I have finally reached the point of getting to keep all of you posted on my adoption process. It's certainly been a long, bumpy road for me, and I'm thrilled to be at this point.
On October 22, I got THE call from my adoption agency that I was matched up with a little boy in China. His Chinese name is Qian Xiuzhuang - Qian (pronounced 'jian' for the city in which he was born (Qianjing), and Xiuzhuang because it's a nice name (according to the report I received :) I've decided to name him Max Qian Christiansen.
Max was born on December 28, 2007. He was found at the Civil Affairs Bureau of Qianjing district of Chongqing City on January 1, 2008, and was sent to the Social Welfare Center of Qianjiang District fo Chongqing City, his current orphanage.
Here is a map of China and the municipality of Chongqing.
SWC of Qianjiang is about 8 hours drive from Chongqing City. It's a big building that sits on top of a hill, and looks quite mysterious! In 2006, it took in as many as 200 children, 160 of who were 10 months or younger. I'm not sure how many babies it holds today. There is usually a 15:1 children to caretaker ratio, 8:1 for babies. Because of its large numbers, it has also established a foster care system, where local families take in up to 4 babies.
Here are some pictures of the orphanage:
Here is the front of the orphanage.
Babies sleeping.
Babies in these walkers. Anything familiar about the picture on the wall? (Same one Max posed on for his 7 month picture!)
When Max and I got matched up, they sent me a report from the orphanage of what Max's life has been like for the past several months. He has a routine that involves normal sleep and eating habits, and according to officials, he has normal physical and mental development.
As you can see, Max has a cleft lip and palate, and I'm finding out a lot about the different levels of surgeries that area available these days. Children's Hospital in Seattle is a fabulous place that is well known for repairing cleft lip and palates. Find out more about this condition here. We'll see a craniofacial team at Children's as soon as we return home.
Speaking of taveling, I'm not quite sure when we'll be heading over to China, but it looks to be between mid-January and March. I don't think we'll actually travel to Qianjiang, but will meet Max in Chongqing. Maybe a trip to his birthplace is one for the future. Lots to do between now and then. I'll be traveling with my friend Carolyn, who, besides being a most amazing friend, will keep me organized and focused!! I couldn't do this without her!
So, hopefully I'll get to write another update very soon.
Stay tuned!
:) Jessi
7 comments:
Keep it up, Jessi--behind you all the way!
Matt
Sooooooo excited. We'll raise a glass to you and Max at Thanksgiving!
~Kristin
Jessi,
Welcome to your new world of international adoption! This journey will reveal itself as a whole new world! All who adopt these wonderful chinese children find ourselves entering a new community that we never knew existed. We suddenly have new friends to go along with our new children. Friends who know the true extent of what all of this means. To others we simply found a way, a "place" to finally get the child we have longed for. But for us, the people of the international adoption community, we know how much more it really is and just how much it took us to get here. And we believe that we weren't destined to adopt "a" child but rather "the" child. The child that God intended us to share our heart and home with or as the chinese say:
"There is an ancient Chinese belief that an invisible, unbreakable red thread connects all those who are destined to be together. A red thread has connected Jessi to Max for years half way around the world. Jessi felt something pulling on her but could never see it. Then one day she saw the red thread very clearly, she started to follow it, thus the journey began. But from the moment that she first saw Max's picture, it was like rounding a bend in a river and finally seeing her destination."
Welcome To a Whole New World!
Kathy Rees
Qian Jiang Can's Proud Mommy
www.jazzyrose.blogspot.com
What a tech savvy momma! It is so wonderful to see where Max lives. Thank you for setting this up. We can't wait to meet him! Love ya
What a tech savvy momma! This is so wonderful to see where he has been living - thank you for this update. We can't wait to meet him
Oh how exciting, Jessi! This little guy is so adorable. We're so happy for you, and we can't wait to hear more about this adventure.
-Julie, Jim, Riley & Quinn
Jessi,
Congratulations!! We are super excited for you and for baby Max. What a lucky little guy he is!
Best wishes,
Meredith and Chase
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