Dear Brielle,
What have the last few weeks looked like in our lives as
we’ve prepared to meet you? As we
sit here in a hotel room just days before meeting you, we’d like
to try to give you a picture of what those final weeks before meeting you have
been like. I’m not quite sure we
can give adequate words to all that has transpired in the last 4 weeks, but
we’ll do our best.
For the last three years, we have planned and organized and
prepared for your arrival, but then something funny happened. We went from
hoping for a fall or spring trip to suddenly being told we were traveling in
the coldest month of winter, February, when it is the coldest it could be in
parts of China where we will be and where we live in the U.S. God knows that your mom really hates
the cold, so I guess this was another way He had to show me that I was not in
control of this and you would come when He was ready for you to come home. He
also knew you would be a winter baby and we’d travel during cold months as one
of the first items we ever bought you was a winter coat and hat at a big sale
at the outlets right after we had decided to start this process to be your
parents. (your mom & dad love outlet shopping…ok, maybe just your mom and
dad tags along, but I think he enjoys it a little every once in a while) When we found out who you were a few
months ago and saw your measurements, we were so surprised as the coat and hat
we had bought you 3 years ago and just guessed on your size, should be a pretty
good fit!
Since the beginning of January, this process has moved at a
rapid pace. Here’s a quick
overview of what it has looked like:
1/8- Your visa
application was approved
1/9- We filed for
our Chinese entry visas in DC
In the weeks following, we started a baby registry for you
as there were people who wanted to make sure you had what you needed in the
weeks and months to come. Boy was that process a crazy one! You mom and dad are
both really organized, but this whole baby registry thing was a whole other
level! Your mom and dad have never
felt more confused in our lives trying to figure out what you might need.
(you’ll have to ask your dad one day about Nosefrida—it’s a funny story) Your
mom loves to research and ask questions so that was very helpful in preparing
for you. We received a lot of
helpful feedback and started to feel a little better about the process and then
started to get a few of the necessary items you would need to have in order to
come home. (i.e. your carseat --which will be very fun to see how you react
since you’ve never been in one in your life since birth. Your mom and dad have
heard quite a few stories of that being very traumatic for little ones coming
home from China. It might be equally as traumatic for you as it was for your
dad putting it in the car at 1am)
I will admit there may (or may not have been) a few meltdown
moments in the middle of Babies R Us and Target, as we were feeling overwhelmed
by everything and knowing that we were going to meet you much sooner than we
had anticipated. We were so excited, but didn’t quite feel ready. I guess
that’s the way it always is though for everyone. (or so we’ve heard)
1/19- Our agency
called with our Travel Approval letter (this is THE big step everyone always
waits for in their process because it means only a few days/weeks and you will
be coming home!)
On this same day, we also received some updated photos and
videos of you (we loved seeing these and so did all of your mom and dad’s
friends) We also received some notes about your current size.
These notes helped share with
us what you liked, and some other general details about you. We had asked what
you were afraid of so that we could be prepared for those things and had to
laugh as they said the one thing you were afraid of were strangers. Great…of all the things you could be
afraid of. (LOL) I have a feeling that your “Gotcha Day” is going to be
interesting when we meet you.
On this same day, we learned late that night that you were
not in the orphanage, but had been sent to another province, Hangzhou, 9 hours
away for surgery. When they found out we were coming to get you soon, they
decided to bring you back and not do the surgery and let your doctors in the
U.S. review everything and make that decision. We were so relieved! We are thankful that China put you on a
special surgery list to take care of you when your turn came up for surgery,
but are grateful that we will be able to monitor your care and progress here in
the U.S. and maybe even find out it won’t be needed. We are praying to that
end.
The Saturday before we received confirmation of our upcoming
travel, your mom had brunch with a few friends (I think they wanted to help me
calm down as there was a lot to do to prepare to bring you home). It was a
wonderful morning and they wanted to make sure you had what was needed
immediately to come home. During this brunch, you were prayed over in ways that
we cannot put into words. People prayed for your adjustment, your current
health, the day we would meet you, the days following as you would have to
learn to adjust to us. They prayed that you would be protected and safe in the
weeks to come and the weeks following our trip to China. They prayed that you
would come to love and know the same God that we have come to love and know. I wish I could have videoed all that was
said in those few short moments. They were precious moments that I will
cherish.
1/20- The US
Consulate in Guangzhou, Guangdong China approved your adoption appointment. We
had been hoping for a particular date that would give us a little more time to
prepare for our big trip, then suddenly found out this office was asking us to
be in China sooner than we thought! We will be leaving in less than a week to
come and get you! We cannot express all that went through our minds in this
moment. We had so much to do and
weren’t quite ready to jump on the next plane to China!!
