Table for Eight
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Great Blog
Check out this blog - Snapshots from Korea. Not only has the blog owner been in North Korea recently, she is currently in Beijing and having the same censorship problem that I encountered.
The Other Brother
Friday night, as we were walking into the high school football game, a six foot something tall-teenager approached us and said "Hi Mom!" You should have seen the look on HaiTing's face - her jaw dropped and her eyes popped open. I knew what she was thinking - "where have you been hiding this brother???" She has made it clear to us that six kids in our family is enough and then this guy shows up!
Josh, my alternate son, is a friend of Ian's and is now attending college so we only see him on weekends. He has a small army of Mom's, including his number one Mom, and a host of other band-Moms. We saw quite a bit of him last year, but since he is away at college this year, this was the first time HaiTing met him.
We eventually were able to explain that Josh was Ian's friend, but his insistence to call me Mom seemed to concern (or maybe perplex) HaiTing. To complicate matters, he spent a good part of the day with us on Saturday, drove to the band competition with us , went to dinner with us and even shopped at Wal-mart, all in the absence of Ian.
Walking into the band competition, HaiTing decided to set the record straight. She pointed to me and said "My Mom" and to Steve and said "My Dad". Then she pointed to us again and looked Josh straight in the eyes and said "No, your Mom. No, your Dad." Josh just laughed and continued to call me Mom and Steve, Dad. HaiTing went along with it, but I am sure she is thinking "what other kids are they hiding from me?"
We did meet up with Josh's parents and grandparents at the band competition. That probably made HaiTing even more confused, or maybe she was relieved to see he really did have his own set of parents.
So we are a family of eight, and for the time-being I would tend to agree with HaiTing that eight is enough!
Friday, September 28, 2007
Photos - Heading to Sunbeam Village
Although she has no hips, this girl knows how to hoola!
Carly raised money by recycling inkjet cartridges. She used this money to buy gifts for the kids at Sunbeam Village. Shopping with HaiTing turned out to be a chore - especially in a department store where negotiating is frowned upon. She is a real bargain shopper and she was appalled by the amount of money that Carly spent. We finally had to do a little shopping behind her back:)
Although spending money was not her thing, Hope HaiTing had a blast organizing all of the presents and getting them ready for delivery to her friends.
Books for the babies. This was our first stop in Ma'anshan and is where HaiTing grew up. We could have stayed all day and played with the babies, but we needed to get to the Sunbeam Village while the children were home on their lunch break. In China, children go to school for about 3 hours in the morning (maybe more) and then come home for a two and a half-hour lunch/nap break. Apparently, even the older children nap. Then school resumes from about 2:00 to 5:00. Then it is time for dinner and homework. If a parent works, they usually have a family member that can pick their child up from school. At 11:30 we saw a mob of people standing on a sidewalk and Steve asked what everyone was waiting in line for. Turns out it was the parents waiting for their children. 
Delivery time! The older kids were patient but at one point some of the younger children clamored into the van. It was the first time I saw HaiTing get upset. She saw her gift bags being tipped over and all of her work being undone. We had our translator remind her how excited she was over the gifts and tell her that the little kids were excited just like her. She put the gift bags back together, pulled herself together and went about the business of being "Santa Claus".
Monday, September 24, 2007
As promised
I guess you have all noticed that I have not posted much lately. All is well in the Park household, it just seems that six kids does keep us a bit busier than five did. Today was Hope HaiTing's birthday and she had a great night. Our little spitfire seems to be settling in just fine. We have had some "moments" but they pass relatively quickly and apparently no grudges are being held - not that we know anyway.
Tomorrow is HaiTing's first day of school. We are just trying out about 2 hours each morning - for ESL, specials (art, PE, music, etc....) and recess. I will come up to the school at 10am and pick her up or stay with her for a bit longer. She has said that she is ready to stay the whole day, but I am picturing her 4 hours into the day, being overwhelmed and not wanting to ask to call her mother. We will just take it slowly for as long need be. I'll keep you posted. I will try to post more pictures soon. Especially recent ones. We took so many pictures in China that it seems we keep forgetting to pick up our camera at home. We missed the first American H.S. football game, first trip to our local theme park and probably a whole lot more. We did at least take birthday pictures :)
Thursday, September 20, 2007
No more censorship
We are home and I can finally post on my own blog. I hope all of my REACH friends received the message that we jumped onto an earlier flight. We literally dragged Hai Ting through the Detroit airport and she was not a happy camper about that. For a kid with a bundle of energy, she does not like to be hurried :) It was all worth it in the end, so that she could see her new home in the daylight hours.
