WE ARE IN GUANGZHOU!!!!

We arrived in Guangzhou on Saturday evening around 5:00. It was a little bitter sweet leaving Zhengzhou, ALTHOUGH I was SO ready to be back to civilization!!!! (By the way, civilization in China, to me, is an above the ground commode WITH toilet paper in the stall!!! That was something I hadn't seen since we left the good ole USA, except for on the plane.) Our guides in Zhengzhou, Vivian and Rita, were simply awesome, and a close bond was formed because they were the ones who were with us on Gotcha Day, and who helped get all the necessary paperwork done to make the rest of the paper chase go smoothly. Actually, Rita was our guide, too, when we adopted Callie Beth, so she already had a special place in our hearts. 

Probably the worst part of our trip has been at the airport. We have five large suitcases with us----throw in two strollers, one of them being a double one, and three little girls, we have a LOAD!!! THEN, add to that, a little 28 month old spitfire who can throw one heck of a tantrum-----it CAN BE TOUGH!!! Eiley Joy did just that at the airport in Zhengzhou. She was hot, she was hungry (we couldn't take bottles on the plane), she is still recovering from her cold, and she DID NOT want to be in her stroller. In everything bad there is something good, though, and the good that came from the extensive screaming and crying and flailing, and basically giving me a run for my money at the airport, was that she slept the entire flight!!!


When we arrived in Guangzhou, our guides, Raymond and Jocelyn were there to meet us. We got on a NICE bus with AIR CONDITIONING that worked (not always the story about our buses in Zhengzhou) and headed for the hotel, the China Hotel. Once we arrived here and checked in, we were starving. There just happens to be a McDonalds (Ocdonalds, as the girls call it) right by the hotel, so that's what we had for supper, and I might add, it was pretty tasty!!! Our room at this hotel isn't quite as nice as our last room, but it is a little more practical with some storage places for our suitcases, QUEEN SIZED double beds, rather that 3/4 sized ones as we had in Zhengzhou, and room for Eiley Joy to move!!! We had VERY good night's sleep. Each day, Eiley Joy has slept a little later. She is a good sleeper, and sleeps anywhere from 10 to 12 hours when I put her to bed. She isn't a problem to get to sleep. I LOVE our cuddle time each night before she goes to bed.


Today, we had morning tours of the Banyan Temple, Chen House, and the Arts and Crafts market. Eiley Joy did really well UNTIL we got to the last stop, and then she started in her restlessness in her stroller----and when that happens, she can flip the whole thing over. Well, she had a pretty good reason to be mad because she had had a blowout diaper!!! I ended up having to totally strip her down, and when we came back to the hotel, all she had on was a diaper!!! It's funny----when I get her ready each day, I dress her, put her shoes on, and of course I put bows in her hair. Well, usually before long, we have shed at least one of the bows, sometimes both of them, and at least one shoe. She usually pulls her pigtails out , too. Today, she just managed to shed EVERYTHING!!!!


Once we got back from our tour, we took the girls to the playground here at the hotel and let them play for awhile. There is also a little indoor playroom, so we spent some time in there, too. Roger had to go do some paperwork this afternoon, so the girls and I just chilled in the room. I though Eiley Joy would go to sleep, but she didn't. I decided she need another bath after her morning blowout. This time, I just sat her in the bathroom sink. Let me tell you, that girls LOVES water!!!! She is a WILD WOMAN when I put her in the tub. She wants to stand, sit, roll, lie down.....and today in the sink, was no different. I tried to bathe her quickly, and when I got her out, she tried to climb back up the cabinet. I can't wait to see her in a swimming pool---she may be our little fish!!!


Tonight, we took a taxi and went to eat at a Mexican restaurant!!! It was definitely a nice change from Chinese!!!! Eiley Joy does NOT like a highchair, so usually I just hold her and feed her when we eat. She was asleep tonight before our food ever arrived, and she slept through the whole meal. She woke up as we were leaving, and was awake during the taxi ride back, but she was ready to go to bed once we got here.


Tomorrow morning we will be going to get her physical. Please pray that everything goes well, and that her congestion will not be a problem. She is feeling much better, and sounds a lot better. She will have to have a TB skin test. Pray that it will go okay, too. We will have a little bit of free time tomorrow afternoon, and then we will be going on the Pearl River cruise tomorrow night. It was one of my favorite things to do here in Guangzhou. Luckily, we are going to order Papa John's Pizza instead of eating the buffet on the cruise---that buffet is one of my LEAST FAVORITE THINGS!!!

I am attaching some pictures taken the last couple of days.The first pictures are of our guides.  Vivian is in the first picture and Rita is in the second picture.  The rest are of our girls!

Vicki