Red Couch Pictures

Today was a relaxed day for us.  We pray your Sunday goes well.  I will keep the entry short today.  We had our usual breakfast and then stepped out to the street to drop our laundry at one of the local shops for cleaning.  We ventured into two sourvenir shops and Melissa promised both staffs that she would be back later to make purchases.  We then intended to walk to another local hotel to connect with friends but ended up not doing so because of pouring rain.  We instead returned to the playroom at our hotel and let Mack spend some energy.  Mack then took a long nap, Melissa did some reading, and I went to ride in the gym.  I do not know why, but the recreation center attendant offered to get me proper clothing--I guess she had not seen a man exercise in aged sweat pants and a button down shirt.  I thought I looked sophisticated--she did not seem amused.  Around 4:30 all of the adoptive families in our group gathered for the customary "Red Couch Pictures", which take place, you guessed it, on a red couch.  First they do individual families, snapped by everyone else in the group, then they do all the families at once, snapped with every family's camera, and then they do just the adopted children, snapped by everyone in the group.  You can imagine the shear chaos, the sense of impending doom, and the tears of agony  (this was just from the parents--the kids were fine).  Quite a scene--with curious Asian onlookers also stopping to take photos of all the madness.  From there, we headed to a Thai restaurant called The Cow and Bridge--excellent.  My only disappointment here is that my oldest brother tells me Thai food is most wonderful when followed with coconut ice cream.  Sadly, that was one flavor they did not offer.  We headed back to the hotel, with Melissa and Mack visiting with half of the Wong family in the playroom while I played squash with the other half of their family. We are now settled into bed.  Have a great day.

Dave

The Worst "Must" Be Behind Us!

You might notice that this post is really during the middle of our day and not at the end of the day as is typical.  We are doing so now because we are pretty sure we may pass out before too long.  You might ask, why so tired/fatigued/defeated?  Well, today was the day we took Mack to get his physical exam and immunizations.  Long story short, it was a miserable experience for Mack, all the other adopted children, and all of their families.  I suppose someone may have had fun but I did not see them.  To set the stage, you must recall that we are in Guangzhou, which is where all U.S. families from all adoption agencies converge in order clear immigration through the U.S. Consulate.  As well, there are people from other countries also adopting and clearing through Guangzhou.  There are two hotels that house all these folks (The White Swan (our temporary home) and The Victory).  I do not know the real number, but it has to be in the hundreds spread between the two hotels.  They all have to go to the one clinic on the island for physicals and immunizations and we all chose to do so today and no one is able to schedule an appointment.  You just show up and watch the fireworks and the fire drill ensue.  The clinic is only slightly bigger than a double-wide trailer and has maybe one air conditioner to feed the entire facility.  There are three stations that everyone must clear and a fourth (immunizations) that only some must visit.  The process is changed from when we were here for Luke (no immunizations required upon exit) and we fell under the new requirement for Mack to have immunizations upon exit.  First, we arrive and 9 families converge on one room and sit.  The kids descend upon the one box of toys that probably thousands of other kids had drooled upon and we just waited and waited and waited while others filtered through the stations.  When it was finally our turn, sweet Melissa basically handed me Mack and the paperwork and said good luck—she tends to not do nearly as well as I do in handling hot, sticky, crowded, situations where your new child is about to get poked and prodded.  I, was of course, cool as a cucumber.  Station 1 was weight (27.9 lbs), height (33 inches), and temperature (presumably 98.6).  From there we waited for Station 2, which is where Mack decides it is time to throw him self about and basically resist any form of control.  Thankfully, when we actually see the doctor in Station 2, we get the all is good on head size (I do not know the scale, he just said Rugaard) and his heart and lungs are sound fine.  Station 3 was ears (they are there and they hear) and throat (he has one but does not like sticks jammed in while his arms and legs are forcibly restrained by his father).  We are feeling good until we realize it is going to be “10 minutes” before we get to go through immunizations.  In China, I think everything in “10 minutes”—every bus ride, every walk, every flight, every line—it is just a question of “10 minutes”—and for me it is usually the last “10 minutes” my nerves can take.  So, one hour later, we get to for immunizations.  The immunizations they get in Guangzhou can be different (and usually are) from one child to another based on what orphanage they came from and how often they needed to see a physician.  You do not know until you get in the chair, holding your screaming bundle of expensive joy, how many shots that your child, and you, and everyone within hearing distance are about to enjoy.  For Mack, the magic number was SIX shots.  To add insult to injury, he had fallen asleep about five minutes before we got into the chair, and yet they made me wake him up for the event—which really amounted to 5 minutes of wailing before the shots even began.  Then, I just restrained him while he got loaded up with various concoctions.  So, four hours and $450 later, we headed home—Mack with bandages, me drenched in sweat, and Melissa looking faint.  By the time we walked “10 minutes” back to our hotel, he was totally fine.  Melissa and I, on the other hand, are still wiped. 

