pictures....

Medical Exam and TJ's news

It is Monday, September 25 and Tian had to have her required ( for adoption and residency) medical visit. No one should be surprised that she came in at the 75% for weight, but the 95% for height was a surprise she may be the tallest in the family :o) The doctor and nurses were surprised at how well she is doing - very content and a little cheeky. She enjoyed holding her hands out to them and then shaking her head no when they wanted to hold her.

Her official weigh in was at 23.14lbs and 32 inches. Our pediatrician, who has a niece from China, was very well versed in the tests and things so poor Tian had several vials of blood drawn, then to add insult to injury, she had to have 3 shots and a TB test. Believe me I was hoping for no shots... I felt like the ultimate traitor. She screamed with all she was worth and we left the office tear stained and sweaty - I don't know which of us was in worse shape. All in all she did do very well considering.

We then ran a quick errand to the post office where she managed she charm everyone who walked through the doors . So she was quickly back to her usual self. Unfortunately for us Tian is one of those children who can nap for 5 minutes and think their nap is over - so we struggled with that today , but so far it is nearly 11 pm and no fever. I have been afraid to give her anything for fear of allergy so we just sit and wait. Her face is almost all cleared up so hopefully we can solve the mystery of what set off the rash and avoid a repeat performance.

The biggest news item s of the day : TJ set a personal best record at his cross country meet today at 17:29 for his 5K run. His team once again took first place. Wouldn't you know we weren't there because I thought Tian wouldd be napping ( ha h a) I was so sad not to be there. We will be at his next meet Thursday and hopefully be able to witness another personal best ( right TJ? - no pressure). Then to top off his stellar night he walked in and Tian had woken up again and he was able to put her in her crib and she settled down - I am praying for the night. This was the first time he had put her to sleep - hopefully not a new social habit. Needless to say, TJ is higher than a kite right now.

I will hurry and get a few things done as someone is coming to look at our house on Wednesday.

Tara

The pictures were our attempt yesterday to get a nice one of all 4 kids at the same time - Mom you will appreciate this. Don't ask I don't know what Ty had in his mouth , but 3 shots was Tian's limit. The one of the dogs was how they have spent the last few days: begging to coem in and join the party. Tian likes the older dog, but the pup is another story - hey the pup took her apple

Tian Homecoming Pictures

homecoming pic's

Picture Index:

1 - Mom & Tian @ Hong Kong Airport food court. Tian put on an eating clinic!

2 - View of the mountains from the Hong Kong Airport

3 - Exiting the plane and greeting @ Des Moines Airport

Home at last :o)

After a Thursday that seemed as though it would NEVER end, we have made it home. We were so happy to see the boys. Tian, though a little nervous, took it all in stride as long as I held her. We were happy to see my mom had survived the various tortures her grandsons had put her through for 2+ weeks. I can't even begin to thank her!! We were surprised at airport by Beth from our adoption agency ( wow at 10 at night!!!) , but most especially by Tom parents who drove all the way from Omaha for the 10 minute thrill! WOW!! It was wonderful to see everyone even though we were bleary eyed, sweaty and covered in every snack we could think of to feed Tian. After a few minutes, Tian even wowed everyone with her walking, in squeaky shoes of course, and thrilled Tessa when she held out her hands to her to be picked up. In typical Tian fashion as Tessa bent to pick her up her arms folded and she shook her head no - she just wanted to make sure that everyone wanted to hold her!!

It is now Saturday so we have been home since Thursday night. My mom has returned to her real life- she seemed kind of anxious to get out here... :o) Ttoday was the least I have seen/ held Tian in the 13 days we have had her. As long as she can't see or hear me she does very well with the boys and Tom. She has played and wowed them with her rendition of patty- cake, itsy bitsy spider and playing with various toys. She is far from the unresponsive, afraid to make eye contact baby we prepared ourselves and the boys for - she acts as though she has always been here and is getting better at making her wishes known. The hardest thing for all of us is not knowing what she wants, and we know for her not being able to say - I'm thirsty, hungry, tired, wet etc. We are learning her cues and she is making the effort to help us.

Tonight she enjoyed some salsa? ( spicy of course) and American Jell-o and we have found another cereal lover in the family! In China they do not eat cereal. Breakfast is much like any other meal so for something so new to her she has fallen in love very quickly. She had a quick visit to our doctor who is also puzzled by her face rash, but thinks some eczema cream may help - so we shall see.

