Some More Pictures

Ivory and bone carving at the Chen Clan Home. The detail is extraordinary! Sorry about the flash, I didn't have the energy to remove it before posting.

Lobby of the White Swan Hotel in Guangzhou, China. Every morning, we eat breakfast looking at this view on one side and the Pearl River on the other side. How will I ever adapt to life at home again?!?

Entrance to the Chen Clan Ancestral Home. I will try to zoom in on the details for later pictures. The detail and carvings were incredible.

The Infamous Red Couch photo.

Every adoption group must have their children's pictures taken on the red couch at the White Swan. Poor Daniel cried through the entire thing. Finally, Dottie couldn't take his crying, so she started. That was the end of that, everyone had to be picked up and soothed.

(Back row: Jenna, Nikki. Front Row: Alice, Kieren, Daniel, Lily and Dottie)

Chen Clan Ancestral Home

Sorry folks, I thought we were going to a Buddist Temple yesterday. We went to the Chen Clan Ancestral Home instead. It was fascinating!!

The Chen Clan is one of the oldest families in China. The family tree dates back to the first dynasty. And they ruled the Guangdong Province which is the province we are staying in right now.

The home we went to was built in the 1600's and has was occupied by the family until the early 1900's. The home has been turned into a cultural museum. So, it is filled with artifacts, including porcelain, furniture, glass work, carvings and statues. The home itself was decorated with an amazing amount of relief carvings and statues. I will try to post a few pictures after this entry. But, I don't think they will do it justice at all. The other thing of interest about this place is that even though it is in the middle of a huge city, it was so peaceful and quiet. You really felt like you were transported back in time and could enjoy a stroll through the gardens.

After the Chen Clan home, we went to the Friendship store. This is a state run store that sells everything. I mean everything!!! One floor for kitchen wear, one for ladies clothing, one for men's clothing, one for children, and one for electronics and housewares. It is like Sears, Macy's, Target and Meijer all rolled together. They even sell water heaters and furnaces on the 4th floor!!

Any way, Sam, Andy and I discovered the best bottles for Kieren. The only place we could find them was the Friendship store. So, we purchased 7 bottles to bring home with us!! And, because it was a Sunday and not a work day for most of the people here, the place was packed. As usual, we were the primary attraction at the zoo. Most of the clerks speak very little English, so it is a challenge to buy anything there. Then, you add a thousand people watching and following you, and it is really interesting.

After our shopping adventure, we had dinner with the rest of our group. We ate at Lucy's which is an American style restaurant here on the island. I had a grilled cheese and ham sandwich, Dad!! I am ready to come home. I miss food other than Chinese. I am craving Mexican food and Skyline. Don't get me wrong, the food and trip have been incredible. I am just ready to be home and sleeping in my own bed.

Ah, the bed. Let me just tell you the Chinese think we should all sleep on a board covered by a sheet. The first couple of days, it was okay because I was sore from being on the plane for so long. But, I I have had enough and want my bed! I have an actual bruise on my hip from my hip bone resting against this board of a bed!

One finally note, Kieren is doing so much better! She is eating, going to the bathroom normally and playful! She has such a wonderful, peaceful personality. It is really a joy to be around her. I can hardly wait to see what she thinks of her new home and other family members when we get home. I know it will be difficult, but she will adapt quickly I think.

Enough for now, I have to get some sleep. I am dog tired and Sprout has made the last few days a green event if you know what I mean!

Yesterday's Shopping Activities!!!

Sorry I haven't posted until today. And, this is going to be short and sweet. Sorry again.

I was exhausted after shopping yesterday. The rest of the group went to the medical exam, but since we had already done that we had the entire day free. So, the entire day was spent shopping!!

I have completed my Christmas shopping. I can't wait to see what you all think of your gifts!! I purchased so many things that I have to sit here this evening and write it all down to make sure I haven't missed someone. I also have to figure out how to get it all home. Mark, how much can I have before I have to declare it for Customs? Help!!! I'm not getting busted for smuggling in saffron. And, Mark you know what I mean.

After shopping, we met the group at the Cow and Bridge for awesome Thai food. I love the Green Beef Curry. Sprout however, does not. So we battled all night long and most of today. Sprout is just going to get over it. I am not give up curry!!!

Today, we are off to a the Family Chen Temple. It is a Buddist Temple here in Guangzhou. I will let you know what happens.

Pictures from the GuangZhou Zoo

Kieren at the GuangZhou Zoo.

Wreathed Hornbill. I have never seen so many birds in a zoo. Mom, this is the one I was telling you about. Under his beak is a patch of bright teal. Sorry, the picture does not do him justice!

The Giant Panda. They only had 1 out for us to see, but they are beautiful creatures!

