Day 11 - Our Last Day in Guangzhou!

We were able to sleep in for our last day in Guangzhou, China! It was the other families' turn to go to the US consulate to request their child's visa (kiddos under 2 do not require a TB test so we get to leave a day earlier!). MeiLin did so well and let us sleep until 7:00am! We took it easy in the morning and then went shopping at the Pearl Market. After all of our great finds yesterday, no one ended up buying anything today, so we just had a quick bite at McDonalds for lunch.

After nap time, we worked on walking with MeiLin in her new squeaky shoes and met with our guide who brought us MeiLin's visa to enter the US! Once the paperwork is handed to the immigration officer in Chicago, she will automatically shift from a Chinese citizen to a US citizen - Yeah!!!

Please pray for us tomorrow. They were not able to get a flight arranged for us to Shanghai tonight, so we face 25 hours of travel tomorrow - OMG! We are waking up at 4:30am in the morning tomorrow to finish packing and head to the airport. We depart at 7:20pm CST (9:20am China time) and will arrive back in Dallas the following evening at 9:45pm CST. Not sure how we are going to entertain a busy toddler for such a long time in a confined space. I guess we are about to find out!

We are exhausted and heading to bed. This will be our last entry from China as the travel will be crazy and we aren't sure if we will have WiFi connections. I hope everyone has enjoyed following our adventure of picking up our little girl in China and our first week as a new family!

More pictures: MeiLin with her new hair barrettes!, the girl's new shoes from China, a squatty potty (Yuck and I managed to avoid using one!), and Chinese soldiers walking down the street

Day 10 - US Consulate Visit

Today we had our appointment with the US Consulate. The appointment was scheduled for 10 am. So, we had to leave the hotel at 9 to make it there in time. We arrived plenty early only to discover that they had us down for an 8:30 am time. Our guide even confirmed the day before that we were at 10. Luckily, that was not an issue. They let us in and right at 10 they saw us. It was less formal than we would have expected. The whole process took place at what could be described at a bank teller like window behind a thick pane of glass. We took a quick oath on behalf of MeiLin since she is too young to take it herself. Then the consulate employee, an American named Allison, reviewed our paperwork to make sure everything was in order, which it was. And that was it! We were done by 10:10. Our guide will go back tomorrow to pick up MeiLin's passport with the visa and we will be all set to return home on Wednesday. The US consulate was on the 4th floor of a nondescript, normal looking office building. No flags flying or any American soldiers - I didn't even see a sign. It was manned by "consulate security guards" a.k.a. cheaper Chinese labor.

Since we were done so early and had nothing else till 3 pm, we planned to have an early lunch and then MeiLin down for a nap by noon for a couple of hours. (Mommy and Daddy needed the rest!) Naturally she did not cooperate and was up after only an hour. Rather than be cooped up in the hotel, we decided to go for a walk outside. It was another gorgeous January day in Guangzhou with temps around 70. Mommy bought some new shoes and MeiLin just loves being pushed in her stroller!

At 3:00, we headed to Shamian Island where all of the adoptions were previously centralized. it is home of the famous Swan Hotel (shut down while being gutted and renovated), the US Consulate, (moved 5 years ago to mainland) and the Medical Building (moved last year to the mainland). But the island is beautiful. The English settled there in the 1800's so the colonial architecture is truly stunning. And there is the most beautiful park! We did TONS of shopping - the prices were amazing. I got MeiLin some traditional Chinese dresses in various sizes and a lot of other souvenirs. MeiLin started to try and walk when we first got her but then she decided she prefers to ride in the stroller or be carried. We found the cutest "squeaky" shoes - so I am hoping those will encourage her to start walking again tomorrow!

We had dinner at Lucy's on the island. It was just as amazing as promised. We sat on the patio and ate our dinner with the other Gladney family and our guide, Jack. It was truly perfection. The weather was perfect, the food, the oldies but goodies on the radio, and our new little baby girl swinging her legs in her high chair. I truly think there are only a few of those moments in life and that was one of them for me. The music reminded me of my Mom...summers by the pool, cleaning house, songs playing on the jukebox. It made me a little sad, but then my little baby would look up at me and I would smile down at her with all of my love!

