Our Trip!

I sent in the initial application in September, 1997. After months of gathering documents for the dossier, it was translated and sent to China in April, 1998. Then the long wait began. I finally received the referral and photo of Yong Hong on November 6, 1998. Katie was a reality now! A couple of weeks later I received an updated photo and she was even more real! Travel arrangements were made for December 18 - 30, 1998. What a Christmas this was going to be!

The Referral Photo

Katie is 3 months old (6/25/98)

The Updated Referral Photo

Katie is 7 1/2 months old (11/6/98)

Our Group (#117) arrived in Guangzhou on Sunday morning, the 20th of December. Our flight to Changsha, in the Hunan Province, wasn't until later in the afternoon, so we had time to shower and freshen up. There was a chance the babies would be waiting for us in Changsha Sunday evening.

This turned out to be the case for only two of the babies. I didn't meet Katie until Monday morning, the 21st, the day after her 9 month birthday. This was the most wonderful moment in my life! I finally had her in my arms! She cried for a few minutes, but curiosity got the best of her. She looked and looked at me. And she listened to my funny language! We worked on rolling over and sitting up. She was a very active baby once I got her out of the seven layers of clothes she was wearing. By the end of day two she was smiling and had decided I was OK!

During these first couple of days I received the paperwork from the orphanage and discovered Katie had been abandoned at the age of 6 weeks, on May 2, 1998 - my birthday! Boy! Talk about the Red Thread joining our lives together!

Gotcha Day!

The Nanny hands Katie to me for the first time! She's in my arms at last! (12/21/98)

In Changsha, Daphne from CCAI arranged sightseeing trips and a wonderful group dinner for Christmas. Even Santa showed up! Next we headed back to Guangzhou for our Consulate interviews. At the Consulate I raised my right hand and swore never to abuse or abandon my new daughter. Now we could head home! Katie had done well on the shorter flight inside China, but now would come the long flight home to the U.S. We had some good tailwinds so the flight went quickly, and before we knew it we were landing in Los Angeles. I brought my little 'legal alien' through customs and immigration. Now for the flight to Denver. Katie slept most of this last flight. Grandma and a friend met us at DIA. Katie greeted her Grandma with a big smile and the next chapter of our new life began!

Just a note on traveling alone: By packing carefully and using a suitcase with wheels, (I used a waistpack as my carry-on diaper bag), it is possible to make this trip alone. Other single moms in our group brought travel companions, but I did the trip alone without any problems. I have to mention, though, I had a healthy, contented baby. It could've been a more eventful trip with a fussy baby. I used a baby sling for carrying Katie and I believe this was important for early bonding. This was an adventure I am looking forward to sharing with Katie as she gets older!

Kim, Katie and Daphne

At the Christmas Dinner (12/25/98)

Katie's First Smile for Grandma

At Denver International Airport (12/30/98)