In Jade's Home Town

Me again…

Today was a long, tiring and emotional day.  Yichun is
about a 2 hour+ bus ride one way from Nanchang.  We left
after 10am (I had forgotten how much there is to
organise for a days outing with a baby and we still
managed somehow to only take one nappy change).  After
having lunch on arrival in Yichun I was able to take the
Director of the orphanage himself shopping at a local
supermarket with the funds raised by ANZ.  They were
facing a real shortage of Baby Milk Powder, and with the
$400 AUS raised we were able to overfill 3 shopping
trolleys, with lots of Formula, as well as some Rice
Cakes, Fruit and Bread for the little ones.  We drew
quite a curious crowd of onlookers in the shopping
centre.
The visit to the orphanage was started by meeting the
Foster Mother.  We had just found out the day before
that both Jade and Jessica (also being adopted in
Melbourne) were cared for by Foster families from Birth
until 4 months of age (once they start preparing for
adoption they must return to the orphanage apparently). 
On stepping out of the bus, we found they were cared for
by the exact same Foster Mother.  So not only are they
one week apart in age, and spent until 9 months of age
in the same orphanage they were with the same carer for
that first crucial time in their lives.  A very special
bond.  The foster mother had a visible attachment to
Jessica, and there were lots of tears.
Then it was into the babies room.  Oh my.  5-6 little
toddlers walking around. 4 or 5 in walkers and a couple
of newborns asleep in the beds.  They were a select few
of the 20-30 babies currently living there.  We had only
just walked in, and this little darling walked straight
up to me and put her arms up.  Of course I picked her up
(split pants and all) and she started chuckling away and
talking to me.  Coby, the guide, tried to take her from
me, but she reached back for me.  We had a bit of a play
together, and then I put her down.  Straight up came her
arms, so I just had to have another cuddle with the
precious little soul.  At one stage I handed her over
to Sharon, who got a few steps away and back she reached
for me…  She was a hefty little thing and after 10
minutes or so, I needed to put her down, so the only
option was to sit on the floor with her.  At one stage
a carer came and got her, and I was able to walk around
and have a proper look at the tiny little newborns and
the tiny 3 month old in the walker, but she was like a
homing pigeon, and she was quickly back in my arms.  I
finally put her down for some formal family photos with
the Foster Mother, but if you look carefully there are
little fingers holding mine, waiting to be picked up. 
So then it was time for one last cuddle, before I had to
say goodbye to her.  There was much laughter from the
carers, they kept calling me Mama, and Jade her Mei Mei
(little sister), if only it was that simple.  I was
able to find out a little more information about her and
was thrilled to hear that this little 2 year old is
about to be adopted (boy is she ready) in about a month.
She was abandoned at 1 year old.  Very sad.
From there we went to the babies Finding Places at
opposites ends of the city.  Mr. Deng was gracious
enough to guide us through the streets to find the exact
locations.  Very special.  Jade was left at an aged
persons home, and the old men gathered around to see why
this foreigner was taking photos with a baby at their
gate.  I asked the guide to explain it to them, but
apparently his mandarin has changed a lot from theirs.
However, the story must have got through, for as we left
there was a group at the gate, clapping and cheering us
off.
We got back to the hotel at 7pm, tired and ready for a
quiet night in.
We are starting to learn Jade’s little quirks so we can
anticipate her needs.  So far we are bumbling our way
through ok.  She is a delight.
All the boys are getting more confident with holding her
and Taylor even did his first bottle today, although
when she fell asleep in his arms, he had to hand her
over after about 10 mins (how is she so heavy?)
Anyway enough for now.  Tomorrow we are visiting a local
Pavilion, and shopping, and it now looks like we will
meet up with Mengs family late tomorrow afternoon/evening,
which will be lovely.
Take care
Cindy…