Drs. appointment, zoo and consulate

It was a beautiful day today, 70, sunny & breezy...we did some sightseeing and shopping...Guangzhou (pronounced guan joe) is such a contrast to Shenyang city...besides the obvious, weather...much much cleaner, newer...more green, fewwer cars honking!  Much more welcoming to adoptive families...no staring at the blondes too, since there are adoptive parents all over the place...besides US consulate, the British and Japanese are also here...I think Canada is in Beijing, but would guess there are other countries here, since it is a very diverse crowd.  The hotel is very large and about 1/2 of the guests are adopting...great to see so many kids find forever families...many families on their 2nd, 3rd or 4th adoption.  Elizabeth in our tiny group is on her 3rd adoption of her 4th child from China (twins last time), so she has been very helpful with suggestions on Kailey...her son is 10 months old and his "special need" is 2 fingers shorter than normal!!  She will bid farewell to us tomorrow since babies don't have TB testing so their adoption is quicker.

Yesterday Kailey had to get her medical exam which includes the TB test, she did great, didn't cry at all when the different Dr. checked her out and she got the test (shot)....so far so good on the TB.  The medical clinic was very busy with families and very loud....My ear pod (cochlear remote) was fried in the airport X-ray machine inShenyan city, so can't turn volume down!  

Tomorrow it is back to the clinic for results and clearance, the rest of the day and Tuesday are free time..hoping to find a spa to get a $12.00 reflexology massage (legit). Tuesday off to zoo!  She'll love that...hopefully the animals treated well..we couldn't get a consulate appt on Tuesday so the reason for the free day..

Kailey has been getting adjusted...her new thing is to take her clothes off!  (why we didn't make church this am).  She is sleeping more now...her Daddy says she is a Snitzer doesn't like mornings...can be cranky! 

Will try to get more pictures soon.
Hopefully her Uncle David has a much better 50 birthday!

Planes, Bday & Earthquakes...Oh MY

No issue with the earthquake....but flying yesterday not fun.

Security went thru all our suitcases and even made John take his money pouch off....nearly didnt get back....the flight was delayed and we had a screaming child. Finally got to Ghouzang, we were last off flight and they locked us in the walkway! Our original guides father passed away so we have new person, but she is great....

Ghouzang is cleaner and greener and it is 70 degrees and sunny here.. John took me to McDonald's for my bday dinner, we were so tired...

Internet is flaky so not sure how often can get on. Kailey did great at medical exams!

Happy 75% of the time!

 Kailey is doing better, she is adjusting as are we....still a few tantrums just not like first night...thank you Lord!

She has been taught well, she picks up her toys, cleans up the room, folds her clothes, brushes her teeth, combs her hair, made her bed (& put a diaper on her stuffed animal) & she is potty trained!!!! All without us asking her too. 

 

She loves fruits/veggies/yogurt...drinks lots of water too...loves the bath and to wash her hands.  Pink is defiantly her favorite color!!! She took over my pink tote (even though it is bigger than her!)

We are off to a museum today! 3-story Walmart was not fun,  the amusement park a bust.  Thaey keep the animals in tiny cages, sad site..Maggie our guide is great!

Lori's been sick, but feelin better...will never complain about Texas pollution again!  Miss home..

Flight tomorrow, so prayers for smooth flight and that typhoon moves away from where we are going!!!!

Love to All

Ps. John is wonderful with her.  Made to be a daddy!!!
 

She is mothering her baby!!! Note pink tote!!

First 24 Hours

I would be lying if I said the first night was easy...it was not.   Kailey is used to having everything her way and she has a temper when she doesn't get it. We saw it last night for the first time (and not the last time).  She is getting used to everything new and is definitely testing us.  She can't hear herself scream...most hearing impaired people tend to talk louder...she screams louder.   We all have melt downs!  We asked today when we finalized the adoption if this was normal for her and they said yes. She bangs her head on the floor thrashing about, throwing and spitting (recently learned at  orphanage)  you can tell she is scared of course, but nothing comforts her. 

We will have some issues to deal with once she gets into a routine, until then we are patiently easing her into her new world. 

Here is a picture of her after the last temper tantrum....it wore her out...peacefully sleeping...

 Pray for us and pray for Kailey.   Tomorrow is the 2 story Walmart!!

 

L

 

Monday December 3 - Gotcha Day!

They Got Her!!! And the weather outside is frightful...

They woke up to this Monday morning.

Lori sent a couple pictures of Kailey and she's beautiful!

 

Kailey has changed clothes 2x now...checking out her new clothes. What a fashionista!!! She loves cell phones and coloring and opened all the toys we brought, very curious!    It appears she is completely deaf but does make sounds and is very visual.  Has turned when John talked behind her a couple of times.  She enjoys her food too!  

She fits into both 3 & 4T.

This past weekend

I have received a few emails from Lori and John.  I will post them chronologically so they make sense...

Sunday December 2 -

We are here in our hotel room with a crib in it!  That is all they use for kids, not roll aways , we have her little play area set up. John is watching the baylor/osu game  on the tv so he is happy.

Our guide Maggie is sweet, just not clear on English.   We go to the civil affairs office at 10:00 am our time (that is 12 hours) for Gotcha day! 

Shenyang is huge and tall.  Hustle and bustle reminds me of NYC...  The Olympics soccer was played here so lot of newer buildings.  Jeez it's cold...but the hotel is hot and the room is nice.

 My observations are:  People do not like to wait in line always pushing and cutting.  For a person who is polite like John, it takes some getting used to.  He would be holding the door open all day!

 Driving here would give me a heart attack.  We stopped looking ahead while in the car...They do not stop at stop lights. We saw a bicycle on the highway, in 10 degree weather!   The grocery stores here are organized chaos. (you have to buy water..can't use tap water to brush teeth.)  You can buy just about anything in a grocery store. Like a department store that sells groceries.  Boots next to veggies!

Also I think I am the only blonde hair blue eyed person in Shenyang!   (8million people!)  Too many people looking at me, which is unsettling when you don't know the language.   Also there are a lot of Lexus on the road. More per capita here than in Highland Park!  Here the dealership is 2 stories! 

 We did find out that Kailey got to stay in foster care for longer than we were told, so that is very good. She is at the orphanage tonight.  

They landed!!!

We sight saw today and had a great time.   Great Wall is really steep!  John & I  walked a good distances. The actual steps  are different sizes on purpose so enemies would be slowed down.  It slowed our group too   The history of the country is amazing.   Pictures once I figure out how to load. We should sleep well tonight.  Early flight to Shenyang city 5:00 am wake up call.  Our guide Allison husband is from there and she said it maybe too cold to site see outside!  The other families are going south!!! Not us north east to Kailey!!!  

The duffle bag we brought (Cadillac logo'd) was slashed open most likely in the US. But fool'd the thief nothing valuable to steal unless they needed PullUps!

Love to all

L

Trying too leave on a jet plane...

We are here in SFO. We were comfortably seated on the plane to Beijing...when they made us deplane due to mechanical issues.  Waiting to see when we will get a new plane or they fix this one.  

Prayers please!

Happy Thanksgiving

Some of us will be doing this...






  

While others will be in here...


 

We will gather with loved ones for this...


Eating this...

(the bird on the plate!)

Afterwards eating pie and watching this...


Remember to count your Blessings, be Thankful for all you have...I know I am! 

From us to you...