Monday, August 15, 2005

At Last!

Hello everyone... This is the second time I write this... Man, internet is slow over here!!! To say the least, today was AMAZING. Our day started out going to Dim Sum... can't get tired of that. Then we went on to the department store for some last minute baby shopping. 2:45pm rolled around really quick and we were on the bus to the Department of Civil Affairs. Tension was super high. Our guide let us know that this was going to be quick. But nothing could have prepared us for what was about to happen... 

As soon as we get into the waiting room of this building... we see all 11 children inside the room with us. Noemi starts crying uncontrollably. There is now mayhem in China. Everyone is freaking out. And of course, everyone is trying to find out who's baby is whos's. Dad starts asking questions in Chinese to all the caregivers and we find Mia. Noemi starts crying way over "uncontrollably." I start taking pictures and I am as dazed as could ever be. I didn't know what the hell was going on. Then it starts... babies are being passed around, people are crying, babies are crying, everyone's freakin' out, and then... "Wayne and Noemi Louk, please come here..." Noemi cannot get a grip of herself. Dad's interrogating the caregivers. Mom's with the camera walking around not knowing what the heck is going on. I am as dazed as I could ever be (oh, I said that already...). They give Noemi Mia. Noemi is falling apart at the seams. Dad's still interrogating. Where the hell is Mom... Where am I? There's no place like home Toto... Am I in Kansas? Then...... silence. I can't hear anything. I see Mia in Noemi's arm. I don't want to pinch myself... could this be real? I am still giddy about the whole thing. Mia falls asleep in Noemi's arms within minutes as if to say "Whew... finally... I am home... goodnight!" She sleeps all the way to the hotel. 

We let her absorb what is going on and then we begin to check her out. Besides being a bit dirty with a little bit of a congested chest, she is perfect!!! We play, we dance, we bathe her, and then she ate... and ate... and ate... She might look like me but she's got Noemi's appetite. After a few, she falls asleep at 7:00pm and hasn't gotten up yet (11:30pm). We might be in for an early morning. She is just beautiful. Noemi is as happy as I have ever seen her. There is just so much more to tell... We got videos!!! More tomorrow... here are some pics.