Some pictures from today at the park

Home at Last

Typical two tear old!









Grammy and kids









Learning to speak Chinese?









Yummy! SI made the cake










D and her new friend









Corwin on the boat


We are FINALLY home! It is SO good to be home! Three of our kids met us at the airport, it was so good to hug them again! Corwin is doing great and all the kids absolutely adore him. He is having a blast getting so much attention. He is an amazing little boy and very smart.

While we were on our last flight home last night I thought alot about what this journey means to him. He is too young to understand but I can't help but wonder what he would think about it all if he could tell me. His whole future has just changed...One of my major regrets about our trip was that we did not get to meet his foster family. We wanted too so much but our guide did not think it would be a good idea to have him see them again. I agree with that but I feel we owe so much to them. He is just an amazing boy and I think alot of that is because of them. We have only had him since 9/9 and he is doing so good considering that before then we were total strangers to him.

Here are a few pics from before we left GZ and some from tonight......

Heading Home

Finally....we are heading home! I am so happy to be going home. We are leaving for Shanghai tomorrow morning(Wednesday)..thats Tuesday night for you folks in Texas.

Today all us Americans went on two huge buses to the US Consulate,the entire reason we are even here in Guangzhou. We got our elusive "brown envelope" and it is safely tucked away in my carry on. The moment we land on US soil, Corwin will be an American citizen.

I have met one wonderful family here and only wish they lived closer. Their daughter and D have become friends and they even have a 7 year old son and a two year old son. And they homeschool too.

Today I made a Chinese shopkeeper mad! I wanted to but some beautiful tea cups. She was asking 58 yuan. I offered her 50. Thats like $6US. She seemed reluctant but finally said "For you, 50 yuan". While she was wrapping them up (before I paid) and I saw my friend mentioned above walking down the street. I told her about the teacups, she said she got the same cups for 25 yuan at another shop! So she walked in there and told the shopkeeper I changed my mind

Monday in Guangzhou

Smiles at breakfast!




















At Lucy's






Street scene









Inside White Swan








Waterfall








At Lucy's







Today David went to the Consulate and did at the stuff that I know nothing about! He called about 11:30 and said that all was well! What a relief!

While he was there I met some families in the hallway of our floor where I was playing ball with Corwin (had to stay in telephone range of our room in case David had to contact me)Two of the families were from Virginia near where my brother and his family just moved. One of the guys is in the Air Force and recently came back from Korea. One of the families had a boy from Inner Mongolia and he was such a cutie!! Just two and had a CL/CP just like Corwin.

In Fuzhou, we were one of three Western families that were there. Here in Guangzhou, is another story. Everyone that adopts HAS to come here. So there are Americans everywhere. This morning the breakfast buffet was so crowded that we has no place to sit. But there are some Africans here and Indians also. On our first morning here (Saturday) a man from Denmark offered to take our picture for us at breakfast. He then wanted to know how the entire adoption process works and seemed truly interested and surprised.

Tonight we go with our group, two other families from Small World and one from Lifeline on a dinner boat cruise on the Pearl River. We are becoming friends with anther Small World family here that has a little girl from Huangzhou (?) spelling it wrong! They are so nice and all the kids are here with them. They have an older girl, near D's age and two boys, K's and S's age. The dad is a nurse and is helpful because Corwin is nursing a cold...

Saturday in Guangzhou........

Dinner at the Cow and Bridge Restaurant



















What we ate










Corwin in stroller









At breakfast



















Waterfall inside White Swan










Corwin at breakfast

Today we went to get Corwin's medical exam. Its basically a check up to make sure he is not sick. He did not like it at all. He cried alot! But after he was fine. After that we went around to some shops and looked at all the stuff. Its very different here than Fuzhou. I think its more Americanized. At least right here by the hotel its not as busy as it was in Fuzhou. Donya and I walked around and looked at all the shops here in the hotel also. They have some beautiful furniture (cabinets and such) wish we could ship some home...but its not in the budget.

After Corwin's nap we met in David's room and did paperwork for the consulate. That took about an hour. Later we all met up again and had dinner at the cow and bridge. It was good food and not too expensive.

Tomorrrow. we go on a shopping tour....not sure where. Samuel is home and the kids are all happy!

About Corwin, I am not kidding, almost everywhere we go someone comments about what a good boy he is. He IS a good boy. He just sits quietly and eats or walks to where we are walking and does not try to run away(Kai?), he stays with me!!! He goes to bed and and takes naps so easily! I am amazed. Oh and he is so smart, he definitely knows whats going on. Just a few days ago, I started signing to him at bed and nap time and today he started signing with me.Of course the words aren't right but he is trying..that is so cool. I just can't sing his praises enough.