Asian Rhinos. This is the closest I have ever been to a rhino!

We never did determine the name of this creature. They were very neat through and liked to fight with each other a lot. I think the sign said Chinese Miuntset.

Yesterday, we went to the GuangZhou Zoological Gardens to see the Giant Panda. We saw many creatures that we had never even heard of at the Zoo. There were more birds than I had ever seen in a zoo back home. Beautiful Macaws, Toucans, Hornbills, etc.

Yes, Britt, we even saw some monkeys. There weren't too many of them as the focus of the zoo is the Giant Panda. I tried to leave Cullen with his cousins, the monkeys, but he didn't think that was such a good idea. However, Mable, our guide, got a kick out of it!

After the zoo, we went to a DimSum lunch. It was excellent as everything has been here. The big joke is to get Cullen to eat things without telling him what they really are. (In YangJiang City, I convinced him the squid was just clams! He loved it.) So, they brought out a plate of "chicken" for lunch. They fried the entire bird, head and all. Then they cut it into bite size pieces and display the head on the plate. He thought it was the best thing he had eaten so far on this trip. (We also have a father with us who thought it was great.) So, once we got on the bus, I confirmed with Mable that it was not chicken. Then, I told them it was really pidgeon!!! The reaction was fantastic. Cullen says he is never trusting me again to tell him what a food item is for the rest of his life!!

After lunch, we went to a baby supplies warehouse. It was 4 floors of nothing but baby stuff. Because of the stomach issues, Kieren has gone through most of her clothes and the diapers we brought with us. So, we did my favorite thing... SHOPPING! Talk about CHEAP prices for things! We purchased 5 onsies, 4 sleepers, 2 outfits, 96 diapers, 2 bottles and a hat for 180 Yuan. That is about $20 US!!!! We figured that each sleeper was about $1.25.

We headed back to the hotel after shopping and started thinking about dinner. Cullen has been bugging us to go to a McDonalds. So, I scouted one out just off the island we are staying on. So, off we went, myself, Cullen, Andy and Cassie. (She is Cullen's friend that was adopted 5 years ago by a family that is here adopting again.)

We crossed off the island and started walking past the market towards McDonalds. We are a major attraction the minute we leave the island. The people come right up to you to look you over. They follow you, they touch you (mostly your skin, nose and hair), they turn around so they can pass by you again! It is a little weird, but also kind of funny. We finally got to McDonalds after about a 10 minute walk which covered 4 blocks of people.

Britt, I am sorry to report there was no McRib on the menu. They did have milkshakes but no eggnog flavor. But, we had Big Macs and fries with cokes. It tasted just like home, salty and greasy!! And yes, Britt, I had to point to each item on the menu to order what we wanted. We kept some of the ketchup packets to show Cullen's class since they are all in Chinese with the McDonald's symbol.

We were also served pies with our meal. We got a pineapple pie, an apple pie and 2 sweet taro root pies!! Not your average, every day pie selection in the US. Sorry, we haven't tried them yet, but we will let you know.

While in the restaurant, we also drew a crowd. They want to try their English on you and if you respond with a Chinese greeting, they go into a fit of laughter. It is a lot of fun!

We headed back to the hotel with our crowd of onlookers past the QingPing Market. This is the point that I was grossed out! They sell everything in this market. One of the vendors was selling tiger paws from his cart. It was the entire paw, cut off at about the elbow with the claws still in place. I put myself and Andy between Cullen and Cassie and just kept walking. But how disgusting!!! I know, different culture, but YUCK!

Yet another adventure in China. I will never forget this trip. We are going back to the Market tomorrow to see what else they sell, but I am avoiding the tiger guy!

Pictures from the YangJiang City

Kieren before initiating Dad. Isn't she the cutest thing?!!?

Driving back from YangJiang City. Please note: This is NOT a lane we are driving in. The road was two lanes with a shoulder on each side. At this point, the traffice was 4 lanes wide!!

Kieren's Finding Spot. This step is just down the street from the orphanage.

Sorry, I meant to post these yesterday but was too tired after writing the long blog. Enjoy. Make sure you check out Sam's blog for more pictures.

This will be a long entry!!!

I have a lot to tell you about, so this is going to be a long one! First, let me tell you that unfortumately, the STANK has returned!!! God help us all! It reared it's ugly head yesterday evening after we returned from the orphanage. This timely even happened while I was changing Kieren's diaper!!! What fun, but I will tell you the entire course of events so you get the whole picture.

We had breakfast and loaded into the van that would take us to the orphanage at 9:15AM yesterday. The entire group did not go to the orphanage. One family chose not to go and the other's child is from a different orphanage. So it was Sam, Andy, Cullen, Kieren, myself, Adam, Julie and their daughter Jenna. Get a visual here: A VW van that holds 8 people with all of us and our guide with a driver. You know the kind of van, the boxy ones where there is no hood so the windshield is your last defense.