When getting MeiLin ready for bed tonight - I had the best Mommy moment. I swear she looked up at me, said Mama, and put up her little arms. I just shrieked with joy; another memory I hope to engrain forever! So a great day!

Sorry everyone, I did not take as many photos today as I should have!

Photos: MeiLin's first trip to McDonalds, Shamian Island, a photo shoot of a model, statue of an American family with their adopted child, the beautiful park, our guide, Jack, and Lucy's

Day 9 - Trip to the Zoo (Dong Wu Yuan)

Today our guide Jack took our family along with the other family from Gladney to the zoo. This was MeiLin's first trip to a zoo and likely her first time to see live animals. It was difficult to tell if she liked it but the rest of us had a great time. We saw monkeys, giraffes, tigers, pigs, goats and bears (including panda bears of course!) They even had raccoons at the zoo. The zoo was located near the hotel in the heart of Guangzhou. So, it was interesting to be in such a lush zoo environment and be surrounded by skyscrapers. Not 5 minutes after entering the zoo, MeiLin was wet. Sure enough...another diaper leak. Glad that it was just pee, but still it was up her shirt, down her pants, and into her sock. We just changed her clothes really quick on a bench with a bunch of Chinese people standing around trying to communicate to us that she was cold. Hello we know, but we can't leave her sitting in wet clothes!

After the zoo, we walked to the local Subway for a healthier, cheaper lunch. (Prices in the hotel are outrageous! The one kids meal option for room service was $36!). Then it was time for MeiLin to take a nap while Mommy went for a quick shopping trip. Clothing prices at the mall were just as pricey. The weather is so warm here that I was looking for a cooler top. Of course all the clothes in the stores are winter clothes. So tons of sweaters and sweatshirts but not a short-sleeve shirt to be found. I ended up finding a Yoga section and buying a shirt from there. I knew sizes would be different, but at home I am a size small and had to settle for the XL today - it is still a bit snug. :)

For dinner, our guide, Jack, took us to a traditional restaurant. He did all of the ordering too. Anyone who knows me knows that I am super picky, but the food was amazing! And then at the end (with Jacks' coupon!), our meal was only $55. Mind you this fed Brandon, myself, MeiLin, Jack, and our other Gladney family of 6! Talk about a good deal! But it took a LONG time for them to serve the various courses so all of the kids were getting tired and restless. Last but not least...a big "Thank you" shout out to the other Gladney family as they picked up the dinner bill for everyone. They have been such a blessing this trip!

Until tomorrow...

Photos of the zoo this morning (including the baby whisperer, Renee) and the munchkin!

Day 8 - The Medical Exam

Our morning started out with MeiLin's medical exam at a US Authorized clinic. We met in the lobby of the hotel where there were at least 40 other families all waiting to go to the clinic for their adopted kiddos. This was quite a site! Young kids, older kids, kids in wheelchairs, and some kids with major disabilities. How amazing that they are all being blessed with a loving home and in turn will bless the lives of their new families. Once we arrived at the clinic, I can only describe the proceedings as organized chaos. I couldn't tell where lines started or ended and there were mobs of families. Thank goodness our guide Jack was a pro! He would squeeze us in and out of lines. This normally takes 2-3 hours but he had us out in an hour!

The rest of the day was nice and relaxing. (We are still really tired today from the events of yesterday!). We found a Pizza Hut for lunch - where they serve steak! Then back to the room for a nap so Mommy and Daddy could watch the Australian Open! We ventured out for an Italian dinner but got stuck in the rain and had to race home for the evening. Hopefully tomorrow I will have some time (time flies so quickly with a little one!) to do a little shopping for myself and MeiLin - it is hot and tropical here! High of 70 for the rest of the trip!

Photos of the hotel, our laundry from yesterday, and of course, the adorable peanut!

Day 7 - Travel to Guangzhou!

