Monday,
May 30
GOTCHA DAY/FOREVER DAY
I am writing this before we get Isabelle and will add more
later, depending on how she is doing. We are trembling
with excitement. It is surreal to believe we are this
close in the journey to having our daughter with us to eternity.
Sleeping was tough last night and right now it feels as though
the time has slowed to a drag. I'm sure that once we get
closer to the time that we meet her that it will speed up.
We were able to work out in the room and that helped with the
nervousness that we are all experiencing.
OH MY GOODNESS! WOW! UNBELIEVABLE! GOD HAS
RICHLY BLESSED US!
We got Isabelle and, of course, she is perfect. What an
unbelievable experience! We began this journey to receive
her and now we have kissed her, held her, taken pictures and
video, fed her, given her a bath, and dressed her in all the
pink a girl can handle.
We all, four families, boarded a bus and went to the Civil
Affairs Department and as we walked in there were children
ringing the room and I had the video camera running. I
frantically searched for our daughter but could not find her.
Stefanie and Tori thought they spotted her in the corner with a
red outfit. Then Sophie introduced us to the director of
the Huai'an orphanage and he started speaking out loud and I
turned with the camera and saw Isabelle being carried out of
another room by a lady and a man. At the exact same time,
Sophie asked Stefanie for the passports and I told her, "wait,
here comes Isabelle." At that moment I would have given
the passports to anybody just to get my hands on our daughter.
Stefanie lit up like a Christmas tree when she spotted her and
as soon as that girl was in her arms she had fallen in love
again all over. Isabelle came to Stefanie and was a little
anxious but once Stefanie had her there would be no letting go.
Isabelle fell asleep on her almost immediately and then awoke
just in time for adoption certification photographs. These
are the photos that the Chinese government keeps showing that
this is the family that has signed for the daughters of China.
Before we knew it was time to get back to the hotel where we
could feed her, change her, bathe her, and learn more about her.
The orphanage director and the male nurse who helped bring
Isabelle to the Civil Affairs were in Sophie's room and they
answered questions about Isabelle. Questions such as:
when does she sleep? (light sleeper, 2 hour nap after lunch,
don't know about nights), what does she eat? (dumplings, light
noodles, formula), How much formula? (depends on how much solid
food she has eaten). They had also filled out a
questionnaire about Isabelle that Stefanie sent earlier to the
orphanage. They were fantastic people and offered us a
silver necklace that has "blessing" in Chinese characters on one
side and "longevity" on the other. We thanked them and
gave them the gifts we brought. Tori taped the entire
interview which will air in its entirety on a major
network in the fall (just kidding). It will allow us to
share with her the experiences of her first 11 months without
us.
Before the interview, I experienced making a bottle for the
first time in my adult life and I have to say I was a pro.
As long as you consider spilling formula, ripping a hole in the
liner, making it too hot, wasting two more liners, spilling the
formula on the counter and cutting the hole in the nipple too
large, the work of a professional. She did get the bottle
and that made her very happy. When we returned from the
interview, she was showing off her ability to roll over and hold
a spoon. It was so cute. We got her undressed and
realized just how tiny she is. Shouldn't take the Leist
clan long to fatten her up on McDonalds, Taco Bell, and Chevy's.
Probably not right away but it'll happen. Gave her a bath
in the sink and she decided to push with all her might against
the sink and I discovered that strength comes in small packages
as well. Stefanie got her dressed literally head to toe in
pink. Then we brought her back into the room and she
promptly feel asleep, just as the male nurse told us she would. As I type this my three favorite girls are sleeping soundly.
Later today we will meet with Sophie again if we have further
questions and tomorrow we go back to the Civil Affairs to make
the adoption official. We have also asked to have the
opportunity to visit the orphanage but have to wait for that
decision from the Civil Affairs.
Isabelle will never be without a family ever again...she is ours! I'm off to get more formula (remember the spill
mentioned earlier) and then we will continue on this journey of
a lifetime! |
Gotcha and ain't never lettin' ya go
Stefanie and the Huai'An SWI personnel
Our newest addition brings out the smiles from both of us
She stole our hearts and now she can steal yours with this pose.
A more beautiful site I have never beheld.
Our perfect daughter rests with us now.
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