Thursday, December 27, 2007
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Merry Christmas to all!
We are finally getting the knack of our new schedule and we see that we are going to be very busy people with two kids.
We went to the doctor to make sure Brooke is okay and she is just perfect. There is nothing to be concerned about at this time and she is off all meds. We are pretty sure now the pollution and stress contributed to her feeling poorly. John and I are also much better and we think we were affected by the bad air quality as well. Sienna is doing fine but craving more attention as we settle in here at home.
Last night we had a wonderful Christmas Eve celebration at Angie and John's across the street. Brooke ate in every minute and was the life of the party. She feeds off people and loves being in the center of the commotion. She was smiling and happy and was up till very late. She also is a very busy girl and interested in EVERYTHING. There is nothing she can't wait to get her hands and mouth on. Yesterday we sat her in Sienna's baby Einstein toy station. She clanked, banged buzzed, swatted, chewed, dialed, spun and pretty much had everything going at once. She loves stimulation, colors, shapes, movement and attention. If John or Karen leaves the rooms she screams but no tears are shed unless it is meal, changing or nap time. She is a pretty easy baby but has a big personality.
On Christmas uncle David, Angie, John and Grandma came over for a quiet and low key turkey dinner. Sienna enjoyed opening her presents and Brooke enjoyed playing with the paper. Brooke did get a few new items which she could care less about. Rather she enjoyed the ripping and tearing of the paper.
As much as we enjoyed the holidays we are happy they are over and we can get back to a normal life. Whatever that is!
We went to the doctor to make sure Brooke is okay and she is just perfect. There is nothing to be concerned about at this time and she is off all meds. We are pretty sure now the pollution and stress contributed to her feeling poorly. John and I are also much better and we think we were affected by the bad air quality as well. Sienna is doing fine but craving more attention as we settle in here at home.
Last night we had a wonderful Christmas Eve celebration at Angie and John's across the street. Brooke ate in every minute and was the life of the party. She feeds off people and loves being in the center of the commotion. She was smiling and happy and was up till very late. She also is a very busy girl and interested in EVERYTHING. There is nothing she can't wait to get her hands and mouth on. Yesterday we sat her in Sienna's baby Einstein toy station. She clanked, banged buzzed, swatted, chewed, dialed, spun and pretty much had everything going at once. She loves stimulation, colors, shapes, movement and attention. If John or Karen leaves the rooms she screams but no tears are shed unless it is meal, changing or nap time. She is a pretty easy baby but has a big personality.
On Christmas uncle David, Angie, John and Grandma came over for a quiet and low key turkey dinner. Sienna enjoyed opening her presents and Brooke enjoyed playing with the paper. Brooke did get a few new items which she could care less about. Rather she enjoyed the ripping and tearing of the paper.
As much as we enjoyed the holidays we are happy they are over and we can get back to a normal life. Whatever that is!
Saturday, December 22, 2007
We are home!
The last night in china caught up with us quickly and by the time we finished packing it was about 10pm and we had a 4:45am wake up call. We had a last meal in the Chinese Restaurant in our hotel that was excellent but very expensive for China (about $50 for 3 dishes plus rice and drinks).
It was a long day as we arrived at the airport in Guangzhou while it was still dark and boarded a China Southern plane destined for Hong Kong. We had a 2 1/2 hour layover but only ended up with about 1 hour to kill after checking in at the United Counter. Since we used our frequent flier miles for business class seats we were entitled to use of the United Red Carpet Lounge. WOW! We hadn't eaten breakfast and thought we could get a snack there. We were not expecting 3 different buffet counters with dim sum, salad bar, main courses, ice cream etc. In addition they have a shower facility available.
the flight home was long and crowded. Brooke and Sienna both did exceptionally well. Brooke had a bassinet and Sienna had video movies. Karen was too tired to watch any movies but slept for about 1/2 the flight. Everything was okay except there were two little Chinese Emperors sitting next to us who were running wild with no discipline by the parents who sat behind. Also, one of Karen's clients was setting in the same row on the next aisle. there is always six degrees of separation, as he had also been in Guangzhou on business.
Our arrival was a mess! U.S. immigration held us up for over an hour before they even looked at our paperwork. When they finally did get to us they were rude and very governmental in there attitude. The cell phone that John brought to call the shuttle company did not hold a charge and by the time we got out of immigration the terminal was pretty empty. We had to look for a place to get change for the pay phone and when we did call the shuttle we found out that there was a mix up and we were not scheduled till the afternoon. so we walked down to the taxi stop with 8 pieces of luggage and carry-on and tried to get a cab. the problem was that we had no car seat. Finally, one cab driver agreed to take us home. We had just enough change for the cab ride home.
