6/4/12 our first full day together/Officially our daughter

This day starts at 6:30 when we get up, get dressed and head to an early breakfast at our HI hotel. Evangeline seems to have a slightly elevated temp and is coughing a bit as I noticed on our way down.
The spread at the breakfast bar is wonderful, Asian, American and European foods galore. Surely we will find something Evangeline likes... I think... congee it is... with smashed up peaches and a yogurt, Yummy.
We make it just in time to meet Frank (Jenny's partner in life and business)  at 8 am. Frank will be our guide for this week. Today is the day when we finally sign adoption papers, make our orphanage donation and present our gifts to the care takers and Mr Bai. Several documents have to be ready to go as well and we are off to the civil affairs office once more for our 9 am appointment... All different money packages are counted and ready to be handed over when we arrive. Gifts are given to Mr Bai and lots of docs are waiting to be completed.
We start signing several documents and learn that NOW Evangeline is officially our daughter!!!!!!!!!! What a happy day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


At the office there are several people today, Jenny the assistant, the notary for E's Chinese passport, Mr Bai, a stern looking gentleman who is in charge of the orphanages in the surrounding area and all 4 of us.
We learn (while signing papers) that our requested orphanage visit has to be okd by the stern man who has been nothing but scowling all morning. Our guide Frank goes with bowed head and somber voice to ask for approval on us visiting the Orphanage. It doesn't look like he will allow it...
About 30 min later the man is leaving the office but before he walks out he tells Frank reluctantly that we CAN go visit the place, our daughter called home for about 9 mos of her life. We had found out by now from Mr Bai who had made several more calls today,that Evangeline had been in Beijing for 10 mos to receive surgery and rehab care.
Evangeline just returned a month ago to the day from Beijing and had already been in the hospital again since arrival for a cough which was treated with a 4 day IV antibiotic treatment in the local hospital.

We leave with Jenny the assistant to get Evangeline's previous day's picture checked out to make sure it can be used for her passport too. Yay, it's a go and no more picture needs to be taken today.
Todd and I take out Jenny, Frank and our driver Mr Lee, Bruce Lee (not really but funny) to an amazing lunch. We have a private dining room just for us where we are waited on hand and foot. We have some amazing Chinese cuisine and to our pleasant surprise only pay ~$50 for all.
Jenny goes back to work, we purchase bottled water, a few toys before heading back to our hotel. We have  dinner at the hotel again, a bit late (pizza and cream of mushroom soup).
Evangeline stays up until12:30 am and has a rough time sleeping after that.





Happy girl playing with stacking cups 

Mr. Bai really loves these children!!!

Evangeline, Mr Bai, Mom

paperwork

someone got a new ride :-)

wow it's hot and smoggy here, you can't even see the sun

can someone figure out how to get me to sleep please!!!

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