China Trip Ji Nan Part 2

After the Civil Affairs office, we decided to go to Daming Lake. It was really cold. I'm sure in April when there are leaves on the trees and flowers, it's beautiful.


We had lunch in the room then took naps. We decided to try McDonald's for dinner (mainly for the play area so he could run around). He didn't like the burger or chicken nuggets and only ate a few fries. But he loved the slide with Paul.



After dinner and playing, Paul took over doing the same thing he normally does at home...bathtime. After a bath and brushing teeth we played for a bit before putting Logan to bed. I got him up again during the night to potty (but I think he could probably hold it all night).

On Wednesday, we had a long day. We left at 8:30am for a 2.5 hour car ride to Weifang City where his orphanage is located. They required the notarization be done there (and not in Ji Nan City). It was extremely cold again, but no snow, sleet or rain. Signing the papers didn't take long but unfortunately we got there just before lunch so we had a 3 hour wait before they would be notarized and we could pick them up. Our driver suggested a restaurant next door for lunch and to wait. I knew it was going to be crazy food when I saw the pig NOSES!!! I ate fried rice and some beef stuff. They had also ordered a chicken and Paul and I had a good laugh over the fact that it included chicken FEET! ( I also pointed out the chicken's head to Paul.) Logan mostly ate the beef and some noodles. Luckily, we've all been eating a big breakfast at the hotel buffet (and I had snacks since I knew we had a long drive).

I did have a rough time because Logan didn't really potty all day. We didn't know how to help him use the Chinese toilets (the only kind they had) and he wouldn't go standing up either. After we picked up our copies, we headed back to the hotel. Logan fell asleep pretty fast but unfortunately the traffic was a lot worse and it took longer to return to Ji Nan. With about 45 minutes left of the trip, Logan woke up and got really distressed. I figured he needed to potty, and Ruby confirmed that because he actually looked like he was in a lot of pain. It really just broke my heart to see him so upset. We ended up having to stop on the side of the road. Paul was able to get him to go standing up and then he was all smiles for the rest of the trip. I didn't take any pictures because there really wasn't much to see. We were driving too fast to get anything on the road and the building we went to was just that...a plain gray building. I really wanted to take some pictures in the restaurant, but there was this half-naked little boy running around and I was afraid of how it might look. And it was COLD! They even had the heat shut off in the restaurant after lunch to save energy/money. I think I had my gloves on most of the trip.


On Thursday, we went to see the Shandong Provincial Museum since we didn't have anything adoption-related. It is in a brand-new building, only been open about a month. If we hadn't had a 4-year-old in tow, we probably would have enjoyed it more. There was several military personnel there and it made me vary nervous to have Logan running around. They did have a children's area where we played with some puzzles. Of course, Logan would have been just as content to ride the escalator up and down the whole time.

After the museum, Ruby took us to a popular restaurant near the hotel. We ordered way too much food but did find a fried rice Logan would eat (almost no veggies and a brown sauce).

After lunch, we went to a book store. We got a DVD set of a popular Chinese show, Mulan in Chinese and English, plus a PC program for Chinese language. Then I went nuts in the kids section. The words don't even have to be in English for me to love BOOKS! Paul took Logan back to the hotel for a nap while I went to get a few things at the market. We stayed in the rest of the night. I took Logan to the Christmas tree in the hotel to take some pictures. We got some ice cream, which Logan really liked.

I'm still waking up way too early, but I did get some work done before breakfast. After breakfast, we got packed up and then headed to the airport. We got to the airport early and then had another hour delay. So tough trying to entertain a preschooler in a foreign airport when all you want is to be home. We assumed he'd go right to sleep once we got on the plane but we were WRONG! He hated the seatbelt (but only during take-off and landing). He actually did pretty well once he stopped crying about the seatbelt. He never went to sleep, but we stayed occupied coloring and playing with cars. As we were landing, he really wanted to look out the window so we will probably do that on the next flight and see if he does better.

China Trip Ji Nan Part 1

Dawn and Sylvia got us in the plane with no problem. They did inspect one of our suitcases, not sure if it was a random check or because of all the liquids it held (shampoos, medicines, etc.). The flight to Jinan was short and we lucked out with an empty seat next to us. Got through immigration and baggage claim and found Ruby easily enough. We did have a change in our itinerary...not meeting Logan today but tomorrow instead. It's actually a good thing because the orphanage has taken care of his passport for us so we won't have to do that. Obviously, it's disappointing but Ruby was great!

