Wednesday, March 30, 2005
Lost in translation
Last week we received health and growth reports on Hallie but only some of it was translated. This week we received further information. Here is what we now know:
Hallie was found on April 30, 2004 by a passerby near the entrance of the Civil Affairs Office in Pingnan, Guangxi Province. She was taken to the police department and officials there took her to the Pingnan Children Welfare Institute. She weighed 6.6 pounds and was 20 inches long on that day. (By November she was 16 pounds and 27" long, so she IS growing!) Officials at the orphanage knew her date of birth (April 28) because there was a note left with her!
We are SO hoping to get that note! This piece of information meant so much to me because I feel like her birth mother left her with the hope of giving her a better life--and she was just 2 days old! All indications are that she is very healthy.
There were two items that were not translated, though. At the end of the growth report it reads (in English) "favorite toy" and "favorite activity." There are answers for both in Chinese, but the translation of that was not provided for us. A friend and former coworker who is Chinese is translating that information for us. Rest assured, I will let you know what Hallie's favorite toy is as soon as we find out!
Hallie was found on April 30, 2004 by a passerby near the entrance of the Civil Affairs Office in Pingnan, Guangxi Province. She was taken to the police department and officials there took her to the Pingnan Children Welfare Institute. She weighed 6.6 pounds and was 20 inches long on that day. (By November she was 16 pounds and 27" long, so she IS growing!) Officials at the orphanage knew her date of birth (April 28) because there was a note left with her!
We are SO hoping to get that note! This piece of information meant so much to me because I feel like her birth mother left her with the hope of giving her a better life--and she was just 2 days old! All indications are that she is very healthy.
There were two items that were not translated, though. At the end of the growth report it reads (in English) "favorite toy" and "favorite activity." There are answers for both in Chinese, but the translation of that was not provided for us. A friend and former coworker who is Chinese is translating that information for us. Rest assured, I will let you know what Hallie's favorite toy is as soon as we find out!
# posted by JDonnals : 6:24 PM
Thursday, March 24, 2005
Too cute! Hallie can sit up on her own, crawl, and reach for toys that are near her. We can't wait to bring her home!
# posted by JDonnals : 7:04 AM
Wednesday, March 23, 2005
More info on Hallie!
It's been a few days now, and I'm still on cloud 9! We are learning more about Hallie and the orphanage she is living in. We received her medical examination yesterday, and it appears she has been given a clean bill of health! We have been so blessed!
Here are some specifics: as of 11/19/04 (7 months old), she weighed 16 pounds and was 27 inches long. She's now almost 11 months old--so I'm still not exactly sure how big she is, but she sounds about average. I think I'm going to buy a few more 12 month outfits to take on the trip, and just buy a bunch of clothes for her in China!
She is at The Children Welfare Institute of Pingnan Town in Guangxi Province. From all accounts, it is a nice, caring, clean and loving place. It is a private orphanage (not operated by the government) and I think it has fewer babies than some of the other orphanages in China. It sounds like the babies get a lot of personal attention. I have heard from several parents of so-called "Gong Girls" (all of the babies who come from this orphanage have the same last name--Gong) who say their babies were healthy, happy and well cared for. I am so relieved to know this. Also, they say if you send a disposable camera to the orphanage, you will get it back full of pictures of your baby when you travel to pick her up. We are putting 2 cameras inside her care package!
Her Chinese name is Gong Guo Hua. Gong (remember, all of the children from this orphanage have that last name, which in China comes first) means "remember your heritage." Guo is the first name given to all of the babies from Pingnan born in 2004. And Hua means "flower." We may keep Hua as her middle name. We're still deciding.
Today we are sending back our referral acceptance letter--how could we not accept those big cute cheeks?? Hopefully in a few weeks we will get travel approval. We are still expected to travel in mid-May.
Here are some specifics: as of 11/19/04 (7 months old), she weighed 16 pounds and was 27 inches long. She's now almost 11 months old--so I'm still not exactly sure how big she is, but she sounds about average. I think I'm going to buy a few more 12 month outfits to take on the trip, and just buy a bunch of clothes for her in China!
She is at The Children Welfare Institute of Pingnan Town in Guangxi Province. From all accounts, it is a nice, caring, clean and loving place. It is a private orphanage (not operated by the government) and I think it has fewer babies than some of the other orphanages in China. It sounds like the babies get a lot of personal attention. I have heard from several parents of so-called "Gong Girls" (all of the babies who come from this orphanage have the same last name--Gong) who say their babies were healthy, happy and well cared for. I am so relieved to know this. Also, they say if you send a disposable camera to the orphanage, you will get it back full of pictures of your baby when you travel to pick her up. We are putting 2 cameras inside her care package!
