Day at the orphanage

Us with all the caretakers, in front of the orphanage.

This is Kai with the caretaker that often took him home. He is in this sign for the orphange.

“The caretaker tell him to show you his bed. He misunderstand. He thinks he staying.”-Our guide explaining to us why Kai suddenly started crying hard.

Today was the orphanage visit day. Josh said that today was the best day for him. I am not sure I share that view, just because it was sort of emotional, but still very good. It was nice for us to see where he has been living these past two years.

We started at the grocery store. Judy helped us pick out little treats for Kai to pass out to the kids once we arrived. Judy explained to Kai that we were going back to the orphanage just to visit, not to stay. He said, “Ok.” I wanted to climb into his head and see just what was going on there. We also bought many diapers to donate to the orphanage. Our guide said that diapers were really the only thing that they needed. Again, this orphanage is in a wealthy part of town and I guess they have things pretty good there.

When we arrived everyone came out to greet us. Kai immediately asked if his “favorite” caretaker was there. We found out that he calls her “Mama”. This is the same caretaker that took him home often. This felt so bitter sweet to me. He obviously loves this woman, but I cannot wait until he calls me “mama” and have it to really mean something. It was a blessing to meet her and to express our gratitude to her in person. Oh, also, I should mention that this orphanage is also different in that they allowed us to video tape and photograph anywhere that we wanted to go. Again, this was such a blessing for us, as we wanted to document everything that we could of Kai’s life before we met him.

We went into his little room first. This is when the caretaker showed him his bed. I guess they had just laid the children down to rest for a nap. Kai thought he was going to have to stay and take a nap. We were being shown around by the director and all of a sudden Kai was crying very hard. Both Josh and I were surprised, as the only time Kai really cries is right when we lay him down for bed. Even then, he only cries until I start singing, “The Rocking Chair” song. He seems to like that song as well and stops. At first, when our guide explained to us what happened, we misunderstood her. “He think he staying here.” We thought the caretaker had told him he had to leave and he wanted to stay. But then after a few more questions she explained that he wanted to leave with us, he thought he was going to have to go back to the orphanage.

After that, Josh held him the whole time. He did not even want to pass out his candy treats. Our guide did this and Kai sort of just watched. After seeing his room and bed, we headed upstairs to the baby area. I knew that another family in our agency had committed to child at this orphanage. I found him and was able to take several pictures of him. He is so sweet and happy too, like Kai. I am excited to send these to the family. I know that I would have been so relieved and happy if I could have seen pictures of Kai in action before we came to get him. The caretakers took this little boy out of his walker and he smiled while they played with him.

I looked in the baby room. There were probably about 20 babies in there. Judy said that most of them are “heart” babies. I was able to touch them and walk around that room. It took a bit for me to keep the tears back. Judy told me that all of these babies would get adopted though. They all qualify for international adoption. At this orphanage, only children with special needs are able to be adopted internationally. Many of you know that Kai is considered special needs in China. He has a very minor medical condition that is easily correctable here in the United States. Kai’s condition was so minor that he was actually held back for domestic adoption. In China now, many orphanages are saving healthy children for domestic adoptions. I suspected this because of his age and his condition being so minor. So, after he was not adopted out domestically, he had to go through all the paperwork to be internationally adopted. Our guide was able to tell us this, and a police officer, that actually remembers the day Kai was found also told us about that as well.

After we left the orphanage we set off to find his “finding spot.” We were unable to find it, so Judy called the police station for help. The police officers remembered the day Kai was found. Can you believe that? Two and half years ago and they remember. Judy said abandonment is so unusual in this area, that they often are able to remember and tell you more. So we stopped by the police station. The officer hopped in our van and took us to Kai’s finding spot. It is basically a big field right now. It used to have a big restaurant next to the road. He was found right on the corner next to the restaurant that is no longer there. I appreciated the police officer taking the time to take us there. He told Kai that he was a lucky boy. He also told Judy that Kai is “so cute and smart.” I guess the police officers go there and help out, sort of volunteer there often and he knew Kai. I have been amazed by the community support of this orphanage. It does not seem like these children are tucked away and ignored.

The drive was about an hour long there and another hour back. The ride back home was pretty rough. Kai was past his naptime. When he gets tired he basically gets into everything and is very wound up. Oh man! Plus, throw a visit back to his orphanage in there, mix in the fact that he is a two year old, and it wasn’t much fun on the way home. Prayers for the plane ride please! Judy laughed when we said, “Oh 20 hours on the place with Kai should be a piece of cake.” “Oh my,” is all Judy could say.

