Bringing Katie Home

In August 1996 I traveled with a friend to China to adopt our daughter, who comes from an orphanage in Yujiang, Jiangxi province. We left Rochester at 6a.m. flew to Newark-SF-Taiwan-Hong Kong, finally arriving at our hotel at about midnight HK time. The next morning, we visited Kowloon Park. It is a very beautiful park, people doing tai-chi, old people exercising, people swimming. Great aviary, too. Good thing we brought our umbrellas, as it rained all morning. We bought breakfast at the 7-eleven across the street from the hotel--got something called squid chips which were pretty good. We had to pay with HK money which we got at the hotel--7:1 exchange. We flew from HK to Guangzhou where we were met by our agency rep. There we changed $200 into Chinese money(8:1). For shopping, food , and everything else, miscellaneous costs (excepting the adoption costs, of course), I didn't use much more than that.

In Guangzhou, we checked our baggage as a group. The flight to Nanchang was about 1-2 hours. As we landed, water buffaloes and rice paddies were next to the runway on our side. And then, the other side of the plane got to see them, too, since there was only one runway. When we got to the end, we had to turn around and taxi back to the airport. The airport itself was very tiny. We were greeted by swarms of gnats, 100 degree heat and high humidity as we walked from airplane to airport. The bus trip to our hotel took 50 minutes---thru mostly very rural and poor areas. Our guide was very knowledgeable about the area and culture, I felt bad, he was really interesting---but I was so exhausted, I kept dozing off!

At first we were told, go to your room, shower, eat and relax. Then, as the bus trip neared its end, they said we could shower OR eat. Then, about 1/2 hour after getting to our rooms they called us and told us to go to our reps room and get our babies. PANIC! We maniacally wrapped presents for nanny and orphanage director. (they told us not to bring orphanage donation yet). We grabbed our cameras, a spit rag, and ran upstairs. Other people were actually getting ready to shower, had to put their clothes back on and come get the babies. Others came sopping wet.

I can only try to describe what a wonderful experience it was to receive my daughter, and also be present to see the rest of the group receive their children. I have had three bio children, and it struck me as I walked down that hall that I was experiencing all the same emotions I felt as I entered the hospital to give birth. Nervous, happy, a little fear and anticipation.

I was called in and asked the child's Chinese name. Then the nanny presented her to me. She looked just like her picture, with beautiful round cheeks, and a lot of hair standing straight up. Her nanny was a lovely young girl, about 20 years old. I thanked her, and all I could say was "How beautiful she is!" Lots of smiles, and the agency reps taking pictures. I was introduced to the orphanage director, and the agency's director in China. Then they pushed rice powder into my hands, told me how to mix it. I gave a bag with presents to the nanny, and it was the next family's turn.

The baby's clothes were very worn, with pants that had the seams ripped out, and a rag for a diaper tied around her. All of the children were covered with insect bites. (We bathed her and put scabies medicine on her just in case).

Some of the nannies cried when they gave the children to the parents. One nanny followed the parents out to the hall and watched intently as they walked to their room. She stood there looking sadly after them till they disappeared. My daughter had obviously been loved and played with---she was very alert and well-socialized. All of the children were healthy, although malnourished. The exception was one child who was extremely chubby. We thought she may have been taken home and fed extra. Her nanny was the one who cried when the parents took her. One baby looked like she had been a preemie. It was hard on the new mom, who was a single, first time mother. The baby was ravenous, but kept vomitting after eating. She had to feed her small amounts very frequently. (She is doing well now).

I think the orphanage staff did the very best they could for these children, given the poverty of the area and the number of babies at that home. We and another group at our hotel took 22 babies out, and were told 40 babies were still at the orphanage waiting for homes.

It was a very, very exciting and wonderful experience to share in the thrill of the other families as we received our children. Such excitement and happiness! I will always treasure the memories of that time.

Well, today I am forever this baby's mother. We finished all the paperwork in one exhausting marathon. First, we went to breakfast at the buffet the hotel supplies with our room. It is a combination American/chinese buffet. I tried some of both. I'm drinking a lot of green tea and trying to get enough liquids. I tried the dough balls, noodles, and balls filled with bean paste. Katie was uncomfortable, so I decided to switch her to soy mixed with sugar. I think at least half of the families are switching or in the process of switching. She seems more comfortable now. Went to the business center in the hotel to get 3 copies of passport for authorities. I couldn't figure out how much---the girl there laughed because I just gave her the wallet and told her to take what she needed. She was very nice--and honest.

