Generosity NBGH-Style

Every couple of days I find a new little gift for Savannah on my chair at work, including four from at least 2 mystery "baby fairies" and "storks". Chewy rattles from the Thomases and the stork, a soft yellow animal towel from Cindy, tiny PJs, socks, dotted tights, and even a rubber duckie are amongst the little treasures I've found. Anna and Tanje have helped ensure I have a few key items for the trip, and all the people I meet at work are so positive and enthusiastic for us. Lucky us! No wonder we love working at NBGH!

The Sooner, the Better

China is currently in the throes of a melamine-tainted milk tragedy. It seems that some farmers or vendors watered down milk, including powdered formula, and added melamine to boost the "protein" content to fool testers, in a money-making scam. A few thousand babies have been affected with kidney stones, and some have progressed to renal failure, and a few dozen have died. Worrisome, and hard as we can't do anything but hope and pray that it's over soon, and that Savannah and the little ones in her orphanage are ok. The sooner she gets here, the better! It's not that stuff like that might not happen here, but at least we'll get to be with her, instead of not knowing anything at all...

More Information

Here's another link to the SWI where Savannah Xiao is currently staying: http://projectliangping.wordpress.com/about/

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Am busy preparing meals to freeze, and updating our scrapbook, as well as starting to organize the stuff we'll be packing for our big trip. We took our first dose of Dukeral oral vaccine today. Yuck!

Savannah's Current Home

Josee made an amazing find online: a link to a family whose blog shows photos of Liangping SWI, Savannah's current home. Thanks Josee! We know for sure it's the right place, as we recognize the blue and yellow slide in the toy area, as well as the flooring, which are both the same as in Savannah's photos. It's incredible what the internet allows us to learn.

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Ok, no further ado: here's the link!
http://www.cafecollier.com/207/247.html?*session*id*key*=*session*id*val*

As friends and family visit and celebrate our good news, new things are starting to sprout in our house: a cousin's high chair here, a friend's little snowsuit there. Sure starting to look different around here! Guess this kidlet'll take up a lot of real estate, eh (*grin*)

Paper extravaganza!

What a whirlwind week! We've just completed hours worth of paperwork this week, to arrange for travel, travel visas, funds, accommodations, acceptance of referral (the most important part!). Our adoption practitioner visited today, and we spent a pleasant 2 hours with her. She is a very positive person who obviously cares a lot about kids, including her own, and her grandkids.

We're worn out, because it's so crucial to get everything right, but we're happy. It's off to Purolator tomorrow, and hope everything is the way it needs to be!

We've gotten some really neat gifts, or, rather, Savannah has gotten some, from friends, including a little fishing rod for the bathtub and cute towel set from Ann, beautiful clothes from Tanje, a cute ladybug dress from Joanne and Tessa, a cake from the fantabulous team with whom I work (Nancy made sure it was pink - eee!). Seems all unreal, but cool all the same!

Introducing Savannah Liang Xiao Ling Lebeau

Rick got the call at 0905 this morning!!! He called me at work to let me know the details about 15 minutes later. Three photos followed by email about an hour later (a very long hour: good thing I had some work to do to keep me sane!).

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So, here's the scoop!

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Savannah Liang Xiao Ling was born January 27th 2008, which makes her 7 months of age. That's very young for China! She is at the Liangping SWI in Chongqing County, Sichuan. She has been in this orphanage since very soon after her birth. She is described as a healthy, happy baby. Her medical exam on July 23rd showed her to measure 64 cm in length, and 6.8kg of weight. More information will follow on Friday or Monday, when CB finishes the translation of her file.

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It was a blast to see and hear friends' and family's reaction to our news, at work and at home. I wore a Chinese blouse, as planned: I'd told my pals that when they saw me with it, that was the signal that our referral had happened.

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We had a Chinese dinner (of course!) to celebrate, at the Tignanellis. And we made countless calls, and received a bunch also. Savannah already has such a cool fan base!

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We are over the moon. It's hard to believe how much we can love someone before we really even know her, but we do. She's so cute, with her intense little eyebrows, big cheeks (like her Dad's!), her serious mouth, her big inquisitive-looking eyes. Our little sweetie! We already love her to pieces!

The Stork is Closing In!

Need I say more? : )
Today's the day we've played and replayed in our mind for so long. Wonder how it'll all unfold!

Amazing Friends

Ok, I just have to post this. Tonight, we got a surprise visit from Joanne, Franco, Jenna, Marcus, Christy and Tessa. On a school night, no less! They brought over their warmest wishes, AND a bottle of champagne (our first ever - mmmm! I could get used to this! Now, Joanne's thinking, if I could only try my 1st Big Mac, we'd be set!). And as if that all wasn't enough (it was more than!), they also brought the positively cutest ladybug ballerina dress, in such a tiny size. Thanks Tessa for finding that treasure! And Marcus, if you get your wish and it's a boy, we might still have to try it on him, just for kicks. Thanks, pals!

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Serge and Valerie, another couple-in-waiting, called to share our excitement. Hope things speed up for them!

Greatest News!

Well! Guess what? I checked Rumour Queen website yesterday, just in case there might be a Labour Day entry, and sure enough, February 9th LID was listed as the cutoff for next referrals. That's us! She rated it a level 3. This morning, when I checked my email, there it was: a message from Children's Bridge saying that yes, we're in! And later today, another one saying that CB received our referrals, safe and sound, and that we likely will get "THE CALL" tomorrow! (they have to translate from Mandarin, and make sure there are no complications, mix-ups, or medical concerns). We can't believe it! We hadn't expected any news until next week, and none for us until October. Now, this means we'll likely travel in late October/early November. A baby for Christmas. Wow! I barely slept last night, thinking of all that's left to do before she gets here, but on the other hand, we're more ready that we've ever been! We are ecstatic!!!

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Just think, by this time tomorrow, we should know who she (or he!) is, how old, from which province, and, hopefully, best of all, we should have her picture! How will we ever sleep tonight?! Best news ever!

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Thanks again to our family and friends for your ongoing encouragement and interest!