Pearl and Jade Market

Blog update: Maddie Jane slept all night last night!  She has been waking up and crying/grieving in the middle of the night. I know that she was truly loved, but it is so hard to watch your child go through so many emotions. However, I think we have made a turn last night. I woke up to the sweetest fingers rubbing my face!  Yes, she is in the bed with me. Yes, I LOVE it. She has really started to warm up to Todd!  She loves to play with him!  Today, we toured the pearl and jade market. Then, we toured the Chen family home. It was beautiful. After our morning excursion, we went to the room to eat lunch. The girlfriend loves peanut butter and jelly sandwiches!  She is all about the Oreos, too!  After her nap, we went with the Dowis family to eat dinner at the Banana Leaf Restaurant. It was great!  Tomorrow is our U.S. Consulate appointment. Later that evening, we will go on the Pearl River dinner cruise!  Maddie is really starting to let her little "spicy" personality shine through!  She has learned a couple of words...Hey, Mad-Mad, Hi, mama, and no!  I do believe we have a talker on our hands!  Sorry all you preschool and elementary teachers...I'm thinking you will have your hands full with this little one!  God Bless!

US Consulate Medical Appointment

Blog update:  We were up and going early this morning!  We had to be in the hotel lobby to leave for the US consulate medical appointment. I might not have clarified things...we are in Guangzhou to finalize the American side of the adoption. There are around 8 wonderful Lifeline families with us. I have grown so close with The Dowis family. Their son, Bo, was one of Maddie's best friends at the orphanage. The nannies laughed and said, "Maddie would sing the karaoke and Bo would dance!"  I want these two to always remain close friends!

The medical appointment was wild!  So many families there... All finalizing their adoptions. Kids were screaming and crying, but you do whatever it takes to get them home!  Maddie did great on all of her examinations. She weighs about 15 pounds. The doctor kept telling me what a happy child she was!  We are truly blessed. After the appointment, we grabbed a bite of lunch. Todd had a paperwork meeting at 2:30, and Maddie and I took a nap. We went to dinner with the lifeline families this evening. I was so proud that one of the men in our group stood up and blessed our meal!  I am so proud that the restaurant was full when we did this!  This whole experience has been life changing for me. If you have ever had an ounce of pondering the thought of adoption, please do so!  So many children need homes! Remember, God has called us to care for the orphans!"  Love to all.

Guangzhou

Today was a bittersweet day for me. Maddie is leaving the only "hometown" that she has ever known. This is the city that I received my baby, and where we spent those first bonding moments. We got to the airport about 3:30, and our flight was at 6:00. Maddie cried as we took off (pressure on ears). However, she took her bottle and fell asleep on me.  She snuggled so close, and I loved every minute of it. We arrived at The Garden Hotel (Guangzhou) about 10:00.  The hotel is breathtaking. Maddie has her medical appointment in the morning, and then we have paperwork meetings the rest of the afternoon. Guangzhou is much more "westernized" than Chongqing. It reminds me of New York City!  Maddie just had her bath, and now we are off to bed!  God Bless!!

She's finally warming up to daddy!

Maddie's first zoo visit ...

Today was a fun day. Our guide met us at the hotel, and we started off at the Chongqing Zoo. It was wonderful. Maddie loved looking at all of the animals.

Then we went to the oldest immigrant center in Chongqing. It was breathtaking. You can tour or rent the facilities out. They were preparing for a wedding when we arrived. It was breathtaking.

Maddie has been an angel. She is such a brave little girl. However, nights are when she starts to grieve. I am so thankful that God put adoption on my heart.