Things that go bump in the night

Last night, as I was writing the previous post, Nina lay in bed with Lillian and a faint, but constant chatter could be heard the entire time.  As I climbed into bed with them, I realized that Lillian was up and down, playing with her doll and seemingly miles from sleep.  Unfortunately, that was not the case for Nina and I.  As we trailed off to sleep, we heard a fairly substantial "thump" and knew immediately that she had fallen off the bed.  The only question was "on what body part had she landed?"  As the lights came on, we saw that she had fallen face first and the tip of her nose showed the wear.  This, in conjunction with the healing insect bite under her eye left her looking like she had just finished 15 rounds with Manny Pacquiao,

"Yeah, but you should see the other guy"

 It was not the look we were hoping for with the consulate appointment this morning.  However, a little bruising wasn't going to keep us from our appointed rounds. The consulate was housed an aging low-rise office building.  Once within its dedicated area, we passed through two minor security checkpoints into a waiting room with about 10 other families - most of whom we recognized from the hotel, though none were from our agency.

We sat in the dark room, which contained some playthings, for about 15 minutes when an American voice came over the loud speaker from a man behind a bank teller-type window.  He described the process and asked all the adoptive parents to rise and raise their right hands.  We swore or affirmed that all of the information contained in our materials was true to the best of our knowledge.  Then they began calling families by name to come to the windows for review.  We were among the first families called.  We stood as a clerk reviewed our paperwork.  She handed several documents back and told us we were done.  A relief. Tomorrow, our representative will pick up Lillian's visa and we will be good to go for our Friday flight.

We returned to the hotel for a little play time.  Lillian is quite attached to a doll we purchased yesterday.  It goes by the name "Baby."

Lillian feeding Baby

 Then we went down for a swim.  Lillian continues to get a little more comfortable in the water each day.

Then, nap time.

For dinner, we followed the concierge's recommendation for a Cantonese restaurant.  I suspect he would not have recommended it, had he seen me with the kids when I asked, as it was a little too fancy.  In the same mall, there was a Malaysian restaurant that seemed a little more our speed.

Before noodles.

During noodles.

I will spare you the "after noodles" picture. 

You may notice that Lillian wore some fabulous dresses today.  Nina is having a good time dressing a girl!

At the Quarter Pole

In a horse race, the quarter pole signifies the top of the stretch - time to kick things into high gear for a strong finish.  And we find ourselves at the quarter pole of this race.  Tomorrow morning, we head to the U.S. Consulate to get a visa for Lillian so that we can bring her home.

Recognizing that we needed to be on schedule for tomorrow, we took it easy today.  Our only outing was a late morning shopping trip to a shopping mall housing the "wholesale" pearl market, as well as other stores. 

Max found someone with a bigger belly than his Dad in a neighboring shop.

Fortunately, we began to head for home just as the skies opened and a torrential storm began.  From our room, we watched the sheets of rain blowing across the hotel and Lillian and Nina napped while Max watched a movie.  The highlight was a little mid afternoon bath time - see below. (OK - the internet in the hotel is really poor and uploading videos just isn't going to happen.  Sorry)

Finally, we ventured to dinner at a nearby noodle restaurant.

Riding the elevator.

Ready to eat.

This restaurant has an open kitchen and it was fun to watch the chefs at work.

And...noodle time!


It was a quiet day for us.  Tomorrow - barring any troubles - will put the finish line in plain sight.

Blood, Sweat & Tears. OK, no blood, yet.

We have two crazy days to catch up on.  Here is the most important thing you need to know.  Guangzhou is hot and humid - the heat index exceeds 100 Fahrenheit every day.  Here's the second most important thing you need to know.  Nina sweats heavily.  Here is the third most important thing you need to know.  The hotel was out of strollers to borrow.

Why are these things important?  Because we spent five hours Sunday at the Guangzhou Safari Park with Lillian strapped to Nina in the baby carrier - the padded baby carrier.  We had hoped the park would have strollers to rent.  No such luck. 

