Finally some travel news.

We received an email from the facilitator advising we will travel to China somewhere between 3/1 and 3/5. I guess I don't have to call Continental Air and ask if they have a reservation for me anymore. It looks like there is a good possibility that I will be in China for St. Patricks day. I wonder if they celebrate. The room is coming together and should be complete tomorrow night. Jims friend Barbie is going to watch the dogs so everything seems to be falling into place.

Finding Ad

In China when a baby is "found" they are required to enter a listing in the local paper to let someone claim her, or identify the parents. Ping was left at the doors to a clinic at a hospital with diapers and formula. She was wearing a white outfit with blue flowers. Did you figure out which one she is yet? ( see pictures below). One clue.... either she is bored or tired. Yup, you guessed it the only one with her mouth WIDE OPEN.
No news on our departure date yet, nor if our TA has been received. The wait continues. A much different wait than the long wait, but still a wait.

Latest news

Matthew met us in Philadelphia for the travel meeting. We found out that we should be traveling to China somewhere between 2/23 and 2/25. The next step is getting the travel approval from China. They said it takes about three weeks from the date they receive my acceptance letter. Despite the directions stating you had to Fed-ex the acceptance by 1/4 for receipt no later than 1/5 some people did not send them right back which delayed the entire group by a few extra days. I think we should get the approvals around the 1st week of February. I did get my renewed I-171 in the mail today so once the approval comes in they can get me a consulate appointment. I guess one of the drawbacks to being in a group of 26 children is that you have to wait for the paper on everyone.
We will be staying in Hong Kong for a night at the beginning and at the end of the trip, 7 nights in Changsha (Hunan capital) and 5 nights in Quangzhou (US government portion of the visit). Unfortunately since we will be in the south we will not see the Great Wall or the terra cotta soldiers. However, the climate in the south is similar to Florida so we don't have to carry winter clothing.

She has a name

I know all the most ingenious people. Colleen did some investigating and found that Qiong means "fine jade". She suggested Jade as Ping's real name and I love it. So.... drumroll please.... introducing Jade Qiong Ni Miller. Sort of exotic with an international flare. We received our pre-travel meeting packet which contained all sorts of rules, regulations, and tidbits about the trip. It included a list of gifts that we must bring, baby items to pack, suggested clothing limit, etc. Everything must weigh less than 44 pounds. This is going to be a new way of traveling for me. My luggage usually gives the porter a hernia and gets slapped with a big sticker saying HEAVY. Tonight we received the travel information and two words come to mind - STICKER SHOCK. Holy heck, I was not prepared for the amounts. Jim said he was stunned. Anybody have an extra jet they want to lend us for the trip?

Forever indebted to the Chinatown waitress

Brandi spent about an hour trying to decipher the medical report that was included in my referral. She declared we are getting this translated today and off we went to the Chinatown restaurant. Gosh she is a determined girl. The waitress lady came over and started reading it for us. I took notes quickly, unfortunately too quickly because I don't know what some of them say. Only me - So here is her story. On 10/17/05 she was found crying in the street. The police were called. They determined that she was 15 days old. She was very loud for the first week that they had her. She is healthy but small. She smiled at 3 months, crawled between 7-8 months, and at 11 months when the physical was completed she could walk across the room with a walker. She eats 6 times per day and likes eggs, veggies, fish soup, beef soup, and noodles. She like music and being outside. She smiles at people she knows and when she is not happy she closes her eyes and scrunches her face. Her favorite toy is a material bear. I found a website that has pictures of what I believe is the orphanage she is in. You can look at it if you want http://www.pbase.com/larryrz/0405. We also received the call stating our travel meeting is next Saturday near Philadelphia. At that time I will be able to get confirmation that she is in the county orphanage (as I think) or if she is in the city one. I plan to send a care package once I know for sure. OH I almost forgot the most important thing - her name is pronounced Chen Knee Yang. So we are investigating names that might work since she recognized that name I don't know that I want to change it.

THE Red Folder

This afternoon the Fed-Ex man finally arrived with the special package. Since Jim was at work who better to see the picture first? So the Fed-Ex man stayed and ooooh'd and aaaah'd with me. I ran to Fed-Ex and sent the acceptance overnight priority for delivery tomorrow before 10 am. OK the vital info - Chinese Name Yang Qiong Ni Location - Hengyang Chengzhen SWI, Hunan Province Date of birth - 10/02/05

Chasing Fed-Ex trucks

From: gracewoodltd@yahoo.com
To: REDDANA@AOL.COM
Subject: Congratulations!
Date: Wed, 3 Jan 2007 9:29 PM


Dear DANA

It’s Grace here, delivering to you the wonderful news: You have been matched with a child! And she is beautiful!

I know that you have been waiting for a long time and anxiously to know what she looks like, her name and her province. I’m sending the package to you via FedEx. It should arrive at your home by tomorrow. In your package, you will also see a one-page Seeking Confirmation Letter from CCAA. We call this document Acceptance Letter which needs to be returned to me ASAP. (Please don’t forget to sign both of your names on the bottom of the page and return it to me by FedEx, please do not send by UPS or regular mail).

I will then see you at the pre-travel meeting (the date of the meeting will be informed to you later).

Congratulations! Happy New Year!
—what a joyful way to start a new year!

Best wishes,
Grace Chang