It took about 3.5 hours to get to YangJiang City. And, it was the best car ride I have ever taken!!! It was just what I needed to take my mind off of where we were going. Sam described her taxi ride to the hospital as a Disneyworld ride. She was so right. I really want to drive here!!! It is a free for all. I swear the van has a blue stripe on the one side from a truck that passed us on the shoulder. I could read the tag in the truck driver's underwear!!! Then of course there are the motorcycles and people. This is even on the highway!!! They dart in and out of traffic without a care. It is amazing!

The highway is a totally different experience too. Once we got out of heavy traffic, we still saw people and motorcycles but more trucks loaded to overflowing. I mean overflowing!! We saw a truck with cages of pigs stacked on top of each other 5 high. I'm talking BIG pigs and several of them in the same cage. So... the pork fat rules because it was being squeezed out through the bars of the cages!

My other observation about the highway is that they do not drive as fast as we do in the US. This is a good thing, because several times during our trip we came to a complete halt in a very short distance. This is because of road construction. However, they don't give you the fancy signs saying that the construction is coming up in 1 mile, in .5 miles, etc. They just block off a lane, put the road workers to work about 50 feet from the closure and let the cars fend for themselves. Imagine: Many vehicles converging to one lane at one time. They just use whatever route they can to get by. So, this means the shoulder and the oncoming traffic lane, etc. are used!!! You really need to experience the driving and/or riding here to truly appreciate it. It is not for the weak of heart or bladder!

We finally got to YangJiang City and the driver drove around the square twice before deciding to get help. (Yes, a man actually asked for directions!!!!) Anyway, he called the orphanage, and we drove a little further. But, still nothing, so he leaned out of the window and asked another driver. We followed that driver for a while and still nothing. He called the orphanage again and was told to go to the KFC and wait as they would come get him. The next thing we know this motorcycle pulls up with the orphanage director on the back. Here is the visual again: She was dressed in very nice black slacks, 4" stilleto heels, purple leather coat with fuzzy fringe and a helmet!!!

Anyway, they led us back to the orphanage which was about 1 minute away. For the record, we had passed the street twice in our travels. But in the driver's defense, I have been unable to determine if there are any street signs!

Okay, so this is the part I have been dreading all night and all morning. It didn't go too badly though. Because we are the first adopting families from this orphanage, they would not allow us to enter the gates. I am sadden but also very happy we did not have that experience. We did however, get to see Kieren's finding place. Yes, we took pictures. She was found approximately 100 feet from the gates of the orphanage on the day after she was born according to the director. (We also got to see Jenna's finding place near a bookstore on the next street over.) This was very emotional for everyone. Again, it is hard for us to understand leaving a baby but at least they were left where someone would find them quickly. Not only that, it was very clear that both Kieren and Jenna were very well cared for at this orphanage. You can tell that the director truly loves the children. And from the pictures she gave us, it is beautiful and clean with many caregivers.

Our trip was to be ambassadors for all the other families that will adopt from that orphanage. We had lunch with the director and the director of the Civil Affairs office at a very fancy restaurant. Poor Cullen, he had to sit still for 1.5 hours and mind all of his manners. Very tough but, he did a great job!! Probably the most unusual food to date, but all very good. We had eel and squid, as well as a beef dish, vegetables, fried rice and 2 types of bread.

After lunch, we thanked the director and the Civil Affairs officers for meeting us and allowing us to visit the orphanage. They were very appreciative of our visit and invited us to come back when we return to China. We even exchanged addresses so that we could send updates about the girls.

For the ladies of our Lioness Club: We presented the orphanage director with the donation and some additional funds we collected from family members. We had the guide explain to her where the donation was from. She thanked us profusely and told us she would buy much needed clothing, food and diapers for the children in the orphanage. She knew all about the Lions International organization and was happy to receive the donation.

We got back in the van and headed back to Guangzhou. I'm telling you the best ride at Disney can't compare!!! To make things even more exciting, the van driver was falling asleep on the way back, so we had to keep waking him up!! Once back at the hotel, we ordered pizzas from Danny's Bagel. Danny is a New Yorker transplanted in Guangzhou. They even deliver right to your room. We were worn out and Kieren did not fair too well on this trip, so it was best to stay in our rooms.

As for what happened to Kieren and the STANK: (Bet you thought I would never get to it.) On the way to the orphanage, Andy was feeding Kieren a bottle of formula and she proceeded to throw it all up on him and into the diaper bag. (Andy had not resealed the plastic bags in the diaper bag when he made her bottle, so it was in everything. Hard lesson to learn. ) Great fun to clean up in a moving van while trying to clean and redress an unhappy child. (You all know how I am with this smell, imagine being trapped in a van with it and no place to go. I did very well. I just couldn't sit or stand near Andy since he ended up wearing most of it.)

