Saturday, December 10

Stratton writes:

e stayed last night at the White Swan Hotel in Guangzhou. We woke up to a great sight of the Pearl River then headed down to breakfast.  As we entered the restaurant area, we saw two families with their new babies.  This was expected by both of us as the White Swan is a very popular hotel in Guangzhou for adoptive families. (All adoptive American families must go through Guangzhou to have the visa to enter the US created for their new baby.)

Within about .25 seconds of seeing these babies I almost lost it.  That was a defining moment for me….for the first time in our entire trip I think the weight of the situation became very clear.  We sat down in between these families…and yes I managed to keep it together ….kind of.  My eyes teared as we visited with each family and learned of their experience.  Then after a few minutes, I sought out the restroom to recheck what mascara I thought I might have left on my lashes….as I headed to the restroom there were not two or three or four families with their babies…there were at minimum about 25 families sitting on the west side of the restaurant.  It was such a beautiful sight!  As I walked back to tell JR….it was all I could do not to trip as I gawked at all the sweet babies.  JR ventured over to the same area and I think he was a bit in awe too. 

Our Gladney representative, Anne, met us in the hotel lobby and escorted us back to the airport where we met up with my mom and step dad.  While JR and I were in Japan visiting friends, they were in Hong Kong sightseeing and making new friends of their own. Our guide left us at the security gate and the four of us proceeded to our plane to Nanchang. 

On our flight, we met our new Gladney representative, Samson.  He is GREAT!!!  He had arranged for a hotel bus to pick us all up at the airport.  Not only did a bus driver show up, but a hotel bell boy came as well!  It has been incredible service so far!  Samson joined us for a birthday dinner at the hotel restaurant……and we headed off to unpack.  The best thing about our room….it had a crib waiting for us!  THAT really hit home.  The debacle of the day also came back at the room…but I have no doubt JR will share all of the details!! 

I don't think either of us can believe that tomorrow is the day we get sweet Claire…….we have seen several families here at this hotel…Samson believes there are at least 50 adoptive families here……I just can’t stop smiling!
One more day!!

JR writes:

Lets get right to it.  The coffee here is stronger than you can imagine.  I put my spoon in to stir, and it stood straight up.  Three small cups and you are good for the next 6-7 hours.  Here are the rest of the last 24 hours or so.

1.    We heard a noise yesterday…. Stratton thought it was the Maniac that sat next to her on the plane.

2.    The coffee is strong. How strong?  See above.

3.    As I thought, we have entered the land of “very LITTLE to eat.”  Our supply of protein shake and bars is dwindling at an alarming rate.  Someone tell Barber to Fed Ex me a care package.  Protein bars, Salad, maybe a blender if you can. 

4.    We had lunch and a beer at the airport before we flew to whatever city we are in now.  Stratton told you.  Lunch turned into Zone Bar and Beer.  Remember, no water, not much else.

5.    The good news is, we were eating breakfast and we thought there were only 2-3 babies in the place.  It turns out there were about 20.  NONE of them were crying.  Scoreboard!!!!!

6.    Our leader is a 24 year old girl that dresses like Avril Levine.  She is a very popular young singer that dresses like a young version of Madonna.

7.    We will have Claire tomorrow which will make things better.

8.    Debacle of the Day: I broke the window in our room.  We were watching the cars try to run pedestrians over last night and opened the window for some fresh air.  When I tried to close it, I realized a part of the metal frame was bent.  So I tried to hammer it shut.  Picture Clark Griswold.  No luck. 

I got a chair to stand on and used the handle of the window and did the PUSH AND PULL method.  I swung it out and then in to close it.  I ended up trying to slam it shut.  And the entire handle broke off of the window and I fell back from the chair. The window never did shut, and we stayed the whole night in bed listening to the cars honk (no street signs) and dogs bark and fight.  This place is not where I want to live, the wind blows hard and it is cold.  I think I look like a wet cat.  But Claire is close. 

9.     LATERZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ  Send food.

10.   I love all of you but I love the person who sends a grilled chicken salad to me the best of all.

Sunday, December 11

Stratton writes:

e got Claire today and she is perfect!  What a beautiful baby girl!  The hardest part of the day was waiting for our 4pm appointment to get the babies.  I will cut to the chase on today’s update.  JR and I did everything we could thing of to kill time from the 5:40 am when we woke up until 4pm…we tries to get coffee in our bodies…but like JR said yesterday the coffee here is crazy strong.  We walked the streets of Nanchang, ate, jogged, packed and unpacked and repacked Claire’s diaper bag…then check it again…..then the time came for the Gladney families to meet at the hotel lobby to catch our bus to the Social Welfare Institute. 

The bus ride was just about 6 or 7 minutes…we unloaded all of the families and entered the second story of the Welfare building….the second story is simply one hallway with about 7 or 8 doors on each side with rooms no bigger than 15 ft. by 15 ft.  We took a left turn into the second door and walked into a room with 8 babies dressed in matching pink coats, pants and hats!  It was impossible to pick Claire out immediately we were rushed through this room into the adjoining room to wait our turn to receive our babies.

The handoff was not as formal as I expected….but the effect on my emotions was more than anticipated!  The facilitators simply called out each baby’s Chinese name….our Gladney rep called out the corresponding parent’s name….passports were checked for validation and each baby was handed over to their new family.  JR and I were about the 3rd or 4th name called…..when the care taker walked up with Claire, I was so amazed that this was finally happening…..they verified who we were then handed Claire to me!!!

