Another day in Guangzhou

Still a few hours to go but so far it appears we are going to survive another day.  HaiYang's TB was negative as expected, thank goodness.  One of the other families had a scare, but after the x-ray their son was also negative so we are all cleared to go, just waiting on visas and the final swearing in. 

We tried to do a little shopping at the Pearl Market, uhhh I don't think Christmas shopping will be very easy this year. HaiYang took several fits and rolled in God knows what on the floor of the shops - yuck!!  I saw a few things I would have liked to buy for gifts, sorry but just couldn't do it, we had to leave.  We went back to Shamian Island for lunch at Lucy's, they serve their version on American food, it was fine.  We did a little shopping for HaiYang there and after eating she was in a much better mood. 

It is very warm here, if I calculated correctly it was probably in the low 90's today and a bit humid.  When we returned to the hotel we decided to see what HaiYang thought of the pool - SHE LOVED IT!!  She wasn't sure for about the 1st two minutes then just loved it! She was jumping in and giggling.  Every time she jumped she would curl into a ball after I grabbed her, so funny.  One of the other little girls had goggles so HaiYang used her sunglasses for goggles, very cute.  As we expected when we had enough she had not, oh my did she have a fit!!!! She was so mad she was smacking the floor and screaming!!!  In case I haven't mentioned it a few times - she really has a temper!!! WOW!!!  I am trying to tune it out and give as little reaction as possible, hoping she outgrows it.

She really likes water, she just took another marathon bath, I think she washed her hair about 6 times and her legs about 10 times, she is really cute doing it too.  After her bath she combs and combs her hair and then calls me to dry it, she likes the hair dryer.  She is always pretty pleasant in the evening, until bed time anyway.

She is still calling me Ayi but has also started to call me Mooomeeeee although she has also called Maryann Mommy.  It's fine I am sure she just thinks I am another nanny passing through.  She mostly calls Dave BaBa, the chinese word for Daddy, he just eats it up.  She really loves Dave, which is a good thing because he has way more patients than I do. 

Sorry I haven't posted any pictures, I have tried many times but I can't get them to go through, not sure what the problem is.  I'll try again this evening.

Hope all is well at home, we miss you all!! 

Hugs,

Kristie, Dave, Lucie, Tessie & HaiYang  

-umm did I say we survived another day.... Tessie and HaiYang are really going at it at the moment  - pray for me!! haha.

Ahhh Guangzhou!!

I never thought I would be so happy to be in Guangzhou!!!!!  Zhengzhou was a great experience (other than the hotel) and I am glad we got to see a real city here, but we had all had enough.  The air was awful and there just wasn't enough to do.  I almost cried at the airport when I saw a play set for the girls to play on.  The flight to Guangzhou went well, Jessie told HaiYang several times that she was going on a plane and had to wear a seatbelt.... she got in her seat and buckled up with no problem and fortunately she fell asleep 10 minutes in and stayed asleep the whole way.  I did forget to give her a diaper just in case, well we left a wet seat on the plane, I am sure there was a very unhappy passenger on the next flight. I was sad to leave Jessie, for one I just really liked her and I was terrified to be without a translator for HaiYang, I cried when we parted, she probably thought I was nuts.  Our new coordinator is very nice too and is help-full with the language as well.  We have learned to say a few words and listen for a few things from her so that is also helpful. 

We are at the Ch*na Hotel (Marriott Hotel) it is definitely one of the nicest hotels I have ever been in and we have a HUGE suite, so we are much more comfortable now.  We are with 2 other families from our adoption agency - we had all contacted one another prior to the trip so it was almost like meeting friends?  Anyway, both very nice families, one adopted a 10 year old boy and they have their 12 year old son with them, both nice boys.  The other family adopted a 4 year old boy and have their 6 year old daughter with them. She is a cute little girl and the girls all seem to be having fun together.