After stepping through the welcome home sign on the front door (thank you Jan, Juliet and Ben) I went to the garage freezer to defrost the meals that were pre-made for our arrival home. apparently, there was a power shortage and everything had thawed maybe two weeks ago. Unfortunately, the meals including a big turkey and several packages of chicken, french toast etc. had to be thrown away.
so we had a bumpy end to what otherwise was a seamless trip. Brooke is doing incredibly well and we could not be more please. She is a very easy going and happy kid. Sienna is enjoying being the Big Cheese and letting everyone know she is the "Big Sister".
We are happy but tired!
It was a long day as we arrived at the airport in Guangzhou while it was still dark and boarded a China Southern plane destined for Hong Kong. We had a 2 1/2 hour layover but only ended up with about 1 hour to kill after checking in at the United Counter. Since we used our frequent flier miles for business class seats we were entitled to use of the United Red Carpet Lounge. WOW! We hadn't eaten breakfast and thought we could get a snack there. We were not expecting 3 different buffet counters with dim sum, salad bar, main courses, ice cream etc. In addition they have a shower facility available.
the flight home was long and crowded. Brooke and Sienna both did exceptionally well. Brooke had a bassinet and Sienna had video movies. Karen was too tired to watch any movies but slept for about 1/2 the flight. Everything was okay except there were two little Chinese Emperors sitting next to us who were running wild with no discipline by the parents who sat behind. Also, one of Karen's clients was setting in the same row on the next aisle. there is always six degrees of separation, as he had also been in Guangzhou on business.
Our arrival was a mess! U.S. immigration held us up for over an hour before they even looked at our paperwork. When they finally did get to us they were rude and very governmental in there attitude. The cell phone that John brought to call the shuttle company did not hold a charge and by the time we got out of immigration the terminal was pretty empty. We had to look for a place to get change for the pay phone and when we did call the shuttle we found out that there was a mix up and we were not scheduled till the afternoon. so we walked down to the taxi stop with 8 pieces of luggage and carry-on and tried to get a cab. the problem was that we had no car seat. Finally, one cab driver agreed to take us home. We had just enough change for the cab ride home.
After stepping through the welcome home sign on the front door (thank you Jan, Juliet and Ben) I went to the garage freezer to defrost the meals that were pre-made for our arrival home. apparently, there was a power shortage and everything had thawed maybe two weeks ago. Unfortunately, the meals including a big turkey and several packages of chicken, french toast etc. had to be thrown away.
so we had a bumpy end to what otherwise was a seamless trip. Brooke is doing incredibly well and we could not be more please. She is a very easy going and happy kid. Sienna is enjoying being the Big Cheese and letting everyone know she is the "Big Sister".
We are happy but tired!
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
The last day in China
This was our last day. Karen woke up with a sore throat and a little congestion so we are taking it easy. We did a late breakfast and walked through the island stepping into the little shops and buying some last minute purchases. After a Starbucks break we headed to the hotel for the last of the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and a well deserved nap (for Sienna and Brooke).
We are checking out tonight, taking Brooke to the doctor one last time and picking up our laundry before having one last meal here in Guangzhou. We have to have our bags out the door by five am. We are taking China Southern from Guangzhou to Hong Kong and then checking into United #856 for the ride home and arriving in Terminal 7 LAX at 8:35am the same day! So we will be home, tomorrow, the 21st with the latest member of the the family!
We have mixed emotions leaving China and we definitely miss this beautiful and ever changing world that Brooke has come from. She is surely a gift to us and we feel so blessed that we have been able to complete our family through international adoption. It feels like Brooke is just the most perfect fit for our family and we don't understand nor do we have a clue about the amazing job that the CCAA does matching these children to the right families.
This is our last post in China...we are looking forward to getting home and getting on with the real journey...life with Brooke and as a family of four. Thank you all for following us. We will update again stateside once we have settled in a bit.
With love, Karen, John, Sienna and Brooke (Chang Chang pronounced Chung Chung)
We are checking out tonight, taking Brooke to the doctor one last time and picking up our laundry before having one last meal here in Guangzhou. We have to have our bags out the door by five am. We are taking China Southern from Guangzhou to Hong Kong and then checking into United #856 for the ride home and arriving in Terminal 7 LAX at 8:35am the same day! So we will be home, tomorrow, the 21st with the latest member of the the family!
