Back to the orphanage
This morning started out with more smiles and snuggles. Breakfast was the usual except we found out that he REALLY likes watermelon juice. He chugged it!! We refilled his bottle before heading out and it’s a good thing we did.
At 9:00 we met one of our guide’s friends who took us to the orphanage that Little G is from. Our guide was busy with consulate appointments so she couldn’t take us. It took about an hour to get to the orphanage from our hotel. The director met us and took us to a room that had a good sized conference table with fruit, flowers, water and orange soda that is made in Foshan. It is the most popular orange pop in all of China, according to the orphanage director. She gave us several cans to bring back with us. I don’t think we can take them on the plane though, so we’ll be sippin’ orange soda for the next two days. We plan to offer some to the family that will travel with us tomorrow.
The “social welfare institute” (SWI) (aka orphanage) is a large building that houses the orphanage and also a nursing home of sorts. The grounds are nicely kept and the workers all seemed friendly. I think there are probably 15-20 kids in the orphanage. Most, if not all, are special needs. Some of them have pretty severe needs while others would not necessarily be considered special needs in the US.
We had a nice visit with the director. She told us that Guille seems very happy and that he is a lucky boy to have a good family. A couple of nannies brought in three of Guille’s friends. They were so happy to see him. He didn’t want to get down, at first, but then stood and looked at his friends. One of them had an “accident” shortly after they came to the room so we didn’t get any pictures of her. But we did get a couple of pictures with his two best buddies. And then, we went upstairs to the playroom and sleeping room. The gate was locked and who came to open it????? Yep, Guille’s nanny! He wailed, as if he hadn’t seen her for such a long time. He reached for her and clung to her tightly. It made me a bit teary to see my baby crying so hard. It didn’t last too long, then he went back to Guillermo while I hugged on some of the other little people who were there playing. We saw the bed where he slept, which is now occupied by another little girl. Guille did get down to play in the playroom for a little while. One of his little friends obviously did not want him to leave. When I picked him up to go, she stood at the door and pointed to the ground beside her and said “Lian” (which is Guille’s Chinese name). She repeated it several times, as if he should obey her command. It was so cute. She blew him kisses and said “bye, bye”. It made me teary eyed to have to leave all those sweet little people there, but I feel so very blessed to be leaving that place with my sweet bundle of joy.
When we left the orphanage, we drove across town to where Guille was found abandoned when he was one day old. He was left on the step of an automotive repair shop across the street from a large hospital. We found a lawnmower repair shop and a small engine repair shop near each other so we took pictures of both places.
On the way back to the hotel Guille downed 11-12 oz. of watermelon juice that we had taken along. It’s the most he has drunk in one sitting since we have had him. I was so happy to see him drink so much. His diaper definitely needed changing when we got back to the hotel!! (No poop yet, though.) The trip back seemed like it was some closure for the little guy. He downed that juice, leaned forward, let out a big burp, then started waving at the people on the street and saying “Hi”. (He says it when nobody can hear him, but if anyone is around, he won’t say it. Silly boy!)
We came back to the room and he took a nice nap. When he got up he and Guilllermo played while I worked on packing our things. We leave Guangzhou tomorrow afternoon and head for Hong Kong. We will travel by bus…a three and a half hour trip. Fun, fun! Then Thursday morning we walk from the hotel in Hong Kong to the airport, check in, and head for home. I can’t wait to get my little fella home and let him really spread his wings. I know he’s gonna soar!
We ate a quick supper then went to the hotel lobby to say good bye to four of the other families who left this evening. It was a bittersweet goodbye, since we were beginning to form friendships and having to say goodbye so soon, and yet, knowing that they were all heading home to get settled in and let their little ones begin to spread their wings was sweet.
So, now we’re ready to head down to StarYucks and post this and yesterday’s adventures and more pictures. We probably won’t post anything tomorrow, and depending on what the internet situation is in Hong Kong, we may not post until we get home. Ah, HOME!! Can’t wait to get there! (Wow, did I say that??? ME, who was always traveling somewhere when school wasn’t in session??? Yep, and I’m ready to take my little dude home!) Later!!
Monday, May 11, 2009
Little G woke up all smiles this morning. I haven’t managed to get a good smile on camera yet, but just wait, it’s coming! He ate a good breakfast and then we came back to the room for a little while before meeting many of the other families in our travel group out by the pool for a mini-church service. Well, basically some just shared what the Lord has been teaching them and showing them through the adoption process. Then we had a time of prayer together and dedication of our little ones to the Lord. It was a neat time of fellowship.
At 10:00 at least one parent of the families who had their US Consulate appointment today had to stay in their room. That way if our guide, who took all the paperwork to the consulate for the families, has any questions, or if the consulate has any questions, she can contact the families. Four families had their appointment today and the rest of us have ours tomorrow. We won’t be stuck in the room though, as we are going to go to the orphanage. Our guide told us that if she has questions for us she will contact the person who will be taking us to the orphanage.
