7-26, Day 7 in China

Day 7; July 26, 2012; Wuhan, China

This was an extraordinary day.  Joanna took us to the community where Emalie was found.  It was a military community, but not in the way we thought.  We thought it was something like base-housing in a military community.  Instead, it was a community for workers who work at a factory making sheets and bedding for the military.  Even though we had an exact street address, the address represented an entire community area.  We saw a group of mostly older ladies so Joanna asked them if they remembered a baby being found in April of 2011.  They all responded emphatically that they did remember.  Everyone got quite excited to learn that Emalie was the little girl.  They told Joanna that she is a lucky, lucky baby.    They thought maybe she was the third or fourth girl of a family and that maybe her birth mother hoped she would be taken care of by a family in tis community.  The woman who found her was in her late 50s but was in the hospital now because of an accident.  One of the ladies took us to the very spot she had been found.  It was in a sheltered stairwell leading up to apartments.  It was amazing and unbelievable to stand in the very spot Emalie’s birth mother had placed her fifteen months ago.  The lady who found her brought her to the police who then brought her to the orphanage in Wuhan.  They believe she was two days old, premature and had jaundice.  We spent at least half an hour with these people.  They were so happy to see how well Emalie is and that we are going to give her a good life in America.  The mothers pushed their children towards me and I took turns taking each one’s photo and showing them their pictures.  I feel very satisfied that we have taken the extra steps to go to the orphanage and the finding place.  We are giving Emalie pieces of her life puzzle.  The ladies said she had been the third or fourth baby left during that time period.  We were so fortunate to happen upon these women who knew of Emalie.  The stories we are accumulating to tell her when she is old enough!

There are many motorcycles and mopeds on the streets of China.  Also, everywhere they go, most Chinese women carry umbrellas with them to shield themselves from the sun.  I thought this was quite the unique combination! 

Emalie always seemed to fall asleep driving to and from our destinations.

 Views of Wuhan as we drove to Emalie's finding place:

so sweet

The address for the place Emalie was found....but where within this community?!

The group of women who knew about Emalie and led us to her finding place.

They were all so excited.  It was like we were long lost friends being reunited.

Beautiful, beautiful eyes

The stairwell where Emalie was found.

The very spot where Emalie's birth mother left her and she was found.    She was then taken to the police who took her to the orphanage.  Such a simple photo that evokes such complex emotions.

Maybe someday we will take Emalie back to this place when she is older.

Her finding place is around the corner to the left in front of the bicycle.

Goodbyes to our new friends.

Sibling rivalry already.....now you see why Nikolas likes to play his Nintendo while she sleeps!

Sunset from the park near our hotel (the hotel is not in the photo).

This girl loves stairs....forwards and backwards!

More stairs!  We're so thankful that she's as healthy as she is to be as active as she is!!