Tuesday, October 18, 2011
The Broken Elbow Episode
Yesterday started out normal. The kiddies went to school. Jeff went to work. I picked the kids up mid-morning for Ethan's first dentist appt. He did awesome! He has some decay and a cavity that doesn't need immediate attention, so I was fine with that! Dentist confirmed those giant things in his tiny mouth are actually baby teeth...Whew!! He was good through his first x-ray of the day, and I was asked if I was pregnant for the first of three times that day. Zoe was Zoe and that's a whole other post.....my poor sweet pea. :-( At least she got some genetically good teeth and that helps a lot!
I took Ethan back to school and went home to play with Z a bit before therapy. As I'm heading out the door I see the school has called me twice and my sister once. Oh crap. What now? I call the school back and was told Ethan was hurt. Then Sis calls because the school called her, too and I'm feeling like a crap Mom for not answering my phone. Part of me was thinking Ethan was a big fake-y, fakerson, because he didn't want to back to school after the dentist, but that thought vanished the minute I saw his arm. Oh my! He wasn't crying or anything like that. He was just sitting in his teacher's lap staring off into space and saying "Ouchy" if anyone came near his arm.
We took him to the regular Dr, who sent us to the ER. Thankfully Jeff was on his way home from work, so I could drop Z off with him. Apparently I am a dumb-dumb Mom, because I fed my kid on the way to the ER and that cost us 2 hours of extra time there waiting for an empty stomach before they could sedate him.
The Dr. wanted to know what happened and no one at school saw the incident, so they called in interpreter for us. You could tell he was so excited to hear Chinese! He got on the phone and his eyes lit up! Sadly, the interpreter spoke Mandarin and confirmed that Ethan speaks a local dialect.
Ethan was the star of the ER last night. Everyone who came in adored him and you know that made me so happy. At first I thought they were being sweet and that they say that to everyone, but it kept going on and on, and when we left, it was like Norm leaving Cheers.
As far as the medical stuff, his elbow bone got bent. I didn't know kids' bones could bend, but apparently they can. They had to sedate him, put him under an x-ray machine and bend it back before casting it. Whooo-doggie my boy is funny coming out of sedation. Zoe just wanted to be cuddled after her MRI, but Ethan was having some kind of party in his head. He was laughing and running through all the animal sounds he could come up with. He spoke Chinese and would bob his head around while saying, "Whoa, whooooooaaaaa".
We got home around midnight and he cried just a bit as I was putting him to bed. It didn't last long. Today we all slept late. Jeff went to work. Zoe went to school late, and Ethan and I have been playing and taking pain meds. I took this picture right before he fell asleep, so I'm going to go now and jump on this unexpected nap opportunity!
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Monday, October 10, 2011
So, so busy!
I have 30 minutes 'til the kids get off the bus. Do I iron or update the blog?? Hmmmm....
So things have been really busy here lately. Jeff's job continues to be stressful. My job keeps plugging along, but did recently go through a bit of stress. You know my employer is having a rough time of it lately, and they recently reevaluated my (and everyone else's) route. I was very worried I'd have to start working Saturdays, but fortunately it turns out my Saturday's are safe! I'd like to thank my customers for their very good credit and subsequent ton of credit card applications! You go, guys!
Zoe is seeing some new specialists and is transitioning therapists, so that is keeping us hopping a little bit. She now has therapy 3 times a week including Saturday mornings. I can't tell you how happy I am to have found therapists that will see her on Saturday. I see it as freeing up our weekday time and throwing another day of learning into the mix. Jeff and I have it worked out that he takes her therapy and I do the weekly gross house cleaning while they're away. Ethan is perfectly happy watching TV or playing with his cars during that time. Win-win-win.
And Ethan... Oh my sweet Ethan Yu Yu. What an awesome boy! He was doing so well in Pre-K that we have already moved him to Kindergarten. His Pre-K teacher told me she didn't feel like she was doing him justice. His is now in his second week of Kindergarten and I think he's struggling a little to catch up. Obviously the language is a bigger issue here, but he will be just fine eventually. I'm not worried about him academically at all. I've never seen such a little kid who wants to learn like he does.
So things have been really busy here lately. Jeff's job continues to be stressful. My job keeps plugging along, but did recently go through a bit of stress. You know my employer is having a rough time of it lately, and they recently reevaluated my (and everyone else's) route. I was very worried I'd have to start working Saturdays, but fortunately it turns out my Saturday's are safe! I'd like to thank my customers for their very good credit and subsequent ton of credit card applications! You go, guys!
Zoe is seeing some new specialists and is transitioning therapists, so that is keeping us hopping a little bit. She now has therapy 3 times a week including Saturday mornings. I can't tell you how happy I am to have found therapists that will see her on Saturday. I see it as freeing up our weekday time and throwing another day of learning into the mix. Jeff and I have it worked out that he takes her therapy and I do the weekly gross house cleaning while they're away. Ethan is perfectly happy watching TV or playing with his cars during that time. Win-win-win.
And Ethan... Oh my sweet Ethan Yu Yu. What an awesome boy! He was doing so well in Pre-K that we have already moved him to Kindergarten. His Pre-K teacher told me she didn't feel like she was doing him justice. His is now in his second week of Kindergarten and I think he's struggling a little to catch up. Obviously the language is a bigger issue here, but he will be just fine eventually. I'm not worried about him academically at all. I've never seen such a little kid who wants to learn like he does.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Hey, Kids! Daddy's on the phone!
Okay...one of my kids doesn't speak English and the other one doesn't really speak, but everyone wants to talk to Daddy on the phone!! Unless you are family or dear friends, these will bore you silly.
First up...Ethan! You can hear him say, Ni Hao (sp?) at he beginning.
Next up...Zoe!
First up...Ethan! You can hear him say, Ni Hao (sp?) at he beginning.
Next up...Zoe!
Friday, September 02, 2011
On being home for awhile...
I can't emphasis enough how incredibly lucky I feel to have adopted THIS boy. There are tons of risks in adopting an older child. Even with 5 years of history in the orphange's care, we were provided with precious little information about our son. His medical reports were over a year old and older adoptions are riskier in general with regards to attachment, bonding, etc. We have no idea (and most likely never will) what the conditions of his first years were like.
