FIRST PHOTO

This is the 1st glimpse we had of HaiYang, actually it was a tiny black and white of just her face from this photo. I am guessing this picture was taken about 2 years ago. We were pretty secretive about our plans to adopt again, we didn't want to get everyone excited if it never happened. We started watching the SN lists in January of '08. Well, that isn't completely true, I had been watching them off and on since we returned home with Tessie, we just became more serious about it at that time. I think we were both feeling sort of "now or never", after all we aren't getting any younger.

I have to be honest we were not immediately sure, I know that sounds terrible, but we already had 2 children and we were not sure about her SN - she was listed as multiple SN. Turned out all her needs are is a corrected VSD (tiny hole in her heart) and corrected cleft lip/cleft palate.

I would go back to her little photo every day or so for about a week, Lucie knew we were thinking about adopting and she was very much for it, so I would let her view the lists with me. Lucie knew I had a soft spot for this little one and as it turned out so did she. I caught her looking at her photo on-line several times. One evening Lucie and I went out to dinner (I think Tessie was with Grandma) and out of the blue she said, "Mommy I think we should bring that little girl home", she blew me away, there was something in her that just knew we were supposed to make HaiYang part of our family. The next day I requested her complete file, a day or so later asked to be matched and shortly after we were matched..... and the process began.

That all seems like such long time ago. As the months passed we were given updates and a few newer pictures and finally, late last year we found out she was at New Hope, what a gift, once we had that information we were given many updates and photo from families that had already traveled. It was wonderful to know that she was taken to such a fantastic place and was given the love and care she needed to survive and thrive. New Hope is truly amazing and we are so looking forward to visiting while in Country. My hope is to return again when the girls are a little older so we can spend a few weeks volunteering. It is hard to say what will happen in the next 7 or 8 years but it is something to work toward.

Preparing to travel

We have been given dates for travel, we will be leaving for Beijing October 7th, visiting New Hope October 9th and meeting HiaYang October 10th. We are spending the 1st two days in Beijing, to give us the opportunity to visit New hope, then will be going to Zhengzhou for 5 or 6 days and finally we will go to Guangzhou for the remainder of the trip and for the all important Consulate appointment.

We are all very excited and a bit nervous. There is still much to do, typical me I wait until the last minute to finish things. I have sorted all of Lucie and Tessie's old clothes and recently found out that HaiYang is a size 4 - perfect -that is the size I started saving for her. Oh, we also found out that she is NOT potty trained - bummer!!!!! It should be interesting trying to potty train with the language barrier. I doubt I'll even try, when it happens it happens.

Well as I said, much to do so I better take advantage of the girls being in school and having the house to myself. Thank you all for your support since we started this journey, we are so fortunate to have such wonderful family and friends. We have truly been blessed.

TA!!!

We have finally received Travel Approval!!! Unfortunately, due to the Chinese holiday, we will not be able to schedule our appointments until October. We are hoping to travel the first few weeks of the month with our first stop in Beijing for a visit to New Hope Foundation. We are so looking forward to seeing where HaiYang spent most of her time and to meet those who have so lovingly cared for her. Hopefully with her leaving, another child-in-need will be able to take her place. If you would like more information on New Hope Foundation there is a link to the left of this page. Their work is truly amazing!!!