Kai is sleeping now. Then we have to wake him up for our oath at the Chinese Consulate. Then our Wednesday will be over, which means just one more day here and we are flying home!

The truth about lobsters...

The monks leaving the ceremony.
Our blessing.

Our guide shared with us that Chinese legend or tradition says that if you can remove the ball from the lion's mouth, then the building is yours. So of course I had to try, it was prime real estate there! (No luck though)

Our boy in the tub. We had trouble with him not trying to drink the water. The poor guy had some tummy troubles that night. We think it was the water.
Kai wants to see the camera if you get too close.

(Josh in a whisper, across the bus aisle to me) “Kate, pearls don’t come from lobsters do they?”

Laughter just totally erupted from me. I could not stop laughing.

“Shhh, Kate, no wait, they don’t do they? Wait, don’t laugh at me, its not me, listen to why I ask.”

“All I can say is I have my quote for tomorrow’s blog!” I said.

“No, don’t use that as the quote, look at you laughing. You are so mean. Listen to why I ask that.”

Yesterday we did some shopping. One of the places we went to was the pearl market. Let me just say, that it was a mall type of place 5 stories high and it was packed with store after tiny store of jewelry. The mall was laid out in a basic circle, but then tiny hallways fingered out from the main circle. Seriously, for me, it was like a nightmare. Completely overwhelming and so packed with stuff. In the hallways between the stores you could barely fit a small stroller through. You can feel the population here in China so easily when you go out shopping. Places don’t have little corners for you to stand or go to, all the space is utilized. So when Kai leaked through his pull-up we had no where to change him. Actually, I found a bathroom, but the floor was wet with urine and puddles of water and they had the squatty potties and there was no space for me to stand him to change him. The smell was more than I could handle and people kept coming in, pushing forward in line. I had to get out of there. I was starting to feel sick. We ended up changing him out of the open pretty much, while a few people stood and starred at us.

We had 40 minutes in this mall, but Josh and I needed to get out, so we went to wait out on the street. We found that the rest of the group felt the same way, they were all waiting there. I guess, a woman in our group told Josh that she thought, “Stealing pearls from lobsters is a sin.” Now, she may have been joking, but Josh wanted to be sure he had it right, that pearls did not in fact come from lobsters. Regardless, it is a great quote for the day huh?

Before we went to the pearl market we went to another store. At this store, Kai charmed all of the attendants. Literally, they swarmed him and played and talked with him while we shopped. Very nice! The store was fancy and full with breakables, so it was nice that they spent so much time with him. Josh and I have talked about this issue, the attention he gets. We wonder if he gets so much attention because he is a boy, or because he talks so much, or just because we are friendly and open to stopping and talking to people too. The rest of our group didn’t have this in the store. Kai was loving it! It has really been interesting to watch though. A few times I have to remember that there are cultural differences with boundaries with children. Many of time the hotel attendants have taken him out to hold him and talk to him and they will walk away with him, or give him things without asking us, etc. It can be sort of strange to see him get whisked away like that sometimes!

Yesterday when we walked into the playroom the parents in there shouted, “It’s Kai!” We just laughed. People here have gotten to know him for sure! The other dads seem to like playing with him since many of the kids are girls and smaller than Kai. Kai will run around the laugh and talk to everyone.

We are going to the orphanage tomorrow. Judy is taking us. I am really looking forward to that, but I have mixed emotions. I hope Kai is not upset about going back, although I was told he knows that kids come back with their new parents. Hopefully he knows he isn’t going back there to live. We have the guide to help talk to him about all of that.

After tomorrow we have just one more day here until we fly home. I am so looking forward to coming home. Josh and I are both missing Elizabeth so much. We cannot wait to see everyone!

Buddhist Temple

“Many American adopt the ugly baby, you have handsome boy.”-Man on the street that stops each day to talk to me to practice his English. “James”

People say the darnedest things huh? I had to laugh at this comment! I apologize for no pictures today, I cannot get our camera to download them to the computer. We'll have to try it later.

Ok, so I will be the first to admit that I am a goal-oriented person with unrealistic expectations at times. But this trip I think I am doing pretty well. Before leaving for China, I really stopped to think about how I wanted to approach this trip mentally. Not some big daydream of me being this hard core, low maintenance traveler with unending flexibility and patience, but something I could really attain. In a previous blog entry I talked about how I wanted to genuinely love China. I envisioned myself flying into China with arms open wide, ready to take it all in. I think today I felt more of a true love for China. Today we visited a Buddhist Temple. On the way there our guide explained that most of the children that are adopted would have come from practicing Buddhist families. So they like the families to see a little bit about it.