Anyway, the rest of the drive went fine, it was after we got back to the hotel that everything went to hell!!! We got everyone in the room and decided to feed Kieren and change her diaper. So, Andy went to make the bottle while I changed her with Sam's help. Play by play: I put the changing pad under her. THANK GOD! I took her clothes off and opened the diaper. THE STANK EMERGED! Cullen went running for the bathroom. Sam and I started laughing, as well as losing brain cells and hair from the smell. I swear this STANK singes your eyebrows. I press on and begin cleaning her bottom, and, then something I have never experienced before happened. Sam and I named it the "poop shooter"! Yep, she shot the STANK diarrhea at me while I was cleaning her bottom! Thank goodness for the plastic mat, but I can't say my hands faired too well. Again, I pressed on laughing hysterically, crying and trying not to pass out from the STANK. Cullen left the room at this point, even the bathroom wasn't far enough for him. Andy came running at our screams and promptly returned to the bathroom shutting the door behind him. Sam and I just keep laughing and crying. I finally got her cleaned up and redressed after probably 5-10 minutes. Then I had to clean myself and the mat.

After this event, the evening got even better. Kieren proceeded to throw up everything we gave her. The medicine, the formula, the water, etc. She went through every towel and the bed spread in Sam's room, as well as every clean outfit she had. Then, like idiots, we thought she was done. So we brought her to my clean room where the STANK had no foothold so we could order dinner on the net. STUPID! STUPID! STUPID! 4 towels, Sam's shirt, Cullen's blanket, a onesie and a bedspread later, she went back to her room!

I just talked to Sam and she said the night was pretty rough. But... the STANK has mutated to gas which permeates the entire room!! I am not entering their room for all the tea in China!!! You can't make me!

Sam is calling her the cutsie name of "Little Bits". I think STANK Butt is better. What do you think?

We are headed to the orphanage today

I got up before the alarm clock this morning after a not very restful night. I planned to write about the Chinese people today and my observations about the cultural differences. But, feel that I need to tell you about what we will be doing today instead.

We will be going to breakfast at 8:00 AM, then we will meet part of our group in the lobby for a trip to Kieren's orphanage. The orphanage is in YangJiang city in the same province that we are in now, Guangdong. (We are about a 1 hour drive northwest of Hong Kong. The orphanage is about a 3.5 hour drive southwest from Guangzhou.)

I am very conflicted about this trip and can only imagine what Sam, Andy and Cullen are feeling. I am very excited about going but very apprehensive at the same time. I think that it is extremely important to see where Kieren was found and the orphanage. I hope that it will help us to understand, and that she will be able to understand when she is older. But, emotionally, I think it will be very difficult for all of us. It is impossible for me to understand someone abandoning this beautiful child even when I understand their cultural practices. And, to think that there is an orphanage with at least 40 more abandoned children waiting to be adopted, makes me angry, sad, yet hopeful for their chance to be adopted.

The drive to the orphanage should be very educational and interesting as well. We will drive through the countryside and see how the rural people actually live. To date, we have only really seen the city life. From my research, it should be a very different cultural adventure.

This was a tought post to write, but helpful too. I will let you know what happens.

The Murder of an Innocent Creature

I simply have to comment on our dinner experience yesterday. As you all know, my stomach is not the best these days. It has been better since we got to China, but it is still not right. Sprout has a mind of his/her own about how I should feel each day and I don't get a say in this decision, which stinks!

Anyway, we walked to the highest rated Cantonese restaurant in Guangzhou last night for dinner with the group. It is approximately 1 block from our hotel and a lovely walk past all the street vendors. At the door you are greeted by beautifully uniformed staff and led past tanks upon tanks of creatures. As you can imagine, this was a very difficult walk for me with my queasy stomach. We are talking about creatures that no American in their right mind would consider eating!! Sandworms, turtles, silk worms, water beetles, other types of water bugs, etc. You get the picture.

So, we get to our table and Mable, our wonderful guide, orders for us. She has done a great job in picking dishes that we would like, but that aren't too out of contol. We had 15 different dishes again this evening. Everything from an amazing eggplant dish to a spicy beef hot plate dish. Again, we all sat around a huge table and the food was placed in the middle and you serve yourself. (I should also tell you, that I have a bit of problem with this type of service. But, I have been working through it since this is not my country. The idea that you use your chopsticks and pick up food from a communal bowl/dish and eat it gives me the willies, but I am coping.) Sorry, I got sidetracked.