Catherine was especially excited to meet her new sister. Max was too, but he needed some Mama hugs first. Hai Ting has settled in nicely and is especially happy with our two dogs and two cats. She likes her new home too, and she even asked if she could "spit" with younger sister tonight since elder sister was still at band. We said no, because it was a school night and Carly would be home shortly, but still she scored big points with Catherine.
I am sure I could post more stories and pictures, but I think I will take a benydryl and try to call it a night.
Thanks again to all of my wonderful friends who helped us on the homefront. From what I hear the stateside kids hardly missed us. More tomorrow!
Catherine was especially excited to meet her new sister. Max was too, but he needed some Mama hugs first. Hai Ting has settled in nicely and is especially happy with our two dogs and two cats. She likes her new home too, and she even asked if she could "spit" with younger sister tonight since elder sister was still at band. We said no, because it was a school night and Carly would be home shortly, but still she scored big points with Catherine.
I am sure I could post more stories and pictures, but I think I will take a benydryl and try to call it a night.
Thanks again to all of my wonderful friends who helped us on the homefront. From what I hear the stateside kids hardly missed us. More tomorrow!
AIRPORT ARRIVAL
3:57 PM - LOOK OUT AMERICA HERE COMES HAITING!!!
JEANNE AND CREW CAUGHT THE EARLY FLIGHT. THEY WILL ARRIVE IN EVANSVILLE AT 3:57 PM TODAY!!! COME OUT AND SEE THEM IF YOU CAN!!!!!!
ELISA
JEANNE AND CREW CAUGHT THE EARLY FLIGHT. THEY WILL ARRIVE IN EVANSVILLE AT 3:57 PM TODAY!!! COME OUT AND SEE THEM IF YOU CAN!!!!!!
ELISA
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Last Post from Guangzhou!!!
Hello everyone. Here we are on our last day in Guangzhou. We have all been well and apparently are much more rested than the family's travelling with babies :) Hai Ting is still doing well. Everyone on the island knows her now. I am sure it won't take long until everyone in our small town knows her as well.
It may be good that Hai Ting's English is still developing, then the other kids won't realize how bossy she is :) Steve thinks that once she gets home and is out of her comfort zone that things will change. We both think that her indomitable spirit is what has carried her so well through her life here in a Chinese orphanage. I know she was a favorite of the nannies. You just can't help but admire her spunk!
Children are hoovering about, so I best keep this short. Off to hit the streets of Shamian Island one more time.-- Jeanne
It may be good that Hai Ting's English is still developing, then the other kids won't realize how bossy she is :) Steve thinks that once she gets home and is out of her comfort zone that things will change. We both think that her indomitable spirit is what has carried her so well through her life here in a Chinese orphanage. I know she was a favorite of the nannies. You just can't help but admire her spunk!
Children are hoovering about, so I best keep this short. Off to hit the streets of Shamian Island one more time.-- Jeanne
Monday, September 17, 2007
More Cute HaiTing Bargaining Stories and Others Too!
Sorry no pictures. I am still going to the coffee shop to post and I haven't a clue as to how to post pictures. Of course, I don't have a clue how to do that at home either :)
Hai Ting had her physical today and we found out that she now weighs a whopping 69 pounds! I don't know why she is so thin because she eats like a horse. I think she has a high metabolism, plus she never sits still - I mean never. Ask Steve:) She is going to give Max a run for his money.
Right now, the kids are back at the hotel, Hai Ting is sleeping, maybe due to vaccinations she had today. For my Ma'anshan friends, be forewarned to bring extra money to the clinic for vaccinations - it is not included in the cost that you pay for the medical. I paid an extra 440RMB, but it will depend on how many your child needs. Hai Ting received three.
