Monday, September 6, 2010

Gotcha Day!

Well, here we are 7 hours from our Gotcha moment and it still feels very surreal.  This little person is sitting here in our hotel room.  He doesn't know us and we don't know him and honestly it is weird!  Here is how the day went…

 

We met in the lobby at 9:30am.  There were 6 families that got their children with us and 3 that waited until the afternoon and were brought the babies here at the hotel.  We were #3 in drop off.  All the families were waiting in an office building and when we saw a mini-van pull up everyone would get ready and then wait and see who it was and then as soon as we knew who was coming that family would get to the front and everyone would start photographing.  It was nuts.  This is different for us, because with Luke we were all by ourselves (kids and parents included) and it was very quiet. 

 

When Mack arrived his two nannies carried him in.  It was our turn to go to the front of the line.  They were talking Chinese to him telling him "mama" and "baba".   When I reached out for him he turned back to his nanny and wouldn't come, but Dave was able to take him without any problems.  We held him while we finished our paperwork and he mostly watched all the activity around us.  He warmed up to us and really never cried.  The special moment for me was when the nannies were getting ready to leave and they came to visit with us.  Our guide stood with us for about 20 min while we talked.  They gave us a gift.  It was a photo album of pictures of him at the Kaifeng Social Welfare Institute where he has been for his life of 19 months.  We flipped through the pictures and they told us who the other children were and who the different workers were.  We all cried.  I told them thank you and they told me thank you and how much we appreciated each other.  They told me that he was a stinker.  That he would get into everything and that he was funny.  I'm anxious to see his little personality peak through the doors of insecurity, they are starting to even this evening.  He had a best friend…there are several pictures of her in the book.  She was adopted to the states also.  I love knowing all this and having had this conversation especially since it is unlikely that we will be going to visit his orphanage.  Our group is too big and it is to far away for everyone to visit their orphanages.  After we visited it was time for them to say goodbye.  They were bawling (not Mack) the nannies and they were precious.  Two beautiful women (notice pictures) that cared for this little baby boy with a messed up little mouth since he was there at 2 days old.  I loved them and hugged them and we stood and waved while they waved back wiping tears all the way out the door.  I will never forget that.

 

Now we have been back to the hotel this afternoon and we played and got on Skype with kids.  It was midnight for them and they were very tired!  Mack fell asleep for 3 hours.  Dave worked out and I finished "Choosing to SEE"  Mary Beth Chapman's book.  We got him in the bath and put one of our outfits on him and continued to asses the situation.  He has bug bites all over him.  This is common.  His lip looks good.  It is a bigger repair than Luke.  So I feel like it's more noticeable, but Mack has the inside repaired and it looks great so that is different and a blessing.  The one thing we weren't aware of is how bow-legged he is.  Dave has already been on Web MD.  Of course not a major concern but something else to think about.  It doesn't slow him down, he is running all over the place.

 

We are looking forward to coming home. Even more now!  Love you all, Missy


13 comments:

Nate and Joy said...

HE IS SOOOOOOO PRECIOUS! Looks like a Nicholson. I love that you got that book...a treasure for sure! And his nannies...so sweet! I am dying to hear and see more. He is so beautiful. You are so blessed!

scnaffnit-mathers fam said...

thanks for telling us each step..you encourage all of us...hope you three got a good night sleep:)

Neil and Kathy said...

I was soooo moved to tears when I saw the pics. What a doll baby he is. He will fit right in to the family! Shelby helped us with our family picture yesterday getting the little ones attention. She was so helpful and sooooo excited to see her little Mack via scype. Love you all. A. Kathy

Jason, Kate and Tait Miller said...

Oh my goodness- that sweet little face! Jason wanted you to know the bowleggedness is not going to be a problem! :) I think he has experience or something! HAHAHAHA

Went to Grace yesterday. Took Tait to the 3's class during the service. Luke shouted from across the room- HEY I KNOW YOU!!!! and came running to Tait- It made him feel so much better! Love that little man and I know we will love this one too! Can't wait to meet him!

Mark and Jan said...

He is soooo cute! Tears are running down my face as I read your blog!!! I'm so happy and excited for you guys!!! Luke and him are going to be best buds!!! Wasn't that so awesome that he was sooo well care for in his life before you guys by those sweet caring nannies? That is such a blessing!!!

ps~ I'm learning to preview my comments before I post them!!! :)

Neil and Kathy said...

Fantastic!! One more little one to say "Uncle Neil"! Also, I wouldn't worry about Mack's bow-legs - after seeing Dave's legs in that picture of everyone, he will fit right in! Congrats to you both and little Mack!

Uncle Neil

Sheila said...

He is adorable!! Such a big boy ... I love it! And what a special day for you all! God is sooo good!

tmwright said...

Wow. He is awesome! Thanks for the update and the pics. Praying for you as you get to know each other and develop life long bonds. Your love story is just beginning and touching so many lives. Love, Tammy

Matt and Katie said...

It's Amelia, he is so adorable and cute. Do you think he is like Luke? I have been wondering what it would be like with Mack. I can't wait for Erza to meet him. See ya later alligator!!

Matt and Katie said...

PRECIOUS!!!!!!! Of course I cried through it all. MISSY I love you and love the special nannies God gave Mack...it gives me the chills!!!!!!!! Hope you enjoy and take in all the time with just you, Dave and BIG MACK:)

Heidi Klopfenstein said...

Congratulations! Mack is darling! It has been so much fun reading your posts! Todd and I pretty much took the same trip while we were in China. The government building you received Mack is the same building we held Ben for the first time! So excited for you all. Thankful Mack has you and you have Mack! I saw Rita in these pictures, she was our CCAI guide as well. We LOVED her. If you are able to read this comment while there please tell her hello from Todd, Heidi and Ben.
I'm keeping you in my thoughts and prayers!

The Waite Family said...

I couldn't wait to see pictures today. Congratulations. You will remember this moment forever..in detail. I was crying reading your post today. It brings back so much emotion for me of that moment for us just 2 short months ago....standing in the same spot as you were. I am so happy for you all. Mack is adorable!

Anonymous said...

Oh guys such a blessing and he is so precious! I will be praying for you as now you wait to come home....keep the posts coming!
~ The Helliges

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