The first part of the trip was spent on a tram driving through  a smaller, more crowded version of the San Diego Wild Animal Park.  It still featured a good collection of species from Africa and Asia - with a few misplaced North American species mixed in.  Fortunately, the descriptions being played in the tram were in Chinese, so Nina couldn't be driven to distraction by the errors.  Max, a great animal aficianado in his own right enjoyed the ride and Lillian was alert and interested as well - Nina's kids.

However, that ride was only about an hour and then it was time to trek through a pretty massive zoo.   Nina strapped Lillian on and the heat was on.  Soon thereafter, the other Moms took to viewing Nina with a combination of sympathy, wonder and concern as her shirt and the baby carrier were both soon soaked totally through.

We did see some good exhibits.  They had a whole section of animatronic dinosaurs - a knockoff Jurassic Park - that was entertaining.  The tigers were impressive and Max got to pet a tiger cub. 

He also fed a giraffe.

They had a number of koalas that were fun.  But the highlight, of course, were the pandas.

This is an interesting relative of the Panda.  The name escapes me and Nina is asleep.  Sorry.

When we returned to the hotel, we were anxious to get into the swimming pool.  Of course, Lillian hadn't quite warmed to that idea yet, but we discovered a wading pool for kids and she was quick to get in up to her waist.  Then she and Nina headed to the big pool to find me and Max.  She again sat on the edge and dipped her legs in the water.  This time, though, she was happy, rather than scared.  She even ventured on to the first step into the big pool and we all splashed together for a few minutes.

Then, we were ready for dinner.  Well, we thought we were.  Perhaps a daylong trip to the Safari Park, strapped to her Mom and a first time dip in the pool may have overstimulated Lillian a bit and she let us know of her displeasure in no uncertain terms.  Our dinner became a party of two as Max and I headed out to a nearby noodle shop and brought some food home for Nina.  Bedtime is not easy.   

Monday, our schedule was a bit more lax.  We had a late morning visit to the Temple of the Six Banyans, which is a small but pretty Buddhist Temple in Guangzhou.  

Lillian and our new friend, Faith

Much of it was being renovated, which led to some funny scenes.  

At a certain point, Lillian found that she wasn't so amused by the goings on in the Temple.  In fact, she downright lost it.  

Fortunately, the fit did not derail us for long.  Then we took a short drive to a local store specializing in stuff that American families adopting Chinese Children who have a week to kill in Guangzhou like to buy.  The front had some beautiful porcelain vases and other artwork, with a number of tea sets.  Then, in the back, were the traditional silk pajamas that the kids wear on Chinese New Year and T-shirts and caps emblazoned with the Chinese and Pinyin versions of family names (Ba Ba for Daddy, Ge Ge for brother, Ye Ye for grandfather, etc), as well as other traditional Chinese goods that appeal to tourists.

Fortunately, we happen to be an American family adopting a Chinese child with a week to kill in Guangzhou and we were game.  A tea set, two pairs of silk pajamas, a couple of T shirts and other souvenirs later, we sat down in the front of the store to enjoy some tea.  Then we bought some Jasmine Tea that Max particularly enjoyed.

We planned to spend a lazy afternoon, and managed to do so, though with some mischief thrown in.  Nina wanted to take a bath.  Lillian stood next to the filling tub in a state of agitation - it seemed like she wanted to get in, but was afraid.  Nina stripped her and put her in and an epic bath began.  Max got in the mix by alternating the water between the faucet and the hand-held shower head, which made her giggle every time.  In the room, the bath is separated from the bedroom by a clear glass wall.  I sat on the other side of the wall and everyone would try to splash me and I would pretend like I was getting wet.  We had a lot of laughs.

