ZANDER'S FIRST AIRPLANE RIDE
8/10 Update: As always, I am a couple days late in making my posts, but better late than never. We left our Zhengzhou hotel in plenty of time for the airport (2 hours before our flight). Only to have our flight delayed an hour. We then boarded the plane and sat on the tarmac for almost 20 minutes. While sitting there the stewards & stewardess brought our dinners consisting of a box with all our cold things & utensils & a hot tin with our chicken & rice. Just as we dropped our tray tables & opened our meals, the workers came back & told us we had to put our tables up because we were taking off! Then Zander was all wound up and took his sippy cup and shook it up getting everyone in the seats in front wet, then proceeded to pull the woman's hair in front of him, then when eating his cheerios blecked them all over Tim.
You can imagine how that went for Tim who was holding Zander in the middle, VERY cramped small seats, not well. Then when Tim said something, they took his food completely away!
Tim was finished and handed baby bits off to mama. I dropped my table & commenced feeding our bundle of ticked off hunger. Tim in the meantime snagged an aisle seat at the bulkhead and when Zanman was done eating I passed him back to baba. Poor little guy got a nosebleed even though Ti did everything to equalize the pressure for him. The he instantly went to sleep.
After arriving in Guangzhou at the Garden Hotel we were all too tired to enjoy the beauty yet as it was about 1045. Zander was raring to go after a nap and stayed awake to well after midnight.
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CLINIC DAY : (
8/11 Update: This day was the day of physicals at the clinic for adoptive families. We arrived and were taken to one large room where we received paperwork, then were ushered to the medical portion "for adoptive families only". There are 3 stations, the physical (undress child, poked, prodded), the triage (weight, height, etc.) and the ENT for hearing test, throat looked at and ears checked.
Zander absolutely HATED every portion of this adventure. He bucked, cried, screamed, etc. This poor little guy has been to the hospitals many, many times for surgery, pneumonia, etc. so his experience with hospitals is not good. After they were done though, he was all smiles and laughter, back to his old self, but still out of sorts for the remainder of the day.
The clinic was very nice, clean and sterile looking. It is so funny to see the nurses in traditional garb. Not like the scrubs we see when visiting our doctor's office or hospitals in the states. I'm glad our pediatrician doesn't wear white otherwise we would have a fighting fit every time. I really dread all the doctor appointments once we get home though.
Last night we ventured out. After talking with other adoptive families who have been here for quite a while, they suggested Tekila's. Just like back home! A mexican restaurant in the middle of China! After climbing a couple flights of stairs, we were given our menus which had every variation of mexican fare along with burger & fries, cocktails and some Chinese food.
The food was terrific. The place filled up quickly and no matter where "we" Americans go, there is always someone wanting to try out their English and it's very fun to accomodate, usually. This time was interesting though, we were asked how we were by a Chinese young man trying out his Spanish. We had to laugh and Carmen got to practice her Spanish just a bit.
We also found out Zander does NOT like mexican food. We tried tortilla chips, quesadillas, refried beans, burritos, french fries, etc. He didn't want any of it but did settle for some bland chicken. Needless to say, we stopped at the 7 Eleven on the way home and got him some crackers and munchies for the rest of the night. I also don't think he ate really good because he had such a traumatic day. The one thing he does love to do in all the restaurants is walk around exploring. Our guide said she can't believe how busy he is. I believe there are SO many new things he is learning and seeing, he just doesn't want to miss out on any!
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ZANDER & MAMA - LOST IN CHINA
8/12 Update: Today our guide schedule a trip to the local shopping mall. Let me explain that this mall is 4 stories. It is round with the center an open courtyard area where people can walk from store to store. The mall consists of 3 different buildings, each connecting through corridors in the very back (I did not know this until later). It is also referred to as the Pedestrian Street because cars are not allowed to travel on its sidewalks which makes shopping so much easier, we don't have to dodge cars, buses, bicycles & scooters. Well the first stop was the pearl store. I had to use the restroom extremely bad and Tim was with Richie in a crystal store. Our guide gave me directions and off I went with Zander in his stroller. After traveling several corridors toward the back of the mall, I finally found the bathroom.
In China, when using a public restroom you should always ask for the "toilet" number one and number 2, always use the handicapped bathroom for a regular commode. When in the bathroom, there was an little old woman attendant and when I went to the stall it was locked. I asked her to open it and should waved her hands "NO". I pointed to the stroller and myself and asked again for her to open it and she RAN, RAN mind you, out of the bathroom waving her hand NO! I ran after her :), I needed to go to the bathroom, bad!
Well, long story short, I am EXTREMELY directionally challenged and got lost immediately. I was turned around in the corridors, wandering, asking every couple of stores asking if anyone spoke English. I got the "smile" and laugh and the apt "no" from everyone. Zander and I took the elevator up and down at least 20 times, looking for our group. I kept praying and praying, but was getting more and more scared. Zander just talked, mumbled and laughed, enjoying the outing (did I tell you how much he LOVES to go bye-bye?).
I then saw other another group of adoptive families with their guide. We had spoken many times and their guide led me out to the courtyard to the correct building. This is when I found out I was in the wrong building, completely on the other side of the mall. I then found one of our group that had split off, then finally our guide and our family. Carmen was crying, I started crying and Tim was mad as a hornet. After a very emotional reunion and make-up, we sat down in Pizza Hut for water. We didn't buy a thing, but did connect on how much each of us meant to each other.
We then had the local cuisine at The Dumpling House. I STILL had not used the bathroom and was desperate. I had no idea how desperate until I saw their bathroom and didn't have a choice. Put it this way, Richie had to go also and was traumatized, he had never had to use a squatty potty before. We both washed hands, feet, face and anything else that became exposed : |
So today was an adventure and adventurous. Zander has been playing all afternoon here with us and Tim is napping after his traumatic morning. He is ready to leave China right now. But things will get better.
The girls are going to get their nails done this evening and then swimming time. Tomorrow is the Safari, wish us luck!
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RECAP:
*What is "THE BEST" morning wake up? 25 lbs. of smiles and dimple trying to feed you a pacifier.
*What is "THE FUNNIEST" thing of the day? A little boy signing his is STILL hungry and then rubbing his tummy for "please".
*What is 'THE SWEETEST" sound? Giggles, giggles & more giggles as we play patty-cake, wrestle, or chase our little boy.
*What have we learned about our little boy? He LOVES to eat especially noodles, he doesn't like mexican food or pizza, he doesn't like long sleeves, he's a comedian, when he's angry he pulls your hair, he loves to cuddle and give kisses, he loves to go bye-bye, he's not big on sleeping, except at night (that's when it counts right?), he's sick of cheerios : ), he loves learning all new things and smiles with accomplishment.
*What Zander has learned: to say thank you, uh oh, this way, to climb in and out of things, on and off of things and how to run his daddy ragged!
What have WE learned the most: God is THE most amazing, He has given us a huge treasure in this little soul we call our son and it is our responsibility to Love him and teach him how truly amazing our God is. Enjoy the Pictures
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