Before I go into more detail about the temple though, let me say a few words about the other families in our group. It has been absolutely delightful to see the changes in everyone since getting their children. We all have chunky kids! One family is here getting their very first child. They are both now just literally glowing and so full of love. I cannot help but feel such a swell of gratitude each time I look over at them and their little girl. It has been a privilege to witness the transformation. You don’t really see it in yourself, but watching it in others is a pretty neat experience. There are so many moments on this trip where I find myself just thinking, “Thank you God.” Sometimes that is all there is to say.

I also met a woman today with so much courage that I find I cannot stop thinking about her. She is here with her teenage daughter. I started talking to her because they also have a 2 year old boy. We chatted at breakfast one morning. Today I ran into them again in the White Swan Playroom. This room has been a godsend for us! There, Kai can run and yell all he wants. This woman, I did not get her name, but she is the mother of 8, 4 biological and 4 adopted from China. She is here adopting the little 2 year old boy, Adam. Adam has a deformity with one of his legs. It stops pretty much after the knee. She shared a bit with me about Adam. After they accepted their referral of Adam, she met a woman in his province via the internet. Anyway, after this woman went to check up on Adam at the orphanage. He was only 17 pounds. This friend living in China took Adam into her home to be his foster mom. Anyway, she took him in until they could come and get him.

We have met so many amazing people. For me, this trip has been all about people. At the Temple I stayed right by our guide Judy and asked her many questions. While kneeling in front of the monk for our blessing, it just hit me so hard, that we are here, getting a blessing from this monk, with our son, in China, and I just felt such on overwhelming feeling of full happiness. Also, it was so cute, when we were blessed with the water, Kai shock it off his head and looked at the monk like, "Hey, what are you doing buddy?" I learned that at the temple, apples signify health, (an apple a day…)peanuts, safety (could this be why the serve peanuts on planes?), oranges equal wealth, and flowers are for beautiful and healthy children. Pretty neat. The temple was filled with incense, which reminded me of Josh in college always wanting to burn incense and me hating it, but not wanting to tell him that! We laughed about that.

You know on tours there is always a person who stays right by the guide and asks them a million questions, well that was me. I learned so much. We actually were lucky enough to be there on a special ceremony day, that only happens a few times a year! So we were able to see all the monks and hear and watch some of the chanting, Amazing.

The other moment of significance came later that afternoon, as we met Judy in a hotel room to go over paperwork. She pretty much told us exactly what to put where. It was such a relief to not have to study the forms by yourself and try to figure it out as I have done with all other forms. I so appreciated that! It hit me again in a new way, all that we have done to get to this point. All the paper, the tears, the long talks with family and friends regarding this adoption, and what a sweet, bright and beautiful boy we have, so full of life and just delightful. And soon, just a few days, we get to bring him home. Again, such gratitude filled my heart for all the people who have helped bring this little boy into our lives. We may be here in China picking him up, but it is our family, our friends, our church community at Orchard Park and all of those that I am not even aware of that have prayed for Kai and our family, those are the people that are truly bringing our sweet boy home. There is no way we could have done any of this without all of that support and all of those prayers.

Sometimes things are worse in the morning Mom!

Can you guess what these are? They are dried sea horses! They were thrown out on the sidewalk to dry after they had been scrubbed.

One of my favorite pictures at the market. Isn't this beautiful?

Live chickens for sale. One woman bought a chicken, they bound it's legs and she put it in her bike basket to take home! What a fresh meal huh? They also had ducks, rabbits and pigeons in those cages.

A rare moment that I actually "catch" his smile with the camera! He is so quick!
Men at the market, just thought they were interesting.
Bins of something, I think mushrooms at the market.

“It is not a good sign to be this frustrated at 6:45 in the morning.”-Kate

Today started out with the realization that our digital camera and the gifts we bought yesterday were gone. I assumed they were in our room, but after tearing it apart, we realized they were gone. Our guide has been very clear about being careful about pick-pocketers and to not carry much money, passports or anything of value with us too far. We tried to think about the last time we had them, but all the days here seem to blend together. I did remember that one time when I reached for the backpack that the zipper was part-way open. I thought it was weird and closed it. Ok, so you would think I would check to make sure everything was in tact. But I do possess the ability to put myself in a pleasant land of denial when I want to!

