Our time so far

Ed and Jiao Jiao are both sleeping, so I thought now would be a good time to update all on the last few days. Our first day with Jiao Jiao went pretty smooth. She is very shy, but seems to open up when it is just the three of us in the room. We had to spend a couple of hours at the registration office where we picked her up, but then we were able to come back to the hotel and have lunch. She ate pretty good and we let her choose from the buffet so we knew what type of foods she would like once we are home. Ed brought a chocolate dessert back to the table for her and she smiled big and her eyes lit up. Jiao really liked the chocolate part, not so much for the cake inside. That's ok, she's definately like her mother on that one. After lunch we came back to the room and let her play her game that we brought and just take time to adjust to us. In the afternoon I had to go fill out some paperwork. It wasn't too long before she and Ed popped in because she was looking for me, plus I think they were both bored. Good timing though as there were papers for Ed to sign and we needed Jiao Jiao's hand print too. Then it was off to dinner. The hotel has an Italian restaurant called Mama Mia's. Ed and I had pizza there our first night and it was ok. As we eat a lot of pizza back home, we do have Pizza Friday after all, it was a good chance to see what Jiao Jiao thought. She's a Snavely, she likes pizza and spaghetti. Then it was time for bath and bed. Jiao Jiao and I headed back to the room while Ed finished up. It gave her and I a little time by ourselves. She got all cleaned up and we put on our jammies and Ed came back as we were climbing into bed. We watched a little TV, she really likes having control over the remote and chose anime, she'll get along great with Aunt Bethany and Uncle Waring.

Wednesday was our first full day with Jiao Jiao. When she woke up, she had a few tears and would not look at me. We had breakfast and then had to get ready to go back to the registration office to fill out some more paperwork for the adoption. We actually had the oppurtunity to meet Josh and Lily from CCAI as their were in town. Lily went with the group to the registration office and I was able to sit with her. On the way over Jiao Jiao started to seem sad and we realized she may have thought she was going back. I asked Lily to explain to her that we were just going to fill out some paperwork and then we would all go back to the hotel. She seemed to understand and wasn't as worried afterwards.

I know I am posting this a week late, but the last few days have been very difficult. Jiao Jiao began getting very distant from me after the first couple of days. Any time I would try to talk to her or hold her hand, she would only glare at me. She was fine with Ed and would even tackle and tickle him and play with him. She wanted nothing to do with me and even started swatting or smacking me when I would try to rub her arm or back or touch her in any way. It was very hard and I spent several nights in the bed or the bathroom crying. I knew there was a strong possibility of her shutting us out, but knowing something in your head and the reality of it are two different things. I guess since the first couple of days went so well, I thought it would stay that way. It got to the point I was shutting her out and I hating feeling like that was what I needed to do. She's my daughter and I love her, but it hurt to see her interacting with Ed and everyone else and not me. I have spoken to some of the other parents, both moms and dads, that are going through the same thing. Their child won't have anything to do with them, but the other parent can't be away from them. After talking to one mother, Lori, (Thank you for everything, especially letting me cry on your shoulder and I mean that in the literal sense), we took her advice and had our rep speak to Jiao Jiao about how she was treating me. I really came to head today when she was spoken too for not listening and hitting me and trying to punch and scratch me. Maggie came up and told her she needed to be respectful and that we both care about her and love her and want to make sure she is safe. That it was ok if she got upset or angry with us, but it was not ok for her to hit. Maggie also told her that she needed to treat me the same way she treated Ed and that we are both her parents and love her very much. She was sad, but we also realized she thought we were still upset with her and that was probably why she was still acting up.. I know we have to be much more patient with her than what it was like with Tressa. Jiao Jiao is not used to the freedoms that she now has with us and just like any other kid, needs to test the boundaries to know just what she can and can't do. We have to be understanding of her feelings that she isn't used to the kind of unconditional love we have for her. She can misbehave and we will still love her, we can be upset with her behavior, but we still love her. As my new friend Lori told me, unfortunately Jiao Jiao is used to the women of her life leaving and she needs to know that no matter what, I'm not going anywhere. No matter how much may try to push me away, I will always be here for her. The talk with Maggie made a huge difference. We had to go back to the clinic to check Jiao Jiao's TB results, (which by the way was negative), as we were heading out, she reached up and grabbed my hand. Not Daddy's, mine. As Ed says, little steps. When we were heading back to the hotel and doing a little shopping, she kept calling for Mama to show me different things. She even saw a bracelet like one that I had given her the other night and wanted me to get it so we would have the same one. Now we'll just have to wait and see what tomorrow brings, but I will sleep better tonight knowing that her and I are on the right path to making a connection.

Photos to follow tomorrow.

Hugs to all
Ang

We have Jiao Jiao!!!!!

We have Jiao Jiao and are back in the room.  We are slowly figuring out how to communicate with each other.  She really likes the books and games we brought.  I will post more later with photos.