She is such an angel!  She was amazingly calm……for about the first 5 minutes…..then she started to fuss….and just as quick she was asleep in my arms.  Apparently, Claire and the other foster family babies had been picked up from their foster family….transported to the orphanage early in the morning….and then some of the orphanage caretakers escorted the babies several hours to Nanchang.  I can only imagine how traumatic this was to these little babies.

The entire “hand off” only last about 30 minutes….we loaded into the bus again and headed back to the hotel.  This is where Claire awoke and proceeded to tell JR, mom, Bill and me how unhappy she was with the whole situation! I knew she had several layers of clothes on and was likely hot….so we began to take off layer after layer after layer…..she looked like a chunk when we got her, but she was not even half her dressed size once we got all of her clothes off.  She had on her jacket, pants and hat.  Under that she had on not one, but two sweaters and one button up shirt.  She also had on two pairs of split pants that were tied on with shoestrings…..didn’t know that at first and tried to yank them off….that didn’t help her overall mood at all!

Over the course of the next two hours, JR and Bill attended a mandatory document meeting while mom and I fed Claire….then proceed to play with a baby who turns out to have the greatest belly laugh I have ever heard.  She was so sweet to play with once her stomach was full and happy.  Thank you for all of the prayers!  Enjoy the pictures!!!

JR writes:

This thing is for real?  What the heck is going on?  I am sure in a few moments someone will call and say they are on their way to pick her up.  The life force is drained, I can no longer type…..I have cramps in my forearms, by neck hurts, my feet hurt, I need a nap……. Oh, Stratton just reminded me this is supposed to be about Claire.

Well, she is great.  We had a great time holding her and feeding her.  I have gone through the first 437 wet wipes, and that is all we had left from our 11,000 wet wipes. Stratton already used most of them to sterilize the new hotel we are in.  At any rate, Claire is wonderful.  She and Stratton bonded really fast and she was giggling by the time I finished up with the meetings.  I was really worried about that and that was the most important thing to happen.  So it was great to see.  We  all were tired from all the emotions and such.  So we will try to catch up on a nap today. 

Just to let all of you guys know, I am contributing.  I am not sure how, but I am.  I mean, someone has to eat and sleep and do the TV watching.  Actually, I am trying to keep up with Stratton and Claire’s necessities.  They go through food, diapers, (which I helped change, Barber, Chubs, Drew, and the rest of you slappies!!) and of course wet wipes.  Oh my do we use the wipes.  Just one reminder for those of you that know OCD Stratton, I am trying to keep up with the 17 organizational flowcharts that must be maintained at all times.  I giggled this morning as I rolled…… yes rolled up the hand towels in the bathroom because they looked unkept!!!

For now, that is all.  I will send you some more giggles manana.  Someone call Judy and make sure she and pops are doing ok after she sees these pictures.  And Barber Send FOOOD,,,, situation desperate.   We are at DEFCON4 it is not pretty.  Today’s lunch was great though.  I had a nice bowl of egg drop soup for my appetizer, a bowl of egg drop soup for my meal and a cup of egg drop soup for my desert.  Just delightful.

Monday, December 12

Stratton writes:

e….or I should say I had a long night…but I truly can’t complain after speaking with several of the families about their first night with their babies.  Claire was a little unsettled sleep-wise last night…we all went to bed (Claire in the crib) at 8:30…slept until 10:30 like a charm…then about every 5-10 minutes she would cry – while still asleep – and just needed a pat on the pack to go back to sleep.

This happened for about 1 hour until I decided no one would get any sound sleep…so I sat in a chair, feet propped up on the bed and laid Claire on my chest.  Not a peep from her at all…..about 1.5 hours later, I woke with a serious neck cramp…started to put Claire back into the crib…and the cry-out cycle started immediately.  The solution…I laid on the bed, she laid on my stomach.  She didn’t make a peep until 6 am when she woke up and started to touch my face and play with my hair….no morning tears.  I on the other hand never made it back to sleep…but I figured we would all be happier if Claire had a good night rest……after what that child has been through in the last 72 hours, I chose not to fight that battle….all she needs is security, love and a little bit of consistency right now.  God was truly with me all night, as I never felt tired…just laid with my eyes closed and enjoyed the feeling of an angelic 13 pounds that lay on my chest. 

The two hour meeting that JR attended yesterday proved to be worthwhile….we had two major appointments today, but all of the paperwork was done during the document meeting…so these appointments today were rather quick and painless.  We first met in the hotel lobby at 8am to take a bus back to the Social Welfare Institute.  At that building, two things occurred.  First, each family was called in to a small office to state their occupation, the number of children they had prior to this adoption, and to tell a one sentence statement why we were adopting from China.

The next thing that occurred at the same building is one family member…which was me since JR had Claire asleep in the Baby Bjorn (thank you Kiera and Jason!!)….is that we took our orphanage donation…all new US bills, into a room that felt like it was out of a bad mafia movie.  The room was maybe 10 x 10…there was a card table set up…and three people counting all the money brought in for the orphanage donations that morning…..there was a bit of money counting, sorting and stacking going on….oh yeah…and lots of smoking…completely out of a movie.  I do have to say that it was a great feeling after 8 days of traveling in Japan and China to get rid of that cash that we have been guarding on our bodies.

We then hopped on a bus to yet another building, this time to a Notary office, where each family was asked again about their occupation, number of children, and why we chose China.  This time we were also asked to state that we would never abandon our new baby…..HAVE YOU SEEN HER PICTURE????? That question is crazy!

