An Online Journal of Our Adoption Journey

Update!

Four updated pictures have arrived!  These were taken on January 21, 2003, the same day that we received the referral!  She is soooo cute in the giant snow suit!

Gathering

We have begun to gather the stuff we'll need to take on our two week trip to China.  I hit K-mart and spent $180 picking up a bunch of stuff off of a checklist I found on the web.  This Friday we will be meeting with a pediatrician to talk about any medications we should take just in case.  Generally, doctors won't prescribe anything without seeing the patient, but this is a unique situation.  Mostly we would like to take some antibiotics (ear, eyes, and intestinal) as well as something for scabies.  

Medical care in China can be quite varied, and generally, orphans get sub par treatment.  Vaccines are not always complete, or full strength, and parasitical problems are often treated homeopathically.  Which sometimes works, sometimes doesn't.  When we return from China Autumn will need a full spectrum of tests, vaccines, and, six months later, a recheck on many of the tests. 

Visa

China requires that one applies for a visa before traveling to their country.  Some adoption agencies go through Hong Kong and the visa application is done there when the soon-to-be parents first arrive.  We, however, will be flying to Beijing directly, and so we need get our visa before leaving the States.  It is a fairly easy application, and the only worrisome aspect is that one needs to send in your passport with the application.  Not a photocopy, the actual passport.  The Chinese consulate puts a sticker in the passport and returns it.  Then, as you arrive in China the sticker is stamped.  Our adoption agency said they haven't heard of anyone losing their passport in this process, but it still makes me nervous.  

Chunk of Change

We also received the latest bill.  This was the whopper.  The adoption fee.  This pays for the agency, the fees that both governments require, and the orphanage fee.  It was wild to write out such a large check.  I am so glad that we have been saving for this over the past three years.  It would not be good to go into debt before even getting the child.

All we have to pay for now is the actual trip.  And, of course, once we're back, we'll be shelling out for diapers, baby food, clothes, childcare, etc., etc., etc...