She showed us around our hotel and to the market just next door where we will be able to buy essentials for Logan. We ate lunch at KFC. Chicken was fine (but no way to request just white meat), BUT the mashed potatoes were AWFUL! I didn't think fake potatoes could be any worse. Ruby then took us the square to walk around. We watched some martial arts demonstration and kite flying. She wanted us to see this because it is close enough to walk from the hotel and at night they have a lighted fountain display set to music. Our plan was to eat dinner after she left then come back to the square. Of course, Paul once again decided sleep was more important than food or the fountain. I'm not arguing...we can still bring Logan tomorrow night. We slept most of the night, but still woke up too early for breakfast.

This hotel is nicer than the last. The room isn't quite as big because it doesn't have the separate sitting area, but the hallways are wider and the lobby is huge with places to relax and wait. Also, the breakfast buffet is on a separate floor in one of the restaurants. There is a larger variety of foods (although the bacon isn't as good). I tried watermelon juice this morning, and it tastes just like you'd think it would. I had green tea yogurt along with my standard bacon and pastries and fruit. The preschool kids will like that they had dragon fruit. (Ms. Marsha had brought some in for the kids to try just before we left.)

After breakfast we went back to the room and watched a movie, just killing time before meeting Ruby. The weather had started getting yucky during the night and now as we wait, there are snow flurries...first snow of the season. After a bit, we decided to go walk around the department store next to the hotel, then had lunch at Pizza Hut. Luckily we got there just as they opened since they are usually very busy. Ruby came to get us at 1:30pm to go exchange our US dollars. We had to drive to one of the bigger banks and it was definitely a process involving several copies of our passports, multiple signatures, 3 different tellers, and one red bag with about 4 "bricks" of money.

The orphanage director called as we got back to the hotel to say they had arrived at the train station and would be there shortly. We rushed to get everything ready. We thought we'd meet him in some sort of meeting room at the hotel but since we were the only family they just come to your hotel room. Ruby had suggested having some juice for him to drink and Paul was smart enough to grab some cookies too. I had a toy in his stocking for him and then we also had the Star Wars bear and his Family book. I had put all the other toys in a drawer in the nightstand (his toy box for the next few days). We turned on Skype so mom could watch, then Ruby called to say she was bringing them up.

I opened the door and there he was with Ruby and 2 other ladies. At first, he wouldn't come in with the caregiver. Ruby was making introductions, then he needed to potty, so I watched while the caregiver helped him. The other lady was an orphanage administrator, and we were able to get some of the paperwork done today. so while one of us signed documents the other was showing Logan the toys and stuff. After about 20 minutes the other ladies left. Logan cried at first for about 15 minutes, until Paul remembered the cookies. The boy loved them! And after the first one, I held out my hand and asked for one and he broke his and gave me a piece.

Ruby then took us to get a family picture done (required for some documentation tomorrow) and then to Wal-mart for supplies. We got some pants (we have a few but they will probably be too big and not warm enough for the snow that is still falling). Also got some sweaters and socks. Then we hit the grocery floor and stocked up on milk drink, juice, yogurt, crackers, sausages, apples, and bananas (which he pointed out to us). I also got some bath toys (I knew I'd forgotten to pack something...Thanks, Kelly for the suggestion). There was a few other impulse toy purchases by Daddy and the final item was a Santa hat.

Ruby brought us back and I started getting everything put away while Paul played cars with him. Honestly, I think I was freaking out...what the heck were we thinking, adopting from China, adopting a 4-year0old? I used that time putting things away to get myself calm. We were planning to go out for dinner but the weather was worse , so we just stayed in the room. After dinner, he got a bath and played in there. He didn't like sitting in the tub at first, but he knew exactly what to do to wash himself. He didn't like getting the shampoo rinsed and in his face.

After bath, he and Paul played some more. We were trying to keep him up so Mom, Sophie, and Kelly could skype. they had to wake up early but they got to see him. After that we put him to bed. The hotel had already brought us a baby cot (aka pack-n-play) so we put him in there, turned out the lights and he was asleep within minutes. The orphanage caregivers had left us notes and said to wake him after about 4 hours to go potty so I set the alarm to do that. Poor thing didn't look happy about getting woken up but he pottied. He went to bed about 8:45pm and should sleep until about 6:30am (same as Sophie). He only cried those first few minutes, seems to be potty trained (even went into the bathroom on his own once). We've been pointing out Mama, Papa, and Mei Mei (little sister)and he will say those. He also gives Paul kisses.



On Tuesday, we went to the Civil Affairs office after we picked up his passport. The orphanage had taken care of the passports, which is why we got him a day later. It is the Civil Affairs office where we officially become his parents (as far as China is concerned). We had little gifts for the various officials. We brought some Dallas Cowboys cups, stickers, and coasters for them.

