Photos From the Orphanage

Well, we just developed the camera that we sent to Maddie's orphanage using Ann at Redthread.  They were kind enough to take about 17 pictures of Maddie and her mates.  The orphanage appeared clean and the kiddo's looked healthy. It was very sobering to sit back and look at how Maddie's life was during her first year in this world.  To be honest, it kinda made me sick to my stomach, not because she was mistreated or anything, but because she just looked so lifeless and just blah in the photo's.  Receiving the pictures was a double edged sword because we decided against visiting her orphanage (there were many reasons why we made our decision), but we wanted to look forward with Maddie, not look back, plus we did not want her ever going back after she joined our family, unless she chooses to in the future.  That chapter in her life closed on 16 May.

Again, I encourage anyone adopting from China to reach out to Ann at Redthread.com.  She is awesome.  But understand it is a roll of the dice, some orphanages do not respond.  You can also schedule personal shopping tours with her in GZ via her web site.  I am not getting paid to endorse her, just think her efforts go above and beyond and we are forever grateful for what she did for us by securing updated medical info and photos.