On the last post, I did leave out one other tearful spell Hai Ting had. Saturday night, our first night in Guangzhou, I think it hit her that we were leaving behind her childhood home. She came to me with tears in her eyes and told me " Ma, I like Ma'anshan". I hugged her and told her that it was okay to be sad, but that we will talk to her Ma'anshan friends in America. Then I looked for her ibox to translate to her. The ibox had gone missing, causing us to embark on a 30 minute search all over the hotel and our rooms. By the time we found it, hidden in a suitcase, her sadness was forgotten. She was just so happy to have her ibox back. She also indicated, in so many words, what the other kids already know - " Mom, you are a noodle brain." Better she finds it out now and learns to live with it.
Have I told you how frugal my daughter is?? Even the shop owners tell me " She's good." She drives a bargain with the best of them and she acts incredulous when I do a lousy job negotiating, but she also congratulates me when I do well. At one shop Hai Ting bought a cool hacky sack for 5 yuan. A bit later we wandered across the street and asked how much were the hacky sacks? They told her 3 yuan. Boy, was she ticked. She went flying back across the street and chewed out the other shop owner. He got a laugh out of it and gave her a free ring. Incidentally, the difference between prices in American money was about 26 cents. She is going to love going to garage sales, don't you think?
Yesterday we went to a Buddist Temple. Most of the babies received blessings from the monks, for a modest donation (about $1.30 American). Not Hai Ting, she could not fathom that you would pay money for a blessing. She says she prays for free.
Later in the afternoon we wandered down to the Christian Church, only to find the gates closed. I thought we would just leave and come back another day, but Hai Ting has already rang the doorbell. We were able to buy her a bilingual Bible, and they gave her a free Mandarin Bible. I also made a donation to the church and had the woman helping us explain why I did that. Hai Ting didn't give me a hard time about donating to help the church - just so long as I was not paying money to pray. What a girl she is! Our friend here has given her the nickname " ball of wonder".
Well, I guess I had better go check on Sleeping Beauty. Carly read about an outbreak of bird flu here in Guangzhou - I guess this time it is the ducks. Please say a little prayer that we stay well, because we had planned to wander off the island tomorrow, maybe venture through the market. We will steer clear of any strange acting ducks! First the raccoon, now crazy ducks.
Hopefully, I can bum some time off someone to send pictures, otherwise I will post them as soon as I get home.
Ciao from Guangzhou. -- Jeanne
Hai Ting had her physical today and we found out that she now weighs a whopping 69 pounds! I don't know why she is so thin because she eats like a horse. I think she has a high metabolism, plus she never sits still - I mean never. Ask Steve:) She is going to give Max a run for his money.
Right now, the kids are back at the hotel, Hai Ting is sleeping, maybe due to vaccinations she had today. For my Ma'anshan friends, be forewarned to bring extra money to the clinic for vaccinations - it is not included in the cost that you pay for the medical. I paid an extra 440RMB, but it will depend on how many your child needs. Hai Ting received three.
On the last post, I did leave out one other tearful spell Hai Ting had. Saturday night, our first night in Guangzhou, I think it hit her that we were leaving behind her childhood home. She came to me with tears in her eyes and told me " Ma, I like Ma'anshan". I hugged her and told her that it was okay to be sad, but that we will talk to her Ma'anshan friends in America. Then I looked for her ibox to translate to her. The ibox had gone missing, causing us to embark on a 30 minute search all over the hotel and our rooms. By the time we found it, hidden in a suitcase, her sadness was forgotten. She was just so happy to have her ibox back. She also indicated, in so many words, what the other kids already know - " Mom, you are a noodle brain." Better she finds it out now and learns to live with it.
Have I told you how frugal my daughter is?? Even the shop owners tell me " She's good." She drives a bargain with the best of them and she acts incredulous when I do a lousy job negotiating, but she also congratulates me when I do well. At one shop Hai Ting bought a cool hacky sack for 5 yuan. A bit later we wandered across the street and asked how much were the hacky sacks? They told her 3 yuan. Boy, was she ticked. She went flying back across the street and chewed out the other shop owner. He got a laugh out of it and gave her a free ring. Incidentally, the difference between prices in American money was about 26 cents. She is going to love going to garage sales, don't you think?
Yesterday we went to a Buddist Temple. Most of the babies received blessings from the monks, for a modest donation (about $1.30 American). Not Hai Ting, she could not fathom that you would pay money for a blessing. She says she prays for free.
