Thursday, January 24, 2008
Friday, January 25
Friday morning, Wednesday is coming. Lily is doing much better. She
had her last breathing treatment yesterday and they sure helped her.
A little more medicine to finish and hopefully we'll be over this
bronchitis. I cannot believe how much she has changed in 5 days.
She has gone from looking at both of us and starting to cry to
sitting by herself on the couch and playing with us, imitating our
faces and noises that we make, playing patty cake, sitting in the
high chair at breakfast today, etc. Today, she did her first
crawling - on our bed over to Greg and pulled herself up to stand.
These are major steps for one who wanted to be held vertically all
the time. And I mean all the time. Yesterday, I called home and
realized I was talking with my hands and I looked at her to see her
imitating me and talking with her hands. What a riot. Shiyen our
guide suggested we not encourage walking yet as that could make for a
longer plane ride home since she would want to get down all the
time. She said we can start that back in the states. I agree. We
had fun last night, our first socializing with our group. Not by
choice, we've stayed in because Lily's been sick.
Everyone came to our room with their babies and we had Papa John's
pizza. It was so good!! It was fun to see all the girls and one
boy in our group together. We had them all on the floor (except Lily
who still thinks the floor is too scary so she would only sit on
Greg's leg). No major fighting or toy stealing occurred. The
highlight was a little girl named Cassie who ate everything offered
to her including Papa John's pizza, with only 4 teeth. It was fun to
talk with everyone. I've been shopping with Cindy, from Tennessee,
but we still have more to do. I bought Lily a beautiful Chinese
outfit for when she is a little older, and yes, her first pair of
squeaky shoes. I can't wait to hear them. We used the "home of
love" Chinese laundry service. 37 items laundered for $10. All
folded and bagged when I picked them up. I enjoyed that!! We are
going to a Chinese folk art museum this afternoon. Hopefully, I can
take some pictures and we will post them tomorrow. Miss everybody
had her last breathing treatment yesterday and they sure helped her.
A little more medicine to finish and hopefully we'll be over this
bronchitis. I cannot believe how much she has changed in 5 days.
She has gone from looking at both of us and starting to cry to
sitting by herself on the couch and playing with us, imitating our
faces and noises that we make, playing patty cake, sitting in the
high chair at breakfast today, etc. Today, she did her first
crawling - on our bed over to Greg and pulled herself up to stand.
These are major steps for one who wanted to be held vertically all
the time. And I mean all the time. Yesterday, I called home and
realized I was talking with my hands and I looked at her to see her
imitating me and talking with her hands. What a riot. Shiyen our
guide suggested we not encourage walking yet as that could make for a
longer plane ride home since she would want to get down all the
time. She said we can start that back in the states. I agree. We
had fun last night, our first socializing with our group. Not by
choice, we've stayed in because Lily's been sick.
Everyone came to our room with their babies and we had Papa John's
pizza. It was so good!! It was fun to see all the girls and one
boy in our group together. We had them all on the floor (except Lily
who still thinks the floor is too scary so she would only sit on
Greg's leg). No major fighting or toy stealing occurred. The
highlight was a little girl named Cassie who ate everything offered
to her including Papa John's pizza, with only 4 teeth. It was fun to
talk with everyone. I've been shopping with Cindy, from Tennessee,
but we still have more to do. I bought Lily a beautiful Chinese
outfit for when she is a little older, and yes, her first pair of
squeaky shoes. I can't wait to hear them. We used the "home of
love" Chinese laundry service. 37 items laundered for $10. All
folded and bagged when I picked them up. I enjoyed that!! We are
going to a Chinese folk art museum this afternoon. Hopefully, I can
take some pictures and we will post them tomorrow. Miss everybody
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Thursday January 24
Hi Everyone - i want to thank everyone for all the text messages - it
sure makes us not as lonely. The Cingular bill is going to be a
whopper, but that is OK.
sure makes us not as lonely. The Cingular bill is going to be a
whopper, but that is OK.
Sue has posted the last couple of days and our lives seem to be that
of living in a cantonment. We are staying on an island that was the
cantonment for the British - my guess is it was for security. There
is a small creek that separates this area from the rest of Guangzhou,
with two small bridges - on the other side of our hotel is the large
Pearl River. There are still foreign consulates here, but the US has
built a larger facility in downtown. The buildings are very colonial
- but now are converted to 7 Elevens, hotels and even a Starbucks.
Lily is improving rapidly and is done with her doctoring. The
healthcare here at the hotel was outstanding. I cannot say enough
good things about Shiyan and how she helps the families. Almost all
the Xuwen babies have come down with bronchitis, but in the
orphanage's defense, they traveled with the babies for 8 hours in
cold and damp conditions. I am surprised on just how well the babies
held up the first day considering all they went thru. Last night was
a huge improvement and Lily started to show her true personality.
The first couple of days all we did was hold her - vertically. The
47 and 46 year old spines were not ready for that - for sure. We
looked at each other, did not have to say a word (being with each
other for 30 years) and just smiled. Lily has gone from being held,
to the turtle on me, to sitting up and now imitating all our sounds
and facial expressions. Sue taught her to stick out her tongue and
twirl it around - it was not me! i did the scary face though. Lily
was characterized by the caregivers in a word that Shiyan says does
not translate into english. She said that it is not exactly bossy,
show-offy, actressy --- i think she is just perfect -- i say she has
spirit. She will need that spirit to keep up with Kelly, Britt and
Davis -- oh and also Chloe.
Sue has ventured out with Cindy from Tennessee. I am babysitting
thru naptime. Sue will be home soon and I am sure she was happy to
go shopping and get out of the room. Tomorrow Lily gets her Chinese
passport and her medical appointment is Saturday. Home in less than
a week.
Greg
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