Chris loves to stack the cups

Small part of the group

Family pick

US Consulate appointment

He is always so serious

Christmas decorations

We went to the lobby this morning to find Christmas decorations

Chen family temple

With our guide Kelly

Grandpa at Chen family temple

Chen family temple

Chen family temple

Park near hotel

Park near hotel

This boy likes his McDonald french fries

Little tiger with the tigers

Mr Serious

Grandpa feeding giraffes

Feeding giraffes

Shopping

Guangzhou zoo

Last days in Guangzhou

Hi everyone sorry I haven't updated. We have had a rough time in Guangzhou. Our first days with Christopher went very well. I ended up really sick from something I ate. I think it was the Kentucky fried chicken that we had for thanksgiving dinner. Then a few days later we ended up at the emergency room at the children's hospital at one o'clock in the morning. Christopher had been sick with a cold and it turned into bronchitis. He gave me quite a scare. They gave him a breathing treatment and had to suction the gunk out. He has been on meds ever since. We really haven't done much because of this. We did go to the zoo before he got so sick. We also made it to the Chen family temple. We needed out of the room and he is feeling better. We missed both trips to shaimin island. It was rainy and cold both days so we stayed put. I was looking forward to shopping and going to Lucy's oh well. Today was our consulate appointment. We leave for Hong Kong tomorrow afternoon. Then fly home on Friday. We are going out for dinner with a few other families tonight. I want to get most of my packing done once we get back. There is a museum next door to the hotel and we plan on going there tomorrow. We also want to go to the neighborhood behind the hotel to take some pictures and stop at the market for snacks for Christopher. Once I am home I will try to post more about what we did.

Sent from my iPad

Xiaohu

xiaohu

Xiaohu our first night

xiaohu

Hi guys sorry it took so long to post. I haven't been able to get email to work. All of the families have had the same problem. Xiaohu is doing great. He was very distant the first night but now is laughing and playing and talking up a storm in chinese. He is still hesitant to be around grandpa but is starting to interact with him more. Yesterday he officially became ours. Today was the medical exam and some passport work. Tomorrow we are going to the zoo and hopefully out to have thanksgiving dinner. We were thinking Kentucky fried chicken would be the closest we can get. I try to send a few more pictures.

xiaohu

Xiaohu

Xiaohu

Details of roof

Section of city that hasn't been restored

Forbidden City

Forbidden City

Roof tops

Forbidden city

Looking at Forbidden City

Me and dad

Tien An Min Square

Tien An Min Square

Jade Store

Jade store and our guide Grace

Great Wall

Great Wall

Great Wall Pictures

Tour of Beijing

We had a great day touring today. We started off at the Great Wall. I think it was Junyong Pass it was the same section that Tim and I walked in 2010. It was really crowded today. This is a tough section. We made it to the first tower which is quite a hike. A couple of families made it to the forth tower. We only had an hour and a half to walk and were just happy to make it to the first tower. The other families did say that the climb to the other towers was much easier than getting to the first tower.
We then went to a jade store where we were able to watch artists carving beautiful art pieces. A funny thing happened while the guide was explaining the process of making a piece of jade art. We were at the last stage which is polishing and the guide was saying how the artist had to be careful while polishing the jade because they could break it. I swear as she was saying this the woman polishing the jade broke the head off the figure. The group started laughing and I felt so bad for her. Thankfully she was behind a glass window so it was probably easier to put her head down and ignore our group. This place also had a restaurant and we had a great lunch. Our guide ordered for everyone and we were able to share about seven different dishes. After lunch we were able to do some shopping. I bought a jade tiger for Christopher because he was born in the year of the tiger.
Our next stop was Tien An Min square. (Please forgive my spelling on places). We walked through and into the Forbidden City. We had a nice tour and were kicked out at the end as they wanted to close up. I got to see a few sections I hadn't before. We only walked through two of the six palaces and then went to some of the side buildings. Including we're Empress XiXi lived when she was a lowly concubine. She became friends with a servant of the Emperor. He helped her meet the Emperor. She became Empress because she was the only one to give him a son. She was known as the Dragon Lady. She controlled her son and so ran the country. We got to the end of the story and this was when they started to herd everyone out. We made our way through side roads and gardens on our way out.
It was a beautiful day for touring. This would have typically been the end of the day but someone asked about dinner and we all went out. The driver took us to a great restaurant that he likes. We had five different dishes including Peking Duck. It was really good and we paid about ten dollars a person.
Tomorrow we are meeting at 5:45am and going to the airport. We'll be in Guangzhou around lunch time. I can't wait for Monday. I am ready to get to Christopher now.
I am updating by email so I'll have to add pictures in batches. I'll make everything look nice once home

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We Made It

Hi everyone. We have made it to Beijing. It was a stressful day of travel. Our first flight was delayed because of a site wide computer collapse at the airline. Thankfully that meant it was a country wide problem. We made it to check in for our second flight at five minutes before they started boarding. The rest of the flight was long and uneventful. I woke up bright and early at 4am this morning. We are going on our tour of the Great Wall and Forbidden City. I am only able to update through email right now. I will post later about our tours today. I can add pictures but not descriptions. Talk to you soon

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Pray for Ivy Joy

Ivy Joy needs our prayers again.  She has been doing really well except for drinking and eating wet foods.  They took a look and have found that she has a damaged vocal chord.  Her vocal chord stays open and she is choking and aspirating when she drinks or eats wet food.  She is having surgery this afternoon they are going to use foam to close the gap until it heals.  Please pray that she comes through fine and has no trouble waking up.  If all goes well she may go home at the end of next week.

