Another Scare Today - Finding Ad Pitcture...

Not Ella. Let me explain. Today, we received a copy of Ella's finding ad (the ad placed to attempt to find the girls parents. The translation stated lots of hair (yes), long face (no way) and bigger mouth (not really). It wasnt until I got back to the room that Laura realized the girl advertised as Ella in the ad (her Chinese name is Hua Tuan) wasnt Ella - Ella's picture was above another girls description (found July 06). Everything will turn out OK - if Ella's parents wanted to find her, they would have done so, however we'll let the orphanage know tomorrow - its still quite a scare - we have been told that a correction will publish, but that Ella will not be taken from us (Still scary - Another scare). Well, we had a great day today - the pictures below show some of Ella's activities - playing with her friend Maya and with Mommy. She had her medical exam and it turned out normal - 17 lbs and 67 cm height. We need to put her on amoxicillin for the rest of the trip (upper respiratory infection). We bought her a stroller and also developed some pictures from the orphanage taken before we got her. Tomorrow is a big day - we take a 3.5 hour bus trip to YangChun, Ella's hometown to visit the orphanage and her place of abandonment. We are excited to learn more about Ella's heritage so we can share it with her and have some time to spend with her caretakers. Even the pictures we received from the orphanage show Ella laughing and having fun. We think we are really lucky with the match - definitely made in heaven (for us and well worth the wait). I'll report some more tomorrow late as it'll be a long day in YangChun. Sunday is Pearl Market and Dim Sum dinner. Mom, what kind of pearl did you want (pink?). OK - enough for today - we went to dinner with some other travel families tonight and continue to share in a great experience - we are ready to come home, though (after this bad weather passes we hope). Stay well everyone - we miss you all and keep posting - you have no idea how it keeps us connected! Thanks and we'll let you know what turns up in regard to the ad with the wrong picture.

We Almost Lost Her

Well today was an interesting day - Thursday, the first of March will go down as the day we almost lost Ella (well not really) but it was scary. We took a tour of Guangzhou today and stopped at the city's largest Buddhist temple/pagoda. It was truly beautiful and while we were touring around, a lady came up to Ella, only Ella, and seemingly wanted to hold her. Instead, she literally took off with Ella directly to pray and explained (in Chinese) to our tour guides that Ella was destined to be blessed by Buddha (I guess). It was weird and I have some on video - I guess a compliment. One thing for certain, our Ella has a ton of personality and it shows. She is never shy and always smiling and laughing - she is so comfortable with all of us and has been since day 1, really. Amazing - some of the other families are having a more dificult time transitioning - Not us (so far - knock on wood). She is truly an angel (as are the other babies, in time...). We also did some shopping today - bought two Jade pendants for Laura and Ella. Got another stroller and a Rolex watch for me (OK a nice fake Rolex - guaranteed for 5 years or until we leave China, whichever comes first). Food is getting a little better and really I have never seen Laura this at ease. She isnt rushing to organize or clean or anything - I'm worried home is going to turn to shambles (maybe not - but you get the idea!). Tomorrow more paperwork and then Saturday the orphanage trip are on the horizon. Tomorrow is one week too and one more to go - yeah!!! Until then....here are some more pictures from today