But given all that, we felt a child a little older than Zoe would be the best fit in our family, and now that we've been home for awhile, I'm pretty sure we were right. Giving everything Ethan has been through, he is doing amazingly well. There are challenges, of course, but for the most part things are going so well, that when he presents challenging behavior, we have to remind ourselves that we have only been together for one month. Yesterday, in fact, was our one month family anniversary. That's all it has been!
Now, Ethan is in school and doing so well. We put him in Pre-K to help him adjust, and as a gentler way to start school, since he had never been before, but now I'm thinking we should have started him in Kindergarden with kids his own age. His teacher and I will reevaluate in a few weeks. If he keeps picking up things like he has been, and we don't feel like its too much disruption, we may move him to Kindergarten at the end of Christmas break. We'll see. He isn't learning English as quickly as he did in the beginning, but he understand so much of what we say, or has at least picked up on the rhythms of family life and understands what is going on.
The adjustment to a family of four has been harder on Zoe, I think. She adores him and wants to be close to him, but then in the next minute will reach out and scratch him for no obvious reason. I think its a "I love you, but hate that you're taking up Daddy's attention" sort of situation. And without the means to verbalize any of this...well...I imagine she is frustrated.
Another serious plus to having Ethan is that Zoe will do things for him that she won't do for me. If I need her to come and she won't, and I know that ME encouraging her will cause a tantrum, I can say, "Ethan, go get Mei Mei." Then he will take her hand and she will ALWAYS go with him willingly. Sweet.
About food....He doesn't care for rice. We were told he comes from a noodle province, and it must be true. We try to limit noodles (Ramen), but sometime you just want him to EAT!! And everyone should have something they like. Fortunately, he prefers vegetables over sweets. He requests broccoli for breakfast and snacks. He eats Honey nut Cheerios nearly every day and the quantity he can put away is impressive. The other night I offered spinach salad with tomatoes and that is what he had for dinner (followed by Cheerios) The rest of us had pizza, which he does not like. Also, he only drinks water. He doesn't like milk or juice, but I remember him drinking a cold herbal tea in China, so I may see what I can work up in that direction.
We're ready for friends and visitors if anyone would like to meet the newest member of our family!
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Silly faces
Its hard to whip out the camera without the silly faces also coming out. 
There are sweet ones, too, though.
There are sweet ones, too, though.
Zoe's first day
Yesterday was Zoe's first day at her new school. She is still in a SN pre-K, but has been moved to another school that has an autism Pre-K. At the meet and greet we learned there will be 6 students, 1 teacher, 2 para-pros, and then the speech and occupational therapists come in regularly as well. I also met the autism trainer who works with the teachers. I'm very happy this is available to us in our county and that Zoe is able to go. I am very, very hopeful for a successful year.
The bad news....the bus picks Zoe up at 6:45. That's just crazy! Last year the bus picked her up at 7:00 and for some reason, those 15 minutes seem huge to me!
Here's the first day on and off the bus:
The bad news....the bus picks Zoe up at 6:45. That's just crazy! Last year the bus picked her up at 7:00 and for some reason, those 15 minutes seem huge to me!
Here's the first day on and off the bus:
Monday, August 15, 2011
About the boy
So we've been a family of 4 for two weeks now. We're still in the process of getting to know our son, but here is what we've sorted out, or suspect so far...
The basics: He is about 41 inches tall and 31 pounds. If you don't know about kids and sizes, he is skinny, skinny, skinny. I've never seen anything like it. And he and Zoe side by side in the bath is a sight to see.
He is smart. He figures out puzzles quickly, and he is picking up English already. He says, please, thank you, more, all done, counts to 5 and repeats a ton of what we say. He also tells himself, "good job" whenever he flushes and washes his hands. At first it seemed he got bored quickly with toys and such, but I think the newness and excitement are wearing off and he can settle down to play with a toy independently for long periods of time. I love this!! He chatters away while he plays with a stack of little cars.
He is still a behavior challenge but it seems to be getting better....maybe. I suspect he may always want to test and push and then put on a cute face as a way to get away with naughtiness.
He wants so badly to be cuddled and held. He always wants to know where Jeff is and the other day he stood by the door and cried while Jeff mowed the lawn. When he kisses, he puckers so much its almost like he's kissing with the inside of his lips...always wet. Truthfully, its like the lower half of his face was made for slurping noodles. You'll have to see it sometime.
We can't quite figure out what he eats other than noodles, some fruit and boiled eggs. He turns down most everything else. He is starting to try some new things, but nothing is going over well so far except honey nut cheerios. They were a winner! And I'm surprised by how little he drinks. We offer stuff all the time, but he rarely takes anything, and prefers water.
I'm not sure he was ever carried anywhere because he doesn't know how to straddle your hip. He usually tries to leave his legs hanging straight down.
That's all for now...I SWEAR I will put up pictures soon, but Zoe's bus will be coming soon from her first day at her new school. It will be the first time I meet her off the bus, too, since she was always taken to day care before. Ethan has been asking about his Mei Mei, too! The relationship between the two of them is a topic for another day...and possibly therapy.
The basics: He is about 41 inches tall and 31 pounds. If you don't know about kids and sizes, he is skinny, skinny, skinny. I've never seen anything like it. And he and Zoe side by side in the bath is a sight to see.
He is smart. He figures out puzzles quickly, and he is picking up English already. He says, please, thank you, more, all done, counts to 5 and repeats a ton of what we say. He also tells himself, "good job" whenever he flushes and washes his hands. At first it seemed he got bored quickly with toys and such, but I think the newness and excitement are wearing off and he can settle down to play with a toy independently for long periods of time. I love this!! He chatters away while he plays with a stack of little cars.
He is still a behavior challenge but it seems to be getting better....maybe. I suspect he may always want to test and push and then put on a cute face as a way to get away with naughtiness.
He wants so badly to be cuddled and held. He always wants to know where Jeff is and the other day he stood by the door and cried while Jeff mowed the lawn. When he kisses, he puckers so much its almost like he's kissing with the inside of his lips...always wet. Truthfully, its like the lower half of his face was made for slurping noodles. You'll have to see it sometime.