All the Chinese people at are at us and want to know why we have Chinese babies. They touch the babies' cheeks and hands and seem happy that we are adopting these children.

At 2:15, we met in the lobby to go register for the adoption. We rode a chartered bus/van. The ride was wild. The rules of the road in China are...well...uh... there are no rules of the road. Everyone drives on whatever side of the road they want whichever way they want--no traffic lights or stop signs, at least none that anyone paid attention to. It is very common for people to come an inch or two on bicycles next to vehicles. Also, when we turned onto another street, no one stopped crossing it or showed any alarm whatsoever. The bicycles all seemed to get out of the way without hurrying. Absolutely wild. And the bicycles... everyone rides them, sometimes 2-3 on a bike, also rickshaws pulled by bikes. Old people in long dresses and straw hats, a lot of western dress too---mostly all silk. Girls in dressy dresses and heels, people carrying stuff---all on bicycles---and so many of them! Lots of horns honking, every few yards.

We are staying at the beautiful Lake View Hotel. It is new, circular in construction (great halls for walking fussy babies). We usually leave our doors open and walk in and out of each other's rooms to visit or give or get help. It does have a beautiful view of the lake, but is somewhat far from downtown itself. We will probably walk up to the next main street some day, but have been warned not to venture out past dark. Although there is not much crime, our guides feel it is on the increase.

The Civil Authorities building was very, very old. We took the elevator to the sixth floor to a large, hot room---fortunately with a good breeze. I was the fourth one called. I had everything except one copy of my power of attorney form--the agency director took the original to give to the notary and made one copy to give to the local authorities.

The interview went like this: Did you receive the baby whose picture you were given...is she satisfactory...do you wish to adopt her...why are you adopting from China...do you have other children...biological?...will you have time for another...how will you provide for the child's future...our ages...occupations...salary...date of marriage...do you promise to love and care for her. Then they fingerprinted me, took the baby's footprint, and took my passport (we got it back later that week). The official told me it was his hope that I would bring her back to Nanchang when she was older so that she could know her land and her people. I told him that it was also my hope. He thanked me, wished the baby a life filled with much love and presented a plate for her as a gift. The whole group applauded (we did for each family). The whole process took about 2 and 1/2 hours for 12 families.

On the bus ride home, we were told that instead of getting the documents notarized the next day, we would be doing it in a half hour. So much for rest and shower! I went upstairs and fed the baby and received a call about 20 minutes later to go down to meet with officials. This interview was more formal---officers dressed in military uniform, China flags, much more stern. There were two interviewers, one much harder (especially on people with existing children). I got the easier one. The questions were pretty much the same. At the end of the interview, he asked if I wanted to make any comments. I told him I wanted to thank the government and the people of China for allowing me to adopt this child. Said sincerely, and with some tears. He nodded and smiled. When it was over, I signed and the interviewer said. "From this moment on, you are this child's mother forever."

We were all very happy, but very exhausted. The helpers had to hold quite a few babies tonight because we were so tired.

Katie is doing wonderful since switching formula. She gurgles, coos, blows bubbles, loves to lock those little knees and stand. Loves that pacifier---good! I passed out from exhaustion at about 7:30 and slept for 2 hours while the baby was sleeping. Now I am outside the room listening to a quartet...piano, clarinet, sax and violin play beautiful chinese and western music. We can look down to the fourth floor lounge where they are playing from the hall outside our room.

I feel Katie has been well taken care of, and is not what I would think of as an institution baby. She is very outgoing and sociable. They say the welfare home she was in also cared for the elderly. We are already attached to each other.

We ate at the Chinese restaurant in the hotel for lunch. Baby cried, I asked for water in her bottle. They put in boiling water, and seemed confused and upset when I asked for cold water to be added. In the end, I pointed to "ice" in the language book, and it came back at the right temperature. Also---ever try to eat with chopsticks while holding a squirmy baby? Pretty funny. The staff thought so too, judging from the smiles we got, and brought me a big spoon. Finally, my friend had to serve me from the dishes---thanks, Mom! We had a very satisfying meal---beef with vegetables and spinach --both of us ate for about 62 Y, less than $10.