We have mixed emotions leaving China and we definitely miss this beautiful and ever changing world that Brooke has come from. She is surely a gift to us and we feel so blessed that we have been able to complete our family through international adoption. It feels like Brooke is just the most perfect fit for our family and we don't understand nor do we have a clue about the amazing job that the CCAA does matching these children to the right families.
This is our last post in China...we are looking forward to getting home and getting on with the real journey...life with Brooke and as a family of four. Thank you all for following us. We will update again stateside once we have settled in a bit.
With love, Karen, John, Sienna and Brooke (Chang Chang pronounced Chung Chung)
Hello U.S. Consulate Guangzhou
Today we headed to the zoo for the morning but I felt bad for the animals who were in enclosures that were way to small. Still the zoo is a beautiful place in Guangzhou. They have a pretty large zoo and it was cool today so the animals were very active. We saw tigers, black bears, golden monkeys (endangered species) cougars and a black panther. The highlight was the old male panda bear that rose to the occasion and actually greeted us at his pen. The animals are unusually close which can be unsettling. I don't know if I have ever seen a male Lion so close. His musculature was amazing and the animal is taller than I thought.
After a quick pnut butter and jelly sandwich and nap, we were off to the US Consulate. Karen bought us another suitcase for the ride home because it is clear we have done quite a bit of shopping.
After that we all boarded a bus and showed up at the consulate with about 69 other families to take the oath. the oath is a no brainer but does offer some formality to the process of wrapping things up here. We are happy and relieved to be done and as soon as the plane touches the tarmac in LA Brooke will be a US Citizen with her certificate to be done in 45 days.....yippeee.
We celebrated tonight without half the group at a Cantonese restaurant. We took some interesting pictures of the live offerings that you can view prior to cooking to ensure that your meal is as fresh as possible.
After a quick pnut butter and jelly sandwich and nap, we were off to the US Consulate. Karen bought us another suitcase for the ride home because it is clear we have done quite a bit of shopping.
After that we all boarded a bus and showed up at the consulate with about 69 other families to take the oath. the oath is a no brainer but does offer some formality to the process of wrapping things up here. We are happy and relieved to be done and as soon as the plane touches the tarmac in LA Brooke will be a US Citizen with her certificate to be done in 45 days.....yippeee.
We celebrated tonight without half the group at a Cantonese restaurant. We took some interesting pictures of the live offerings that you can view prior to cooking to ensure that your meal is as fresh as possible.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Tahitian Pearls
After a restful morning of waiting for the call letting us know that we were okay with the consulate paperwork my long awaited day finally arrived, our trip to the pearl market.
I was the big purchaser for the day. But first let me tell you the pearl market is part of a mall that is like the Northridge mall, Glendale Galleria, downtown fashion district, downtown jewelry mart and best buy combined. It just goes on and on and on and is about 6-7 stories high. It turns out that this is the same shopping street that we ended up (at McDonald's) the day before. We felt we were pros by the time we got there.
We went to the Pearl store that the Rep recommended for quality, fair prices and honesty. In fact quite a few LA retailers go to this store when purchasing wholesale. And it is all wholesale. I purchased 3 huge black Tahitian Pearls. These are the most beautiful and rarest on the market. While we waited I had them set as a Pendant and earrings. The are stunning and about a 1/3 of what you pay in LA at a good deal. Our rep helped negotiate the prices and confirm the quality etc. Then I bought two strands of beautiful 7mm pearl necklaces that they hand strung and individually knotted while we watched. We also left with two additional necklaces that were given to Sienna and I as thank you gifts. Sienna gets gifts everywhere she goes but her favorite is the teenage mutant ninja turtle figurine that came in her happy meal at McDonald's.
The group headed back to the hotel but we chose to celebrate at Pizza Hut in the mall. We sat in a booth and ordered spaghetti for the baby, and a deep dish cheese pizza for ourselves which all three of us wolfed down along with our free bottled water from the pearl place ( we received 3 bags of bottled water). The pizza was just like home! Then John finished his meal by ordering a tiramisu that he said was excellent.
I can not say enough about the Chinese people and how good they are. Everywhere we go people are so helpful and kind. If they speak any English they try their hardest to communicate with us and we enjoy them and their hospitality. If you can get out of your "this is not America, its not clean...blah blah blah" thinking you can have a wonderful time with these sincere and genuine people.