After we finished this wonderful dinner, we were all sitting enjoying a lively discussion about what we ate that night and which food was better, Cantonese or Thai. At this point, Sam is standing up behind me holding Kieren. She leans over and proceeds to tell me she has just killed someone's dinner!! Being a fool, I asked her what she was talking about. Why do I do that to myself????

She killed a cockroach in the "Highest rated Cantonese Restaurant" in Guangzhou!!! And, it didn't go peacefully. She had to stomp on it 4 times to finally kill it! Well this, of course, sent me over the edge into a laughing fit as we continued to discuss trying to determine if it was an escapee from the kitchen or someone's plate. Needless to say, I have been calling her a Murderer ever since.

Since this is making my skin crawl, I will stop there. Enjoy your next meal and remember don't kill the creatures on the floor as they may be someone's dinner.

Kieren's Medical Exam

Kieren being weighed. She was not a happy camper. She weighed approximately 16.8lbs. We are not convinced that this is very accurate though. She is so small it is hard to believe that she could weigh that much!

Kieren's very thorough hearing test. The shook a toy with bells on one side of her head and then the other. So, if she turns her head it means she can hear and therefore passes. She passed after we got to attention. She was easily distracted by the other toys on the desk beside her.

And now a STANK update for your reading pleasure

Let me start by telling you what happened after I posted the STANK blog

Sam left my room and headed back to her room. We had left Andy with Kieren so we could update the blogs. Well.... while we were gone, the STANK reared its ulgy head again. Andy put it in the vanilla scented bag, but unfortunately did not tie it off!! So, when Sam walked in the door, he warned her not to step on the STANK near the door. Instead she picked it up and tossed it into my room!! Needless to say, I called her a foul name and hurled it back at her head while she stood in the hallway. (I should tell you that there are attendants on every floor of this hotel to help you. And, of course, they came running to see what the hysterical laughing was all about so late at night!) Anyway, we got the giggles and proceeded to hurriedly tie off the STANK bag and get it out of both our rooms. Then we headed to bed to try and calm down.

The good news is the STANK appears to have walked away on it's own power. Yes, I truly believe that it was capable of walking on it's own. The first batch of Chinese medicine has been used up and the STANK seems to have went with it. THANK GOD!!! I am not sure that any of us could have tolerated it much longer without serious damage to our lungs, nose or brains.

I am however very concerned about the new medicine they recieved yesterday at the hospital. Only time will tell.....

Kieren's Medical Exam

Last night was pretty bad for Ms. Kieren. Between taking bottles, she had the runs and the vomits. So, this morning, Sam and Andy called Mable, our guide to figure out the best course of action. It was decided that they would take her to the regular medical exam that is required to take her out of the country and into the US. That way, the doctor there could determine if they needed to do more.

So, off we went to the clinic which is about 4 blocks from the hotel. We arrived and there were very few people there thank goodness. Kieren was weighed, measured and her temperature was taken. Once the temp was taken, things started moving because she was at 102. Next we saw the ENT to evaluate her ears. This was very interesting because all they did was shake a noisy toy on either side of her head. If she turned towards the toy, the determined she could hear. Modern medicine at it's very best!!!

Next, was perhaps the most hysterical of all. We went into another room so that the Doctor could examine her. Mable explained that she had been very sick and had a temperature which was coming down. The Dr. proceed to tell us that she was ill because we did not have enough clothes on her!!!! For the record, she had on a onesie, a shirt, pants, tights, fleece hat, and a sweater. Also, she was covered up with a blanket while she was being carried in a Keltie which was right next to Sam's body. Mind you, it is about 60 degrees outside and the poor child had a temp of 102. Yet, she was sick because we did not have enough clothes on her!! We were scolded approximately 4 times about this. I even got it from the Dr. on the way out the door!

Anyway, the doctor proceed to take off her pants, tights and diaper. She checked to make sure that she was indeed a girl and quickly looked at the rest of her. She brought in another doctor to push on her stomach which caused a lot of screaming as you can image. And, she measured her head. Then told us we need to take her to the hospital for an IV.

We got back to the hotel and Mable arranged for a taxi ride to the hospital. Cullen and I stayed at the hotel while Sam and Andy took Kieren. I am sorry that I didn't go because I hear that I missed the taxi ride of my life! More about the traffic later. Anyway, they came back and reported that the Dr. said she had a virus. So, they have medicine to give her but no antibiotic since it is a virus and must run it's course. She did take part of a bottle when she got back and is again resting. It sounds like it may be a long night again.

