HAPPY 4TH OF JULY FROM CHINA!!!

I never dreamed that I would spend a 4th of July in China!!!!  Needless to say, there were no parades or fireworks here today----for a different reason than no fireworks at home!!!  I dressed the girls in one of the 4th of July outfits I brought with me, though, so they looked quite festive!!

Happy 4th from Molly Kate and Callie Beth!

We started our day by going to the Guangzhou City Zoo.  It was very hot, and some of the animals were not out in the open, but the girls got to see a lot of animals anyway.  Molly Kate was more impressed by the steps and the water than she was the animals, but she enjoyed it.  Callie Beth had fun, too.  I'm not sure that she was able to see all of the animals, especially the ones that were far off, but she did see some of them.  I won't bore you with the pictures of took of the animals.  I WILL include some of the pictures I took of the girls while we were at the zoo, since they are OUR little monkeys!!!!  :)

Daddy and his girls.

What is that?

When we got back to the hotel, we had a little time before we had to leave to take Callie Beth back to the medical examination clinic to have her TB skin test read.  We knew it was fine, but it was one of those things we had to do.  The drive to the clinic was about 15 minutes.  It took all of one minute for them to look at her arm and tell us she was fine, and then we came back to the hotel.

I decided it would be good for the girls to take a nap, so I changed their clothes and put them in their beds.  It took Molly Kate a while to go to sleep, but she finally did.  An hour and a half later, Callie Beth was still screaming and crying.  I suppose she thought she didn't need to take a nap!!!  I hated to reinforce negative behavior, but I had to get her up to get dressed because we were scheduled to have our group pictures made at 4:00.  Once she was out of her bed, she was a happy camper.  Molly Kate, on the other hand, cried and cried when I got her up to get her dressed. 

In the past, all adoption groups have had the infamous "red couch" picture made at the White Swan hotel.  Because the White Swan is under renovation, we have been staying at the China Hotel Marriott, and sadly, there are no red couches here.  SO, we had our group picture made on the red steps.  I know I'm SO prejudiced, but Molly Kate and Callie Beth looked SOOOO cute in their Chinese outfits.  I am attaching pictures.

 

We ate dinner tonight at a Japanese restaurant that is here in the hotel, and then we took the girls to the outdoor playground that is on the 4th floor.  It was immediately obvious that our little Callie Beth has already come a LONG way!!!  Last Saturday at the airport in Guangzhou, she wouldn't get our of her stroller to play on the indoor playground there.  Today, she was sliding and swinging and climbing.  She and Molly Kate both had so much fun!!!
 

Fun on the slide.

Just a swingin'

We brought the girls back to the room and I dressed them in their PJ's.  We had intended to go for a long stroller walk, but Callie Beth started one of her episodes, so I decided it was best if she and Molly Kate both went to bed.  They had had a VERY long day, and were both exhausted.  It was NOT an uneventful going to bed time, but both girls finally fell asleep.

As our days in China are drawing to an end, I have to say I am VERY ready to be home, even though I dread the long flight.  It is a bittersweet moment, too, though.  It is so utterly amazing how God drew eight families together from different parts of the country to be a travel family these past two plus weeks.  None of us had ever met each other before or even seen each other, but we immediately shared a bond, because we were all here for the same special reason.  Three of our families adopted non-special needs babies, just like we did with Molly Kate.  The other five of us all adopted children with special needs----biliary atresia, cleft lip & palate, missing hands, & anal atresia.  ALL of these children are BEAUTIFUL children, so deserving of good homes, and that is exactly what they now have.  All of our babies have had and continue to have moments of grieving with crying and good old temper tantrums, but they have also all come SOOOO far from what they were when we got them 10 days ago.  Sometimes Callie Beth's crying and screaming gets old, but then when I see that sweet smile of hers and the cutest giggle and observe how much she really does need me and trust me, my heart just overflows with gratitude to God for allowing me to be her mother.  I know HE has the greatest confidence in Roger and me that we can give her what she needs and help her to overcome her frustrations with our language barrier.  She has certainly already enriched our lives, just in the short time we've had her.  I am so thankful for Molly Kate, too, and we are both proud beyond words of her for being almost PERFECT on this trip, and for being so sweet with Callie Beth.  Roger and I are truly amazed at how much it seems she has grown up on this trip---maturity wise.  There has virtually been NO fussing between the girls.  I couldn't ask for them to get along any better than they do.  It's obvious that they have already formed a bond with each other.  

