Florida Gangzhou YES!!!

12-26-08

Helen our guide found us at the airport. She was worried she was late. We assu red her perfect timing! She called the hotel to let David know we were about to arrive.
We are so glad to be here! The warm weather and the final track of our journey. We missed our FTIA friends.

To see santa, I mean David was a warm sight. David was waiting to meet us.

It was so good to see Shelly, Keith, Sidney and to finally meet Asher. He is all boy. Reminds me of Nick and Chris as toddlers. Shelly described Asher as having Emperor Syndrome. All boys in foster homes are treated really well, spoiled!
Their demands are met quickly.

Justin, Shelly and baby Lylla so wonderful to finally see her. Shelly looks tired! she had been sick and said she thinks she has hives. I wish we could help her to feel better. We sent benadryl her way. They are missing Henry their 3 year old.

Layla is attached to Mommy.



David and Paula have Tessa such big beautiful eyes! Tessa was so tired, she has been refusing naps, bet she crashed tonite. Chloe has a girl to talk to.

Chloe is learning english and does well if she has a nap. If no nap starts bouncing, and being defiant. She tests the water, smart kid. She will act like her arm is broke if she has to be helped to sit down. Normal kid stuff.

We went to supper together all 4 couples, first time since the children.

We really missed the other couples companionship!

Chloe's Orphanage Day

We went to the orphanage today. Lanzhou Childrens Welfare Institute, in Gansu China , date 12-25-08, Wow that was heart wrenching experience.

On the way we saw bicycle with about 8 or 10 chickens hanging on the back, feathers and all. They had been killed and looked they were ready to butcher.

We arrived at the orphanage and took pics outside without knowing much about the facility. Her caretaker "auntie" arrived about 20 min later. Inside they would not allow pictures especially of other kids. Chloe had stayed in the baby room except when in foster care. There was 13 kids in the room where she stayed with some sharing beds. We took pics of her in front of the bed she was in and of her friend. Her friend had soft bones and looked like he doesn't ever get out of bed but was all smiles.
The babies were taking their bottles, propped up with a blanket.
It broke my heart to see all the throw-away-babies. I asked to take them all home with me.
There was on little girl in pink to the left of Chloe's old bed, such a doll. I propped her bottle back up and milk went everywhere. They have big holes in the nipple. When we came back by as we were leaving she was facing the wall and about stood on her head to try and see us.
I would take her home if they would let us.
Chloe was in the babys room because she helped care for and play with the babies.

We had brought bag of M&Ms and Auntie was giving them away by the handfuls. It was feeding time and several had bottles of milk. It breaks your heart to see some many babies in one room. The next room had older kids about 3 or 4 years old and were very special needs children. We had brought bag of M&Ms and Auntie was giving them away by the handfuls.
We went upstairs to another area where they did therapy after illness and surgery for the children. One of the nurses told us she had traveled with Chloe when she went to Beijing for surgery. She also said Chloe had 3 surgeries total. There was another couple from New Zealand there helping with the children in therapy and spoke English. We started talking to them and Chloe became very upset and started crying. This was the first time she has cried since we have gotten her. Of course we all started crying. Angie took her and went back to the hall, to get her away.
We decided it was time to leave. Chloe was afraid we would leave her at the Orphanage.

We gave the gifts to caretaker along with the new camera and came back to the hotel.

We left the hotel at 1:45 and the other two couples and their guides met us. We went to the country and went through the village. There were sheep with sheppards watching over them, everywhere. Appropriate for Christmas. The vehicle of choice is a 3 wheeled motorcycle with a truck bed.
We walked through. There are berms in every field. It is laid out in squares. We first noticed this from the air as we were flying in.

In the car she was rattling off in Chinese to our driver, you drive safe so we get back safe. The girl is in charge! We are gonna have fun putting her in a car seat'e No seat belt laws or car seats and people drive like maniacs. Our driver is very good. If you are comming through, just beep and go!
Chloe fell asleep and cat napped there and back. She was testing us today. Who is in charge??
She did not get her afternoon nap.

