Goodbye to China... by Doug

I just received this email from Doug... his "Goodbye to China" entry...

Good Bye China…I am sitting in the airport waiting on my flight from the Guangzhou Airport to Hong Kong….where tomorrow morning I will board a plane and head for the states. I can’t even begin to describe the impact that this trip has had on me. What a fabulous experience this has been and what a hard time it was to walk away and leave the crew to head home this afternoon. Grandpa, Kate, Caleb, and Nyah will not be able to leave until the rest of the paperwork is complete which is near the end of the week.

We arrived in Guangzhou last night. Thanks to Kate for asking to have our flight from Nanchang to Guangzhou bumped up a little earlier, we were able to arrive in the early evening and see a little of the city last night. Xi Xi, our guide in this city, is awesome. She is high energy with a great personality and lots of knowledge. She will be fun for the crew over the next few days. It is very westernized in this area, which is nice. Guess what…….We actually ate at an Italian restaurant last night and woke up to Starbucks this morning. Double Chocolate Chip frapochino---my favorite!!!!! Guangzhou is a very nice area with lots to do, unlike Nanchang where we spent the last five days. Kate, Ron, Caleb, and Nyah will be able to see some cool sites over the next few days, while mixing in all of the paperwork and appointments for Nyah.

Speaking of Nanchang….Don’t get me wrong, although Nanchang was not such a great place to be a tourist, I am so thankful that we spent several days in the “real China”. This is the Province where both of our girls were born and spent the first years of their lives. Just to have visited areas like Hong Kong and Guangzhou does not give us westerners the real picture of China. In Nanchang, we got it! Even Xi Xi called Nanchang “real China” compared to Guangzhou. What an important piece of the puzzle this is for us as we journey through the rest of our lives with Brynn and Nyah.

Nyah was doing so well when I left today, although she had become much more clingy to Kate and did not want to really have much to do with me. Her emotions have been running a little testy the past few days and mommy seems to be the answer. Maybe the hotel move has her a little on edge, not real sure. But under the circumstances, she is doing very, very well. Kate is a little under the weather with a pretty nasty cold, but Caleb and grandpa told me that they will take good care of mommy for me.

Thanks to everyone back home for everything. A special thanks to Nana, Papa, Grandma, Aunt Amanda and Uncle Darryl for watching after Evan, Price and Brynn. This experience would not have been possible without you. I can’t wait to get home to see them and give them big hugs and to get back to the hustle and bustle of the S family…I actually miss the chaos….well a little bit. Thanks to all of our friends, family, and co-workers that have sent us the kind and encouraging words before we left and while we were here. You do not know how inspiring those words are for us.

Well, off to catch my flight to Hong Kong, find my hotel without a guide, find my way back to the airport at 8am and fly 16 hours back to the US. If all that works out, I’ll be home Sunday night. I look forward to reading the blog with the rest of you over the next week to hear about all that is going on with the crew in China. Good night all and good bye China!

~Doug

Saturday in Guangzhou... from Kate

Today was another fun day. Doug spent his last few hours on mainland China taking in the sights of the island, well as much as he could in-between rain showers. He is now in Hong Kong. Here he is enjoying an icy beverage...

And here we are posing at the White Swan, a local hotel well known to the adoption community and where I stayed last time. The lobby and pool are beautiful but I will say the rooms we are in are bigger and nicer. For those of you coming soon and want to save money, we are in the Annex building of the Victory, in a business suite, with a king size bed (and it is soft!!), free internet (and computer to use) in room!

Here is our "Red Couch" photo (a Chinese adoption tradition)... we wanted to get one before Doug leaves. Tomorrow our group will get one as well - but I know that Nyah will be crying in the one that is just all kids so I wanted to get a decent one today.

While Nyah slept today the boys went to the local park so Caleb could try his feet at hackey-sack. I don't know exactly how the encounter with the school children started or what happened (maybe Caleb will write about it on his blog tomorrow), but their adventure made for some cute pictures.

Nyah now has 3 pairs of shoes. They are the kind that squeak when you walk and while Brynn refused to walk in them until I took the squeaky out, Nyah doesn't seem to notice. She had her first really good nap today and when she woke up... watch out!