Last day in Beijing & arrive in Zhengzhou

Saturday was our last day of touring Beijing.  Our first outing was to the Jade Factory.  Lots of really nice pieces, but nothing I just had to have that couldn't wait for Guangzhou.  It was another one of those most tour type of tours, so we just listened to their presentation and then walked around the show floor until it was time to go.  Next stop lunch another American style Chinese lunches.  So, you cannot go to Beijing and not experience the most impressive and well know sight, The Great Wall.  Let me preface this with the fact the I am incredibly scared of heights.  Do you have any idea how far that thing goes up.  Way, way too high.  I knew that when I started up, that I would not be able to look down.  However, I made the mistake of turning to say something to the person behind me and saw just how high up we were.  I froze, but there were so many people coming up behind me that I couldn't stop completely.  I "rested" for a few minutes and then started literally climbing up like a little kid.  I may have looked funny, but at that point I didn't care.  Ed had climbed on without me, but after noticing I had fallen quite a bit behind him, decided to slow down and wait for me.  I managed to make it up to the first tower and that's all I could handle.  Going down was just as hard. I just looked at my feet and held onto the rail for dear life.  It scared the crud out of me, but at least now I can say I climbed part of The Great Wall.  Kinda funny though, we were all shown up by a four year old in our group who went further than anyone else in the group.  She's a trooper, she just kept going and going.  What an adventure for her to share.  After the wall we went to an old part of town and they drove us around in rickshaws, neat experience.  We visited the home of a local family that was a host to a French swimmer that won silver at the Olympics.  That explained how the village was set up and the different uses for the parts of the home.  It was interesting and very nice for them to welcome all of us into their home.  Last stop for the night, another traditional Chinese dinner.  This time it was noodles.  Not your typical noodles though.  I don't think any of us at our table ate very much, we were all too tired and too busy chatting.  Plus we had to get back to the hotel to pack. 

 

Now we are in Zhengzhou.  We met bright and early, this time it really was, so we could head to the airport.  Got in, checked into the hotel, went to the bank to exchange money, went to Walmart down the street for snacks and soda, had dinner (pizza in the hotel, yummy), and now we are in the room for the night.  Tomorrow morning, the most important part of this whole trip, we get our daughter Jiao Jiao.  Ed and I both are anxious and nervous at the same time.  We don't know how she will react to us, but we can only hope for the best, expect the worst and let her guide the way.  Tomorrow begins a new chapter in our lives.

Friday adventures

We got in late yesterday and I was really tired so I didn't get a chance to update everyone with our touring adventures for Friday until now.  Yesterday we met with the rest of the travel group, I believe there are 14 families total, bright and early at 9am, Ok, maybe not so bright and early.  Anyway, we went to the Forbidden City and Tianamen Square.  The Forbidden City is incredible, the history, the design, everything about it is really amazing.  After we all walked what seemed like 10 miles, we got to our bus which was parked across the street.  You'd have to experience China traffic to understand.  Trust me it was much safer to take several underground tunnels than to just walk across the street.  Especially if you value living, which I do.  So after these tours we had lunch at a local Chinese restaurant.  The food was really good, but I would really compare it more to American style Chinese than traditional.  I pretty much knew what everything was and didn't have to ask Ed if I would like it, if that gives you any indication.  Anyone that knows me knows I am not the least bit adventurous when it comes to food.  So then we were off to tour the Silk Factory.  This is a government run place so it's kinda like a requirement to tour.  Really nice stuff though, saw how they turn webbing from the silk worm into silk duvets.  It's actually comes from basically their spit, so when you think of it that way, not so nice.  But hey, when you are sleeping on silk sheets or wearing a soft silk shirt you don't think of it that way.  Next stop, acrobat show.  These kids were awesome!!  I think this is the same group that was going to come to Richardson Eisemann Center last year.  If not them, then similiar style.  We bought a DVD to remember, so show and tell when we get back.  Unfortunately no photos allowed, bummer.  One of the dads in our group got picked to be in the show.  He was put in this big clay pot while a girl spun him around with him and it on her feet.  Crazy, but cool!!  Final stop, traditional local Chinese dinner.  This was Chinese food, they served Beijing Roast Duck, needless to say I did not eat any of it.  Rice, rice and more rice for me.  Oh, I forgot to mention before the acrobat show, we got to go see Olympic Park.  We didn't walk around much, way to cold, but I did get a couple good shots of The Bird's Nest and a distance shot of The Water Cube.  Tommorow is an early morning, we fly to Zhengzhou, Jiao Jiao's provincial capital, so I will update about Saturday's adventures tomorrow. But I will tell you I almost conquered my fear of heights, ....almost.

 

Until tomorrow..

Love to all,

Ang

Photos-Thursday

I think I got this work.  These are the photos from today from all the walking we did.  There's a photo of a beautiful Catholic Church.  It's where we bought the scroll and the money went to the church, at least that's what the gentleman today us.  Hopefully he wasn't just scamming us.  He said he teaches English to the Sunday school kids.

 

Ang

Thursday-free day

Today Ed and I had breakfast with another family that came in early.  Then we were off on our own to do some sightseeing.  We found the mall, pretty much the same as back home, only much much bigger.  Then we went to Tianamen Square and the Forbidden City.  We didn't go all the way in because you have to pay and we are going with the group tomorrow.  It's very interesting to see.  It's very long, but really the interior is just a city of walls.  I know once we see the emperor's castle, there will be more.  We saw part of it when it was on tour in Dallas a few years ago.  We did see the guards doing formation, which was cool.  Ed took a picture, but so did a lot of people.  You're not supposed to take photos of the military, but I think these guys are more for show. We walked around quite a bit today, and managed to make a couple of purchases.  A scarf for me, because it's so incredibly cold here especially with the wind.  We also bought a scroll that we had made of our names in Chinese.  Kinda corny, but it's neat.  Tommorow we meet with the group and go to Tianamen Square, the Forbidden City, lunch, and an acrobat show.  I have to post photos separetly for some reason, so photos to follow.

 

Ang

Photos so far

                                    Photos so far.

 

 

We made it!!

We have made it to Beijing. Just wanted to give a quick post to let everyone know we made it here safely.  I'll post more later, but we need to eat and sleep.  I'll post later with a photo from our room.  We have a great view of the Forbidden City.

 

Hugs,

Ang