After dinner we walked downstairs, now I must tell you that it is very difficult to navigate strollers here and I feel sorry for people with disabilities because there is very little accommodation for the handicapped. Each time at the mall we have had to carry the stroller and baby up and down the steps or escalator. We never see regular elevators at the mall.
Anyways, after dinner we went downstairs for a buying spree at DVD/CD store. They had several Disney and first run movies out that were in English. The sales lady tested all the movies on the stores DVD player to make sure they were in English before we bought them. We bought 8 movies and 3 Cd's and a CD wallet for about $30! Now you see why we like China. Of course all the girls had to take pictures and video of Sienna which she now hates. Then the baby threw up on my shoulder and half the store emptied. Still they were the nicest people.
Other purchases made around the hotel included some old Chinese coins, a comb made of bamboo and had painted, a bamboo paper cutting (this is art and purely amazing) and the little red book of quotes from Chairman Mao. The stores around the hotel cater to the adoption community and sell tons of junk. But if you live in the Midwest where there is no China town you need to shop at these stores to buy the traditional baby outfits etc. We are lucky in that we can purchase a lot of what we need in LA for the same price.
That's all for now. We are heading to the zoo and consulate today.
I was the big purchaser for the day. But first let me tell you the pearl market is part of a mall that is like the Northridge mall, Glendale Galleria, downtown fashion district, downtown jewelry mart and best buy combined. It just goes on and on and on and is about 6-7 stories high. It turns out that this is the same shopping street that we ended up (at McDonald's) the day before. We felt we were pros by the time we got there.
We went to the Pearl store that the Rep recommended for quality, fair prices and honesty. In fact quite a few LA retailers go to this store when purchasing wholesale. And it is all wholesale. I purchased 3 huge black Tahitian Pearls. These are the most beautiful and rarest on the market. While we waited I had them set as a Pendant and earrings. The are stunning and about a 1/3 of what you pay in LA at a good deal. Our rep helped negotiate the prices and confirm the quality etc. Then I bought two strands of beautiful 7mm pearl necklaces that they hand strung and individually knotted while we watched. We also left with two additional necklaces that were given to Sienna and I as thank you gifts. Sienna gets gifts everywhere she goes but her favorite is the teenage mutant ninja turtle figurine that came in her happy meal at McDonald's.
The group headed back to the hotel but we chose to celebrate at Pizza Hut in the mall. We sat in a booth and ordered spaghetti for the baby, and a deep dish cheese pizza for ourselves which all three of us wolfed down along with our free bottled water from the pearl place ( we received 3 bags of bottled water). The pizza was just like home! Then John finished his meal by ordering a tiramisu that he said was excellent.
I can not say enough about the Chinese people and how good they are. Everywhere we go people are so helpful and kind. If they speak any English they try their hardest to communicate with us and we enjoy them and their hospitality. If you can get out of your "this is not America, its not clean...blah blah blah" thinking you can have a wonderful time with these sincere and genuine people.
After dinner we walked downstairs, now I must tell you that it is very difficult to navigate strollers here and I feel sorry for people with disabilities because there is very little accommodation for the handicapped. Each time at the mall we have had to carry the stroller and baby up and down the steps or escalator. We never see regular elevators at the mall.
Anyways, after dinner we went downstairs for a buying spree at DVD/CD store. They had several Disney and first run movies out that were in English. The sales lady tested all the movies on the stores DVD player to make sure they were in English before we bought them. We bought 8 movies and 3 Cd's and a CD wallet for about $30! Now you see why we like China. Of course all the girls had to take pictures and video of Sienna which she now hates. Then the baby threw up on my shoulder and half the store emptied. Still they were the nicest people.
Other purchases made around the hotel included some old Chinese coins, a comb made of bamboo and had painted, a bamboo paper cutting (this is art and purely amazing) and the little red book of quotes from Chairman Mao. The stores around the hotel cater to the adoption community and sell tons of junk. But if you live in the Midwest where there is no China town you need to shop at these stores to buy the traditional baby outfits etc. We are lucky in that we can purchase a lot of what we need in LA for the same price.
That's all for now. We are heading to the zoo and consulate today.
