| Our Adoptions: 3 of our grandchildren are adopted. If | | | | arrived and there was word that the children would |
| I stood them and their parents in front of you, it | | | | be delivered to their perspective adoptive parents in |
| would be virtually impossible for you to pick out the | | | | the19th floor lobby shortly. We all gathered there |
| ones who were adopted. Well, maybe one. She | | | | anxious to see them for the first time. We all |
| stands out a bit in personality and appearance. She's | | | | watched the elevator doors nervously awaiting their |
| from China. We will refer to her as "G" for privacy | | | | arrival. The elevator doors opened several times |
| and security purposes. We are very fortunate to | | | | allowing passengers to enter and exit but, no children. |
| have such special grand kids. No doubt, all of you feel | | | | Soon someone came running out of their room |
| the same way about your own. The other two | | | | shouting that the children were in the downstairs |
| adopted children were adopted state side and fit in | | | | lobby waiting to board the elevators. Everyone |
| with their siblings, cousins and families perfectly. I was | | | | stared at the doors. There was silence. You couldn't |
| fortunate enough to be with the parents of two of | | | | even hear anyone breathe. I wondered briefly if they |
| them when the adoption occurred. The first of which | | | | were breathing. I wasn't sure that we were. After |
| who s' name will be seen here as "J" was adopted at | | | | what seemed to be an eternity, the doors of the 4 |
| birth and we got to meet his birth mother in the | | | | elevators burst open simultaneously and several care |
| hospital shortly after his birth. We had to stay in the | | | | givers, each carrying 2 children flooded into the lobby. |
| adoption state for 9 days following custody to allow | | | | There was an explosion of emotions, ooh’s and |
| our state to approve us for travel back to what | | | | aah’s and other barely audible emanations. We |
| would be his home for the rest of his life. He now | | | | scanned the children looking for "G" the confusion and |
| has 2 siblings. He is the oldest. He's now 8 years old | | | | utter chaos was overwhelming as were the |
| and will always be our first grandchild. From the time | | | | outpouring of emotions. A woman approached us |
| he was 3 months old until he went to kindergarten I | | | | with two children in her arms and presented us with |
| baby sat during the day and developed a close bond | | | | one. How she knew who we were is beyond me. |
| that will endure forever. I am indeed fortunate to | | | | From this point, it is impossible to describe my |
| have been available to do this and will always have | | | | feelings. Everything else became invisible and there |
| fond memories of our time together. I was blessed | | | | was only us, ( me, my daughter, and our new |
| again with the privilege of accompanying my | | | | addition). Everyone else seemed to vanish. I could still |
| daughter to China to pick up "G". We were there | | | | hear them through the fog but was unable to focus |
| during the SARS epidemic in2002. We stayed there | | | | on anything else but my daughter's tear covered |
| finalizing the international adoption process for two | | | | face, looking at her daughter with absolute love and |
| weeks and waiting for the INS to approve our travel | | | | amazement. I would not trade those moments for |
| back to the states. What an experience! Things were | | | | anything in the world. I have never been so |
| tense because of the epidemic. Temperatures were | | | | overwhelmed by emotion. I have tears in my eyes |
| being monitored everywhere, the airports, the hotels | | | | now, just recalling the events. I have trouble |
| and agencies. That too was stressful because if you | | | | remembering the sequence of events prior to and |
| were suspected of having an elevated temperature | | | | following that special moment. I will share some of |
| you were immediately turned away from the facility | | | | our experiences in a future posting. As far as the |
| and put into quarantine. (Homeless in a foreign land) | | | | third adoption is concerned, I was not able to |
| To prevent such occurrence we took Tylenol at | | | | accompany our son and daughter in law for that one. |
| least 3 times per day to avoid any spikes or | | | | Their adoption process was a long and stressful one. |
| elevations. We were so excited to receive our new | | | | It was filled with disappointment, heart ache and |
| bundle of joy and anxious to hold her in our arms | | | | deception, not to mention the unimaginable expense. |
| finally after two plus years of preparing for this | | | | They were determined to adopt a child and |
| wonderful moment. Our rooms were located | | | | continued to try different agencies and options. With |
| onthe19th floor of a hotel in Chang Shah in Hunan | | | | our support and the support of other family |
| Province where she was abandoned under a highway | | | | members, and lots of prayer, they were blessed with |
| underpass near a construction site. The orphanage | | | | a beautiful child who shall be known here as, |
| she was living in was just down the street but we | | | | “C”. Although the journey was riddled with |
| could not visit the premises due to the security | | | | obstacles and discouragement, they persisted and |
| restrictions in place to avoid transmission of the | | | | God, in his infinite wisdom, made it possible for just |
| SARS virus. We waited for what seemed to be | | | | the right set of circumstances to materialize and |
| forever in the hotel. We did not venture outside of | | | | blessed them with a beautiful child. He fits perfectly |
| the hotel for fear of being denied access back in and | | | | into their situation and life. “C” is now |
| the possibility of contracting the virus ourselves. | | | | approaching two years of age and is a happy ,loving, |
| There were people stationed at the door of the | | | | well adjusted and beautiful child. Will you share your |
| hotel armed with laser thermometer guns and alcohol | | | | adoption stories with us? To do so, just click on the |
| sponges to clean your hands upon entering almost | | | | word “comments” at the bottom of the |
| any facility or public building. Was it stressful? Yes it | | | | page. We would love to hear your stories. jggnjc. |
| was. Was it worth it? Absolutely. The second day | | | | |