Meet our daughter, Jing Xin
July 14, Sign Adoption Paperwork
July 15, Joey Daparts
9:00 PM Beijing to LAX
9:15 PM, LAX to Miami
5:18 AM, Arrive in Miami
July 16, Tours, shopping
July 17, Fly to Guanghzou Province
July 18, Jing Xin's medical exam, photo for Visa, Tours in afternoon.
July 22, Amercian Consulate Appointment, Jing Xin becomes American Citizen
July 23, Sandra received the greatest Gift of all!!
July 24, Depart for Beijing
July 25, Beijing Tours, swimming
July 26, Beijing Tours, swimming
July 27, Depart for US.
9:00 PM, China Air, Beijing to LAX
9:15 PM, American Air, LAX to Miami,

5:18 AM HOME !!

HUG A TREE

I like the way Tessa thinks...Hugging a Tree, Peace Out, Smile, Love.
Her body language says it all!! That's My Girl!!!

Cutie Pie !!

Wanna squeeze that Cuuutte face!!

We've pretty much decided we will fly into Hong Kong, then to Nanning and pick up Jing Xin first! Joey will leave shortly after we get her due to his new job. Then Jing Xin and I will travel to Guangzou and on to Beijing. I wonder if the trip will be too long for her, but I sense that Jing Xin will be a great traveler. Travel dates are still tentative, but with doing Beijing at the end of the trip, we may end up leaving later and getting back later. My efforts to get earlier travel dates from my agency were unsuccessful.
Gosh, isn't she a doll?

"So You Think I Can Dance?"

Hmmmm, is dancing in her future??

Update Pictures !!

Look at that HUGE Smile!! WOW, She's Amazing!

I requested an Update from my agency as I was miserably waiting for our Travel Approval. Today I received 4 beautiful photos.

JingXin looks Soooo happy!! I hope she will be just as happy here in the U.S.!!

WONDERFUL.
I can't wait to get her in front of my new cameras. I think she will love being in front of them!!!

Party & Gift for Tessa

My office colleagues threw a surprise party for me today at lunch! It was awesome! There were large pictures of Tessa posted all over the walls and these huge pink and green ribbons too. I didn't know about it, so I didn't have a camera...gosh darn! But there was lots of food and a scrumptous ice cream cake. I was given lots of "Words of Wisdom" for my future as a mother! The one given the most? LOVE....and I've got lots of that for my girl!

They gave Tessa a very generous gift card from Toys R Us. I will take Tessa there so she can pick out a bicycle with all the whistles (training wheels, basket, horn, helmet), and then make another trip for maybe Barbies or a doll house?

It was so very nice!! Thank you my wonderful friends!! I am very lucky to have found a job with you in it. I will miss you all!

Travel Approval Came Today!!

We Got IT!!

We have our official travel approval to China to adopt Tessa Kai Jingxin Lozowicki!!!
I literally jumped up and down at work today!!

I still can't believe it!
This is finally going to happen. We should know our dates of travel in the next few days.

And today at lunch, I bought the cutest Red/White/Blue outfit. At Osh Kosh there was an entire wall of clothes for the 4th of July. These past few days, I've been organizing and going thru some of the things I got Tessa; I probably got too many dresses!! I'm not sure if Tessa will wear them, so I think that maybe I'll capture them on her blog.

I'm so excited!!! I can't wait to get started with packing! I think I have everything for Tessa. I need to get my things in order.

Hooray!

School's Out

Well today was the last day of school. I was very sad to see some of my kids for the last time...they have been so wonderful this year and have worked so hard to make those positive changes. I can't help but wonder how (if) my work with them will make a difference in their life path. I really hope they will be able to use their new skills all of their life.

And....I heard from my agency today regarding the delay of the TA. The provinces have something to do with the completion of the paperwork. There were two TAs this week in our agency for families in the same time frame as us, but their child is located in Jiangxi. This is soooo distressing.

So I wait for another week to pass.

Still Waiting....

It is so hard to wait. I gave my notice at work yesterday. I had wanted to take a week off before we traveled so that I could get focused on packing and getting ready. So my last day is June 18. Another family from my agency got their TA today, so I had hoped ours was here too. But no call. I also asked for an update...an official update from the SWI obtained from our agency. A current update would be nice, as I am not really sure when the pictures Ann got for me were taken.

So I have been doing some retail therapy....I have the Nikon D40-for those gorgeous photos of our gorgeous girl, the Kodak digital, Tessa's digital, the Sony Portable DVD Player, the Leapster, Hooked on Phonics, and what else? I gotta get an MP3 player. I want to record some music for Tessa...Kai....Kai Xin....

I am still confused about her name. I like Kai Xin a lot. I want to have Jingxin decide what name she wants. I am imagining our life together...I want so much for her. I hope she will be happy here. She looks so happy in her photos. She is going to be in a totally different world. The weather will be the same, tho. Bei Hai is sub tropical and the temperatures have been identical since I have been monitoring them-since December!

Gosh, I am so depressed just waiting.......

Care Package 6

I am hoping really hard that this will be my LAST care package! I will send a Birthday Cake and some cameras to the SWI before we travel, but I really just want to send myself to scoop Tessa up and bring her to her new home!!

What a Smile!

My Goodness! I can't stop gazing at her beautiful face!!
I'm in Love! What a smile!

The Work of Waiting

Yesterday, 8 Travel Approvals (TAs) arrived for several families who post on the Rumor Queen Forum!! I am so happy for them. As I reviewed the forum, I saw many families who were anxiously waiting for their TAs in April are all in China NOW!

There is this wonderful chart created by some moms in the RQ forum to help us see where we are in the "waiting" game. It looks like we should be in the next big group of TAs which should come in about 2-3 weeks. Then it is making all the arrangements to get to China: our flights, care for our pets, leaving work, packing, then mentally and emotionally preparing for our new lives!!

I am ready to send another package and am trying to restrain myself- it will be my 6th package. I am limited to what I can get for Tessa, since I am not shopping here and sending it over. But I sure enjoy doing it!! And Ann is wonderful at RedThreadChina!

I watched Lisa Ling's Lost Girls of China 2 nights ago and was captivated!! I am so excited to know that I will be having this same emotional experience soon. I have posted it to my blog so everyone can view it too!

I also watched my new dear friend Lisa's video of her meeting her 5 y/o child; she went to Nanning last month. It was truly incredible and her little one is very amazing!! Our girls are from the same SWI, same age and are friends. I look forward to Tessa skyping with her in about a month or two.

Well, I am off to do errands and shop some more today for our new one!!