Travel Journal - Day 4

WE HAVE ELAINE!! Lei Qing Juan aka Elaine Qing-Leigh joined her forever family at 2:45 today. There is so much to say but my battery is low and I have to use the internet in the lobby where there are no plugs so this will be short. I will post the details tomorrow. First of all we went to the Chinese Civil Affairs for Adoption to meet the babies. There are fifteen in our group. As we were walking down the hall I saw Elaine and her Nanny recognized me from the photos I had sent to her. I pointed to Lani and pointed to me and the Nanny nodded yes and Elaine looked at me and waved! I think the Nanny helped her. Anyway, about 15 minutes later, they brought the children into the room, one by one, with about 30 seconds in between. We were number 14. All the children before her were babies and some were even asleep. They brought Elaine in and she immediately started screaming. She screamed for about 2 minutes and cried for about 5 minutes and she has not cried since! Well, she has let out little cries and then she is fine as soon as I pick her up. I had to go fill out paper work once we got back to the hotel and when I went back to the room, all three girls were on the bed watching National Geographic.

She has had nothing to eat or drink since 11:30am. I try to give her water and apple juice but she just lets it run out her mouth. My guide says this is normal and she should eat tomorrow. Please, please pray for that!

I must get back to the room now. I put her to bed before I left but I want to make sure she is still sleeping.

Oh, she is so tiny! About 12-18 month clothes. She is very light. Her right eye looks healthy but there is for sure no vision there. She turns all the way around to look at things. So much to tell, so check tomorrow!

Okay, battery is holding up so here are some more things about today…..

It is hard to describe all the feelings that we had today. I can honestly say that I was just as excited and just as nervous as when I had Kara and Meredith. The bus ride to the office was like the ride to the hospital. I had that same “OHHH” feeling when I saw all three girls for the first time. I rubbed my face on the girls heads as soon as I held them and I did that with Lani also and she loved it! She loves to have her arms and hands scratched. All I can say is that from the first minute of having Elaine in our lives, I have felt the same love as when Kara and Meri were born! It took everthing in me to not just cry and cry. Our guide and agency said it would scare the kids and to be as calm and even keel as possible. Well, after a while, I handed her to Mike and she fell asleep for a little bit on his lap. I saw this little girl curled up in her Daddy’s arms and I had to leave the room and cry! I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to stop but it felt so good to let all the emotions go! I pulled it together and went back in just as she was waking up! She has let the girls hold her and she has played with them. Meri asked me several times if I thought she was doing a good job at being a big sister! I assured her that she is a great big sister.

Now, sadly, Elaine fell 4 days ago and hurt her arm. The Nanny gave me X-rays they had taken and said that it was not broken but her little arm is blue and purple. The Nanny said not to pull on it or she will cry. She gave me some herbal ointment and a bandage wrap. We have a medical exam in a couple of days and I can ask for more x-rays. If she is not better by the time we get home, I will have an x-ray done in the states ASAP!

AND……….. she is still sleeping in a crib!! I never thought she would be in a crib! The older kids sleep on little mattresses on the floor so I just assumed that she did also. No, she is in a crib. We have one in our room but I do not have one at home. We will see if she can sleep in a bed with a safety rail. Just one of many surprises that lay ahead for us!

Okay, I think that is all for now. I hope tonight goes well. Again, please pray that we can get her to eat and drink tomorrow.

The Goff Gang, now complete!