Today was a free day. Baby woke up twice at night, very hungry. She is on soy with rice added now. I went to breakfast with the other families. Got a copy of the orphanage director's card from one of the other parents. All the babies were very sociable, reasonably healthy. Obviously, their emotional needs were well met in the orphanage. Several of the babies went to see the hotel doctor. One was given a herbal paste for the skin. They seem to use a mixture of western and traditional medicine. Another baby saw the doctor for a cold. The new dad was scolded , and they told him to dress the baby more warmly. Then, when he went out with her, the people scolded him for having her dressed too warmly! Poor guy couldn't win.

Some of the people in our group didn't feel well. Some have a stomach bug or intestinal virus. They are coming to our room to get pepto tablets (which we brought a ton of).We are doing o.k. We started taking a pepto bismol tablet once in the morning and once at night two days before our trip as a preventative. So far, so good.

One baby doesn't seem to hear. Several of the babies' ears were caked and full. The Dr. cleaned them out and gave them bitter amoxi syrup for 2 days, then will recheck them. All the parents who needed to use the hotel doctor seemed pleased with the treatment the children received.

We took a taxi to the town department and friendship stores. All the people rushed up to us to exclaim over, play with babies. We were scolded for having them bundled too much. Several older women opened baby carriers right up to examine rashes, check for cleanliness, and remove socks. It is very interesting. It is not done as criticism or in a threatening way, just to be helpful. There is an attitude with the chinese people that the community is to help with children. The whole village seems to be raising the child.

I bought 3 vases and 3 fans using hand gestures---the girls were very kind and helpful. Several wanted to know where we were from. I used a card written in Chinese (she is an orphan, I am adopting her and she will live with me in the U.S.), to explain about the baby. The closest I can get as to where we live in the U.S. is N.Y. city. Everyone seems to know what that is. Katie is starting to even out in her feeding. She is also getting a tooth. Although she is very responsive and seems to have good motor coordination, she does not reach for anything., doesn't kick her legs much, and is more like a newborn with arm coordination. I think perhaps the lack of toys, and her being bundled has her behind in this area.

We were drenched in sweat by the time we returned to the hotel---100 degrees and high humidity. Katie would not drink water, but gulped two bottles of formula on our return. I drank a huge bottle of water.

At 4:30 we had group picture---I dressed her in a red dress---the guide, and agency program director loved it. Many people rushed over to exclaim over her, and told me the red dress was beautiful and good luck. She looked adorable. We lined the babies up on a couch and snapped away. All the guests and staff rushed over to exclaim over the commotion. The entire lobby (guests and staff) watched, and we all laughed and laughed.Then we all left our cameras in a pile, and grabbed a bystander to snap away when we got in the picture. What a riot! We applauded him when he was done. Katie went to sleep at about 6:30. I ordered Malaysian curried chicken from room service, then slept deeply myself for about an hour.

The baby didn't wake, I went back to bed at 9:00 and slept til she woke up to eat at midnight. We were up about an hour, then I took a sleeping pill (I had tried melatonin, but it didn't work for me) and slept til 5:00am. I needed the sleeping pill to help reset my own biological clock, and it worked. If the baby woke, my friend said she would get up with her.

I love this baby. She is cute as can be. We are a good fit. She has a wonderful temperament and personality. What a darling, I couldn't have asked for more---already in love with her.

Today was a very busy day. At 9am we boarded a bus to a beautiful palace in Nanchang. It has been destroyed and rebuilt 8 times. Very beautiful, with 6 floors of displays. We had to walk ALL the way up the front steps --quite a hike. It was extremely hot, and we were lugging babies and all the water we would need for the day.There is a beautiful view of the river with lots of fishing boats and water buffalo. Again, many curious Chinese came up to us, sometimes 30 people or so surrounding us. They would pet Katie's hair, stroke her face, and play with her until she smiled. Some of the older women would open the baby carrier right up to take a look at her. There were many interesting shops in the palace, and I bought some things. We also heard traditional Chinese music and saw beautiful dancers. It was wonderful, and the baby loved it. It made me realize that I have quite a resposibility to teach her about this culture. I don't want her to lose it. The walls in the performance hall were decorated with exquisite ceramic murals. The baby was fascinated, and so was I. Another room held a miniature of the palace. There were also beautiful paintings by a famous free hand artist.