Fill Their Stockings

In a few more days this link will be up and running for this year.  There are three amazing women who are responsible for Fill Their Stockings.  They ran this last year and it was fantastic.  Everyday there are items that you can win.  If you want to be entered in the drawing they ask for a donation.  Last year it was $5.  They were able to raise $15,000 split between Pearl River Outreach, Half the Sky and An Orphans Wish.  These are all charities that do great work in China.  Our son Christopher is in an orphanage that has Half the Sky programs.  He is receiving great care because of the support of Half the Sky.  They are having the first give away on November 12th.  This will link you to Ni Hao Y'all Stephanie's blog.  From there you can get to Lisa and Diana's blogs that are also participating.  Check it out on the 12th they have really great prizes.

Post a photo

Hi I think I have it figured out. I only have a few photos right now.

Testing posting from IPad

Hi all I am just trying out posting from my IPad.  I am not taking the computer this time around I am trying to travel a little lighter.  Now I have to figure out how to post photos

Single Digits

It is almost time to go to China!  I am officially in the single digits for wait time.  Eight more days and my dad and I will be on our way!  I am closer to being ready.  I have washed Christopher's clothes.  I still need to wash the bedding.  I am almost ready to pack all of my clothes.  I want to set them aside so I don't have to wash anything last minute.  We have gone over all of the paperwork and are ready to go!  We have our medicine kit ready to go.  We are waiting on a few prescriptions to have with us just in case we need them.  It will be fun trying to pack everything while staying within the weight limits for luggage(44 lbs for checked and 11 lbs for carryon).  I can't wait to get going!

I just received my In Country Itinerary today.
11/15  dad and I leave for China
11/16 We arrive in Beijing
11/17 Tour the Great Wall, Forbidden City and Tian An Men Square
11/18 Fly to Guangzhou
11/19 GOTCHA DAY.  We get Christopher XiaoHu at 2:30 in the afternoon
11/20 Go to Civil Affairs Office to finalize adoption
11/21 Go to police station to apply for Christopher's passport
11/22 Children's Visa photos, medical examination and TB test
11/23 Site seeing tour of Yuexiu Park
11/25 Site seeing tour to Chen Family Temple
11/26 Pick up Christopher's passport
11/27 Site seeing tour to YunTai Park
11/28 Appointment at the American Consulate and Oath Taking Ceremony
11/29 Guide picks up Christopher's passport with Immigrant Visa.
          We take train to Hong Kong
11/30 Fly home through Chicago.

As you can see we are going to be very busy while we are in China.  Please pray that we have a safe trip and that Christopher will adjust well.  His world is going to be turned upside down.  I can't imagine how scared he is going to feel.  Please also pray for Xuelian she is really stressing over me leaving.

Halloween

Well Halloween was different this year.  Sandy caused our area to reschedule trick or treating for Saturday.  It also caused the school celebration to be moved to Friday.  Xuelian's school has the younger kids dress up as Saints and tell a little about their Saint.  Xuelian was St. Kateri Tekakwitha.  She came home all excited because there were about 20 St Kateri Tekakwitha's.  She is a newly canonized Saint.  She was canonized about a week before Halloween.  She looked great in her costume.  She has the perfect hair for braids. Unfortunately one was off kilter when I took pictures so it is hard to see.  I fixed it but didn't have time for more pics.

 On Friday there was also Family Fun Night at school.  Xuelian had a great time.  They had games, raffles, snacks and dancing.  It was fun to watch the whole school dance including most of the teenage boys.  Our school has classes from preschool all the way through high school.  It was fun to watch the kids but very loud.  I did win a hand crocheted throw for our bed.  It is beautiful is had 3D flowers crocheted onto it.  We had a great time talking with friends and making some new ones.
Saturday was trick or treating and Xuelian couldn't wait.  She was so excited she kept talking about the butterflies in her tummy.  In the afternoon we carved our pumpkins.  I have some great pictures of her squishing the pumpkin guts.

 She thought this was great!

Here they are with their finished jack-o-lanterns

Then before we knew it the time to trick or treat had come.  Tim took Xuelian out with her friend Katie and her dad and I stayed home to hand out candy.

 Xuelian was Princess Peach from Mario Brothers

Xuelian and Katie at the house across the street.

She sure brought home a lot of loot.  She is going to be sugared up for some time to come.  I need to hide the candy so I can control it better.  I was surprised that we had so few kids this year.  I thought they would be out in full force.  Tim did say he thought they were being lazy.  He said there were a ton on the main street but they skipped our side streets.  When I was a kid we were the first ones out and the last home.  You never skipped a house.  Then again candy was a treat so we were willing to work for it.  I am just glad she had a good time.