CIC paperwork

Today we finished our paperwork for the CIC sponsorship process. We completed this in the lobby and the girls were running around playing hide and seek. 

After, me, Jason and the kids (so love that) along with Kaspars, Mary and their daughter, went for a walk down Wangfujing street. We saw some interesting things down there.

We went to the mall for lunch and dinner. It was quite good. We decided that we eat there...it's really inexpensive and we found a starbucks and a Bread Talk bakery. YUMMY!

Back in Beijing

Well, after a tearful good-bye to our guide Michael, we are back in Beijing. The flight started of with our little man in tears! I think his ears were bothering him. The young in front of him gave him a bell and an orange and that made him happy for awhile. Then he fell asleep until the announcement came on for landing and that scared him.

When we finally collected our luggage and changed him, the other family and our guide were waiting patiently for us! We were excited to see them and meet their little girl.

We got checked in and went to our room, got settled in and then headed out to get something to eat. We all ended up at McDonalds. Jason and I always giggle when we get here. This McDonalds has delivery.

Then we went to the local market to buy water, fruit and a few snacks.

Madisyn and her little friend had a ton of fun running around in the market together. So glad to see them play.

Tomorrow is paperwork!

I will post tomorrow

Em

Last night in NanJing

So tonight is the last night that our precious boy gets to spend somewhat close to his home city. Zhangjiagang city is a very rich city, our guide told us. Lots of business owners that are so wealthy they have a single detached homes. This made me think...

I asked Michael to ask the chief director, Ms Lee, what her thoughts were around our son being older when he was abandoned. She personally thinks it's a money and healthcare issue. She also said they don't get a lot of minor correctable needs children, just because the wealth of the area. A sad thought; we are so blessed in Canada!

We really didn't do much today, Michael came with Dru's passport and white books and gave us all our receipts. Then we headed to the mall that is directly across the street, to find some wipes. We found a bakery called Bread Talk and wow was it ever good. And, in this mall was a Hello kitty store, Madisyn was in heaven. She picked 2 things to bring home, but it took her quite a while to decide. In this mall, we found a fish and fry place. This was very good as well.

Last, right next door there is a Haagen Dazs ice cream store. They have some pretty fancy stuff there. We had the family sweet trail and the raspberry and mango sorbet was amazing.

I will blog from Beijing tomorrow night!

EM

A little about Dru...

So, I thought I would tell you a little about our little guy:

* he loves oranges

* loves to play with cars and trucks

* loves playing with any type of pull toy

*typically rough and tumble play

*easily attaches...(something we need to be very cautious with)

* loves outside, didn't like the baby hawk until he learned that this means we are going outside

*the orphanage said he loves dancing

*wearing 18 month clothing but the pants are still too long

*he has already fallen and got a bruise on his chin....lost his balance and fell into the garbage can

*loves to eat (boy can I tell by carrying him)

*starting to respond to his English name a little

* sweats very easily

* doesn't like orange juice

These are some of the things we have learned..either through experience or by the orphanage chief director and director telling us!

Love from Nan Jing
Em

Xuanwu Lake Park

This park is absolutely stunning. We walked around and our guide told us about the surroundings and history. We also ran into the 10 other families that were at the Civil affairs office with us on Forever Family Day! They all seem to be doing great as well.

I will let the pictures speak for themselves.

Zhangjiagang Children's Welfare Institute

Where do I begin with this post....

I was very nervous about taking my already hurting heart to an orphanage where I know there are special needs children. When we arrived, most of the office staff was waiting outside on the step. Dru was eager to go see the driver of the CWI. We chatted on the steps for a few minutes and entered the building where they had a sign welcoming Dru yi hui back home. The director told us he is always welcomed to come back home for a visit.

She took us to the office where they offered us HOT water...and the kids little snacks were displayed on every table in the room. I presented the director with our gifts. She was very pleased to see the toothbrushes and the toothpaste. She took us out to the next room where there were pictures of some of the children displayed on the wall. She old us about the children and showed us Dru's little friend, who is now living in America. She also talked about the one little girl who is waiting, that has syphillis. Then she took us back to the office where we had lunch together. 

The nanny's came from every direction, wanting to say bye to Hui Hui. They loved him dearly. They brought toys for him to take home. The director gave us the information on how to connect with his little friend. She gave me the one and only picture of him before his lip repair. She also asked if she could have our email address to stay  connected. I feel so fortunate that he was loved so much by these people.

This CWI has only 70 children, compared to Madisyn's 350. They took us in the baby room where my heart was broken again. I cried seeing the 6 week old baby with downs syndrome. There was a baby there with water on the brain and there were other babies whose needs were not visible. I wanted to pick them up and love on them, but I didn't. I did touch them and cried. I smoothed the head of the one baby, as tears filled her eyes. Me and Jason's heart shattered to pieces together, feeling so helpless. I love children and seeing these children and can't help it, it breaks this mama's heart.

Dru is only the second adoption this orphanage has completed this year.

Feeling so blessed tonight......