Orphanage visit April 4

First of all, Lisa C.: we'll be in Seattle on Friday, April 8, at 7:45 pm on Alaska flight 235. It would be great to see you there, if it works out. We'll go on to Whidbey from there to pick up the boys.

It's really hard to describe the visit to the orphanage because it brings so many emotions with it that I haven't totally worked out yet. Many emotions, sadness for the kids left behind, thankfulness that Susanna is no longer there, relief because you can see that the workers truly do care for the little ones in there charge.....and many more.

We started out the day with the usual breakfast buffet in our hotel. Then met at the 1st floor lobby to get on the bus. It was kind of funny because once we got to the bus parking lot, we headed for the nice big bus with the reclining seats that we've been taking all around town here. And then Wendy said no, no...this one. And directed us to the tiny bus about half its size which was parked in front of it. So we ride the giant bus in town but the bus that Jimmy and I can barely fit both our butts on one seat for 3 hours one way. This was gonna be interesting. It was very interesting driving through the city, taking roads that were'nt quite finished yet and doing a big u-turn in the middle of a four lane highway to get the exit we wanted to take. Then we rode out to the country-side. Very pretty going through the mountains a bit. It was hard to see them because there was a lot of polution in the air, but still really pretty. We saw farmers out planting rice and working with their water buffalo. A few had odd little tractors. I wish i could have gotten video footage of that, but the bus was going too fast to get a decent picture. About half way there, we had to stop for a restroom break and were faced with our first squatty-potty. Then we got back on the bus and went on our way.

As we pulled into Yangjiang,(there are 3 million people here) the director met us with the orphanage's van and we followed him to a restaurant where they treated us all to a meal. It was very, very good and he ordered tons of food. There was no way we could eat it all. During the meal, he made sure that we knew once again that they would love for us to someday bring our daughter's back to visit them and that they would always be welcome. Then the nannies made sure we knew that we didn't have enough clothes on our kids (I had forgotten Susanna's jacket in the bus). Even in the heat, the babies are very bundled up. 2-3 layers of clothes and then a sweater on top of that. They also let us know that we shouldn't be feeding our babies cheerios because the chinese consider it a "hot" food and babies should not be given hot foods. Luckily we have that one covered, because Susanna will not allow any food into her mouth. She gets very mad if we try it, so that is a battle we're saving for home. She did eat 3 bottles yesterday, we were relieved.

Then the director had us follow him to the orphanage. It was a bit smaller than I expected. But very nice. There were a few of the older kids waiting on the front steps when we got there. They showed us in the courtyard where they were in the process of making their own rice cereal for the babies. They had some stuff drying in baskets. It seems that part of the reason Sanna wasn't eating was that the cereal and formula they told us wasn't what she was used to. They make the cereal and the formula that they told us, wasn't the same either, it was just one that they knew we could also purchase in the US. They took us up to the babies room right away. They had music going and the babies were dancing in their cribs. It was hard looking some of their eyes and I just pray that they will have families soon. They then showed us which crib had been Susanna's. She was near the end of a row, with the Steve and Shaun's daughter Sara Grace on one side of her and a baby that has just gone home to Canada (Mei Miao) on the other side. Then they took showed us this huge board on the wall that had the babies daily schedule printed on it. Then they took us out into the back play area. It was very pleasant there, with lots of palm trees and brick paths. We started video taping some of the older kids and they just clammered to see themselves in the video screens . Then they took us to see the commercial laundry units that other adoptive parents had purchased for them and from there we were taken to a conference room where the director told us how glad he was that we had adopted these girls. At this point we had asked what we could do for the orphanage and he told us that they really needed formula. So we all chipped in some money to purchase some formula. At this point I gave him the onsies that Sara and Lisa B. had sent and two other friends had given me some money before I left and I gave a portion of that for formula also. The director said he would go out and purchase it and that while he was doing that, we would be taken to the locations where our daughters were found. Three of us had daughters who were found at the gates of the orphanage. So we walked down and they showed us the spot. We had a chance to take pictures for her for later and also to film the surrounding area. While we were doing that Wendy and the others went to see their spots. I was surprised how much traffic went through that little alley out in front of the orphanage. We sat on the steps of the orphanage and I got some great pictures of Jimmy playing with the older children. When everyone else got back, the director had returned with the formula and we got to take pictures of our donation to the orphanage. I'm sure it won't be the last donation, we'll send there, as they are a large part of Susanna's life so far.

Then back on the bus for another three hours. Susanna had looked a little worried the whole time we were in the orphanage and was very clingy to Jimmy. Now, she was much more relaxed and we noticed for the first time that when she was held, it didn't have to be facing in to us and with her holding on to our shirts for dear life. She sat on our laps facing out and playing for at least half of the trip. And after we got back to the hotel room, we were able to sit her on the floor and she played by herself for half an hour with her toys. So while it was hard, I think it was a good thing for Susanna to go back to the orphanage.

After we got back, we took stuff up to our room and then decided to order in to Danny's Bagels for a pizza. We went out for a walk on the waterfront before heading to bed early.