We survived the van ride to and from Jiaozuo, HaiYang actually did pretty well although she does not sit still in the car, I can't even imagine how much she will dislike the car seat. We visited the orphanage, outside tour only, it seemed pretty well taken care of. We did go in the offices, typical building for the area, sparse with hard tile floors, not much to say about it. NASTY, DIRTY toilet (squat of course) I refuse to drink if we are heading away from the hotel so I don't have to use the restrooms, Dave just laughs and give me his pity, Lucie sees it as a personal challenge and prides herself in her use of the hole in the floor. Jenny, I'll post a toilet picture just for you, haha.
Anyway, back to the orphanage, the lady we met with was very nice and dressed to the nines! She was also one of the women that delievered HaiYang to us. We walked around the grounds, there was the Senior Citizens building, the baby building and a hospital used by the orphanage and the public. The grounds we very nice and there was a big playground. Haiyang stood back a bit even when her nannies and friends came over to her. Jessie said that is normal, the kids don't want to stay and they seem to think if they talk they may have to stay. Very sad, a little girl came over to her and said, "mama" pointing to me then said, "I don't have a mama", I thought I would cry. She was about the same age as HaiYang. Several of the kids were severe, special- needs, Jessie said most of them will just spend their whole lives there, if they are capable they will be given a job.
The ride back was ok, HaiYang went through every snack we packed her then fell asleep on Dave's lap, she is really a daddy's girl. When we returned she used the potty then stripped down to shower, so cute she uses all of the hotel bath wash and just scrubs and scrubs, washes her hair over and over, very cute!!! Tessie jumped in with her and she seemed to enjoy the company although they did fight over the shower. After, she pulled me to the hair dryer and wanted her hair dried. At the moment she is tearing apart the photo album we sent her when she was at New Hope, she keeps screaming "lucie" when she gets to Lucie's picture, in the last hour she has copied a few words and says them very loudly, of course I think all the Chinese sound like the are yelling at one another.
Well we are at the 1/2 way point in the trip and I think we are all ready to come home, hopefully the next 9 days will go fast.
My Mom asked if we are calling her Daysie, I sort of doubt that name will take, we call her HaiYang or Yang Yang (pronounced young young), that was her nick name at the orphanage.
Ok, We love and miss you all. Hugs to my puppies please. xoxoxo