Monday, December 17, 2007
Tonsilitis and McDonalds
Yesterday afternoon we completed the paperwork for the US Consulate and then we woke up the girls from their naps. Brooke was out of sorts again so we took her to the medical clinic in the hotel, where the Dr. indicated she has a mild case of Tonsillitis. She said her throat was quite red and her Tonsils were swollen. Still our girl was all smiles for the doctor and laughing. She said not to worry that overall Brooke is a very healthy girl but Tonsillitis can get worse so we have to monitor her and make sure there is no temperature. If there is we are to bring her back. She also said that sometimes this will disappear upon returning to the US as the air is so polluted in Guangzhou that the baby's respiratory system is taxed. anyways, she prescribed a different antibiotic, cough med, benadryl (reduce swelling), a phlegm reducer and some vitamins to replenish her immune system from the previous dose of antibiotic. Now try getting it down her throat! Even though everything was strawberry flavor and smelled sweet and delicious there was just no way she was going to take it. So I had to shoot it down with a syringe amidst her screaming like I was killing her. The doctor will check her out again Thursday afternoon before we leave on Friday to make sure she is okay for flying home.
Then we were planned on crossing from the Island (we are on a small island called Shamain Island) to reach McDonald's for dinner. We planned to walk but one of the shop owners said we should hail a cab. We we did that. First of all, all the cabs have color TV monitors between the drivers seat and the back seat and you can not see out the front window to see where you are going. He ended up dropping us off at a place a McDonald's had supposedly been. So I began asking young people where the McDonald's was. We seemed to walk many blocks still confirming with the Chinese name of McDonalds written out, that we were walking in the right direction. It felt strange being a little lost in Guangzhou with a baby and 3 year old in tow.
We did make it to McDonald's which was part of a huge outdoor ultramodern and crowed pedestrian mall. It was dark and the main plaza was lit like times square. In the plaza was 2 McDonald's, KFC, Papa Johns and numerous stands selling some unrecognizable food (or parts of animals) that people were chomping down like crazy.
At McDonald's we got in line but then were pulled out by the Mgr. who gave us a laminated menu and we pointed to our choices including the happy meal with chicken nuggets for Sienna. My only disappointment was there was no diet coke. John had a big mac meal, Sienna the happy meal with corn instead of french fries ( a it came with a teenage mutant ninja turtle toy)and I had the chicken sandwich with ice tea. Quite a few people tried to communicate and we did a little with our Chinese travelers book. However, they speak Cantonese here and I had been working on the Mandarin dialect so that added to the confusion. After we left the restaurant there was a huge roundabout next to the mall with a taxi stop and we were able to jump in one and get back to the hotel in 5 minutes.
Today we wait in our room while our rep attends our consulate appt.on our behalf. She will call us with any problems she might have. Later we are going to the Pearl Market and I may do some serious damage....this is to be seen.
We are on home stretch now and starting to get a little antsy to come home and show off our new family.
But we enjoyed our little adventure last night out on our own.
Then we were planned on crossing from the Island (we are on a small island called Shamain Island) to reach McDonald's for dinner. We planned to walk but one of the shop owners said we should hail a cab. We we did that. First of all, all the cabs have color TV monitors between the drivers seat and the back seat and you can not see out the front window to see where you are going. He ended up dropping us off at a place a McDonald's had supposedly been. So I began asking young people where the McDonald's was. We seemed to walk many blocks still confirming with the Chinese name of McDonalds written out, that we were walking in the right direction. It felt strange being a little lost in Guangzhou with a baby and 3 year old in tow.
We did make it to McDonald's which was part of a huge outdoor ultramodern and crowed pedestrian mall. It was dark and the main plaza was lit like times square. In the plaza was 2 McDonald's, KFC, Papa Johns and numerous stands selling some unrecognizable food (or parts of animals) that people were chomping down like crazy.
At McDonald's we got in line but then were pulled out by the Mgr. who gave us a laminated menu and we pointed to our choices including the happy meal with chicken nuggets for Sienna. My only disappointment was there was no diet coke. John had a big mac meal, Sienna the happy meal with corn instead of french fries ( a it came with a teenage mutant ninja turtle toy)and I had the chicken sandwich with ice tea. Quite a few people tried to communicate and we did a little with our Chinese travelers book. However, they speak Cantonese here and I had been working on the Mandarin dialect so that added to the confusion. After we left the restaurant there was a huge roundabout next to the mall with a taxi stop and we were able to jump in one and get back to the hotel in 5 minutes.
Today we wait in our room while our rep attends our consulate appt.on our behalf. She will call us with any problems she might have. Later we are going to the Pearl Market and I may do some serious damage....this is to be seen.
We are on home stretch now and starting to get a little antsy to come home and show off our new family.
But we enjoyed our little adventure last night out on our own.
