Saturday, October 31, 2009

Here we are in Guangzhou

Today was a very busy day.  We started out early after sleeping very well, the first good sleep I have had since coming to China.  After a great breakfast we were off to the Medical Exam.  It was pandemonium, lots of babies crying and lots of older children getting shots.  Poor kids, some had to have six or seven shots..our little one did not.  Lexi did well but has an ear infection.  We thought that might be the case after our flight into Guangzhou yesterday.  It was really terrible, our poor little girl was in terrible pain coming into our descent and cried inconsolably.  The doctor confirmed the infection at Medical Exam and then a doctor in our travel group gave us antibiotics to start her on.  We hope that the meds begin to kick in soon and maybe make the trip home better for her. 
After our Medical Exam we had a bunch of paper work to do for the completion of the adoption and for the US Embassy.
Tomorrow is a sightseeing day and we should have lots of pictures then, South had his video out today so we did not get any pictures of our day unfortunately.
I have a few of our sweet, precious pumpkin and I will post those.



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Thursday, October 29, 2009

On to Guangzhou today

Hi everyone,
Sorry for the no post yesterday but there really was not much to talk about...other than Lexi is just the BEST baby ever.  She is such cutie pie, she laughs and smiles all the time and is such a happy little girl.
I am counting the days big time until we come home.  Thank goodness we are off to Guangzhou this afternoon.  Nanjing has been nice but we are so ready to move on the final part of our journey.
I am fiercely protective of little Lexi and walking around the streets of Nanjing have not been so great at times.  People stare at my peanut like she has two heads, her lip has a small scar and her nose is not perfectly uniformed.  I can see people look and then stare at me and then back at her and I just hate the looks they give us.  Oh well, I know it is a cultural thing but it upsets me.  I am looking forward to our Dr. appt. the week after we come home to schedule her surgery for her palate and possibly her revision on her lip.  She is such a sweet and joyful little girl and I so want the best for her.
Tomorrow we will be strolling around in 90 degree weather, a change from the 70s that we have had here in Nanjing.
I am posting random photos here but will have lots of Guangzhou tomorrow.
Thanks everyone for following along, your comments mean so much.
 


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Wednesday, October 28, 2009

The Ming Tomb, another day in Nanjing

Today was a great day, we started off after waking up from a great nights sleep.  Lexi went down at 8:00 and slept all through the night without a peep.  I thought it was from all of the excitement of the day, I keep telling myself not to get to encouraged but I just put her down tonight, she was up and laughing and being very cute, and within two minutes was sound asleep.  I have heard of babies like that, mythical creatures that I refused to believe existed until now.
 
We visited the Ming Tomb today and I have to say it was amazing.  After being in the bustling city of Nanjing, going to the gardens at the tomb was so relaxing and really beautiful.  There were huge statues of Lions, Camels, and Elephants lining a long path that were carved in place there over 600 years ago.  All of the stone work and the gardens were breathtaking.  We also visited the Wall of Nanjing that was built over 1600 years ago, it surrounds part of the city and was just incredible.
 
Nanjing is a very interesting place, lots of tourists from all over the world come here and I can see why.  There is so much to do, tons of shopping, and a tremendous amount of history.  All of the main roads are lined with massive Sycamore trees, it reminds me so much of France, of all places, as you drive down the streets.
 
Lexi is really starting to show more of her adorable personality.  I know I have said this already, but she is such a SWEET BABY, she has the cutest smile and is starting to babble a lot.  She recognizes me and when I give her big smile her little face crinkles with a big smile right back at me.
 
We are ready to get on to the next stage of our journey and to the luxury of Guangzhou.
It seems like all of China in under construction and the pollution has been pretty bad.  We had a bit of sun today but mostly it has been that hazy dreary sky shrouded with pollution.  We sometimes forget how fortunate we are back in the states...
 
Thanks everyone for all of your wonderful comments, my dear friend Maria has emailed them to me since I cannot access blogger here in China.  They have been so encouraging and kind, and I truly appreciate each one.
 