We can't quite figure out what he eats other than noodles, some fruit and boiled eggs. He turns down most everything else. He is starting to try some new things, but nothing is going over well so far except honey nut cheerios. They were a winner! And I'm surprised by how little he drinks. We offer stuff all the time, but he rarely takes anything, and prefers water.
I'm not sure he was ever carried anywhere because he doesn't know how to straddle your hip. He usually tries to leave his legs hanging straight down.
That's all for now...I SWEAR I will put up pictures soon, but Zoe's bus will be coming soon from her first day at her new school. It will be the first time I meet her off the bus, too, since she was always taken to day care before. Ethan has been asking about his Mei Mei, too! The relationship between the two of them is a topic for another day...and possibly therapy.
Friday, August 12, 2011
Coming home
We have been back in our house for almost 24 hours. Its sweet! As for the trip home...
Flight #1 (Guangzhou to Seoul, 3.5hours) This flight was mainly about managing kiddie-boredom and policing the invisible line between the munchkins.
Our connection was so tight we had to hustle through the Seoul airport and went directly onto the next plane. I was worried about having no down time, and was sort of hoping to miss the connection to get a break between flights, but it all worked out for the best, for sure!
Flight #2 (Seoul to Atlanta, 13.5 hours) Ethan, my dear, dear boy fell asleep within the first 2 hours and stayed that way until a few hours before we landed. He can sleep in any position and stay that way through Zoe pats, kisses, kicks, and at one point, she was even laying on him. Zoe fell asleep just after dinner with the help of a little benedryl. She'd been sick....really! She drifted in and out a little and had a few wake up fussy moments, but for the vast majority of the flight it was just a matter of holding her and keeping her comfortable. My butt was numb and arms hurt, but trust me, I was happy for it. We actually had to wake her up as we were landing.
So now that we're home, we are all well rested, but on the wrong time. This afternoon we laid down for what I hoped would be a quick nap, but turned into a 10 hour snooze for everyone. Now its 11pm and we all up and wired. We'll eventually get to the right time, but I simply can not tell you how happy I am that every one of us is rested and on the same clock!
If I haven't called you, its because I planned to after our "nap" today. I'll try again tomorrow. Or if you're up in the middle of the night (Audrey) call me! I'm up!
Flight #1 (Guangzhou to Seoul, 3.5hours) This flight was mainly about managing kiddie-boredom and policing the invisible line between the munchkins.
Our connection was so tight we had to hustle through the Seoul airport and went directly onto the next plane. I was worried about having no down time, and was sort of hoping to miss the connection to get a break between flights, but it all worked out for the best, for sure!
Flight #2 (Seoul to Atlanta, 13.5 hours) Ethan, my dear, dear boy fell asleep within the first 2 hours and stayed that way until a few hours before we landed. He can sleep in any position and stay that way through Zoe pats, kisses, kicks, and at one point, she was even laying on him. Zoe fell asleep just after dinner with the help of a little benedryl. She'd been sick....really! She drifted in and out a little and had a few wake up fussy moments, but for the vast majority of the flight it was just a matter of holding her and keeping her comfortable. My butt was numb and arms hurt, but trust me, I was happy for it. We actually had to wake her up as we were landing.
So now that we're home, we are all well rested, but on the wrong time. This afternoon we laid down for what I hoped would be a quick nap, but turned into a 10 hour snooze for everyone. Now its 11pm and we all up and wired. We'll eventually get to the right time, but I simply can not tell you how happy I am that every one of us is rested and on the same clock!
If I haven't called you, its because I planned to after our "nap" today. I'll try again tomorrow. Or if you're up in the middle of the night (Audrey) call me! I'm up!
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Boring times, boring blog
Our consulate appt was yesterday. We picked Ethan's visa up today, and go home tomorrow. We are sort of packed, but will need to finish in the morning. Our ride to the airport comes at the very reasonable hour of 9:45.
At least 2 other families will be on our plane. Poor things. Our guide will be writing us a note in Chinese explaining about Zoe and asking if they will just let us hold her like an infant during take off/landing/turbulance. The Air China ladies tried to make us on the way here until Zoe thrashed, dropped to the floor, and started spitting....yeah, good times. We're going to ask to get moved to the back of the plane, too. Its noisier back there. If anyone has any ideas of how to better occupy kiddies on the plane...SPEAK NOW!!! The seat configuration is 3-3-3, so I'm thinking of putting one of the kids across the aisle.
And I now believe Ethan Yuyu is more than a stinker, rascal, imp and any other cute word you can think of to say badly behaved. We still want good bonding, so we are tolerant, but I'm pretty sure he is used to getting his way. He snatches whatever he wants and laughs at you if you seem upset. He also pees outside, which is really more bad manners than behavior. We were eating outside at Lucy's and he just started to pull down his pants. He never flushes, either, but that may be 5 year old boy, right?
And Zoe has decided to become obsessed with the toilet. Now?! We have to keep the bathroom door closed to keep her from playing in it. Is she really THAT bored, or can we possible be ready to potty train? Oh please,oh please!
We're ready to come home!
At least 2 other families will be on our plane. Poor things. Our guide will be writing us a note in Chinese explaining about Zoe and asking if they will just let us hold her like an infant during take off/landing/turbulance. The Air China ladies tried to make us on the way here until Zoe thrashed, dropped to the floor, and started spitting....yeah, good times. We're going to ask to get moved to the back of the plane, too. Its noisier back there. If anyone has any ideas of how to better occupy kiddies on the plane...SPEAK NOW!!! The seat configuration is 3-3-3, so I'm thinking of putting one of the kids across the aisle.
And I now believe Ethan Yuyu is more than a stinker, rascal, imp and any other cute word you can think of to say badly behaved. We still want good bonding, so we are tolerant, but I'm pretty sure he is used to getting his way. He snatches whatever he wants and laughs at you if you seem upset. He also pees outside, which is really more bad manners than behavior. We were eating outside at Lucy's and he just started to pull down his pants. He never flushes, either, but that may be 5 year old boy, right?
And Zoe has decided to become obsessed with the toilet. Now?! We have to keep the bathroom door closed to keep her from playing in it. Is she really THAT bored, or can we possible be ready to potty train? Oh please,oh please!
We're ready to come home!
Monday, August 08, 2011
A pretty good day.
Zoe and I have an understanding that she gets a lollipop (pop pop) if she gets in the stroller with minimal fuss-age.