All in all - she had a great day even when I made her run into a store to buy tights - something new to me to buy for a little girl! It is a whole new world shopping for this little thing - Tom assures me I am doing very well in the shopping department! The stores here seemed strange to us after being gone so long and it was so nice not being wall to wall people. Tian didn't even seem to mind the long wandering session at the store as I searched for tights - I didn't even know here to look, let alone what exactly I should buy!

She is currently sleeping soundly and doesn't seem at all phased by her brothers running up and down the hall talking, fighting and turning lights off and on - so much for me threatening - "Shh - you'll wake the baby." We are quickly recovering from jet lag and are actually relieved it wasn't worse. Poor Tom has to return to WI on Monday and hopefully get the house ready for us to join him by the end of October.

Hope all is well with everyone .
Tara

Last post from China!!!!

Can't wait to get home! Few more cute pic's and Dragon Fruit picture

Pcture Index:

1 - Tian and her baby

2 - Dad & Tian playing cowgirl!

3 - Tian & Jenna ( another baby in our travel group )

4 - Mom & Tian ( note Tian's backpack!)

5 - dragon fruit, tastes like sweet kiwi but white in color!!! Really neat looking and great tasting!

The Homestretch

We are almost there. Right now we are awaiting the time to leave to finish the final pieces to bringing Tian home.
She has cleverly discovered our bag of surprises to have on the plane ( a couple of different toys and new snacks to try.) She went right for the play cell phone. She knows how to use it - she thinks she is a pre teen already!
2 of the families in our group catch their planes tonight, so we can really see the end in sight. It is bittersweet - it has been a fun journey, but we are so eager to get home.

Tian's rash was better - now worse. Poor thing. I think we will keep her anyway :o)

I didn't get this post finished before we left - Tian is a tough task master!

We are back and she is official - when we walk through customs (they will also stamp her form) she will be an official US citizen. The US and China currently do not have dual citizenship agreements, so the US recognizes her as only a US citizen. She can, however, travel to China under her Chinese passport (until it expires) but then forfeits US citizenship rights while in China.
Today was interesting a big room with 40 families from all over the US. All we did was go to a window where they checked all 3 passports to see we matched the picture and then we waited ( of course). After about one half an hour we all stood and pledged that everything we filled out on the forms was correct. That was that. Once again no pomp and circumstance the parents all cheered, but that was all . Our guide collected our forms and we came back to the hotel for a good night's sleep before tomorrow's big adventure/trek home.

We will probably do a litlle last minute shopping, the stores here are very touristy, but have some fun things we can't find in the states. Tian loves to be pushed in her stroller so we don;t get a lot of time to look as we have to keep moving. I keep telling myself she is saving us lots of money. I wish I knew what size to buy her for next year - the summer clothes are on sale at about $4 ( US) . We have bought a few and shoes - Tian wears the next to the biggest size - so we have bought few and wish we could buy more - too many cute ones. Tom says we should already be calling her Imelda.

Thanks for all the great emails and support back home it has been nice to know how many people back home are there for us as we continue to adjust - not only to Tian, but our mve to Wisconsin.

Hope all is well and everyone avoided the e. coli scare - the rumor here was that all produce in the US could no longer be sold - gotta love rumors:o)

more funny & silly pic's

silly pictures

Red Couch Photos

pictures

Tuesday

We had an easy day( so far) today. This morning our guide took care of our applications for Tian's visa. We will finish up the last of the paperwork tonight and then we will pick up our visa tomorrow afternoon. We can see the light at the end of this long tunnel of bringing Tian home!

We were lucky and while we had to stay in our rooms this morning, in case our guide had questions while he was the consulate, Tian took a nap. The four family's in our group then gathered for the traditional pictures on the "red couch." All the families who adopt from China have to go through Ghaungzhou so they can get visas etc from the American consulate here. Many families stay at this the hotel, The White Swan, and they have a red couch where it is tradition to take the baby's pictures alone and as a group. Our babies did great until one deciced it was naptime and Tian discovered she could leap off the couch and get everyone to scream and Dad or Mom to dive to the rescue. It was an adventure.

We then ventured to a small restaurant that caters to Americans ( Lucy's) and convinced them to spice up a dish of noodles for Tian. They did not believe us that she liked spicy food so they watched and laughed as she slurped it down. Tom had a terrific grilled cheese, mint milk shake and homemade chips - he was in heaven, so I guess he will have to figure out how to have them shipped to Wisconsin.

