Tuesday on Shamian Island

I'm getting pretty used to the good life here at the Garden.  Today marks one week since we arrived….14 pieces of bacon and 7 perfectly cooked fried eggs behind us....7 days of returning from breakfast to a clean room and made-up bed…21 trips through the beautiful gardens surrounding the koi ponds...Friends all under one roof.  If all my children were here with me, I'm not sure I'd want to leave!!

This morning after breakfast we headed with our travel group out to do a little more shopping, this time on Shamian Island.  We were originally planning to go in the afternoon, but since the consulate is closed today the families in our group with Tuesday appointments are not able to go for their interviews.  I was a little hesitant to spend any money since we don't know how long the consulate will be closed.  There was plenty to do outside of spending money!  As beautiful as it is, there are quite a few strange things about Shamian Island.  There are photographers and models everywhere.  Tate spent most of his time photo-bombing their shots.  Whatever makes him happy!!

One of the models was posing with a stroller and matching diaper bag while wearing 5" heels.  I'm not sure I've ever seen a real mother that looks like this.

Before we hit the shops, we strolled….which really means bolted after Wyatt who loves to run from us….through the park in the center of town.  I've seen this photo op spot in others' pictures so we stopped to take pictures of our babies here. My children, of course, did not seem to understand what it is I was trying to capture here.  I probably took a hundred pictures and finally got a perfect one of Wyatt.  I couldn't convince Riley to get in line, and Jubilee can't stand up yet, so we'll have to settle for Wyatt in the lineup.

The shopkeepers or some of their employees were on the street in front of each shop, asking us to come inside and take a look.  We walked by many and stopped at a few.  I do not enjoy haggling over prices, and there is some competition among neighboring stores.  Many of the shops sell the same items.  If you don't see something that you're looking for, and you ask for it, a shopkeeper might go somewhere else and get it for you. This happened to us more than once.  I have a tendency to feel pressured to buy if someone goes to such effort.  Dean and I are well-paired because he doesn't feel that same pressure.  The shops I liked the most were Michael's and Jenny's.  Both Michael and Jenny speak English and are very helpful.

Michael is pretty funny and is great at carving chops.  Chops are stamps on which you can have your child's name carved.  We got one for Wyatt and one for Jubilee with their Chinese and American names.  Michael's shop seemed to have the best selection on silks, though he didn't have many silks that were actually embroidered.  Most of them had painted designs on them.  Embroidered designs cost more, anyway.  We went with the painted.  My kiddos will outgrow those things before they could appreciate the embroidery anyway.

Jenny is the sweetest lady.  She has a photo album of families that have shopped with her, so if you visit bring your camera along.  It was fun to flip through and see the faces of those I recognize from back in the State. Jenny's shop sells a nice Chinese-English Bible for around $20 USD. She also has plaques with scripture in Chinese and English.  We bought shoes here for a good price and she gave each of us a red tassel as a thankful gesture for shopping with her.  She even sent one for a friend back home that referred us to her shop.  Nice people!!  

Lunch at Lucy's with friends was great fun!  The staff speaks English, they have hamburgers and grilled ham and cheese sandwiches on the menu, and they serve iced tea - all in a islandish atmosphere.  Loved it!

Now, about the sweet tea - Dean gave me a sip and I thought, "Not so sweet tea."  Seconds later they brought out a little silver pitcher.  That's the ticket, folks.  Simple syrup!  Pour it in now...all of it...and stir it up with your straw.  I'm sorry for being so dramatic but we've been in China for almost 2 weeks without sweet tea.  This was an important moment!!

After lunch we gathered together with our group and headed back to the hotel to get ready for dinner.  We took the Pearl River Dinner Cruise with our travel group.  The kids were super excited to board the boat.  I was thankful for the super high rails on the upper deck.

The dinner part of the cruise was not my favorite part of the evening.  After dinner we headed up to the upper deck to see Guangzhou in lights.  You know how some people look glamorous with their hair blowing in the wind and the night lights blinking behind them?  Well, I did not look glamorous like some do.

As the cruise came to a close there was an after dinner show in the dining cabin - a juggler that kept the kids' attention for the longest time.  

Today was a full day!  We are one tired crew!  We still do not know what is happening with the consulate or when they will reopen.  We are headed to bed thankful and open to God's timing on everything!!