We watched the kids open gifts with the web camera. I wish we were there.
Chloe opened 3 gifts while we watched the kids open theirs.

We leave to fly to Gangzhou at 4:30pm china time, tomorrow and should arrive 8:40pm.

Yea warmer weather and soon home USA.

museum day

12-24-08 We went with two other couples to the Museum. Very interesting! Steed the other guide gave us the history of Gansu. There were dinosauers and lots of bones and relics.

We saw water wheels by the yellow river and learned their history.
We saw a statue by the Yellow river of a woman and child/god of the river.

We bought souviners.

Pizza was for lunch with the other couples.

Later that evening we went with Megan and purchased a digital camera for Chloe's orphanage, it cost 900Y.(6.78) exchange rate.

We then went to the street markets and got a few gifts.

When we were walking in the motel a man that we spoke to on the elevator, another day gave Chloe a stuffed bear and said Merry Christmas.

We went to the motel and watched Chinese carolers sing american Christmas carols. Santa was at the door giving everyone a gift a key chain.

We came up to our room and Chloe found a Teddy Bear on the bed and to her excitement, chocolate!!! She grabbed it and yelled CHOCOLATE in english loud and clear!

The bell man at the motel told Chloe she was a very lucky girl to have American parents. Translated by Megan. All of the Chinese people are very supportive of us adopting her. Everyone is curious and talks to her and us in Chinese. We get a lot of stares when walking anywhere. They ask how old she is. The older women (clothing police) ha ha, want to know how many layers of clother she has on. We passed 2 or 3 layers it is cold.

Supper time! Today Chinese people celebrate Christmas.
We went to a chinese restaurant with the other couples and had a family style meal.

12-23-08

We went to a park and the zoo with three other couples that adopted children with another agency. Very cold, frozen fingers and toes.
We went to a famous noodle house. Very good food! Chloe ate and ate and ate!

While we were at the zoo, Megan our guide told us that Chloe told the other guide, "I am not Chinese, I am an American girl now."

Chloe saw the giraffe and told Megan, if the giraffe was not so tall it couldn't reach the leaves to eat and it would starve and die.

Megan said she has not studied this, she figured it out on her own.

12-23-08 We went with three other couples from another adoption agency to a park and the zoo. It was very cold!

We went to a famous noodle house, Yum, Yum!!

Came back to the motel to de-ice the fingers and toes.

Chloe and I (Angie) took a two hour nap.

We went to the street venders about 5:30 p.m. and I bought a few things.

For supper a chinese fast food with western style food. We ate very cheap in price, very good food.

Chloe is taking everything in and doing great! She is very smart, clever is what Megan, our guide says.

Chloe told the other guide, I'm not Chinese, I'm an American girl now!

When we saw the giraffe at the zoo she told Megan, they have to be tall to reach the leaves to eat or they would die.

Megan said she would not have studied this, she just thought about the giraffe and studied it and that was her conclus

This is her GiGi from the orphanage, at the civil affairs office.





















Chloe is being hand printed and we were thumb printed. Today she is officially ours!




















This is the orphanage director. He presented us with a mug set, chinese paper cut outs and a necklace for her.
Chloe Michelle Clinton is officially ours!!!

Gotcha Day!

12-21-08 Gotcha Day! This is the first hour in our motel room. She is still not sure about us.
Megan our guide, Angie and Zhang Jia Hui soon to be Chloe Michelle Clinton.
The sweater she is wearing is from the orphanage. She had 3 pr of bottoms including boxer type panties. On the top she had a undershirt, sweater and long sleeved shirt, and a light jacket. She had a scarf, socks and tennis shoes.
Her possessions are a stuffed winnie the poo and his honey pot, a small pillow with rice inside, a gourd from her foster grandparents, a pillow and picture album we sent her.