July 10, 2010

A couple of busy days have flown past.  We did a little more touring in Shanghai and took the kids to the park again  The international technology exposition is currently being held in Shanghai and hotel rooms have been booked months in advance.  So, the hotel that adoptive families normally stay in wasn’t available.  Our hotel was very nice.  But, there weren’t many restaurants around.  In the past four days, we ate at Dominos pizza three times.  The pepperoni pizza, which was the only thing on the menu that we recognized, was actually very good.  Eating in restaurants has gotten tiring.  They’re not expensive, just time consuming.  When we are a group of families with hungry children and we’re trying to negotiate with non-English speaking restaurant staff, we all feel like crying.

We toured the Bund, which is the old financial district in Shanghai.  The buildings were all designed to resemble European structures.  Then, we visited the marketplace in Old Shanghai.  Cassie was especially happy when we found a Dairy Queen.  While walking through the marketplace, we experienced many unusual smells.  I’ll leave it at that.

Yesterday, we picked up notarized adoption papers and then headed to the airport.  This was the first plane ride for all the children.  We had been worried about air sickness. But, after the amusement park, we were pretty convinced that the children would be okay.   We boarded the plane only to discover that our flight had been delayed.  We occupied the children for an hour and then lunch was served.  About 30 seconds later, they announced that our flight was leaving and scooped up all the food, leaving the children hungry.  Lacey did very well on the flight.  She was fascinated with everything – the seat, the materials in the seat pocket, the tray.  She was so interested in studying the safety brochure that I let her keep it.  This was really the first time that she has been interested in print material so I was very happy.  

Here's a picture of Cassie learning to use chopsticks....and the next picture is Lacey and Cassie at the amusement park. 

Mid-afternoon, we arrived at the White Swan Hotel.  For the past few years, this hotel has been mythical to us.   It is the final stopping point for all families who are adopting from China because it is near the U.S. Consulate.  Let me tell you that it has really lived up to its reputation.  There is an indoor fountain and a stream with live fish, footbridge included.  The breakfast buffet was unbelievable.  There are two outdoor pools.  The hotel is on an island and actually sits right on the Pearl River.  Our room looks out over the river.  There is a children’s play room in the hotel that has been furnished by Mattel.  When we came back from lunch, there was a gift from the hotel and Mattel – a Barbie doll that is holding a baby Chinese girl.  That one’s going to sit high on a shelf!  I would include a photo but we can’t find the adapter to download photos right now. 

Big sister is already driving little sister around!!

 Lacey on the ferry...so stylish!!!

This morning I took Lacey for her medical exam.  They measured her and looked at her ears, nose and throat. The doctor sort of looked at her spine.  She was pronounced healthy and we were free to return to the hotel to swim.  This is her first pool experience and she is loving it.

We send love to  you all and thanks to Susan for posting this!