Fibular hemimelia

Fibular hemimelia is the congenital deficiency of the fibula ... which means the fibula bone of the lower leg is missing and what is left is usually deformed.

This is the diagnosis for Luolin ... we go for a second opinion tomorrow to see what will be the best and fastest way to get her up and running on two legs the same length!

More info to follow ...

"There's no place like home ... there's no place like home ...

Down the slide she goes!

One Happy Kid !!

Luo with one of Dad's birthday balloons ...

Blowing out the candles with Dad

Tossing the salad ... she loves to help!

We made it back in one piece ... here are a few photos of Luo at home. She is adjusting well to her new surroundings and family. She has really developed into quite the toddler in the midst of the terrible twos ... I believe she is an expert !

We have had one visit to her pediatrician and one initial visit to her orthopedic surgeon ... visited her new daycare, right down the street from where I teach, and met many , many people!

The fun just never stops and she doesn't either!

Friday the 13th ... We are coming home!!

We are on our way today ... we leave Guangzhou at 8:15 arrive in Beijing at 11:15 ... leave Beijing at 4:20 PM and arrive in Chicago at 4:24 PM ... I only wish it was a 4 minute flight ... we land in Portland at 10:30 in the evening ... wahoo!!!

Thursday at the Consulate

It's Official !! As soon as we land in Chicago, Luo will be an American citizen! Yeah !!

Today's adventure was a visit to the American Consulate for our final oath and getting Luo's Chinese passport and US travel visa. We were unable to take pictures inside the consulate for security reasons. They actually took all electronic devices at the security check point.

When we arrived, we had to hand in the last bit of paperwork and wait to say our oath. We were given a very nice welcome by the director of the adoption department and another consulate employee did the oath with the group. I think we all let out a sigh of relief as we raised out right hands and finished repeating the words ...

Wednesday at the Zoo

Our travel group kids ...

Charlotte and Luo at the zoo ...

A real, live panda at the zoo ...

Dad and Dylan with the monkeys ...

Guangzhou Zoo ... here we come!

On Wednesday morning we headed off for the zoo. there are two zoos in Guangzhou, we went to the city zoo, right smack dab in the center of the city! Here we say many animals including a real, live panda. She was pretty small and dirty! At one time there were two in this zoo, I am not sure what happened to the other, but now there is only the one. Luo loved the birds and animals. As we would walk away from the cages and exhibits, she would wave and say "bye-bye"!

When we got back to the hotel, it was time for our group photos. Everyone cooperated ... well, almost everyone ... you know who had a bit of a melt down because she had to be held ... In the picture are 5 of the 6 children. The little girl next to Luo is a big sister to the little boy at the end of the couch. One of the older girls didn't make the picture ...

Tuesday's Free Time ...

On Tuesday we met up with another family and went shopping and sightseeing just off the islands we are staying on. We didn't last too long as the kids were getting tired and there were many, many people out. Something that is accepted in the Chinese culture is starting and touching other people's children. Luo got quite upset when a group swarmed around her and begin chatting in Chinese and touching her ... we headed back to the safety of the hotel after that!

Monday - Will we ever see the sun?

Yes! Thank God! For us sun loving (either Saskatchewan or Florida) creatures - 10 cloudy days were about all we could take! Sunny and 70 today!

We went today to Yuntai Garden - one of the largest parks in China - at the foot of the Baiyun Mountain. Here's a link:

http://www.lifeofguangzhou.com/node_10/node_35/node_155/node_525/node_526/2008/05/13/121066113038439.shtml

The park was very beautiful - lots of stairs however. We left Mom and Luo at the bottom of Baiyun Mtn - and ventured forth. I was chugging like an old steam engine by half way up!

After Yuntai Garden, we went to McDonalds for lunch! We don't frequent Ronnie's at home - but we all (our travel group) were in the mood for McD's! The Big Mac tasted just like home, as did the fries. The Diet Coke here is called Coke Light - it has less sugar - UG! I am told the Filet -O-Fish was passable (if that is possible). Dylan had hot wings (yes - wings at McD's). Luo had a chicken nugget happy meal. Fries were a big hit (she's never had fries before) - but the chicken nuggets were dry - so she left them (can't blame her!).

