James had his first visit to CHOP today. I feel fortunate to be a drive away.
He did great. Developmentally he's on target and he moving along his growth charts well. Head is still smallish but was completely mismeasured in China. He's short too. But again, moving along.
He's gained weight and is well. He's gotta get a load of blood work done to check for things like traces of antibodies of vacinnes to see if the vaccines in China were ok.
He's getting pickier in his food tastes. But still likes variety. I know that sounds strange. For example, he liked the beans from my mexican salad today but didn't like the chicken finger.
He liked the reverse in China. I guess he's testing new foods.
Joseph is back to school and doing well, except it's hard to get homework done with little guy running around.
Next appointment will be cleft lip palate surgeon!
Kelly
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Monday, October 27, 2008
sleep deprivation
Like a newborn.
Y'know from 12 to 2 am our time is lunch and play time in China.
F.U.N.
Kelly
Y'know from 12 to 2 am our time is lunch and play time in China.
F.U.N.
Kelly
Saturday, October 25, 2008
We are home
We are home safe and sound and dealing with jet lag. It's crazy getting aahmcnhnjvfxmhfhghjfjfjgvmj grm vjgvj gjfj,f
That's all for now
must go now! that's James typing.
Kelly
That's all for now
must go now! that's James typing.
Kelly
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
It's Official -- and Tomorrow we leave 10.22.08
Hello all,
Apologies to everyone for not posting sooner. As expected, the whirlwind started as soon as we landed. Joe filled out loads of paperwork with our Guangzhou guide Lucy on Sunday. On Monday, we had the medical. Today we went sight seeing and then we had our consulate appointment. The consulate is on the 5th floor of a very nondescript building in a newer part of Guangzhou. Security was tight. We all walked up to a window so someone could match us to our passports then we all sweared that all of the information we provided was true and we heard a little speech about adoption and immigration from China.
Very nice, very noneventful considering the AMOUNT OF WORK AND WAIT it took to get that far. But alas, James's Chinese passport has a beautiful American visa in it. If all the flights go ok, when we land at JFK we will have to go through the immigrant line. That should be quite interesting.
SHaiman Island had been very nice. We always run into other adoptive families who are staying either in our hotel or another in this very nice part of Guangzhou. THere are lots of stores and shops that cater to adoptive families.
We have eaten every dinner here at Lucy's which has American food. It's been quite nice. And Yummy.
We did go to a garden this morning that was nice. But hot.
James is really a trip. He's VERY ACTIVE and can get quite wound up when he's not on schedule (like today due to consulate). His eating seems to be slowing so perhaps his other issues are coming out. He can be aggressive -- so I'll have to keep an eye on that part and work with him on it. I've learned gentle -- Wen Jo.
Either it's from being in an orphanage and being the tough guy on campus or from being 2 or all of the above.
So tomorrow is our travel day. We leave here at 5AM. That's 5pm your time. Our first flight is on Dragon Air operated by China Southern at 9:30AM from Guangzhou to Hong Kong. We are scheduled to land in Hong Kong at 10:15. Then we have the LLLLLLLLLLONG layover before the our 5:50 flight. Since we are leaving China technically when we leave Guangzhou (a hold over from British Colonialism), we will need to keep to the international part of the HOng Kong Airport. Here's hoping that the free Playstation store is operation and in the international zone.
Hong Kong is a very nice airport so I am looking forward to it in a sense. Everything is more western. Beijing and Chengdu were not western at all, Shaiman Island was more western, and Hong Kong more so.
It's been such an experience. Today, in the US eyes our adoption is official. That means China and the US both agree James is ours!. The next step is touch the ground at JFK and get through immigration. Then he's a citizen of the USA. WOOOOHOOO.
Our little fighter definitely still has cleft palate issues but it doesn't stop him. He just keeps going and going and he loves when Joseph gets him all wound up and they run through the halls of the hotel.
Well, I have to sign off for now. Jolie I am sorry I missed you!. I just got back to my blog today. Good luck tomorrow.
We love and miss all of you. If all goes well, we should arrive on Cathay Pacific from Hong Kong on October 22, 2008 at 9pm. Don't try to figure out the timing -- it's too much with crossing the date line.
Take care, Kelly, Joe and Joseph
Apologies to everyone for not posting sooner. As expected, the whirlwind started as soon as we landed. Joe filled out loads of paperwork with our Guangzhou guide Lucy on Sunday. On Monday, we had the medical. Today we went sight seeing and then we had our consulate appointment. The consulate is on the 5th floor of a very nondescript building in a newer part of Guangzhou. Security was tight. We all walked up to a window so someone could match us to our passports then we all sweared that all of the information we provided was true and we heard a little speech about adoption and immigration from China.