Back to Claire…..her nap schedule was EXACTLY as stated on her paperwork….it was a great day…she’s a great eater…..and a great laugher...(thank you Teresa and all the hostesses for the WHOOZIT toy…it has been a hit!)….what an easy baby to entertain!  She is truly an angel.  JR, mom and Bill watched her while I took a 3 hour nap in mom’s room to try to catch up from last night…she slept about 2 hours of that….having extra family here has been priceless!

We have several days left…and while we are enjoying our time here, we can’t wait to get home and share her with friends and family!  (I just read a few of our updates….our grammar is horrible….please excuse all spelling and grammar mistakes…..we are usually in a time crunch to get these updates in!  Oh yeah … and the keyboard keeps switching to Chinese!)

JR writes:

Hey there party animals.  I want to tell you guys how fun it has been reading your small notes.  Stratton and I show them to Bill and Kay (some of Claire’s Grandparents) and we all get teary and sniffle and pass the tissues.  I can’t wait to see most of you. For all you friends and family, blood and non blood, suspend your thoughts for a moment.  I have something to take care of.  It may not make sense to you but for a few less fortunate it will make perfect sense.

ALL RIGHT!!!!!  Some of you Jack Bombs I don’t really care to see (my guy friends) because of what I am about to write.  When I get there we can talk this over, or more likely.. .you can just give me a hard time or throw me in a lake or something. 

IT'S TIME TO EAT SOME CROW!
I REPEAT, IT'S TIME TO EAT SOME CROW!!!!!!!!

OK. Here it is, in all its glory.

Claire doesn’t exactly follow the book I had prepared in my mind.  (Terry and Aileen.)

There really isn’t a good way to change a diaper. (Drew)

She really does get angry sometimes and just needs her mom.  (Barber)

You do get too tired to go workout sometimes.  (Graham)

Kids do have their own personality and get stubborn.  Maybe even more stubborn than me. (For my beloved aunt Liz.)

Perhaps she does have her own likes and dislikes.  Although I am pushing hard for her to hate onions like me. (Mom)

Sometimes I do not know why she is agitated.  (Pops)

GNO…….Guys Night Out seams so so very far away.  (Kyle)

I still don’t know what to do when I do everything on the mental checklist and she still whimpers.  (OCD NEWLY.)

She has slept in Stratton’s bed for more than 3 hours.   We have separate beds for some unknown reason….. maybe so there will be no “relations”… I guess it’s a Chinese thing.  It’s like the Cleavers or something.  (JR…..?????..... what???)

Here is the tough one…….. these sweet babies sure do make you proud.  I am happy to be her dad and thankful that I have the chance.  (Proud Parent Syndrome.)

There it is you might as well print it and frame it.  Print it in 3 inch bold headlines. 

As for the rest of you normal and nice folks.  I don’t really have to bore you with the details.  Tomorrow I will tell you the funny snippets that being a non Chinese speaker in China will cause.  For example, try ordering a glass of wine, at the bar, to take to the room.  Next to me is another new parent from Arlington, ordering espresso.  He wants to put his tab on his room (standard practice), I want to go ahead and pay cash.  His drinks are being made, she pours my wine, I say “bill”, she puts all 4 on one bill and hands it to me.

I hand her money and motion for only the wine, she turns around and starts to pour 2 more wines.  I stop her, his drinks are ready, she smiles and hands his drinks to the server, who puts them on a tray and walks around the bar.  I pay for the tab, she asks him for his room number (remember I paid my tab) he gives his number, then makes the cardinal sin, he tells her he can just pay cash, she starts to make 2 more espressos. 

The other girl is still standing beside him waiting to handoff the drinks, we think.  He grabs for them, she backs up, he steps forward, she turns and goes to the elevator.  She is going to WALK them all the way to his room.  He has still not paid and finally the whole thing ends up with me riding the elevator WITH HIM AND HER.  I am holding my wine. SHE is holding his coffee, and I have the bill for it ALL. 
Hopefully your eyes are crossed like mine were at that point. I just wanted to lay down. 

More to come. 

Tuesday, December 13

Stratton writes:

ell it was another long night…but not quite so draining.  Again, I think Claire’s rest is much more important for everyone involved.  The pollution in the air here is crazy.  Nanchang is a city of 6 million people in an area smaller than Dallas…so you can only imagine.

Anyway….all of the adults on our trip are having sinus issues…you can only imagine what a trick it is playing on the babies…especially since they are all from an area in the country of orange groves – big change.  The floor JR and I are on is a smoking floor…and do the people on our floor ever smoke!  So Claire is dealing with those local issues as well as the fact that she is a drooling, snotty, teething, adorable mess!  She already has her two top teeth cut and two of her bottom teeth cut….and it looks like multiple more on the way.

Claire and JR both slept in a bit today….until 7:20am….we ate a late breakfast, and met the group at 10am for a trip to a local park that is essentially a peninsula on a lake with trails leading to beautiful Chinese architecture. It has been just miserable cold outside…mainly due to the wind.  Today we had somewhat of a break, though….just cold with a slight breeze.  You can see in the pictures of us outside…we have Claire in the Baby Bjorn covered by a blanket…both at the park, and on the “walking street”.

To the street….mom and I gave the boys a break and allowed a trek to McDonalds.  To get there you must walk about 3 blocks from the hotel, hook a right on the “walking street” that is lined with shops, and travel about 3/4 mile or so to the McDonalds / KFC intersection.  We were the ONLY 4 Americans as far as the eye could see….you would have thought that we all had a horn sticking from our heads by the way people stared.

