China Said Yes!

Lucy is officially ours!  We completed the Chinese portion of the adoption this morning!  It was very organized and went super smooth. Our Lifeline guide, Rebecca, is absolutely amazing!  She not only does a wonderful job organizing all of the paperwork, but she is so incredibly helpful with the kids and their transition as well.  For those if you that remember our diarrhea parenting nightmare from our trip for Karlye, Rebecca was the sweet one that helped clean Karlye and I up.  What a blessing she is!

Gotcha day was full of emotions. You can't help but get emotional as you sit in the civil affairs office and watch all of the adoptions taking place all around you as you wait for your turn. Then...the moment you have been waiting for finally arrives!  Rebecca called Lucy's name (Chinese name) and there she was!!  So scared, but not crying. She just looked around and took it all in. She made a little whimper when her director handed her over to me. Then...Karlye absolutely lost it. My heart broke for her, but I know in time, they will adjust to each other.  When I held Lucy, Karlye screamed. When I put Karlye on my lap with Lucy, Lucy screamed. It was definitely a three ring circus for a couple of hours.

Lucy's assistant director and director accompanied her to the orphanage.  Poor Lucy got car sick on the four hour van ride from her orphanage. And throw in a flat tire to go along with that. Her assistant director was showing us pictures on her cell phone of their adventures to the civil affairs office. She was so incredibly nice!  She returned most of Lucy's toys from her care package in addition to the disposable camera and a few additional pictures!  She was very sweet to Karlye helping her to feel special during this tough transition. She answered the many, many questions that we had and gave us permission to make the 4 hour (one way) trek to her orphanage!!  Yippee!!  What a huge blessing that we are able to go!  Her assistant director gave her a hug and kiss and she left the area...a bitter sweet moment.

We have heard from our guide that the directors and nannies that work in Lucy's orphanage have very kind and honest hearts and really care about the children. They just don't have very much funding and education. She said at they are willing to learn and are so excited about the partnership with Lifeline for this opportunity.

Lucy is very quiet, delicate, and curious.  She has given us some smiles and laughs, but definitely on her own time. Her smile is so gentle and sweet.  Her eyes are absolutely beautiful and her eyelashes are SO long!  She is walking, but very slowly and cautiously.  She can sit independently.  She has latched onto a small musical piano toy, and let me tell you...don't dare try to take thy from her.  She is definitely delayed from what we can tell, but is making small strides quickly. She seems very scared and stiff, and honestly I can't blame her.  Oh and she is scared of elevators...and we are on the 14th floor. Need I say more?  We are completely and totally in love!

Karlye is doing much better!  She still has her tough moments, but I think she is beginning to understand that our family is being added to and she is not being replaced.  She loves helping and playing with Lucy. She is already an amazing big sister!  Lucy is still trying to figure out Karlye.

Tomorrow we will have Lucy's medical appointment. She will have to have some bloodwork done because she is over 2 years old.  Please pray for this visit.  Tomorrow afternoon, we will head to the police station to apply for Lucy's Chinese passport.

Thank you all for your continued prayers, emails, texts, comments, and encouragement!  It helps us feel closer to home for sure!

I will post some pictures soon, but wanted to get this post out!