Sunday, December 16, 2007
By the way the two pictures in the previous post were our amazing agency reps in Nanchang
I am glad someone asked me that question.
These two ladies are Evelyn and Cindy, and they are the most wonderful women you could ever meet. Not only are they very competent, efficient, and know the system like the back of their hand, they are compassionate above and beyond they call of duty. I burst into tears when I said goodbye to each of them and I couldn't even get out any words of thanks. Luckily, they each received a previously hand written letter from us expressing our love and gratitude.
I am also sending pictures that I tried to load yesterday from our day but couldn't before crashing out.
Today is a quiet day. The babies had their medical exam and visa photos taken this morning. Brooke is healthy and weighed in at a whopping 20.7lbs (with clothes on) and was 29 inches tall. She is definitely bigger than Sienna at the same age. We are spending the rest of the afternoon doing paperwork for the American Consulate so we can get Brooke's American Visa and immigration requirements completed.
It seems like home is just around the corner now, but still not before a trip to the Pearl Market tomorrow, a trip to the Guangzhou zoo (which is supposed to be huge) and an oath at the American Consulate.
These two ladies are Evelyn and Cindy, and they are the most wonderful women you could ever meet. Not only are they very competent, efficient, and know the system like the back of their hand, they are compassionate above and beyond they call of duty. I burst into tears when I said goodbye to each of them and I couldn't even get out any words of thanks. Luckily, they each received a previously hand written letter from us expressing our love and gratitude.
I am also sending pictures that I tried to load yesterday from our day but couldn't before crashing out.
Today is a quiet day. The babies had their medical exam and visa photos taken this morning. Brooke is healthy and weighed in at a whopping 20.7lbs (with clothes on) and was 29 inches tall. She is definitely bigger than Sienna at the same age. We are spending the rest of the afternoon doing paperwork for the American Consulate so we can get Brooke's American Visa and immigration requirements completed.
It seems like home is just around the corner now, but still not before a trip to the Pearl Market tomorrow, a trip to the Guangzhou zoo (which is supposed to be huge) and an oath at the American Consulate.
Hey, theres no more cash in my wallet!
Guangzhou is an amazing city. We woke up this morning and had a breakfast that was like mothers day at the Odyssey restaurant, by the way did I tell you this hotel is like staying at the Ritz.
We took a 1/2 day sightseeing tour with our group to a famous Buddhist Temple and the monks blessed all the babies, we lit 3 incense and for good luck and made a wish. I wished for a long life, long enough to see both my daughters married and with children of their own. Then I got misty eyed.
After the Temple we visited a Folk Arts Museum that used to be the ancestral home of the Chen family. The compound was wonderful, (think Raise the Red Lantern if you saw the film), but even more so. Inside was the most intricate ivory carvings, furnishings, paintings etc. Sienna was followed on the way to the bus by street vendors trying to sell her every gizmo under the sun. I told her to say Bu Ya (mean no, nothing), and she kept shouting it out and cracking everyone up, especially when the stunned street people realized she was speaking Chinese to them.
Our last stop was to the provincial Arts and Crafts shopping center, next to the Lamborghini and Rolls Royce dealerships. China is a country of contrasts and we passed numerous little crowded neighborhoods with streets as wide as sidewalks. It was a good thing we only had limited time there. I was shopping like crazy. I bought grade "A" qualityjade pendants for both girls with the design of their Chinese Horoscope animal. Brooke is a dog and Sienna is a sheep. On the back is the Chinese character for good luck. The Chinese believe that pure jade keeps evil away and the wearer in good health. Some Chinese are never separated from their jade. I also bought a small snuff bottle with the front of a dog on the front and the rear of the dog on the back. On the inside I had the artist paint Brooke's Chinese name in Chinese characters and on the back her birth date. We also bought silk scarfs, Chinese music and carved lacquerware jewelery.
When we got back to the hotel we had a short time to put the girls down and I ran three very quick errands. I bought traditional matching dresses for the girls and squeaky shoes for Brooke, I went to Lucy's for lunch to go, I went to 7-11 for water (yes it is across the street from the hotel), and I went to pick up our laundry (oh that's four).
After a quick lunch we all went down to the 3rd floor with our group to take the traditional Red Couch picture with the babies. Unfortunately 16 small babies and kids cannot cooperate. Brooke was in tears and just couldn't get it together but we did get a good group shot of all the travelers. We have about 50 people now in this group! Then we changed and went to eat at a famous Thai restaurant down the street called the Cow and Bridge. On the way back we stopped at a store next to the hotel and bought some assorted baby items, including an embroidered (by hand) copy of a picture that I took today of our two girls. I can't believe someone will take the rest of this week to do this for us by hand! What a gift that will be.