 

We miss you all.

 

P.S.  We did hit the Guangzhou Starbucks for cool drinks, a hot sandwich, and a blueberry muffin.  Mack likes mocha frappuchino. Our day did have upside.

 

Pics for Planes, Trains, Automobiles

 

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles

I am pretty certain that I used the heading "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles" before when we adopted Luke. If so, consider it something like the movie "Groundhog Day", whereby the main character lives the same day over-and-over again until he decides to interject his own tweaks to what he thinks/knows will happen. Well, I am not trying to change what I think will happen, but there are some aspects of the travel side of this trip that start to feel repetitive. The sole objective of this day was to make it safely to Guangzhou. We started travelling at 3:00pm, by bus, to the airport. The straight shot flight was slightly delayed but lifted off safely and touched down without incident. Did you know that I pray before every flight and ask God to spare my life? If I ever go in a plane crash you can assume I forgot to pray because up till now I am batting a 1.000 in this narrow aspect of my prayer life. Or, maybe, as the joke goes, it was the pilot's time to go and I just picked the wrong flight. Okay, you did not ask for all that, so back to happy words. Ou flight arrived in Guangzhou and we pushed our luggage for 20 minutes to a bus. We then took a 45 minute bus ride to our hotel. We were in our room by 11:00pm or so. Long btravel day for such a seemingly short distance.

Mack did really well travelling. Basically, I have learned, after three bus trips with him, that he happily handles the first two-thirds of the trip and peacefully sleeps the last third of the trip. The alarming signal relative to his flight behavior is that he did not sleep on the plane. Basically, he was a bundle of energy--not loud--not crying--just constant motion--constantly bouncing between us--constantly kicking tray table--constantly reaching into other passenger's space beside us, in front of us, and behind us. And, did I mention, that this kid drools constantly. I really should have "knocked on wood" when I told Melissa, I can handle anything as long as he does not drool. I love hot, sweaty, cramped quarters, being drooled on by a small child. Good Times! Why did I say this was alarming flight behavior? Well, me being Mr. Negative--i am just "concerned" about the 14 hour flight home.

Two funny stories, and then I am going to bed because it is 1:30am here. Plus, I am pounding this out on a Blackberry, a la Robin Williams in RV and I have a tingling senation in both hands. These are really "you have to be there stories" that are only funny because I am such a goof.

First, when I checked out of my room, the desk guy asked if I had used the mini-bar. I indicated that I had two Cokes and he said "No charges, only liquor". Seemed strange, so when he gave me my room bill I asked again and he said "just liquor". So, I went upstairs and told another guy, who had been searching all week for real Diet Coke that I had some in my room and that apparently it was free. So, he takes the DC. Now, spool forward, to a bus full of adoptive families about to exit the parking lot for a 45 minute trip to the airport. Imagine a littlw Chinese lady running out to the bus and asking "Who was in room 316?". Always afraid of the worst, I sheepishly said that I was in room 316. She explained that first two Cokes were free and that third one "You must pay". So, back to the front desk to pay the tab while the bus sat.

Second, imagine what happens in most airports when someone sends a coffee can full of baby formula through in checked luggage. Nothing happens--absolutely nothing. Now, imagine what happens when an American named Dave Nicholson sends that same coffee can of baby formula through in checked luggage in a Chinese airport. You gussed right. Horns sound and red lights flash and ol Dave Nicholson gets asked to step through the secure zone for a bag inspection. I am just glad I had visited the Shaolin Temple and could find a way, in peace and harmony, to not go kung fu all over everyone.

Cannot keep my eyes open.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Slow Day

Not much to write about today.  It has been quite slow, which has been quite nice.  We had such a long day today that we opted to just stay at the hotel.  We had intended to sleep-in, but we started the day a little earlier than planned.  Mack woke up crying at around 5:30, which then triggered Melissa to wake-up, which then triggered me to wake-up.  We had a slow morning, regardless, and went to breakfast around 8:30.  We then decided to make a trek to the "Zhengzhou Starbucks" with another family.  We were convinced that we had seen a Starbucks within a few blocks of our hotel.  Suffice it to say that at mile 3, we had not seen the alleged Starbucks, and by mile 6, when we returned to the hotel, that most of us were muttering (again), "That the Care Bears were here" and "it seemed like a good idea at the time".  Did I mention that I had Mack on my chest and/or shoulders for all but one mile of the trip.  Seriously, I am thinking of heading to Mt. Everest and becoming a sherpa.  Or, better yet, becoming a rickshaw driver--they have great calves.  Or, better still, a monk (hey, I like the hairstyle and the pjs they get to wear).

