It is my great pleasure to introduce you to my new daughter from China. I am beyond excited and I am so grateful.
Her Chinese name is Guo Danji and she was born on June 25, 2007. It is my understanding that many children living in her orphanage have the last name Guo. I have not settled on her American first name but know her middle name will be Danji.
She is currently living at the Social Welfare Institute of Beiliu City in Guangxi, China. Beiliu City has a population of 1.16 million people and is in the southwestern part of China on the South China Sea.
The doctors at the University of Minnesota International Adoption Clinic have proclaimed her to be “adorable” and a “darling little girl.” I totally agree. She has a cleft lip and palate and I feel lucky to live near two of the top hospitals in the country for dealing with this medical issue.
I have accepted this referral and I’m waiting for China to send the next round of documents and a travel date.
Here’s what the report from the Welfare Institute of Beiliu City says about my beautiful girl:
--She is fond of hugging by her nanny and listening to children’s songs.
--Her favorite toy is a ringing bell. (I’ve already purchased her a new bell!)
--She always pays attention to novel things. (A journalist in training?!)
--She is not afraid of strangers.
--She has a sweet smile and is a lovely girl.
Here’s the brief version of how this happened. I filled out the final paperwork to officially join the WIC program last Thursday. When I asked my social worker, Laura Nystrom, when I should be mentally prepared for a referral she replied, “tomorrow morning.” I was stunned. I doubted her and thought I would be carrying around my phone and checking my e-mail for months. As you may recall, I’ve gotten pretty good at waiting. Monday morning the CCAA sent Children’s Home a file of new waiting children. It included my precious daughter. I got THE CALL around 5pm Monday. I immediately sent the medical records to the U of M. They were wonderful and got back to me within 24 hours. Wednesday morning I told Children’s Home “She’s the one for me!”
How can someone who was waiting so long say—“It all happened so fast?!” But that’s how I feel. It’s a happy whirlwind. I’m falling in love.
