Bright and eary this morning began our journey! Poor Nate awoke this morning feeling very ill (of all days). I felt so bad for him watching him haul all of our luggage across the hotel and airport to our terminal. Once we boarded and found our seats, he rested his head on my shoulder and tried to sleep. The whole day consisted of Nate feeling queasy and sitting with Anya in my lap. She did so great though! She was a real trooper! Even the Flight Attendants commented on how good she was being! What a relief! I was very nervous when we began our trip because the gal sitting next to me did not seem very happy about being seated next to us. Anya would reach over to touch her and she would pull away abruptly. I thought, "Oh, Goodness! This trip is going to be long and miserable!" I felt even worse when a flight attendant came to her and said, "Mam, we have an open window seat two rows back if you would like" to which she snapped, "I don't like window seats!" Yikes:) Anya did great though and didn't bother the lady next to me too much. I think she did end up with cracker and cookie crumbs all about her though by the time she left though - oops! We tried very hard:) When she left to use the potty, I was constantly trying to clean up all of our "snacks" from her seat and floor area. Thankfully she didn't say anything though and one time when I was "resting" I caught her watching Anya for quite awhile:)
Anya and I watched movies and snacked most of the day. Anya did sleep a good deal too which was wonderful! It made it hard for Mommy to sleep though - a husband on one shoulder and a baby sprawled across my lap:) My legs kept falling asleep, but I was too afraid of awakening Anya that I left them still. How good it felt when Nate awoke and relieved me for a potty break! I took a long stretch!:) Sigh! Great day of traveling though. Anya fussed for about 10 min. this evening (in which Nate just walked her around a bit) but that was it! There are two other couples (who were both with us at the White Swan) who had to drug their kids, so we were amazed that Anya didn't need anything (which was great in that we didn't have any Benydryl to give her anyways!). Nate is feeling better now too, so all is good:) Tomorrow lands us in the United States of America - the greatest country on earth! So ready to be home!
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Hong Kong Friday, September 30, 2010
We were up at 7:30 completing our packing. We Skyped the kids one last time before leaving the White Swan to return to them:) I realy miss my kiddos:) Everytime I see their little faces, I can't wait to see them again! Very soon now!
Once Winnie (same gal that brought us to the White Swan when we first arrived) picked us up, my heart was completely set on our trip home. I'm very eager to get there! We arrived at the Guangzhou train station around 11 and our train departed a little after noon. It was fun to travel to Hong Kong by train, but our seats were facing backwards (opposite to the way the train was going) so both Nate and I battled car/train sickness off and on. Anya travelled great! She was ready to be done though when we arrived in Hong Kong. Lotus (our travel agency) sent a guy to meet us and transport us to teh Regal Airport Hotel. We'll stay overnight here before catching a plane back to the States tomorrow:) It's hard being displaced - not at our home and not at the White Swan. I really wish we could just keep going, hop on a plane and go:) I'm so eager to see our kids and introduce Anya to her home and the rest of her family!
Since our hotel is joined to the airport, we took a stroll to get a bite to eat adn find where we need to be tomorrow morning for our flight. Anya has been very fussy since we got here and she is very bothered by the room. I think she is afraid by yet another change and she is wanting the security of our White Swan room:( Poor Thing! She doesn't realize that she has a home and family waiting for her in Alabama. Nate just got her to sleep - Whew! Today was a busy and stressful day (travel and all) for all of us, so we're both ready to kick back and relax for a bit before heading to bed. Good Night!
Once Winnie (same gal that brought us to the White Swan when we first arrived) picked us up, my heart was completely set on our trip home. I'm very eager to get there! We arrived at the Guangzhou train station around 11 and our train departed a little after noon. It was fun to travel to Hong Kong by train, but our seats were facing backwards (opposite to the way the train was going) so both Nate and I battled car/train sickness off and on. Anya travelled great! She was ready to be done though when we arrived in Hong Kong. Lotus (our travel agency) sent a guy to meet us and transport us to teh Regal Airport Hotel. We'll stay overnight here before catching a plane back to the States tomorrow:) It's hard being displaced - not at our home and not at the White Swan. I really wish we could just keep going, hop on a plane and go:) I'm so eager to see our kids and introduce Anya to her home and the rest of her family!