So, after we couldn’t find them, and the front desk said that nothing was turned in, we came to the sickening conclusion that they had been stolen while out on one of our many walks around the city. Luckily, we download all the pictures each day, so we didn’t lose any pictures, but I felt sick about losing the gifts we bought. I could go out and get more, but augh…more shopping. Oh, man! That idea just about sent me over the edge. Now, Josh and I have been really good this whole time as far as being patient, having a sense of humor, etc. But this morning we both were feeling a bit cranky and snappy. We were trying so hard to look at the bright side. “Well, if this is the worst thing that happens on our trip we are pretty lucky. We can always buy another camera, it’s just money, at least we aren’t sick, Kai is doing so well, etc.” But even though all those things are true, sometimes you are just cranky. Josh and I both said we want to keep our perspective on this trip and appreciate each day and moment. So this was a test for us. “Ok, let’s complain for 5 minutes to vent and then we’re done.” That was my deal. So, while walking back to our room we used up our complaining minutes.

When we stepped off the elevator the floor manager told us that housekeeping had found a camera and that they were going to call us about it. Anyway, housekeeping called asked us some questions and told us they would being the camera to our room to see if it was ours. Luckily, the camera still had our pictures on there, so we could prove that it was ours, as we were on there with Kai. I cried when we got the stuff back. I just felt so relieved. We had left it in the hotel playroom. Also knowing that we hadn’t been pick-pocketed was reassuring too.

Ok, back to China though. I have been trying to think about how to describe the sights and smells of China, the people, the air, the surroundings. While on a walk yesterday I asked Josh how he might describe the way China smells. He had a suggestion that I didn’t agree with, so you’ll have to take it from me. Ok, so when you walk out of the hotel, you are surrounded by a warm, somewhat heavy blanket of heat. Very tropical. The smell, sort of musty-sweet-greenhouse-meets-rainstorm-meets river-water-meets-something cooking-smell. That is the best I can do. I like the smell of China. I don’t know that it is a pleasant or unpleasant smell, it just is, I like it. A smell I do not like is what we encountered in the mall, and yesterday while passing new construction. There is some kind of factory, toxic fume smell that was pouring out of this door at the mall, which led to a dark basement of something. The same smell was coming out of the new hotel construction. It literally burned my nostrils. I worry about people getting very sick from the fumes there. I cannot imagine working in that environment. The smell shocked both Josh and I. I actually ran about half a block to get away from the smell.

Feeling energized with our camera and gifts returned and a nice conversation with my sister. (You are the best Jenny.) I usually talk to my sister about every other day. So not talking to her for very long has been hard. With today starting out with so much frustration, I told Josh. “I just need to talk to my sister.” Ok, now feeling better, Josh and I decided to cross the bridge and go over to the main area of the city, off Shaiman Island. Our guide told us about a genuine Chinese market we could go to. She told us to be careful and not take anything of value. I strapped our backpack on the front of me and we set off.

This Chinese market was amazing. Unlike the island which is solely geared to adopting families, the market was away from all of that. The most interesting thing that we saw I did not take a picture of, as I was unsure if what they were doing was legal and if they would be very angry if we tried to take a picture of them. Most people don’t mind, but earlier on our trip, we tried to take a picture of a man walking down the street with live turtles hanging from a string. He had tied a string around their shells to they were right side up with legs treading through the air. They looked like turtle puppets. Josh went to take a picture and he shouted, “NO! NO!” to him. Yikes!

Ok, are you ready?...A person was selling tiger paws. Real tiger paws,actually more like the lower limb or the tiger. The tendons were dried up and then they left the fur and claws on the paw. I felt such a sense of sadness when I saw this. I faintly remember some stories on NPR regarding tigers and how they are hunted for these things. The man showed Josh a tiger tooth for sale as well. Josh and I thought it could not be legal, but on our way back, a police car stopped to talk to them and they did not pack up and leave. Could this be legal in China? Most of the people in this market paid absolutely no attention to us, which was really refreshing at this point. We were able to look freely without following a guide around, or being approached by sales people from the shops for adopting parents.

The rest of our group gets here later today. Tomorrow we go to a Buddist Temple and somewhere else, which I forget. Should be a good day.

"Nobody there!"-Kai

Kai reading to himself.

The city area where we shopped.
Just thought the signs were cool.

The women writing up the receipts for our stuff.