Back on the bus, our director took Katie and played and played with her. She absolutely loved him. He wanted to keep her when we went to the department store, so I gave him a bottle and off I went. I bought a teapot and chopsticks at the store. All the clerks use the abacus. Procuring change is always a frustrating process, but they refused to keep the change out of Y50 for a Y48.80 bill.

Back on the bus, I came back to my absolutely contented baby. The next stop was traditional Chinese dining. There was a mechanized turntable in the middle of the table, and they placed about 20 dishes on it. These included goldfish, Chinese cabbage, chicken, eel, pickled dishes, soups, fried and boiled dumplings, bean curd, lots of unidentifiable meat (looked like organ meats), fresh fish, duck, and rice. I tried a bite of most foods. Most were chewy had tastes I didn't like. Very different from Chinese food here.

About half the group ahs been sick within the last 24 hours. I've been o.k. so far---I think the pepto bismol regimen helped. After lunch, we went back to the hotel for an hour to rest and change the babies. Then it was back out to the porcelain museum, with absolutely exquisite colors and shapes of the porcelains the province is famous for. The building itself was extremely old, not air conditionaed, and of course, we walked up and down a ton of stairs.

On the way back, we went through the countryside where we got off the bus to take pictures of a willing water buffalo in the rice paddies (man are those buffalo UGLY). The owner of the buffalo, an old man sitting on a bale of rice hay was smilingly bewidered by the bus load of people taking pictures of his water buffalo. The guides came out to explain what we were doing, and gave him a dollar. THis he turned over and over and looked and looked at. Meanwhile, a little boy was mugging for the camera. When the bus pulled away, we ahd drawn a crowd of about 30 laughing, waving children.

On the way back to the hotel, our guide said there was a school of massage in town, and we could hire several doctors to come to the hotel and give us a massage for 45 minutes. Several people went for it, and said it was great. The doctors are all specially trained blind people, so our guide told us not to be shy.

We rested for the remainder of the night. The baby usually wakes in the middle of the night, and won't go back to sleep easily---wants to play.  I put her in the carrier and do a few laps around the hotel, and that puts her back to sleep.  I am getting to know the nighttime security guards who patrol the halls.

The next day, I stayed at the hotel and rested. We went for a walk outside and watched men doing heavy work---hauling concrete on hand pulled carts.  I haven't seen any heavy machinery, the work is all done by hand. The men were very pleasant, they said hello and smiled and waved to the baby.

That night we ate at the American style restaurant. The waitresses were all very nice. One of the took the baby while I ate a bowl of soup. Business men at the next table waved at Katie and made faces at her to get her to smile.

After dinner, I went outside and watched the rat and bat show. We had been seeing bats at dusk flying outside our windows. we went to the parking lot after dark, and watched as dozens of bats swarmed around the lights, feeding on the insects attracted to them. Then, we saw the guards pointing at something. We looked and saw a huge rat running across the parking lot, dragging a plastic bag. Maybe a good luck omen for the year of the rat?

Several in our group were invited to the homes of the hotel staff. They say it is very difficult to learn English, and would welcome a visit. They also told them (with a smile), that westerners have very large eyes, but Chinese eyes are brighter!

My friend went for a walk to the little island we can see from our window. On the way, she saw a pig meandering, out for a walk. We can also see fishermen out each morning, sitting on the little walls in the middle of the lake.

This morning, we were asked by some Chinese journalists who had seen our group with the babies, if we would like to be interviewed. Our guides declined, but left it up to us as to whether we wanted to of not. In the end, we all declined. We felt we did not know enough about the culture, and were afraid we would say something that would be inadvertently inappropriate. No one wanted to take the chance of hurting the adoption program.

On the way back to our room, we pushed our button in the elevator, and a very nice Chinese gentleman pushed his. Then the control panel on the wall fell off (as we shot up 10 floors). We all looked at each other in horror, which turned to amusement as this poor, kind man tried to cover up the fact that we were 8 floors up in a broken elevator. He kind of nonchalantly tried to lean against the panel and hold it up. We got off at the 10th floor, and after the car continued on, collapsed in laughter---just what you want to see happen as you ride in an elevator---the thing falls apart! And that poor, sweet man trying not to scare us. There have been a lot of brief power failures, we've taken to using the stairs whenever possible. Also, although this hotel seems to be rather new, the plaster is falling off in a lot of places. I'm not sure why. All in all, though, it is a very comfortable and elegant hotel, and the service is great. The staff has been very kind and helpful.