Monday was a Zoo

Our travel group headed by air-conditioned bus over to the zoo this morning.  We loved it.  We could've stayed all day.  Actually, if we had been in Atlanta, we probably would've stayed all day, but GZ is hotter than Atlanta in August and a couple hours is about all some of the children can handle.

We began our zoo trip with a tour of the park by tram.  The zoo here is so beautiful.  We enjoyed the ride through on the tram and afterward spent an hour or so walking through the exhibits.  I say walking but it really more like sprinting.  Riley was obsessed with making sure we saw every animal on his map, and Wyatt was either sitting in the stroller or running.  It wasn't exactly a leisurely stroll through the park. You can tell in this picture below that Riley was rearing to go!

There was a baby pool area where many children splashed around completely naked trying to catch minnows.  No safety swim diapers or plastic pants here.  We skipped the splash pool.  Fortunately Wyatt was running too fast to notice the splashing.  He loves some splashing!!

The photo op spots were a big hit with my kids.  They love to pose for the camera and most always have to try something that looks dangerous or against the rules.

I love this picture of my friend Melissa and her daughter Lily Hope.  Some of us have made great progress in teaching the important basics to our new littles ones (MELISSA) while others (MYSELF) gain puzzled gazes from our little ones with any request.  

It seemed like the time went by way too fast.  I definitely think we could've stayed an hour or two more.  

Where was Wyatt?  Who took this picture?

On the way back to the hotel we heard about an issue at the consulate.  It seemed at the time that they were having computer trouble, but we found out later in the day that the issues at the consulate were much more serious.  We had barely gotten back to our room when Miko called an emergency meeting on the 23rd floor for everyone in our travel group.  She shared some news that was a bit upsetting.  Visa appointments for Tuesday and Wednesday have  been cancelled due to a facilities emergency at the consulate here in Guangzhou.  There are families in our group that are going to have to change their travel arrangements.  This could potentially be very expensive, and some family members are going to need to travel on back home ahead of others. Our appointment is scheduled for Thursday morning at 8:30.  We are hopeful that the consulate will reopen before then, but we are not sure how this situation will effect our applications or the applications of the other families waiting here in GZ. 

We have friends that were at the consulate during the facilities emergency, and they shared their experience with us and how they were required to stay on lockdown for several hours.  We are thankful that all of the families that were waiting for visa interviews and the employees at the consulate were not injured today  Please be praying for the adoptive families that were at the consulate today.  It was very scary and there is much confusion about how this situation will impact the visa application process.  Please pray that God will be glorified in this situation and that peace and comfort will fill the hearts and minds of the families here. 

After an intense afternoon, we opted for Chinese takeout from Billking and ate dinner in our room.  By the way, Billking is pretty good.  (Nobody tell me anything bad about it.  I'm trying to be adventurous in my eating here.) I had the pork and pineapple, and Dean had the beef and rice.  It's close to the hotel and easy to find.  They had trouble understanding that we wanted take out and did not want to dine in, but we eventually pantomimed effectively and left with nicely packaged plastic boxes of delicious dinner fare. 

It's barely 8:00 here and our kids have been snoozing for awhile.  I'm going to sleep tonight praising God for the visible fingerprints he has placed on this journey and trusting that there is a reason for all that is going on right now at the consulate.  Prayers are so very appreciated!! 

Shop till you drop - only takes a couple hours in steamy GZ

I don't typically have much patience for shopping, but I put forth my best effort today and went with our travel group to a shopping district, the name of which I cannot pronounce. I didn't see any other Westerners at this shopping center.  Our guides said that it is a Chinese shopping center and not really a tourist site.   I have never seen so many jewelry stores in one place before!  Floors and floors of people selling pearls, jade and look-alikes.  I don't think I could pick out a real piece of jade from plastic, so I was thankful that Rebecca and Miko were along for the ride.

Too many choices overwhelm me and I just end up walking from shop to shop with glazed eyes unable to score any fabulous finds. Dean gets overwhelmed, too.  He spent the entire time walking the kids around and around the fountain in the center of the shopping center, feeding them to keep them happy.  

As soon as I felt my eyes glazing over so I beelined to the jade counter where Miko was standing and blurted out my budget.  Within two minutes I was headed back to Dean and the kids with two tiny pieces of jade tucked away in my backpack.  Can somebody please point me to the plastic?  Sheesh, that green stuff is expensive! 