Travel Families

The Girls

In the morning, the five special needs adoption families, us included, will be going to the U.S. Consulate to finalize our visas and take the oath of adoption.  Even though Callie Beth has been officially ours since June 25, this is the last step in finalizing our adoption!!!!  When we return to the hotel, we are planning on going back to Shamien Island and spending the afternoon.  Who knows, in celebration, I might find a few more pairs of squeaky shoes for the girls!!!!

HAPPY 4th of July to all of you at home!!!!

Vicki :)

SHOPPING TRIP

SHOP, SHOP, SHOP and BUY, BUY, BUY!!!!!

Today was my first REAL day to get to do some shopping!!!!  I've been joking about the squeaky shoes---well, ACTUALLY I've been serious about them---but there were other special things I wanted to be sure and buy for the girls while I'm here.  Roger says this is our last trip to China----for a CHILD, that is---so, until we bring the girls back when they are older for the Heritage Tour, I knew I needed to get those special things NOW.

We started off with a trip to the Pearl Market.  I brought the pearl necklace and bracelet that I bought for Molly Kate last year when we were here so that I could get identical ones for Callie Beth.  I did WELL!!!  We also got some gifts while we were there, too.  I even ended up with a very pretty pink pearl bracelet for myself!!!

As soon as we got back to the hotel from the Pearl Market, Emily Young, one of the other MAMAS in our group, the girls, and I got a taxi and took off for Shamien Island.  It was almost 2:00 when we got there, and we had to be back to leave for the Pearl River Cruise by 5:45, so we had to do some SERIOUS shopping in a very short period of time.  I think we ended up going to six different stores, and I found everything I was looking for, except a crocheted doll for Callie Beth.  My very favorite store on the island is "A Gift from China."  This store has very nice merchandise, much of which is handmade, and all the proceeds from the sales goes to the orphanages.  I bought some really special things there, including a BEAUTIFUL baby quilt to give to Callie Beth when she has her first baby.  I bought one of these for Molly Kate last year.  They were out of the crocheted dolls, though, so I will just have to pay the big bucks for shipping and order one online later.  I did buy some other really nice things there, though. 

Our next stop was, "Jenny's Place."  This is my favorite place to buy squeaky shoes.  You should all be proud of me, because I think I only bought eight pairs, compared to the 23 pairs I bought last year!!!!  Of course, I did go into the store across the hall after I left there and bought two more pairs!!!!.  I love shopping at Jenny's though, because she and her husband are Christians, and they are truly sweet, honest people.  Since I forgot that I was supposed to buy some squeaky shoes for my friend, Eva for her granddaughter, Roger and I are going to have to go back to the island tomorrow to get those.  I really hate that!!!!----RIGHT!!!!! :)

Emily and I made the rest of our stops and then started trying to find a taxi.  It seemed to take FOREVER, and were beginning to worry about getting back to the hotel in time for the cruise.  We made it, though, with about 45 minutes to spare.  Emily had left her new daughter in the care of her husband, but we had Molly Kate and Callie Beth with us on the island.  They were both pretty good, and I really appreciate that Emily helped with diaper changes and snacks while I was shoe shopping!!!!