Yesterday I started signing the patty cake song with him and tonight he knows it! He loves to be tickled and laughs up a storm! Its hard to believe that I am with the child now that we prayed for for so long....I just can't describe how I feel sitting here and listening to him breath in his sleep.

Guangzhou

White Swan
Last sunset in Fuzhou









We are here! We had a good flight...well pretty good.Corwin was an angel at the airport and when we got on the plane he was very happy and chatty. The plane taxied down the runway and I THOUGHT.."wow, I have it made on this flight",well,in a word,No! Pretty soon after lift off he started crying hard. I don't know why, maybe he was scared, maybe the noise, maybe tired.I don't know.Finally I took him out of his seat and put him on my lap and he cried for a good while. Finally he fell asleep. I woke him up when the plane landed and he as fine! The flight was only about an hour.

Our guide here is David and he seems really nice. Tomorrow at 10am we meet in the lobby and go for the medical exam. Donya and Corwin are sleeping now. Samuel is on his way home and will be there at 8:55pm Texas time. The hotel, The White Swan seems nice, it was dark when we came in and we went straight to the room so did not have a good look around.

I feel like I made a friend for life with our guide Katherine in Fuzhou. She is very sweet and I can see us keeping in touch. I feel she really loves what she does and has a heart for the children.

Oh good news......Corwin did not cry AT ALL during his bath tonight!!!!! He seemed to like it!

Until tomorrow......

Leaving Fuzhou..hello Guangzhou

This afternoon we are leaving Fuzhou and heading to GZ. Samuel left early this morning to head home. The children are all looking forward to seeing daddy. Katherine and David (our driver) will meet us at 3pm in the lobby and then to the airport. Looking forward to this last leg of our journey. I miss our kids!!! Corwin is doing great!!! He is now ours as far as China is concerned. We have his passport and all the Fuzhou adoption papers. GZ is where we do the US side of the adoption. Here is a cute picture of Corwin in his undies! He is totally potty trained! In the background you can see D...ever on the computer.

Every day is better than the day before and Corwin is really a sweetheart. I have seen no aggressive behavior and no sign of an undisclosed condition. He is shy around strangers and will not talk to anyone that speaks to him in Chinese except for our guide. I think he will love hanging out with the boys at home. ok until GZ.........bye!

Corwin

Corwin is wonderful. He is amazing! He wakes up happy. He wants to play and LOVES D!!!! He calls her name all the time. He is smiling all the time and loves to play with the toys we brought. I am so thankful that he seems to be adjusting to us!!! He is such a ham and doing silly things all the time! The only time is is upset is at bath and bedtime. And it does not last long. He gives hugs and kisses freely! We are SO BLESSED!! We definitely love him and can't wait for him to meet his brothers and sisters! I am just watching him while he is sleeping now and can't believe he is really ours finally.He is a beautiful boy!

The last two nights he has cried and called for momma.I have just held him and rocked him til he falls asleep. It takes about 10-15 minutes. Oh and did I tell you he loves to eat?!

Wednesday

Almost bedtime








Shopping anyone??













At orphanage




At orphanage








Panda Zoo









You Jie






I am very tired so this will be short...

Today after breakfast, we went to The Panda Zoo. More on that later.

Then we went to visit the Orphanage. I was expecting that we would meet the director and be able to ask questions but our visit was very low key. As soon as we got out of the van we went inside a building and met a little boy and his foster mom. He is waiting to come home to a family that asked us to bring him a package. We gave him the package and took lots of pics and video.The foster mom seems very very nice and did not mind letting me take all the pictures I wanted too. Then we went upstairs and saw three baby rooms. Each room had about four babies and three aunties. The babies were little. I think that at least two babies had cl/cp. One tiny baby was hooked up to an IV in her head. ALL the babies were under alot of blankets and it was hot with no AC. The ratio of babies and aunties was good and all the babies looked well cared for. We did see some little kids playing at a playground,but we did not go to there. Thats pretty much all we did. We did not meet the director.

After, we had the day to ourselves. I have to say, the city is big, but there is nothing to do with a 2 year old here. We ate lunch,Corwin took a nap and then we called a taxi and met another family about 10 minutes away at a shopping mall. There is just so much time I can spend cooped up in a hotel room. As usual, many people looking,I don't think this city gets alot of Western visitors. I am tired of Chinese food so we ate at McDonalds! It was cheap...fit our budget!!! Ok enjoy the pics....