Claire was in her carrier, covered up completely to keep the wind off of her…..and we STILL had little Chinese grandmothers come up to me, search for her hands and indicate that she needed more layers…..mind you at this point Claire is wearing tights, a long sleeve onesie, a fleece two piece suit, a pair of shoes and is against my body in a Baby Bjorn with a flannel blanket wrapped around her…and she is SWEATING….but these people would have none of it.

To appease the crowds…after lunch we stopped at a store…she now is the proud owner of two sets of mittens.  It was just the funniest thing to have people walk up to you on the street, uncover her, then point to their child or grandchild and indicate that was the proper way to dress a baby.  Remember my description of what Claire was wearing when we received her?  These babies all looked like the Michelin Man….or better yet the kid off of The Christmas Story who falls over in the snow and can’t roll over because of how many clothes he has on!

While mom and I headed back to the hotel, JR and Bill stopped by the local store to pick a few items up…..they were relatively successful, I think he is going to give you an overview……we opted not to join the group for “local Chinese cuisine” after JR previewed the menu with our guide Sampson…the menu had too many items that included the words TRIPE, BLOOD and PORK KNUCKLE (prepared a number of ways). Tomorrow we are going to a porcelain market……don’t worry Mamo, we are thinking of you!!!!

JR writes:

Funny stories. We finally saw a head on collision today.  No injuries, good stuff.  Taxi and delivery truck.

First a not funny story.  I broke what I think was a North American record.  I ate at McDonalds for the first time in 6.5 years.  Yes.  I did, and it was great.  The girls went to the restroom and Claire spit up on me.  THE END.

Girls are ahead at this point, 14-0.  Bill and I are getting blanked.

So the girls (Kay and Stratton) head back to the room to get Claire down for a nap.  Bill and I have marching orders to go to the grocery store and grab a short list of items.  Sounded pretty simple and hey, it was a bit of free time so who cared what we had to do.  Well, here comes the good part.  We arrive at the grocery store.  The list, diapers, Chinese formula, rice cereal, some candy for the Chinese kids (you hand it to them while you walk around) and something else.  I have no idea what that was, but it turned into wine.  Anyway, we go upstairs and head straight for the isle that reads in English “Cereal”.  Bam!!! Rice Cereal.  15 different kinds and flavors.

We go with the unflavored instead of the cheese, pepper, garlic, orange, green tea or other flavors.  We aren’t in the store 2 minutes and we are 1 for 1.  2 isles over, sign in English “Baby Food”…. BAM!  24 varieties, all flavors, I see the one we have used in the hotel.  Grab 2 bags, Bill runs the perfect post pattern I hit him in stride at the 7 yard line, he walks in untouched and the comeback is under way!!!!!  We are 2 for 2 on the drive and feeling confident.  We force a three and out and get the ball back with only 3 items left.  Actually only 1 because we can choose any candy we wish for the kids and the wine was optional.

DIAPERS.  Now this was not so tall a task, and with our recent success, we felt good.  We settle in at the 45 yard line (the bathroom section), and start the hunt.  There are no English words other than “shampoo” but we are close.  After a few incomplete passes, we stumble upon a helpful young lady that works in the store.

JR: “Diapers?” Her: [something I can't make out.]

.JR ”We need diapers.” Her: [something else I can't make out.]

Getting nowhere with English, we go on to sign language. JR: ”Diapers…..Baby”……(making hand motions to where the diapers go……making hand motions for baby. Her: [something that seems to be "yes, yes!"] "Great!" I say, "she got it!" Off she goes and hurries back with what????? You guessed it.  A box of TAMPONS!!!!!!!  JR…..”Thank You???????????”

Three straight incomplete passes and this drive has stalled at the 20, we need a touchdown to tie here and it is fourth and forever.  We actually need a miracle.  Just then Bill comes up huge.  On a Hail Mary, he sees a table with plastic boxes….. genius.  They have babies and they have Chinese writing.  We get our size, Bill tips the ball to himself and strides in for what looks like the game winning touchdown.  We make the 2 point conversion with the candy and wine.  WE WIN. 

While basking in our glory at the lobby bar (just ONE mom, don’t worry), we realize the red flag was thrown and our touchdown is being reviewed.  Stratton and Kay review the play and decide we missed on the diapers….. wrong size. The play is overturned and we lose.  Stratton yelled “SCOREBOARD!!!!!” OUCH!! I blamed Bill, since he had kids like 30 years ago.  He blamed my hand motions.  We cried, fought, laughed and decided to scrap the high powered passing offense for a more conservative run oriented game.  Back to the chalkboard.  We are gearing up for our big day of looking at Chinese pottery.  If we can handle that with all the proper intangibles we may start the next game better.  Wish us luck.!!!!!!! 

Thursday, December 15

Stratton writes:

etter night again…. after further research into the crib issue, we discovered that there is no true mattress in the crib, simply a doubled over toddler down comforter laid over wood slats…. who can blame that child for hating that?  We improvised, scooted an upholstered chair up to my mattress, put a sheet on it a viola…Claire’s new bed!

We have decided that her foster parents definitely gave her lots of love and attention as she is so snuggly…. much more than many of the babies from the orphanage.  For that, we feel blessed.  It makes my heart happy to think she was loved on.  She is a great eater and nap taker…you can pretty much set your watch by her schedule.  One hour into her two hour morning nap, we met our group in the hotel lobby and walked to the Tengwang Pavilion…it was beautiful.  Claire slept most of this journey… I think you can tell by our pictures. 

