I made it back....ALIVE

Now I know why my trip was so uneventful, the trip back was hell. I have to give a big shout out to Nikki and Bob, my Sooner Saviors!!!!. They hail from Edmond and I hope their daughter Brook is as thrilled with her new sister Bailey as my boys are with JaLia. They were on my flights from Guangzhou to Shanghai to Chicago and really helped out with the long layovers, baggage pick ups, security checks, customs and whats up with escalators at the gates?? I became a pro at getting that stroller up and down those escalators. While the trip over was great, we got sat in the middle of the 5 seat row on the way back. JaLia's foot was just small enough to fit under the armrest and she kick the lady next to us the whole way. I also figured out that she HATES seat belts. No matter how loose I made it, she fussed loudly. Unfortunately our evening flight from China was expecting turbulence so the seat belt needed to be left on and dinner was delayed over an hour. Luckily I had packed LOTS of snacks and that was the only thing that kept her quiet. I got back to a sick husband, so we were all miserable, all weekend. Sunday, just when I was getting to feel human again, I discovered the boys had Lice and then JaLia caught Jesse's flu.

Wednesday-Last Day in China

Wouldn't you know it, that last day and the sun came out. Yesterday we went to a museum of an old house, which is a big square with an open courtyard in the middle. It was cloudy so I didn't get many good pictures but it was a good ride back with lots of culture to see. Just started to get my bearings around here and it is time to leave.

I thought I would have more room in my suitcase without the orphanage gifts, but I guess I just filled them up with gifts for home. I also thought it best not to be short on diapers so I'm loaded up on those too.

I took JaLia to the park and she played hard. I usually keep her from a nap with all our running around but she passed out at 3pm so I need to wake her up so she will sleep tonight or let her sleep and wake her up early and hope she naps during our 7 HOUR layover in China. But I really want her to sleep on the 14 hour flight so I guess I should wake her up and let her cry in the room where I won't bother anyone. ~haha

Tuesday

We did the unceremonious red couch picture. The day is still cloudy and batteries are not strong enough to hold the flash ! Went to the open air museum, would of been nicer if it was a sunny day. Eva offered to take me to chinese resturant and then when I ordered, she told me she was leaving for a meeting.... haha It wasn't that good anyway. It is such a shame there is no GOOD food on this compound. They have some souviener shops but not like you would expect them to gear towards tourists. Anyway I'll pack tomorrow and get up real early Thursday for the long trip home. Since it's a week day I am hoping the flight will be not full.

Sunday

Sunday: Still cloudy, I went to early mass (all in chinese) and spoke with the priest beforehand. We took a trip to the zoo and my chinese batteries lasted about 20 minutes. JaLia was a real pill today, wouldn't drink anything all day. Wouldn't put on her hat, blanket, sit in stroller or walk by herself. She just wanted to be held. She wasn't happy but I made her take a nap. Now I will never get her to sleep.

Saturday

Saturday : It was cloudy and chill again, we spent the afternoon at the asian Wal-Mart. It was gearing up for Chinese New Years and I got some decorations. Took some wine coolers back to my room and ate noodles, again.

Friday

Friday : I woke up in a foul mood and thought I was coming down with something. The guide took us on a walking trip to the mall and it was sunny so the fresh air helped. After the trip everyone wanted to eat together so I got a beer and some hot food.

Thursday

Thursday: The day was cloudy and chill and everyone wanted to stay inside so I ended up staying in my room soooo boring.

Can U say H-A-P-P-Y??

For a girl with a heart condition, you would never know it. JaLia runs non-stop all day and is full of energy.

Boys: she loves hard boiled eggs but like you, not the yolk so much.

This morning a chinese guy asked if she was a boy or girl.....I guess the hot pink sweater and pants with bows was NOT a dead give away.

I gave her a bath and she loved it !!! Even the hair washing. It must have been the stacking cup magic.

Today was such a beautiful day. It got way too hot in the room, and I had to open a low window and turn off the central since they only have heat this time of year. The windows don't have screens on them so it will just be a matter of time before JaLia figures out how to throw her toys into the alley. I made them bring me a fan. Did I mention that my room is right over all the air returns. No wonder I am not sleeping. I didn't look at the clock last night but I was up for hours and then slept till 8am. I haven't slept that late in over 10 years!!!!

I made myself go out for a walk around the compound and what a difference a little shopping will do for a girl's mood. We skipped lunch and nap and went to the passport office. I met the family with the little boy from the same orphanage. She said that the orphanage had a pool, and they heard they had won some awards. You can tell it in JaLia's personality.

Then I met a lady who thought her daughter was from the same orphanage. They were the same age, but her daughter was unsteady walking and timid, soooo shy. They had been told she was potty trained and could feed herself. You just never know and it's all up to the divine. Speaking of that, I did find a Catholic church here on the compound but did not see any sign for mass times.

We got back from paperwork around 4:00, so I decided to venture out on my own for dinner. I went into what I thought was a resturant but it wasn't and then I couldn't find another one nearby so I was back in front of Lucy's. I was determinded NOT to eat American, so I had some lamb kabobs and fried rice and JaLia had noodles. The wine wasn't bad either.

Maybe I'll get some sleep tonight.

The last thing I wanted to eat in China was Subway!!