Tuesday Morning...finding place

Corwin is great today!!! He is sleeping now. We had a great morning.Katherine met us at 8:30am and we went to Corwin's finding place. It is in Fuzhou, but another district,called Mawai district. Its about an hour away from here. It was in a part of the city that was not so busy as where we are staying. Its is right on the Min River, surrounded by mountains. He was left at a small park, at the entrance. I always wondered about his finding place.I envisioned a large forested park, lush and green. This is just a small square park,with a few benches and right next to a busy street. We took some pictures.

Then we went to McDonalds for lunch. I don't think Corwin ever had a french fry at least he did not act like he knew what it was. Corwin called Katherine "auntie" and gave D more kisses.

Next we visited a Buddhist Temple. There were many people there praying and burning incense. It is like a park area, very pretty with lots of trees.

Later today we will go walking back to the big park and play there with Corwin.

Monday afternoon....

After the official stuff was done we had lunch and Corwin took a nap.

Katherine meet us in the lobby at 3:30 and we went around the city to see all the shops. She took us to a shop where they hand make traditional silk dresses for very good price. The lady that owns the shop is a Christian,Katherine told me, her whole family is. She was very nice.

After that we went to a huge mall,but not a mall like you see at home,I can't explain it. It was about 8 stories,and in a circular shape. And no chain type stores,all stores were like little shops. Not many here speak english. I would be lost trying to shop or get around if Katherine was not here.

I wish I could adequately describe the city...you have to see it. Fuzhou is huge,much bigger than Fort Worth and busy, 3 million population.......I suspect not many westerners here, we are getting alot of stares. The people very friendly and petite. One shop we went into at the mall was a jade jewelry shop.The ladies working there were very nice,all smiles, they asked Katherine how old D was and when Katherine told them they could not believe it. She was taller than all of them. She is almost taller than me!

Corwin: he is coming out of his shell in a big way! Through out the entire day he was such a ham. Smiling and skipping and jumping down steps.Giving D kisses. Daddy was giving him shoulder rides and he was loving it. He is very well behaved (not like the children at home! ha ha). And he eats!!!!! Kai's opposite! He is amazing and all the people that see him tell us how hansom he is! He sleeps thru the night, now that IS a blessing! He DID NOT like his bath last night, oh he cried hard, sobbing.I will have to ask Katherine if she can find out if there is a water issue here.....We are so blessed to have Corwin. Samuel is loving it here and loving getting to know Corwin.D is having a blast and said he loves it here. All for now...have to wake the sleeping children.....

Today we go to his finding place.....

What a difference a night can make....

Night at the parkwaking up(above)


Cowrin at notary D at notary




At civil affairs



Families at breakfast



civil affairs


Corwin giving his handprint



At breakfast







I think we have a different boy this morning than we did last night! Did someone switch him during the night? :)

Well Corwin fell into an exhausted sleep around 6:30pm. He slept ALL NIGHT LONG! I was the one who could not sleep! I went to bed around 9pm and woke up around midnight and had a hard time sleeping after that. Drifted off finally and woke up at 6:30am. Woke Corwin up around 7am. He was very happy and smiled some and told D "I love you" (in Chinese). I had to bathe him because he missed the potty a little. He did not want the bath! He cried again after that:(

After a lovely telephone call from my children,we headed to the buffet and met up with two other families also adopting from Fuzhou.(They are with Holt) They both have little girls. Corwin ate and ate and ate,oh did I tell you he is a chunk? He is big, not fat, just heavy, fits the 3T clothes perfectly! He ate more than I've seen a 2 year eat in a long time.

Then Katherine our guide came and and we went to the civil affairs office. The two other families met us there. It was a flurry of paperwork and people coming in and out and papers being signed and questions being asked. It took about an hour. Then we went to the police station. I don't know why we went there. We stayed in the van and Katherine went in and did whatever had to be done. The driver gave us a little lesson in Chinese while we waited. After, we went to the notary where we signed more papers,put our thumb print on them and promised to always love Corwin , take care of him, never abuse him and provide him with an education, medical care, love and protection and more.

I have to say that Corwin was an ABSOLUTE ANGEL during the entire morning. He did not fuss, cry,anything AT ALL. I was amazed! He stayed with us and sat on our laps and held our hands and came when we had to walk...amazing! Not a tear, frown..nothing. Not much smiles either but hey,I'll take it.

Right now he is sleeping! Samuel and D went for a walk to the big park. We will meet our guide later this afternoon and go look at an art market and look for some traditional outfits for Corwin.

Tomorrow we will go to his finding place about an hour away near the beach.....We are doing fantastic and loving every minute of it here.
Enjoy the pics!