"An invisible red thread connects those destined to meet, regardless of time, place, or circumstances. The thread may stretch or tangle, but never break." - Ancient Chinese Proverb








Lilypie Waiting to Adopt tickers

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Travel Itinerary

*** Projected Plan for Group 1770***
This plan reflects the general daily schedule for the group, based on the group’s arrival and departure dates.

10/6     Leave the U.S. for Hong Kong. (Cathay Pacific - 01:20am flight, arrive in Hong Kong 05:15am on 10/7)

10/7       Arrive in Hong Kong.  
When you arrive, get your baggage, go through Customs and exit this part of the airport. 
A CCAI representative will meet you outside Customs & Immigration. 
Met by Joann. Go to the Hyatt Shatin Hotel. 

10/8     Pre-paid tour in Hong Kong.  Ask your rep for details.

10/9     Leave Hong Kong for Nanchang via Shenzehn.  You will take the bus to Shenzhen and then depart Shenzhen for Nanchang on China Southern flight CZ 3617 (14:30-16:00)
Welcomed by CCAI rep Evelyn and her assistant Sissi.
Go to the Crowne Plaza Nanchang Riverside Hotel.
  Your CCAI guide will be giving you detailed instructions regarding your daily schedule and paperwork.

10/10   Receive your baby at the hotel this afternoon! Congratulations
            *Please take plenty of pictures during gotcha day as you will need them for your post adoption reports.
                                                                                                      
10/11   Adoption Registration, Notarization and apply for your child’s passport this afternoon.
The passport fee will be collected at the Registration Office. It takes 5 working days to issue the passport.
Please note that your adoption is finalized at the time of registration.  After this point, the Chinese government prohibits you from relinquishing your child in China. 
Note: Use your child’s Chinese name to fill out all paperwork. 
Trip to the local department store for baby supplies.
10/12-  Rest or optional city tours.  Ask Evelyn for details. 

10/13   Waiting for child’s adoption paperwork to be completed.

10/14   Receive notarized adoption documents this afternoon.

10/15- Rest or optional city tours.  Ask Evelyn for detail.

10/16- Hopefully a trip to the Catholic Church in Nanchang

10/17   Receive your child’s Registration Certificate and passport* today.
10/18   Leave Nanchang for Guangzhou on China Southern flight CZ 3536 (13:15-14:45).
            Met by your CCAI representatives Maggie and her assistant.

10/19   Take bus to Shamian Island to complete your child’s visa physical and visa photo taken this morning. Bring supplies (water, snack, etc.). Your child will also receive a tuberculosis skin test if they are between the ages of 2 to 14. Be ready to go! If your child is 10 & over, he/she will receive required immunizations from the clinic.
           
            Meet with CCAI representatives to prepare paperwork for the Consulate appointment: Please bring all of your documents and passports to this meeting. Your CCAI rep will have the required forms for you to fill out

10/20   Today is your Consulate appointment. 
Maggie will deliver your visa packets to the U.S. Consulate Adoption Unit.  
           
            Go to the U.S. Consulate to take the oath in the afternoon.  Please bring as few items with you to the Consulate as possible. Backpacks, baby bags or purses are not permitted inside the Consulate.
Cell phones or cameras are not allowed in the U.S. Consulate or on the U.S. Consulate grounds.      

10/21   Go to the U.S. Consulate to receive your child’s visa packet
DO NOT OPEN YOUR CHILD’S VISA PACKET!

    
10/22   Leave Guangzhou for Hong Kong. (Leave Hong Kong on Cathay Pacific- 4:10pm flight, arrive JFK at 8:05pm 10/22)




One week from today I will be on my way to Aubrey Mei. As you can see, we will now meet for the 1st time on 10/10/2011. One week from Monday I will be holding my precious baby! The following day my daughter will be forever mine- the adoption is final on 10/11/2011 - My Birthday!!! BEST BIRTHDAY PRESENT EVER!!

Aunt Shanghai Sharon arrives in Guangzhou on 10/18/11-- Will never, ever be able to thank you enough for being there for me and and my daughter - I am so lucky to have you for my sister! I love you, Sha.

Getting closer my sweet Aubrey Mei - Mommy will be holding you very soon!

Thursday, September 22, 2011

More Pictures!!!

I received updated information about Aubrey Mei today with 2 new pictures --she is so beautiful!!





Height: 70 cm  Weight: 8 kg  Head Cir: 44.5 cm  Chest Cir: 44.5 cm 
HepB: negative  Foot Length: 11.5 cm  Teeth: 3
Sitting?: Yes  Standing?: Yes Walking: No Speaking: No
How long has the child lived in the orphanage? 0 months
How long has the child been in foster care? 11 months                
Does the child currently reside in the orphanage or foster care? She is currently in foster care.
Where does your child sleep? She sleeps in a bed with her foster parents.
Other information?  Everything else is normal.


I feel so very blessed. I am so grateful that my child has foster parents caring for her. To know that she has had her foster parents there for her, to comfort her and give her hugs and kisses warms my heart. I know Gotcha day may be sad for my precious baby, the transition will be difficult for her, but for good reasons. She has been cared for and loved by her foster parents until this time. She will not know me at first, but I hope she will understand very soon how much her new mommy loves her. Please pray for us to bond quickly so she is not sad for long.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Consulate Appointment Received!

Today I received this email from my agency:


 
Great news!  Today we received Consulate appointment confirmations for Group 1770!