Checking out the stocking after breakfast.


Playing with some of the toys we brought.

Watching a video on the computer.

China Trip Shanghei

(Taken directly from my journal.)

So I'm sitting in the hotel room at about 6am Saturday, December 11th (that's 4pm December 10th for Sophie) and decided I'd better get the flight here down in ink before I forgot it all. Honestly, a day of airplane travel wasn't too bad. We got on a plane about 7am and off the final one 24 hours later. Of course we had about 3 hours in Detroit so the actual flight time was about 18 hours.

I slept through most of the flight to Detroit (thanks to my friend Valium) and made sure we had a good lunch before we boarded for China. I was able to take another pill on the China flight and slept a little, but we were on the last row...you know the seats that don't recline. They fed us a couple of meals and a couple of snacks. Each seat had a screen where you could play online games, listen to music (including Holiday Hits), and watch movies or television shows. I watched a couple of movies but then the earbuds started getting annoying. Paul and I both did lots of puzzles from the books I brought and lots of "trying to sleep". Not sleeping was probably a good thing because now we've had a normal "night's" sleep on local time.

I thought it was interesting that when we de-boarded in China there were officials checking ID and asking about your occupation, but they skipped right over us. Were we that obvious? The process at the airport wasn't as smooth as I would have expected. Our travel notes said our guide would meet us at the exit. Of course, it didn't specify which exit. First, we went through a checkpoint where they check you passport and fill out a form stating where you will be while visiting. Then you go to baggage claim (this is where we thought we'd see the guide, but no). Finally, we went through something like customs, I guess, although I have no idea what was happening. We tried to ask an employee but she just pointed for us to our suitcases through x-ray, but not our carry-ons. Most people seemed to know what was going on and just walked on through. Once we got through this area, we saw the exit signs and our guide, Sylvia, holding a sign with our names.

She led us down to the parking garage where the driver was. I did notice our van was a small VW-type and that you didn't see many large SUV-types (if any). Paul kept asking for the camera. Even being the scrapbooker that I am who cares about an airport that looks like most others or the highway in a big city with lots of buildings and green street signs. The only difference I could tell was the Chinese on the signs (in addition to English) and lots of 2-wheeled vehicles (i.e. mopeds, bicycles, motorcycles).

Our hotel is very nice, we have a suite with a sitting room separate from the bedroom. We ordered room service since Paul's always hungry. What's the deal with putting fried eggs on sandwiches? Whatever noodle-y thing Paul order must have been good because his plate is empty. Paul is so excited to be in China, and I, of course, couldn't care less. I just want to meet my son! I'd like to be able to relax a little more and enjoy it, but let's face it that isn't going to happen. We got to skype with Sophie before she went to preschool and we went to bed. Paul slept fine (as indicated by the snoring). I was a couple of times, but did get in 8 hours of sleep.

The hotel had a continental breakfast so I made sure I filled up before we went sightseeing. Sylvia returned with Dawn who took us to the Shanghai Gardens. Dawn was the official guide for the day. We had lunch by the river at a "fancy" dim sum place. Paul was in heaven and I ate french fries and fried rice (both seem to be staples of these type of places). I also had some sort of bean sprout salad that basically tasted like the dressing.

A cat in the gardens...

and her kittens!

After lunch we went to the Shanghai Museum. It is a multi-level building housing ethnic costumes, furniture, jade, paintings, calligraphy and much more. I got tired after about 2 floors so we decided to just come back to the hotel. Dawn helped us figure out where to walk for dinner and some shopping and sightseeing. Not that it matter! We laid down for a nap at 3pm and woke up after 6pm. I asked Paul if he wanted to go get dinner or just keep sleeping. For once sleep trumped food! I woke up several times. One of those times I was able to get Paul's dad on skype so I woke Paul to talk to him. The jet-lag has set in, I am wide awake with 4 hours before breakfast is served.

After breakfast we went to the airport to catch our flight to Ji Nan city, where we finally meet Logan!

Thanksgiving in Flint

Mom and Briggs decided to come back to Texas for Thanksgiving. They probably haven't been here for it in about a decade. They have a little house they rent while they are here so all of the daughters and their families were able to come out. We each brought something and Mom and Briggs provided the main course.

Uncle Paul and Olesya

We used the kids arts and crafts for decorations on the tables. This is Sophie's turkey hat.

Maw Susan and Paw Briggs and almost all the grandkids. Levi was actually spending Thanksgiving with his dad and sister, so he couldn't make it.