Mattel toys leaves each family a gift in the room for the adoptees. Today we received the welcome home Barbie doll that you can only get when you adopt in China and stay at the White Swan. It says on the box that it is not a toy and not for children under 14! Mattel also sponsors a play room in the hotel complete with toys and videos for preschool children and babies.
Well the hotel staff has turned down the beds and left chocolates on the night table, it will be hard to not having a staff waiting on us like this...reality beckons. Enjoy the photos!
We took a 1/2 day sightseeing tour with our group to a famous Buddhist Temple and the monks blessed all the babies, we lit 3 incense and for good luck and made a wish. I wished for a long life, long enough to see both my daughters married and with children of their own. Then I got misty eyed.
After the Temple we visited a Folk Arts Museum that used to be the ancestral home of the Chen family. The compound was wonderful, (think Raise the Red Lantern if you saw the film), but even more so. Inside was the most intricate ivory carvings, furnishings, paintings etc. Sienna was followed on the way to the bus by street vendors trying to sell her every gizmo under the sun. I told her to say Bu Ya (mean no, nothing), and she kept shouting it out and cracking everyone up, especially when the stunned street people realized she was speaking Chinese to them.
Our last stop was to the provincial Arts and Crafts shopping center, next to the Lamborghini and Rolls Royce dealerships. China is a country of contrasts and we passed numerous little crowded neighborhoods with streets as wide as sidewalks. It was a good thing we only had limited time there. I was shopping like crazy. I bought grade "A" qualityjade pendants for both girls with the design of their Chinese Horoscope animal. Brooke is a dog and Sienna is a sheep. On the back is the Chinese character for good luck. The Chinese believe that pure jade keeps evil away and the wearer in good health. Some Chinese are never separated from their jade. I also bought a small snuff bottle with the front of a dog on the front and the rear of the dog on the back. On the inside I had the artist paint Brooke's Chinese name in Chinese characters and on the back her birth date. We also bought silk scarfs, Chinese music and carved lacquerware jewelery.
When we got back to the hotel we had a short time to put the girls down and I ran three very quick errands. I bought traditional matching dresses for the girls and squeaky shoes for Brooke, I went to Lucy's for lunch to go, I went to 7-11 for water (yes it is across the street from the hotel), and I went to pick up our laundry (oh that's four).
After a quick lunch we all went down to the 3rd floor with our group to take the traditional Red Couch picture with the babies. Unfortunately 16 small babies and kids cannot cooperate. Brooke was in tears and just couldn't get it together but we did get a good group shot of all the travelers. We have about 50 people now in this group! Then we changed and went to eat at a famous Thai restaurant down the street called the Cow and Bridge. On the way back we stopped at a store next to the hotel and bought some assorted baby items, including an embroidered (by hand) copy of a picture that I took today of our two girls. I can't believe someone will take the rest of this week to do this for us by hand! What a gift that will be.
Mattel toys leaves each family a gift in the room for the adoptees. Today we received the welcome home Barbie doll that you can only get when you adopt in China and stay at the White Swan. It says on the box that it is not a toy and not for children under 14! Mattel also sponsors a play room in the hotel complete with toys and videos for preschool children and babies.
Well the hotel staff has turned down the beds and left chocolates on the night table, it will be hard to not having a staff waiting on us like this...reality beckons. Enjoy the photos!
Saturday, December 15, 2007
We made it to Guangzhou
Okay, so I admit it, two kids is a challenge. I wish now we had another adult accompany us. I think Sienna is tougher than the baby. Trying to wrangle her in at the airport was tough especially since she did not get a nap in and she was giddy. What should we expect from a 3 year old who is couped up in a hotel without a yard to run around in or play area. Our group is good about it except for one person who is choosing to be unfriendly toward us. Though, most people in the adoption community are wonderful and we have met some incredible friends we will likely stay in touch with for many years.
Back to today, we left Guangzhou at 11am in a flood of tears. We were quite emotional saying goodbye to our representatives from CCAI Evelyn and Cindy who went above and beyond the call of duty and really fell over themselves to make sure all our needs were taken care of. These people work their butts off and help not only make the experience seamless but very pleasurable. We will always remember Cindy who came to our aid when Brooke was running a fever yesterday. I think in the end we just had a teething incident but it gave us a little scare.