The Pearl River Cruise was GREAT!!!!  The food was even better this year than it was last year.  It was a great night to be out on a boat, and the lights were absolutely beautiful.  It would have been a totally perfect outing had Callie Beth not had one of her screaming, crying meltdowns after the meal was over.   The good thing about it, though, was that we were outside on the deck, so even though she was making quite a spectacle of herself,  she wasn't as loud as she would have been inside.  She had already had a meltdown on the bus enroute to the cruise.  I hate for others that she makes a lot of noise when she is doing this, but we actually ignore her and let her get it out of her system.  Most of the time, she sat on the floor on the deck.  When I picked her up, she continued the crying and screaming, so I kissed her, told her I love her, and sat her back down.  If she were my BIOLOGICAL three year old child, I would handle the meltdowns in a totally different manner, but we know this is all part of adjustment, and her whole world being turned upside down.  I think she already knows that the world she is in now is BETTER than before---even though she was well-cared for and loved to pieces at the Show Hope Care Center.  I think when we get home, though, in the confines of our own home, we may have LOTS of screaming and crying times, but we can work on the issues that are causing them.  We are going to have to help her learn to communicate her needs to us in another way, because it doesn't matter how much she scream and cries, we still don't know what is wrong with her.  Signing is helping some.  I think it's all so frustrating for her, though, that when she wants or needs something, because she doesn't understand what we are saying to her, and we can't understand her babbling, then she has no patience and wants it NOW!!!  Molly Kate is a good role model for her, and I think that will be helpful in the future.  As I've said many times, she really is very happy and content the majority of the time, and I can tell that she is getting more attached to Molly Kate as time passes.  Molly Kate loves her to pieces, too, but she doesn't want her touching her.  She still likes her personal space.  If Callie Beth touches her, she starts fussing, but at that time I can ask her if she wants to take Callie home with her, and she says, "Aye!!!!"  That is how she says, "yes."  She likes having her around, but she still wants her "MAMA TIME," too. 

When the cruise was over, I suppose that Callie Beth decided she had cried and screamed enough, because she was fine when we went back into the boat to get ready to get off.  She fell asleep in the bus on the way back to the hotel.  When we got back to our room, I got both of the girls ready for bed.  Molly Kate wanted me to rock her, so I took care of that first.  Callie Beth fussed a little about that, but when I started singing to Molly Kate, she stopped the fussing.  She LOVES music---another thing I have learned about her.  Molly Kate fell asleep quickly, so I sang to Callie Beth until she went to sleep, too.  She woke up when I put her in her bed, and she cried a little, but she went back to sleep. 

Tomorrow we are going to the ZOO!!!  I think the girls will like it.  When we get back, we then have to go back to the clinic to have Callie Beth's TB skin test read.  I'm thinking we will probably head to Shamien Island after that.  The other ladies in the group are going for manicures and pedicures here at the hotel, but I think I'm going to have to opt for the TB test reading.  I think I pampered myself enough today with shopping anyway!!!!

Molly Kate is crying, so I need to see what is wrong with her.  Until tomorrow.....

Vicki :)

POST SCRIPT

I forgot to put something REALLY IMPORTANT in my blog, so here is a SHORT post!!!

PROGRESS!!!!!

I can't believe that I forgot to tell what AMAZING thing happened tonight while we were on Shamien Island.  We were getting ready to leave the island.  Roger decided to go into the 7-Eleven store and get some snacks.  I waited outside with the girls.  Molly Kate was out of her stroller, but Callie Beth was sitting in hers, drinking her water.  She emptied her bottle, and apparently was still thirsty.  USUALLY, when this situation occurs, she starts whining quite loudly, and then is crying and almost screaming (without tears) before we get it refilled.  Roger had the bottled water inside his backpack, so I didn't have anything to give her right away.  As soon as she handed her bottle out to me, I took it and asked her is she wanted more, signing when I asked her?  AND, for the very first time, she proceeded to do the sign language for "more" that I have been showing her all week, and actually said, very calmly, "MORE!"   Folks, that may not sound like anything special to you, but for US, that is PROGRESS!!!!  It tells us she has added an ENGLISH word to her vocabulary that makes sense to her!!!   She was actually VERY GOOD from the time we left the hotel tonight.  She LOVED the Thai food, and behaved perfectly during dinner.  She really is a GOOD girl, and behind that introverted, shy personality, she has a lot of SPUNK!!!!  We are SO blessed to have been given the opportunity to add her to our family!!!!  Just like Molly Kate, it's already obvious that she is going to fit in PERFECTLY!!!! 

Vicki :)

SHOPPING

 NO SQUEAKY SHOES PURCHASED :(

This afternoon we headed to Shamien Island for dinner and SQUEAKY SHOE shopping.  We ate at a Thai restaurant called the Cow and Bridge.  We had an EXCELLENT meal, and fun and fellowship with three other families. 