As for the traffic: There are no rules. If you have an accident, you get a ticket. Otherwise, the police ignore everything else. So, you have buses, cars, people and bicycles all trying to get to the same place. There is an order though from what I can tell. The buses get priority, then the cars, then bicycles, then people. So, the bigger you are the better luck you have. They never stop moving, they don't stop for red lights and they don't yield to anyone. People, bicycles and motorcycles weave in and out of the cars and buses taking their lives in their own hands. They drive on the sidewalks, the park on the sidewalks and they drive up the middle of the road or on the other side!!! If you are walking, you are responsible for getting out of their way or you get hit. It is hard to describe so that you can truly appreciate it. You really need to experience it. We will try to take video later, but can't promise we will live through it!!!

Pictures I Forgot to Add to the Last Post

Cullen giving Kieren her blanket.

Sam and Andy at the Security appointment for Entry and Exit from China. For the record, you are not supposed to take pictures in this building. I decided that I lived throught the STANK, maybe I had a few more lives and could get away with it.

Kieren Olivia Cheng Li Campbell. How can something so cute, have that smell come out of them. Read on, you will understand. But, isn't she beautiful!!!?!!!

Okay, I was laughing so hard after typing the last post, I forgot to include these pictures. Make sure you read the last post, it will explain the comments on the pictures.

There's stink and then there's STANK

Let me explain:

This child can clear a room. And, she has repeatedly cleared a room today. The last time, Andy and I, ran for the hills the minute we heard the rumbling. Cullen was brave and tried to stick it out gagging the entire time. The time before that requires some commentary.

First, Kieren is on all types of medication for the ear infections and pneumona. This particular concoction smells like very sweet strawberries. For the record, it's an "Ancient Chinese Secret" formula. In other words, we have no idea what they are but they seem to be working.

As most of you know, I receive the nickname Auntie Exlax for a really good reason. I touch a baby and it poops. This is such a phenomenon, that people will no longer allow me to touch their children unless they need my help. So....I held Kieren this afternoon. And.... within minutes she filled her diaper. Being the nice Aunt, decided to change her. I got her undressed, opened the diaper and the STANK of the beast within was released!! Both Sam and I started losing our hair at that point from the smell. I think our eyebrows are permanently singed from the fumes. This STANK is poop that smells just, well sorta like, the medicine that is going in the other end. Again, a stink is not a good enough definition. This is pure room clearing STANK.

Then, the fun really began. Kieren decided that this was a good time to do baby acrobatics. This child can contort herself in to positions that no human should ever be able to do. (You know the Chinese are known for their acrobatics, well, she is no exception.) Picture this: I am holding her legs out of the STANK and she arches her back. I let Sam have the legs so I could continue with removing the STANK. I turned away to get the horrid diaper as far away as possible, and turned back to find Kieren on the top of her head and doing a backflip. At this point, Sam and I are laughing so hard, we are crying and can't continue with the diaper change. We finally got control, got the diaper on, but never got the rest of her clothes on her. (All Sam wants to say about this adventure is, OH MY GOD!!!!)

After this adventure, it has occured to me that we have to get on an enclosed airplane with this child in about 1 week. I am very scared! I am considering upgrading to First Class and allowing the peons to fend for themselves. I am, however, afraid that may not be far enough away. Maybe another flight before they leaver so I can avoid the STANK trail???

As for what we did today other than the STANK: Today was the day that Kieren was declared officially Sam and Andy's child by the Chinese government. Get this: They give you the child for 24 hours to see if you like it and then they make if official. (Like your going to give it back after all this time, money and heartache!!!) So this morning, we went back to the Civil Affairs Office so that Sam and Andy could swear that they would never abandon her, would educate her and would love her and not discriminate against her ever. They had to tell 3 different people this info today as well as putting this on paper yesterday. This process is so odd compared to what we do in the US for an adoption.

The remainder of the day was spent shopping and eating at a wonderful Thai restaurant. Kieren has her first pair of squeaky shoes, pink of course. Dinner was incredible. We had approximately 15 dishes to choose from. They were placed in the middle of the table and you could spin it around to get to everything. Cullen loved the spiciest things on the table! We had: Yellow Curry, Spicy Beef, Fried Squid, BBQ Pork and perhaps the best Tofu dish I have ever had.

Well, I am off to bed in the room where the STANK does not exist. Hopefully, it can't penetrate the walls. I have set the deadbolt, since Sam is threatening to bring her to my room in the middle of the night. I am very scared about what tomorrow will bring....

More Pictures

The Pearl River. This is my view from my hotel room in Guangzhou.

The Great Wall.

This picture shows the different stations that we could have climbed to yesterday. Cullen and I made it to the one on the far left.

Carvings at the Jade factory.

Great Wall Pictures

Cullen and I climbed to just below the building in the center of the photograph.

This is the view from the second station at the Ju Yong Pass section of the Great Wall. Cullen and I went higher than this. Can you spot Sam and Andy down below?