It was another great day. We had to get up early so we could go to the bank again. They take a real long time at the bank too, not just with US money but everybodies!!

We had to go back to the civil affairs office and say we were happy with our child and wanted to keep them. It was so great seeing all the new families!!

We had a small lunch and Jalia took a looong nap, when she got up (around 4:00) we went out for a stroll and I just grabbed a Subway for dinner. Hopefully when more people arrive they will want to venture out and eat at some local resturants. There aren't very many here on the compound and they don't seem to cater to English although they might when we get inside.

Jalia is a ball of fire. She breathes heavy, and I can't tell if it's the cold or her heart. She is very crouppy so hopefully that will go away soon. She eats well and Boys- she loves waffles, whale crackers and bananas. We also watched Power Rangers, Ben 10 and poke'mon in chinese. She has a constant look on her face like she has a joke and is waiting for you to catch on to it....

Well hopefully she will get sleepy soon, last night it was 9-930 before she went down. I am not sleeping well but we aren't doing anything so it's not like I'm worn down sitting in the hotel room. New camera batteries are dead already and I didn't bring spares so I need to get more and I'll try to send pictures..

Gotcha Day - I got her !!!!

Wow what a trip, Nothing like what I had prepared for, all these years. I fretted over the packing and nobody even checked my carry-ons. I know I was over weight on them but nobody cared. The flight was great, nobody talks about that. My plane was empty and everyone got to spread out. I bought a sandwhich to take on and then they feed us 2 hot meals, two snacks and drinks on the hour!!!!! I guess that made up for the 6 hr layover I had in Shanghai. I couldn't check in till 2 hrs before the flight so I ended up sitting on the cold floor. They don't have many seats in the departure area and lots of people were there waiting!!

l got to my hotel about 2:00am local time. It's 13 hours time ahead of Indiana. I wasn't impressed with the area. There were not many families here, and I was bored to death. The quaint architecture is still cold, and I just had a feeling of foreboding.

We got to the civil affairs office early, and it was a trip to see all the other families come in. So many were on their 2nd &3rd adoption and had brought the big brothers and sisters. Some children cried, some were a little scared. One boy about 5 just shrieked and shrieked, my heart went out to those parents.

Once again I lucked out big time !!! NiNi is happy, babbling, and not a bit worried about being left with me. She is not as big as the clothes or diapers I have so we will have some emergency shopping to do. A stroller is on my list too as there is so much to carry around.

Tomorrow, I will figure out how to hook up the camera. I didn't get aroom with a computer so I'm down here in the business center.

Welcome Amy

Since Blogger is blocked by the Chinese, I had to find a ghost blogger. Amy so graciously offered to help me out. I will be emailing her and she will upload them for me. I sure hope I can figure out how to upload pictures too. I will not be able to read your comments but feel free to post them and I will read them all when I get back. You can also attempt to email me at dworsena@gmail.com but I might not have time to reply to you. I'm sure I will be busy eating dim sum and faking my way through Cantonese lullabies.

This is it

Tuesday we had a snow day and I guess I really needed to stay home cause I had lots of little unfinished things to do. I also had to unpack and repack several times and still don't have everything I need. I really didn't want to go to Beijing in winter for this very reason. The weather down in Guaunzhou will hopefully be in the 60's. I packed so little that I will need to do laundry twice for the 14 day trip and still my suitcases are stuffed. I know I didn't pack enough gifts. I did finally remember to pack a few things for JaLia but since I don't know her size it would be smarter to wait and get her some clothes there. I wondered if the act of taking her into a store, letting her help me pick items out and then buying them for her will help to build some attachment. I just pray I make it thru security with all this stuff. If they unzip my suitcase it could be a disaster.

I can go, no really I can

I forgot to mention but I hope you all guessed. I got that very important piece of paper in the mail Friday. I don't have to postpone, I don't have to pay a penalty. I actually went to work friday with a bit of JOY in my step and now I know why.....adoption miracles were afoot.

Time travel

Some malicious folk wanted me to explain to them how long my travel will be. I have been carefully avoiding this as I am a go-to-bed-early person and I get very cranky when I'm tired. I nervously sat down and tried to figure it up. I leave home at 530am, leave Indiana at 900, get to Chicago 1 hr later. After a 1 hr layover, I board my flight for Shanghai. I arrive 7 thousand miles and 14 1/2 hrs later in Shanghai (at 200am my time)....can you say cranky. Actually I wake up at 2am all the time so maybe it won't be so bad. I packed lots of sleeping pills so hopefully I'll pass out early enought to get 6 hours of sleep which I'll really need cause my next layover is 5 1/2 hr long. I'm paranoid I'll fall asleep at the airport and miss my next flight!!!!!!! The last leg is a 2 1/2 hr flight and gets me into Guangzhou at 1130 pm. (It will be 10am my time.) I hope that after a hot shower and more sleeping pills I will be able to relax till the famous breakfast buffet opens up. ~~~~I'm interested to know if the alarm clocks are in chinese or english.

8 more days

Not much news this week....I'm still waiting on that important paper but won't know till Monday if my world will crumble. I did find out I'm not the only odd man out going in my group so I will have someone else going thru the same extra hoops as me. That make 4 families total in my travel group and 1 lives about 40 minutes away from me.