 

Saturday was the medical appointment, needless to say HaiYang hated it, sober at first and clinging to me, which was nice since she prefers Dave most of the time.  Once they started the exam she was just a crying mess started out scared then turned angry, it wasn't very pleasant.  She had to get 4 shots and a TB test which we go back to have read tomorrow, no bump so I think we are in the clear with that.  The clinic was on Shamian Island which is were we stayed during our past trips, it was nice to be somewhere familiar.  We spent a few hours at a park after the medical, it was good for the kids to get to run around without the fear of being run over by a car or bike!!  HaiYang was really cute at the park, there were a few little boys she really liked and seemed like she wanted to help them, we think maybe she was used to helping the little ones at Hope or the orphanage.  Tessie has also made it her job to help with the little boy from the other family. He is blind so when we are out it is easier for him to be in a stroller, Tessie always wants to push and even shared her cookies and snacks with him.  He is a really cute little guy and already making so much progress, his Mom works with the blind so he is in really good hands.

 

Today we went to another park, it was gorgeous and huge. The first part was just a really pretty park with trees and a boat rental area, we opted for the motor boat rather than the paddle.  HaiYang really liked it, Tessie was worried we would tip and it wasn't water you would want to fall into.  After, we came to the exercise area, it was packed! They are all over Chna, the equipment is for exercise rather than play and tons of people use it.  Lucie had to show off her monkey bar abilities and received a small applause.  There was also an amusement section, I couldn't refuse L & T again after the zoo so we agreed to do a few rides. Several in and HaiYang went crazy when she couldn't go on the bumper car with Lucie and Dave, I had to turn to Elsie for help - after the rant was over Elsie said, "oh wow she has very bad temper", no friggin kidding.  We finished off with a little craft that settled her down and made everyone happy.  On the way back I picked up lunch at McD's, yep that is correct, it is our 3rd McD's meal since we arrived here.  I know that sounds bad but it isn't easy to get a small lunch anywhere else and honestly, even I was happy to have some chx nuggets.  HaiYang loves fries with ketchup!!

This evening we went to a Cantonese Dinner with one of the other families.  It was one of those restaurants that had 50 aquariums full of every imaginable creature  - Lisa they even had frogs for you and Tessie had me take a picture to prove it, very gross.  No we didn't eat frogs, snakes, bugs, worms, alligators, turtles or any of the other things I can't name but we did have a great meal of pork, beef, veggies, rice, buns and watermelon.  HaiYang ate up a storm as usual - she loves watermelon and keeps stealing Tessie's off of her.  She is pretty well behaved at the table, aside from stealing from Tessie, which surprises me since I doubt she has been in many restaurants, and likes fussing with the chopsticks, spoons and cups.

Bed time is becoming more challenging each night, I think she figured out that there are other things happening after kids go to bed, she has really started to fight it that last few nights, just like her sisters.  Although since we have been here the girls can't seem to stay awake until 8:30, I wish that would last at home, ha, it won't.  I don't even want to think about what our new bed time ritual will be.

 

Well only 4 more days here and we will be on a plane, so far our flight hasn't changed, if it does we'll let everyone know. Can't wait for you to meet HaiYang.

Love and miss you all!! xoxo

 

Turtles

Good thing these will not pass security or I know we would have 2.

Leaving for Guangzhou

We are leaving for Guangzhou this afternoon, thank  goodness, there should be a little more to do with the kids there and hopefully better accomidations.  Yesterday went ok.  We didn't have anything official to do so Lucie asked our coordinator if we could go to the zoo.  That was interesting to say the least, nothing like the Pgh Zoo, too bad they aren't as concerned with the animals as they are with the grounds, it was very pretty but the animals were in very small cages and it smelled awful.  There was also a show, I guess something like the circus but somewhat distrubing, the girls thought it was great but they don't know any better. It was good to get out where HaiYang could run  without fear of being run over by a car.  She is really fast and like most 3 year olds thinks it is hysterical to run from us, not so funny when there is so much  traffic.  The language barrier is very difficult, we hardly know what she is saying, we have learned what she says for water or needing to use the bathroom, not too much else.  Dave has mastered a few phrases, I just can't seem to get them rite, hopefully she'll start picking up a few english word soon.  Maybe when we get home and she doesn't have a translator any more.  She is saying the girls names, yummy, I  think she may have said thank you, hi and bye.

She is going to sleep ok but falls out of bed several times each night, last night she stayed awake for a little while after falling out of bed, I though for sure she was going to be upset but she just chatted (again, no idea what she was saying) had some water and finally dozed off. At least she is willing to let me take over at bed time but she really prefers Dave. 