The Great Wall and Other Adventures

Sorry everyone, I loaned my camera patch cord to another member of the group until the morning. So, no pictures right now. Yes Mom, I promise to get them on the blog tomorrow.

Our day started at a jade factory and was not only fascinating but expensive for Mark once again! They gave us a tour and information seminar about how to buy jade. Then we went shopping!!! More Christmas presents for the family and, of course, something for me.

After that we headed to the Great Wall at the Ju Yong Pass. Cullen and I decided to take the hike up the very steep steps. To his credit and to my pregnant one, we made it to just below the 3rd station. Coming down was just as crazy. Your legs are tired, and the steps are uneven and rounded due to the wear of millions of people walking them. The steps are anywhere from 3 inches high to about 18 inches high. So, going up you have the challenge and coming down is even worse!

We left there about 12:45 PM and headed to lunch. We ate a family style chinese restaurant. This was the best chinese food so far. They brought us a huge assortment of dishes some of which I have not idea what they even were. But, it was all excellent.

After that we went to a Friendship store. That is a state run store that sells handmade goods and crafts. You can't negotiate. Bummer!! Anyway I purchased a few pieces of cloisonne for gifts. It was very hard to decide what to get, to much to choose from!

Back to the bus and off the airport in Beijing for a flight to Guangzhou. Let me just say, security was a riot. It was hard to keep a straight face so we didn't get in trouble. If a bottle in your luggage was unlabeled, they opened it and smelled it. They were looking for alcohol and explosives. But, perhaps the funniest part was Sam's experience. The security guards have apparently never seen a tampon. They took them out of her bag, held them up for everyone to inspect, had a full discussion about it, talked to our guide, then passed us on. This is with our entire group watching and about 100 other people milling about! Hysterical!!!

The flight was uneventful as we are all dog tired. The food was the most intersting so far. So, now I am at the White Swan Hotel with an 11th floor Pearl River view which is spectacular.

More tomorrow, I have to get some sleep. Yes Mom, pictures tomorrow!

Pictures Finally!!!!

Heather in TianAnMen Square with the picture of Chairman Mao Tse Tung

The Marble Boat at the Summer Palace

Yesterday was a very big day. We started at 9:00 AM weaving our way through the neverending traffic of Beijing to TianAnMen Square. We got off the bus and had to walk about 3 blocks to the square. Street vendors descended upon our group like flies on poop!!! They get in your face, they follow you and they don't like to take no for an answer. You just keep walking, hold your wallet and repeat NO!

We walked into the square which was full of people and Chinese Military guards posted everywhere. Let me tell you, pictures don't do this place justice. It was very cold and windy. (FYI the temp was 32F yesterday with wind chills of 2-3F) We saw the the Hall of the People where all political decisions are made. We saw the building which hold Chairman Mao's tomb. (You have to wait in line for hours to see him. Sorry I wasn't standing in the cold for that experience. Maybe next time.) We also saw the History Museum of China on the other side of the Square. Note: The street vendors are really annoying in the Square. You also see a lot of beggars there too.

Next we walked to the gate into the Forbidden City which has the big picture of Mao that is posted above. You enter through the middle gate which was the Emperor's gate. There are 6 gates at each wall and the middle one was for the Emperor ONLY. The other gates are for the royal family, high ranking officials, and lower ranking officials. If the Emperor caught you entering the wrong gate, they cut off your head and arrested your entire family.

The Forbidden City is vast. You just keep going through gates, looking at buildings down the axis which held various thrones for the Emperor. There were probably 6-8 different thrones depending on the Emperor and his mood for the day! Anyway, the city is build around the axis of these throne rooms and each one is more ornate that the last. We finally got to the Emperor's Garden and out the back gate 2.5 hours later!!

Next we headed to lunch near the Summer Palace. After lunch we went to the pearl market. Let me just say that my husband bought me a lovely gift for Christmas which he doesn't even know about yet!!! He will probably kill me when he sees the bill, but they were too pretty to pass up. I was good and purchased some Christmas gifts too.

After that we went to the Summer Palace. The Summer Palace used to be outside of the city on a lake where it was cool in the summer. The city has grown so big, it has engulfed the Palace. The Palace was used from May to October by the royal family until 1911 when the last Emperor was driven out of power. This is where the infamous Marble Boat is located. It was built by the Dowager Empress so that she could throw elaborate parties. (Pretty fancy party house if you ask me!)

Everything was so ornate and beautiful. It is hard to describe and the unfortunately, the pictures will never do it justice. The number of people and vehicles continue to fascinate us all. The bus ride is always an adventure as the bus driver never stops for red lights. Yes, I mean NEVER!!