Later in the afternoon we wandered down to the Christian Church, only to find the gates closed. I thought we would just leave and come back another day, but Hai Ting has already rang the doorbell. We were able to buy her a bilingual Bible, and they gave her a free Mandarin Bible. I also made a donation to the church and had the woman helping us explain why I did that. Hai Ting didn't give me a hard time about donating to help the church - just so long as I was not paying money to pray. What a girl she is! Our friend here has given her the nickname " ball of wonder".
Well, I guess I had better go check on Sleeping Beauty. Carly read about an outbreak of bird flu here in Guangzhou - I guess this time it is the ducks. Please say a little prayer that we stay well, because we had planned to wander off the island tomorrow, maybe venture through the market. We will steer clear of any strange acting ducks! First the raccoon, now crazy ducks.
Hopefully, I can bum some time off someone to send pictures, otherwise I will post them as soon as I get home.
Ciao from Guangzhou. -- Jeanne
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Safe in Guangzhou and Still Doing Great
Hi Elisa,
I found a place where I can get on the internet for the cost of one soda - not bad. I will post now but hopefully I can find a way to send pictures later. This will be quick because I have hungry kids and Hai Ting hovering. :)
Post:
We have made it to Guangzhou at last. We had a bit of trouble checking into the White Swan as it seems a double room means two twin beds. Our knucklehead travel agent thought four of us could fit in there. I am pretty sure he has never been to the White Swan. After about 45 minutes of looking at various rooms, talking about switching hotels, and stressing out, they were able to come up with a connecting room. Double the price of course, but at least we can sleep and I can keep an eye on all of the kids. Later I found out that I took my friend's connecting room (single mom, baby and grandpa). They were not too upset since they were given the Presidential Suite as a consolation prize. Why does that stuff not happen to me ?;) Anyway, we were just glad to have a room where we didn't have to share twin beds!
Hai Ting continues to do well. She had only cried a few times - once I think I wrote about when the little kids were messing up her gift bags at Sunbeam Village. She didn't really cry then, just pout. She also cried during the movie "Yours, Mine and Ours", when the parents separated. She liked the happy ending, but she made it clear that she does not want 18 children in our family. She does not even want seven. No Ma'anshan sisters for her. She thinks six kids is the perfect number.
Another funny - on the last day in Hefei, just Hai Ting and I went for a walk in the park. We passed many older men playing cards and they would stare at us. Hai Ting held up my umbrella to block their view and she would move me to the other side of her. I finally had to stop and use her "ibox" to translate, " Mommy is a big girl. Don't worry about me." It is going to take awhile for her to learn to be a kid, but we are working on it. I had our translator to reiterate that she is the kid and I am the parent, aka the boss.
I have two more funny stories, but they will have to wait for next post. Hungry kids make it really difficult for me to concentrate!
I miss you all. Big hugs to Catherine, Max and Ian (Baba too). Hai ting misses her baba.
Off to dinner at the Cow Bridge. Unfortunately, Hai Ting does not like Lucy's :(
--
Jeanne
I found a place where I can get on the internet for the cost of one soda - not bad. I will post now but hopefully I can find a way to send pictures later. This will be quick because I have hungry kids and Hai Ting hovering. :)
Post:
We have made it to Guangzhou at last. We had a bit of trouble checking into the White Swan as it seems a double room means two twin beds. Our knucklehead travel agent thought four of us could fit in there. I am pretty sure he has never been to the White Swan. After about 45 minutes of looking at various rooms, talking about switching hotels, and stressing out, they were able to come up with a connecting room. Double the price of course, but at least we can sleep and I can keep an eye on all of the kids. Later I found out that I took my friend's connecting room (single mom, baby and grandpa). They were not too upset since they were given the Presidential Suite as a consolation prize. Why does that stuff not happen to me ?;) Anyway, we were just glad to have a room where we didn't have to share twin beds!
Hai Ting continues to do well. She had only cried a few times - once I think I wrote about when the little kids were messing up her gift bags at Sunbeam Village. She didn't really cry then, just pout. She also cried during the movie "Yours, Mine and Ours", when the parents separated. She liked the happy ending, but she made it clear that she does not want 18 children in our family. She does not even want seven. No Ma'anshan sisters for her. She thinks six kids is the perfect number.