She was full of herself in the room tonight. Our guide, XiXi (pronounced See See) came to our room (and presented Nyah with a chop she made herself!) to let me do tomorrow's paperwork without the entire group since Nyah will not stay with anyone else without crying hysterically. Well Nyah was chatting (it is not Chinese our guide says, just babble), laughing, playing with Grandpa, and was just being hysterically funny. Later she was extremely cranky when I changed her diaper, put her in her pj's, and made her bottle, so I guess she just likes extremes. She continues to be very wary of new things. I tried to put her on a small slide, still holding her, today and she had a fit. But she is enjoying walking more and more holding my hand when we are outside, though if we come across a large group of people she stops in her tracks and refuses to move. She also found herself in the mirror today and that was too funny. Today I finally got her to come to me when we are in the room when she wants me instead of crying; tomorrow I am going to work on her showing me she wants "up" rather than just standing there like a statue.

One of the places we went shopping today was a store called Jenny's. Our guide says most of the adoptive families were coming in today so there were very few actually shopping today so the shops were not crowded. Jenny was very nice and asked me to help her understand English. She had highlighted words in an email and asked me what they mean... "drop it" as in "drop the subject" was one. She also asked me the difference between "pleasure" and "pressure" because she pronounces them the same way. Nyah cut our English lesson short but it was fun to try to come up with ways to explain the words.

Okay, the funniest part of the day... I had the opening of the para-Olympics on and there was music. Nyah walked very fast across the room to get her "free gift with purchase" rattle and then proceeded to move inches from the TV and dance. Caleb and I were laughing so hard. I think I finally have a video clip short enough to upload (no video editing software here) where I caught some if it... hope it works. And please, the sound does not work on the computer, so if I am saying anything embarrassing, let me know!!

I would be typing all night if I described today's strolls through the parks. Dancing, Kung Fu, Chinese children playing everywhere, adults of all ages hackey-sacking, etc. There were also many couples having their wedding photos taken.

It was all truly amazing!

Until tomorrow, when I get to meet the other 4 families we will be sharing the next few days with,

Kate

Flying to Guangzhou

Greetings from a new city. There is not a lot to write about today... we spent most of the morning hanging out at the hotel packing and the rest of the day getting to Guangzhou and settling in.

I was so nervous about how Nyah would do on the plane after her hours of carsickness yesterday but it appears that airplanes fall into the same category as vans and taxis... extra clothes and barf bags not needed. She never slept on the plane and we kept her busy with what I think was an entire box of cheerios. She also had fun playing peek-a-boo with Grandpa in the seat behind us.

She is starting to chatter a bit and is rather goofy. She is also very particular and her dislikes include high chairs and the word "no" even though I say it very nicely. She likes to be held or to walk holding a hand and all other positions are not up to her standards. I tried to give her a bath the other day and she cried and stood herself up (she was in a baby bath tub) and then standing up tried to play with the toys that were in the inch of water below. I even tried sitting her on the edge of the tub so she wouldn't have to squat but she wasn't having that either.

Doug leaves tomorrow at 5pm for the airport so he will be able to take in some of the area tomorrow. We had a good dinner tonight though I am slightly embarrassed to admit it was Italian! So odd that we rarely go out for Italian food at home and that is where we ended up eating while in China. Traveling with Doug and Caleb has definitely mixed things up a bit. Nyah also had her first French fries at lunchtime... she liked them until we gave her a spoon of rice then the French fries were history.

By the way, the pants she is wearing are the 6/9 month size and they are falling off her! I planned on picking up some more clothes for her here tomorrow but now I have no choice because it has been raining here and when I opened the luggage, her clothes, which were on the bottom of our duffel bag, were soaked! I think the suitcase spend some time outside at the airport. Oh well, gotta go shopping I guess... darn.

Until tomorrow,

Kate

Doug's view on things...

Wow! What an experience this has been!!! I wasn’t quite sure what to expect during this trip and it has really opened my eyes to what our world has to offer.

Nyah has been doing so well. She laughs, she giggles, she cries, she plays, she is just adorable and is coming out of her shell. She has definitely attached to “Mommy”. If anything at all looks or feels a bit shaky—it is mom, and mom only, that can comfort her. The downside is that mom is the one that has to hold her, all of the time, so Kate’s arms are a beginning to tire, but starting to look a bit like The Incredible Hulk!