Her Chinese name is Gong Guo Hua. Gong (remember, all of the children from this orphanage have that last name, which in China comes first) means "remember your heritage." Guo is the first name given to all of the babies from Pingnan born in 2004. And Hua means "flower." We may keep Hua as her middle name. We're still deciding.
Today we are sending back our referral acceptance letter--how could we not accept those big cute cheeks?? Hopefully in a few weeks we will get travel approval. We are still expected to travel in mid-May.
# posted by JDonnals : 6:26 AM
Friday, March 18, 2005
Our beautiful baby, Hallie. Look at those cheeks and lips! She is a princess if I ever saw one!
# posted by JDonnals : 5:13 PM
MEET HALLIE DONNALS
It has been a very emotional day. We are so happy and excited to announce the referral of our beautiful baby girl, Hallie. Her Chinese name is Guo Hua Gong (still working on the translation). She was born on April 28, 2004 (my Great Grandpa Bud's birthday!) so she'll be just a little more than 12 months old when she gets put into our arms and into our family forever.
She has lots of spiky hair, big kissable cheeks, full lips, and beautiful eyes. GWCA says she is quiet, likes music, toys and games, is quick in reaction, obstinate and close with her caretaker. She can hold her head up while lying on her tummy. She can roll over and sit alone without being propped. She will reach for toys, likes to tear paper (can't wait for Christmas!), can take a block and place in one hand using the other hand. She can stand-up if holding onto something, but she still crawls to get around. She is a moderate sleeper, can locate the sounds of voices in a room, and will visually follow a moving toy. If something drops, she will look for it and if it is beyond her reach she will try to get it. She laughs out loud, knows her name when called, and likes to eat biscuits without any help (I think they mean cookies, but if not she will fit right in here in Memphis)!
She looks very healthy in the pictures that were sent to us. We are still waiting on some other info, like her height and weight. We should get that early next week. It is still being translated by GWCA.
Brett and I are thrilled beyond words. The past few weeks of waiting have been very difficult. Now that we know who are beautiful angel is, and know that she is being well cared for, we can sleep a little easier, although I wish we could fly over to China tonight and put her in our arms.
She has lots of spiky hair, big kissable cheeks, full lips, and beautiful eyes. GWCA says she is quiet, likes music, toys and games, is quick in reaction, obstinate and close with her caretaker. She can hold her head up while lying on her tummy. She can roll over and sit alone without being propped. She will reach for toys, likes to tear paper (can't wait for Christmas!), can take a block and place in one hand using the other hand. She can stand-up if holding onto something, but she still crawls to get around. She is a moderate sleeper, can locate the sounds of voices in a room, and will visually follow a moving toy. If something drops, she will look for it and if it is beyond her reach she will try to get it. She laughs out loud, knows her name when called, and likes to eat biscuits without any help (I think they mean cookies, but if not she will fit right in here in Memphis)!
She looks very healthy in the pictures that were sent to us. We are still waiting on some other info, like her height and weight. We should get that early next week. It is still being translated by GWCA.
Brett and I are thrilled beyond words. The past few weeks of waiting have been very difficult. Now that we know who are beautiful angel is, and know that she is being well cared for, we can sleep a little easier, although I wish we could fly over to China tonight and put her in our arms.
# posted by JDonnals : 4:59 PM
Tuesday, March 15, 2005
STORK ALERT
That's right! We just got word from GWCA that the referrals have been mailed! Right now they are somewhere between Beijing and Austin, Texas. GWCA is expected to get them sometime this week. They will call us on the day they get the referrals and send us a picture of our daughter. Stay tuned!
# posted by JDonnals : 9:26 AM
Monday, March 14, 2005
Look at the hair on that kid! Matthew Robert Widner is just two months old! The proud parents: Amy (my dear cousin) and Rob Widner.
# posted by JDonnals : 6:44 AM
Wednesday, March 09, 2005
Next week
It seems like I have been saying that for the past month! But that is when we should expect our referrals, according to our agency. I am disappointed, to say the least. I just want the wondering and guessing to be over. I want to know who our daughter is, where she is, how old she is. I guess I will just have to wait a little longer. Maybe the luck of the Irish will strike and she will be a "St. Patrick's Day Baby?"
We have decided, for now, to stay in our house for at least another year. I do think we are going to grow out of it soon, but we will survive another 12 months. I love our house, especially now that we have most of it painted. It just seems so cozy. Since we are staying, we are going to fix up Hallie's bathroom (also the guest bathroom on the second floor). I think we can get it done in one weekend. At least we are going to give it a shot! I need a project like that to take my mind off the waiting!