Since our hotel is joined to the airport, we took a stroll to get a bite to eat adn find where we need to be tomorrow morning for our flight. Anya has been very fussy since we got here and she is very bothered by the room. I think she is afraid by yet another change and she is wanting the security of our White Swan room:( Poor Thing! She doesn't realize that she has a home and family waiting for her in Alabama. Nate just got her to sleep - Whew! Today was a busy and stressful day (travel and all) for all of us, so we're both ready to kick back and relax for a bit before heading to bed. Good Night!
On Our Own in a Taxi/Good-Bye to Group September 29, 2010
It's hard to believe that our time in China is about over and that very soon it will be time to fly with our baby girl back home! The time has passed so quickly and I am sad to leave China and Shaiman Island, but am ready to get home to the kids too. I have really missed them:( Each morning when we Skype them, they express how much they miss us too. It will be nice to be together as a family again, and this time with our newest Healy addition:) Anya has changed so much!
Today Anya has really been moving around. She is in the beginning stages of crawling (it appears anyways - who knows what she was doing at the orphanage) and she goes all over while on the bed. She loves our White Swan room! Whenever we go out now, she fusses and cries, but as soon as we enter the hotel and begin our walk back to the room (Rm. 1138) she gets so excited and begins smiling and laughing. I think she thinks the White Swan is her home and that is where she feels most secure. We're beginning to wonder how the next few days traveling home will be in the absence of this room.
This morning after breakfast Nate, Anya, and I took a taxi cab to the Jade and Pearl Market to buy gifts for our moms. We got them each a jade grandmother necklace and a pearl necklace too. Earlier, we bought our moms a vase and a small tea set too - can't wait to give everything to them:) They'll love it! They've done so much in watching and caring for the kids in our absence.
Once we returned to the Island, we took care of a little more shopping (last minute), grabbed a quite bite to eat at the Deli, and then ran down to the hotels lobby area to see Anne, her two Chinese children, her friend Rita, and the Norris's off. They are on their way to Hong Kong today and then on to their homes (Montana and Iowa) tomorrow. It was really sad to see them go but in a way it makes it a little easier to say "Good Bye" to China and begin our journey home too. It feels time:)
Nate, Anya, and I headed to the pool one last time, but this time didn't go in. We just sat in the recliner beach chairs and relaxed:) So Peaceful! We stayed down at the pool for an hour before heading up to our room to begin working on our packing.
At 5:15 we went to Holt's office (Rm. 427) for Anya's visa. Then it was off to say "Good Bye" to our Shaiman Island friends (from the shops we frequently visited), get a couple more gifts, and supper at Tao Ran Xuan. It was fun to go there one last time before we leave. Have I mentioned that it was our favorite:) The staff there all know us by now too. They comne and play with Anya and love to feed her:) Tonight a family at a table behind us sent some of their food from their table over because they were concerned that Anya didn't have enough to eat:) The restaurant staff fed her soooo much! They just kept shoveling food in her mouth - Nate and I thought for sure she would be sick. She felt extra heavy as we left the restaurant:)
It's now almost 11p.m. and we're pretty much all packed! Tomorrow we begin our journey back home:)
Today Anya has really been moving around. She is in the beginning stages of crawling (it appears anyways - who knows what she was doing at the orphanage) and she goes all over while on the bed. She loves our White Swan room! Whenever we go out now, she fusses and cries, but as soon as we enter the hotel and begin our walk back to the room (Rm. 1138) she gets so excited and begins smiling and laughing. I think she thinks the White Swan is her home and that is where she feels most secure. We're beginning to wonder how the next few days traveling home will be in the absence of this room.
This morning after breakfast Nate, Anya, and I took a taxi cab to the Jade and Pearl Market to buy gifts for our moms. We got them each a jade grandmother necklace and a pearl necklace too. Earlier, we bought our moms a vase and a small tea set too - can't wait to give everything to them:) They'll love it! They've done so much in watching and caring for the kids in our absence.
