Medical Appointment (Sat 1/16)

I woke up at 6am to shower and get ready before the family woke up.  The Garden Hotel is just like I remembered and our room layout is the same as last time.  After getting ready, we headed downstairs for breakfast.  Ironically, although the area was huge and full with tons of people, they sat us right by none other than the Albright family!  We also saw the other adoptive family from Nanchang.  Though they went to check in at the 3 bedroom apartment next door, when they saw the hardwood floors and crystal appointment amenities, they realized it wasn't kid friendly for their family of 6 and headed to the Garden Hotel to book a room.  Though alone in Nanchang, they met up with 5 other families from their adoption agency in Guongzhou.  All families go to their child's home province the first week and then to the US Consulate in Guangzhou.  Like our last trip to China, we are only traveling with the same Gladney family in both locations.  (Our guide, Jack, mentioned this morning that he sent the iteniary just yesterday to the Wilson family for their trip later this month.  I work with the Dad's Mom, who is so excited to meet her newest Granddaughter!)

The girls playing together!

I am once again in awe of the number of families adopting and some with very serious medical conditions - Down syndrome, blind, in wheelchairs, etc.  God bless those families!  We were only willing to consider a child that could live self-sufficiently.  

Courtney and I decided to only take the adoptive girls to the medical appointment this morning.  Since it was pouring down rain and the clinic is usually packed, the Dad's were going to keep the older kids at the hotel. Jack had let us know about and indoor play area in the other tower of the hotel up on the 13th floor.  So the kiddos wanted to check that out.  

We meet up with Jack in the lobby at 9:30.  The other Mom, Dana, and her son, Magnus, were leaving with their 5 other families for the clinic at 9, and Jack was aware of a group of 10 leaving at 10. So we were hoping to land in between those groups and get in and out.  It was a quick 10 minute trip to get there. First, we went downstairs to get a picture of the kiddos - one for the medical file and another for the US Consulate.

Next up, was the medical clinic upstairs.  It looked like I remembered but didn't seem quite as hectic.  KaiLi was a little wiggle worm.  All she wanted to do was run and play.  She whined and cried a lot.  The first station was composed of height and weight checks along with taking her temperature. KaiLi was a champ. She stepped right on and stood there as they took the measurements.  In the next room, a doctor measured her head circumference, looked at her ears and throat, watched her walk, and had me answer some basic questions.  The last stop was the dreaded TB test.  Within the last two years, they moved away from the test where they inject directly into the arm.  Though that test was free, it was flagging too many false positives.  The CDC requested that they draw blood and send it off to test instead.  The nurse came to take KaiLi from me and she started wailing.  So much so that the guy standing next to me jumped. She just the threw those little hand up and looked at me with those big eyes, poor baby!  They closed the door and I could hear her loud and clear.  Once they brought her back, I was able to calm her down pretty quickly.  Many thanks to Courtney for the sucker!  And the medical clinic was a wrap!

A view of the medical clinic

Selfie with KaiLi at the clinic...tickles made her smile!

We went back to the hotel and met with with the rest of our families for lunch. Since the rain had stopped, we decided to walk over to McDonalds.  KaiLi got to have her first chicken nuggets!  MeiLin was begging for ice cream, so we all got some.  All they had was peanut ice cream, that was interesting!  MeiLin got a cone, Brandon an Oreo McFlurry, and a sundae for KaiLi.  She sure loved it!  This place was super loud and very busy.  There was a kids birthday party at one end, and we had to sit in a different section than the Albright's because there just wasn't any room.  When James went to throw away his trash, he accidentally dropped the tray on the floor.  The entire restaurant went silent and literally all heads turned to him. It was hilarious!  Brandon said, "Man, that was James!"  I couldn't stop laughing!

KaiLi's first chicken nugget!

MeiLin enjoyed McDonalds as well!

We walked over to the 7 Eleven (Lee and Carol!) to load up on drinks for our rooms.  Then it was back to the room for KaiLi's nap time.  I worked on finishing the blog from yesterday and Brandon played with MeiLin. No napping for us today, boo!  After nap, we got the girls some snacks. Then Brandon took MeiLin down to the Albright's room to play and I got some much needed Mommy/daughter alone time with KaiLi.  She loves having the undivided attention and really gets giggly.  Just simply adorable. Thank you, Lord for this child, though I am so undeserving of this precious gift.  Please guide me in giving her the love and support she needs.

KaiLi was covering her eyes and did not want nap time to end!

Smiling after Mommy tickles!

When they came back, everyone wanted to go back to the 13th floor play room.  This consisted of four rooms and a bathroom.  The entry room was a lounge with couches and chairs.  The room on the left was a library/conference room (odd location).  The first room on the right was another lounge room with free water, coffee, and tea.  Then the last room on the right was the playroom with a castle structure, plastic rockers, walkers, toys, mega blocks, etc.  Brandon took KaiLi in to play and bond; she had a great time!  We met another family there from Chicago.  Small world, they live just 10 minutes away from where the other adoptive Mom, Dana, grew up.  And his mother is from St Loius where they now live!  

Castle in the playroom!

Once we realized it was already 5:45, we sent the Dad's to pick up some KFC for dinner.  We ate in our rooms.  MeiLin didn't like it but KaiLi ate it up.  It made my stomach upset (UGH) but thankfully the Pepto worked like a charm!  It was bath time for the girls and then off to bed. 

After bath, KaiLi was very proud that she crawled into the stroller all on her own. After the picture, MeiLin said she put her finger on her chin because she was deep in thought...  He, he!

Thoughts on KaiLi.  She is really bonding with her MaMa.  She looks for me and already calls out for me. (Heart!).  She started to try and say words today and followed simple commands. Amazing!  KaiLi is warming up to BaBa but is still apprehensive.  He tried giving her the bottle tonight instead of me.  She just cried and refused to drink it.  I finally came in and sat down by them.  When she could see me, she started drinking.  She is fierce about her toys and puts a death grip on them if someone tries to take one away.  But I have found that she will trade - Ha!  Unless she is in a sharing mood, then she shares with everyone!  She looks to MeiLin and tries to follow and mimic everything that big sissy does, so cute!  She is very stubborn but is starting to learn that Mommy doesn't budge.  

Thoughts on MeiLin.  She is doing much better than I had expected. She had two potty accidents heading up to the trip, but she hasn't had any since then. Yeah!  She is struggling with how everything isn't fair between them.  (Since she is a baby and doesn't know any better.)   But this is slowing becoming more and more the norm.  MeiLin is always trying to be helpful.  Bringing wipes and trash bags when changing diapers, setting out KaiLi's pajamas after bath time. This just melts my heart.  I keep telling her that she will be able to be more of a play,ate when she gets a little older.