Part 3 - Gemma

Thursday (today) we opted out of the group trip to the zoo. Everyone slept in and lounged in their pjs until we finally made it down to breakfast at 10:15am.  Our guide saw us there and let us know the visas were ready a day early, and they were on their way to pick them up. We briefly discussed the possibility of leaving China a day early but decided to stick with our planned departure. Instead of the zoo we took a short cab ride to Shamian Island. It is hard to notice that it even IS an island, but it was owned by the French and British in the mid 1800s or so, and it looks very different from China, full of colonial buildings. The main road is a wide boulevard with two small roads on each side. There are bronze statues scattered throughout and many bridal and other photographers using the beautiful setting for photography. There are also a few great shops and we hit each one, crossing off the rest of our shopping list. Christmas card! :)  Cute one :)...

Wednesday we woke up the kids bright and early at 600am in order to meet our group at 730am for our 830am appointment at the US Consulate. The US Consulate is a low, gray, three story bunker-like newly constructed building. It is pretty in a modern, sleek way, but it sticks out like a sore thumb a bit among the high rise buildings around it. There were many Chinese people waiting for appointment or another in lines around the perimeter of the building.  When finally admitted our group of families were went without our guides to the 3rd floor of the building. There each family was called one by one to the window, where documents were given. Then a representative from each family stood together for an oath, and finally each family was called to the window again for some individual questions about the adoption process. We were told the kids’ travel visas would be ready by Friday and we were done!! I have no pictures as phones are not allowed in the Consulate. We stopped bac...

Today was a quiet day- everyone slept in past 9:00am! After a late breakfast the boys went swimming and Gemma and I went pearl shopping :)   Playtime in the afternoon:  In the evening we took the traditional CCAI group photo in the hotel lobby, followed by a group dinner. We put the kids to bed early as we have to be in the lobby by 7:30 AM tomorrow for our appointment at the US consulate! 

Yesterday I took Gemma by myself to the medical exam appointment at the US Consulate.  The boys stayed back and swam.  The medical office was for all individuals immigrating to the US, with a special section divided out for adoptive families.  There were three stations - height, weight and temperature, ENT, and general exam.  It was pretty basic, and Gemma was a trooper.  She cried a bit but calmed down once she was settled back down with me and a snack.  In the afternoon, the boys chilled out in the room (see below) In the evening we took (for the first time) a boat cruise along the pearl river.  Our guide ordered pizza for us, which was actually pretty good, and I learned this time around to request no corn or pineapple (standard on the veggie pizzas here :) ).  The views were beautiful and the kids had a great time.   And out little girl's personality continues to emerge.  She loves to laugh and to try to make you lau...

Yesterday we had a nice morning visiting a Buddhist temple, the Chen Clan Ancestral Hall, and the arts and crafts shopping center.  Even though we had seen it all on previous trips, it was nice to be out.  At the Chen Hall, we ordered chops for all three kids - custom, hang carved stamps with their name, Chinese name, and Chinese zodiac.  We also got a beautiful hand painted fan for Gemma with her Chinese name printed on it in beautiful calligraphy.    In the afternoon we all watched Boss Baby together in our room :) then we met several other families up in the garden/play area where all the kids ran around and played ball. Gemma also enjoyed pretty much running around in circles, laughing at everyone she saw.   In the evening we finally got in her in the bathtub, and she loved it so much she would not get out!   Needless to say, this morning I had to wake up just about everyone.  Today is Gemma's medical appo...

Our group - leaving Zhengzhou We made it to Guangzhou!  It was an **exciting** airplane ride with LOTS of turbulence, but we arrived safe and sound. Gemma decided yesterday that instead of being glued to me outside the  hotel room, life is not so scary and she wants to walk. Everywhere.  It is pretty adorable to see a tiny little 18 pound girl holding your hand and keeping up with a group of 20+ people walking through an airport. She was glowing with excitement as her little legs were pumping along as fast as they could go.  We had to say goodbye to Vivian and Rita at the airport, and it was an emotional goodbye for me.  I could have taken a minute to just sit and cry my eyes out over all that had happened this past week..but it was on to our gate.  We left the hotel in Zhengzhou at 12:30pm, and by the time we got the to Marriott in Guangzhou, it was 8:30pm.  Needless to say, my 2, no wait 3, children were literally running laps in the Marriott l...

Yesterday was our last full day in Zhengzhou.  Our guides offered a few options for tours, but I was looking forward to a day of not driving to this place or that, so we opted out of the tour, as did all but 1 of the other families.  Our guide told us about a children’s area in a nearby shopping complex, so we decided to check that out.  It was pretty quiet in the mall, and no other children were playing here.  When the climbing structure started putting Evan in a harness and helmet, I got a little nervous, but it turned to be extremely safe 😊   The boys climbed for a bit, went down a GIANT (2 story?) wavy slide into a ball pit, and raced cars.   On the walk back we saw a little French-looking bakery and we stopped to bring back little pizza-type bread and other delicious things for lunch. Later while the boys vegged out with a movie, Tom took a cab back to our last hotel for his tennis shoes we had left there 😊 and he...

Yesterday we had the opportunity to visit the Zhengzhou Social Welfare Institute where Gemma lived.  She was in the Lily Orphan Care Center room sponsored by our agency.  The Zhengzhou SWI was HUGE, many buildings with school rooms, and onsite foster care for older children.  Our guide said over 800 children lived in this SWI.   We were visiting with another family whose daughter was in one of these foster homes, and another family who just wanted to the opportunity to visit. I was nervous for Gemma.  She is very afraid of new situations, and I felt she and I had finally built a level of trust, now what would she think?  I put her in the baby carrier, a gift from my friend Colleen :) , which Gemma LOVES, and in we went. Her nannies greeted her immediately, and when the first reached out to hold her, Gemma snuggled into me instead. Success!!!!  My heart felt like it would burst. Nanny after nanny came and tried to hold her, finally there...

Yesterday we went with the 4 other families to Henan Center for Children's Welfare and Adoption at 9:00am.  Our guide said that some children may already be there.  In my mind, I thought it was probable Yun Ying was one of them, as she was from the city we were in.  I set my phone to the video screen as we all walked in, and there in the back of the room was a little girl in red with a whale spot pony tail- I knew it was our girl!! She was not happy to see me, and I quickly called to Tom to get the puffs out of the bag - Tom was NOT expecting her to be there and he was completely confused for a minute :) She started to cry as I held her, until the puffs came out.  The puffs saved us.  For about half an hour, she just sat in my lap with her arm glued in the puffs container.  The officer that brought her (man in blue in photo) to us showed us a photo album they sent with her and told me a few things about her.  We were able to do a quick FaceTime with my...