Ethan is crying less, but can be set off if he doesn't get his way or if Zoe wants one of his toys. Mostly, he's good. He can, however, be a real stinker! We were at dinner tonight and he started tearing up his paper placemat. I told him to give me the pieces and he totally understood what I wanted. He played magician by showing me an empty hand while holding the piece behind his back with the other. When I insisted, he handed me a spoon with a giant smile on his face...then a fork. I gave him a mean look and he busted out laughing.
This was clearly not a battle worth fighting, so I dropped it, but at the end of meal I made him pick up all the pieces he had scattered on the floor and he didn't complain.
We had to work to fill time today. Nothing much on the agenda. We had the reading of the TB test and that was fine. We shopped, played in the play room at the White Swan, and ate at Lucy's (again). We came back to the room when both the kids turned fussy. Zoe fell asleep at 5pm, so I don't know what tomorrow will be like.
Tomorrow morning is our consulate appt. After that, we just wait around for our visa to be issued and then leave on Thursday.
Thats it for the Monday wrap up. I stink at picture taking. I'll see what I can work up for tomorrow.
Ethan is crying less, but can be set off if he doesn't get his way or if Zoe wants one of his toys. Mostly, he's good. He can, however, be a real stinker! We were at dinner tonight and he started tearing up his paper placemat. I told him to give me the pieces and he totally understood what I wanted. He played magician by showing me an empty hand while holding the piece behind his back with the other. When I insisted, he handed me a spoon with a giant smile on his face...then a fork. I gave him a mean look and he busted out laughing.
This was clearly not a battle worth fighting, so I dropped it, but at the end of meal I made him pick up all the pieces he had scattered on the floor and he didn't complain.
We had to work to fill time today. Nothing much on the agenda. We had the reading of the TB test and that was fine. We shopped, played in the play room at the White Swan, and ate at Lucy's (again). We came back to the room when both the kids turned fussy. Zoe fell asleep at 5pm, so I don't know what tomorrow will be like.
Tomorrow morning is our consulate appt. After that, we just wait around for our visa to be issued and then leave on Thursday.
Thats it for the Monday wrap up. I stink at picture taking. I'll see what I can work up for tomorrow.
Saturday, August 06, 2011
We have a sad little man.
Let's see...yesterday...
We woke up late and it was so, so nice. At breakfast we met the other family from our group staying in our hotel. Most of the families are at the other one on the island. We opted for this one for the bigger rooms and it has paid off. The pool is a bummer, but we spend so much time in the room, its nice to spread out.
After breakfast we went to first shop we could find with t-shirts just so we would have something clean until our laundry was done. I had a difficult time choosing between "I *heart* China" or Obama dressed as Mao. In the end I settled on "Guangzhou Starbucks" (I'm sure the copyright was honored) and Jeff got a dragon something with chinese writing. He thinks the translation was something like, "Stupid American paid too much for this shirt." We weren't in the mood to haggle.
Later, smelling fresh, we took poor Ethan to the physical exam clinic. We met some more families from our group and ran Ethan through the little check up stations. Height, weight, eyes, ears. Little buddy may need glasses, or he didnt understand what they wanted him to do. They wrote down, "uncooperative" Then, oh dear, it was time for the TB test. I've never seen a test site swell up like that, but he's so tiny there's no place for whatever they inject in him to go.
And that was the beginning of the crying. Whenever he is not otherwise distracted (eating, playing, pool time, bath) he was either whimpering or crying. When you tell him, "no" it comes in bigger waves. We had to visit our guides to ask him if he was hurting. Later he kept repeating a certain phrase and we asked a shop keeper to translate, and (break my heart) he was repeating, "I want to go home." Zoe wants to be right up on him, and that makes it worse. Our plan today is to keep him busy.
Pictures:
,
We woke up late and it was so, so nice. At breakfast we met the other family from our group staying in our hotel. Most of the families are at the other one on the island. We opted for this one for the bigger rooms and it has paid off. The pool is a bummer, but we spend so much time in the room, its nice to spread out.
After breakfast we went to first shop we could find with t-shirts just so we would have something clean until our laundry was done. I had a difficult time choosing between "I *heart* China" or Obama dressed as Mao. In the end I settled on "Guangzhou Starbucks" (I'm sure the copyright was honored) and Jeff got a dragon something with chinese writing. He thinks the translation was something like, "Stupid American paid too much for this shirt." We weren't in the mood to haggle.
Later, smelling fresh, we took poor Ethan to the physical exam clinic. We met some more families from our group and ran Ethan through the little check up stations. Height, weight, eyes, ears. Little buddy may need glasses, or he didnt understand what they wanted him to do. They wrote down, "uncooperative" Then, oh dear, it was time for the TB test. I've never seen a test site swell up like that, but he's so tiny there's no place for whatever they inject in him to go.
And that was the beginning of the crying. Whenever he is not otherwise distracted (eating, playing, pool time, bath) he was either whimpering or crying. When you tell him, "no" it comes in bigger waves. We had to visit our guides to ask him if he was hurting. Later he kept repeating a certain phrase and we asked a shop keeper to translate, and (break my heart) he was repeating, "I want to go home." Zoe wants to be right up on him, and that makes it worse. Our plan today is to keep him busy.
Pictures:
,
Friday, August 05, 2011
Hello Guangzhou, I love you so.
We are here and let me say it once in big bold letters then I will try not to mention it again. It is HOTTER THAN HADES here. Geez, what a baby I was complaining in Guiyang.
The plane here was 1.5 hours of hell with screaming monkeys and Chinese people that couldn't stare hard enough. A taste of what is to come, but who cares when its over, it will be over. Home, sounds so nice...but Guangzhou is pretty nice, too. Its sort of China-lite. Things are familiar, people speak English, and our room, although not lush, is spacious and Zoe appreciates it. She is much happier, but Yu Yu is sad. Its not an in-your-face sort of grieving, but if Zoe pushes him, and I really mean even a nudge, he cries hard for 10 minutes and then whimpers for 15 more. Its obvious he's sad, but distractible
As soon as we landed we were met by a wonderful guide, who ordered pizza for us on the way to the hotel. We checked in, ate lunch, and then took our first walk. We took a full suitcase to the laundry and can't wait for clean clothes . Our current threads are questionable at best. My shirt, the only one not at the laundry is stretched so bad, you can see my belly button through the arm hole and my bra straps can't be covered anymore. That's what happens when you carry around a 50lb cloth stretcher all day.
