Our Past Couple of Days...

Rain, Rain and more Rain! We have been virtually stuck in the hotel for the last 3 days except for a few excursions - one really important one, to the American Consulate. We finally had the opportunity to swear to the American Gov't that we will take care of this child and enure her every need and support in life. There were about 42 families there, we all were in a room and performed the same process. Didnt really take much time - but the purpose and the ceremony were very important and frankly quite emotional for me. Ermei behaved wonderfully - she tends to get a little withdrawn and overwhelmed when there is a lot of activity and people around.

We had dinner a Chinese Restaurant near the hotel, as it was pouring and we didn't want to be caught out too much in the rain. Menu had thinks like snake, quail eggs, grilled beatles, and lot of interesting fish "parts...". We stuck with the beef noddles and a wonderful steak and mushroom dish, but in the end, Pablo was less than thrilled on his plate and then to top it off they charged for the napkins! All in all an interesting evening.

Today we've pretty much have been rained out again - so we've prepared our luggage and we're ready to travel home tomorrow. We are so looking forward to seeing the boys again - and having Ermei be a part of our family.

Thanks to all for your continued support - we appreciate everything and look forward to our lives now with Ermei.

This'll be the last of the photos for a few days - look for her homecoming in the next week or so.

Best always - Christine, Pablo & Ermei

DINNER COMPANIONS - SIMON & CHLOE

BOATS ON THE HARBOR WHILE WE HAD DINNER

THE TOTAL POSER!

THE VIEW INSIDE OUR HOTEL - THE WHITE SWAN

Another Slow Day - but a great one!

So today we were given the approval by the Chinese government to adopt Ermei! We couldn't be more thrilled. We had to wait in our hotel room all morning to get the answer, our guide went and did all the work for us, but it was worth as all we need to do now is go for the swearing in and then get her Visa to come home.

We spent the rest of the day walking around the area of the hotel and then later on in the afternoon we visited a Buddhist Monastery - what a neat experience, then some shopping again and finishing up with dinner on the bay of the area around the hotel. Looking forward to tomorrow - will tell more then.

Enjoy - Hugs and Kisses from us all!

What a lucky girl she is - pampering already!

One of the Buddha's at the temple.

Two Lovely Girls sharing an Umbrella in the Rain!

Slow couple of Days!

Well, it's a Chinese Holiday here and so there are not many things to do. Sunday was a complete free day and we shopped and shopped - there are many little shops around the hotel and each one wants you to stop in and look and eventually buy. They bargain on price and we've gotten some good deals on clothes for her, but there is still the best find out there, we are sure.

We were touring around the hotel and came on a small group of other parents hosting an Easter egg hunt. They were super cool and included the girls (Ermei and the little girl from the other family) and they had a blast searching for just 4 or 5 eggs. Our Easter dinner was at a Taiwanese restaurant - we had a wonderful fried rice and the best curry I've had in some time.

Today - boring, physical follow up (all good!) and then paperwork to prepare for both the consulate and the Chinese authorities. Over the next few days we will have our work processed and then we'll be sworn in by the government on Wednesday - get her Visa to travel on Thursday and travel back on Friday. We are very excited to get home - we wonder how she'll respond to all the new surroundings there and her new brothers and extended family, but so far, if her personality continues, she'll be the princess of the castle in no time.

Enjoy the new photos - we'll keep more coming.
Christine, Pablo and Ermei


Sleeping Beauty!

Early Corruption or Early Training - hmmm?

She loves to show us how she can use her chopsticks...




Being Very Silly!

She loves to play with Papa! ( Ba Ba as she calls him...)

The Girlie, Girl treatment starts!

Rainy Days in Guangzhou!

We left Shenyang yesterday - it was the coldest and windiest day yet - felt like Canada in January! Here is a photo of our guide Maggie there - she was really great and helped in so many ways. We got a late start to Guangzhou yesterday, not arriving until around midnight to our hotel, then having to get started to the Dr's for physicals this AM. What an experience that was!

As westerners, we see our offices crowded with people waiting and kids everywhere, sometimes controlled, sometimes just busy, in this case, before we can go to the Dr's we have to get photos taken. We go to what looks like a store front, but it's really just a big glass door with a small room with a photographer taking the kids photos -when i say kids - there are at least 20 people ahead of us, all with adoptive children, all excited to talk to each other about where their children are from - where they will be going to live. We wait our turn, the place empties out then we have to hurry to the physical exam building - I'm expecting to see a waiting room and then offices like we have at home - have i not experienced enough to know that would be the last thing I'd see? Instead, there are rooms all around with Dr's seeing multitudes of kids, boys, girls, healthy, some not - you can see the parents all just fixed on what to do next for their child. We are all in different stages of the visit - first the weight - then the overall exam, hearing, ENT and then an eye sight review. Finally you end with Shots, dependant on what you may need (one poor little guy had to have 7 of them... as you can imagine - not happy!)

Our wonderful Ermei took all this in like a champ - she moved from station to station with no issue and took the TB test with the needle in her harm without even a flinch - i mean it, she never even grasped my hand, which i had firmly planted on her lap to ensure she knew I was there. Does this make me kind of wonder? Sure - but I'm going to believe she is just one tough cookie for the moment. All went well - She has a bit of a sinus infection, but we think she's had this for some time. We have to go and follow up on Monday. We don't forsee any issues and I'm sure all will be fine.