We did stop by a Wal-Mart towards the end of our walk.  Yes, I am becoming a Wally World regular.  We decided to buy a stroller.  Of course, I pick up the one that has no price tag.  Imagine two mutually unintelligible people trying decide where the stroller came from, what it might have cost, whether or not I wanted to just forget the purchase, and who was going to go find the price in the event I did want the stroller.  After waiting probably 10 minutes for a clerk to return, Melissa decided I should go back to third floor of the store to see if the clerk was waiting.  I did, and the clerk was waiting patiently for my return.  She probably told me to come upstairs, but you know, it must have been lost in translation.  On a related topic, this is the same Wal-Mart that I tried to buy groceries as two days earler.  Imagine Melissa and me standing in line with about 10 Chinese nationals behind us.  I only have a credit card.  I tell Melissa, if they do not take a credit card that I am walking straight out and leaving her and the stuff behind.  This sends Melissa into full tilt panic mode.  She waves my Master Card at the clerk and the clerk nods to affirm that they do take MC.  Perfect, all is right in Wally World.  She rings us up and runs the card.  She hands me a pin pad.  Here the fun begins.  I do not even know if I have a PIN code for the MC.  Me, Mr. Non Verbal, shakes my head sideways and to help better explain my situation, I loudly state "No PIN".  Imagine, if you will, Melissa, Mrs. Verbal, launching into a full conversation with the gal to explain to her why we do not have a PIN and that we have used the card elsewhere in China without a problem and questioning could there be another way to use the card than with a PIN code.  At this point, the crowd behind is glaring and I am starting to sweat.  I then hand her a VISA Debit card--emphasis on the debit--to which she initially says yes but then indicates no upon the advice of the manager she has now brought into the picture.  They take MC (with a PIN) but not VISA (with a PIN or without a PIN).  In the end, another adoptive family paid for my groceries.  There are good reasons not to shop at Wal Mart and yet I find myself doing it.  It must be the heat. 

We spent the rest of the day engaged in a family ping pong tournament, doing office work, and reading.  Melissa spent most of the day chasing Mack.  He is starting to warm to us and is laughing and smiling more and more.  Trauma, of course, draws people close together.  So, we are feeling close because so far today he has pulled a full suitcase over on himself, pinched his fingers in a drawer, fallen face first in the hallway, and gotten reprimanded for sticking his hands in the toilet.  He is ACTIVE!  Although, I can say that he does sleep quite well.  He took a 1.5 hour lap as we finished our failed Starbuck search and had lunch.  And, as I write, Melissa has laid him down for the night and he crashed in about 5 minutes even with the television on and me rattling about.  We have got to figure out how to keep him so well conditioned for sleep. 

We received all of our Chinese paperwork today.  His Chinese passport will arrive tomorrow.  We then fly to Guangzhou on Friday afternoon to begin the process of completing U.S. paperwork.  This all seems incredibly slow and we wish we were headed home.

Dave

It Really Was A Good Idea!

I commented in yesterday's blog that someone should remind me today that our 2 hour bus trip to the Shaolin Temple "seemed like a good idea at the time".  Well, in reality, it was a great idea at the time as it turned out to be a great experience.  Step way beyond the obvious and significant differences between the Christian faith and the Buddhist faith and you can really marvel in neat historical and cultural experience.  Here are some quick facts.  The temple is about 1,500 years old.  In its prime, there were 2,000 monks.  Now, there are about 300 monks.  Currently, there are more than 20,000 kung fu students on the grounds.  It is more accurate to say that such students are there for a private education that includes an emphasis on kung fu.  The architecture was phenomenal and the waft of incense added ambience--at least enough to cover the smell of cigarettes--remember not everyone there was a monk.  We attended a very entertaining show focused on the art of kung fu.  The students were all male and probably ranged in age from 8 to 18.  These guys were flexible, strong, and could probably do real damage to a human body.  They had some amazing skills (maybe tricks??), like throwing a nail through plate glass and bursting a balloon.  The highlight of the day was watching a few members from our group climb on stage before the show to have action poses taken with some of the students.  I thought about going up, but my knees and hips could not possibly make the required contortions.  I had a thorougly enjoyable experience and could bore you with pictures if you like.

