Red Thread China

We purchased a basic care package to be sent to Violet thru Red Thread China, located in Guangzhou near her Institute. It included a letter with questions, camera, candies for the nannies, foster family or children and a self stamped envelope for the Institute to reply to our questions more conveniently. Ann, from Red Thread China, puts her address on the return envelope and if the Institution responds she emails us the translation. Once we arrive in Guangzhou she delivers the original letter to our hotel so we have it as a keepsake, how perfect. We asked in our letter to the Institute that they use all the film on the camera to take photographs of Xin Jue at the orphanage, with her nannies, with her foster family, and anything they feel may be important to us or her in the future. These were the questions we included:
(1) What is her current weight and length?'
(2) Is she close to a particular nanny? What is this nanny's name?
(3) Was a note or any other memento found with her? May we keep it?
(4) What are her favorite foods and activities?
(5) How would you describe her personality?
(6) Does she have any likes/dislikes/sensitivities?
(7) What makes her happy?
(8) Has she had any health problems or allergies?
(9) What medical treatments has she received?
(10) Do you have her finding ad? Can we have a copy?
(11) Who chose her name and why?
(12) What else would you like to tell us about her?
(13) Does the orphanage need anything in particular?

6.5 months old / 7.5 months old

I just love the one with her and the telephone, Todd and I joke that she is calling us to tell us she is ready for us to pick her up.

5 months old / 6 months old

10 weeks old (going in for surgery)/18 weeks old (still recovering)

Information and photos from Jenny

We are ECSTATIC with the new information Jenny has given us. Jenny’s letter is the italicized portions below:
Juliet, Thanks for sharing with me your blog.
Mao Xin Jue came to True Children’s Home Jan. 10, 2008. When Xin Jue came we were told by the orphanage that she had a cleft lip and palate. However after having a medical check in Dongguan it was determined she only had a cleft lip.
Through True Children’s Home Xin Jue had cleft lip surgery Jan. 30, 2008 which was performed by Dr. Li at Tung Wah Hospital in Dongguan. He is a very skilled Chinese surgeon that studied in the US.
When you come to China for the adoption of Xin Jue you are welcome to travel to Dongguan, visit True Children’s Home and Tung Wah Hospital. I would be glad to arrange for you to meet Dr. Li and his staff too.










The first photo is of Dr. Li and his staff, the second is Dr. Li with Jenny Smith (we think she is holding Violet).
The Emma Thompson Sunday School Class at the First Methodist Church in Conway, SC provided the funding for Xin Jue’s cleft lip surgery.
Todd found their web site (www.fumcconway.org), so I called and talked to Pastor Mac Kinnett and asked that he forward our contact information to the Sunday School group so we could find out how they found out about TCH and how they chose to help Violet. I was quite emotional and he was excited to be connected with us. It will be fun to find out how their history joins with ours.
Xin Jue transitioned into True Children’s Home foster care April 1, 2008 and was there through June 10, 2008 when she transitioned back to Maoming Orphanage into Grandma Program with High the Sky.
The first photo is of Violet with her foster mother Zhang Zhao Lian, Violet was their third foster child. The second photo is of her foster parents Zhang Zhao Lian and Li Jiu Hui with their fourth foster child.
Attached are the most recent pictures we have of Xin Jue before she transitioned. Enjoy the pictures of your beautiful daughter!
Keep me posted on your travel plans. Even though Xin Jue is no longer at True Children’s Home I will still come to the Adoption Center on adoption day and look forward to seeing precious Xin Jue again and meeting you and Todd.
Take Care, Jenny

True Children's Home

After emailing with Jenny Smith of True Children’s Home she confirmed that the Xin Jue on their web site is our daughter! The first photo is of Violet at 11 weeks just after her cleft lip surgery! She was admitted to the Tung Wah Hospital in Dongguan on Jan 30 and was released on Feb 8, 2008. She looks so sad and alone. For a program that Todd and I were expecting to receive NO information we are so excited to be able to piece together so much of her history. I cried looking at the picture of our daughter and knowing we were not able to be there and comfort her during such a monumental surgery. Seeing how happy she is now proves she has been surrounded by loving people. The second photo is of Carol Wang (an English Teacher), Jenny Smith of TCH and Violet. Jenny was with Katrina (TCH Director) at the Dongguag No. 1 High School to share with 600 seniors about True Children’s Home and “Making a Difference.” Violet came along for “Show and Tell.” Obviously she was healing well enough to be able to “star” in their show. What a trooper!

A pre-surgery photo of Violet

TOO EXCITING! We got an email from Amy, a mother that contacted us thru the Maoming Welfare Institute’s chat group, saying “I think I saw your little girl on True Children's Home website!!”
http://www.truechildrenshome.org/children.htm 9th row down on the right side
”Xin Jue (girl) born October 2007 Abandoned in Guangdong Province Cleft lip” we think this photo was taken when she was 7 weeks old on January 10, 2008 when she was admitted to True Children’s Home.
They take in children who need surgery and have sponsors who pay for those surgeries. They have a nanny for every 2 children and they have foster care too.
We’ve emailed Jenny, at True Children’s Home to confirm that the little girl on their site is our Xin Jue as well as ask if they have any other photos of her. Say a prayer it is her and they have more photos.