We came back to the hotel - got changed and the family we are traveling with was really not up for more Chinese food so we went to the local "Western" restaurant. Ermie was not too thrilled, but we managed to find her some noodles to eat and she was happy enough - more so that she is working on her form using chopsticks and continually is working to get the noddles or beef to stay inside them and into her mouth!

Before we headed out to see about some shopping (we have this afternoon and tomorrow as free time) we played a bit
and I have to tell you, the joy we get from the giggles and her laughter is unbelievable. I know I've already said this, but we are so lucky to have been allowed to have her in our life. I can't wait for her to meet her big brothers, all of our friends and family. We know you'll all fall in love with her as we have. Enjoy the pictures - we'll post as we can - Happy Easter to you all and have a great weekend.

Some free time!

It's Thrusday afternoon here and we've had a bit of free time late yesterday and all today. After visiting the tomb of an emporer from the Ming Dynasty, which was one of the most peaceful places we've been, we experienced the local Wal-Mart as us and the other family needed some clothes for the kids. We found some things but not as much as I understand we'll see in Guangzhou. All in all an interesting experience. I think we were all so tired we came back to the hotel and we all feel asleep by 6:15 and slept through the night - I guess that is to be expected given the long few days we've all had.

Today we have had an interesting day - on our own, going to a park and then lunch in a restaurant where you pick from a long bar of prepared food all cellophaned - we had no idea what we were eating, but i think we picked well with a soup to start, some kind of a spicy beef (i think...) and then roast duck. Oh, can't forget the calamarie, it was really quite good.

Tomorrow we leave for Guangzhou later in the day, after we get the passports for the kids. Next week is busy with physicals, visa interviews with both governments and other paperwork stuff. Getting anxious to come home. Can't wait for the boys to meet their new sister and for everyone to see what a wonderful addition she is to our family.

Bye for now -Christine, Pablo & Ermei.

We have her!

The last two days have been a whirlwind! Here she is - Ermei Nina Marques! she is full of life, has a tremendous personality and Pablo calls her the "Storm"! The meeting was very strange - we had to go to a hotel where the notary for Adoptions has and office. We thought there was going to be this process for her to be delivered but when we walked in there were all these people, some meeting children, some with Children, and then a tone of activity and this lady just thrusts her at us and says her name so we know who she is. She knew us, was terribly scared as were we... but she took to the backpack immediately and started to look through it to see what was inside. After several minutes, she became pretty disinterest and only wanted to be with the Nanny. There were photos taken, a lot of paperwork to do, and then about 3 hours later, it was time for the Nannies to leave and then the crying and difficulty started. Here is the good news, it only lasted about 5 mins - we left to the van to come back to the hotel and she was great! Took control of the room from the start, immediately changed into some of the clothes we brought and was a happy camper. The rest of the day was pretty much the same - she is a very independent little girl, she can put on her clothes and shoes, she can do her jacket with no help and by day two, knows how to open the room with the key. She helps the other little girl traveling with us that a family is adopting from the same orphanage with her coat, her food, everything. She is bright and Pablo and I are totally in love with her.

Today we went to the City where she is from to apply for her Passport - after a 3 hour bus ride, 2 hours in the office - we went to the Orphanage where the romanticism of her being in a place with lovely kids and older people came to a screeching halt. This place was like an institution, every child has some kind of issue be it mental or physical. It broke my heart to see the babies and how they have to be strapped to the beds in order to keep them from getting hurt. To see children that obviously needed so much more care but in this place, a government run facility, they were getting the best they could. It's important to note that the two women we saw were wonderful - they were so happy to see the two girls back - took them right away, gave them hugs and kisses and were very helpful in helping us to see where the girls had grown to that point. Clearly the help and attention Ermei pays to other kids was something she had to learn and in my opinion, created great favor for her as a result. you could tell when we walked in, she had the run of the place. I was a little worried that when we needed to leave she'd not want to come, but not the case - she took our hands - said bye bye to the nannies, and we were off.



An emotional two days - a wonderful two days - we are the luckiest people on the planet. Thanks for checking and we'll post again as we can gain access. Best - Pablo, Christine & Ermei

Up and waiting for Ermei!

It's 5:20 in the morning here and we are too excited to sleep any longer. We leave at 8:30 to meet Ermei at 9:00! We'll take lots of pictures and post as we can. We learned yesterday the Google has been taken off line in China and this Blog is supported by Google so it's been tough to get in and get posts done but we'll do our best.

Yesterday was a great day - we visited two Tianamen Square and the Forbidden City. What history and culture. Thousands and thousands of people were there to visit the Chairman's tomb. we've never seen so many people in one place - truly amazing. The Forbidden City was really interesting - to see how the Emperor's lived and the space the city occupies was something you can't really appreciate unless you are there. Enjoy these two photos of these wonderful places.

Yesterday we had a surprise on getting to the hotel in Shenyang - the agency had another family that last minute got their paperwork and is here as well to also adopt from this orphanage. They have a 5 year old girl - Chloe, cute as can be, also adopted from China that they brought along. i'm sure it'll be great to have others here - especially those with experience in this process.

Off to prepare to meet our daughter - what a strange thing that is to say, our daughter.

Hugs and Kisses to all!
Christine and Pablo