Is Wednesday here and today we have a free day. Yesterday we did some traveling for
ppwk in the city and in Louyang. It was a long day and we were so ready to be home.
We have enjoyed the other couples in our group so very much. Several of the kids are
around three and they are so full of energy! Yesterday was the adoption
registration. Making all the adoptions final!!! Each child is so very sweet.
We didn't visit any orphanages yesterday but could have. The kids had been in
the van such a long time and it would have been additional mileage for them. As a
group we chose to return home. Our guide recommended we did not go yesterday as its
hard on them. It can make them feel very insecure not knowing what's happening.
Based on time, mileage and advice of the guide, we came back to hotel They were
willing to take us if we wanted. One of the guides talked about cost of housing, history,
marriage, etc. very interesting we saw lots of farming outside the city. I can assure you,
there was no large equipment to do the work like a combine. People laboring by hand.
There was a lot of wheat fields yesterday maybe in 20 acres increments.
Funny facts about yesterday:
I had to go to the bathroom so bad in Louyang and we were getting ready to leave for
the >two hrs return home. AnnaBelle has really been clingy to me. So We braved it
and handed her to Milton so I could use the China potty chair! Yes squatting over
the porcelain hole. And no toilet paper! So I hurried into the bathroom and
instantly AnnaBelle starting crying LOUDLY in the hallway. Lets just say he got some
looks from the locals. Some people smile and are very kind and some people are not
as much when they see our group with children. So I squat over the potty and
AnnaBelle is in a dead scream in the hall.
Yesterday she said her first words...they were usually in moments of stress....she called me NiNi.
Which means Grandma. I will take the name because to her it means caregiver.
The ride home was long. AnnaBelle got carsick and it was downhill from there!
She was screaming and the taxi driver was trying to navigate the van in crazy traffic.
He kept saying something in Mandarin I can only imagine what it was. Bad timing for
a screaming child. She is slowly warming up to Milton and let him hold her for the
first time. She is eating good and sleeping good. Today we don't have to be
anywhere. Tmrw or Friday we will get her passport picture and passport and adoption
certificate/ birth certificate. Her adoption certificate will say AnnaBelle
Culbertson! Yesterday when we walked into the Immigration offc the locals really
studied us..then just as they do one came up to me started talking in mandarin and
it seemed like she was telling me to zip AnnaBelles coat. Did
I mention we had layers on and a flannel blanket around her. And she sweats like
crazy. AnnaBelle is trusting us more each day. She laid beside me last night in
bed to fall asleep. Se nestled in and went to sleep then pooped in the night
so.....it was noisy for a while when changing her. She went back to sleep easily.
She is so tiny and has a sweet nose and face. She is so still..I have not
experienced a still child like she. Joy has always had so much energy! We are
really missing Joy. So on the road home she was fussing, and she was fighting
sleep. So we gave her this bread the kids like here called biscuits..they look like
twinkies but no filling. So she ate the biscuit and was holding a little foil pack
called mumums she clearly wanted me to open it. She holds onto the last bite
always. She won't eat. Most likely a issue from being hungry before. It's
interesting and saddening to watch. We are so ready to come home! Goodnight from
sticky rice land!
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