We then walked through a park and still are amazed at how many people are everywhere, many working, but many more just hanging around. It was fun to walk along the river ( the Pearl River). It is very dirty, but people swim in it and they use it for drinking water. Things were busy as they are started to get ready for the fall festival the first week in October.

Tian is still doing well and is quite a people person. When we get on the elevator with other people she will shout to see what they will do and then she grins at them. We have convinced her that the stroller isn't so bad, but it is a dangerous place as the salepeople find her open to taking everything they want sell. Things are still very much on her terms , but she is getting more managebale ( or we are better trained) each day. We are still thrilled and can't believe how much like all 3 of her brotehrs she is. I find myself looking at her while she is sleeping and can't imagine life wiwthout her.

Our one eyeopener here has been a quest to find an Asian baby doll for Tian to paly with. One would think with one of the world's biggest populations it would be easy, but not so. Maybe I will design one and become a millionaire. I asked our guide abou tthis and he said that Asian people the blonde blue eyed dolls ....

Tara

bath time & Husker Girl

Picture index:

1 - Tian in the bath. She actually enjoyed it today. She played & splashed.

2 - The best kind of "Husker Girl"

3 & 4 - Introducing "Husker Girl"

5 - Tian out of the bath tub!

stayed tuned in for future posts - including Dragon Fruit!

5 -

More pictures

Picture index:

1 & 3 - City views of Guangzhou from our hotel room.

2 - Tian kickin' back on the way to the Pearl Market, really just a store in a jewelry type mall. they make custom pieces while you wait.

4 - Pearl Market

Tian's trip to the Doctor for Visa

Picture index:

1 - Tian has figured it all out. See wanted the silly toy in her hands - but nasty mom & dad wouldn't buy it for her. So a friend in our group let her play with hers. Tian proceeded immediately to beat it into the wall until it was broken. I guess thats one way to get what we want.

2 - Tian gets a funny rash following tears and sweating. It took a slew of doctors to check it out to see what it might be. But much like a state crew of highway workers - not much was done or figured out while standing. Tian remains a mystery!

3 - Tian at the doctors. They really performed some scientific tests for hearing and vision. Flashlights and small piano toys were used!!!!!

4 - On the way to the doctor - we ran into a school performing their opening exercises outside in the courtyard. The kids were all in uniform and were very friendly as our group walked through.

5 - "Where are my pants???"

Medical Exam to pearls

First, I asked our guide about the food; he assured us that you just pick up the large pieces of vegetable with your chopsticks and bite pieces off. I wonder what Miss Manners would say about that? The chicken, he said, many people just eat bones and all!!! We are talking some fairly significant pieces of bone, not just cartilidge. I shudder to think.

Tian made it through her medical exam. She officially weighed in at 23 lbs and 79 centimeters. Their reaction - ooo, big girl for 13 months. Yes, her size did not suffer at the orphanage. After hearing her scream I am sure they gave her anything to keep her quiet - we have:o) She had 5 doctors puzzled over the rash on her face. They had no real idea, so I have decided Hydrocortisone was the safest bet and it does look a little better this afternoon. We will see. She otherwise passed the medical exam with flying colors and so did the 3 other babies in our group - one step closer.

The paperwork for her visa is completed and tomorrow our guide brings everything to the American Consulate and hopefully she will get the green light and we can pick up her visa late Wednesday and head out Thursday morning - yeah!!!! So far our guide has been fantastic and we have glided through each step - we can't say enough about him.

This afternoon we visited the famous pearl market and had our education in pearls. I had no idea that pearls can range in color from black to gray to purple to pink to orange to snow white. They were beautiful. We also say some varieties of freshwater pearls and seawater - some I couldn't tell the difference. We saw a lot of what we thought were bargains, but wished we knew more to be sure. Next time. It was fun to see how quickly they could string the pearls and how quickly they could convince people to buy - oh, you need one for baby and one for you and do you have a sister? a friend? Boy, I wish I was a millionaire. We enjoyed the show though.

Hope all is well at home we are getting anxious to get back to normal ( whatever that is) and be able to order chicken with no fear of bones:o)
Tara

Food...