Very nice, very noneventful considering the AMOUNT OF WORK AND WAIT it took to get that far. But alas, James's Chinese passport has a beautiful American visa in it. If all the flights go ok, when we land at JFK we will have to go through the immigrant line. That should be quite interesting.
SHaiman Island had been very nice. We always run into other adoptive families who are staying either in our hotel or another in this very nice part of Guangzhou. THere are lots of stores and shops that cater to adoptive families.
We have eaten every dinner here at Lucy's which has American food. It's been quite nice. And Yummy.
We did go to a garden this morning that was nice. But hot.
James is really a trip. He's VERY ACTIVE and can get quite wound up when he's not on schedule (like today due to consulate). His eating seems to be slowing so perhaps his other issues are coming out. He can be aggressive -- so I'll have to keep an eye on that part and work with him on it. I've learned gentle -- Wen Jo.
Either it's from being in an orphanage and being the tough guy on campus or from being 2 or all of the above.
So tomorrow is our travel day. We leave here at 5AM. That's 5pm your time. Our first flight is on Dragon Air operated by China Southern at 9:30AM from Guangzhou to Hong Kong. We are scheduled to land in Hong Kong at 10:15. Then we have the LLLLLLLLLLONG layover before the our 5:50 flight. Since we are leaving China technically when we leave Guangzhou (a hold over from British Colonialism), we will need to keep to the international part of the HOng Kong Airport. Here's hoping that the free Playstation store is operation and in the international zone.
Hong Kong is a very nice airport so I am looking forward to it in a sense. Everything is more western. Beijing and Chengdu were not western at all, Shaiman Island was more western, and Hong Kong more so.
It's been such an experience. Today, in the US eyes our adoption is official. That means China and the US both agree James is ours!. The next step is touch the ground at JFK and get through immigration. Then he's a citizen of the USA. WOOOOHOOO.
Our little fighter definitely still has cleft palate issues but it doesn't stop him. He just keeps going and going and he loves when Joseph gets him all wound up and they run through the halls of the hotel.
Well, I have to sign off for now. Jolie I am sorry I missed you!. I just got back to my blog today. Good luck tomorrow.
We love and miss all of you. If all goes well, we should arrive on Cathay Pacific from Hong Kong on October 22, 2008 at 9pm. Don't try to figure out the timing -- it's too much with crossing the date line.
Take care, Kelly, Joe and Joseph
Sunday, October 19, 2008
We are in Guangzhou!
James had some moments on the Air China flight and we all said goodbye to Chengdu. James waved his hands.
He finaly settled and had a short nap.
We landed in Guangzhou and immediately ran to get pictures of James for his US VISA. Tomorrow, he has a doctor's appointment early in AM and then our Consulate Appointment is at 10:30. Then we wait about 24 hours for James Visa to enter the US and can leave on our flights Wednesday.
It will be a whirlwind, so I may not post much in the next few days.
We are on Shaiman Island, it's so different from downtown Chengdu. It's the part of Guangzhou where the Mandarins located the Westerners. It looks European and is very walkable. We ate at a Western style restaurant and we met lots of other families. It was nice.
Take care, Kelly
He finaly settled and had a short nap.
We landed in Guangzhou and immediately ran to get pictures of James for his US VISA. Tomorrow, he has a doctor's appointment early in AM and then our Consulate Appointment is at 10:30. Then we wait about 24 hours for James Visa to enter the US and can leave on our flights Wednesday.
It will be a whirlwind, so I may not post much in the next few days.
We are on Shaiman Island, it's so different from downtown Chengdu. It's the part of Guangzhou where the Mandarins located the Westerners. It looks European and is very walkable. We ate at a Western style restaurant and we met lots of other families. It was nice.
Take care, Kelly
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Pics from October 17
A full and happy Lie Lie
Here we are eating. Somethings to notice - Joseph is wearing his Phillies Jersey and has Pizza. I am trying to keep up with Lie Lie and get him food. Lisa's friend is at the head of the table, her sister in law is at the other end and Lisa is next to me. Joe is taking the picture. The host, Shu, offered fire water, but we stuck to beer, juice (Lie Lie) and water.
The wonderful dinner we had at Lisa's Friends' House.
James Lie Lie and Ba Ba (Daddy)
The family in line to rub the happiness symbol.
Wen Shu Monastary
Joseph and a little boy at the Leather Factory
Leather FactoryRead the post below for more of the story behind the pics!
Love, Kelly, Joe, Joseph and James
Friday October 17 and Saturday October 18
We continue to be utterly amazed, awed and at times overwhelmed both by being the parents of 2, and the wonderful province of Sichuan and Chengdu.
Sorry for the late update. Yesterday was an exhausting day, and today we are packing alot. Tomorrow we leave on a 12:45 China Southern Airlines flight to Guangzhou. We are sticking close to the hotel today.
