Monday 23rd Gotha Day

Off to the CCWA to meet Alice Qiu Mei.

Different building than last time but same bizarre experience. Jane and Graham are there with Mei Lin but Alice is a bit late.

Then she arrives, well we hear her first! 

Feisty little thing who hasn't taken to the six-hour trip very well.  She is very small and doesn't want to leave her nanny.

 

Eventually all sorted and back to the hotel. Goodness knows what they'll think when we walk in with an infant.

Monday evening is fine. Alice is still very shut down and not eating much but is taking a bottle. 

We have no crib so are expecting the night from hell but with the exception of a bit of self soothing, as soon as the lights go out she sleeps right through, but what a wriggler!

Me and SHMBO still jet lagged so spend much of the night looking at the vague outlines of our two beautiful daughters lying in-between us both

21st February 2012 - News At Last

Ten days ago we were cursing the Department of Education, being convinced that Rumour Queen was correct in confirming referrals had been sent. JA calls and nothing. ‘No I can’t tell you anything.” Then on the 20^th February we get the call from the Social Worker that we had been matched. Some confusion about the name as the call was taken whilst DR was at swim class, so Wu Qiumei was known as Wu Hiumei for 24hrs!

Everyone’s so excited. DR is really joyous and wants to go now! We dive on-line to the yahoo groups and find out that Wuchaun SWI seems not that good, but this is later disproved by an email exchange with Jill from Chicago, (Hi Jill and Phil) and we now believe that they do a good job in difficult circumstances, the SWI not Jill. ;-)

Pictures and paperwork arrive on the Wednesday and we get the first glimpse of our new addition – what a beauty, quite small but perfectly formed. Then it’s time to sort out a name, having decided to wait for a picture before making any firm decisions. Daddy still can’t swing it for Cordelia, and Mummy has to forgo Theordora. We settle on Alice.

Next day DR breaks the news in school, taking in photo evidence in case her friends think she is just being mad. Mandarin class on Saturday doesn’t concentrate on yi, er san but at scanning the paperwork and arranging to get it translated and off to the paediatrician – which happens in the next 24hrs – thanks Daisy. Now we have a few days to wait until we meet and discuss anything, but it all looks OK, except for Alice Qiumei being slightly underweight and unlikely to be picked to play for the school volleyball team

Daddy focuses on trying to plan the trip. Early discussions with Chris Tao Ping result in him contacting the SWI and providing us with further reassuring updates and another picture taken by the director and sent via her mobile!!

The picture says ‘I am fed up please come and get me’ The weekend also sees the finishing touches being put to the nursery with DR anxious that she won’t be able to reach Alice over the side of the cot if she needs help in the night. What every elderly parent needs, an 8 yr old live in nanny! We tell her not to worry.

Read Jill and Phil's blog and like the "mei mei" and "jie jie" t-shirts. Note to self to get some made. Sunday also sees us pop into town for Mummy to assess her and her matching dresses!! Oh and the spare room now has all the clothes that have been saved laid out ready for……….well I’m not sure why they are there, but I am told it’s important mummy daughter stuff

Plans are still in draft until we get the ITT, but we are trying to manage things so that we can complete the adoption, revisit Les, Lisa and Laura in Yangchun, spend a couple of days abusing the friendship of Dave and Alison in Hong Kong and still get home PDQ.

Oh and mummy can’t sleep now with all the excitement.