Wow! Not going to lie; today was a VERY trying day for all. We ate breakfast and packed in the morning for our 11:30 departure to the airport. Keeping MeiLin entertained within one room for that duration required a wild use of the imagination! Thankfully, "it" happened in the room vs out on the go...we had our first "blow out". I bent down to pick her up and change her diaper and I said, "Brandon, it feels like she is wet." Ugh! #2 had come out of the leg portion of the diaper and rolled down her pant leg. Fun times.

Needless to say a change of clothes was in order. That was when I realized the size 18 month pants I brought were WAY too big. They just fell off at the waist. So the washing of those size 12 clothes were definitely in order once we arrive in Guangzhou . Thus, I am now down to the dirty pants, the ones I put on her, and the change of clothes in the carry on. While at the airport waiting for the plane, her pants became wet again. This time we left them on her since it was just pee (I know - rather disgusting) but that would leave us with only one pair of pants!

Take off for the plane ride was beyond horrible. MeiLin has had fluid in her lungs since we picked her up on Mon. We have been giving her medicine but it hasn't cleared up yet. (I know experienced Mom's out there know where this is heading...). Yep, she ended up having HORRIBLE pressure in her ears and started wailing. This was a cry we hadn't heard before - sheer agony. We tried to give her a sucker to suck, she wouldn't take it. Then we tried to get her to suck from the sippy cup - nope. By this time, we had 4 concerned Moms and a flight attendant standing around trying to help us. They kept saying to give her milk (one of them spoke English!) but we checked the formula in the checked luggage and they didn't have any on the plane. So we put water in the bottle - she wouldn't suck it. We tried Gatorade in her bottle - she would suck it. This is when she began the head thrashing. My poor baby was just throwing around her head. Into Brandon, into the seat ahead, into the armrest. Brandon had to bear hug her to keep her from hurting herself, but it was all he could do to hold her. This is when I just lost it and start bawling. I was out of ideas and had no way to help alleviate her pain! Finally, Brandon got up and took her to the bathroom. Our co-traveling family from Gladney was amazing - the Mom, Renee, came back and sat with me. (The person in the third seat in our row found a new seat :). ). Renee told me about how her first born was colicky and how sometimes there is nothing you can do once it has reached a certain point. Boy did I need that, I was feeling like the worst parent in the world. After 20 minutes Brandon wasn't back and one of the daughters reported that she could still hear her crying in the restroom. So Renee offered to take a shift of holding MeiLin. Brandon was relieved to hand her off in the bathroom but said that he was still having to bear hug her - that she was still thrashing. :( After about 10 minutes I was feeling bad and went to relieve Renee. She is a baby whisperer! By the time I got back there, she had calmed her down and MeiLin wasn't crying anymore! I can't begin to explain the relief to see the pain gone from her eyes! She was good for the rest of the trip at the high altitude. Before we started to descend, I went to the stewardess area and asked for juice for the bottle. The guy was great! He had me sit with him in his seat (there was major turbulence) and he filled the bottle to the top. So much so that when I put the straw in the bottle it split down my leg and even into my shoes. All of the flight attendants including myself had a good laugh. And that did the trick! During the descent, we alternated between the bottle and the sippy cup so that she was constantly sucking. The poor baby must have had 14 ounces of liquid within a 25 minute span. (Once again, experienced Mom's will see where this is going!). I tried to tip the stewardess guy when we left, but he refused saying it was his pleasure. So a "Thank You" shout out to Eastern Airlines is in order! Yep - last one off the plane and as I am approaching the front of the plane, MeiLin throws up. On her shirt, sweater, and jeans and down my arm and hand, but luckily none on my clothes! (Good thing I didn't changed her pants earlier at the airport or the baby would be naked tomorrow!). I cleaned her up as best as I could and kept trucking for the luggage area.

Thankfully, the rest of our trip to the hotel was uneventful, but MeiLin never got her nap and Mommy and Daddy are physically and mentally exhausted. Boy, this sure wasn't in the adoption brochure! ;). There were quite a few times today where I had to stop and take a deep breathe...but I am happy to say that we made it - and are now at a beautiful hotel in what looks like an amazing location. It totally looks like Vegas!

I am sure I will crash after publishing this...so Good Night (or should I say Good Morning) to all!