We tried out the pool tonight. Nice! We'll buy floaties tomorrow to keep the kids more contained. Its a roof top pool on the 9th floor with not very secure railing around the perimeter. Our slippery wild man could fly through in a heart beat.
Now we are back in the room, for more cartoons and snacks. No good pictures today.
Oh, our room is a corner-jobbie, so we have 2 views. One is just the street...kind of nice. The other looks at the neighboring building, an elementary school, but on the roof directly level with room is some sort of aviary. They have a few different kinds including a peacock and an emu, I think. I'll try to get a picture in the morning.
The plane here was 1.5 hours of hell with screaming monkeys and Chinese people that couldn't stare hard enough. A taste of what is to come, but who cares when its over, it will be over. Home, sounds so nice...but Guangzhou is pretty nice, too. Its sort of China-lite. Things are familiar, people speak English, and our room, although not lush, is spacious and Zoe appreciates it. She is much happier, but Yu Yu is sad. Its not an in-your-face sort of grieving, but if Zoe pushes him, and I really mean even a nudge, he cries hard for 10 minutes and then whimpers for 15 more. Its obvious he's sad, but distractible
As soon as we landed we were met by a wonderful guide, who ordered pizza for us on the way to the hotel. We checked in, ate lunch, and then took our first walk. We took a full suitcase to the laundry and can't wait for clean clothes . Our current threads are questionable at best. My shirt, the only one not at the laundry is stretched so bad, you can see my belly button through the arm hole and my bra straps can't be covered anymore. That's what happens when you carry around a 50lb cloth stretcher all day.
We tried out the pool tonight. Nice! We'll buy floaties tomorrow to keep the kids more contained. Its a roof top pool on the 9th floor with not very secure railing around the perimeter. Our slippery wild man could fly through in a heart beat.
Now we are back in the room, for more cartoons and snacks. No good pictures today.
Oh, our room is a corner-jobbie, so we have 2 views. One is just the street...kind of nice. The other looks at the neighboring building, an elementary school, but on the roof directly level with room is some sort of aviary. They have a few different kinds including a peacock and an emu, I think. I'll try to get a picture in the morning.
Thursday, August 04, 2011
Ancient town
This morning we went to the Ancient Town. Its just outside Guiyang and is a 600 year old city enclosed in walls. Mostly the inside is store after store of food and knick knacks. We bought a few things and watched candy being made. We had sugar pig made for Zoe. It looked cool, but no one wanted to eat it.
This afternoon everyone melted down. I'm sure our hotel neighbors heard the ruckus. Ethan won't stay with us in public. When he sees something he wants, he darts, we chase, he whines. Zoe has about lost her mind. She's hitting and biting and supremely frustrated whenever we are in the room. Ethan keeps yelling something at her that sounds like, "Kan Yeh" which I'm pretty sure means go away. Not to say they are nasty all the time, its just we are all close to the boiling point and ready to go somewhere else!
There are moments where they are darling sweet to each other. E likes her in the bath with him. (and he likes 2 baths/day) In fact, he'll pretty much start getting naked if I head towards the bathroom and he thinks a bath might be possible. Also, he dances in the shower. He is a funny, funny, boy. He also kisses Zoe after she kisses him, and he wants her run around with him outside.
Okay...here's some pictures from today:
This afternoon everyone melted down. I'm sure our hotel neighbors heard the ruckus. Ethan won't stay with us in public. When he sees something he wants, he darts, we chase, he whines. Zoe has about lost her mind. She's hitting and biting and supremely frustrated whenever we are in the room. Ethan keeps yelling something at her that sounds like, "Kan Yeh" which I'm pretty sure means go away. Not to say they are nasty all the time, its just we are all close to the boiling point and ready to go somewhere else!
There are moments where they are darling sweet to each other. E likes her in the bath with him. (and he likes 2 baths/day) In fact, he'll pretty much start getting naked if I head towards the bathroom and he thinks a bath might be possible. Also, he dances in the shower. He is a funny, funny, boy. He also kisses Zoe after she kisses him, and he wants her run around with him outside.
Okay...here's some pictures from today:
Wednesday, August 03, 2011
Almost done in Guiyang
Nuts!!! My giant post about our day yesterday just disappeared. No kidding. I'm typing and then poof!
So about yesterday...it was another day of morning outing, followed by afternoon in hotel room, followed by evening walk.
The morning outting was to the Tian He scenic pool. Might be called Tianhetan. Either way it was exraordinarily beautiful. I doubt I'll see anything like it again, and of course my camera died on the way there. Here are some pictures to give you an idea, but they don't do it justice. http://www.travelchinaguide.com/attraction/guizhou/guiyang/tianhe-pool-area.htm
Without the kids, it would be a great area to spend the afternoon walking, climbing (so many stairs, but HOORAY Zoe was willing to walk a good bit), and touring the caves by boat. We would never have made it without the guide helping carry our bags and keeping a hand on Ethan. Safety rails and such aren't really a big priority here. There were local women selling corn and boiled eggs. !And we saw people carrying around sunflowers that were as big as dinner plates. They were eating the seeds directly from the flower. It was also nice to get out of the city for a bit. Ethan fell asleep both ways in the car.
Back at the hotel was noodle lunch for the kids and room service for us. I'm worried about the few things Ethan will eat. How can one little kid eat so many noodles and only noodles? He turns his nose up at almost everything else. I don't remember how we killed time in the room yesterday. Our days are mostly blurring together.
On our evening walk, we made a new loop around the hotel that didn't involve tunnels or stairs! We stopped for popsicles and sat outside for while. And on the way back we met another western couple with Chinese children. They live here, though. They run a rehabilitation center where they care for Chinese orphans with serious needs, and have adopted 2. Amazing people and it was very nice to chat it up wth native English speakers other than ourselves. When we traveled for Zoe, we were with 13 other families, some of whom became dear friends. Travelling alone...well...its not the same. We are ready to leave here and get to Guangzhou where will meet up with a group travelling to Henan province. There are 10 of them and it sounds like there will be lots of 4 and 5 year olds in the group. Plus, we will be able to use the pool, which I know the kids will LOVE. The pool in this hotel is very nice, but requires you to walk through a disinfection pool (crazy, right?) and wear a swim cap. Zoe would never do that.