Another funny - on the last day in Hefei, just Hai Ting and I went for a walk in the park. We passed many older men playing cards and they would stare at us. Hai Ting held up my umbrella to block their view and she would move me to the other side of her. I finally had to stop and use her "ibox" to translate, " Mommy is a big girl. Don't worry about me." It is going to take awhile for her to learn to be a kid, but we are working on it. I had our translator to reiterate that she is the kid and I am the parent, aka the boss.
I have two more funny stories, but they will have to wait for next post. Hungry kids make it really difficult for me to concentrate!
I miss you all. Big hugs to Catherine, Max and Ian (Baba too). Hai ting misses her baba.
Off to dinner at the Cow Bridge. Unfortunately, Hai Ting does not like Lucy's :(
--
Jeanne
Friday, September 14, 2007
Last Day in Hefei!!!
It is our last day in Hefei and I finally found an intersection where I can cross without risking limb and life. It is only a block in the other direction from where we had been crossing. To my friends who will be travelling here soon, when you leave the hotel - take 2 left turns, and not 2 right turns and you will find the best route.
This morning we made a trip to the zoo, this afternoon we came back and got Hai Ting's passport and tonight we took a nice walk.
that is all you will get for tonight, because my friends computer battery is low. Stories to follow.
Tomorrow we head to Guangzhou.
Miss you all!-- Jeanne
This morning we made a trip to the zoo, this afternoon we came back and got Hai Ting's passport and tonight we took a nice walk.
that is all you will get for tonight, because my friends computer battery is low. Stories to follow.
Tomorrow we head to Guangzhou.
Miss you all!-- Jeanne
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Orphanage Visit
There is so much to write, it is almost impossible to get started. Yesterday was our big shopping day - Carly has recycled inkjet cartridges and brought the money she earned to buy gifts for the older children at Ma'anshan. Did Elisa tell you how hard it is to spend money with Hai Ting along on the shopping trip?
Today, we left Hefei early for the long trip to Ma'anshan. It is about a 3 hour car ride to the southern part of the Anhui province. We all really enjoyed getting out of the bustle and grime of the city and seeing a bit of the countryside. For all of those adoptive moms who read the Wuhu Diaries, we passed through Wuhu. We also crossed the Yangzte River - which was a real highlight, after reading so much about it for so many years.
We saw miles upon miles of farmland, and finally blue skies! We saw lots of water buffalo and even a water buffalo with a heron on top of it. (remember - symbiotic relationship, back from bio. class?)
Ma'anshan is a city at the base of the Ma'anshan Mountain. Ma'anshan translates to Horse Saddle Mountain. You will have to search Wikipedia for the history facts, it has to do with an honorable general and his horse.
Visiting the orphanage was the highlight of our visit. We started out at the baby home, which is where Hai Ting lived until one year ago when the Sunbeam Village opened. We visited with the director (Auntie Liu), and were able to see the red cloth that was pinned to Hai Ting when she found, but we were not allowed to keep, why - I don't know. We visited the babies and gave out books. That was a hard visit for me. It is hard to see why the paperwork has to take so long and these babies must wait needlessly for their families. Paperwork, paperwork, paperwork.
The next stop was Sunbeam Village, where Hai Ting has lived since August 22, 2006. Sunbeam Village just celebrated its one year anniversary. The living circumstances were more sparse than I realized from pictures, but the children were all happy and excited to see us. We saw Hai Ting get upset for the first time - not because she was saying goodbye, but because the littler children were being so impatient and messing up the gift bags that Hai Ting has so painstakingly arranged to distribute.
We were blessed to be messengers for 4 families whose children are waiting to come home. I wish we could have stayed all day, because the children were so sweet. They showed us all around and practiced their English with us. It is very difficult knowing that some of the children will never have families. Two of Hai Ting's closest friends are teenagers and by China's standards are too old to be adopted. Carly wants us to try to change the Chinese system and bring these girls home. I know that at least one of Hai Ting's housemates has papers in Beijing and will be available for adoption, as will the little twins. We hope to do our part to advocate for all of these children who have stolen our hearts. We also hope that we will be in touch with their families if they are adopted into the United States.
