Preparing for Matthew’s arrival and ‘Gotcha Day’

** Countdown to our adoption: Only two days left before we get Matthew. **

By TERRY R. CASSREINO

BEIJING, China (Sunday, Dec. 7, 2008, 7:10 a.m.) – As Pam and I move closer to Tuesday, Dec. 9, commonly called “Gotcha Day” – the day we get Matthew – the anxiety and excitement slowly builds.

We will attend an orientation meeting Monday morning at the Beijing office of Holt International Children’s Services. There, we expect to learn more about the legal proceedings we’ll take care of in Zhengzhou.

We also expect to receive new, updated photographs and information about Matthew. Even though he has been in Beijing in foster care, he will have returned to his home province of Henan for the adoption process.

Pam and I will meet Matthew in Henan. As of today, that’s expected to take place at about 3 p.m. China time (about Tuesday 1 a.m. CDT) at the Civil Affairs office in the Capital city of Zhengzhou. We should have the time and place confirmed Monday.

How will he react – that’s tops on our mind.

Pam and I prepared a small child’s photo album for Matthew a couple of months ago featuring pictures of us, Camryn and our home. Holt told us the album would help his caregivers introduce him to his new family.

I hope Matthew has looked at the album and that my bald head doesn’t frighten him.

Our day Tuesday begins early. We’ll eat breakfast at the Novotel Peace Hotel, pack our room and then meet our guide in the lobby for the trip to the Beijing airport.

From there, we will take a 10:30 a.m. China Southern flight (CZ3116) to Zhengzhou. We are set to arrive at 11:50 a.m. and then head for the Crowne Plaza, where we’ll stay during our time in the city.

We don’t know much else. And with Pam and I the only Holt families here, we probably won’t know a heck of a lot more until Monday’s orientation.

Copyright 2008 by Terry R.Cassreino. All rights reserved.