I went down later to make copies and buy water. When I set my copies down to get some money out, the girl at the counter took my papers , slowly and carefully read the adoption certificate, smiled sweetly, said thank you. Well, at least now she knows exactly what I'm doing with this baby.

I went downtown today with another member of the group. She had been sick for several days, and wanted someone to go out with her. I left Katie at the hotel with my friend and went out alone. We took a taxi downtown, using written directions to give to the driver which our guide had given us. As we calmly observed head on crashes and doom, my companion remarked that it was time to worry---we weren't even nervous about the crazy driving anymore. We walked around the city, saw many vendors with wares spread out over the sidewalks. Many people called out "Hello", but that was the extent of most people's English.

In the department store, we asked for the jewelry department by pointing to our rings and earrings. There was quite a discussion, with them trying to tell us how to get there, and at one point they even tried to draw a map for us. Finally, one of the clerks just decide to take us there. Good thing she did---we never would have found it. It was upstairs and in the back. I think it may even have been in another building. We bought baby bracelets like the ones we had seen other Chinese children wearing. We took a short walk on the street, peeked into a lot of different kinds of shops, and visited a bookstore.

The next day, we took a trip to the Lushan Mountains. They told us to bundle the babies because it was cold in the mountains. Cold? It was 75 degrees! I guess after 100 degrees, that was cold. We made our guide promise us there would be western style toilets. He was true to his word, finding us a very small lavatory (bring your own TP) in a small hotel. The road into the mountains is very twisting. We were all passing around the dramamine. The mountains were very beautiful. Lots of mist floating around, and some wonderful gardens. All the people came up to me, sometimes so many that I couldn't move. I started saying one word---"adopt"---which they seemed to understand. On the way back down the mountain, we entertained our guide and ourselves by singing theme songs to T.V. shows. I personally sang "The Beverly Hillbillies" and snapped "The Adams Family". What an achievement!

We had lunch, traditional Chinese food again at the little hotel. I didn't eat very much. I had been eating less and less, but was able to eat some soup, rice, and breaded chicken. Katie had a screaming fit during lunch. I think the length of the trip was getting to us, because I felt like having one too! I tried feeding her using the bottles I had bought at the department store, but she wasn't happy. Our guide insisted on taking her and figured out the nipple was clogged. I gave him a new one, and he and our other guide took care of Katie while I ate. They were both so nice to us. After I ate a little, I took the baby out into the hall, and we looked out the window at a gorgeous garden. We finally arrived back at our hotel after almost 10 hours out. I was very tired. The next day, I just rested.

Then, it as time to leave for Guangzhou. We arrived at Nanchang airport over 2 hours early. It was oppressively hot.  Our guides could only go so far with us, so we ended up waiting for the flight alone. It was very nerve wracking, as not much english was spoken here. The english that did come over the loudspeaker was difficult to understand. Many in the group were very tense about whether we would know which flight to get on.  We all really had to help each other. One of the men in our group got the baby and me some water, it was just so hot. We had to drink a lot. I wasn't eating much, but knew enough to drink lots of water. However, some of the other parents were not keeping up their water intake. They started to feel weak and faint. Some people had to give their babies to others in the group to hold. We purchased water and made them drink, and put water on their heads. Katie had a totally inconsolable screaming fit in the airport. I guess I was lucky she had it there, because at least three babies screamed most of the way on the flight to Guangzhou.  It was a very difficult trip.

We finally arrived in Guangzhou about 8pm. We were met by the agency rep, and had to haul babies and all our luggage quite a hike to the bus to be taken directly to get the babies' visa pictures taken. Guangzhou is much more westernized than Nanchang. My favorite memory of the bus trip is of one of the ladies from the south yelling at the back of the bus, "Glory, Hallelujah----there's a McDonald's!!!" She and her husband REALLY didn't like Chinese food and asked at almost every meal, "Don't y'all have any fried chicken?" We had some fun with them for that. Every now and then in the middle of a meal, someone would yell "Hey, guys, I think we found something that looks like it could be chicken! Quick, tell those two!!!"

