Today is the Day

Last night, I was dreaming that we were getting Melia today.  Which is funny because we're getting Melia today.  Apparently, I'm dreaming in real time.

Specifically, we are meeting at 8:45a.m. in the lobby and driving to The Civil Affairs office where we will meet Melia.  So we're pretty much "in labor" right now.  Katie is "pushing" so to speak and I'm just holding her hand waiting for our daughter to arrive.

So while we wait - I'll go ahead and post what we did yesterday.

Drive.....drive.... and drive some more.  It was supposed to be a 4 hour drive to Shijiazhuang, but between traffic and a small detour it ended up being closer to 6 1/2 hours.  The kids were absolutely amazing and didn't complain the entire time.  Of course, iPads and a 1 lb. bag of licorice help tremendously....

So what was our detour, you ask?  We actually got to stop by Melia's orphanage!  We were told over and over again that we would not be able to see it, but for whatever reason (perhaps b/c we asked 9 times if there was ANY way to see it) our guide took us to see it.

We pulled up to a "campus" looking area.  There were several different short, squat buildings and we were told that each building housed different kind of people-in-need.  One was a home for children, another was a home for the elderly (nursing home), a home for Special Needs, etc.  It was kind of an interesting thing to see.

We walked (in the very cold) over to the building where the children were.  Katie and I just stared into the building.  We were told that we were breaking the rules enough by just being in the area and there was no way to go in.  On the one hand, we were so thankful that he brought us this far, but on the other hand, it was killing us to know that Melia was right inside those doors and we couldn't go in.

There was a little confusion as to which building she was in, but then we were told that one building was for the orphanage and another building was for the foster care.  This was interesting to learn as we were told that Melia was moved to a foster care family once she was going to be adopted.  (About 6 months ago).  Apparently, that only meant that she moved across a small street to an identical looking building.  We'll never know all the details, but somehow she had more of a "family structure" in the second building with a mom, dad, brothers, and sisters.  Still looks pretty much like an orphanage to me.

Perhaps we'll find out more details today.  Here's the pictures.

We spent the whole day in this Van/Bus.  I felt obligated to take a picture.

We had to stop to gas up.  Look at how cheap gas is!  Oh wait, it's in liters.... and in Yuan.  If my calculation is correct that would be closer to $10/gallon.  Is that right?  Yikes.  I better ask our translator today....

Here's the orphanage, that Melia may have been in at first.  It sounds like she's moved around a bit, so it's hard to know all the details.

Here is where she has been for at least the last month.  We're 99% sure that she was in there yesterday when we were standing there taking pictures.  

Shortly after we left, our translator got a cell call from the Orphanage director who saw us outside and let him know that she was NOT happy at all that he broke the rules and let us see the orphanage.  Sorry!  

(But not really)

.....And for the 3rd evening in a row, Zac has fallen asleep on-the-go.  What a little trooper.  All the kiddos have been so awesome on this trip.  

Check it out!  He fell asleep standing up!

NEXT POST:  MELIA