Everyone got a good nights sleep after we finally got Ethan to stop playing and get in bed. This morning we are getting a late start, and don't have any plans to fill our last day.
Sorry, Dad, this one doesn't have the patience for golf. I think he's more of soccer player, something high-energy, for sure.
Really, there couldn't have been a better fit for our family. Zoe likes him and wants to be with him. He kissed me out of the blue yesterday. and he obviously adores Jeff. Not only that, he likes legos, computers, and cars, cars, more cars. Sound like someone we know?
Oh, there's a picture in our China Daily paper of Hilary Clinton in profile. Ethan pointed at it and said, "mama". Don't know what to think about that, but Jeff agreed it looks like me.
Okay...camera is charged. Let's get this day started!
So about yesterday...it was another day of morning outing, followed by afternoon in hotel room, followed by evening walk.
The morning outting was to the Tian He scenic pool. Might be called Tianhetan. Either way it was exraordinarily beautiful. I doubt I'll see anything like it again, and of course my camera died on the way there. Here are some pictures to give you an idea, but they don't do it justice. http://www.travelchinaguide.com/attraction/guizhou/guiyang/tianhe-pool-area.htm
Without the kids, it would be a great area to spend the afternoon walking, climbing (so many stairs, but HOORAY Zoe was willing to walk a good bit), and touring the caves by boat. We would never have made it without the guide helping carry our bags and keeping a hand on Ethan. Safety rails and such aren't really a big priority here. There were local women selling corn and boiled eggs. !And we saw people carrying around sunflowers that were as big as dinner plates. They were eating the seeds directly from the flower. It was also nice to get out of the city for a bit. Ethan fell asleep both ways in the car.
Back at the hotel was noodle lunch for the kids and room service for us. I'm worried about the few things Ethan will eat. How can one little kid eat so many noodles and only noodles? He turns his nose up at almost everything else. I don't remember how we killed time in the room yesterday. Our days are mostly blurring together.
On our evening walk, we made a new loop around the hotel that didn't involve tunnels or stairs! We stopped for popsicles and sat outside for while. And on the way back we met another western couple with Chinese children. They live here, though. They run a rehabilitation center where they care for Chinese orphans with serious needs, and have adopted 2. Amazing people and it was very nice to chat it up wth native English speakers other than ourselves. When we traveled for Zoe, we were with 13 other families, some of whom became dear friends. Travelling alone...well...its not the same. We are ready to leave here and get to Guangzhou where will meet up with a group travelling to Henan province. There are 10 of them and it sounds like there will be lots of 4 and 5 year olds in the group. Plus, we will be able to use the pool, which I know the kids will LOVE. The pool in this hotel is very nice, but requires you to walk through a disinfection pool (crazy, right?) and wear a swim cap. Zoe would never do that.
Everyone got a good nights sleep after we finally got Ethan to stop playing and get in bed. This morning we are getting a late start, and don't have any plans to fill our last day.
Sorry, Dad, this one doesn't have the patience for golf. I think he's more of soccer player, something high-energy, for sure.
Really, there couldn't have been a better fit for our family. Zoe likes him and wants to be with him. He kissed me out of the blue yesterday. and he obviously adores Jeff. Not only that, he likes legos, computers, and cars, cars, more cars. Sound like someone we know?
Oh, there's a picture in our China Daily paper of Hilary Clinton in profile. Ethan pointed at it and said, "mama". Don't know what to think about that, but Jeff agreed it looks like me.
Okay...camera is charged. Let's get this day started!
Tuesday, August 02, 2011
What do you know...another morning waiting for sleepy-head
I had lots of worries going into this adoption. One of them was that our slow lazy weekends would be over with the addition of an early-riser. We were blessed with a Zoe who likes to wake up slow and roll around in bed for awhile. Well, I was silly to worry. Not only does he sleep like a log. He wakes up quiet, too. Not only that, if you slide him the ipad, he'll hang out in bed forever. You have to literally take it away from him to get him to go to the bathroom. He will have some sort of game device very shortly after coming home.
I love how he plays independantly, but still wants to be with us, too. He seeks us both. I get called for bathroom duty. He calls, "Mommy-ah" when he wants help in there. And yesterday at the mountain park, he kept asking our guide where "BaBa" was at the top of the mountain. Jeff didn't ride the cable car up, and Yu Yu wanted to get back to him.
He called his foster mother "Mama", so that is why I am "Mommy"
He is mostly sweet to Zoe. You have to remind him to share his favorite things, but he will if you ask. He wants to play with her (all except for the beloved truck, which is only his). But she can be too much for him, I think. He is waking up right now and Zoe is on the bed giving his back pats and kisses. She wants so badly to do things with him. But they are completely different kids. He is fast, fast, fast, and she is my slow little turtle. I think her stimming confuses him, but I have seen him trying to copy her flapping.
We are all getting a little sick. I think the heat outside and keeping our hotel room like an icebox is the culprit.
I'm bummed that our guide doesn't know this place better. He's very nice, but I remember our guide from Zoe's province bending over backwards to make things easy for us. I expected laundry to be handled like that again, so we didn't bring much for Jeff and me. The hotel laundry service is ridiculous, like it would cost more to wash our shirts than it did to buy them. We know there is cheap laundry in Guangzhou, so we are waiting and washing some things in the tub. Jeff, however, is out of socks and they won't dry in time. We may have to spring the $30!!! it will cost to wash a few pairs for him. The kids will be okay because they are carried or ride everywhere we go, and therefore not working up any kind sweat. I, however, spend most of the time reeking of sweat and overused baby powder/deodorant. Jeff's not so fresh either. Our boy was kind of stinky when we got him and I didn't want to push a bath, but last night I asked him if he wanted to get in with Zoe and it turns out he's a little fish. He wanted to wash Zoe and used the saftey handle bars like gymnast rings.
