My turn

Last night I fell asleep early and did not get anything posted.  Had to leave that first post to Danielle.

MeiLi is great!  So, so, so tiny.  Nothing but skin and bones.  We know it is due to her heart defect and we can't wait to get her back to Idaho and begin medical treatment.  She is perfect in every way.  Funny little personality and an attitude to match.  I  do believe she will fit in well with her older sisters.

Perhaps I should step back and review yesterday.  In the morning we ventured out to a Walmart.  Where Kelly was taking a few pictures and then got the "business" from a store employee who was not impressed that she was taking photos.  Way to go KA.  However we were able to go about our business and complete the shopping adventure with no other interruptions.  Then it was back to the hotel, the taxi rides were about 20 minutes and cost about US$3 so not too bad.  I have to say that it was nice to be out on the own.  Danielle and I keep saying we are glad this is our third adoption and that we have been through the process before because if we were reliant upon our "guide" we would be in big trouble.  She definitely is uninvolved in the entire deal, she is there only when she needs to be.

After the return to the hotel we got organized, felt like throwing up, continued to get organized and continued to fight nerves.  We went to the Civil Affairs office at 2:45 and we received MeiLi at about 3:15.  Again we were the last family to receive our daughter, but save the best for last right?  Anyhow there are about four other American families who are adopting (not in our group) and about four families from Spain.  We told Aunt kelly to lay low around the Spaniards, she being Basque we don't want any trouble.

Ryan (MeiLi) did so well on the hand off.  Went to Danielle with no problem very quiet and just taking it all in.  We had the opportunity to ask a few questions to the director of the orphanage, but like every other time there was no new news.  Ryan is just awesome. 

She hasn't really cried much, other than when we lay her down for a nap.  She is still on the bottle and does not have an interest in solid food other than crackers.  That is OK by us as our other two daughters never took bottles and we will cherish the time to feed her with the bottle. 

Today we went back to the Civil Affairs office and answered a few questions, went through the formality of paperwork.  As of 10 am Jin MeiLi officially became Ryan Grace MeiLi Hough.  We are now her parents and she is our daughter.  Our guide is applying for her passport this afternoon and we should have it Friday night. 

Before coming back to the hotel we stopped  and picked up Pizza Hut and now Ryan (and Danielle) are napping.  Once they wake up we are headed over to a local shopping center to pick up a few more supplies and just get out of the room.  The weather today has been cold and rainy (by cold I mean 50 degrees).  It is a nice day to just lay low and let everything settle.