Hong Disney and more

Hi all:

First I want to thank Ms. Johnson's students who have emailed us. It may be difficult for us to write to you individually for a while, but just know that we are receiving your emails and will respond eventually. Right now John has to go out and get a grounded adapter to plug in our computer. We are running off of memory so i have to make this quick. I have a history question for you. Hong Kong was on a lease to what country for 99 years? Do you know when the lease expired and when the territory went back to PR (Peoples Republic) of China? Over what issue did China originally lose Hong Kong? How much was the lease payment? Stay tuned for answers in the next post.

Yesterday the three of us had an adventure traveling to Hong Kong Disney via Hong Kong MTR-the rail line. We took a taxi from the hotel to the Kowloon station and took a train that got us to the Sunny Bay Station we crossed the platform and hopped on the Disney transit train that took us to Disney is about 5 minutes. The whole train ride was about 25 min total! It was easier than going to Anaheim. Hong Kong Disney is a huge destination for tourists from Mainland China. There were not too many American tourists there. There was a huge fascination with Sienna and people were touching her face, hair and tickling her tummy. She was being offered candy by everyone and stickers from the employees. In fact we were told to ride again on the Autopia ride without waiting again as a gift to us! It was even more strange when the characters from the parade stopped to look at Sienna and hug her and no one else!

The park itself is a mini-version with a scaled down tomorrow land, adventure land and fantasy land. Joe, we looked for Asian Princess dolls in each store but they don't carry anything like that just the standard Caucasian Belle, Ariel, Aurora, Cinderella and Snow white fare. It was a great park for Sienna's age group. They did have Space Mountain and but I didn't ride. The highlight was the amazing Lion King show. It was a small version of the Broadway play. The dancing, singing and costumes were just fantastic. Sienna pretty much passed out on the way back.

Today we met our group and took the Hong Kong City tour. John and I had done this tour previously 6 years ago when we traveled with Kiwanis. We again went to Victoria Peak (very overcast), Stanley Mkt, the Jewelry factory, and had Sampan ride through Aberdeen. After, we all had a dim sum lunch at a delightful restaurant near our hotel. We were not too focused on the tour and did very little shopping as our attention is on traveling tomorrow to get Brooke. We are leaving the hotel early in the morning and our luggage has to be out by 7am.

We are ready for the whirlwind!

We made it!

That was a long flight. The first 3 hours were rough because Sienna was bouncing of the walls with excitement. We were able to use the new priority check in counter which was a godsend. We had to reissue Brooke's ticket and that caused a little problem but then we were able to be escorted directly to the TSA screeners. We were a little roughed up because we had a lap top, dvd player and asst. liquids that all had to be opened and inspected. Then we were able to chill out and get snacks in the united lounge. Sienna was hungry the whole day and never stopped eating.

Our plane was delayed a few minutes while we waited for a connecting flight to join us, but we still ended up getting to Hong Kong on time and to the hotel by 9:30pm.

United has not upgraded the business class of these planes to the new full fold down seat. John and I were not able to get much sleep but Sienna was. Still Business class is really the only way to go on a 15 hour trip with a 3 year old. We watched tons of movies and couldn't get ourselves into any of the reading material we brought. We saw Ratatouille, Bourne Supremacy (part of), Invasion of the Body Snatchers with Nicole Kidman (part of), One Ingredient (or Recipe) with Katherine Zeta Jones (very cute) and some other stuff.

The transition from the airport to shuttle went very smoothly and we are here at the Kowloon Regal Hotel with a suite, which we have to check out of at 10:30am. The suite has 2 marble baths and a Jacuzzi tub that could fit 8. The lights coming into hong kong for Christmas were amazing with Santa's everywhere. There are Christmas trees in the airport and all the hotel lobbies.

We are going to Disney Hong Kong today as we all feel we had an adequate sleep. We will meet up with our group tomorrow.

Hello Ms. Johnson's class, we will fill you in on useful information as we run across it. We are happy to have you all following along with us.

Love, to everyone who sent their good wishes and emailed or called before we left. We really feel the love and support of all of you.

We are leaving today!

We are packed and our bags are at the door.

Its funny to think when we come back there will be another little person living here. The house will be full just like I envisioned it would be when it was built in 1995. It took 13 years to fulfill the dream of having two children take those bedrooms upfront.

