So far, we love Guangzhou!! Our hotel is very nice - they have soft beds and pillows!! (sometimes it is the little things in life that make us happy!). The buffet breakfast is great, the rooms are large and airy. So far the only downside is the internet is weak (and not available in the room) and it is hot and humid here (think same lattitude as Cuba). The city is located on the Shamain Island. It is very sunny and cheerful here - the buildings are quaint, there is a large park-like boulevard with trees and grass and statues. And there is a children's park!!
Our guide here is Connie. Even though it is hot and humid, she always looks like a movie star - beautifully dressed, high heels, every hair in place! She took us through the drill this morning very efficiently. We had to get Kristi's passport picture taken, then off to the medical exam. What a zoo! Everyone comes to Guangzhou from around China to go through the same process to finalize their adoption - and the medical exams are always on Saturday. So there were an unbelievable number of parents and children in the facility - all ages. Many of the younger ones were screaming. There were many stations - weight and height, vision, medical exam, and more. The last station is the TB test where they prick the children on the arm with a needle and inject something. We were told to keep the arm dry for two days and then we have to go back to find out the results. Apparently about 50% test positive (something to do with their vacinations) and then they have to do a lung xray. Connie assures us there will be no problem. Connie then walked us through all of the necessary paperwork for the Consulate appointment. Kristi was very good through the entire process. We really thought she would be angry after the medical appointment, but she wasn't. Connie did a great job of explaining to her what was going on each step of the way.
Krisit slept in this morning (until 8!!) and got up happy - she played around with us until our meeting with Connie and was much more affectionate than she had been the last couple of days. After we wrapped up with Connie, we walked around and went to a restaurant that serves American food called Lucy's. Paul had a cheseburger and fries and was so happy! We then walked over to a children's park where Kristi made some friends and played for over an hour in spite of the heat. She definitely wilted in the heat. Kristi seems to be getting better at being told no - at least for today. She seems to understand that we will not change our mind even if she whines or throws a tantrum. Again, no tantrums today - thank you Lord! After dinner we came up with a new game, bowling with water bottles. Oh the creative things we do when in a hotel room without toys or books! Kristi was almost in tears at one point as she was laughing so hard! A small victory today - she stopped carrying her backpack everywhere (the backpack was given to her by the orphanage). Previously she had carried it every where we went - like her way of keeping connected to the past, something she could control. Today she just left the backpack in the room and didn't bother with it all day. Also, she did not pick out the dress to wear today that she was in when we got her from the orphanage. In previous days that was the first dress she looked for. All in all, today was a great day. Things could go just the opposite tomorrow so we thank God for each good day and each small victory.
Saturday, July 23, 2011
July 22, 2011
Thank you for your prayers everyone! We had a much better day. We really started out on the edge - after the third time in a row Kristi wanted to put lotion all over everything, we said no and we thought she was going to lose it. She gave us the angry look, stomped her foot and refused to eat breakfast when we went down - very unsual for her! But she managed to not throw a tantrum. She was still irritated with us when we skyped the kids and so she decided to ignore our conversation with them. After lunch things improved. We made paper airplanes and flew them around the room which amused her. We are happy to be leaving Tianjin. It is so crowed, so busy. There is nowhere to take Kristi. We are right downtown - with a 10 lane road in front of us, a subway station close by, and miles of cement. It is very gray - all concrete and a lot of polution. The sky was always gray - no difference between a rainy day or a sunny day. But we must say that the people were very nice - always willing to help us with making change or finding things, always a ready smile and all seemed very happy that we were adopting Kristi.
We headed for the airport at 2:00, sat around there until our flight at 5:10. She was excited about her first flight - wanted to stand and look out the window and not sit and buckle her seat belt like we asked her to. We decided this was a battle we did not want to take on, so we waited until the steward came by and asked him to tell her in Chinese that she had to sit and buckle. Although not happy about it, she followed his instructions. We then had a 3 hour and 20 minute flight. Kristi did great during it (it really helped that they served food!) By the time we got to the hotel in Guangzhou, it was 9:30. After a quick bath, it was time for bed. NO TANTRUMS today AND she went to sleep without crying!
We headed for the airport at 2:00, sat around there until our flight at 5:10. She was excited about her first flight - wanted to stand and look out the window and not sit and buckle her seat belt like we asked her to. We decided this was a battle we did not want to take on, so we waited until the steward came by and asked him to tell her in Chinese that she had to sit and buckle. Although not happy about it, she followed his instructions. We then had a 3 hour and 20 minute flight. Kristi did great during it (it really helped that they served food!) By the time we got to the hotel in Guangzhou, it was 9:30. After a quick bath, it was time for bed. NO TANTRUMS today AND she went to sleep without crying!
