| | Countryside stretching between Chongqing and Fuling, rice paddies and mountains. |
| | | Our guide Xiao Li impresses us with her charm and ability to keep us informed. |
|
| | It's the longest bus ride of our lives before arriving at Fuling'... |
| | | We are astonished - the entire city seems to be one huge construction project. |
|
| | The flood from Three Gorges dam brings thousands of workers to Fuling. |
| | | Fuling, a city built on steep mountains that plunge into the muddy Yangtze River |
|
| | Heavy trucks full of broken rock struggle to pass even slower buses. |
| | | Horses and mules toil along the construction workers under the broiling sun. |
|
| | Closer to the heart of town, our bus turns down a small residential street. |
| | | Shoppers, passersby and curious residents follow us down the street. |
|
| | They gather around the gate as we enter Fuling's Social Welfare Institute. |
| | | A boy finds an open window for closer look at visitors - shouts "Hello, hello!" |
|
| | Small boy and old man at front gate banter with the inquisitive watching crowd. |
| | | At entrance to the orphange- photos of the staff of caregivers. |
|
| | Before proceeding into the orphanage we are invited to explore the courtyard. |
| | | Senior ciitizens occupy a nursing home on the upper floors, wave a greeting. |
|
| | At the far corner of the courtyard is the entrance to the new orphanage wing. |
| | | The Lily Orphan Care Center, opened 1 week previous to our arrival. |
|
| | We look around, everything is quiet, and we wonder where the babies live. |
| | | We're invited into the central meeting room - our daughters await!! |
|
| | Mere moments later, a caregiver hands Maylin into Mama's joyous wa... |
| | | Hello my darling, I can't believe we're finally united after such... |
|
| | A few moments after, beaming Dad holds his daughter for the first time. |
| | | The Austins are now three, and the first family photo is snapped. |
|
| | The Regional Director for District Social Welfare poses with Maylin and Linda. |
| | | A surprise - we are invited to inspect the babies playroom in the new orphanage. |
|
| | The new baby facility is a clean and well-lighted room, full of toys. |
| | | Next door is the sleeping room, full of shiny new cribs - 1 baby per crib. |
|
| | The view from the sleeping room window - Fuling's high-rise apartm... |
| | | Baby socks hang to dry in the window of the crib room. |
|
| | The same view again,from a different angle. |
| | | We meet the babies' caregivers, vivacious lovely, lovely ladies, o... |
|
| | We learn that Maylin is one of their "most favorite" babies... |
| | | ... and everyone calls her "qiao-qiao" her nickname ("chow-chow"). |
|
| | Farewell to Fuling - back on the bus with Institute director, Mrs. Yang. |
| | | Crossing over Yangtze River gorge on the new bridge, headed back to Chongqing. |
|
| | 2 hours later, again in our Chongqing hotel room, exhausted but elated - WOW! |
| | | A short rest - then we spend the afternoon at the notary's office... |
|
| | ... to formalize the adoption paperwork with the Chinese authorities. |
| | | Paperwork for 9 adoptions is slow work so we pass the time with family portraits |
|
| | We take turns holding Maylin, we can't get enough of hugs and litt... |
| | | Time at last to give Maylin her first bottle - simple as pie! |
|
| | Finally, we are called to stand in line to give our signatures. |
| | | Linda proudly signs the notarized adoption form, complete with Maylin's photo. |
|
| | On our way out of the notary's office we spot a sign that says it ... |
| | | One last shot of Director Yang and our two local guides, Annie and Xiao Li. |
|
| | At the end of our wonderful, beautiful day, Maylin asleep as we watch over her. |
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