I'm posting this a day late, we were just too done in to post again yesterday. Seems like Im playing catch up on my postings through this entire trip.
Anywho, it's 6am Sunday morning here in GZ, and we are all starting to get up and moving, albiet slowly, ready for a day of fun for a change. Yesterday was all about the Visa for Holly to enter the US. We got up late, so we were a bit rushed to start with getting down to breakfast. The restaurant sits right beside a Japanese garden, complete with bridges, coy ponds and a waterfall that falls from high up on the side of the building down a man made rock wall covered in trees and vines. It was gorgeous to sit and eat breakfast with that view through the wall of picture windows. After breakfast we exchanged 300 US dollars for 1900 Chinese Yuan, and met up with several other families from our group doing the same thing, including Gene Peacock. It was great feeling like we were part of a group, and not out on our own as we had been the first half of the trip.
We wandered the garden until it was time to get on the bus with the other families. Rebecca and Vickie were all smiles and of course Rebecca was full of enthusiasm and energy. Driving through the streets of Guangzhou and getting closer to Shamain Island I was hit with emotions I hadn't encountered on this trip so far. I remembered some of the scenery from my trip to bring Myleigh home. By the time we were crossing onto the island I was having a hard time holding it back. The construction on the island was widespread, but, not really as bad as I had been told to expect. Perhaps some cleanup had happened since then. We pulled into the parking area of the White Swan hotel and the tears were welling up. It was just the same as when Myleigh and I had stayed there. We walked in through the lower entrance passed the same statues from six years ago. The rest of the morning was such a surreal re-living of the past memories. The places were pretty much unchanged, but, there was a definite lack of adopting families. Normally they would be everywhere you turned, but, besides our group and one other, I don't recall seeing more than a handful the entire day.
I showed Tim where I had taken Myleigh to pick out a stroller, in the shop by the check in desk, but, no more strollers.
Rebecca told us that once our medical and photos were done, we were free to go about as we choose, but, to meet back there by the check in desk at 2pm. With that we all filed out to the photo shop where all adopting families bring their child to have the photo taken for their Visa. One by one we moved through, and when it was Holly's turn, she smiled so big, and then Matthew tried to interact with her and she rolled her eyes to the side and smirked, and broke up the whole room. It took two tries to get a picture of her not making a silly face.
After that, it was off to the medical clinic. It all went ok at first. Until it was time to get Holly to cooperate with the doctor to complete certain coordination tasks. She flat would not interact with the doctor at all. Rebecca tried to talk her into it, but, no go. After some frustration, the doctor just passed her off. Not sure if there is a check box for stubborn, but, if there is, she passed with 100%.
The eye exam was the same. Each station had new people for Holly to decide if she wanted to cooperate with, and most were a no go. This one was only marginally better. Then we were done. She was declared normal. I could have told them that. All that was left was the dreaded immunizations, and all the families were nervously waiting to find out, based on age and existing records, how many shots our kids were going to have to get all at once. Holly was one of the lucky ones and only had to have four plus a TB test.
As we then waited, one by one filing into the cubicle for the shots, we heard the children ahead of us screaming and crying. Holly just goofed around, didn't even notice. When it was her turn, Tim held her on his lap, and they gave her one, two, shots, no tears, no fussing, no reaction at all. The nurses were visibly surprised, and pleased, and we all cheered after each shot for how well she did, and they fawned over her about being so brave. Then the third and the fourth. Still, a big brave girl. The TB test was injected under the skin of her forearm, and that was it. She was done, and everyone was amazed. They put cute bandaids on each shot site, and then gave Holly a piece of candy for being brave. Then, the nurse reached in the candy jar and gave her another piece. Holly was happy and smiling, just amazing. From what I heard, at least one of the other older kids did just as well.
We walked out of the building relieved that one more step, and the most nerve racking, was over and we were free to wander my old stomping grounds.
As we walked through the old streets, past victorian era homes and buildings, through the gardens, most not as grand as they used to be due to all the construction, there were three wedding parties having pictures taken. We made our way to the Shamain Island park, and to Lucy's diner, for lunch alfresco. Most of the other families in our group had already gotten there, so, it was fun to relax and just be normal for a change. It rained off and on, but, we were dry under our table umbrella.
Afterwards we headed over to the White Swan but not before we took some cute pictures in the park. I showed off the waterfall, the red couch where i took Myleigh's picture, and the birds in the huge cage that Myleigh adored. Holly was in love with those birds, too. We met up with the rest of the group and went back to the Garden.
Later on I met with the other members of our group that Rebecca said should be the smart person from each family. Not that Tim isn't smart, but, I have done all the paperwork for this and for Myleigh's adoptions, so, when it comes to adoption, I'm smart. I remember how long this part took last time, and how many papers needed to be filled out. All of us were surprised when Rebecca said we were done after such a short time and filling out only one paper. For the first time in this entire process it paid off to be a Hague family.
By now it's time to think dinner, so we went across the shopping area, and hunted for what Rebecca called a trustmark. Well, it ended up being a trustmart, but, ah well, close enough. It was like a small target, and while we never found deodorant (they dont sell it in china this time of year) we did find a bunch of other stuff including a suitcase for Holly that only cost about 6 dollars U.S.
There was a Starbucks on the way, but, I opted to skip it for now. Right next door to Starbucks is a Haagen Daz store, like Cold Stone. Might want to go there today. We went to the 7-11 and picked up some other supplies, and decided to just eat in the hotel diner again. It was quiet, so, that was good.
Holly still won't sit on my lap, but, we're making some progress. I'm upping the ante this week, and she's not liking it, but, hey, I'm the grown up.
She's so full of vinegar, always making faces, and smiling, and bopping around. She adores Matthew, and they play and goof around alot.
Well, it's time to get them out the door for breakfast, and then we are having a group picture taken, and off to a huge shopping mall.
Teri (50) in Utah, dh Tim (51)
Seven homegrown kids John 32, Jessica 28, James 23, Katie 20, Minuet 18,and Matthew 14, Myleigh YiXin 7 years old,and our sweet Nick who passed away far too soon at the tender age of 20 years old.
In China bringing home Huang FuJun/soon to be Holly Jun Nicole, 5 years old.
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