Well, we managed to prop up each of the 12 babies, duck out of the picture and dash back before they fell out of the chair. Everyone then had a visa picture. We were told to make sure we had our paperwork ready for the consulate by 7am the next morning. I thought we were going to get some help filling it out, but we didn't. I got some help from the other parents. I stayed up til 11pm trying to figure out which forms were needed and how to fill them out, especially because I had a power of attorney form for my husband. I did get to eat hamburgers, though. Some of the helpers and the husbands made a hamburger run and brought back a giant order of McDonald goodies. Best hamburgers I ever tasted.

The next day we had to get up early to make it for the babies' 9am physical appointment. Between lack of sleep and no time to eat breakfast, I wasn't feeling that great. I told my helper she would have to carry the baby. We took a short bus ride and then had to walk a mile or so to get to where the babies' physicals would be done. First they weighed her (she cried thru that). the scale was moving, but as close as we could tell, she was between 11 and 12 pounds. Next, her hearing was checked by the Dr. clapping by each ear. She got no reaction as Katie was intent on sucking every last drop of milk from her bottle. So, she just asked me if she could hear. Then a doctor listened to her heart and lungs. Unfortunately, we didn't get to burp her before laying her on the table for that (she cried thru that, too). When my helper picked her up to give her the rest of the bottle, she belched about a half a bottle's worth all over her and the floor. It was so bad, we thought the top had come off the bottle. the other parents helped wipe her off (it was even behind her ears). One of the attendants brought a mop out, and my friend had to rinse her skirt out in the sink. Through it all, Katie looked just fine. After all, she had finally burped and felt just wonderful. My friend and I laughed later when I confessed that all I could think of was "with the way I'm feeling, good thing you were holding her and not me".

We had an hour before the consulate appointment. We walked back to the White Swan. Even though I felt lousy, couldn't resist shopping. We bought a lot of stuff at one little shop on the way---they held Katie while we looked and gave her a miniature clay teapot as a gift. I bought a Chinese zodiac hanging, embroidered purse, medicine balls, and a goldfish pendant. Everything was very inexpensive. After that, I felt much better. Must have been a rush of adrenaline---shopping does that for women!

Then, we went to the famous pastry shop by the White Swan. It was great--bought wonderful light sweet buns with sweet fillings of pineapple cream or ham and cheese. They were huge, delicious and cost about 50 cents each.  We bought some to bring back for lunch. Luckily, we found a shop in the White Swan where they sold nice umbrella strollers. Then we wheeled our way to the American Consulate. There were people waiting in line, but as citizens with appointments, we got to go right in. The processing room was equipped with a baby swing, playpen, and was very comfortable. The officers were extremely nice and helpful. One welcomed us and told us to immediately put our passports under our clothing, as they are worth $50,000 on the black market, and their loss would delay our departure by a week. He told us to start the baby's vaccines over on the assumption that they hadn't had any. The first officer made sure our paperwork was in order. The second did the interview. He asked where I was from, what the weather was like there, if the baby's health was o.k., and what we did for a living. He congratulated us and wished us good luck, and that was that. The next afternoon we would receive our passports back and a sealed packet to hand in upon entry in San Francisco. We were warned not to open it.

When that was over, we went to the shops at the White Swan---a silk shop, a stationery store, (papercuts, pictures, cards, bookmarks). The lobby of the hotel was great---a goldfish pond, trees, bridge, waterfall. The usual people coming up to admire baby, although not as many as in Nanchang.

When it was time to go back to the hotel, we gave our card to the taxi driver. He looked at it for several long minutes. We started getting nervous. He drove about 10 minutes and tried to let us off on a back street nowhere near the hotel. We refused to get out. I don't know if he didn't know how to get there or couldn't read the card, or just eventually guessed the right hotel. Eventually we made it back. hat night we had Pizza Hut. Pineapple, pepper and tomato pizza. It was really good.

Early the next morning, my husband called. We found that it was easiest if I faxed him my room number and he called me. The connection was better this way, and it was a lot cheaper than if I called from China to N.Y. The time difference was 12 hours, so we usually talked at 7 am and 7pm. When I got home, AT&T gave me a courtesy discount which knocked more than half off my bill. (they were great--really helpful to me and the whole gang in Rochester after we explained we were adopting). Well, anyway, I didn't talk that long this morning. I was pretty tired, upset and homesick. I REALLY was not looking forward to the flight home with my active , definitely not quiet baby. The rest of the day, I rested, packed and shopped a bit in the stores in the hotel. Also watched tai-chi and other exercises in the park across from the hotel.