We have decided, for now, to stay in our house for at least another year. I do think we are going to grow out of it soon, but we will survive another 12 months. I love our house, especially now that we have most of it painted. It just seems so cozy. Since we are staying, we are going to fix up Hallie's bathroom (also the guest bathroom on the second floor). I think we can get it done in one weekend. At least we are going to give it a shot! I need a project like that to take my mind off the waiting!
# posted by JDonnals : 4:01 PM
Sunday, March 06, 2005
YOU can help adoptive families in Tennessee
Sometimes people ask me if there is anything they can do to help us with our adoption plans. If you're reading this and you live in Tennessee, you can write to your state senator and representative in support of two bills (SB1351 and HB1869) that would allow for a streamlined adoption recognition process in Tennessee.
These bills would allow for internationally adopted children to obtain a state issued birth certificate without being required to complete a readoption. This is GREAT news as a readoption can run anywhere from $1,000-$1,500 in legal fees. (On top of all of the other fees associated with the adoption.) A birth certificate costs only $27. Currently, readoption is the only way to get a birth certificate for the baby (because our children have been abandoned--there are no birth certificates). Although we will get an adoption certificate, Tennessee law requires a birth certificate to enroll in school, therefore, you must readopt the foreign born child in Tennessee to get her in school!
By the way, these bills have NO COST (no fiscal notes) to the taxpayers and one is sponsored by a Democrat and one is sponsored by a Republican! Please click on the links above to read about the International Adoption Bills, then write a letter, make a phone call, do what you can to help get these bills passed!
These bills would allow for internationally adopted children to obtain a state issued birth certificate without being required to complete a readoption. This is GREAT news as a readoption can run anywhere from $1,000-$1,500 in legal fees. (On top of all of the other fees associated with the adoption.) A birth certificate costs only $27. Currently, readoption is the only way to get a birth certificate for the baby (because our children have been abandoned--there are no birth certificates). Although we will get an adoption certificate, Tennessee law requires a birth certificate to enroll in school, therefore, you must readopt the foreign born child in Tennessee to get her in school!
By the way, these bills have NO COST (no fiscal notes) to the taxpayers and one is sponsored by a Democrat and one is sponsored by a Republican! Please click on the links above to read about the International Adoption Bills, then write a letter, make a phone call, do what you can to help get these bills passed!
# posted by JDonnals : 3:26 PM
Friday, March 04, 2005
Another weekend of waiting
Still no news on the referral. In fact, there was news from our agency, and the news was that there was no news! I have at least two more days of waiting for word that the referrals are on the way from China.
We do have a busy weekend planned though. Tonight it's dinner with friends. Tomorrow it's a Chinese cooking party at an FCC member's house. Sunday night it's dinner with friends who have adopted two beautiful girls from China. (Do you see a theme here?? One, we like to eat. Two, we like to do things involving other families with children from China.)
Here is a story about Steven Curtis Chapman, a Christian singer/songwriter from Nashville who has adopted three daughters from China. He and his wife wrote a children's book about adoption called Shaoey and Dot. Of course, Hallie already owns it!
We do have a busy weekend planned though. Tonight it's dinner with friends. Tomorrow it's a Chinese cooking party at an FCC member's house. Sunday night it's dinner with friends who have adopted two beautiful girls from China. (Do you see a theme here?? One, we like to eat. Two, we like to do things involving other families with children from China.)
Here is a story about Steven Curtis Chapman, a Christian singer/songwriter from Nashville who has adopted three daughters from China. He and his wife wrote a children's book about adoption called Shaoey and Dot. Of course, Hallie already owns it!
# posted by JDonnals : 4:20 PM
Tuesday, March 01, 2005
March madness!
It is March 1st. The waiting is now excruciating. Every morning, I constantly check my email, waiting for the Stork Alert. It will most likely come to us in the morning, since Beijing is 12 hours ahead of our time. In other words, during the day here, it is in the middle of the night there--no one is at the CCAA or the GWCA Beijing office to contact GWCA in Austin. So by noon, I have lost all hope that I will find out that day the referrals are on the way. It is supposed to be "soon," but that is a very relative term. That could mean today, tomorrow, next week. I do expect them in the next week or so. This could be the longest week of my life. But now I wonder, will the waiting be even more difficult once I have a little face to look at each day??
Here is another story I found about international adoptions, and the struggles we may face after we bring Hallie home.
Here is another story I found about international adoptions, and the struggles we may face after we bring Hallie home.
# posted by JDonnals : 7:27 AM
