~PASSAGE TO LEILA~

This is the story of how the Keaney family made their way to China to bring home their second daughter and a mei mei for Olivia.

Tuesday, November 21, 2006

Our Last Day: The swearing in

We spent our last day finishing up our shopping and our packing. Keryn spent the day in bed unfortunately - sick. I can't believe our trip is coming to an end. We had our consulate appointment this afternoon. After a ride in the pouring ran, complete with thunder and lightning, we were sworn in as a group, making the adoption process complete. The girls are ours forever and are now on their way to the good ol' U.S of A. I'm sad to be leaving - I have really enjoyed this trip and once again have had a great experience with no snags. And it doesn't hurt that we have the cutest baby in the world - sorry friends - I know you all feel the same about yours. But just look at those lips!



Our journey to Leila is coming to an end but it is just the beginning of our lives together and the start to our forever family. I don't know how you love someone so much that you have just met but I feel she has been in my heart a very long time. What joy these little girls bring to me. How lucky we are. I wouldn't have wanted it any other way. Its perfection! We are so blessed.

Thanks to all of you for your love and support during our journey. I felt the love through every email. Thank you for sharing this time with us. Thank you to those who made it all possible - you know who you are. You mean so much and we are eternally grateful.

Signing off from China. With love, the Keaney Family - Katie, Tommy, Olivia and Leila

Monday, November 20, 2006

Consulate Approval and Red Couch Photo

Today all of our paperwork went to the consulate. We waited in our room to get word from Connie and Chen that everything was ok. We all passed - Hooray!

Leila slept even later today - 8:45. We are definitely meant to be together. We both like to eat and sleep. She's looks like an angel when she's sleeping and a little baby bird when she's being fed. She has a tiny little mouth. Most baby spoons are even too big to get the food in. So we use little bits, and shovel it in really really fast. Otherwise she starts to squack.

The spicy noodle went three for three today. At all three meals she needed her nappy changed. Its as though she waits for me to sit down and start eating. She's a cheeky little thing.

Today was also red couch day. The babies had their photos taken on the red couch in the lobby of the White Swan and the group had a photo taken in front of the waterfall. The cooperated for the most part. Then someone started crying and it turned into a symphony. You can see in the first photo on the couch that Leila's girlfriend Lauren is very concerned about her. Here the girls get ready for their photo - with matching lucky ladybug dresses of course.




Tommy and I got a night out tonight. Keryn stayed with the girls. We had a bottle of wine at an outdoor restaurant on the Pearl River. We sat under what looked like Cypress trees with green spotlights shining on them and red lanterns hanging from the branches. We watched the neon lights of Bar Street across the River. For anyone who has been to Guangzhou, you know what I mean. It was really nice to have some time alone. Probably our last for a while.

Leila said Mama today. I went nuts! I'm sure she didn't realize what she was saying but it made me melt just the same.

Sunday, November 19, 2006

Sign, sign, everywhere a sign

Seeing as my theme seems to be poop on this trip, I thought it was a good time to share this picture. Apparently the Chinese think we lounge in the toilet. The bottom part of the picture is for a water closet - Chinese style. The top is the "rest room" with a western toilet. We got a big chuckle out of it.

Leila slept until 8:30 today. Keeps on getting better. And of course I missed breakfast again due to diaper duty. Funny how she knows just the right moment.

Today we had a tour of Guangzhou. We went to a temple to have the babies blessed. When we arrived there was a rare ceremony going on in the temple. It was very interesting to see and beautiful to listen to. After the blessing we went to pray to the female buddah to thank her for the gift of our beautiful daughter. She is the one, according to Chinese belief, who decides weather a child born will be a boy or a girl. It is custom for pregnant women to go to her and pray.

We lit insence in front of the temple with the three buddahs to send our wishes up in smoke to the Gods. I asked Olivia what she wished for - she said "I wish for my green house." That's when I knew it was time to go home. She misses her own bed and the Chinese cartoons aren't the same as "Mousie" (as she refers to Noggin.) She has done very well. Its not an easy trip - especially fighting for attention. Everything is more difficult: bathing, brushing teeth, eating. But she has been a real trouper and we are very proud of her. She makes a great Jie Jie (big sister) and is really bonding with Leila much quicker than I expected.