It was the warmest day here….a perfect day for a walk…and walking we did.  After the pavilion, Nana, Papa, JR, Claire and I ventured from the group back to the walking street to hunt down McDonalds.  We got a little turned around on our way back to the “walking street” and did a huge circle through the streets of Nanchang.  This was actually really interesting…people cooking on the sidewalks, small shops that you would not expect anything fancy in, but the clothes that were being made (literally sewn in the middle of the shop) looked like suits and jackets at Ralph Lauren. 

Right next door would be a restaurant for the locals… we had a few stares… I just covered Claire with her blanket (head to toe), smiled, and kept walking…the trip to McDonalds we figured was about 1.5 miles each way…. with an added Claire…. it felt more like 4 miles each way.  As I have mentioned, the Baby Bjorn is great, but let me say to all my friends who have been pregnant…. my back has sooooo much respect for all of you!

JR attended another document meeting for the next leg of our trip…. then the whole group met in a suite for pizza…. this is our last night in Claire’s province.  I am happy to go to the next stop, but it has made me surprisingly sad as well.  One day closer to Texas!

JR writes:

Things are going well.  I think I have the Bird Flu though...I think I have finally run into the wall.  I think the sudden change in diet has something to do with it.  We got the KFC hook up and I ate myself miserable.  I had about 4 breasts and 2 or 3 handfuls of fries.  My body is finally revolting.  All is well, I hear they are having chicken soup tomorrow.

We took Claire shopping and she liked it.  She likes to look at all the colors.  Ladies keep coming up to Stratton and telling her to put more clothes on her.  It’s all in Chinese, but they are sure that we can understand.  I wonder when they start out in Chinese and we don’t answer, why they keep talking in Chinese.  They don’t even slow down or use hand motions.  They just grab Claire’s hands and feet and talk faster.  Then the whole crew gets bogged down with Stratton trying to re-purify Claire’s hands and feet and clothes with alcohol wipes. 

I don’t know what day it is, but one day we went to the Porcelain store.  It was pretty amazing.  We got a few things and decided we would ship them home from the next city we go to.  We also bought matching silk dresses for Claire and Stratton.  Truth be told, I think Stratton’s dress looks better on me but you can judge that for yourself…… did I say that out loud????

Anyway.  The people here smoke everywhere.  The elevator says no smoking but the business men get on and go to town.  The dining room has 1/2 no smoking, but the guys sit down and light their smokes one after the other from the end of the one they are finishing.  To be honest, they are pretty talented.  This one cat was able to eat noodles while smoking.  I think he deserves something, but all I brought was a bunch of Texas flags and pins of longhorns and rats.  Actually they are armadillos, but these people think they are rats, why try to explain, its too much of a beating.  The hard part of the trip is over,  now we just have to get home.  There is a leader here. His name is Samson.  He is the man.  I have a picture with him on the site.  He has done this adoption thing like 50 times or more.  He likes red wine, and he has all his ducks in a row.  We have enjoyed having him be our guide.  He is taking us to the next city tomorrow.  Then I will tell you about the traffic.

Friday, December 16

JR writes:

tratton is absent today as she gets a massage.

 
We started our fun filled day obtaining Claire's passport.  It is Chinese.  I woke up feeling like I had the Bird Flu.  Maybe Stratton was right.  I started taking multivitamins and drinking tea.  I felt better in about 5 hours.  We packed everything up from the Disaster Area known as our hotel. room.  We managed to get downstairs on time and on the bus.  For once we were not the last people to get there.  The food has run its course.  I know you are all tired of hearing about it, but I ate Tea, Protein Bars, water, vitamins and that's about it.   OH, by the way, we had another fourth quarter loss at the grocery store.  Third Trip, still the wrong diapers, but Stratton claims she can make them work.

For the time being.  I sent Ryan, our buddy in the group, out for a simple screen pass.  We had it all set up, the center pulled, the guard had the Mike Linebacker, flanker Bill had the Sam linebacker.....it was beautiful... and then I TOTALLY REDEEMED MYSELF!!!!!!!!  I overthrew the receiver and hit the corner in the numbers, he returned it 47 yards for the score to put us away.  (Actually I called for the wrong size again!!!!!)  
 
Debacle of the day: We are 3 for 3 on airport stops so far.
Let me set the scene for you.:  1:30 Friday December 16, for us.

We get to the airport, 2 full groups of parents.  You can imagine.  25 families and new kids.  It is quite a sight. We are all booked on the same plane.  Luckily this is only a 1 hour flight.  We have our fearless leader Samson check us in.  We just wait.  He is allowed, for some reason, to handle all of our passports and pertinent info.  Probably he is allowed to do this by the same people that tell us to forge  each others documents and fingerprints and dates, either way, he is as good as it gets.  He is a one man adoption factory.

