Rainy Days in Guangzhou!

We left Shenyang yesterday - it was the coldest and windiest day yet - felt like Canada in January! Here is a photo of our guide Maggie there - she was really great and helped in so many ways. We got a late start to Guangzhou yesterday, not arriving until around midnight to our hotel, then having to get started to the Dr's for physicals this AM. What an experience that was!

As westerners, we see our offices crowded with people waiting and kids everywhere, sometimes controlled, sometimes just busy, in this case, before we can go to the Dr's we have to get photos taken. We go to what looks like a store front, but it's really just a big glass door with a small room with a photographer taking the kids photos -when i say kids - there are at least 20 people ahead of us, all with adoptive children, all excited to talk to each other about where their children are from - where they will be going to live. We wait our turn, the place empties out then we have to hurry to the physical exam building - I'm expecting to see a waiting room and then offices like we have at home - have i not experienced enough to know that would be the last thing I'd see? Instead, there are rooms all around with Dr's seeing multitudes of kids, boys, girls, healthy, some not - you can see the parents all just fixed on what to do next for their child. We are all in different stages of the visit - first the weight - then the overall exam, hearing, ENT and then an eye sight review. Finally you end with Shots, dependant on what you may need (one poor little guy had to have 7 of them... as you can imagine - not happy!)

Our wonderful Ermei took all this in like a champ - she moved from station to station with no issue and took the TB test with the needle in her harm without even a flinch - i mean it, she never even grasped my hand, which i had firmly planted on her lap to ensure she knew I was there. Does this make me kind of wonder? Sure - but I'm going to believe she is just one tough cookie for the moment. All went well - She has a bit of a sinus infection, but we think she's had this for some time. We have to go and follow up on Monday. We don't forsee any issues and I'm sure all will be fine.

We came back to the hotel - got changed and the family we are traveling with was really not up for more Chinese food so we went to the local "Western" restaurant. Ermie was not too thrilled, but we managed to find her some noodles to eat and she was happy enough - more so that she is working on her form using chopsticks and continually is working to get the noddles or beef to stay inside them and into her mouth!

Before we headed out to see about some shopping (we have this afternoon and tomorrow as free time) we played a bit
and I have to tell you, the joy we get from the giggles and her laughter is unbelievable. I know I've already said this, but we are so lucky to have been allowed to have her in our life. I can't wait for her to meet her big brothers, all of our friends and family. We know you'll all fall in love with her as we have. Enjoy the pictures - we'll post as we can - Happy Easter to you all and have a great weekend.