We’re David and Lois McBeath. We live in Point Pleasant, WV – a small town along the Ohio River on the western side of the state. We have 2 sons. Austin is 15. He’s a sophomore at Pt. Pleasant High School. Darrell is almost 12. He’s in the 6th grade at Roosevelt Elementary.
We actually began our adoption journey more than 10 years ago. I saw an ad in the newspaper about Chinese babies. We called about it, but it just wasn’t even feasible at that time in our life. All these years, it was always there, stuck somewhere in the back of our minds. I don't know why exactly – it just was. The thought never completely went away.
We also talked off and on about having another child. Our house was only 3 bedrooms, and we know the boys could have been in a room together, but we didn't want to do that if we didn't have to. In the spring of 2006, for some reason (I don't recall exactly what) - it came up again. We started thinking and talking - why not? So we started checking into it more. We did a lot of research online. The more we found out, the more we felt a calling, a desire and even a need to do this.
We started the adoption and added onto the house all at the same time. It took about 6 months to get the paperwork together. Then about another month after we sent it to China for them to translate it and 'log us in' (11/6/06). That's when we started to officially wait.
We finally got "THE CALL" on 7/13/08. It was a Sunday afternoon! After 2 ½ years, we are finally going to get our baby!


Leila Ann McBeath, formally known as Shun Xi Yi, was born on Oct 29, 2007. She had a cleft lip and cleft palate. The lip has been repaired, but not the palate. (We'll have to do that when we get her home.) She's in the Children's Welfare Institute of Shunde District of Foshan City, which is located in the Guangdong Province, in the southern part of China.

Shunde, the hometown of flowers, is one of four cities under the jurisdiction of Foshan City. Covering an area of 806 sq meters and with a population of 1.05 million, Shunde City is situated in the middle of the fertile Pearl River Delta, between Guangzhou and Hong Kong. It was set up as a county in the 3rd year (1452 AD) of the Jintai reign of the Ming Dynasy (1368-1644), and conferred with the administrative status of a city in 1992 by the State Council.

Foshan City is also where the actor Bruce Lee was from.

Friday, September 5, 2008

The Countdown Continues....

The countdown continues. By this time next week, we'll be in China. I can't believe it sometimes. My to-do list is still huge. Granted, my to-do list and David's to-do list is vastly different, and mine seems much longer. I have so many things that I think just HAVE to get done before we leave. David, on the other hand, has the attitude that - it will all still be here when we get back.
I sat down with all these packing lists and suggestions on what to take that other people have made, and prepared to make my own. Once I got done, I looked at the list of medications that we may need and that Leila may need while we're there. I realized that if they should happen to search our luggage - they won't know if we're coming to pick up a baby or to open a small drugstore. On the other hand - I'd rather have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it.
I also went to get dog and cat food for while we're gone. Renee is coming to stay with our animals, and I don't want her to run out of anything. Now, maybe I miscounted or I miscalculated or maybe I just have other things on my mind - I'm just not sure. BUT, once I got home to put it all away - I realized that I have enough cat food to last until probably Thanksgiving.
I just can't wait to get on that plane though. Once I'm on it - I know that all the getting ready is done, and all the preparations are behind me. From then on, it's just go, go, go. China here we come.

1 comment:

mefroglover said...

Hi its Mandy, its 10:30pm est here. You left about 18 hours ago i think. Which means i have no idea where you are right now, But i'm wishing you all the luck in the world. Hope everything is going well.