Sunday, April 4th 2010 Free day

Dan Dan had a pretty rough night after all the immunizations he received at the clinic.  So we took it easy and had a relaxed breakfast then let him splash and play in the bath.  We got lunch from the famous "Deli Shoppe" right outside the hotel. 

View of the Pearl River from our hotel

 In the afternoon, our group gathered again to tour the Guangzhou Jade and Pearl markets.    It was actually kind of fun bargaining with the sales people and I found a few nice pieces for myself and some of the little girls in our neighborhood.    In the pearl market there were thousands upon thousands of strands of pearls in each little booth and shop (Kind of like how indoor flea markets are set up here in the US.)    It was fascinating to watch the girls beading and knotting the strands.   How their fingers flew!!

We visited the well known (in adoption communities) restaurant Lucy's for dinner along with Steve and Liz.   We ended up meeting several other families from our group there.   As we settled in, another mom along with her new daughter came into the restaurant and sat across from me.    The next thing I knew she was asking if I was Joanne.   It was my RQ friend Gretchen from the Victory!!  It was so nice to meet Gretchen.  We wouldn't have been here at this time if not for her collaboration a few months ago when the Article 5 rules all changed.   I will always be grateful for that!!  So we had a very nice dinner and then decided to head for the play room at the W.S.    I was able to introduce her to another mom alone with her new daughter around the same age.   It was so cool to hang out and relax!!   I just love Gretchen~!!

Saturday, April 3, 2010 Medical exam

Today I was up and meeting with our Guangzhou H*lt staff and the other six families for a meeting.  We reviewed all of our paperwork that is required for the consulate appointment and Visa application for Daniel.    Daniel and Peter wandered around the hotel to check out all the sites in the meantime.  After lunch,  we had to go to the medical clinic for Daniel's Visa medical exam and immunizations.  It was nice to see everyone again altogether and meet their new children.  Everyone seems to be very happy.   Dan Dan did just fine through the medical exam which included height/weight/temperature, ENT exam (cursory at best) and a medical exam.   That was the easy part.   Then came the immunizations.....   poor little Daniel had to get SEVEN plus the PPD test on his arm.   I really wanted the nurses to hold him, but Peter ended up holding him.   Oh, he cried.   Who can blame him????   He was covered in band aids when he was done.      We met the group again for dinner and by the time we got back it was after nine and Daniel was teary.    Poor little man - he ended up with 102.3 temperature during the night from all those shots.   'Nuff said!!!!!!!!


                                                Lan Cheng (Daniel) LOVES the bath!!!

Friday April 2nd, 2010 Travel day

We spent the morning packing and repacking up the cases (good old 44 lb limit.)   We have had the most wonderful guide this week - very patient, good with the kids, friendly.   She had a four year old son of her own at home.   It was her job to make sure we received Daniel's passport and that all our paperwork from the adoption was in order.    We treated her to lunch and then it was off to the airport.

We made it through without too much difficulty, got to the gate and found our flight was delayed.  But only by an hour.   It was nice to have Liz and Steve and Lucas waiting with us.   The boys have gotten along well all week and seemed to enjoy just taking in the comings and goings of the airplanes.   Lucas slept for a good chunk of the flight but Dan Dan did not.   He did fine on take-off  but decided to act up a little during the flight - namely throwing cheerio's.   It was quite a bumpy flight and he couldn't understand why we kept making him put his seat belt back on.   Fortunately "dinner" came along to distract him.   The meals were ok - usually involving some sort of seafood.   Dan Dan fell asleep about 10 minutes before we started our descent.   The change in pressure woke him up and his ears clearly bothered him.    He refused to try drinking - fortunately Liz saved the day when she pulled out a lollipop.

We had a good hour plus ride from the airport to the White Swan hotel when we arrived in Guangzhou.  Daniel really enjoyed watching all the cars on either side of us and all the lights in bustling Guangzhou.    It was fairly late when we finally got to our room.   We requested and received an upgrade to the river side of the hotel.   Definitely worth it for the view.  We chose to book a junior suite which was really nice.  Since we were there for a whole week, it was nice to be able to spread out a little.    Saturday we were up and out early to go to the medical clinic.   More on that later!! 

Thursday, April 1st 2010 Free day

Today we had a free day, so we decided to go to the Jinci temple outside of Taiyuan.   It is one of the oldest temples in China.   The first picture is actually a picture of the entrance to the "park" in front of the temple.    It was beautiful.

Enormous statue of Chinese warriors.   Note the girl in the front of the picture.  They were huge!!

The Eternal Spring

We became celebrities with the hundreds of 14 y.o. school students who were visiting the temple for the day.   We tried to educate them on what happens when the children are adopted and how they will be normal (just like they are) when they get treated.

                                     

Fasten your seat belts!! 3/18/10

Travel dates confirmed - check

vaccinations done -check

flights booked to NY - check

flights booked to China  - almost!!

We now know that we will be flying out of JFK on Thursday 25th.   I am taking the little ones to Grandma's a couple of days before.   

-We have orientation in Beijing on the 26th.

-Gotcha day!! 3/29

-Travel to Datong 3/30.   Stay overnight

-Daniel's birthday 3/31!!   I hope that we will be able to see the orphanage and also his finding place

-Travel to Guangzhou 4/2

-Consulate appt  4/7

Last weekend after our TA didn't come I tried to keep us busy and out of the house.  Saturday I spent the afternoon with the kids at the park.  Sunday we took them to the zoo (probably one of the last cool/comfortable days to go.)   They always love going to the zoo.

They have a fabulous Wings of Asia aviary