Headin' for China!

Here we go...leaving Kansas City at 6:00 am December 7th and arriving in Beijing, China at 3:00 pm December 8th.  We will tour Beijing until December 11th when we fly to Changsha to get Kai.  Our "Gotcha" day is the 12th.  This is the day we get Kai...we will be meeting each other for the first time.  We will then sign all of the documents that will make him officially our son in the eyes of the Chinese government.  Now it's bonding time...hang out...explore Changsha...hopefully visit Kai's "finding place" (the place where he was found)...and then take the bullet train out of Changsha to Guangzhou for our Consulate appointment on the 19th. This is the visit to the American Embassy to handle the US part of the adoption.  We return home on December 21st to become a family of four!

We have our travel approval!

We received our T.A. (travel approval) November 18th! This is the official "come on over" from The China Center for Children’s Welfare and Adoption (CCCWA).  Our "Gotcha Day" (the day we actually get Kai) is December 11...so we will be leaving on the 7th.  I will do my best to document all of these events on this blog... 

Supergirl! Halloween 2011

Roo and her Spooky House!

Kai's Care Package.

Waiting...

We’re waiting on our TA (travel approval)…looking more like we’d be heading to Changsha in early December. We just sent Kai a care package with clothes, toys and a few disposable cameras (hopefully his foster parents will take several pictures)…we also included a few photos of Mommy, Daddy, Sister and Uncle Travis. The waiting is horrible.

Roo Recycles!

Changsha, Hunan China

 A few tiny maps to provide a hint as to where Kai is waiting in such a huge country. 

Changsha is the capital of Hunan Province.  The history of the city dates back to the Western Zhou Dynasty (1046-771 BC) and the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220).  It is also the center of Huxiang Culture.  Encompassing 11,819 square kilometers, the city is composed of five districts and four counties with a population of 5.82 million.  The area and population of the city proper is 554 square kilometers and 1.51 million respectively.  The city lies in the rich Xiangjiang Plain.  The yearly average temperature is 17.2C.

Phoebe

Apparently, Kai is afraid of dogs.  I think he may change his mind when he meets Phoebe.

Exciting News About Kai!

We received wonderful news yesterday (September 29th)!  Kai is currently in foster care and doing well. (It is possible that he may have been in foster care since March)  In April, his cleft lip was repaired.  What follows is a copy of the update we received from Angela at ladybugsnlove.com  We were allowed ten questions for her to submit to the orphanage/foster parents…it was so difficult to narrow it down to just ten! 

(Displayed as translated)

I have received update this afternoon. Below is translated information for you:

1.       What is Zhang Yajin’s daily routine and sleeping patterns?

He gets up at 6:00am. Breakfast at 6:30am; Lunch at 12:00pm; Nap 1:00pm-3:00pm; Dinner at 6:00pm and goes to bed at 9:00pm.

2. What are his favorite toys and activities, is he walking?

He is walking alone now. His favorite activity is to play with toys and outdoor activities.

3. What foods does he like the most and are there any foods he dislikes?

He is not picky eater. He likes to eat everything given to him. He has good appetite.

4. Does he drink from a bottle or cup and what temperature does he prefer his liquids?

He drinks from a bottle. Just warm is fine.

5. Is he allergic to any foods or medicines?

No.

6. Has he had any surgeries or illnesses?

He had surgery for his cleft lip in April of 2011.

7. Is he potty trained and does he wear diapers or split pants?

The foster family has been working on potty training him. But he still can’t tell you when he need to go. He needs adults to remind him to go potty. He is wearing split pants.

8. What makes him happy, sad and scared?

Take him outside and play makes him very happy. If he doesn’t get his way, he will be sad. He is scared of dog.

9. What is done to comfort or soothe him when he is upset?

Give him some food, hold him.

10. has he formed close bonds with his caregivers?

He is in foster care now. He is attached to his foster mom.

 11. His updated measurements:
Height: 79cm; Weight: 11kg; Head: 47cm; Chest: 48cm; Teeth: 14.

Things That Absolutely Horrify My Daughter, Ryleigh

1. Our Oreck Air Purifier
2. Electric hand dryers in public bathrooms
She is otherwise fearless…she would walk up to a bloody, gore-mouthed, heaving zombie and ask for a hug...No Kidding.
God forbid someone comes to our door this Halloween dressed as an air purifier…

Songs of Roo (Ryleigh)

A list of songs that remind me of my beautiful daughter…either title alone, lyrics or both.

I’m Different - Butterfly Boucher
Hyperactive - Thomas Dolby
Bouncing - The Thompson Twins
Senses Working Overtime - XTC
Beautiful Love - Julien Cope
Oblivious - Aztec Camera
I Can’t Wait - Nu Shooz
Please, Please, Please, Give Me More, More, More - The Wonder Stuff
MMM, MMM, MMM - The Crash Test Dummies
Beautiful Day - U2
Dancersaurus - The Thompson Twins
New Song - Howard Jones
The Reflex - Duran Duran
Groove Is In The Heart - Deee-Lite
Daughter - Louden Wainwright III
(Keep Feeling) Fascination - The Human League
Imagination - Belouis Some
(Yes, I am aware of the pervasive 80’s influence)

Our "Letter of Acceptance"

Our “Letter of Acceptance” arrived September 22nd.  For those of you unfamiliar with international adoption, this is HUGE.  It is the official “OK” from China to go get our son (Kai Porter YaJin Flood).  A few more hoops (visas, durable power of attorney) and we await our travel approval.  My Brother-in-law, Travis and I should be going to China to get him in as little as two months!  *I had thought you'd be able to click on this photo and see a larger image, but no luck...anyway,  it's a pretty cool document*

"Boo boo"...this is autism....

Ryleigh is trying to tell me she has a boo-boo on her foot. She was asking for a band-aid a few moments before...she knows the band-aids are kept in the kitchen.  It was actually an old scab from a 'shoe-blister' she discovered.  The volume fluctuates, but you can hear her "echo" my questions, which is the primary way she communicates.