We haven't really mentioned food much here, and today's experience reminded us. Tian, as you know, is a lover of spicy food. She can only handle 2 bland bottles a day - the rest must be at least flavorful. We decided to brave a Cantonese restaurant on our own.( For most of the trip we have eaten as a group with our guide ordering for us). We ordered ( with the assistance of a picture menu) sauteed veges, tin foil chicken and water. Sounds pretty safe, huh? Keep in mind we are eating with a very high maintenance girl and chopsticks and under the scrutiny of every Chinese citizen - so the adventure began. The sauteed veges - were really just one vegetable - something good, but about 6" long and green with multiple stems. Keep in mind there are no knives - how do eat something like this daintily? Better yet how do feed this to a screaming Chinese baby who alternated having her mouth open with war whoops? We thought we had it made when the waitress approached with the next plate - the chicken. Unfortunately, the chicken although chopeed into smaller pieces comes with bones. I still don't know how we were supposed eat it. I am sure we will be the topic of many family's dinner conversation tonight when the y discuss table manners with their child!

Potty pictures, etc....

No internet porn here....


Picture index:

1 - Tian drinking a coke ( not really lid is on ). Two elderly Chinese women gave Tara and I quite the evil look when they passed by us taking this photo. If we only had a camera to have filmed their faces when they realized the bottle was capped! It was all to funny!

2 - Our poor bruiser's Visa photo. Dirty dress, covered in lunch & misc snack items, skinned nose, sweat & tear stained face, with unexplained heat/tear induced rash. Thats my little girl! Quite a beauty in that picture. Hope they don't say were abusive parents and not let us leave the country. I don't even want to think about what the inside of a Chinese prison might look like. No Ty, I have not been to one & neither has your mother! ( inside joke - ask me and I'll share it )

3 - Some locations actually post signs and cater to Americans. Most restrooms if they exist are tucked away in some remote location. And just you wait until you get there. Porta potties and airplane restrooms are quite they luxury!!! ;-O

4 - This one speaks for iteself. Did Tara mention bring your own TP , not flushable. What do you image the trash can is for?????????? Discusting!!!!!!!! Tara said not photos of that - too bad.

5 - Emergency anyone.... China has some weird dyslexia thing going on, no the photo has not been altered. Their emergency number is truely 119. How freaky is that???

Potty Talk

Okay we ahd to address a few things for journaling sake here. First - no Tian is not potty trained. She has no interest in it and will probably be 10 before she decides it is time. Only one of the babies in out group ( 9 months) is partially trained she was the one in foster care until the day we picked them up.

Now for the more interesting part of the story..bathrooms here in China are a lot different than in the Western part of the world - Tom will post a photo. This is how the toilets look in both the men's and women's rooms. That's right they are flush to the ground. Needless to say, our shoes will have a good bleaching when we get home. Oh, and did I mention that you need to bring your own TP that cannot be flushed?

It has been more fun than camping!!! Thank goodness our hotel have all catered to us westerners.
So who still wants to join us next time?
Tara

Visa Photos

Just so there is no question in anyone's mind about Tian's personality... we a have had her for only 1 week and so far she has scratched up her ear, bumped her head many times, but in public (very public) twice and managed to skin her nose! All in time for her visa photo which features a face rash ( cause unknown, but we are working on it), scatched cheek and my favorite a huge scab on the end of her nose. She is anything but dainty.

This is just a quick update to let you know we survived another day and tomorrow we will head off to get our visa medical exam and apply for an American Visa.

tara

More Pictures

Picture index:

1 - Ah Q, Chinese folk story character, being beaten ( sculpture @ Provinchal Museum )

2 - View from Breakfast @ hotel. Pearl River - were told there are no pearls and that the water is very dirty. We did see locals swimming.

3 - Waterfall inside our hotel. The accomodations in Guangzhou are very nice by any standards. Really makes you think about what is truely need and truely important in life. China is really a country of many contradictions, Beauty, riches, tradition, culture and then one of extreme poverty.

4 - Tian seemed very fascinated with the little cat running around the provinchal Museum

5 - Tian with two other children in our travel group ( Tian, Marial & Jenna )

Guangzhou pictures

picture index:

1 - Statue of the Zen type Budda. There are many different Budda's, typically we see the fat jolly Budda, However there are different Budda's that carry different means or even slightly different religious sect's - similar to Catholisism.

2 - Actual stone carving from the Qing Dynasty - Provinchal Museum

3 - In front of the Provinchal Museum - note the amazing roof detailing!

4- Buddist Temple - still used by buddists - several diffent Budda's and worship/temple rooms

5 - Monk that blessed Tian and other babies in our travel group. The blessing consisted of a good luck prayer and a sprinkling of water