Today was exactly what we were hoping for, operating entirely on our own schedule. L slept for about an hour more than we've seen, probably because we weren't up moving around and getting ready for the day. We took a trip outside to see more of the area, and found (cue chorus of angels) a Starbucks. It was such a treat, and apparently if you don't specify the type of milk in your latte, it is made with whole. Yumminess ensued.
We had some lunch in our room, then L went down for a long nap. This afternoon, we went swimming, and he proved far more daring than yesterday, going in the big pool and leaving the steps while clinging to one of us. We think he's never really played in water before, but is absolutely loving it. Tonight we had some dinner, a long bath, some play time, and he's down for the night. He's a big-time index finger sucker, with his finger sporting a huge callous--and I swear it's a lighter color, as if he's sucked the life right out of it. But it's a good indication for when he's getting tired, so we can fend off meltdown behavior at least a little bit.
I think L enjoyed today. He seemed more relaxed, slept sounder, and was less concerned with us leaving him-- he's gotten upset with the game peek-a-boo in the past week, but today found it highly entertaining. He has officially learned a new word: "Hu-loooooow!!!", accompanied by a big wave and is very proud of himself. He has yet to learn the word "no", but I'm sure it's just a matter of time. He did throw a hissy fit about losing iPod priviledges after he threw it on the floor, but it was over relatively quickly and we moved on with the day.
Tomorrow we go back to the clinic to have the TB test read. As he has had no reaction to the shot, this should go smoothly and quickly. After the clinic, our guide is taking the families to Shamian Island, where the US Consulate used to reside, and which apparently has a European flair. We have heard a lot about the area, and are excited to see it.
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Saturday, September 22, 2012
Guangzhou Day 2
Today was the dreaded medical appointment for L and the other adoptive parents on a similar schedule to ours. This took place in an unbelievably crowded medical clinic, and consisted of four different parts: height/weight, ear/nose/throat, surgical, and a TB test. Older kids also have to have vaccinations, but we can complete these in the US. We also had his picture taken for his visa.
The first three stations went flawlessly. The doctors were fast, and as this was a Chinese clinic, he understood what they were saying. They used squeaky dog toys to get the kids' attention, and it worked like a charm. In the surgical station, they measured his limbs and head, checked his skin for problems (he has some "Mongolian spots" on his back, which should fade in time), and looked in his mouth. L was born without his right hand, so the doctor spent some time looking at the area. L was happy to oblige, lifting his shirt, taking off his shoes, showing the doctors his new Magnadoodle.
The TB test was far, far easier than I had anticipated as well. Those doctors were so incredibly fast, the entire thing was over in about 3 seconds flat. I'm not kidding--it was amazing. He started to cry, but it was over and he spent the next 10 minutes inspecting the little bump that comes with the injection, which has since gone away (yay!). Some of the older kiddos had to have up to 5 vaccinations and had a pretty tough time, so we were grateful that we got off so easy with L.
We got back to the hotel in time for lunch and a nap, then went to the pool for a swim. This was also a hit, as the hotel has a wading pool with about 2 inches of water in it. L was scared of the big pool, even when Baba got in, so we'll work on that later.
In the afternoon, the group met to complete the paperwork needed for the visa. This was quite a process, as everyone's is slightly different depending on their child's individual needs, the province they are from, and their age. But our guide was patient and thorough, so that information is now out of our hands.
After a pizza dinner, it was time for the new favorite activity of teeth brushing, then bed.
Tomorrow we have nothing on the schedule as we cannot proceed until the TB test results are ready. This is very exciting, as it's difficult to continually find things to entertain a busy toddler in government offices, day in and day out. Our plan is a relaxing day in and around our hotel. More pool time, naptime on schedule, etc. We have been counting down to tomorrow since we landed in China, so looking forward to it!
The first three stations went flawlessly. The doctors were fast, and as this was a Chinese clinic, he understood what they were saying. They used squeaky dog toys to get the kids' attention, and it worked like a charm. In the surgical station, they measured his limbs and head, checked his skin for problems (he has some "Mongolian spots" on his back, which should fade in time), and looked in his mouth. L was born without his right hand, so the doctor spent some time looking at the area. L was happy to oblige, lifting his shirt, taking off his shoes, showing the doctors his new Magnadoodle.