Once we returned to the Island, we took care of a little more shopping (last minute), grabbed a quite bite to eat at the Deli, and then ran down to the hotels lobby area to see Anne, her two Chinese children, her friend Rita, and the Norris's off. They are on their way to Hong Kong today and then on to their homes (Montana and Iowa) tomorrow. It was really sad to see them go but in a way it makes it a little easier to say "Good Bye" to China and begin our journey home too. It feels time:)
Nate, Anya, and I headed to the pool one last time, but this time didn't go in. We just sat in the recliner beach chairs and relaxed:) So Peaceful! We stayed down at the pool for an hour before heading up to our room to begin working on our packing.
At 5:15 we went to Holt's office (Rm. 427) for Anya's visa. Then it was off to say "Good Bye" to our Shaiman Island friends (from the shops we frequently visited), get a couple more gifts, and supper at Tao Ran Xuan. It was fun to go there one last time before we leave. Have I mentioned that it was our favorite:) The staff there all know us by now too. They comne and play with Anya and love to feed her:) Tonight a family at a table behind us sent some of their food from their table over because they were concerned that Anya didn't have enough to eat:) The restaurant staff fed her soooo much! They just kept shoveling food in her mouth - Nate and I thought for sure she would be sick. She felt extra heavy as we left the restaurant:)
It's now almost 11p.m. and we're pretty much all packed! Tomorrow we begin our journey back home:)
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Red Couch Pictures/Boat Cruise September 28
Our Holt group met for group pictures this morning at 10:00. All adoptive families take pictures on the red couch (2nd floor near the golden bird cage) so it was a neat experience to partake of the "tradition". Our group then took a 40 min. bus ride to the U.S. Consulate at 2:15 this afternoon for the Oath taking Ceremony. When we were all pronounced legal parents to our children, we all let out a big cheer and hugged our kids:) Quite neat!
We had a couple of hours before our boat cruise, so we did a little shopping around the island while we waited. We found both of our moms a Chinese tea set and bought a clay test set for ourselves.
The cruise was at 6:00 and it was wonderful! We all had our Papa John's pizzas and enjoyed the lovely ride! It was just beautiful! It was very special to be on a boat cruising down the river with soft music and lights all around the island, holding each other and our beautiful, new daughter, Anya Mei! Great Day!
We had a couple of hours before our boat cruise, so we did a little shopping around the island while we waited. We found both of our moms a Chinese tea set and bought a clay test set for ourselves.
The cruise was at 6:00 and it was wonderful! We all had our Papa John's pizzas and enjoyed the lovely ride! It was just beautiful! It was very special to be on a boat cruising down the river with soft music and lights all around the island, holding each other and our beautiful, new daughter, Anya Mei! Great Day!
Safari Day! September 27, 2010
This morning our Holt group met our guide, Joyce, at 9:30 to drive to the Guangzhou zoo and safari. It was such a fun trip! The safari was wonderful as we rode on a safari train for 45 min. looking at all of the animals roaming about! The rest of our time was spent just wandering around the zoo looking at the caged animals. There was a wonderful Panda bear exhibit and we got to feed a baby, white tiger. We also fed giraffes leafy branches and rode on an elephant! It was great! We completed our outing with lunch in the park. We bought the kids back home a Panda puppet to go with the new puppet stage Grandma and Papa made for them. Nathan had told us before we left for China that he really wanted a panda, so I think this will mean a lot to him.
It was around 3:30 when we returned to our room. We relaxed on the bed playing blocks and stacking cups with Anya. She just keeps changing more and more each day! It is so wonderful and exciting to see!
The three Holt families met for supper at 6 and went to the Tao Ran Xuan (yes, again). This was Nate's and my fourth time there:) We ate on the sixth floor by the huge window overlooking the river - beautiful! We all ordered different dishes and then shared. Another wonderful evening with great fellowship!
It was around 3:30 when we returned to our room. We relaxed on the bed playing blocks and stacking cups with Anya. She just keeps changing more and more each day! It is so wonderful and exciting to see!
The three Holt families met for supper at 6 and went to the Tao Ran Xuan (yes, again). This was Nate's and my fourth time there:) We ate on the sixth floor by the huge window overlooking the river - beautiful! We all ordered different dishes and then shared. Another wonderful evening with great fellowship!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)