Thursday, July 21, 2011
July 21, 2011
We knew times were not always going to be easy but today was a tough one. I think we all hit the wall today. Kristi has thrown a tantrum about every limit we have set today - from taking away the remote, to not having the snack when she wanted it or the specific snack that she wanted, to not having as much tooth paste as she wanted on her tooth brush. We are begining to think they told her at the orphanage that when she was adopted she would be able to have whatever she wanted, whenever she wanted it! Anyway, these were all-out foot stomping, leg kicking, screaming tantrums. We aren't sure if the situation is due to her being over tired (she was given a two hour nap each day in the orphanage), frustration over not being able to communicate with us, emotional stress or if she is just a very strong willed child. (Or probably a combination of everything)
And mom and dad hit a wall today as well (okay, maybe more mom than dad). We have been gone from home for over a week and we really miss our kids! We miss having home cooked meals - we are tired of going into a restaurant, pointing at a picture that we hope is something we will like, having everyone stare at us, and figuring out the currency to pay. (Lee isn't with us when we go out to eat, only when we go to appointments or site-seeing). We are tired of not having a good night's sleep (the beds and pillows are like rocks and the taxi's honk all night long.) And we are tired of the hotel room. There is nowhere to take Kristi here - it is a downtown area with no grass or park - and nowhere to go in the hotel. Thankfully we leave tomorrow to go to Guangzhou.
This afternoon we went to the Natural Museum - a museum for dead things. We saw dinosaurs and dead animals, fish and insects. At one point Kristi was playing with a computer game putting a dinosaur puzzle together. Lee asked her what she thought, and she said she would rather watch cartoons. I think this is a reflection of how they spent a lot of time at the orphanage. It seems like frustration over communicating has caused Kristi to digress some. When we first got her, she would speak fluently to Lee and would try to talk a lot to us. Now we just get a lot of grunts and she doesn't speak as much to Lee. You would be amazed at the variety of grunts that can be expressed!
Pray that tomorrow goes better as we will be traveling - and could be very challenging if Kristi decides to throw tantrums.
And mom and dad hit a wall today as well (okay, maybe more mom than dad). We have been gone from home for over a week and we really miss our kids! We miss having home cooked meals - we are tired of going into a restaurant, pointing at a picture that we hope is something we will like, having everyone stare at us, and figuring out the currency to pay. (Lee isn't with us when we go out to eat, only when we go to appointments or site-seeing). We are tired of not having a good night's sleep (the beds and pillows are like rocks and the taxi's honk all night long.) And we are tired of the hotel room. There is nowhere to take Kristi here - it is a downtown area with no grass or park - and nowhere to go in the hotel. Thankfully we leave tomorrow to go to Guangzhou.
This afternoon we went to the Natural Museum - a museum for dead things. We saw dinosaurs and dead animals, fish and insects. At one point Kristi was playing with a computer game putting a dinosaur puzzle together. Lee asked her what she thought, and she said she would rather watch cartoons. I think this is a reflection of how they spent a lot of time at the orphanage. It seems like frustration over communicating has caused Kristi to digress some. When we first got her, she would speak fluently to Lee and would try to talk a lot to us. Now we just get a lot of grunts and she doesn't speak as much to Lee. You would be amazed at the variety of grunts that can be expressed!
Pray that tomorrow goes better as we will be traveling - and could be very challenging if Kristi decides to throw tantrums.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
July 20, 2011
A day of firsts - first kisses and first tantrums. Last night Kristi cried herself to sleep. She now seems to be fine until we tuck her into bed. I think she misses her foster sisters that she slept with. She decided we should start the day early - was up at 5:30. We skyped with Lindsey, Mitch and Ty this morning. When their faces came up, Kristi became very excited - she ran to grab her photo album and was pointing out the pictures of them and then pointing to the screen. It was fun to watch. However, seeing the kids made mom and dad very homesick!
Kristi has been very affectionate today - she freely returns kisses and hugs with mom - and is warming up to dad. However, she also started pushing the limits. We are firm with the 'no' and she is becoming frustrated with us. At one point she threw the UNO cards across the floor in a temper tantrum and wouldn't pick them up. So we turned off the cartoon and sat on the floor with her until the cards were picked up. We have had several instances throughout the day where she firmly displayed her displeasure with our rules! Oh the joys of starting over with another child - this would be much harder on us if we didn't already have three kids to break us in!
We went to Ancient Culture Street this afternoon - local street market with traditional Chinese architecture and trades. It was fun to walk around and observe the sights and sounds. Once again we were asked by strangers if they could take their picture with us!