1/21- We booked
our flights to come and get you—we leave on Sunday! We had a little over 72
hours to get everything together and normally we are pretty calm people, but
boy oh boy did we have a few moments during this week before we would leave to
meet you. I’m glad your dad is
calm, because he had to deal with quite a bit of emotions from your mom during
this past week. They say pregnant women
get really emotional and sometime downright mean during those moments of labor,
well, I guess this was our “labor” and well, your dad was a trooper helping get things organized so quickly, calming your mom down, and making sure we didn’t lose our
minds in the process. We had to remind ourselves to “Be Still…” and to enjoy
the moments. We just reminded
ourselves that most of the things we could ever need for you, could be gotten
in China most of the time if we had forgotten anything or ran out of something.
There were lists everywhere, lists for you, lists for us,
lists for the paperwork we needed, lists on Iphones… I think you get the
picture. This whole 72-hour thing
was tough! I think we ran about
106 trips to either Target or Babies R Us as there was always that “one thing”
we had forgotten. Then came the “mommy meltdown” in the parking lot the night
before we flew out. Your mom just needed a moment to breathe and just stopped
the car in the parking lot to do so. Whew.
As the day approached for us to leave, we started getting
together so many things for you:
-Medicine for you (just in case)
-Medicine for us (hoping we wouldn’t need it)
-Warm clothes for part of the trip where it would be
freezing
-Cooler clothes for the last part of the trip where it would
be warmer
-bottles and baby things (you are still drinking some
formula they told us)
-Paperwork to make you officially ours
-Setting up insurance
-Scheduling your appointments with the International
Adoption Clinic
-Items to try to help make your adjustment time with us
smoother
-Items for the LONG flight home with you
As you can see it was a LOT to do in a short period of time,
but I think we survived. During one of our many trips to run errands, you dad
found this little toy and had to get it for you. Ladybugs mean “good luck” in China. 
He thought it was cute and since it vibrated and walked across the floor and had quiet music, he figured it would capture your attention. It’s nice and soft too—I think your dad and grand-poppy liked it as much as anyone! (and though I’m probably not supposed to tell you this, I think your dad likes a few of the things we got for you…I caught him playing with them and watching a few of the videos we downloaded for your long trip home…just don’t tell him I told you this)
He thought it was cute and since it vibrated and walked across the floor and had quiet music, he figured it would capture your attention. It’s nice and soft too—I think your dad and grand-poppy liked it as much as anyone! (and though I’m probably not supposed to tell you this, I think your dad likes a few of the things we got for you…I caught him playing with them and watching a few of the videos we downloaded for your long trip home…just don’t tell him I told you this)
1/25 (Sunday)—We
left to come and start our journey to you! We started our morning at 5am as we had to leave at 6am to
catch our flight. Your mom never went to bed because there was still so much to
do. (since I was wide awake, I
decided to just make a few more headbands for you (let’s hope you will actually
wear them!).
We headed off to the airport to catch a flight from Richmond
to Chicago.
We landed in Chicago only to find it snowing (surprise,
surprise!) Thankfully, everything was moving right along and we boarded our
flight to Hong Kong. We decided that since meeting you was going to be a very
big day, we needed to take a few days before meeting our adoption travel group
in Beijing to just rest and recover from jet lag and acclimate to a new time zone 13 hours ahead. Since our flights had to
leave through Hong Kong when we went home, this seemed to be a good quiet layover
for us before heading to China.
The flight from Chicago did get delayed once we boarded the
plane as they decided they needed to de-ice the plane. Your mom hates flying so
this wasn’t exactly exciting news for her to hear, but did make her feel better
overall. Within a half hour, we were off!
Only 15 ½ hours in flight…
1/26- Thankfully,
7,900 miles, 7 movies, and 15 ½ hours later, we arrive safely in Hong Kong late
on Monday night. Your mom has to
admit it was the VERY best flight she’s ever been on in all of the years of
flying overseas--so calm and smooth. God is so good to answer even the smallest
of prayers.
1/27-1/29- We rested in Hong Kong and then flew to Beijing on the 29th to meet our adoption travel group
1/27-1/29- We rested in Hong Kong and then flew to Beijing on the 29th to meet our adoption travel group
Your mom and dad look forward to meeting you next week. It’s
hard to believe it’s less than a week away. For now, we will rest as we know
the next few days ahead will be busy ones as we continue to see Beijing and learn and experience your culture. Your mom and dad are SO
thankful for the many people who have prayed more prayers than we could count
for both you and us, helped us remain calm these last few weeks, helped out
with covering things while we are away, helped us prepare for meeting you, and helped
make this process of bringing you home a reality. They have truly shown what it means to care for orphans and
the fatherless. God has orchestrated every detail of this from day one, as one
day you will learn so much more about.
Until next week, when we meet you on Monday, February 2, we
hope God gives you wonderful last days with your nannies, your friends, and
those who have cared for and loved you so dearly these last 17 months of your
life.
Love,
Mom & Dad