Well, my daughter is next to me, on her translator. It is great, but has some limitations. Last night she told me (via ibox), "tonight I spit with you, Mom." Lucky I understood what she meant since it was bedtime and she was in her PJ's.
Steve heads home tomorrow and while I will really miss him it will be great for him to see Catherine, Max and Ian - although, from what I hear they haven't missed us too much :) I sure miss them!
Ciao from China.-- Jeanne
Today, we left Hefei early for the long trip to Ma'anshan. It is about a 3 hour car ride to the southern part of the Anhui province. We all really enjoyed getting out of the bustle and grime of the city and seeing a bit of the countryside. For all of those adoptive moms who read the Wuhu Diaries, we passed through Wuhu. We also crossed the Yangzte River - which was a real highlight, after reading so much about it for so many years.
We saw miles upon miles of farmland, and finally blue skies! We saw lots of water buffalo and even a water buffalo with a heron on top of it. (remember - symbiotic relationship, back from bio. class?)
Ma'anshan is a city at the base of the Ma'anshan Mountain. Ma'anshan translates to Horse Saddle Mountain. You will have to search Wikipedia for the history facts, it has to do with an honorable general and his horse.
Visiting the orphanage was the highlight of our visit. We started out at the baby home, which is where Hai Ting lived until one year ago when the Sunbeam Village opened. We visited with the director (Auntie Liu), and were able to see the red cloth that was pinned to Hai Ting when she found, but we were not allowed to keep, why - I don't know. We visited the babies and gave out books. That was a hard visit for me. It is hard to see why the paperwork has to take so long and these babies must wait needlessly for their families. Paperwork, paperwork, paperwork.
The next stop was Sunbeam Village, where Hai Ting has lived since August 22, 2006. Sunbeam Village just celebrated its one year anniversary. The living circumstances were more sparse than I realized from pictures, but the children were all happy and excited to see us. We saw Hai Ting get upset for the first time - not because she was saying goodbye, but because the littler children were being so impatient and messing up the gift bags that Hai Ting has so painstakingly arranged to distribute.
We were blessed to be messengers for 4 families whose children are waiting to come home. I wish we could have stayed all day, because the children were so sweet. They showed us all around and practiced their English with us. It is very difficult knowing that some of the children will never have families. Two of Hai Ting's closest friends are teenagers and by China's standards are too old to be adopted. Carly wants us to try to change the Chinese system and bring these girls home. I know that at least one of Hai Ting's housemates has papers in Beijing and will be available for adoption, as will the little twins. We hope to do our part to advocate for all of these children who have stolen our hearts. We also hope that we will be in touch with their families if they are adopted into the United States.
Well, my daughter is next to me, on her translator. It is great, but has some limitations. Last night she told me (via ibox), "tonight I spit with you, Mom." Lucky I understood what she meant since it was bedtime and she was in her PJ's.
Steve heads home tomorrow and while I will really miss him it will be great for him to see Catherine, Max and Ian - although, from what I hear they haven't missed us too much :) I sure miss them!
Ciao from China.-- Jeanne
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Happy Adoption Day!!! HaiTing and her new family less 3!!!!
Just hanging out with my family and trying out my new translator!
Look who's taking a ride in the airport on the trip to China! Poor Graham!
Another sickie! Steve says he will be in trouble for these two pictures!
And so the card playing begins!!! Looks like family game night at the Parks just got better!!!
A family united across oceans!!!
Ting and Carly - travel buddies!!!
and my favorite of the group: A daughter and her new dad!!!!
Every little girl deserves a daddy with a bright smile like that!!!! Happy Forever Family Day Park Family!!!
Another sickie! Steve says he will be in trouble for these two pictures!
And so the card playing begins!!! Looks like family game night at the Parks just got better!!!
A family united across oceans!!!
Ting and Carly - travel buddies!!!
and my favorite of the group: A daughter and her new dad!!!!
Every little girl deserves a daddy with a bright smile like that!!!! Happy Forever Family Day Park Family!!!
Jeanne say everything is going great! HaiTing is a very conservative girl and a little bit of a Tom boy - no long hair for her she says! She is doing very well with her new family and must have quite a sense of humor. She is also a bargain shopper being very cautious to protect her new family from price gouging! In about 9 hours they head off to HaiTing's orphanage so I know they would appreciate prayers for safe travel and also for HaiTing as she says goodbye to her friends and family there.