Kristi has been very affectionate today - she freely returns kisses and hugs with mom - and is warming up to dad. However, she also started pushing the limits. We are firm with the 'no' and she is becoming frustrated with us. At one point she threw the UNO cards across the floor in a temper tantrum and wouldn't pick them up. So we turned off the cartoon and sat on the floor with her until the cards were picked up. We have had several instances throughout the day where she firmly displayed her displeasure with our rules! Oh the joys of starting over with another child - this would be much harder on us if we didn't already have three kids to break us in!
We went to Ancient Culture Street this afternoon - local street market with traditional Chinese architecture and trades. It was fun to walk around and observe the sights and sounds. Once again we were asked by strangers if they could take their picture with us!
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Tuesday, July 19
Last night when Kristi started to cry again, she let me pick her up and snuggle (unlike earlier when she pulled away). We were able to distract her with a bath - I don't think she had ever taken one before! She loved making bubbles in the water with shampoo (our improvised bubble bath!) Then she picked up all her toys when we motioned it was time for bed.
Well, this has been a long day! Kristi started crying when she woke up, but stopped when we got her up to get dressed and eat. She loves to eat - and likes almost everything! We left at 8 this morning and just got back around 3. This morning we had to register the adoption (this took a couple hours), then we had to apply for a passport for Kristi (tons of people), and then we had to notarize the registered adoption paperwork (more wait). There were two other children (age 18 months and 24 months) also adopted in Tianjin and we went through the day together. One family was from Indiana and the other from Minnesota. It was great to have other Americans to talk to during the day - made what would otherwise have been a long and miserable day go much quicker! Kristi was amazingly patient and she loved the babies!
Well - I was wrong about the size - I put my smallest outfit on Kristi (size 5T) and it was too big. She is either a 3T or a 4T. We weighed her and she is around 26 pounds (way too light for a child of almost 7 - Ty weighed that by 12 months!). We are wondering if it is just malnutrition or if we have something else going on. Her scoliosis appears to be pretty severe. She loves to laugh, and continues to be very social. Although she likes to play with dad (baba) she currently wants momma to take care of her. Did we mention she is very curious? She watches us like a hawk! Today she was handing me snacks and wanting me to count them in English and she would repeat. This was the first interest she had shown in English. She brought me the photo album and wanted to go through it today with her a couple of times. She has Lindsey down, but can't tell Mitch and Ty apart (then again, a lot of people have that problem!) She continues to spend most of her free time coloring. Tonight we will take it easy and we have tomorrow off. Tomorrow afternoon Lee wants to take us to Ancient Culture Street. Things are going well but it is very frustrating to not be able to communicate with her!
Well, this has been a long day! Kristi started crying when she woke up, but stopped when we got her up to get dressed and eat. She loves to eat - and likes almost everything! We left at 8 this morning and just got back around 3. This morning we had to register the adoption (this took a couple hours), then we had to apply for a passport for Kristi (tons of people), and then we had to notarize the registered adoption paperwork (more wait). There were two other children (age 18 months and 24 months) also adopted in Tianjin and we went through the day together. One family was from Indiana and the other from Minnesota. It was great to have other Americans to talk to during the day - made what would otherwise have been a long and miserable day go much quicker! Kristi was amazingly patient and she loved the babies!
Well - I was wrong about the size - I put my smallest outfit on Kristi (size 5T) and it was too big. She is either a 3T or a 4T. We weighed her and she is around 26 pounds (way too light for a child of almost 7 - Ty weighed that by 12 months!). We are wondering if it is just malnutrition or if we have something else going on. Her scoliosis appears to be pretty severe. She loves to laugh, and continues to be very social. Although she likes to play with dad (baba) she currently wants momma to take care of her. Did we mention she is very curious? She watches us like a hawk! Today she was handing me snacks and wanting me to count them in English and she would repeat. This was the first interest she had shown in English. She brought me the photo album and wanted to go through it today with her a couple of times. She has Lindsey down, but can't tell Mitch and Ty apart (then again, a lot of people have that problem!) She continues to spend most of her free time coloring. Tonight we will take it easy and we have tomorrow off. Tomorrow afternoon Lee wants to take us to Ancient Culture Street. Things are going well but it is very frustrating to not be able to communicate with her!
Monday, July 18, 2011
Adoption Day - July 18
At 8:30 we were off to the Tianjin Institute of Children's Welfare. As we were signing the adoption papers at 9:00, Kristi came in with her teacher. She was not shy at all and came right up to us. She wanted to show us the panda we had sent her as well as the pictures we had sent. Then she sang a song for us - she has a wonderful sense of pitch - she loves music! We were surprised at how tiny she was - her arms and legs are so thin, we are a little concerned about that. Paul thinks she is just over 3 feet tall and weighs about 30 lbs. However, our fears were put to rest about her being developmentally delayed. She is very sharp and has quirky sense of humor! She was very happy and curious about everything going on. Her teacher was crying and very sorry to see her leave.