We had a lot of carry on luggage including a bag full of electronics gear, a diaper baby (with snacks and changes of clothes), a medication and documentation bag, and Sienna had a backpack. Besides all that I bought a beautiful porcelain set for Brooke with phoenix and dragon designs and is a customary wedding gift for a bride. I will be passing on the set to Brooke. Anyways, you cannot check the porcelain. So we had a big load and two kids 3 and under, not an easy feat.
When we arrived in Guangzhou we were hit with a gust of warm air. The city is huge and modern (mostly). This is a subtropical climate and the temperature is probably 75-80 and humid. We bused into our rather impressive hotel, the White Swan and then walked over to Lucy's for an outdoor dinner next to the Pearl river. Lucy's is a legend in the Chinese Adoption community as a place to get American food near the White Swan Hotel. Karen and John splurged for burgers and fries and Sienna had spaghetti with meat sauce followed by vanilla ice cream. John had apple pie Ala mode. We met up with some other Michiganders who are big fans of the Wolverines.
The hotel is filled with adoptive families with their new babies and children and is located on Shamian Island. Shamian Island is a former British and French Colony. The island is small, with a perimeter that can be walked in a 1/2 hour and has older buildings done in the English Colonial style. It looks a little like Europe with stone paved streets, parks and stores catering to the adoption community. We are excited to check it all out.
Tomorrow we have a 1/2 day city tour, then pictures of our group and children on the famous white swan red sofa (an adoption tradition), and then dinner with the group at a famous Thai restaurant called the cow and bridge.
We just unpacked and gave the kids bathes and they are both now sleeping soundly. We are soon to join them.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Last Day in Nanchang
I call this the day of spit up. We got a great start but the last few days I have been putting Brooke's cold medicine and antibiotic into her formula and last night she spit it up and this morning too. She spit up at breakfast and for the whole day she smelled like poop. I think she got smart on us so now I am back to giving her the medicine the old fashioned way and 1/2 the time it ends up covering her, the blanket, the sofa whatever.
Today was really only a 1/2 day. We went to a traditional village just outside Nanchang to get a flavor of the life that Brooke came from. It was not too bad except for the trash in and around the pond and on the ground. These people are farmers that work very small plots. Their homes range from a decent size to little huts with little but a table and chairs. We met several people and they were so warm and friendly. The highlight for Karen was that she learned to say "whats your name in Chinese" so convincingly that she was answered a few times.
After the stop in the village we all went shopping at a local porcelain shop. Jianxi is famous for its porcelain and it is world renown. I bought Brooke a beautiful set with Phoenix and Dragons that I understand are traditional for a wedding. So that is probably when she will receive the set. It has been our only purchase so far as we have not done any shopping. We only had a 1/2 hour in the store and we were told to only buy what we could carry on the plane as it could not be shipped for less than the cost.
Today we received Brooke's Chinese Passport and this is the final piece of business in Jianxi. We are leaving tomorrow in the early afternoon for Guangzhou and the famous White Swan Hotel. It is hard to believe we are more than halfway done.
We loved Nanchang and its people. We will be sad to be taking Brooke away from her birth land but today I picked up some soil, a rock and some rice from the ground so she will always know where she came from.
Today was really only a 1/2 day. We went to a traditional village just outside Nanchang to get a flavor of the life that Brooke came from. It was not too bad except for the trash in and around the pond and on the ground. These people are farmers that work very small plots. Their homes range from a decent size to little huts with little but a table and chairs. We met several people and they were so warm and friendly. The highlight for Karen was that she learned to say "whats your name in Chinese" so convincingly that she was answered a few times.
After the stop in the village we all went shopping at a local porcelain shop. Jianxi is famous for its porcelain and it is world renown. I bought Brooke a beautiful set with Phoenix and Dragons that I understand are traditional for a wedding. So that is probably when she will receive the set. It has been our only purchase so far as we have not done any shopping. We only had a 1/2 hour in the store and we were told to only buy what we could carry on the plane as it could not be shipped for less than the cost.
Today we received Brooke's Chinese Passport and this is the final piece of business in Jianxi. We are leaving tomorrow in the early afternoon for Guangzhou and the famous White Swan Hotel. It is hard to believe we are more than halfway done.
We loved Nanchang and its people. We will be sad to be taking Brooke away from her birth land but today I picked up some soil, a rock and some rice from the ground so she will always know where she came from.
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