The best part of the day was really seeing a little more of Mack's personality starting to peek through.  As you know, I hate hot, sweaty, uncomfortable environments like a 2 hour bus ride.  But, this did afford us the opportunity to hug/squeeze/tickle/comfort this guy into giggling and laughing a little.  He fell asleep in my lap for the last 45 minutes of the ride to the temple, and I then lugged him around while he slept another 15 minutes.  As I think about it, I pretty much lugged him around for most of the day--the kid ways a ton and my arms are aching tonight.  It was (and is) interesting walking around with some many other adoptive families.  We stick out like sore thumbs and get more attention than I seem to recall when we adopted Luke.  The bus ride home was uneventful--Mack was draped across our laps and pretty much slept the entire way home.  It was just nice to get to spend time with Mack and learn about him.  It is impossible to know, but I get the sense that he was the "protector" in his room of 10 at the orphanage.  Yesterday, as he interacted with some of the other adopted kids (and their siblings), he would share toys with the smaller/younger kids and linger near them.  He whacked the one 8 year old that encroached upon the little kid territory.  We have also noticed that when we walk our hallway at the hotel, that he will stop at the doors where children are crying.  I tend to think he is "worried" about them.  All of this is supposition, but there is clearly more personality within him than we have seen.  My theories will likely fly out the window when he pounds Luke or otherwise crushes someone in Sunday School.

Best scene of the day occurred at lunch.  One little guy that travelled with his family from the U.S. tried to indicate quietly to his parents (but loud enough for us to hear) that he had to go poop.  Now, in the Shaolin part of the woods, there are no Western toilets, only holes in the floor and slippery holes at that.  So, the quiet debate ensued between him mom and dad "Me or you, men's or women's, which one will be best?"  While that debate quietly continued, the little boy finally indicated, "Nope, I'm okay---I think it was just gas".  It was a classic moment enjoyed by everyone at the table--except maybe his mom and dad.

For those of you who wish we could see Maria's House of Hope, it just will not happen.  I can at least show you one photo of the fork in the road we could have taken (for another 1.5 hours) to get us in the vicinity. 

We still cannot see your blog comments--although Shelby sometimes reads them to us on Skype.  Thanks for your support.

Dave

 

 

 

Legally Ours!

Legally speaking, today was a big day for us in China.  We completed the adoption registration process, as well as obtaining the necessary notarizations.  So, long story short, Guo Yu Hui is now completely, fully, legally our son and will now run under the name of Mack Andrew Nicholson.  So, we are very excited but also wondering "Why do we have to stay?".  The answer to that question is pretty simple.  We now have someone we have to legally get into the United States and that is basically what we take care of over the next week and a half.  If he was not so physically big, I would consider a small dose of benadryl and a large carry-on, but that sounds probably falls under the category of "it seemed like a good idea at the time".  So, we follow the process and wait a few more days.

It continues to rain here in Zhengzhou and we have not seen the sun in several days.  As a result, we have not seen much of the city, except for a few sweaty, humid bus trips to government offices.  Imagine a bus, windows fogged by the sweat of about twenty emotionally drained adults and about a dozen emotionally drained children.  Most of the time most of the people handle things fine, although there are moments when the way your spouse even breathes that causes tempers to flare.  There are not enough wet wipes in the world to make me feel clean and decent in such an environment.  I would rather have just left Bandana's and climbed into the rafters at a Cardinals game in 100 degree heat.

Seriously, we left the hotel at 9:00a.m. to go complete the adoption registration.  This was the same office where most of us received our child.  They had a nice little ceremony with local officials giving each family the adoption registration and certificate.  For the record, I did not cry, although one little boy asked "So, how the allergies holding up?"  From there, we went to the notary official's office, which took an extra 30 minutes longer to get to because of road closures.  Did I mention the bus was hot, sweaty, and that the windows were fogged over with the condensation of human breath?  We scaled six floors to the notary office, almost as high as the Great Wall, and croweded around a table for the last signings of several legal documents.  A final picture of each family with the local notary, and all was completed.  From there, it was back to the hotel.  Missy laid Mack down for a nice long nap, while I went to grab two pizzas to go.  The pizzas were excellent.  Missy then laid down for a nap, while I went to ride a bike in the hotel fitness room.  After naptime, the entire adoption group then loaded another sweat-filled, human breath laboratory and went to the Lotus Centers.  It is nearly equivalent to a three story Wal-Mart.  Some of you have seen the "open" pants children wear here when they are potty training.  Suffice it to say that there is apparently no shame in potty training in public on the floors of the Lotus Centers.  Not one child, but many.  Again, there are not enough wet wipes to get me comfortable with this particular cultural difference.  After we returned to the hotel, we joined another family (from California) and went to eat noodles.  They are a great family and we have enjoyed spending time with them.  We concluded the evening with a ping pong tournament, with the loser (that would be me), buying ice cream for the bunch.  Back to our room to give Mack a bath and the evening is now over.

Tomorrow we are heading 2 hours (by bus) to Shaolin Temple--home of kung fu training.  I plan to come home with dragons scarred into my wrists from having picked up flaming hot vats of oil.  It should be sweet.  Except, it could be 2 hours of sweat filled bus ecstasy.  Remind me tomorrow, "It seemed like a good idea at the time".

Dave