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Monday, October 26, 2009

Second day in Nanjing

Thanks everyone for following along..we finished our official paperwork today and walked through a very nice area close to our hotel.  This is a very important city in the history of China.  Where we are there are many walking streets and shops and lots of historical sites.
Lexi slept through the night and I have to say she is a VERY good baby.  Hardly ever cries and has a very sweet disposition.  We are now back in the hotel room just relaxing.  We are sleeping but not as much as we should and I feel very tired  
Tomorrow we will do some sightseeing with our guide Mr. Wu who is excellent.  He is from Nanjing and knows all of the city's history.
Lexi seems happy with either South or I so that is great  She is bonding well and we feel very blessed.
 


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Our Family Day

So sorry for the delayed post..we got into Nanjing at 11:00am and met our little Lexi at 2:00.
We walked into the civil affairs office and Ms. Tang the orphanage director was there holding our girl.
She is the sweetest, most calm little baby I have ever seen.  She slept through the night and has been such a good little baby
We are heading out right now but I will write much more later.
 


Windows 7: I wanted more reliable, now it's more reliable. Wow!

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Here in Shanghai

All I can say is WOW!  What an amazing city, truly like no other.  We are up on the 56th floor of the Marriott in the downtown area with the most AMAZING views I have ever seen.  This city of 20 million makes Manhattan look small.
We got in around 1:00pm and checked in to the hotel.  We relaxed for a few hours and then headed out into the night.  We walked around the big shopping street, pedestrian only, and were just amazed at the crowds and the sites.  On the main road there were huge malls filled with great shops, then you would look up the side streets and it was old China, it looked like an old time movie set.  All the neon signs and bikes and scooters, it was really surreal.  As we continued walking down the pedestrian street we could hear beautiful music getting loader, a haunting saxophone drifting down the street.  As we got closer we saw a musician on the balcony of an old hotel playing into a microphone.  The music just drifted down to a huge crowd that had gathered below.  It was incredibly beautiful, the song was an old one, don't know which one, but I will never forget it.  It was one of those moments that stay with you forever.
We took just a few photos last night.  We are heading out to do some MAJOR shopping and sightseeing today so I wll have lots more later.
Until then, thanks for following along,
Bettina


Windows 7: I wanted more reliable, now it's more reliable. Wow!

Friday, October 23, 2009

We Made it to Korea

Hi everyone,
we are here in Seoul waiting for our connection.  This is the longest connection I have EVER had.  We arrived in at 4:00am and will leave at 10:50am.  We are waiting in the Asiana lounge which is very nice thank goodness and trying to adjust to the time difference.
We will be in Shanghai soon, I cannot wait for a hot shower and then off to do some shopping.
I will upload photos later today if we get a chance.
Ok, thats it for now..Bettina


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Sunday, October 18, 2009

I am testing a new way to post to my blog...I am doing it from my email just in case I cannot utilize blogger in China.
Here are two new pictures fo Lexi, she looks like she is healing well and seems to be happy.
5 DAYS and COUNTING!


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Saturday, October 10, 2009

We have our TA...our travel dates!!!!

Well, this week has been very hectic, we received word on our Travel Dates. We will fly out of JFK into Shanghai through Seoul Korea, on the 23rd of October. Really the 22nd is the day we fly out to NY and then our long haul departs at 12:30am. Hopefully we will sleep, our last flight to China was a late morning flight and it seemed to go well, we had little jet lag. We pray to be as lucky this time.
Our return to DC will be on the 6th of November. We will travel all day long...literally, we leave Guangzhou China at 12:35 pm, into Seoul at 5:00pm leave Seoul at 8:00pm and arrive into JFK at 7:30 pm, connect to DCA at 10:30 and home by 1:00am. WOW!!!!!
Hope to be able to post from China...some have trouble with Blogger in China but I think if you set it up to forward from your email, one should be able to post.
Alison is getting very excited but a little concerned that we will be gone for so long. We pray that Alison will stay healthy (by far the most important thing) and happy. I am very concerned about the H1N1...hearing the statistics last night on the news really scared me. So many children have died already.....VERY SCARY!
Ok..Thanks for following along..

Friday, October 2, 2009

No New News




We are all still waiting anxiously on our Travel Dates, we were hoping for news this week but unfortunately did not get it. Now the Chinese Govt is on holiday until the 9th so we wait.


I did receive some new pictures of Lexi..she has had her operation and she looks wonderful. We cannot wait to go get her!!