The TB test was far, far easier than I had anticipated as well. Those doctors were so incredibly fast, the entire thing was over in about 3 seconds flat. I'm not kidding--it was amazing. He started to cry, but it was over and he spent the next 10 minutes inspecting the little bump that comes with the injection, which has since gone away (yay!). Some of the older kiddos had to have up to 5 vaccinations and had a pretty tough time, so we were grateful that we got off so easy with L.
We got back to the hotel in time for lunch and a nap, then went to the pool for a swim. This was also a hit, as the hotel has a wading pool with about 2 inches of water in it. L was scared of the big pool, even when Baba got in, so we'll work on that later.
In the afternoon, the group met to complete the paperwork needed for the visa. This was quite a process, as everyone's is slightly different depending on their child's individual needs, the province they are from, and their age. But our guide was patient and thorough, so that information is now out of our hands.
After a pizza dinner, it was time for the new favorite activity of teeth brushing, then bed.
Tomorrow we have nothing on the schedule as we cannot proceed until the TB test results are ready. This is very exciting, as it's difficult to continually find things to entertain a busy toddler in government offices, day in and day out. Our plan is a relaxing day in and around our hotel. More pool time, naptime on schedule, etc. We have been counting down to tomorrow since we landed in China, so looking forward to it!
Friday, September 21, 2012
Guangzhou!
We survived our first plane trip! It went pretty well, overall. L loves-loves-loves all things transportation, and we realized quickly that he has likely never been beyond the orphanage compound, or least not often, as he is goggle-eyed whenever we leave our hotel. So planes, trains, buses (oh, the buses!) and cars are just fascinating. He always wants to touch parked cars and buses (such big wheels!), and the airport was just a wonderful adventure.
Before boarding our flight, we decided to grab a bite at a cafe in the airport. At this point, L was on overload, it was past naptime (and boy, is he sleep-scheduled!) so he began to lose it. Just the average-everyday fit--throwing things, not wanting to eat, etc. This is when we met The Smartest Woman Alive. A waitress came over, calmly told him to sit still and she would bring him a treat. The treat turned out to be a plastic plate, a glob of ketchup, and a straw. She showed him how to dip the straw in the ketchup and suck it off the end. She was an angel from heaven, I tell you--this woman was absolutely had his number. He was instantly transfixed, and we were able to have a short meal in peace. The kid loves him some ketchup, that's for sure.
During the flight he played with his seatbelt, although he never undid it, opened and closed the window and his tray a trillion times, went with Baba to the bathroom, and played with a sticker book. He was relatively quiet, fascinated by the experience, and ate most of the meal (yes! a meal on a 2-hour flight!).
It felt strange to leave Xi'an. As we took off, L was watching out the window and said, "Bye-bye!". I teared up a little--I really can't describe how it felt. Our experience in Xi'an was so mixed. We are so proud to have a little Xi'an boy, and the history and culture of the city is strong and rich. I want him to learn about his place of birth and appreciate how much of an impact Xi'an has had on world history. I think we just happened to go at a strange time. The protests had pretty much taken over the city and we were advised not to leave our hotel unless with an official guide. While things were not openly hostile against us in particular, the hotel often kept the lights off in the lobby and big plants in the windows, armed police were everywhere, and protesters chanted and yelled late in to the night, most nights. The yelling into the bullhorn was loud, and the chanting was inexplicably mixed with extremely loud Christmas music (?). Air raid sirens went off most of the day of remembrance, and whenever they went off the government officials would close the windows and shades (we were getting our notary services done that day), and people wore all black for most of the week with red arm bands. I've been to Xi'an before, and absolutely loved it, so I really think it was just strange timing--a highly charged political situation and a difficult anniversary at the same time. Again, nothing was directed at us (that I know of). We definitely felt like we were walking on eggshells, but things overall went well there. We certainly appreciate how hard everyone at the government offices worked to keep us on schedule; they went above and beyond for sure. The fact that we have his passport in hand is testament to their dedication to their work.
When we landed in Guangzhou, we met our guide at the gate, and she led us to four other families from our agency who are all on roughly the same schedule, and who all came from the same province. So it was nice to put some faces to names, and to see some others in our shoes.
