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!