GOTCHA DAY!!!

After over 6 years of waiting, praying, hoping, trusting, praying, paper chasing, praying, believing... well you get the picture we finally made it to GOTCHA DAY!

Father's Day, June 16th 2013 we headed to Nanchang to meet our girl. Our time to meet was 4pm. We were delayed leaving Beijing by about 35 minutes. When our rep, Lisa from Holt met us from the plane I asked if it looked like she would arrive on time. She informed us JG had already arrived b/c they took the express train. That made it surreal. That we were just 30 minutes away from uniting with our daughter. A moment we had looked forward to and dreaded for months. Once we arrived at the hotel we had just enough time to check in, get to our room, grab a toy and sucker and it was time. 

We headed to the lobby and we were both giddy. I was shaking slightly b/c I really had no idea how it was going to play out. Plus, I wasn't sure if I would be able to hold my emotions together. I'd been struggling and on the verge of tears all day. Brian, on the other hand was cool as a cucumber. 

But, I digress. As we walked through the lobby I was smiling so big and couldn't wait. I handed the camera to Lisa and hit record for her. We rounded the corner and there she was, sitting on the couch. It took my breath away to finally see her in person for the first time. There were two young women with her. They were the ones who had brought her from her foster home/orphanage. One of the women pulled her off the couch to stand and I made my way very gingerly toward her. I handed her the baby doll and sucker. She took both and backed away from me. We all giggled at that. One of the women continued to push her towards me. She, of course was not having it. I pulled the wrapper off the sucker and she liked that. She started chewing on it and was drooling everywhere. That is just a side not b/c those who know me know my ocd was going nuts. HAHA. 

JG was smaller than I thought she was going to be. We had received so many pics where she looked like a little chubby bunny, so I was somewhat surprised at how little she actually was. 

As I was looking her over, Lisa explained she had a double ear infection. :0( How sad is that? Her whole life is being turned upside down and she has an infection? UGH! 

The crazy thing though was they told us she was on medication for it but they didn't bring it. That I don't get. She literally came with the clothes on her back and nothing else, not even a bottle. NOTHING. I had been warned she would come empty handed, clothes wise but not even a bottle or the meds she needed for her ears? That just didn't make sense to me at all. Again, I digress. Sorry that keeps happening. 

So, we all sat there for several more minutes. They would push her towards me, she would cry. Brian would try, she would cry. Drool was happening all over and the baby doll I gave her was a sticky mess. I knew at some point we would just have to pick her up and get the screaming over with. So, I took a deep breath and picked her up. Surprisingly, she barely cried. I hugged her close and began to cry myself. I just kept telling her how much I loved her and how I would never ever leave her and that mama and baba (daddy in Chinese) were here. She clung to me. And I mean clung. She had her sticky hands gripping the back of my neck and wouldn't let go. It was awesome!!!!!

The three of us made it back to the room and just 5 mins inside she was asleep. 

The rest of the afternoon was pretty smooth. She would go between me and Brian and did not want to be put down. She played with the stacking cups I got her and a bottle of probiotics. She liked the noise the pills made on the inside (don't worry its a child proof cap). We had no intention of messing with her clothes or anything else for that matter. But no sooner did Brian leave to go and get formula then she went through her diaper. Guess that settled that. I got her cleaned up and in some pj's. 

When B got back we ordered dinner and I made her a bottle. She wasn't that interested in either and by 8pm was asleep on Brian and she slept through the night!! Me, on the other hand not so much. I kept checking she was breathing so only got about 4 hours of sleep. I am pretty much running on fumes today. 

We gotcha and aren't ever gonna let you go!

First pic of the three of us. Can't wait to do one with the whole family. 

She will have him wrapped around her finger in no time. 

Precious, just precious!

This morning, Monday we headed to the Civil Affairs Office to finalize her adoption. By 10am she was officially ours.

Here we are with the two girls who brought her to us yesterday. I just got a lump in my throat looking at this pic again. They were such sweet girls. 

This is the pic they took of us that goes on the adoption decree that you see below. 

Its official. She is ours forever!!

Waiting at the office.  See the bottle in her hand? 

Too cute. 

She will not hold her own bottle. I can't wait to ween her from it anyway. 

Asleep on her daddy. He was all she wanted this morning. 

Playing with her stacking cups. See the bottle again? She will not put it down. 

After the civil affairs office, notary and passport office we went back to the hotel. Once there she managed to 1/2 way smile for me twice. 

Soon after, the doc arrived to look at her ears. We have some meds for her now and are praying she gets better before we have to fly on the 21st. Please, please, please pray with us. I know God's got this. 

Once again thank you for being on this journey with us. We have felt all of the prayers and feel so supported, encouraged and loved. We cannot wait for all of you at home to meet her!

Blessings.