. First off, James is doing great. His personality is really coming out. He's outgoing, active and aggressive. He's also very attached to Joe. Though after a few minutes of Joe being gone, he's good with me. Yesterday he gave me kisses.
He's eating so much. SO MUCH that we have to slow him down and try to make sure he doesn't throw up. He will definitely need more surgeries but otherwise he can hold his own with eating and drinking.
So on Friday we went to a leather factory of a friend of our guide Lisa and bought 2 really nice coats for Joe and I. They will ship directly to US. Joseph played with a little boy and got a chance to run around the parking lot. They were all trying to figure out what size I am in!! Heheh..
Then Lisa took us to Wen Shu Monastary. It was so pretty. So nice. And we did a little shopping. Some things in Chengdu are pricey so I haven't bought a lot. I wonder what it will be like in Guangzhou. The exchange rate isn't as good.
At the Monastary, there were lots of elderly who were impressed with Joseph. We were able to burn incense, pray, and rub a symbol for luck. We had James Lie Lie rub the symbol. It was moving.
After all this we rested, then.......
We went to the Shu, the leather factory owner's apartment for Dinner. We ate at a real home of a Chinese person. It was such an honor. The dishes were great and I'll add them later. Her generosity was amazing and her cooking was fabuluous. We had seafood, beef, shrimp, bamboo shoots, potatoes, 1,000 year old egg, lotus root, fruit and some type of after dinner concoction. James wanted to eat everything and got pepper in his mouth adn SCREAMED!!!! Oh it was ugly at the table. But they were so nice. And he settled.
Joseph brought his own pizza which was really good for him. The host did not seem upset.
We gave her a small present. Her sister in law was there and is very pregnant so we bought a few things for her.
The sister in law is having her first birth. She asked me how things went with Joseph. SO then the whole conversation shifted to me trying to explain my birth experience in English to her sister in law through Lisa. And then the host adding her own experience. It was a universal moment. I think Joe and Joseph were a bit red.
And by the way, their doctors are recommending nursing now.
We are all looking forward to going to Guangzhou and being close to other adoptive families that may be around. We are also looking forward to seeing how Guangzhou is different from Chengdu. And then there's the sadness about leaving James home. For a long time. Very sad.
We are ok and love all of you and miss you and want to say
GO PHILLIES!
Sorry for the late update. Yesterday was an exhausting day, and today we are packing alot. Tomorrow we leave on a 12:45 China Southern Airlines flight to Guangzhou. We are sticking close to the hotel today.
. First off, James is doing great. His personality is really coming out. He's outgoing, active and aggressive. He's also very attached to Joe. Though after a few minutes of Joe being gone, he's good with me. Yesterday he gave me kisses.
He's eating so much. SO MUCH that we have to slow him down and try to make sure he doesn't throw up. He will definitely need more surgeries but otherwise he can hold his own with eating and drinking.
So on Friday we went to a leather factory of a friend of our guide Lisa and bought 2 really nice coats for Joe and I. They will ship directly to US. Joseph played with a little boy and got a chance to run around the parking lot. They were all trying to figure out what size I am in!! Heheh..
Then Lisa took us to Wen Shu Monastary. It was so pretty. So nice. And we did a little shopping. Some things in Chengdu are pricey so I haven't bought a lot. I wonder what it will be like in Guangzhou. The exchange rate isn't as good.
At the Monastary, there were lots of elderly who were impressed with Joseph. We were able to burn incense, pray, and rub a symbol for luck. We had James Lie Lie rub the symbol. It was moving.
After all this we rested, then.......
We went to the Shu, the leather factory owner's apartment for Dinner. We ate at a real home of a Chinese person. It was such an honor. The dishes were great and I'll add them later. Her generosity was amazing and her cooking was fabuluous. We had seafood, beef, shrimp, bamboo shoots, potatoes, 1,000 year old egg, lotus root, fruit and some type of after dinner concoction. James wanted to eat everything and got pepper in his mouth adn SCREAMED!!!! Oh it was ugly at the table. But they were so nice. And he settled.
Joseph brought his own pizza which was really good for him. The host did not seem upset.
We gave her a small present. Her sister in law was there and is very pregnant so we bought a few things for her.
The sister in law is having her first birth. She asked me how things went with Joseph. SO then the whole conversation shifted to me trying to explain my birth experience in English to her sister in law through Lisa. And then the host adding her own experience. It was a universal moment. I think Joe and Joseph were a bit red.
And by the way, their doctors are recommending nursing now.
We are all looking forward to going to Guangzhou and being close to other adoptive families that may be around. We are also looking forward to seeing how Guangzhou is different from Chengdu. And then there's the sadness about leaving James home. For a long time. Very sad.
We are ok and love all of you and miss you and want to say
GO PHILLIES!
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