Guangzhou feels very different. Our guide here made sure we were checked in, told us our dinner options, and then left us to it. It is far larger, and clearly more cosmopolitan. It's hot and sultry here, and the hotel (Garden Hotel) is gorgeous. We had a yummy local meal, and gave L his first bath. We've been sponge-bathing him as we had hot water intermittently and only a shower in Xi'an, and a cold-ish shower for a kiddo who is afraid of water seemed like a really bad idea. But here, hot water is plentiful and the bathtub is HUGE. He absolutely loved it once I got in with him--we only put about an inch of water with about 5 inches of suds, and slowly added water until he got comfortable. He is fast asleep now, and we are regrouping for the rest of the week.
Tomorrow, we go to the US Consulate where L has to have a medical exam and TB test. We will finish his visa paperwork in the afternoon, and the group will have dinner together in the evening (I think).
And here is another attempt at pictures!
Before boarding our flight, we decided to grab a bite at a cafe in the airport. At this point, L was on overload, it was past naptime (and boy, is he sleep-scheduled!) so he began to lose it. Just the average-everyday fit--throwing things, not wanting to eat, etc. This is when we met The Smartest Woman Alive. A waitress came over, calmly told him to sit still and she would bring him a treat. The treat turned out to be a plastic plate, a glob of ketchup, and a straw. She showed him how to dip the straw in the ketchup and suck it off the end. She was an angel from heaven, I tell you--this woman was absolutely had his number. He was instantly transfixed, and we were able to have a short meal in peace. The kid loves him some ketchup, that's for sure.
During the flight he played with his seatbelt, although he never undid it, opened and closed the window and his tray a trillion times, went with Baba to the bathroom, and played with a sticker book. He was relatively quiet, fascinated by the experience, and ate most of the meal (yes! a meal on a 2-hour flight!).
It felt strange to leave Xi'an. As we took off, L was watching out the window and said, "Bye-bye!". I teared up a little--I really can't describe how it felt. Our experience in Xi'an was so mixed. We are so proud to have a little Xi'an boy, and the history and culture of the city is strong and rich. I want him to learn about his place of birth and appreciate how much of an impact Xi'an has had on world history. I think we just happened to go at a strange time. The protests had pretty much taken over the city and we were advised not to leave our hotel unless with an official guide. While things were not openly hostile against us in particular, the hotel often kept the lights off in the lobby and big plants in the windows, armed police were everywhere, and protesters chanted and yelled late in to the night, most nights. The yelling into the bullhorn was loud, and the chanting was inexplicably mixed with extremely loud Christmas music (?). Air raid sirens went off most of the day of remembrance, and whenever they went off the government officials would close the windows and shades (we were getting our notary services done that day), and people wore all black for most of the week with red arm bands. I've been to Xi'an before, and absolutely loved it, so I really think it was just strange timing--a highly charged political situation and a difficult anniversary at the same time. Again, nothing was directed at us (that I know of). We definitely felt like we were walking on eggshells, but things overall went well there. We certainly appreciate how hard everyone at the government offices worked to keep us on schedule; they went above and beyond for sure. The fact that we have his passport in hand is testament to their dedication to their work.
When we landed in Guangzhou, we met our guide at the gate, and she led us to four other families from our agency who are all on roughly the same schedule, and who all came from the same province. So it was nice to put some faces to names, and to see some others in our shoes.
Guangzhou feels very different. Our guide here made sure we were checked in, told us our dinner options, and then left us to it. It is far larger, and clearly more cosmopolitan. It's hot and sultry here, and the hotel (Garden Hotel) is gorgeous. We had a yummy local meal, and gave L his first bath. We've been sponge-bathing him as we had hot water intermittently and only a shower in Xi'an, and a cold-ish shower for a kiddo who is afraid of water seemed like a really bad idea. But here, hot water is plentiful and the bathtub is HUGE. He absolutely loved it once I got in with him--we only put about an inch of water with about 5 inches of suds, and slowly added water until he got comfortable. He is fast asleep now, and we are regrouping for the rest of the week.
Tomorrow, we go to the US Consulate where L has to have a medical exam and TB test. We will finish his visa paperwork in the afternoon, and the group will have dinner together in the evening (I think).