Posted by Elisa
Monday, September 10, 2007
Day one
I for one can't wait to meet HaiTing! Here is Jeanne's latest post. Sorry it took so long to get put up as I have been in a mud whole all day! Elisa
thanks everyone for the comments. Even though I can't read my posts, my comments are coming to me by email. Thanks to Elisa for posting my blogs for me, I am sending them to her via email.
Day one - not quite down, but winding down anyway. Hai Ting has been a joyful imp all day. Right now, she, Carly & Graham are in the other room watching Charlie & the Chocolate Factory. Her first all English movie, although it has Chinese subtitles. Another possible first - pizza, and using a fork and knife, and a for sure first - grapefruit juice. She ordered it (in Chinese), but I guess she didn't know what it was. She puckered at the first sip and asked the waitress " what is this?" I asked if she wanted water instead, but no she was determined to drink it. Finally, we added a bit of sugar and that made it palatable.
Today, we went shopping for an electronic translator. Hai Ting was so cute, she didn't want to spend too much money. We finally settled on the most expensive one, she fell in love with it before she knew the price. We convinced her by telling her it was for her first eleven birthdays, which we had missed. The first thing she wrote on her translator was " Hai Ting is a happy girl". While shopping, we were the only westerners in sight. We had many people asking for money, and also our empty water bottles - which would be okay once they were empty. Hai Ting was so protective of us, she shooed people away. She didnt' want anyone messing with her family.
Better go check on the movie watching crowd. We don't have connecting rooms, so hopefully they are doing okay. Maybe HaiTing has ordered room service! A cake showed up at the room for my birthday and no one is taking credit for it. Steve asked Hai Ting was it her and she pointed at him and said " You." Whoever it was - Thank you! -- Jeanne
thanks everyone for the comments. Even though I can't read my posts, my comments are coming to me by email. Thanks to Elisa for posting my blogs for me, I am sending them to her via email.
Day one - not quite down, but winding down anyway. Hai Ting has been a joyful imp all day. Right now, she, Carly & Graham are in the other room watching Charlie & the Chocolate Factory. Her first all English movie, although it has Chinese subtitles. Another possible first - pizza, and using a fork and knife, and a for sure first - grapefruit juice. She ordered it (in Chinese), but I guess she didn't know what it was. She puckered at the first sip and asked the waitress " what is this?" I asked if she wanted water instead, but no she was determined to drink it. Finally, we added a bit of sugar and that made it palatable.
Today, we went shopping for an electronic translator. Hai Ting was so cute, she didn't want to spend too much money. We finally settled on the most expensive one, she fell in love with it before she knew the price. We convinced her by telling her it was for her first eleven birthdays, which we had missed. The first thing she wrote on her translator was " Hai Ting is a happy girl". While shopping, we were the only westerners in sight. We had many people asking for money, and also our empty water bottles - which would be okay once they were empty. Hai Ting was so protective of us, she shooed people away. She didnt' want anyone messing with her family.
Better go check on the movie watching crowd. We don't have connecting rooms, so hopefully they are doing okay. Maybe HaiTing has ordered room service! A cake showed up at the room for my birthday and no one is taking credit for it. Steve asked Hai Ting was it her and she pointed at him and said " You." Whoever it was - Thank you! -- Jeanne
Sunday, September 9, 2007
Life with Hai Ting
We have her! What a morning it has been already. It is not quite noon yet and we have had a full day already. I didn't eat much breakfast, maybe a bit of nerves, but really just wanting to move on. The revolving restaurant was a bit dizzying at first too.
We went to the civil affairs office at 9:15 and began our wait. There were about 5 other families from other agencies, all getting their babies too. Hai Ting was late, so we had plenty of time to make over babies and take pictures, and of course make new friends.
Graham paced the hallway every now and then looking for his new sister. I am not sure when she arrived but it was after 10 am sometime.
I wish we had our video camera filming the doorway when Hai Ting walked in. She pretty much hopped into the room like a little elf and clapped her hands when she saw us. That kid does not have one shy bone in her body. She was all smiles and hugs and as cute as could be.
Does anyone remember me saying that I would keep Hai Ting at home until she felt comfortable and ready to go to school? I think she'll be ready the day after we return :) She seems like she is ready to conquer the world.