We stand around a while then it is time to board.  People have seats, but mainly it is just WORK IT OUT.  The problem is there are regular passengers as well.  A point which would have major importance later.  Takeoff is uneventful, as a few whimpers are heard, but most parents are in mid-bottle.  After around 30 minutes, Samson goes back to his chair from the back of the plane, and begins a heated discussion with the man next to him.  This fellow will, from this point on, be called Postal.  So Postal is yelling in Chinese, and a few of us, 2 rows back lean forward do hear, Samson has his back to the window facing this guy.  This guy is yelling at Samson, Samson is sort of standing  over him looking down, the guy pulls his fist back with a paper or book in it.  Starts to taunt swing, or fake swing at Samson's face.  He yells at the man to SIT DOWN,  I tell our buddy Ryan to get in the isle, and as he does this, an American sitting behind the action tells him to not worry, IT HAPPENS EVERY WEEK.  IT'S A CHINESE THING.  The man ends up moving to the front, and the tension dies down.  The American guy tells us he does this flight every Friday and has for 3 years.  He manages 2 golf courses and said he is used to the babies.  That tells you how many little girls leave this country every week.  WOW!

Samson handled it well, and Postal moved to the front.  But we all wondered if that poor Postal worker was aware that he was picking a fight with the ONE Chinese guy on that plane that had 8 new fathers, and 3 grandfathers ready to rap his head against the wall.  Not to mention the mothers.  There is one couple here from New York.  They are really funny, and Tom, the dad, went into Sopranos mode.  He knows some of the cast and set folks from the show as it is filmed in his town.  He cam up behind me and in Sopranos talk said........ "HIM"....."dead.... I want him DEAD"    "Junior....do that guy a favor...." it was very funny and we had a good laugh.

We got to the hotel and ate at a place called Lucy's.  It is very good and has hamburgers like Charlie's.   Everyone in the group is glad we are gone from that other city.  Many people have said the room service here is the best meal they have had all week.  We met back up with our other leader Anne.  She came to our room helped with bags and walked us to dinner.  Samson came over to have a glass of wine at dinner.  The leaders seem to like us..... I am sure it is me, but I keep telling Stratton and Kay that the leaders like them too.  (shshhhhh!!)  Remember, they are getting massages.  For 10$.  So I have to go get my nap.  Claire likes to sleep on my chest.  Oh the virtues of benedryl....... LOVE TO ALL,  and to all a good night.  by the way... what day is it.. when do the cowboys play, and have the pitchers and catchers reported????  WHERE"D WHO GOOOOOOOOOOOO???

Saturday, December 17

Stratton writes:

he White Swan is on Shamian Island in Guangzhou… it is BEAUTIFUL here… it is chilly, but still a tropical climate, so there are great plants and trees… palms of all kinds, flowering shrubs… oh, and  bougainvillea is everywhere… even on the highways.  The Pearl River surrounds the island... this is also where the American Consulate is located…. a super safe feeling area filled with small mom and pop type shops with absolutely the cutest baby outfits you have ever seen.

Anyway…. we walked with our group across from the hotel to get all the babies photos taken for their medical exam, then walked about 7 or 8 minutes across the island to the medical examiners office….. As chaotic as it all first appeared, the whole process went really fast…. essentially they have three stations…  a height and weight station (she weighs 16.6 pounds), an ear, nose, throat station (they see if she can follow a bell with her eyes, and if she is breathing…she passed), and then a “get the baby naked and be sure all the parts are accounted for”…. again she passed…. then it was on to Lucy’s for lunch.

This is a great Americanized restaurant that is across the parking lot from the hotel…it is surrounded by a neat park that sits on the river…… then shopping….. and a little more shopping….. back to the room for a Claire nap…. then to a real Chinese dinner with the group….again on the island with in walking distance…in the lobby there were containers of beetles, EARTH WORMS!!!!, minnows……. small sea turtles…. Yuck, yuck….YUCK!  But what we ate was really good…. really normal. 

JR’s Claire trick…. he walks in and says “ Hellllllooooooo Claire” in the same voice that Seinfeld uses when he says “Hellllllooooooo Newman”.  She thinks it is a hoot.  Claire had her first happy bath!  We did our normal… mom and baby in the tub, quick wash down…. but this time instead of whimpering…. she sat in my lap, kicked water with her feet and giggled her heart out…. for about 20 minutes….. It was the cutest thing!!!!!!  It is pretty amazing how quick babies get used to new things.  Tomorrow is shopping for pearls and more porcelain.  Love all you guys… we will be home this week!!!!!!!

JR writes:

Today was the medical exam.. Claire weighs something like 31 pounds. I have no idea what she really weighs, but it feels like a ton.  Stratton can give you the real numbers.  They poked her arms and legs and looked in her mouth. It was like being in 5th grade and having to go to all 5 stations for each activity in PE.  You remember, with the coach that had the socks pulled up to his knees, and the tight shorts with BIKE on them.  Man, those were the days.  No poopie diapers and snot bubbles.  I wish I was back there.  I remember my first beer.  I had a dog once too………. Hhhmmmmmmm….. What a life. 

I was reminiscing with Stratton about how I had the tiger by the tail… what greatness it was….. but like many a good man before me I have fallen prey to a small little girl…… wow… do I have no control anymore.  It’s gone…..GONE!!!
We ate at a real Chinese restaurant, the food was good.  Rice, beef, shrimp, good stuff.  The windows of the place were full of live food, squid, small snails, eels. fun stuff.  But not fun to eat. 

We bought Claire a piglet outfit.  It’s like the character from The Pooh book.  So instead of calling her Claire Bear…..as is her nickname here in China…. I started calling her Claire the Pig.  It didn’t go over so well with a few of the moms… so I went back to bear.    See you tomorrow… What time is the Cowboys game… someone send me an update……   Oh, for those who don’t know, Molly is dead.  That is no good.  I told Claire today she has some pretty big shoes to fill.  Anyone back there taking bets on how soon Claire goes to work building houses???  Put me down for a dime on the under.