Your group’s Consulate appointment is confirmed for 10/20/2011

Based on this Consulate appointment date, we would like you to arrive in Hong Kong on, or before, 10/7/2011.
CCAI will provide an airport pick-up for anyone arriving on October 7th, your group’s arrival date.  
You will fly to Nanchang on Sunday, October 9th and receive your child the same day!  CCAI will arrange the group’s in-China flights and hotels - details will follow in your Final Travel Packet.

Your group will take the oath on the afternoon of 10/20/2011.
Your group will receive your child’s visa on the afternoon of 10/21/2011.




As you can see --- I will meet my precious daughter on on October 9th!!! I still can't believe this is finally happening. My beautiful Aubrey Mei will be in my arms in less than 3 weeks!


My sweet baby -- Mommy is almost there!

Monday, September 19, 2011

Travel Approval!!!

I received this email from my agency today --- I vote for option one!! That gets me holding my precious baby girl in my arms 3 weeks from today!



Wonderful news! We received a travel approval for your family!  We are very excited for your family as you are one step closer to traveling to China for your little one! 


Option 1
Leave around October 6-8 and return somewhere around October 20-22.

Option 2
Leave around October 13-14 and return somewhere around October 27-28.







My sweet Aubrey Mei, today I was missing your Uncle Pat ( one of your special angels). I think he must have known how sad I was and that is why he arranged for me to receive my travel approval today. You see, Aubrey, your Uncle Pat was so unselfish, kind, loving, giving, and so much fun - he wanted your Mommy to have some joy today. I know he is with you and watching over you. I bet he was the one that got you smiling for your photo!!

Friday, September 16, 2011

Care Package for Aubrey

Still waiting on Travel Approval from China for a definite date to get my precious little one! Until then, just a little care package from Mommy!  Included in the package was a disposable camera for the nannies to take some pictures of Aubrey Mei. I also included a pink teddy bear that plays '"twinkle, twinkle little star", a panda bear for her crib, a baby teething photo book (with pictures of herself on the front and back covers and a picture of her mommy, family, and her room) and a recordable children's  book so she will hopefully recognize my voice when we meet. The cookies and candy are for the nannies in the orphanage. Hope my sweet baby girl likes her care package!! Wish I was delivering it in person.

Saturday, September 10, 2011

Happy Birthday Aubrey Mei!

My sweet baby. Today is your first Birthday. I wish so much we were together, that I was holding you in my arms and singing Happy Birthday to you. I am crying so many tears today -  you should have your Mommy with you! If I had it my way, my precious Aubrey, you would be home with me already and you would be having a huge celebration with your forever family.  Soon we will be together and you will never spend another birthday without knowing how much your Mommy loves you. Your Aunt Sharon says that you must feel all this love from this big, wonderful family of yours already - all the way in China. I pray to God this is true, and you do feel this absolute, unconditional love from Mommy, Goppy and all your many aunts, uncles, and cousins. You have already received your first ecard from Goppy - you are going to love it! Uncle Timmy and Brian brought you a birthday cake last night - Did you here us singing to you? We were pretty loud! When you get home, you will have lots and lots of birthday presents to open!!

Happy Birthday, My beautiful Aubrey Mei Jing!  Mommy sends you hugs, kisses and so much LOVE!




First ecard from Goppy!




Hand written by Uncle Timmy with love!





**** Aubrey - you are so loved! The following letter is from your Mommy's special sister, Mary. She sure has a way with words!!
AUBREY MEI JING MCDONNELL
A year ago today God sent the world a noble beautiful gifted woman……

Happy First Birthday, Aubrey Mei Jing McDonnell,  the beautiful gifted girl in our lives.  We carry our love for you in our hearts. We are blessed to  be a part of your life now.  We hope you feel our love and tribute to you.
Your mother, my sister, Kathleen, our family’s angel,  has been waiting so long for you. She prayed for you. She trusted God and kept faithful that you both would be united to share an adoption journey of unconditional commitment and devotion. You and your mother affirm our conviction that God has a plan for all of us. We know the wait has been long and difficult for you both, yet you both share amazing strength and spirit. This will sustain both mother and daughter until you embrace each other for the first time in few weeks. Your mommy will be holding you soon.
Today we celebrate you, Aubrey Mei Jing McDonnell,  on your first birthday, an angel among us, a daughter of an angel, a dream come true, a future full of promise.
We love you and are so thankful for you.
Love always,
A part of your forever family,  Aunt Mary, Uncle Rob, Jared, Callen and Landon



**** Aubrey - I received this email today. Did you know you sent it?? Suspect Aunt Mo is behind this!

Hi Mommy,
It is my very first birthday today and a special day for you too. Wish we could be together.  Can't wait to meet you.
Love
Aubrey Mei


**** Great news on your birthday, Aubrey! Aunt Shanghai Sharon got her passport today and will get her Visa next week -- This is just another sign that she is meant to meet us in China! Her passport received on your birthday, plan is to have your mommy arriving in China on the birthday of your cousin, Emily (Oct 6) and returning home with you on Aunt Sha's birthday (Oct 19) - like I said, meant to be!!!


**** Thank you Laura and Gabriella for the sweet Happy Birthday message to Aubrey Mei! You have a beautiful voice, Gabriella!



LOTS AND LOTS OF FAMILY AND FRIENDS THINKING OF YOU TODAY, SWEET GIRL!!