McD's is on one of Guangzhou's largest shopping streets - Shangxiajiu Street. Kind of like Times Square and China Town all rolled into one! Lots of fun! Daddy needs a new pair of shoes, so will go back tomorrow for some bargains!

We ended the day by the pool, followed by a tubby, and a group dinner at the Cantonese Restaurant down the street (SUCH good food!). We all ate more than our fill!

Sunday's Tour ...

Yes, a Louis Vuitton mini purse for the girl ... got to love China!
(notice the lack of clothing ...)

Medical Exam Day ... Saturday

Today's adventure was visiting the clinic for Luo's physical. The place was packed with people and families that were adopting. There was moaning and groaning, screaming, squeaking toys and shoes and of course, screaming ...

There were three stations that we had to visit ... height and weight - all good, an ENT - where Luo was not the least bit interested in the squeaking toy as her hearing was checked. I thought for a moment that the woman was going to tell me that she was deaf and the examination - with just a diaper on ... of course taking the clothes off was the easy part ... getting them back on ... another story ... there was quite the stink about that! After becomming very crabby about having to get dressed, once we got outside there was another major screaming and wailing about what? No idea! We headed back to the hotel for some congee lunch and some clothes-less down time ...

Afterwards, Lauren and I went out to explore the island and left the boys and Luo for some bonding time!

Friday's Meltdown ...

Friday was quite the day. We went to the passport office so that the paperwork for Luo's Chinese passport could be completed. While we were there she was pretty good ... as long as her big sister was holding her ! After the passport office we returned to the hotel, had some down time and decided to venture off the island for a walk. What we found was amazing!

We started out the day with a huge meltdown at breakfast, had another one about mid-day and then ended the day with a major tantrum before going to bed ... I was exhausted!

Sightseeing in the rain ...

The Six Banyan Pagoda

The children being blessed

An artist at the Chen Academy ... fingerpainting!

Noodle Restaurant - you can see the noodle flying through the air ...

Today's adventure was a very soggy one ... stay tuned ... pics and story on their way!

So, we set out for a great day of sightseeing ... We began our journey at the Six Banyan Temple where we saw a huge pagoda and many monks. Here is where the Chinese children were blessed in a ceremony performed by the monks of this temple. There were quite a few people there praying at each of the Buddhas and also having various things blessed. We managed to dodge the rain at this first stop, just a few sprinkles here and there. The sky was looking might angry ...

Next, we headed out to the Chen Family Academy. At one this was one of the residences of the Chen family. It is now a museum that contains family artifacts and works of art. As we were standing outside of the buildings, the sky turned a pea green and got very dark. Then it opened up and poured. Fortunately, we were inside enjoying all there was to see. Just as it was time to go, the sky opened up again and it poured buckets as we were heading back to the bus. It was about a block walk back to where we had parked. We all were soaked from head to toe by the time we got on. Of course the driver had the air blasting and we were freezing!

After our tour we went to a really cool noodle restaurant where they made the noodles and cooked them right in front of you. It is a good thing we always have our guide with us ... not many of these eating establishments have an English speaking wait staff!

Where's are the Webster's?

See if you can find out where we are by using the longitude and latitude I have given you! Google Earth is a great place to start! Leave me a comment if you want to make a guess ... be sure to put the date!

March 4, 2009
23*06'31.49"N 113*14'15.19" E White Swan Hotel - where we are staying ...

March 5, 2009
23*07'51.17"N, 113*15'17.15"E

23*07'47.35N, 113*14'24.92"E

March 6, 2009
22*32'37.21"N, 114*03'29.15E

March 7, 2009
23*06'57.58"N, 113*19'14.74"E (hint: we can see this body of water from our hotel room ...)

March 8, 2009
23*09'40.60"N, 113*17'18.02E

March 10, 2009
23*08'35.51"N, 113*18'02.21"E

March 11, 2009
39*54'27.46N 116*23'57.72E

March 12, 2009
41*58'53.83"N 87*54'30.55"W

March 13,2009
43*38'53.00"N, 70*18'35.43"W

China VS. USA

Here are some REALLY big differences between China and the United States ...


Smoking ...

China : many, many people smoke. It doesn't matter where you are, inside or out, people are smoking. We accidentally sat in the smoking section of one restaurant ... it was bad!