And here is another attempt at pictures!
| A nice, clean L |
| At the warriors |
| First meeting |
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Day 5, Xi'an
Yesterday was much smoother and calmer. We spent time with our knowledgable guide, Tom, who knows the city inside and out. Xi'an is a major cultural center in China with a rich heritage. It's a city to be proud to be from, for sure. We saw the city wall, which was beautiful and terrifying to the parents of a two-year-old boy, a Buddhist monastery with a lovely park right in the middle of the city, and the Xi'an City Museum, which traces the influence of Xi'an for the past millenia. All fascinating stuff, and we are so happy to learn as much as we can about L's city of birth. We are already looking forward to bringing him back someday.
We were also successful in obtaining L's passport. As we were a day behind due to protests and government offices were closed for periods of time over the same issue, we were prepared to extend our stay in China for paperwork purposes. Somehow our guide was able to persuade the officer in charge to work later into the evening to get ours to us last night, as we fly to Guangzhou today to complete the adoption. All US adoptions from China end in Guangzhou, as this is where the US Consulate is based.
Question: Is there anything cuter than a two-year-old passport picture?
Answer: No, there isn't.
So today, we attempt our first plane trip as parents. And L leaves the city of his birth. Again, complicated stuff.
Wish us luck, and I'll post again from Guangzhou.
(Oh, and I have no idea what is going on with pictures. Maybe internet service will be a tad better in GZ).
We were also successful in obtaining L's passport. As we were a day behind due to protests and government offices were closed for periods of time over the same issue, we were prepared to extend our stay in China for paperwork purposes. Somehow our guide was able to persuade the officer in charge to work later into the evening to get ours to us last night, as we fly to Guangzhou today to complete the adoption. All US adoptions from China end in Guangzhou, as this is where the US Consulate is based.
Question: Is there anything cuter than a two-year-old passport picture?
Answer: No, there isn't.
So today, we attempt our first plane trip as parents. And L leaves the city of his birth. Again, complicated stuff.
Wish us luck, and I'll post again from Guangzhou.
(Oh, and I have no idea what is going on with pictures. Maybe internet service will be a tad better in GZ).
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Day 4, Xi'an
Generally, he continues to do well. He eats like a champ as long as the food is white. Add color (ie, veggies, fruit, meat) and it's the universal shaking of hands and head--no, no Mama. But yogurt, noodles, broth, Cheerios, bao-zi (steamed bread), and dumplings are filling and accessible--we'll deal with the lack of variety when we get home. He sleeps well, from about 7:30 to 6:00 with a 2-hour nap mid-day. Of course, travel across the date line will completely hose that, but at least it's a start. He's been calling us "Mama" and "Baba", although he doesn't answer to any of the names he was called before, nor the nicknames. Not sure what is up with that. He gives us kisses, gives occasional hugs, and is very concerned if we leave his sight. He loves to take things apart, including the remote control, mouse, and flashlight, and is definitely in the dump-and-fill stage.
We did have a very difficult and somewhat unexpected experience today. We hoped to see the orphanage that he was in, although we were also told he was in a foster home for a period of time, so we were never quite sure who he lived with, or when. Our guide said that we could see the orphanage from a distance, maybe take a picture or two, but otherwise foreigners were not permitted to enter. As it is located on the outskirts of Xi'an, we decided to head there after the Warriors tour.
We were, however, invited to enter the orphanage itself. As it generally looks like a government building, we didn't actually realize we were in it (or that we had been invited to enter it--we were big-time clueless at this point) until the foster parents ran out, scooped L up, and started crying and kissing him, and then took him to their apartment. Because, as it turns out, the foster family actually lives on site in the orphanage itself. Foster parents each have a small apartment, and the children live with them, which is a wonderful setup as the kids all get the family experience--it was definitely not a Dickensian, please-may-I-have-more kind of situation. At all. So this clears up the placement question.
It was also confusing, surprising, and a little shocking. The Good: We got little-guy stories about L, and they are pretty funny. Several people told us that the orphanage director would only visit L when he was sleeping, as he is "too naughty otherwise". We also got pictures of the three of us with the foster family, saw his bed and apartment, and met some of his friends. Priceless. The Difficult: The transition was awful, heartbreaking. We had anticipated a tough transition the very first time we met him, as we had some indication that we might take L directly from the foster family. As it turns out, this was not the case, and the original transition went smoothly and relatively happily. He was attaching a bit, seemed to generally like having us around, etc. This transition, however, was another story entirely. He was screaming, the foster family was wailing, and Cory and I were desperately trying to hold it together enough to keep things somewhat upright. After about an hour post-visit, L was more or less back to his usual self, and we had a nice, very quiet evening.
