News from Guanghzou!

Hi there!! Julie and I arrived yesterday to Guanghzou-it feels like a combination of Miami and Macinaw I sland- the city population is nine million people but we are on Shamian Island which was once British occupied-it is awesome....

Julie left early a.m. to go home - Sheila and I will miss her but know her husband john and children will be thrilled to have her home. she was a godsend!

...Melissa who was due to arrive last night at nine will be arriving a day late-around 2:00- i dont know the details of her delay but Sheila and I will be waiting for her in the lobby when she arrives!!!

i was in heaven this a.m. sat outside at a darling bakery-had a diet coke with ice and read the International Herald while wonderful Sheila took a snooze in her stroller!! wait till you all meet her you'll understand my unbelievable joy!!!!!!!

Love, Kara & Sheila!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

These were taken within an hour of me meeting Sheila!

Kara's a Mom... and Sheila's Got a Mommy

she is precious..i am in awe of her...today was amazing-i learned Sheila was in foster care until now-with obviously a loving family- she is so well cared for-shes perfect and seems very healthy- today was paperwork, paperwork.... Julie and I have not been able to upload photos yet but this wonderful family we are with e-mailed a few so i could share them with you.

i will be sending many more-we took a ton today! the family is jim and katie stray. they are here with one of their children and katies dad. kara

News from Shanghai!

Greetings, Everyone - and thanks for visiting Kara & Sheila's blog!

Kara and Julie are doing well. Below is news from Shanghai. She welcomes your comments...

Hello! Just wanted to give you an update of our Travels. Julie and I left Chicago at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday by the time we reached our hotel (which is lovely) it was 4:30 p.m.( we managed to get the exit row on our flight which made our 14.5 hour flight a little easier)we arrived in Shanghai at 4:30 p.m. on Friday.

We wasted no time our guide took us to the "Garment" market where we had custom coats made- Julie had shirts made for her husband John. Had dinner in the Bund area. Saturday our guide picked us up for a tour of Shanghai-it reminds me of New York but more people. There is another family with us from North Carolina- they have 5 children their youngest was adopted here and they are here to adopt their 6th!! Last night we did a boat cruise on the Huanpu river-the lights of the citys skyline was beautiful.

We are off for breakfast and then to the Pearl market-we have an afternoon flight to Nanchang for our next part of the trip--to get Sheila!!! Bye for now, love,

Kara

The Trip to China, and the Day Mommy Meets Me

"On Thursday, August 28, Mommy travels to China to come get me. Hurry up, Mommy! Don't forget to tell all our family members and friends about the day you first hold me, and our first two weeks together."

Sheila photo

Beginnings: Here's How Sheila joined Our Family!

Key Dates:

• June 16, 2008: Received a call from the agency and a file about Youn Dan Hong - Sheila
• June 18: The agency sent my "Letter of Intent to China" for me to adopt Sheila
• July 1: Received official word, the Letter of Approval, that I was to be Sheilas mom; I couldn't wait!
• July 28: Received travel approval from China
• Aug. 28: Travel from Chicago to Shanghai
• Aug. 31: Travel from Shanghai to Nanchang
• Sept. 1: "Gotcha Day" - Receive Sheila on Labor Day
• Sept. 1-5: Wait in Nanchang for Chinese paperwork to be processed
• Sept. 5: Travel to Guangzhou for American paperwork to be processed
• Sept. 9: US Consulate appointment
• Sept. 10: Swearing in ceremony
• Sept. 9-11: Travel to Shanghai, then on to Chicago