Day #2 with Kai. We were able to capture a smile. He is so busy, it can be hard to catch him for pictures!
Kai after his first trip to the pool. He sure loved it. Thought Josh was hilarious!

A view from the street where we were shopping.

“Nobody there!”-Kai (thrust out arm with open hand to the sky in a “Ta-Da” gesture.)

While waiting to apply for Kai’s Visa the other day, Kai got a little antsy. He wanted to go over to the other end of the waiting area and look at a door with an exit sign over it. As we approached the other side and he realized that there wasn’t much to see, I put my arm out and sang, “Nobody’s there!” He immediately repeated me, “Nobody there!” Except add a huge smile with a dimpled check on the right side! All of the families in the waiting room thought this to be very humorous. He has already been assumed as American as he sings out “Hello” and “Bye Bye” and “Thank you” to those we pass, at the appropriate times too! (Are we officially parents to this boy yet? We think he is the most charming and smart kiddo around!)

Yesterday was a really good day. It seemed that Kai opens up more and more each day. I am finding this whole process very interesting as far as how you feel about things and how your mind, or at least my mind, has changed. For example, when I first arrived here, the whole White Swan swarming with adoptive families sort of almost freaked me out. Can you imagine such a thing in a big city in the US? Before we received Kai, I felt that they must all have it so easy, all comfy and cozy in their new families, while Josh and I anxiously waited to see just what our son would be like. Certainly no one else felt so scared?

Now, after having Kai for a few days, I appreciate having other families here so much. It is nice to go down to the White Swan play room and find out where children are from, how they are doing, what different triumphs and challenges have already occurred. It also doesn’t hurt that most families are delighted with Kai. “What a cool little boy.” Were the words of one woman. I find it amazing now, how vulnerable we all chose to be in order to have a child. Some of the kiddos are tiny for their age, have different skin rashes, are not eating, are crying and grieving, love playing with their shoes, enjoy taking walks, are laughing are giving first hugs and kisses, it is just amazing to see.

Today at breakfast I noticed another couple next to our table watching us with Kai. We started talking to them, and they too are in the last phase of waiting, the last couple of days before they get their daughter, in their case a 5 year old. They noticed us using signs with Kai and asked us about them. We taught them a few of the signs. They are such a nice couple. Everyone that we have met and talked to so far has been so nice and kind. We all feel that everyone’s child is beautiful and wonderful.

Kai has the sign for “eat” and “more” down. This kid loves to eat. So, at meals you can see him tapping his palm with his pointer finger for another bite. He can also say, “more please”. Oh, but we did find something he doesn’t like to eat, yogurt. Uncle August, if you are reading this, I thought of you. If I remember right you hate yogurt for a number of reasons…

Anyway, I could see Josh and I in the faces of this couple,their body language, and general interactions. It seems that Josh and I, and Kai have all come very far already. It is almost like different stages of labor, expect both parents share in the contractions before the child comes!

Ok, back to yesterday. We were supposed to do a lot of shopping that day. We went to one mall and bought Kai some new clothes. Judy, our guide sort of laughed at us because we had a list, got that stuff and then, we were ready to go. She asked if we wanted to shop anywhere else and we said “No thanks.” That was the best decision. We were then able to just come home and hang out with Kai. If you think about it, here you are, in China, adopting a child, but also realizing that you are IN CHINA. You want to see and do all that you can, but also, you need to be able to not climb in and out of a van all day long to just BE with each other. So that is just what we did.

I so appreciate this time to just be with Kai before we go home. The rest of the group will meet up with us on Sunday. We will do more sight seeing that day. I look forward to seeing just how all of the families are doing.

"OK, yeah"-Kai

I start today with a quote from Kai. Ok-yeah is what he says a lot. We think that is just him saying ok. It is cute though, sort of Jamaican-ish. It is hard to know where to start today. I feel like I have been all over the map of expected and unexpected emotions. Let's start with an update on Kai.

Oh my, this little boy loves to talk, he is quite loud as well! When we go down to have breakfast at the White Swan there are all of these families with their babies and children. Most of them hardly say one peep. Actually, as I write this, I can say that I have seen other babies and kids cry, but not talk. Then you have Mr. Kai, talking to all of the servers, yelling to babies across the room, laughing, throwing his napkin, grabbing our coffee cups, wanting to eat more and more food. I cannot tell you how many laughs we've gotten. He is very funny, lots and lots of energy. Just thinking about the plane ride home is enough to give me an ulcer! Jenny, you are going to have to tutor me in the ways of boys!