After dinner, we headed to my favorite stores on the island, Jenny's Place, Sherry's Place and China Adoption Charities.  Sadly, they were all three closed.  Needless to say, we will be making another trip to the island probably tomorrow!!!!

I did buy a few things---matching outfits for Molly Kate and Callie Beth, really cute ladybug bracelets for them, a pendant for myself, chopsticks with Callie Beth's name on them, and a chop with her name engraved on it. We are going to have to go back to the island anyway to pick up those last two items.  HOPEFULLY, I will return with lots of SQUEAKY shoes, too, as well as other special items I have on my list!!!

We got back to the hotel a little before 9:00 tonight, and believe it or not, I had BOTH girls in bed by 9:30!!!  Callie Beth fell asleep during our taxi ride home, and didn't even wake up when I put her PJ's on her.  Molly Kate had fallen asleep in the taxi on the way TO the island, so she was wide awake on the way home.  I just left Callie Beth in her stroller until I was ready to dress her for bed.  At one point I looked up, and Molly Kate was poking on her and moving her head backward and forward!!!!  Luckily, she didn't wake her up!!!  It is now 10:05 here, and Roger is fast asleep, too!!!

Tomorrow we will be taking a trip to the Pearl Market.  I am in search of a pearl necklace and bracelet for Callie Beth.  Tomorrow night we will go on the Pearl River Cruise.  The food on the cruise is horrendous, but the lights of the city are absolutely GORGEOUS to see.  I think the girls will LOVE it!!!!


I am adding more pictures from today!!!!

I love yogurt!

Yogurt!

Vicki :)

EXAM DAY!

MEDICAL EXAM DAY!!!

Today was our day to take the bus to get Callie Beth's physical examination.  The clinic where we went was hopping with children waiting for their physicals---mostly, children being adopted. 

Ready for the Dr. visit.

I think Molly Kate knows she doesn't have to go through the Dr. visit, from the smile on her face!

Waiting for the Doctor.

Callie Beth did GREAT in the first station---eyes, ears, and throat exam---EXCEPT, she would NOT open her mouth for the doctor.  She didn't cry, she didn't scream, she didn't fuss at all---she just set there with her teeth clenched together tightly.  I don't know if I've mentioned it before, but her Chinese zodiac sign is the ox, and she is literally STRONG as an ox!!!  It was so funny---the doctor finally gave up, and wrote something down on her chart.  The medical information from today is for immigration, so we won't receive a copy of it.  I'm just assuming that she wrote something like, MOUTH CLAMPED SHUT!!!!!

The next station was weight, height, and temperature.  Callie Beth is 35 inches tall, which is the same height as Molly Kate.  However, she weighed in (with her heavy shoes on and after a BIG breakfast) at 34 lbs, so she outweighs Molly Kate by about 8 lbs., which is what I had estimated.  I'm thinking about becoming a sumo wrestler when I get home, because after having carried her around for a week, and with almost a week yet to go---not that the carrying around will stop when we get home her around this week, I feel like I might be able to lift ANYONE and throw them around!!!!

The final station was the medical examination.  Unfortunately, Callie Beth was in distress when we started that part, because we had run out of rice cookies to munch on.  She went in screaming, and came out screaming.  The doctor asked me if she talks much.  How would I know?  I don't speak Chinese, so I don't know if the things she utters is words or just babbling.  Anyway, they did label her language delayed, but that is typical.  OF COURSE she is going to be language delayed coming to a country where she doesn't speak the language.  

Callie Beth also had to have a TB skin test.  It is required for all children over the age of two who are adopted.  The orphanage did a preliminary test on her a few months back, and it was negative, so we aren't expecting a problem.  Since she was already distressed over the physical examination, she didn't react much worse to the needle in her arm.  HOWEVER, she can't get her arm in water today, so there won't be a tsunami bath for her and Molly Kate tonight!!!  Once we were finished with all the stations, and I put her back in the stroller, she was fine. 

