Tuesday, April 01, 2008

Day Two with Elizabeth! Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Today we made it official. Yesterday we signed temporary custody for Elizabeth. Today, we went back to the same office and signed PERMANENT custody of her. So she is officially ours for ever and ever! It sounds like it would have been this huge momentous occasion, but everything you are signing is in Chinese and the room is so chaotic. We stamped our thumbs over our signatures from yesterday and filled out another form to change her name. We had to stamp her thumb on something too; it is about the size of a kernel of corn. They gave us two documents, and we were all set. Maybe it was not as momentous because she has been ours since the first time we saw her face back in December. Or because when they put her in my arms yesterday, she was my daughter. While we went to the office my parents took Sam on a boat ride and to do some more shopping. We are so thankful for my parents being here and taking Sam. When we got back from the office David and two other dads took the babies back the room, and the other mom and grandma and I went shopping. We have really bonded with two other families here. Stu and Maureen are from MA, their daughter May is from Wuxi like Elizabeth. Mike and his mother in law are the other ones. He is from Alaska and is wife is home with their older children. Their daughter is from the other orphanage, and both girls are about two and WAY bigger than ERS. So the dads took the babies up for naps and a playdate and we went shopping. We went to Wal-Mart because it is a sight and then we had lunch at McDonalds. Man, that double cheese burger has never tasted so good! Don’t get me wrong, I love the food here, but it was so good to have McMc.

Elizabeth is so incredible. The doctor came in last night to check all the babies. E has bronchitis and an ear infection. So we are mashing up the Amoxicillin we got for Sam and giving it to her. The doctor said that is better than getting meds here in China. She is already improving. She is so content and inquisitive. She sleeps really well, naps really well, she is so perfect. She is so tiny though. All the measurements they sent must have been done with all her clothes and shoes on. She is about the size of a nine month old. None of the clothes I brought fit. Daddy and Grandpa went to Wal-Mart to get some smaller clothes for her. The doctor said she has just not gotten enough food and that she will be fine once we get her home. He also said she was healthy and looked really good (except for the cold).

Sam is being the best big brother. Yesterday she was napping in her crib and started coughing and waking a little. Sam rushed over and started to rub her head and shush her. He is keeps checking on her and loves to sit and play with her. I think he is just as fascinated with her as we are.

1 comment:

neverlie said...

Thanks so much for sharing this stuff with us. We won't be there to hear all the stories in person when you get home, but all your accounts have been a blessing to both of us. We are so happy for you and this answer to prayer. Peace Stolpes, may God continue to bless your changing family as you continue to bless all of us.