We took him to the pool for the first time yesterday. He was a bit hesitant at first, but after about 10 minutes he was sticking his face in the water and just laughing away. We had to watch his to make sure he didn't drink the water.

Big news too, Josh was the first to receive a kiss, unsolicited too. Josh was holding him and talking to him, when Kai just puckered up his big lips and gave him a kiss. This was so delightful to see. One of the neat things about this adoption for me, has been that Josh and I can equally share the parenting from the start. He loves to be with both of us and will go to either. I got my first kiss this morning. So sweet. Since Kai was taken home with his caretakers often, I wonder if he thinks that this is just an extended stay for him. I am not sure if he knows for sure that he is staying with us for good. It is nice to see him open up more and more to us.

We also know that he knows his manners. Yesterday, Josh went to the deli next door to get some lunch for us and on the way out Kai yelled something to the ladies and they laughed. Josh asked them what he said, "He says "Thanks a lot."" Pretty neat. This brings me to the next point of the adoption, it is very strange and sort of difficult to be a new parent to a toddler who talks a lot to everyone, and they talk back to him, and you have no idea what is being said. And the Chinese people know this. Many of the people have laughed and smiled at what Kai says. Many of the Chinese have laughed at us period. Sometimes this is fine, sometimes you just want to be able to struggle through on your own without such an audience.

We went to that Thai restaurant yesterday to get some good food. This was the end of a long day, we had also gone shopping at a big mall earlier, I'll get back to that later, but I will say now, Mom and Jenny, I missed you so much, I am no match and not well-equipped for all this shopping. Anyway, again, everyone in the restaurant was very quiet, and Kai was wound up and totally overstimulated I think. At many of the restaurants, the servers stand right by your table as you eat, I mean right by you. So Kai kept yelling and talking to them, pounding his highchair, squirming to get out, and the servers would talk to him, laugh, try to hid their smiles behind their hands and stare at us. There was a Chinese family next to us with perfectly behaved kids and I felt like they were saying, "Ah, these American families...they do not know how to handle children." We ended up needing to leave. Josh had them pack everything up and we went back to the hotel to put him to bed.

Last night was the first night of real tears from Kai. It did not last long, but it broke my heart. He cried and screamed and looked at me like, "I am just so tired and can't do this anymore." I just rocked him and told him that is was ok to be sad, that I knew this was so much for him, it was a lot for everyone. Just cry, it is ok. he seemed to get this and somehow each time I said it was ok to cry, he seemed to relax. This was the first time that I felt some of my reading paid off. I read that instead of encouraging them to stop, that you need to hold them and let them grieve and be sad. It broke my heart though.

I was also overstimulated and exhausted. Those of you that know me know that I hate to shop. Judy took us to this mall that is like a Wal-mart, sort of yesterday. It was packed! I mean, like take maybe the day before Thanksgiving, and that is what you have in these malls. Just tons of people everywhere. I am really starting to appreciate the blessing of space that we have in the United States. You can understand the population of China when you go out and try to shop or do anything that is not tourist-y. I know that I should have bought more at this mall, but I just did not have it in me. My eyes were probably like saucers the whole time. I had to laugh though, Judy took me to get this coupon at a service desk and told Josh to wait there with the cart. As we walked back in this throng of people, you could immediately spot Josh. Here, Josh is taller than most of the men and his Caucasian head is easy to spot! I just had to laugh, he was just waiting patiently with all these people milling around him.

I am starting to miss home. It seems crazy that we still have over a week to go. I am anxious to get Kai home and start to get him into a routine there. Although, I am also pretty nervous about the plane ride home! Oh goodness. If only they made tranquillizers for kids! He is so very curious. Seriously, he is like Curious George. Thank you so much to all of you that are emailing us, it helps so much. We are so lucky.

We can only email from Starbucks, so if I do not write back it is just because of time, not because I don't want to. I also just realized that Josh has the camera and is out walking Kai around. We have to take turns doing this as he obviously is not going to sit or play quietly in a Starbucks!

I will post a bunch of pictures tomorrow. Hopefully that will be a day just to do nothing and relax a bit.

I can't read Chinese...

Entrance to Forbidden City...notice Chairman Mao...
The emporer's chair at the Forbidden City
This symbol means double happiness and something to do with love...it is supposed to be good luck in love. Josh and I love that stuff!
Pre-Italian ladies at the wall...
How cool is this? We are actually at the Great Wall of China!

So I cannnot figure out how to go back and put the pictures into the other posts, so this will just be some pictures