After the temple we went to a porcelain and jade market. Our driver dropped us off at the door and we all piled. When he backed out he drove right down a stairway - leaving the bus teetering. No one was hurt - and it was the talk of the day.

In the afternoon a tailor came to the hotel to measure us for some custom made traditional clothing. We picked what we wanted made and chose fabrics. I had a dress and a long coat made. I'll be all decked out for Chinese New Year.

Tonight we had massages at the hotel. Our guide arranged for three men to come to the hotel and give us deep tissue massage. It was fabulous! Where were they in Beijing after my climb on the wall?

Leila was less craky today. I think the meds are kicking in on her ear infection. She has slowed a bit on eating. I think she is beginning to understand that the food will keep coming.

P.S. I am having trouble uploading pictures to this post. I'll keep trying. I manage to do 4 months of paperwork, get myself and my family to China with all our gear, do more paperwork, bring home a baby... but I can't upload/download a pictures onto a blog!

Saturday, November 18, 2006

Exam Day


Today the babies had their visa exams. Everyone passed! Leila never made a peep.We also had pictures taken for their visa applications.

We shopped at the pearl market in the afternoon after lunch at Lucy's. Filled all my orders and then some.


Friday, November 17, 2006

Packing it up and off to Guangzhou


Spend Friday packing and paperworking. I packed, Tommy did paperwork. Keryn spend the day with Olivia keeping her busy. Don't know what we would have done without her. Leila slept until 8:10am and napped for 3 hours. That's MY girl!

We flew to Guangdong Friday night and made it safe and sound. After Leila pooped all over herself, the baby carrier, and me that is. We said farewell to Jackie in Changsha and hello to Connie in Guangzhou. Was nice that she remembered us. The new airport is beautiful. Four plane rides down, three to go.

After checking in Tommy and Keryn headed out to Lucy's for a bite while I stayed behind with my girls. We had girls night in including a tub for 3 thanks to the roomy tub at the White Swan Hotel. Love being back. We got connecting rooms this time but Olivia continues to fall asleep in our room and then gets moved into Keryn's.

Thursday, November 16, 2006

More Sightseeing

Today we went to a local Kindergarten school and the children entertained us with song and dance. It was awsome. We were shown around the grounds of the school and given gifts of artwork by the children. We sang and danced with them. They set of fireworks in our honour - it was so great. Olivia was a little shy at first but started to come around when she heard some of her favorite Mei Mei Hu songs. The teachers and children were so warm and welcoming. What a treat!



Next we went to a local farm in, what they call, the countryside. It was just outside the city in a little village. We were welcomed with oranges in traditional Chinese style and brought thru the house where one family lives. It was interesting to see how the farmers live and work but sad too. They are very proud of what they have - tv, motorcycle, electricity, animals, planting fields, and were happy to show us around. Then we strolled thru the village market. This is a picture of a vendor. Anyone for a slab of ???

Feeding Time and Play Time

I can't believe the way this one eats. She puts more food away than I do. So far she hasn't turned anything away except watered down orange juice.

Leila has developed an ear infection so we have her on antibiotics. She's been a wee bit cranky the last 2 days so we had the dr. check her out before our flight tomorrow. Our doctor is fabulous!

We fly out to Guangzhou late tomorrow afternoon (Friday for us). First stop, Danny's Bagels for a chicken parmesian sub. It's been Chinese, Chinese, Chinese, pizza, McDonalds, more Chinese food. Breakfasts are great - just like home and then some. Tommy is the brave one. He has tried almost everything: snail, snake, crab, periwinkles, no matter how spicy. But we keep a fire extinguisher close by just in case. He's getting the hang of the spicy food. Keryn, Olivia and I are playing it safe. Lots of PB&J's. Packing pb and jelly is the way to go. I do LOVE the dumplings - good call Barb. I miss napkins and ice. Napkins are hard to come by believe it or not.