Very early the next morning, the bus took us to the airport. On the way, our guide told us that we were thought excellent parents by the Chinese people because we had made the difficult trip to come and adopt these children. He also told us that , in his estimate, at least 300,000 children enter the orphanages, and only about 10,000 total are adopted thru the foreign adoption program. He asked us to share our experiences with others back home and hopefully, encourage them to adopt.

We were all on the plane and taxiing down the runway when one of the flaps on the wing wouldn't move. We had to go back to the airport where there was a 40 minute delay while this was fixed. Katie chose this time to have another massive screaming fit. She had about one per airplane (6 planes) on the way home. My helper said she would never again get mad at people on airplanes with screaming kids, because now she knew how it felt to have one.

We got to Hong Kong and walked into a rather surreal scene-lots of armed guards with machine guns. When we tried to check in for the next flight, we found all our reservations had been cancelled. We did not realize that you have to confirm international flights 24 hours ahead, or they are cancelled. Luckily, our entire group was able to get on the plane. >From Hong Kong, we flew to Taiwan. It is another busy airport. We found a spot on the floor to rest, spread our blankets out, sat down and let the babies play on the floor. Naturally, more admiring and curious crowds. Lots of fun, and we got to stretch and rest a bit.

Next, we boarded another flight to San Fran. It was quite a difficult flight. I had a hard time getting any help from the stewardesses---difficult to get hot water for the bottles. One of the stewardesses actually started crying when she saw us boarding with all the babies. Not a good sign. Also, even though all the shades were lowered to simulate night, I got , at most, 1/2 hour of sleep. When I tried to get one of the available bassinets for the baby, I couldn't find a stewardess. Even worse, though there were lots of empty seats, when I tried to find two together so I could let the baby sleep next to me, all the other passengers had stretched over 3-4 seats per person and gone to sleep. I had to hold the baby for the entire 12 hours and try to doze.

When we finally got to SF, it was very crowded. We had to wait about 45 minutes just to retrieve our luggage, then faced huge lines at immigration. The Denver people had to catch another flight in 1/2 hour, so we said our goodbyes in line, lots of hugs and goodbyes. Immigration finally took a look at us with 12 babies, and opened a line just for us.

We made our way outside. Being too exhausted to figure out where the courtesy van was, we just took a taxi to the hotel. I slept for about an hour and a half that evening while my helper went out exploring. It was good that I was able to do that, as the baby was up 3-4 hours that night due to the time change. We all overslept an hour the next morning, and then made panic phone calls to drugstores to find formula (she went thru 4 cans of isomil on the trip). My friend ran to get it, and then we were off to the airport. On the trip to Cleveland, Katie had her usual screaming fit, but I was able to doze for a good part of the trip. At the next airport, my helper ran to a bathroom to get water for a bottle while I dressed Katie in pretty clothes to meet Daddy and her brothers. Lots of questions from people as I got her dressed up. There was a crowd of about 30 friends and relatives when we arrived at about 10:00pm at the Rochester airport. Lots of balloons, stuffed animals, flowers, and lots of cameras. There were a lot of happy tears. I was too glad to get off that last airplane to cry!!

The three boys, Dan and I stayed up till about 11:30 playing with the baby and talking about the trip.  The boys, along with the rest of the neighborhood had decorated our car, house , and yard. It was a fun homecoming with Katie smiling at one and all, and letting everyone hold her. I was really glad we stayed that extra night in SF and rested a little before arriving home.

I am so thankful I got the chance to go to China and see Katie's birth country. The Chinese people were very kind and welcoming to us, and we are so grateful they allowed us to adopt this beautiful child. Most of all, I will remember the wonderful people I traveled with--the guides in China, my friend who traveled with me and helped us, the wonderful people from around the country in our group who I got to meet.

Katie got a clean bill of health at the doctor's. We delight in her smile and easy going personality every day. We truly feel she is a miracle in our lives. People tell us she is a lucky little girl, but we feel that our family is the lucky one for having this beautiful child join us.

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