Apres bath

Then, after a short nap, we were off to a dinner cruise on the Pearl River.  Paris may be the City of Lights, but Guangzhou is the City of Technicolor Lights.  There are numerous buildings along the River that aren't just lit up for hundreds of feet up into the sky, but the lights change colors constantly.  It is as though you never get the same exact view twice.  It was fun to see.  Even the bridges are a wheel of color.  

Before bedtime, we worked on teeth brushing.  That led to more hilarity.

So that's the latest.  We're still having a great time, but are getting antsy to come home and begin our real life together.

The Strength of Mommy

Sleeping off a rough night.

Checking in. 

Our bedroom.

Hello from Guangzhou where I write to you from a two-room suite at the five star Garden Hotel, which is quite posh. 


The morning view of Guangzhou from our room.

The pool from above.

There are dozens of other American adoptive families here and the scene in the breakfast buffet is equally heartwarming and hysterical.  Guangzhou, formerly known as Canton, is the home of the U.S. Consulate, so every American adopting from China has this as their last stop.  It is nice to reach the end of this process in luxury, though we are not without a little strife, as well.

Did someone say something about being hysterical at the breakfast buffet?  'Cause I am. 

And that's what I wanted to share with you today.  I mentioned in the first blog post after we got Lillian that she did not cry.  Well, that is no longer the case.  In a way it is reassuring.  You're two years old.  You've been removed from everything you've known in your short life and you're now stuck with these strangers with whom you cannot communicate verbally, and who do crazy things with you like put you on a pressurized, jet propelled tube hurtling through the sky.  I know I'd be pissed.

We continue to enjoy a lot of fun and giggles, laughs, hugs, lotion applications and feedings (more on that later) but on the flight from Nanjing to Guangzhou - an inconsolable meltdown.  There are about a dozen Chinese nationals seated in our immediate area on the flight currently working to have us removed from the country.  At bedtime last night - an inconsolable meltdown that seemed like it was far more than an overtired child.  At the medical center this morning - an IN-CON-SOL-ABLE MELT-DOWN for three different doctors.  It's quite likely that her experience having surgery as an infant on her own is still with her - Pomona Pediatrics should be on notice. 

At the Guangzhou Travel Medicine Center, not even a lollipop could dull her pain.

Because Nina is the one she is bonding with primarily and trusts, she is the one who bears the brunt of the each tear and each shriek and each whimper.  It isn't easy.  When we shared that burden with Max, I know how it wore on me and that had far fewer complications.  Nina holds her and rocks her and speaks as reassuringly as she can and swallows her own frustration that she can't let her daughter, whom she has loved powerfully even before she knew who Lillian was, know just how strong that love is and that everything is going to be okay.

Those of you who know Nina, are not surprised because we know what a remarkably strong person she is.  But watching rather powerlessly at these difficult moments, reminds me of that strength and for those of you who are sharing this journey with us through this blog (and thanks for all of the kind words you have shared), it's something you should also know, as it is one of the things I will certainly remember about this life-changing experience.

This is a vending machine in the lobby of the building that houses the Guangzhou travel medical center.  In case you can't tell, those are bottles of wine.  I love this for so many reasons.

However, there is one unexpected aspect of the bond between mother and daughter that is truly appropriate.  (Key information point before I go on - Nina studies birds, for those who don't know).  I have posted pictures of Lillian feeding her mother.  It is unbelievably cute.  However, this behavior has taken on a new aspect - Lillian pops a snack into her mouth then takes it out and feeds it to her mother.  That's right, the baby bird is regurgitating for the mama bird.

And Lillian is resilient.  She bounces back pretty quickly.  After this morning's trip to the medical center, we spent time in the room.  She enjoyed putting her bunny doll to bed over and over again.






















Then things got very silly.  Max put on some of the hotel slippers to go down to the pool.  Well Lillian wasn't going to allow big brother to have all the fun with the best shoes she had ever seen...




A fashion trend setter is born

Who wears them better?









Finally she arrived at the pool. 

And here are a few other good pics from the day.