We are back in the room now, just chilling----LITERALLY!!!  We have the air set as cold as it will go.  It feels good after being outside.  We are glad to be where we are, though, instead of in the HEAT WAVE at home.  It is in the 90's today, but partly cloudy.  It feels like normal Kentucky weather.

Roger has to meet with the other dads in the group at 4:00 this afternoon and do paperwork for Callie Beth's visa.  When he is finished, we are going to Shamien Island (where we stayed last year when we were here) for dinner and then SHOPPING!!!!!  WOO HOO!!!

I am attaching a few pictures from today.

Until later....

Vicki :)

WONDERFUL DAY!

IT HAS BEEN A GLORIOUS DAY!!!!!

Today has been our best day in China!!!!  Callie Beth did GREAT today, and we had no crying or screaming episodes until bedtime.  That scene didn't last long because I got her out and rocked her to sleep.  She has truly had a WONDERFUL day!!!!

This morning we visited the Buddhist temple and the Old Chen House, as well as the Provincial Arts and Crafts Shopping Center.  I'm not going to bore you with details of these stops.
 

At The Temple

Since we had a group dinner planned tonight at The Macaw, a Portuguese restaurant, we decided the girls needed a nap this afternoon, so we opted to stay in the room.  After much playing and some hopping from one bed to the other, our little monkeys went to sleep and took a good nap, as did Roger.

Whoa!

Naptime?  I don't think so!

Our meal at The Macaw was the BEST meal I've had the entire trip!!!  It was fun being with others in the group.  We had two round tables with 16 adults and 9 babies.  Both Molly Kate and Callie Beth LOVED the food!!!!

After supper we took a short walk with our friends, Joey and Tasha.  We had to come back to the room for diaper changes, and then Roger, the girls, and I went for a LONG walk.  When we got back to the hotel, we went into Starbucks and purchased the girls' first drink from there.  I have included a picture of them with their drink!!!

 

Loving that Starbucks Daddy is giving them!

Snacktime!

I want to conclude this post with sharing MORE things I've learned about Callie Beth.

1.  She can make the biggest splashes of any child I have ever seen!!!!! 

The Splasher! 

2.  She can say, "Thank you!"
3.  Every time I take a picture of her, as soon as the camera flashes, she puts this
     HUGE smile on her face and says, "WHOA!!!"
4.  She gets more loving each day, and is already like a LEECH with me!!!  I LOVE IT!!!!


Tomorrow we will be taking Callie Beth for her medical exam and for her visa photo.  It will be a LONG morning!!!  All of the daddies will be meeting with our guides tomorrow afternoon to do MORE paperwork, and then after that, we are heading to Shamien Island for SHOPPING!!!!!  SQUEAKY SHOES, HERE I COME!!!!


Vicki :)

GUANGZHOU!!!!

WE ARE IN GUANGZHOU!!!!

We are in the beautiful city of Guangzhou!!!!  I really do like it here.  Our hotel is GREAT, and it is located in a much nicer and CLEANER area that our hotels were in Beijing and Zhengzhou. 

We were supposed to fly out of Zhengzhou at 12:20 today, but our flight was delayed for an hour, so it was almost 1:30 before our plane took off.  Molly Kate fell asleep almost immediately. 

Our Guide

 There was a really nice indoor playground at the airport, so she climbed and slid down slides for over an hour.  I couldn't get Callie Beth to play on the playground---I'm not sure she has ever played on a playground before.  She sat good as gold in her stroller the whole time. 
 

On the plane, Callie Beth did pretty well at first.  She looked at a book, ate some snacks, and then she fell asleep, too, and slept for around 30 minutes.  HOWEVER, when she woke up, things changed.  For the remainder of the trip, she spent most of it SCREAMING her head off.  I have no clue what she wanted or needed.  I tried everything I knew to do, and then finally, I just totally ignored her.  Occasionally, she would stop, and I would tickle her or tease her and she would smile and giggle, but then it would all start over again.  I continued to ignore her until the last 10 minutes or so when tears began to come with the screaming.  I was able to fasten her in my seatbelt in my lap.  This helped some, but it was moments of grieving for her, and when that happens, there is simply nothing to do.  I don't think the people sitting around us enjoyed their trip very much.  In fact, one of the girls sitting in the seats in front of us, had her fingers in her ears the majority of the trip.  Callie Beth's scream is pretty shrill, so I'm sure it was hurting her ears.  When we landed I apologized to her.  She didn't speak English, but I was able to make her understand that we had only had Callie Beth for 5 days, and that she was from an orphanage and that her adoption was still very traumatic for her.  The girl was really sweet and let me know it was okay.  
 

