Pictures

This is a picture from the first moment I saw Jillian. All the girls were in this open room playing and we all just walked in completely unprepared. It wasn't the usual transfer between parents and children. We were all a bit paralyzed. Our whole group took a few seconds to digest this scene and then scrambled for cameras and camcorders. Then we all started looking for our children, but since Jillian was pretty much front and center I guessed it was her.


Enjoy the pictures.......as for trip details, I don't know where to begin. But, I will at least summarize the first few days with Jillian.

Tuesday March 27 - "Gotcha Day" or should I say "total meltdown day" Definitly one of the hardest days I've ever had. I found out Jillian had been in foster care for some time (still don't know exact dates) and had bonded with her care giver. This is both a pro and a con. The pro is that she seems developmentally in good shape and was in good health. She also clearly knows how to attach to someone and this is really important with institutionalized children. The downside is that she was seriously upset for the first several days at the change in environment etc.. I don't blame her one bit. I have read a lot about orphaned children and the grieving process when their only known constant is turned upside down. It was heartbreaking. She was a textbook case and although I felt helpless I at least felt I knew a little about what I was witnessing. She cried for the first 8 hours we were together and then closed up like a shell. There were no hugs, laughter, smiles or much emotion for the first few days.





Wednesday March 28 - Pretty uneventful. She was in evaluation mode. I just relied on the help and coaching from the other parents (most were repeat parents) as to how to do this whole parenting thing. I needed a bottle of formula today? Oh and I should have brought more than one diaper? What do I feed her besides formula? Is this the right mix of formula? etc..




Thursday March 29 - We spent the day in the hotel room. She was sick the entire day and although we were couped up it was a nice break from the hectic pace. It also helped reassure her that I was there to take care of her. I think this was a pivotal day when reflecting back on the trip.

Friday March 30 - Jillian was feeling better although my throat and right ear were still hurting and sore. She started to come out of her shell a bit but I was still thinking it would be days before I saw any affection from her.

Saturday March 31 - Is this the same child? Jillian's true personality showed itself big time. She giggled and interacted with me all day. We spent the evening diving into the pillows on the cushy bed and I managed to find a few places that when tickeled or pinched a little she would erupt in fits of giggles. Whew!








And from there things just got better. Jillian often slept through the night, although that hasn't happened since we've been home. She also has great resiliency. A bump on the noggin' or spill to the floor is just par for course and she gets up, brushes herself off and gets going again. She also wakes up pretty happy and is usually in giggle mode before I can change her diaper.



She was an amazing traveler as well. Not one peep on her first flight from Chongqing City to Guangzhou. And the 36 hour journey home last Friday was not bad either. The only meltdown came before the last flight from Newark to Charlotte and I almost had one too (delay after delay), so I can't hold that one against her. She slept about 8-9 hours on the 13 hour flight from Beijing to Newark so I was sitting pretty.

But it's been tough the last few days. Jillian and I both have stubborn rotten colds that we've had for about 4 days. And I had gotten a stomach bug the last couple days in Guangzhou and promptly passed that on to Frank upon arrival. Poor guy picks us up at 1:30am and ends up sick as a dog for 2 days. I'm still weak from being so sick and so trying to balance/find sleep with an active child has been a challenge. But, she's a great kiddo and I'm so hopeful for a fun springtime together. Oh and she's fine with the dogs. Luray's tail has knocked her over a few times but it's clear Jillian loves her. Rosebud hasn't come close to her so there is no relationship there just yet. And Frank's dog Halle is all about tongue licks so it goes over with mixed emotion when Halle starts licking Jillian in the face.

Enough for now. Enjoy the pics.

These are the eight little girls from Dianjiang. There were six additional families but their girls (and one boy) were from different provinces.


More pictures to come.......... Anne