She is so rough, the girls are gettinng annoyed with it, she will lunge at them will full force and uses hitting to get attention.  She'll hit anyone, us included and grabs whatever she wants.  I have to keep reminding Tessie that she lived with so many children that she probably had to do those thing to get a turn with a toy or to get any kind of attention. 

Eating is really a problem, she wants to eat soooo much we have to rush the kids so we can leave the restaurant or get the food out of her site.  If she even sees any snacks or someone else eating something she thinks she should have it.  They all had an icecream at the zoo, HaiYang was done before Tessie and she all but attacked Tessie for hers, then had a meltdown because she wouldn't hand it over.  Poor Tessie,  I was wrestling with HaiYang and yelling at Tessie to eat faster!!!  Although Tessie was not about to surrender or throw it away.   I hope once we can communicate with her we can explain that there will always be plenty of food. I am afraid I'll have to put a lock on the  kitchen cabinets.

She can be really cute too, she loves the shower and took another marathon shower last night although she kept running out and falling.  She got really spunky last night and starting jumping from the beds, made me laugh thinking of my Nephew doing that, at a hotel, at about the same age.  The papers from the orphanage said she acts like the boys.  But she loves girly things, I  tried to put pants on her and she took them off immedately and grabbed a denim skirt from the day before.  Fine, if she is't crying, she can wear it every day.  She also carries her purse everywhere we go and has a pack of  tissues she likes to use when she needs a napkin or tissue.  She will go get that little pack even when we are in the room or out eating, I keep refilling it for her.

Only a week to go now, we are all more than ready to come home, I think we are all a bit homesick. Lucie is starting to feel better and her fever is gone, thank  goodness. I was worried about getting on a plane with the fever, I'll give her tylenol before we go just in case.

Well I have to pack this room and I am sure that will  take hours.  Hope all is well, thanks for the e-mails!!  It is good to hear from everyone. 

 

Make the Hairstyle

"Make the hairstyle", that cracks me up - here is the hairstyle.

Survived Jiaozuo

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

Zhengzhou update

Hey, all is well. Our 1st few nights went rather smooth.  HaiYang is doing ok, she is pleasant most of the time although she really really has a temper!!!  She loves to eat, I honestly don't know where she puts it.  I think she was bribed with food much of the time, probably candy, she has an absolute fit if she sees candy and can't have it and will try to take treats off of the girls, this doens't sit well with Tessie :-).

Dave is still her favorite, she wants to be held by him most of the time. fortunately when he isn't holding her she is usually willing to hold our hands.  The streets are so crowded it is unbelievable, cars and motorbikes on the sidewalks, this even irritates our guide.  Our guide has been great and Lucie and Tessie really like her, she is "making a hairstyle" for Lucie right now.  She has taken us shopping, what an experience, and to local restaurants to have the real Chinese food.  Lucie and Tessie ate so many dumplings I thought they would burst!!!  They were very good, I will probably be one of the few people that come here and gain weight, we are eating alot of noodles and dumplings. there is a restaurant here that is supposed to be very famous for their noodles, of  course they are homemade too - yummy!!!!!

Today we go back to the orphanage to meet with the notary, should be interesting it's an 1.5 hours both ways, I am armed with crackers, candy, cookes and toys.  We will not go into the orphanage due to the fear of NIHI, fine with me she only spent a few weeks there so it doesn't matter if we see it.

One of the funny things that the girls can't get over is how the little ones here will squat and pee anywhere!!  Just stop in the middle of the sidewalk and pee, they all do it so it isn't a big deal but it cracks the girls up.  HaiYang had tried a few times, we grab her and run to a bathroon if we can make it.  We are using diapers as back up but so far during the day she is doing well and she really like the undies we bought her.  The bathroom situation is less than desirable at the local restaurants and stores, squat only (hole in the floor), Lucie has no problem with it, I can't manage and Tessie won't try.  Oh and I  thought Lucie would pass out at the restaurant when a server left the toilet and did't wash her hands,Lucie was horrified!!!!! I was afraid Lucie wouldn't eat,  I just had to put it out of my mind -yuck!!!!!

Ok, have to go I'll try to send more later.  Hope the pictures show up.