Once we arrived in Guangzhou, we were greeted at the airport by our guides, Jason and Grace.  We boarded the bus for the hotel, and I'm pleased to say that Callie Beth was happy the entire 45 minute ride!!!  We are staying at the China Hotel Marriott.  It is REALLY nice.  The thing I love the best about the room is that the bathroom is glassed in, meaning we can watch the girls from the bedroom while they are taking a bath.  AND, there is a shower in front of the tub in the glassed in area, which means that Callie Beth, who is the biggest bath splasher I have ever seen, can splash all she wants, and it won't get water on the floor.  Of course, she just about drowns Molly Kate when she does this!!!   Both girls had had MULTIPLE poopy and pee diapers on the trip, and I decided I would get them in the tub as soon as we got to our room.  They LOVED the glassed in tub, and Molly Kate didn't even mind Callie Beth's splashing.  I am including a picture---I don't think it's too revealing!!!

 

After freshening up (I felt like I had been peed and pooped on!!!),we went for a walk tonight, in search of somewhere to eat.  We saw lots of places, but ended up coming back to the room and ordering room service.  Both of the girls LOVE stroller walks.  Callie Beth is ALWAYS happy when she is in the stroller.  In fact, she fell asleep before we got back to the room.  I let her sleep in the stroller for quite a while, but then I woke her up so I could feed her something.  That was a mistake.  It was obvious that she was sad when she woke up.  I held her for a long time, but then, Molly Kate started climbing in my lap, too, and I don't know if that is what triggered the screaming/crying spell.  I knew there was no reason to battle with her, so I changed her diaper, put her PJ's on her, and laid her in her bed.  She screamed and cried for maybe 3 minutes, but as soon as we turned out the lights on that side of the room, she stopped.  I know she was absolutely exhausted from the day.

SO, the plane ride wasn't too great---but then, it sparked the memory that Molly Kate cried on the plane ride all the way from Nanchang to Guangzhou when we adopted her.  She is so well-adjusted now that I think Roger and I both have almost forgotten that it has taken months for her to get to where she is now.  We know this whole transition is harder on Callie Beth because she's older than Molly Kate was when we adopted her, but then, she will probably learn more quickly than Molly Kate did.  She certainly has a GREAT role model.  I can't say enough about how WONDERFUL Molly Kate has been this whole trip.  Everybody in our travel group LOVES her, and she loves them, too!!!  She has gone from being the little girl who would say, "LONE!!!" if anyone got in her personal space, to a little girl who will hug and blow kisses to anyone.  She is very comfortable with everyone in our group, especially Joey and Tasha Robichaux, the couple we have spent most of our time with. 

Our Travel Group

She has actually been a little social butterfly on this entire trip!!  I can't begin to tell you how many older Chinese people have come up to her and touched her and talked to her, and she has appeared comfortable with all of them.  If this trip has sparked any memories of her past life in the orphanage, she has shown no negative signs of it.  In fact, when we visited Callie Beth's orphanage on Wednesday, Molly Kate made her way, on her own, from room to room and seemed quite comfortable, making her self right at home.  Roger and I are SO proud of her for the little girl she has become.

Tomorrow we are visiting the Buddhist Temple (don't worry---we aren't planning to switch from Southern Baptist!!!), the Old Chen House, and the Provincial Arts and Crafts shopping center----WOO HOO!!!!  I haven't been shopping in almost TWO weeks!!!!  Tomorrow night we will eat at a Portuguese restaurant----NO CHINESE FOOD---YIPPEE!!!!!  We have met back up with three other couples, who adopted from the non-special needs program, so there will be eight couples and NINE babies dining together!!!!  Sounds like a winner to me!!!

Until tomorrow....

Vicki :)