I have been able to hold her a couple of times, but usually after a few seconds she wants mommy back. I was able to feed her for the first time tonight at dinner without a cry, that was fun.

We found out today that Nyah and Evan have one definite thing in common—they both get car sick. We went to Nyah’s finding place and the orphanage today. It was about a three hour drive each way and about five minutes into the ride she became car sick. Kate, always being prepared and ready, had packed extra clothes, extra blankets, and all the necessary supplies…just in case. Mom scored an “A” on that one!!!

Going to the finding place was a really neat experience and quite fulfilling. We took a few pictures (ok I took a bunch of pictures) while many folks just stared at us trying to figure out what we were doing. We debated and debated whether or not we would take the long trip to see her finding place, it was well worth it.

Our friends had once told us that when you go on a cruise, you will begin to plan the next cruise before the journey is over. I am feeling a bit like that on this trip….hmmmmm!!!

~Doug

Note from Kate… The building behind the gate is the orphanage. The entrance to the Wanzai Civil Affairs Building is the other building picture… that is what it says going down on the right. Nyah is being quite a giggler today and is starting to get into everything. And let’s just say that Doug’s “hmmmmmm” will change when we get home – when the reality of having five children hits so someone please pick his mother up off the floor.

Exploring Nanchang

Today was a busy day but enjoyable... even Caleb said he really enjoyed it. In the morning the five of us took a taxi to the hotel where I met Brynn and visited the Tengwang Pavilion.

This afternoon, our guide Mary took the two families to the porcelain shop (I wanted to pick up something for Nyah for the future) then we strolled through a park, where there were playgrounds for adults (kids too, there just aren't many there)... badmitton, exercise equipment, walking paths, etc. It was beautiful and the people were very friendly. And Nyah walked almost the entire time in the park, holding on to a hand but she will be hands free before long.

(Meg... notice the Syracuse U. hat! Though she was wearing it she didn't know what it represented so we filled her in.)

While we all get stared at non-stop when we are out, Caleb draws the most individual attention next to Kara's friend Julie with her blonde hair. I asked him today if he noticed people staring at him and he said no. He was very polite to those who asked him questions and posed for a few pictures in the park.

We then went through a neighborhood food market and went to a Chinese restaurant and for $9 a person left full. It was delicious. We were not very adventurous, recognizing everything put in front of us before we ate. Mary keeps trying to convince Doug that he needs to try pigeon when he gets to Guangzhou - she even said restaurants frequently limit customers to one because it is very popular. Doug says someone can have his.

Nyah had a good day. She is giggling more now but especially with Caleb... she worships him and just lights up when he is around. She also let Doug hold her for a bit today. She is starting to come out of her shell in spurts, touching lightly others that come near her, even strangers in the stores, but keeping close to me and making just a handful of sounds, but that is more than we have heard previously.

We were excited that our travelmate Kara pushed to have our 8:00 flight on Friday changed to 3:00 so we will be getting to Guangzhou a little earlier and Doug will have more time to spend on the island there.

Tomorrow Doug, Nyah, and I are taking a very long car trip to Wanzai County to see the area where Nyah was born and lived until Monday. From what I have read, it is quite a poor area and there is not much there (our guide told us to bring lunch) so we will be there likely for only 1/6th of the time we ride in the car but I think it is important.

More tomorrow!

Kate

Safety Pins and Green Beans

Here is a recap of today...

Nyah slept through the night and we woke her up around 7:30 so she could use Skype to see her siblings. They all wanted to know what she wouldn't talk. She seemed a bit overwhelmed to say the least but then again there were three yelling kids on the computer screen calling her by a name she doesn't yet recognize (though when I say "toes" now she knows where to grab). After breakfast we were getting ready to walk to Walmart for some shoes for her and formula and when I went to use the bathroom, she cried for the first time. I used the Ergo carrier and she seemed to like it, though she was not very patient while her confused mommy tried to figure out how it worked... and I even practiced at home with Brynn.