While others were waiting in their rooms, we walked to some nearby shops so we could compare prices with the shops on Shamian Island, which is noted for its shops and the White Swan Hotel. In the nearby shops we found some cute little “traditional” outfits (which I guess are actually pajamas…but don’t tell anyone). A couple of the workers were flirting with Guille and he went right to them. I’m glad he decided to come back to us though. We didn’t buy anything there and I used my Chinese skills to tell them that today we look and tomorrow we buy.
In the afternoon we spent three and a half hours on Shamian Island. The three of us went first to the White Swan Hotel. That’s where some very good friends of our stayed when they adopted their little girl five years ago. Their daughter played a big part in our decision to adopt from China when we were first seriously thinking of adopting. Anyway, the White Swan is famous for its “Red Couch”. Many, many adoption photos have been taken there and it is somewhat of a tradition among adoptive families to go to the White Swan to have a picture taken there. Well, sad news! We never found THE red couch. There was a waiting area for the bus terminal that had red couches, but it wasn’t what we were looking for. Oh well. We did take some pictures in the hotel of the waterfall…or anyway the place where the waterfall had been flowing right before we got the camera out. We walked through some of the shops in the hotel but didn’t buy anything. I noticed one item with a price of 2909990 yuan. (There are about 6.75 yuan/US dollar.) We left the White Swan Hotel and did some shopping. We bought Guille a couple of PJs in different sizes, a pair of “squeeky shoes” for Guille, some souveniers, then grabbed a quick grilled cheese sandwich before getting back on the bus.
On the bus ride back to the hotel, our guide was talking to Guille in Chinese. He raised his arm and she tickled him. I had told her this morning that he was smiling a lot more and now we were waiting to hear that little giggle. We heard it! And it is sooo sweet! She had him laughing so much that other families on the bus heard him. I don’t suppose those in the back did, but those across the aisle did. They were so happy to hear him giggle too. I’m looking forward to hearing a lot more of that!!
Back at the hotel we walked around a bit and took some pictures of Guille in his jeans and tee-shirt. The t-shirt is probably a bit small, but it was one of those things that he HAD to wear at least once. I thought he looked pretty cool! It showed off his broad shoulders and skinny little waist. He likes to put his hands in his pockets while he walks, so that was pretty cute.
Our boy is spoiled. Our boy is NOT spoiled. Our boy IS not spoiled. Our BOY is not spoiled. OUR boy is not spoiled. OUR BOY IS SPOILED!!! Ok, ok… I admit it. Our little guy is just a wee bit spoiled. Today he decided that he wouldn’t walk out in public. So whenever I’d try to set him down, he’d lift his legs, throw back his head and start that slow “I’m gonna wail” cry. We’ll have to work on that, but for now… he’s my baby and I need to spoil him a bit. He’s been lacking on the spoiling, so we need to make up for lost time, right???
He’s STILL not pooping on his own. PLEASE keep praying that he will. I gave him another suppository tonight and it worked, but I don’t want him to get dependent on those and I could tell he didn’t like the cramping that goes along with the job. While the suppository was doing its job, I had Guille laying on the counter in the bathroom and had some warm water running in the sink. I really wanted him to have a bath today and knew the fits he has thrown the other times we’ve tried to bathe him. So, while he was filling his diaper, I put his feet under the running water. Once the deed was done, I let him put his hands under the running water and get a feel for it. He eventually let me set him down in the sink… but the water had to keep running. He splashed and played in the water for probably 20 minutes. He seemed content. He likes getting rubbed down with lotion at night. It’s good bonding time, too.
After he was jammied and had some juice, he laid on Guillermo’s chest and Guillermo told him a bedtime story. He made it up! It was “the three astronomers and a bear”. I think Guille really liked hearing his daddy’s voice and heartbeat. He looked so relaxed. Then we prayed and put him in the crib. Not a peep. He was ready to go to sleep. I love my boy so much.
This morning as I was watching my two fellas snuggle my heart filled with such joy and thankfulness. The Lord has given me the desire of my heart! For sooooooo many years I prayed for a man who loves the Lord and who would love me for who I am. Four years ago God blessed me with my dear husband. He is so good to me, so patient, so kind, so loving. And now, I have a son! I have always wanted to be married and have children, and now God has given me both. HE is so good! I pray the Guille would grow to know Jesus as his savior and that he would desire to serve the Lord in whatever way the Lord has planned for him. God bless my boys! I’m so thankful for both of them. (They are both snoozing and I’m pretty tired too. SO, good night. Tomorrow will be a big day at the orphanage.
Well, Joanie, I have thoroughly enjoyed your blog!! I hope you continue to update it after your family arrives home. I will pray you have a safe journey home and for God's continued grace in all our lives!! Our happiness for you and your family is ABUNDANT!!! We are just so happy that your dreams are coming true!! I am so anxious to see all of you...I love ya Sis!
ReplyDeleteok, my selfish side is comin out, new update! I know you just got home, but now is an even more exciting part lol he home!
ReplyDeleteCANT WAIT to meet him and hold him, and someday maybe he'll realize how awesome I am and like me! lol I am so excited