After 10 minutes in a silk dress shop and another 5 in a silk embroidery shop, I was ready to hit the road.  We spent most of our time walking circles around the fountain and perspiring.  If you're traveling soon to China and you're not sure you want to do the group shopping trips, I would encourage you to go, even if shopping just isn't your thing.  It's fun to do stuff together and the people watching is unrivaled.  Just be prepared to be watched yourself.  I have found that people are not hesitant to approach with three or four companions and point and talk about us.  I've tried not to be offended.  It's hard sometimes.  Since I can't understand what they're saying, I just give them the benefit of the doubt and consider that they've never seen an American with a Chinese baby before.

Our shopping adventure came to a close at 1:30.  I am SO THANKFUL for air-conditioned buses!!  Back at the hotel, we fell fast asleep - the whole lot of us - and completely skipped lunch.  Some days you just need a long nap!  

Everyone woke in good moods so we headed out to Pizza Hut for dinner.  If I never see another pizza or McDouble it will be fine with me!  We've been pretty adventurous with the food here, but there is one among us - TATE - that routinely requests Pizza Hut and McDonalds.  He's not so adventurous.  Our babies LOVE pizza, by the way.  It's sure-fire way to bring out the smiles!

TRAVEL TIP FOR THOSE COMING TO CHINA SOON:  The Pizza Hut in Guangzhou must not be used to large families.  Every time we ask for a large pizza they look at us like we've got three heads or something.  It takes a long time for a large pizza to come out of the kitchen.  It probably makes more sense to order a few mediums instead of waiting on a large.  

This trip has been amazing, and China is a great place to visit, but we are missing our kiddos back home something fierce. 11 days down.  6 days to go!!

It's WAY more fun with friends

If taking two kids for doctor's visits is fun, it's even more fun when 40 new friends take their kids along, too!  Rebecca and Miko met us all in the lobby at 9:30 this morning to give us the low down on the physicals required for our children's entry visas.  We then loaded up in a comfy bus for the short drive over to the medical center.

Our sweet guides keep us in the know and really make every task so much easier to handle.  They prepared us for each step of the morning during the drive over and then ushered us into the building and up to the second floor.  Each child had their visa photos taken first.  In addition to the Lifeline families in our group, we recognized many other adoptive families we've seen in various cities around China.  Pretty cool, if you ask me.  While we waited, we swapped stories and admired the beautiful faces of the cherished sons and daughters of the people we've met here in China. 

After the visa photos were taken, Rebecca and Miko handed out the necessary forms and we went to work filling them out.  They were close by and ready to collect the forms (and help those that needed a repeat of the directions - ME) once they were completed.  After each family had submitted their paperwork, we moved as a group back to the examination area. 

There were families from many agencies represented, and it was exciting to recognize people we've met in Zhengzhou, on our walks in Guangzhou, at the Garden and in Facebook and Yahoo group.  The atmosphere was electric.  There were babies crying, and it was hot.  I can't imagine what it would've been like without the air-conditioning in that building! 

Each child needed to visit four different examination areas.  Our guides helped us to divide and line up so we weren't all waiting for the same examination area. 

We began with our two at the general examination room.  There were three families in front of us, so our wait was not terrible.  I chatted with a sweet WACAP mama traveling alone with her new treasure and with an American couple that lives here in China.  It was very interesting to hear about the adoption process for Americans living in China.  Riley was less than thrilled with the whole situation, as you can see. 

When it was our turn, I took Jubilee into the exam room.  She was a little lady, just looking around observing all the happenings - until it was time to lay down on the table, that is.  She does not like me to put her down.  The exam was quick and the doctor had no concerns.  Yippee!!  Next, it was Wyatt's turn to be examined, and he was immediately unhappy.  I'm guessing he's done this before.  He did settle down and let me answer the doctor's questions, but became upset again when it was time to lay down on the table.  I wrestled him into place and was thankful that the exam was so quick.

After the general exam, we waited in line for the ENT.  Jubilee cried the entire time.  Again, thankful it was short.  The ENT wasn't really paying attention when I sat down with Wyatt, and she grabbed her ear-checker-thingy. (I know what this is called on a normal day, but it's gone, I tell ya.)  She looked puzzled for a second and then shrugged her shoulder, smiled at me and put her little tool back down.  I guess if you don't have auricles, there's not much to look at with an ear-checker-thingy. 