I get misty when I look back at all that happened over those 13 years. My deepest regret is that my dad wont be here to see his grandchildren. Maybe he knows what is happening and that he has one beautiful grand daughter (he would have adored) here and another on the way. He would have been over the moon with pride and love. I miss him very much!

Well, 2 1/2 hours before our pickup now and its time to get moving. Still it seems surreal...like I am really just going to work today...

I had a good cry!

Yesterday we received immunization records and a background report on Brooke "Bo Chang" from the time of her finding.

Bo Chang was left at the entrance of an alley in Poyang and found on 3/20/07. They estimated her date of birth at 2/4/07 based on the condition of her umbilical cord, Physiological features and a birth note that was left with her.

This is why I cried, I believe Brooke's birth mother had her for about 6 weeks before coming to the realization that she could not raise her. I feel she tried because she had her for 6 weeks and then wrote a note she left with the baby in a place where she knew Brooke would be found. Brooke was in surprisingly good condition but upset when first at the orphanage. the Orphanage Director then narrated her development milestones month by month since her finding.

I am sad we could not be there to witness the first time she picked up her head, smiled, sat up and joyously greeted important people to her. I am also sad that Brooke's birth mother did not get to witness her development either or know that she is going to have wonderful life and be well taken care of in America. I pray for her comfort, peace of mind and hope that somehow she knows her daughter is being adopted by a loving family. I can't imagine the pain of having to face such a life shattering decision. She will always be in our thoughts.

It is clear that Brooke has been very well taken care of in this orphanage. the Director describes her at six months as having "a relatively lively personality, fair skin, dark thick hair, and big eyes. She is incredibly beautiful".

Brooke, your mommy, daddy and big sister are coming to bring you home.

We leave tomorrow!

Thank you cousins Joe and Tammy!

I want to publicly (or at least as public as this is) thank you for all the help and support you have offered during this process, particularly in the last month!! If it were not for you we would not have found our way to our agency, CCAI and we probably would not have had the opportunity to adopt our daughter. We felt comfortable following all of your advice and suggestions knowing you have our family's best interest in mind. Joe and Tammy, you have hearts of gold and John and I consider ourselves fortunate to have you in our lives. Congratulations on the refferal of your daughter Jadelyn, she is lucky to be adopted by such a loving and caring family.

We love you, Karen and John

Final Preparations

We packed up all the baby items and clothes for Brooke last night and the good news is that we were able to get it all into one medium size suitcase. Included in the items packed were a box of Cheerios, baby blankets, stacking cups, a blow up tub, disposable wipes, disposable changing pads etc. We had forgotten all the little odds and ends that a baby would need. I also went through the clothes we had from Sienna and found out that we really didn't have quite the amount I thought we had after we cast aside the clothes that had stains or were torn. That's okay it only means I will have to do more shopping....

The plan is for two additional carry on type of suitcases that John and I will pack and check. We will be splitting Sienna's stuff between those two cases. Plus we are taking on a carry on for just meds and a carry on for electronics, and I mean electronics; lap top, camcorder, dvd player, camera, ipod, cell phone, dell mp3 player, nightlight, adapter, dvds and all the assorted chargers, cords and extra memory needed. Plus I am taking a diaper bag stuffed with essential adoption documents, what to expect the first year and info on the cities, and snacks. Sienna is taking her own backpack with a blankie, toys, books and comfort items.

This should be interesting!

Updated Photos of Brooke and Itinerary

According to her update as of 11/12/07 she is 28" tall and and 21 lbs. Wow she is 2lbs bigger and a 1/2 inch taller than Sienna was at the same age!

Itinerary:

12/5-leave for Hong Kong

12/6- Arrive Hong Kong at 7:40pm-Regal Kowloon, Hong Kong

12/7-Free day while waiting for group to fly in

12/8-Hong Kong tour

12/9-depart Hong Kong/arrive Nanchang-WE GET BROOKE TODAY!-JinFeng Hotel

12/10-12/15 Chinese adoption business/touring/bonding in Nanchang

12/16- depart nanchang/arrive Guangzhou-White Swan Hotel

12/17-12/19 business at US Consulate business/shopping/ touring

12/20 free day

12/21 -depart Guangzhou-via China Southern/arrive Hong Kong and depart flight #856 United for LAX arrive 8:35am that same day! Brooke arrives and becomes a US Citizen! Welcome home little girl!

We are all set and just have to finish at work, pack, buy a few more items...