Re-fingerprinting Appointment

Our appointment was actually for this coming Tuesday at 8 am. We went downtown again (for the second Saturday in a row) in hopes that they would “take us” early and we wouldn’t have to take time off work. DONE! YES! We showed up and there was only one person in the waiting area and no one in line. About a minute after she gave us the paperwork to fill out about 10 people showed up, we looked at each other and said “Boy, did we time that perfectly!” Anyway they took our fingerprints so all we have to do is wait for them to process and send out a new I-171H. CHECK! another thing off the list!

Home Study Update

Since we recently updated our home study, Jeanette our social worker, said we could do our update over the phone. She called this evening while we were overwhelmed at the diaper and wipe selections in an isle at Babies R Us registering for Violet’s Shower. After she chuckled and agreed that the selection was ridiculous we had a quick 20 minute Q and A confirming we are prepared for a special needs child and done deal! She said it should be done by Monday, five days from today. CHECK! one more thing done!

Re-re-fingerprinting Appointment

Bummer! They were closed for President's day, guess we try again next Saturday. But we did get the original copy of the Pre-Approval and I've posted it below. It's pretty awesome. Todd and I were talking about what cabinets/drawers in the kitchen need to be rearranged so she can play with the Tupperware, etc... these conversations are much more exciting and a fun change of pace from the ‘shall we demo this wall or that wall’.

Re-re-fingerprinting Appointment

We received our fingerprinting appointment today. This is for FBI clearance for citizenship and immigration, and this will be the third time around because each clearance expires after 12 months. It’s not like our fingerprints change, can’t we just pay again, they then run them thru the system and make sure we still aren’t felons… why do they need us to physically appear… frustrating when time is tight! Anyway, they scheduled us for a Tuesday at 8 am in a little over a week. We’re going to “show up” tomorrow morning and hope they take us so we both don’t have to take time off from work. Say a quick prayer we get an accommodating person at the front desk! :)

Pre-Approval

WE GOT OUR PRE-APPROVAL!!! At 10:15 am Lisa, our caseworker from Adoption Associates will mail us the original document for her album. If that wasn’t enough fabulous news, we just found out that Deb and Steve Beaulieu were referred a “Maomingster” as well, so we will have travel buddies with us in Guangzhou for the entire two weeks.
We applied to the Department of Homeland Security to update our fingerprints for the third time, because they expire 4/16/09. We also are on the list to have our home study updated, changing from non-special needs to the special needs program. We are praying that won’t require another home visit as we are currently laying the flooring in Violet’s room and after that we are into drywall and painting. We took this entire week off to work on her room, we’ve finished gutting it, installed studs for her closet, insulated, finished the sub-floor and are currently laying the new flooring. I’m not remotely interested in stopping to clean; even a cursory cleaning takes us away from the ultimate goal… GETTING VIOLET’S ROOM FINISHED!!!

Our Travel Meeting

Milestones until we fly to China – 4 stages
1. LOI – Letter of Intent: This was the letter we sent with our “YES” on Thursday, January 22, 2009. There were 9 families that sent back LOI’s on special needs children (all in different provinces).
A 2-3 week wait: typically it takes 1-2 weeks but EVERYTHING is closed the week of January 25-31 for Chinese New Year so it will take a week longer.
2. PA – Pre-Approval: received from China
A 2-3 month wait: during this time our dossier will be transferred to the Special Needs Dept.
3. LOA – Letter of Acceptance: the people who receive and send back LOA’s together will determine who will be our traveling partners. This traveling group will be together for the beginning in Beijing and the end in Guangzhou but we all spend the middle in our daughter’s province.
A 2-3 week wait: during this time we apply for our multiple entry visas and our embassy appointments are scheduled.
4. TA – Travel Assignments: giving us our appointment dates so we can purchase our airline tickets.
2-3 weeks until we fly to China
Total time is between 3.5 - 5.5 months. We are praying it will be sooner than later!

Timeline in China – 2 stages
3-4 days in Beijing: Sightsee (AWESOME!) Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, Great Wall, Summer Palace, etc.
14-16 days in Guangzhou: Typically parents spend the next week in the capital of her province finalizing civil affairs paperwork, then spend the final week in Guangzhou finalizing paperwork with the U.S. Embassy. The capital of Violet’s province is Guangzhou. When that happens they require a couple extra days stay so we will most likely spend 14-16 days in Guangzhou.
The second day: we are given Violet and she is ours forever more. We meet at the Civil Affairs Office where she will be given to us by her caregiver and we will have the opportunity to ask any questions we’ve composed.
The third day: we meet back at the same place to let them know if we “are happy with our child” at that point we receive her abandonment decree and her finding ad.
Finding Ad: Since 1999, the orphanages in China are required to run a provincial newspaper advertisement for children that are found and brought to their orphanage called "Finding Ads." These ads include the date and location the child was found and the orphanage in which the child was placed. Sometimes additional medical information was included, such as distinguishing birthmarks or scars, or a description of the child's clothing, as well as a color picture of the child. To see a sample go to http://www.research-china.org/findingads/guangdongads.htm
The majority of our stay is for minor paperwork, sightseeing and shopping. We will request to see SWI in Maoming City. Either way we are planning on taking the 6 hour train ride from Guangzhou to visit and take pictures of her home city and the location of where she was found.
Four days prior to departure: we go to Violet’s medical exam
Three days prior: we finalize paperwork with the U.S. Embassy
Two days prior: we go to the swearing in ceremony at the U.S. Embassy
As soon as we touch down on American soil she becomes an American citizen.