I am completely in love with Leila. I don't know how it happens so fast, but it has. She is cuddly and happy and her smile makes me melt. She definitely gets the funniest hair award for the group. She looks like an 80's rock star - a little Rod Stewart. She is definitely a Hunan girl - her spicy side shows when you don't shovel the food in fast enough. She sleeps thru the night - slept until 7am this morning.


Sightseeing

Yesterday (Wednesday I think) we went to an emboidery museum and a university in Chengsha. The work at the museum was incredible! Couldn't capture its beauty on film so you'll have to come to my house to admire the wall hangings I purchased. For all my former travel mates - be proud - yes, I was the last one back on the bus after shopping. The university is over one thousand years old - part of Hunan University. Mao himself attended school there for a few semesters.


Leila and her Jie Jie



It's Official





Tuesday we went back to the Civil Affairs office and made everything official. We were thumb printed and Leila was foot printed. We had a short interview, shook on it, more paperwork, sign on the dotted line (9 times) and wa la - she's ours! We got to skip out on one interview - I guess they trusted we were good parents.

Went out exploring in the afternoon. Felt like celebrities - lots of stares, but friendly ones. Everyone is so friendly and love the babies. Tommy found KFC and was happy as a pig in mud.

Monday, November 13, 2006

More Photos

Here are a few more pictures. Downloading has been slow and I cannot view our blog. I will continue to try but for now cannot read comments but can receive emails at my email address.


They arrived together with their nanny - Miss Lauren Rhude and Miss Leila Keaney. Just like Marilyn and I planned.



Daddy and his girls

Sisters first kiss.

Heeeeeeeere's Leila


Gotcha Day

We've got her! She's even more beautiful than her picture. Second time around was as wonderful as the first. Everything went perfectly. Aside from a little congestion, Yi Ren (aka Leila) is doing great. Our group's doctor gave her a thorough check up and said she looks terrific. She is tall but thin: 29.5 inches and 15 lbs - just like her sister was. Almost the exact same measurements in fact. She has lots of hair, which was a surprise to us. She came to us very easily, without tears. Three teeth and two on the way down.

She has a wonderful little personality. She is very happy and didn't cry once all day until 10 minutes after she fell asleep tonight - she woke up and didn't know where she was. Her daddy got the first smile out of her but Olivia made her roar with laughter while tickling her belly. She is very playful, sucks her thumb, and eats like a bear.

We are all exhausted but doing great and enjoying ourselves and our travel families. Our journey with Leila is just getting started. How long we waited and in an instant those last 21 months melted away when she was put in my arms. She has already brought so much happiness to our little family. I am only saddened that her birth mother can not see the joy she has given us. I hope she can somehow feel our love and gratitude through our prayers to her.

Having trouble downloading picture. Will keep trying.

Sunday, November 12, 2006

Beijing: The Great Wall and Forbidden City



It has been an amazing trip so far. We had a great time in Beijing. Weather was perfect - beautiful sunny, fall-like days with crisp air. Olivia has made some friends who keep her busy. She climbed the Great Wall - about a third of the way up on the section we were at. I managed to make it to the top of the Wall and I've been paying for it for 2 days with aches and pains in my legs.







Chen Chen is our guide and is making the trip as great as the first one with her. Made it to the Silk Market and could have spent days there. Added an extra 5 lbs easily to my luggage with all my treasures. Also made a stop at a silk factory where we saw how silk is made and loaded up on silk quilts and other goodies.

Monday, November 06, 2006

Travel Meeting Smiles

We never thought it would get here, but here we are. Just days away and putting a few last things together. Travel meeting went well. Tommy and I volunteered to be group leaders on the trip (well, I volunteered us.)

We take off at 8:55am Thursday morning and arrive in Beijing at 4:05pm Friday. Uuggh! We are just counting the days till we meet our sweet n spicy girl.