Photos brought to you by Yu Yu
I love how he plays independantly, but still wants to be with us, too. He seeks us both. I get called for bathroom duty. He calls, "Mommy-ah" when he wants help in there. And yesterday at the mountain park, he kept asking our guide where "BaBa" was at the top of the mountain. Jeff didn't ride the cable car up, and Yu Yu wanted to get back to him.
He called his foster mother "Mama", so that is why I am "Mommy"
He is mostly sweet to Zoe. You have to remind him to share his favorite things, but he will if you ask. He wants to play with her (all except for the beloved truck, which is only his). But she can be too much for him, I think. He is waking up right now and Zoe is on the bed giving his back pats and kisses. She wants so badly to do things with him. But they are completely different kids. He is fast, fast, fast, and she is my slow little turtle. I think her stimming confuses him, but I have seen him trying to copy her flapping.
We are all getting a little sick. I think the heat outside and keeping our hotel room like an icebox is the culprit.
I'm bummed that our guide doesn't know this place better. He's very nice, but I remember our guide from Zoe's province bending over backwards to make things easy for us. I expected laundry to be handled like that again, so we didn't bring much for Jeff and me. The hotel laundry service is ridiculous, like it would cost more to wash our shirts than it did to buy them. We know there is cheap laundry in Guangzhou, so we are waiting and washing some things in the tub. Jeff, however, is out of socks and they won't dry in time. We may have to spring the $30!!! it will cost to wash a few pairs for him. The kids will be okay because they are carried or ride everywhere we go, and therefore not working up any kind sweat. I, however, spend most of the time reeking of sweat and overused baby powder/deodorant. Jeff's not so fresh either. Our boy was kind of stinky when we got him and I didn't want to push a bath, but last night I asked him if he wanted to get in with Zoe and it turns out he's a little fish. He wanted to wash Zoe and used the saftey handle bars like gymnast rings.
Photos brought to you by Yu Yu
Filling time in Guiyang
Today we went to the monkey park. It was supposed to have a ton of free roaming monkeys and temple, but there were so many people, and I mean sooooo many, that the monkeys had all gone away. We walked around just a bit and rode the cable car to the top of the mountain, but that was about it. It was nice to get out of the hotel, though. After that we went to the Provincial Museum to buy souveniers (how DO you spell it!) We bought Ethan Yuyu a stone from his area of the province, embroidered wall hangings and little figures of the kid's zodiac signs.
We went back to the hotel for lunch where we ordered Papa John's and then get this....Zoe and I napped!!! Ahhhh...sleep!
The kids were fine playing in the room through the heat of the day, and then later we went out for a little grocery/snack shopping. We walked along the river and had popcicles. Later, the kids (I like saying that)had baths, played some more and then Zoe actually asked to go to bed. I'm about to head that way, too
The only real monkey of the day.
My own litte monkeys.
Fun signage.
Zoe on the cable car.
Pretty scenery.
We went back to the hotel for lunch where we ordered Papa John's and then get this....Zoe and I napped!!! Ahhhh...sleep!
The kids were fine playing in the room through the heat of the day, and then later we went out for a little grocery/snack shopping. We walked along the river and had popcicles. Later, the kids (I like saying that)had baths, played some more and then Zoe actually asked to go to bed. I'm about to head that way, too
The only real monkey of the day.
My own litte monkeys.
Fun signage.
Zoe on the cable car.
Pretty scenery.
Monday, August 01, 2011
All Boy!
Yesterday morning Zoe was surprised to wake up and find that boy from the day before still with us. She woke up about 3am (I didn't sleep....what is WRONG with me!) So she and I played in the bathroom for awhile. We took baths. Sat in the hallway eating oranges. And then went to the lobby to walk around. When we came back, Jeff was up. Then Zoe started getting noisy and we realized it didn't bother him. We turned on the TV and still, nothing. Lights, no problem. This little boy is the best sleeper in the family. Right now we are all up again. Zoe is eating Prawn Crackers (we will need stock in this stinky stuff) Jeff is watching TV and Ethan Yuyu is sleeping soundly, silently. I want to pinch him like the mother in Terms of Endearment just to see if he's okay.
We went to breakfast, and met another American. I hate paying these crazy prices for the 3 bites of food my kids eat, but Jeff and I have to go and so they have to go with us. We won't be going to many restaurants when we come home. Zoe always wants to wander, but he just cant sit still. After he had his few bites he was running his cars on the rail, on the floor, trying to climb, run, etc. The good thing about him is he doesn't mind being corrected. Where Zoe will drop to the floor and scream when you tell her no. He either ignores you (he's very focused) or complies no problem when you are firm enough. I don't want to be firm right now since we are still so new together, but he still needs to realize we are Mommy and Daddy (BaBa) and he needs to do what we say. Firm and loving is not always easy.
Later that morning we headed to the bank and then back to the civil affairs building to finalize our adoption. The afternoon was spent in the hotel room, where we hoped for a nap, but no. I was really hoping to see a lot of Guiyang and tour the area, but I don't think the kids are going to permit much. Ethan sees Zoe getting carried and wants to be carried, too. Fortunately after lifting my almost 50 pounder for so long, he feels like nothing. He also wants to ride in the stroller. He thinks its the most fun ever! And finally, seeing someone else in her stoller made Zoe want to get in, too. We'll buy another when we get to Guangzhou.
Just to get out of the hotel room, we went to the mall down the street. They have a really nice supermarket in the basement next to ToysRus. The boy about lost his mind in the toy store. It was difficult to keep him with us, so we didn't stay long. We bought him a little transport truck with 3 cars that ride on it. I started to tell him no, but he was insistent and looked so grateful when I said, "ok" He said, "ok?" I said, "ok" again, and he said, "shay shay" which means "thank you." He says thank you whenever I give him anything.
He's pretty good at sharing, too. At least he was until the new truck entered the picture. He doesn't want Zoe playing with it, and naturally that makes Zoe want it. We had some scuffles and I see many more in our future. I want to be extra special loving and kind to Zoe right now since we are putting her through so much, but her behavior sometimes... Ooooh, parenting is fun!
We have today and the next two days pretty much free, so I'm not sure what will happen. Even this swank-a-rific room is gettin a little small. And you really can't do much outside during the day because of the crazy, nasty heat. The tourist brochures say this is "Cool Guiyang" but they must be referring to the hipness factor rather than the temperature. (Actually this is a popular tourist place because of the cooler temperatures, so I'm pretty much scared to go anywhere else in China.)