Sunday, December 18

Stratton writes:

reat Sunday....I ran with our leader Samson this morning...... met JR, Nana, Papa  and Claire for breakfast.  I ran behind getting dressed...so Claire and JR went a couple of rooms down and had communion in our friends room..... he is a Church of Christ Preacher in Arlington....... small, small world.... he and his wife are friends with the Hydes and the Hunnicutts!!!!

Ryan and Amy have been great to get to know so far....as have all the families!  This trip has just been one blessing after another...Claire is doing great... I think all of the families are experiencing some kind of cold... we are not an exception, but I think we will all manage just fine.

We went shopping for pearls and other jewels today... they have GREAT deals here!  JR and I ventured out to dinner on our own at the same Chinese place we ate at last night.... it was so funny..... and at some points, a little uncomfortable... we were the only Americans .... at any given time, we had at least 5 Chinese waiters around us to be sure we were taken care of!  We can't wait to see you guys!  JR will update later... he's putting Claire down!

Monday, December 19

Stratton writes:

hese next couple of updates will be short and sweet....we think at this point pictures are all that really matter!  Claire had the best night of sleep yet....JR actually had to WAKE HER UP to make breakfast at 8:15!!!  And she still went down for her 9 am nap!!!  Sleepy girl!  I am sure she has a bit of what everyone else does around here....so sleep is good.

We bypassed the group trip to a temple....instead we toured the island shops....ate at Lucy's (again!).  Mom and I walked over to get another foot massage (note pictures from yesterday)....here's the great massage deal....70 minutes.... the first 20-25 minutes are spent soaking your feet while sitting on an ottoman while your massage person rubs your head, neck, back, shoulders, and arms..... then you sit in an arm chair for the remaining 50 minutes while they rub your feet and calves...bring you hot tea and fresh pears...all for...are you ready????  100 RMB with tip.... that translates to about $12.50 US!!!!!  Mom and I splurged today and went for 90 minutes.... and spent a whole $16.00 US.  Is that great or what???!!!!

Mom and I had to jog back to the hotel and meet the group for the traditional "red couch" picture.... this is where all the babies sit together (picture to come of this later off of Bill's camera)..... of course more than half of the babies are wailing.... but it's tradition...then we had some great group pictures...... ate at a local Chinese restaurant.... and off to bath and bed!!!!

Tuesday, December 20

Stratton writes:

t's our last day here in China!

 
Again - this will be brief....JR is in the room packing....Mom and I both agree this place is great.....we could if need be stay a few days longer, but the more I think about seeing all of our family and friends......and eating Mexican food, the more I can't wait to get back!
 
Today was a quick trip across Guangzhou by taxi (I am happy to be alive right now!) to do some last minute shopping with our leader Sampson.

We went across town..the taxi ride was $2 US...they should have paid us!  The traffic here is amazingly crazy...JR will have to break it all out in a future update.

I ran to the hotel room and JR had fixed us Ramen noodles...when Claire saw those she stared kicking her feet and giggling and raising her hands......we decided to try a few noodles....that girl can EAT NOODLES....I told Samson this and he looked at me and said.....duh....SHE'S CHINESE!!!!!!!  So funny!

We met the group back in the lobby to go the the US Consulate for our "swearing in"......it was a super quick "raise your right hand, repeat after me" for 75 families at one time....even though it was short and sweet, there were several tears....it meant that these babies are officially ours!  We are off to finish packing after our farewell dinner.....we leave the hotel at 5:30am....so this is a quick update!

Wednesday, December 21

Stratton writes:

oday was an EARLY morning…our alarm was set for 5:00 am ….we were scheduled to leave at 5:30 am.  Plenty of time since JR and I just have to hop into our clothes, change Claire….it’s breakfast on the run for everyone.  But as a security measure, mom knocks at 4:45 to be sure we know 5:00 is close……thank goodness!! Ha-ha.

Our flight was great from China to Tokyo…it was a 4 hour flight and Claire slept for 3 hours and 45 minutes of it!  What a great girl!  We landed in Tokyo and made it successfully to the hotel we had booked…..this is a pretty big deal for us at this point since up to now, we had yet to plan anything on our own….there was ALWAYS someone meeting us at the airport or hotel and chauffeuring us around.

Go’s parents came to the hotel for dinner….and that was about as exciting as our day got!  Just one more day closer to the U.S.!!!!

JR writes:

We went to a shopping center to find some soccer shirts.  This was an adventure.  We boarded the dreaded TAXI CAB and headed out.  These guys don’t drive, they compete.  Bill and I ride in one cab, Stratton & Kay & Samson & Claire ride in another.  As we race down the first street, Bill starts to fumble around for the seat belt.  He can’t locate it, I think that is due primarily to the fact that we are sitting on PLASTIC.  The seats are covered like one of those old couch seat covers.  I have no idea what they are called, but they must date back to the 60’s.  There is no fabric visible and the plastic is continuous from the headrest to the floor, so we cannot possibly retrieve the seatbelt.

So Bill and I brace our arms on the door and seat in front of us.  There is a metal cage between us and the front seats and the door on my side does not have a handle.  I feel like a convict but I am not wearing handcuffs.  There are some traffic lights, a few traffic cops, and many stripes on the pavement and some arrows.  Everyone really drives wherever they want.  They even drive on the wrong side of the road.  In order to pass buses, they will go into oncoming traffic to get around.  It is amazing to look down the road from the back seat and see a pickup, with boxes piled up higher than the cab, swerve into the oncoming lane and then cut back into traffic.  At that point a recording plays in the cab.  It tells us hello and welcomes us.  Then it announces the rates for the cab and tells us to put on our seatbelts and fasten them securely.  Bill just looks down at the plastic and we both giggle.  These two cab drivers must have agreed to race each other.  They drove these cabs like we were running from the cops.  I decided I didn’t want a seatbelt so I could bolt if we got in trouble.  Then Bill reminded me I could not open my door.  We made it to the stores and found some jerseys. 