The nurse's station was the most entertaining part.  How many adults does it take to take's Wyatt's temperature?  At least 3!!  He's a wiggler!! Both babies screamed through their weight and height checks but calmed right back down as soon as they were over.

Wyatt is over 2 years old, so we had to wait in the longest line - the blood draw.  I was grateful to Dean for standing there because I was pooped!  NOTE:  If your child has to have blood drawn, the nurses will take him from you when it's his turn.  You can't go in the room, and even though there's a little window that you can peer through, they will pull a curtain across if they see you peeking.

Wyatt was finished crying by the time Dean walked across the waiting area to me.  Whew!  That was something else!  As the last families finished up their examinations and blood work, there was a collective sigh in the room.  We were a much quieter group leaving than we were coming, that's for sure.  Hot, sweaty and tired, we headed back to the bus.

We noticed this wine machine on the way out the door.  More than one parent commented that it would've been better placed on the floor above than on the way out the door.  Funny!

Nap time was amazing today.  I think we might have skipped lunch.  I can't remember eating.  Both babies were in much improved moods this afternoon and Jubilee played for a long time on the floor by herself, which is a miracle since she usually screams hysterically when you even act like you might put her down. 

We ate dinner at The Paddy Field, an Irish Restaurant a few minutes walk from the hotel.  We loved it!  We had wings and hamburgers and felt like we weren't in China for a few minutes.  We are loving China but feeling pretty homesick today, so the fall-away feel of the Paddy Field was just the ticket!  The babies gave us lots of smiles while we were eating….food seems to be their love language (I've probably said this before.  It's becoming sort of an affirmation statement, a reminder when the going gets rough.)

Feeling especially blessed tonight on the eve of Mother's Day!

Friday in Guangzhou

Much of the day today was free time.  We had our first lazy morning and it was just what we needed!  We made it to breakfast before it closed and then walked around the gardens a bit more. before heading back to the room for a nap.  A day that begins at 9:00 and includes a nap by 11:00 is a good day!  Not having to get somewhere first thing in the morning was easier on our two littlest ones. Riley was also easier to manage.  I think he's much happier today.  He's walking around singing again and playing the air guitar, signs that he's in good spirits.   Every few minutes I hear, "Bless the Lord, oh my soul, oh my soul, worship His holy name…." and I'm thankful! 

We picked up a few things for lunch at the delicatessen in the hotel and then met Rebecca and the Johnsons in the lobby at 3:00 to go to the police department to apply for Jubilee's passport.  We were only gone about an hour.  Rebecca handles everything and tells you when to sit, when to stand and where to sign.  So thankful to have the details taken care of!  Riley did well and the babies were quiet throughout the outing.  We returned to the hotel room about 4:30 to plan the evening.

Wyatt has been pretty happy since we received him.  He doesn't really interact with us very much, which lets me know we've got our work cut out for us.  He explores his environment and takes things apart constantly.  He does get angry if you try to direct him.  Something funny:  To try to keep Wyatt out of things, I'll pick him up.  He'll immediately lean his body over and point to the floor, crying and wanting down.  When I won't put him down he begins sobbing.  After a minute or two my arms will be killing me, so I'll set him down, after which he'll reach up crying to be held.  It seems that once he's angry and upset, he needs to be comforted by being held, even if it was being held that made him angry and upset in the first place.  I am pleased that he seeks comfort from us.  That's something we can work with as he forms his attachment to us.  

Jubilee cried much less today.  I'm glad to have taken notes each day because it's comforting to me to see the change in her, even if it is small.  She actually allowed us to put her down for a short minute today, which is a big change.  We have held her for 2 days straight!  She gave us a few more smiles and every time she does my heart just melts.

Dean took Riley to the pool this afternoon.  We'll have to make that an everyday activity.  It's a mood improver.  He was so good when we headed out to the store.  Jubilee's diapers are much too big so we went out to Aeon to buy some more.  We walked around the store a bit exploring and then headed out for dinner.  We decided to take a stroll around the block and ended up on a street we weren't familiar with.  Dean's my hero, though.  He found the way back to the right street and to the Italian restaurant (Oggi's) where we were planning to eat.  Their pizza was very good and was a perfect ending to our day.

Tomorrow is the embassy medical exam.  I've heard it's an intense experience.  I'm hoping it's a piece of cake!