I really have no idea how this will play out in the long run. I know that meeting them was a gift. Their love for him was absolutely clear, and they told us all sorts of things that we can pass on to him. We can show him that we made a connection, and tell him about them and how much he was loved and cared for. We were able to thank them for taking such good care of our son. And that was also unexpected. Adoption: the good, the bad, the confusing, the wonderful--it's a mixed bag, to put it mildly.
So, it was a big day. A big, huge, exhausting, emotional day. Tomorrow, we pick up his passport and go to a park. And that's it. Seems like the intense political situation has eased a bit (we're not going to sleep to the sound of chanting protesters tonight--yay!), so here's hoping tomorrow is easy and quiet.
Anyway, after that long and involved post...a picture! (I could only post one--the internet connection keeps timing out).
| Meeting L for the first time |
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
And Then There Were Three
We met L, and he is perfect. The transition went better than our wildest dreams, as he was clearly very, very loved and taken care of. He is funny, smart, healthy, and happy. I'm sure this is the proverbial honeymoon period, but we'll take it.
Welcome to the family, little L! We can't imagine our lives without you!
We can't upload pictures right now, not sure why, but I will post some as soon as possible. Just imagine the cutest Chinese boy on Earth, and there ya go. :-)
Welcome to the family, little L! We can't imagine our lives without you!
We can't upload pictures right now, not sure why, but I will post some as soon as possible. Just imagine the cutest Chinese boy on Earth, and there ya go. :-)
Sunday, September 16, 2012
No-Go
So the whole "we're becoming parents in an hour!" bit was, well, a load of hooey. Turns out, there's a bit of a situation here, where students are protesting in the streets in front of government buildings--ie, in front of our hotel. Soooo, we were told to stay in our rooms as a "big parade was going by" (hmmm) and we will try to become parents tomorrow, or the next day.
We are perfectly safe, just incredibly disappointed by the day's events. We were totally ready, had everything set out as best we could, and got to call literally as we were walking out the door to meet our son. And, looking out into the streets, there really isn't any way it could have happened. So, we try again tomorrow.
We stayed in, watched HBO movies, ate some pretty darned good room service, and went to bed.
Sigh.
We are perfectly safe, just incredibly disappointed by the day's events. We were totally ready, had everything set out as best we could, and got to call literally as we were walking out the door to meet our son. And, looking out into the streets, there really isn't any way it could have happened. So, we try again tomorrow.
We stayed in, watched HBO movies, ate some pretty darned good room service, and went to bed.
Sigh.
T-minus 30 minutes
We are here safe and sound. Internet connection is very spotty, but the hotel is nice and the service is excellent.
We meet L in 30 minutes. I can't remotely explain how it feels, so won't try. But should all go as planned, we will be parents in about an hour :-)!!!!!
We meet L in 30 minutes. I can't remotely explain how it feels, so won't try. But should all go as planned, we will be parents in about an hour :-)!!!!!
Friday, September 14, 2012
At the airport!
Did you ever think you'd see this day??? Completely surreal. (And I'm posting from my phone so if this looks especially wacky, sorry!)
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
RQ List
In the world of Chinese adoption, the Rumor Queen website, AKA ChinaAdoptTalk, is a wonderful resource for information, questions, stories, and support. There is also a thoughtfully and carefully organized spreadsheet called "Steps to TA (Travel Approval)", which we have ever-so-slowly been working our way up over the last 9 months. Today the list for this week came out, and we are at the very top, and instead of listing the next steps, it says "Safe Travels!".
That's us, MSJ2007. How awesome is that? It's going to be strange not to analyze the list every week--seeing which families have passed us by, how fast everyone is getting individual documents, and where we are in line. But I'm ok with that. Very, very ok with that.
Today is my last day of work before (dun dun dun!) maternity leave! I will be working from home part-time after L comes home, which was more than supported by my employers.
Two days and a wakeup!
That's us, MSJ2007. How awesome is that? It's going to be strange not to analyze the list every week--seeing which families have passed us by, how fast everyone is getting individual documents, and where we are in line. But I'm ok with that. Very, very ok with that.
Today is my last day of work before (dun dun dun!) maternity leave! I will be working from home part-time after L comes home, which was more than supported by my employers.
Two days and a wakeup!
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