We finally got back to the hotel and headed to dinner in the restaurant called Zen. This was a very interesting buffet of Chinese food and their version of American food. I ate a few things which I cannot identify by any means. It was all excellent though. I really like the egg and bean paste crepes which they make fresh on the buffet as you wait. They are different from anything I have ever tasted but are amazingly good.

After dinner, we came back to our room and collapsed! Today we are headed to the Great Wall this morning and then a flight to Guangzhou this evening. It is warm in Guangzhou, thank goodness. For those that know me, I wore 5 layers yesterday from head to toe and was still cold. I can't wait for the warmth of the south!!!

We are in Beijing!!!

I know that I should post the ultrasound pictures of Sprout, but I have too much to write about having finally arrived in Beijing!!

We left Dayton International at 10:30 AM on December 7, 2005. We arrived in Beijing at 5:PM on December 8, 2005. We flew from Dayton to Chicago where we, of course, had to walk to the other end of the airport in 20 minutes. We boarded the plane and sat for 2 hours. First, it was so cold in Chicago that the scanners they use to make sure the luggage is all accounted for were frozen! Then, 5 pieces of luggage didn't match up with passengers. And, since 9/11 that can't happen, we had to wait until they found them and pulled them off the plane. While all that was happening, a passenger got a call saying his meeting was cancelled. So, he decided to get off the plane, which meant his luggage needed to go too!

Finally, we got to take off and head over the top of the world. Literally, we flew North over Canada and came down on the other side of the world over Siberia. The terrain was amazing! The mountains, the snow, and the desolation were incredible! Anyway, we continued toward Beijing over Mongolia! Never thought I would say I flew over Siberia and Mongolia!!!

We landed in Bejing around 5PM and proceeded through Customs and Immigration. All of the workers look so official in their uniforms, not what we are used to seein in the US. All went smoothly, the workers we all very friendly and helpful. We then headed for baggage claim, what chaos!!! After that, we met our guide in front the KFC!! Yep, you read that right, a KFC. They are very popular here.

Then the bus ride to the hotel..... Imagine: thousands of cars, trucks, people walking, bicycles, buses, transports with people getting off work, all trying to merge into one space at the same time. I have seen traffic jams of epic proportions, but I have never seen that many vehicles and people at one time! Tail lights as far as the eye could see! The ride was over 1 hour, but was only about 10 miles from the airport! I can't wait to see more of the city by daylight though.

The hotel is amazing. It is the nicest Holiday Inn, I have ever seen. It is brand new, in preparation for the 2008 Olympics. I have a connecting room with Sam and Andy. If you need something, it is provided. Very classy!

Today, we head to Tian An Men Square, the Forbidden City and Summer Palace. We are also going to a jade market. I am so excited. I will hopefully post some pictures later!

Thanks for the emails. I will try to respond to everyone, but don't take it personally if I don't get right back to you. We are very busy as you can tell!

What an exciting day

I had the most exciting day! I had a doctor's appointment. Now that in itself is enough to make anyone cringe, but what an appointment it was!

It started with more blood work. YEAH! Most of you know how much I truly love those needles. The nurse, Leslie, did a great job and got a whole vial with only 1 stick. So after that was the exam by the Doctor who said everything is progressing perfectly. Then ...... he tried to find the heartbeat! He tried for several minutes, then said "here it is." I couldn't hear anything, it was just quiet. Then all of sudden I could hear this really fast thump, thump, thump. I don't normally cry unless I am mad but, that was enough to open the flood gates. This baby has already made me cry more that I ever have!

I got out to my car and called Mark. I was crying again as I told him about it! He was laughing at me being so sentimental, but quietly upset that he didn't get to be there. I made sure to schedule the next appointment when he will be home after Christmas.

The next step is genetic counseling. Apparently, this is common when the mother is of advance maternal age. Funny, I don't feel that old! Anyway, they will tell me what tests are available to diagnose any genetic abnormality. Sounds like another fun day, doesn't it! I will keep you all posted.

We finally have approval to travel to China!

We received our approval to travel to China! We will be leaving December 7th and will return December 21st. I have sent the flight info to those that I thought might like to know. If I missed you on the email list, please let me know so I can send you the info.

We will fly from Chicago to Beijing on a direct flight. Talk about jet lag!! Anyway, we will spend a couple of days in Beijing touring the Great Wall, the Forbidden City and the Summer Palace. It should be extremely cold though, so most of the pictures will be of coats and hats!

After that we will travel to Guangzhou. Sam and Andy will get Kieren once we get to Guangzhou. We will spend the rest of the time touring and getting Kieren's paperwork ready. And, of course, doing my favorite thing: SHOPPING!!!

I have so much to do between now and when we leave! I have no idea how it all will be done by then. I am quickly learning that I am not superwoman. (A hard lesson to learn for me.) So, what I finish, I finish. The rest of it just wasn't meant to be, I guess.