At lunch we went to the Lucy’s restaurant.  It is very good and makes us feel relaxed.  They still have a little something to learn about how Americans order and eat.  Despite the fact that this restaurant serves a couple hundred people today, they have not figured out that when you order an appetizer you want it BEFORE the meal.  I ordered chicken strips as an appetizer off of the “APPETIZER” menu.  The very nice waitress took the rest of our order and the four of us ate soup, sandwich, rice, hamburger, salad and even fries.  Just as they came to clear the table they deposited our chicken strips.  This made us giggle because it was the 3rd time we have ordered the strips and 3rd time they brought them after the rest of the meal.  Every thing was good though.

We had a little shopping to finish up so off we went.  Kay and Bill want to buy a suitcase, and I think we will too.  We have purchased some gifts and they will not fit in our luggage.  Kay wants to know how many kilograms our bags weigh.  I keep looking at her with this puzzled look on my face and asking her to remember that we haven’t packed a SINGLE THING YET!!!!!!!  She makes us giggle because she started worrying about the weight of the bags like 4 days ago.  I remind Kay that our hotel room looks like a yard sale.  The floor is not visible, the room smells like Claire’s formula, Stratton’s 17th bottle of vanilla body lotion, Stratton’s hairspray and the strong smell of fresh lemon scented alcohol wipes.  The weight of our suitcases couldn’t be farther from my mind right now. Kilograms, Kilogramz, Kilowhatevers…. I don’t care.  On the way over Northwest Airlines charged us like $17 for our bags weighing too much.  Not to worry!!!!  Kay, Bill, and Stratton have found a solution.  Spend $20 for an extra suitcase.  Makes perfect sense to me!

Several weeks later...

...Monday, January 16, 2006

Stratton writes:

E ARE HOME!!!!! The last couple of weeks have been wonderful…and they have flown by! Claire is changing every day…she is learning new things faster than either JR or I can appreciate them.

When we got home on December 22nd, Claire hated being on her stomach…she couldn’t roll over, and she didn’t get using her arms to push up…within just a few days, she was rolling over and over and over….giggling the whole time. I don’t know if she will crawl at all…she loves to pull herself up and can walk pretty well while holding on to your fingers….I think walking is high on her priority list. Her grandparents are teaching her high fives, blowing kisses, and all about her eyes, nose and mouth….she just soaks up all of the attention.

Claire has 5 teeth and the 6th is well on its way. This afternoon we are going to Claire’s first Dr’s appointment….I am interested in how much she has grown just in the last couple of weeks….she has taken well to American baby food and formula….I guarantee she is heavier than the 16.6 pounds she weighed in at in China. She has yet to object to any flavor of baby food….she is super close to feeding herself….but I am not sure if JR and I are ready for that!

Claire is getting used to the car seats….she still gives a hefty protest when we are getting her strapped in…..but once she is strapped and ready to go she is fine. Claire LOVES other kids and babies…she has many new friends here…it will be great watching her grow up with them. And lastly – she LOVES LOVES LOVES our dogs….her first meeting with them wasn’t so hot…I am not sure if she had ever really seen a dog before (one that wasn’t for dinner) – but she thinks Sarah and Judy dog are the best….Sarah thinks Claire is hers too…it is super cute to watch.

It is truly amazing how much I love this child…she feels like she has been part of our family for so much longer than just one month!

We will be doing updates once each month now to show you how Claire is growing!!! Check back soon!

JR writes:

OK we're home.

We have her on a schedule. She sleeps about 12 hours a night. She takes a couple of naps a day for about an hour. Claire is doing great. Stratton is loving it. I am getting back into the swing of work. Slowly but surely it is becoming apparent that she is here to stay! We laugh about how it still feels new, but seems like she has been here forever. That makes no sense when I say it but that is how we think. She has met most of our friends, they all love her. She has figured out how to wave “Hi” and is mumbling a few other sounds. Claire giggles at most things and still rarely cries. She does whimper and cry when she wants out of the crib and when she needs a diaper changed. That is about it.

She sleeps, eats, laughs, plays with plastic tops, bowls, plastic bottles, Tupperware, spoons, knives, glass and other odd things lying around. Just kidding, no knives or glass. But she does seem to prefer plastic bowls and cups to just about any toy we show her. We have car seats in both our trucks now. Those things sure do get in the way of golf clubs. I think I will try to fit my clubs on the floorboard. That, or Claire is going to have to ride in the back of the truck. What is the youngest legal age for a child seat to be anchored to the bed of a truck?? Stratton caught me looking at Mexico trips on the internet yesterday; she thinks I was planning my getaway!!

We are having a ball with the Claire Bear. We call her that about half of the time. I am hoping that she will be able to drive and talk soon. It would help out with building houses and such. Stratton tells me that babies don’t talk and drive for at least 3 or 4 years. Oh well, I will have to wait. Until then, we will continue playing with Tupperware and eating fruit puffs. I think we are going to go back to China and do it all one more time!! Any of you guys want to go with us?