While in Walmart, I decided after looking at the clothes selection that we needed safety pins for her pants because she cannot wear the same pair every day. We were there without a guide so Caleb and I had fun searching and everyone else had fun staring at us... we never found any but bought some diaperpins so hopefully those will work. During the search Nyah became playful with Caleb and we heard the first giggles. Caleb also enjoyed looking at all the different foods available and we purchased a few things hoping they were what we thought they were and so far, so good. I even made noodles for Nyah and the directions were in Chinese... but then again, Brynn always tells me I make the best noodles (that would be Oodles of Noodles) ever.

The girls hung out in the room while the boys swam this afternoon. It is very clear now that Nyah likes to be amused by Doug and Grandpa from a distance, Caleb up close (she likes to pull his hair playfully), and wants me to hold her... all the time. She cried everytime I put her down after dinner. Part of her "preferences" were started by us; since Doug is leaving to come home early, we were worried about what would happen if she bonded with him over me, so I have been purposefully doing most of the caretaking. Nyah also cried the two times we have put her shoes on her... I am not sure she has every worn any before. She can walk without holding onto anything or anyone but she does not do it much. I know it won't be long before she takes off so I am enjoying the baby part right now.

This is Sheila, the daughter of our travelmate Kara. While Nyah only makes a small sound occasionally, like whenever she sees a baby, Sheila likes to "talk" and has a flirty smile. She turned 1 last week.

Nyah's eating continues to be impressive. Today she polished off a plate full of rice, kidney beans (loved those the most), corn, broccoli, and watermelon. There were green beans on the plate too but she didn't even put one in her mouth before she picked each and everyone up and deposited them on my plate. The waitress kept coming over and holding her hand out to Nyah and Nyah would put a kernel of corn on it and then take it back but the one time she put a piece of broccoli on it, well, she didn't try to get that back.

One interesting thing Nyah does is sometimes when you look at her if she is playing, she will shut her eyes as if that is making her disappear or she wants to tune you out. But it is not just us because tonight at dinner a man a few tables over would wave at her and she would do it. But seconds later, she would be looking over at him again before pulling her shy act again. Sometimes in the room if she is sitting down, she not only closes her eyes, but she falls forward and puts her face between her legs.

This evening we went to a short light show where fountains of water "dance" and change colors. It was nice. Caleb really enjoyed it and said it was worth the crazy taxi ride to get there. I don't think my dad felt the same... he was in the front seat and if there hadn't been metal bars dividing the front and the back of the car, I think he would have sat on Doug's or even Caleb's lap. There just are no rules or structure when it comes to driving here... and so many cars, people, mopeds, and bicycles sharing a small space. It is really undescribable.

Tomorrow we are going porcelain shopping (that is the art that this province is known for); I bought Brynn a tea set when I was here last time to give her when she is older and I hope to do the same for Nyah. Then tomorrow night we are going to a park and eating outside the hotel. This will be the first night that "American" food is not going to be an option for Doug or Caleb. I think we need to keep that our little secret. But don't feel bad for them because if nothing else, they can purchase Haagen Daz ice-cream in the lobby and not starve! :)

Good night all!
Kate

The Evening of Gotcha Day...

I crashed last night early... around 8:30 as soon as Nyah did so here are a few more pictures from yesterday. We had a few firsts... a few peeps, and that is exactly what they were, from Nyah when she was playing with the stacking cups (she played for about an hour and would peek at us occasionally - I think she needed to escape into something for a while), a few smiles, a few steps holding daddy's hand (she will not walk for/with me) and, without too much detail, let me just say that Doug and I had to debate over which one of us was going to clean out the smelly little kid potty. She whimpered a bit when I went into the bathroom to try to cool her bottle down last night so Doug brought her to me but no tears either. She likes watermelon but does not like bananas. And she LOVES Caleb (first smile goes to him) and she LOVES when Grandpa and Caleb or Doug and Caleb act silly together. She is still sleeping and while she is not noisy, we have heard more noises in the night than all day yesterday.

The shirt and pants she is wearing are size 6/9 months to give you an idea of her size. She is very thin and I think she needs some playtime with her siblings outside to add a little muscle.

You know there will be more later!! Thank you everybody for your well wishes and prayers.

Kate