When the guide comes this morning we will go to Monkey park. A park with a temple and free-roaming monkeys. After that is the provincial museum for souvenier (sp?) shopping. We want things for Ethan from his province.
The whole time I have been typing this, Zoe is roaming the room singing, Jeff is watching TV, and Ethan is sleeping. I am so grateful for this. He is a sweet, sweet boy.
We went to breakfast, and met another American. I hate paying these crazy prices for the 3 bites of food my kids eat, but Jeff and I have to go and so they have to go with us. We won't be going to many restaurants when we come home. Zoe always wants to wander, but he just cant sit still. After he had his few bites he was running his cars on the rail, on the floor, trying to climb, run, etc. The good thing about him is he doesn't mind being corrected. Where Zoe will drop to the floor and scream when you tell her no. He either ignores you (he's very focused) or complies no problem when you are firm enough. I don't want to be firm right now since we are still so new together, but he still needs to realize we are Mommy and Daddy (BaBa) and he needs to do what we say. Firm and loving is not always easy.
Later that morning we headed to the bank and then back to the civil affairs building to finalize our adoption. The afternoon was spent in the hotel room, where we hoped for a nap, but no. I was really hoping to see a lot of Guiyang and tour the area, but I don't think the kids are going to permit much. Ethan sees Zoe getting carried and wants to be carried, too. Fortunately after lifting my almost 50 pounder for so long, he feels like nothing. He also wants to ride in the stroller. He thinks its the most fun ever! And finally, seeing someone else in her stoller made Zoe want to get in, too. We'll buy another when we get to Guangzhou.
Just to get out of the hotel room, we went to the mall down the street. They have a really nice supermarket in the basement next to ToysRus. The boy about lost his mind in the toy store. It was difficult to keep him with us, so we didn't stay long. We bought him a little transport truck with 3 cars that ride on it. I started to tell him no, but he was insistent and looked so grateful when I said, "ok" He said, "ok?" I said, "ok" again, and he said, "shay shay" which means "thank you." He says thank you whenever I give him anything.
He's pretty good at sharing, too. At least he was until the new truck entered the picture. He doesn't want Zoe playing with it, and naturally that makes Zoe want it. We had some scuffles and I see many more in our future. I want to be extra special loving and kind to Zoe right now since we are putting her through so much, but her behavior sometimes... Ooooh, parenting is fun!
We have today and the next two days pretty much free, so I'm not sure what will happen. Even this swank-a-rific room is gettin a little small. And you really can't do much outside during the day because of the crazy, nasty heat. The tourist brochures say this is "Cool Guiyang" but they must be referring to the hipness factor rather than the temperature. (Actually this is a popular tourist place because of the cooler temperatures, so I'm pretty much scared to go anywhere else in China.)
When the guide comes this morning we will go to Monkey park. A park with a temple and free-roaming monkeys. After that is the provincial museum for souvenier (sp?) shopping. We want things for Ethan from his province.
The whole time I have been typing this, Zoe is roaming the room singing, Jeff is watching TV, and Ethan is sleeping. I am so grateful for this. He is a sweet, sweet boy.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
We have him, and he has us....forever and ever
Our guide said it was the best transition he has seen.
We went to the civil affairs building. Crazy hot. !4th floor of a run down building. Officials in t-shirts and flip flops. There was a Spanish family there waiting for their baby. We watched their family moment and then waited...and waited. So hot you couldn't think straight. Tired fussy Zoe.
Then he came in and went staight to Jeff and said, "Baba!" He tried to give Zoe a stuffed animal and wasn't terribly interested in me, but was friendly enough. He LOVES the ipad and has already figured out all of our pre-school games and puzzles. He is so smart, so energetic, and we couldn't have asked for more. He is teeny tiny. Don't think our clothes will fit. Zoe finally feel asleep towards the end and hasn't woken up yet. Sort of worried about sleep tonight. Guide is out buying us snacks. Room service dinner and then the pool if Zoe wakes up and Jeff can stay up. He's dozing while playing with Yu Yu. We say his name so badly he doesn't understand us. He repeats everything we say in English, no mistakes and is excited by everything. Love him.
We need more toys.
We went to the civil affairs building. Crazy hot. !4th floor of a run down building. Officials in t-shirts and flip flops. There was a Spanish family there waiting for their baby. We watched their family moment and then waited...and waited. So hot you couldn't think straight. Tired fussy Zoe.
Then he came in and went staight to Jeff and said, "Baba!" He tried to give Zoe a stuffed animal and wasn't terribly interested in me, but was friendly enough. He LOVES the ipad and has already figured out all of our pre-school games and puzzles. He is so smart, so energetic, and we couldn't have asked for more. He is teeny tiny. Don't think our clothes will fit. Zoe finally feel asleep towards the end and hasn't woken up yet. Sort of worried about sleep tonight. Guide is out buying us snacks. Room service dinner and then the pool if Zoe wakes up and Jeff can stay up. He's dozing while playing with Yu Yu. We say his name so badly he doesn't understand us. He repeats everything we say in English, no mistakes and is excited by everything. Love him.
We need more toys.
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Morning of Family Day
We meet the guide in about 2 hours. And then head to the civil affairs building around 2:30, so by the time you wake up, we will be a family of four. There may not be so much blogging after that. I'm truthfully not sure what will happen.
We should be out shopping right now. We wanted to, but got lost in the tunnels under the street and since Zoe is insisting on being carried, we just cant make it far. If we were home, I would drag her walking, or shove her screaming in the stroller, but here....well, people are already staring and I think they think we just adopted her. I don't want people on the street thinking I'm taking a Chinese child and then treating her badly. So we carry....Oh Lordy, we carry. Old ladies on the street stop us, point at Zoe and then point at the ground, as if to tell us to make her walk. I did put her down in front of one, and sure enough Zoe was mighty confused by all the commotion and started to fall to the ground. I just can't put her through much more, because we are asking so much of her already. She will ride in the stroller, but screams and thrashes for about the first 3 minutes. We usually try to get that over with while we aren't being watched, but you can't go far because there are so many stairs. My great hope is that she will see her brother walking and follow him. She is fascinated by other kids.
Here's some pictures:
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