USA : smelling smoke everywhere is becoming a thing of the past, especially in restaurants and hotels ... in Maine you can't smoke in any place that serves food, can you??


Driving ... even though there are lanes painted in the road, thy may as well be invisible! Cars, buses, trucks and bicycles are all over the streets! Each time we go for a tour, we sit in the front so that we don't miss any of the action. Someone in Beijing told us that the drivers in Guangzhou were crazy ... they were right!

Water ... You can not drink the water from the faucets here. It will give you the worst stomach issues ever. It is really hard to remember when you are brushing your teeth not to rinse your brush with the tap water. Bottled water is ont only drinkable water. When we are out to eat we have to remember to order out drinks with out ice as some places use the non-drinking water to make ice cubes ... it is the little things that we are really missing about the USA and Canada!
Foods ...
Public Toilets ...

Stay Tuned!

Passports and Shopping

A Random Chicken Man Blowing a horn ... he was outside the store where we shopped.

The calm before the storm ... isn't she cute!??

The street where the tantrum took place ...

Just a few people to watch me wrestle the screaming Chinese baby with the skirt up at her neck!

Today was a fairly easy day ... just visiting the passport office for Luo's picture at 3:30. We have now completed all of the paperwork for the Chinese government. Now we wait for processing and then head to the American Consulate for her visa to travel home to the United States.

After visiting the passport office (and taking one wild bus ride through Guangzhou), Luo, myself and Lauren joined some of the other families for a shopping outing in one of the main shopping areas in Guangzhou. We were warned to hang onto our purses and wallets ... cameras too! We didn't have the stroller with us, so Lauren and I took turns holding Luo ... don't forget, she has never been shopping before! Within 5 minutes of being in the store she decided that being held was not the thing to do ... screaming and squirming, we gave in and let her go on the floor. For someone with 1 3/4 legs ... SHE IS FAST !!! While I tried to shop, Lauren chased her. At one point Luo came by pushing a footstool she had found ... a few minutes later she had a plastic bag and was laughing and squealing with delight! Boy did we get some looks. When we got there she was picture perfect - cute skirt and pink sweater and a bow in her hair ... by the time we left her knees were black from scooting around, hands grubby, face a mess and bow crooked. We walked down the very crowded street ... Lauren holding the bags and the American mom holding a filthy screaming Chinese baby with her skirt around her chest, screaming and legs flailing! We had to wait for 10 minutes or so for our bus in the middle of a very crowded square among a sea of Chinese people. We caused a major scene!

One very positive happening today ... Luo pooped in the potty!!

Eating with Chopsticks and other Food Fun!

Breakfast at the White Swan

Chopsticks anyone?

She loves to eat!

Here we are at our first family breakfast. Mom helped her eat ... and here we are at the Cantonese restaurant. Check out the chopstick girl! No one helped her, she grabbed the chopsticks and off she went!

Official Adoption Day

Nap time with Dylan ... sure thing!

Sisters riding the bus to shopping

The kids enjoying the sights of Guangzhou

Waiting our turn to interview ... Luo has a bit of a cold

We are obsessed with wiping our hands!

Today we were up and out early to go back to the Civil Affairs office to complete the official adoption procedures. It began with a family photo and then two interviews. There were many families there along with our group completing the process. As of 11:00 Guangzhou tome Luolin became officially ours.

After our appointment, we went on a bit of a shopping spree at a very Walmart-like store. I have to say that WM is actually nicer ! We had to get the necessary things like diapers and such ... we headed back to the hotel for lunch and a nap (not so much) ... this afternoon we are going out for a walk, then meeting our group for a Cantonese dinner at one of the local restaurants.

Here are some pictures from today ...

Today Is The Day - FINALLY !

Sleeping on mom back at the hotel

Reading books with dad after dinner and a whole lot of apple juice !

We have lounged around this morning getting ready to meet Luolin this afternoon. We had a fantastic buffet breakfast in a room full of new parents with their kids. We couldn't help but stare at all of the cute kids surrounding us. Tomorrow we will have our daughter too.

The weather is cool and overcast. The weather doesn't look too promising for the next few days. Of course low 70's with clouds is far better than a foot of snow!! Good luck to you all with that ... snow day perhaps ?

Here she is !

Will be back tomorrow with pictures from the Civil Affair office.