We stopped by Walmart on the way back to the hotel to buy a couple of smaller outfits. She is probably more like a 5T than a 6 - but hopefully she will put on weight quickly. She seemed used to being in stores as she was tossing frilly pink dresses, one after another, into the cart. Mom and dad will need to teach 'no' early on but we were happy to report she did not throw a tantrum as we put the dresses back (even though she was clearly displeased with us). Paul got his work out chasing her around the store! At the hotel, she was very happy to play toys with us. So far, she seems to have a very sweet disposition. Lindsey - she loves the hair bows - wants to wear all three and won't take them off! We went out to Pizza Hut for lunch. She was very patient waiting for food. Deanna - she really enjoys the etch-a-sketch you got her - kept her entertained until the pizza came! The waiter was very shocked when I tried to order in English. He quickly got someone who could understand English. Boys - you may have competition coming to the dinner table - she downed two pieces of pizza - not bad for a half pint!
All was well until shortly after we came back to the hotel after lunch. Then reality set in and she began to sob. She put on her sandals, put her little backpack on and I am certain she was asking to be brought back to the orphanage. She cried for about an hour. Although this was a positive sign and shows she had bonded to her teachers, it was heartbreaking to watch. After an hour, we called Lee to come and translate for us. He said she was sad and wanted to see her teachers. He went out for us to find some videos for her that would comfort her - Pleasant Goat and Big Bad Wolf. While he was gone, we got out the crayons and paper. We found out she loves to color and will do it for a long time. She sang us some more songs and watched her video.
Now it is after supper and she is getting sad again. Pray for her as she goes through this time of grieving and separation. Tomorrow will be a long day. We have several appointments during the day at civil offices.
We stopped by Walmart on the way back to the hotel to buy a couple of smaller outfits. She is probably more like a 5T than a 6 - but hopefully she will put on weight quickly. She seemed used to being in stores as she was tossing frilly pink dresses, one after another, into the cart. Mom and dad will need to teach 'no' early on but we were happy to report she did not throw a tantrum as we put the dresses back (even though she was clearly displeased with us). Paul got his work out chasing her around the store! At the hotel, she was very happy to play toys with us. So far, she seems to have a very sweet disposition. Lindsey - she loves the hair bows - wants to wear all three and won't take them off! We went out to Pizza Hut for lunch. She was very patient waiting for food. Deanna - she really enjoys the etch-a-sketch you got her - kept her entertained until the pizza came! The waiter was very shocked when I tried to order in English. He quickly got someone who could understand English. Boys - you may have competition coming to the dinner table - she downed two pieces of pizza - not bad for a half pint!
All was well until shortly after we came back to the hotel after lunch. Then reality set in and she began to sob. She put on her sandals, put her little backpack on and I am certain she was asking to be brought back to the orphanage. She cried for about an hour. Although this was a positive sign and shows she had bonded to her teachers, it was heartbreaking to watch. After an hour, we called Lee to come and translate for us. He said she was sad and wanted to see her teachers. He went out for us to find some videos for her that would comfort her - Pleasant Goat and Big Bad Wolf. While he was gone, we got out the crayons and paper. We found out she loves to color and will do it for a long time. She sang us some more songs and watched her video.
Now it is after supper and she is getting sad again. Pray for her as she goes through this time of grieving and separation. Tomorrow will be a long day. We have several appointments during the day at civil offices.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Sunday, July 17
After a leisurely breakfast, Lee picked us up at 10am and we headed to the train station. From there we took the high speed train to Tianjin. The train goes over 240 miles per hour and is very smooth. Once in Tianjin, we checked into the hotel and out to a noodles place for lunch. Then we went to a bank to exchange money (an interesting experience). Now we are just spending the evening in the hotel relaxing and thinking about tomorrow. After looking at Kristi's picture for so long, it is hard to believe that we will finally meet her tomorrow. We have been warned to anticipate that she will cry as she is saying goodby to all she has known. By experiencing a new culture, being stared at all the time, not being to speak the language or communicate effectively, as well as missing our children and friends, we now have a better appreciation for what the coming days will hold for Kristi. As we contemplate tomorrow, we are filled with so many emotions - we are scared, excited, nervous, and very empathetic to the little girl who will be saying her goodbys today to the foster parents and kids that have been her family for the past years. To our friends - we appreciate your prayers, keep them coming! To our kids - we miss you greatly and love you! Tomorrow we hope to post pictures of meeting Kristi!
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