I think she is a bit hyped up right now, with everything being so new. We are off to walk, shop (buy a translator and dictionary) and then swim. She is really wanting to go swimming - I just hope one of the bathing suits I brought fit on her skinny little self.
more later
--
Jeanne
We went to the civil affairs office at 9:15 and began our wait. There were about 5 other families from other agencies, all getting their babies too. Hai Ting was late, so we had plenty of time to make over babies and take pictures, and of course make new friends.
Graham paced the hallway every now and then looking for his new sister. I am not sure when she arrived but it was after 10 am sometime.
I wish we had our video camera filming the doorway when Hai Ting walked in. She pretty much hopped into the room like a little elf and clapped her hands when she saw us. That kid does not have one shy bone in her body. She was all smiles and hugs and as cute as could be.
Does anyone remember me saying that I would keep Hai Ting at home until she felt comfortable and ready to go to school? I think she'll be ready the day after we return :) She seems like she is ready to conquer the world.
I think she is a bit hyped up right now, with everything being so new. We are off to walk, shop (buy a translator and dictionary) and then swim. She is really wanting to go swimming - I just hope one of the bathing suits I brought fit on her skinny little self.
more later
--
Jeanne
Safe In Hefei!
The Adventure of a Lifetime Begins, Thursday, September 6, 2007This is Jeanne's friend Elisa! Jeanne and Steve are having trouble getting onto blogger in China so I'm going to try to update the site for them with pictures when Ting arrives in just a few short hours! It is now 4:50 AM on Forever Family (aka Gotcha Day) in China. I'm sure that they would appreciate a flood of prayers this evening from all of their friends and family. I haven't received the official time that Hope Hai Ting Mae will be joining the family but it is very soon!
As for the stomach virus, Jeanne, Graham, Carly, and Max are all recovered. The "littles" as they are sometimes called have been having a terrific time with friends here in Indiana. Ian is surviving life alone while dining at Denny's and hanging with his band friends and the rest of the gang- well they are getting ready to experience the joy of a lifetime as the newest Park joins the family!
Prayers for you Steve and Jeanne as your family soon grows to 8,
(The Peters-testing out how to use blogger for the Parks)
Saturday, September 8, 2007
last moments in Shanghai
We are getting ready to leave Shanghai and are saying goodbye to our friends Paul and Amy. It has been a great to see how ex-pats live and our new friends have been so welcoming.
Now we are off to Hefei and will meet Hai Ting tomorrow morning.
As I said, the posts my be sparse because I am blocked from blogging in China. I am now using Paul's business connection. Elisa, I will be emailing you and hopefully you can be my blog connection.
Hi friends and family. Catherine, Max and Ian - I love you all to the moon and back.
Now we are off to Hefei and will meet Hai Ting tomorrow morning.
As I said, the posts my be sparse because I am blocked from blogging in China. I am now using Paul's business connection. Elisa, I will be emailing you and hopefully you can be my blog connection.
Hi friends and family. Catherine, Max and Ian - I love you all to the moon and back.
Friday, September 7, 2007
Shanghai, at last
We are here, we are here, we are here!
What an eventful trip. I got the dreaded stomach bug the night before we left - I was pretty sure there was no possible way I was getting on an airplane the next day.
Poor Graham, he got sick partway through our flight from Detroit to Shanghai. Everyone on the plane gave him a wide berth and his own private bathroom. I felt so badly for him! Steve is the only one of us to hold it all together and I hope that this bug has passed him by.
One bonus, wheelchair escorts help you get through the airport at top speed. I had a wheelchair escort in Detroit, and Graham did in Japan and Shanghai.
By far, the best site we have seen yet was our new friend, Amy and her driver, Carl, and assistant Brandon. They were a Godsend!! Amy is a friend of my friend, Elisa, and has just moved to Shanghai from the states. She and her husband Paul are taking care of us and spoiling us and for that we are soooo grateful.
Now that I feel like a person again, I am ready to go get our girl!
If I don't post, it is because I am having trouble getting on blogspot from China. I am not sure why, but Paul is able to get through with his work computer.
Ian, Catherine and Max - I love you all bunches! I am sending you big cyber kisses and hugs.
What an eventful trip. I got the dreaded stomach bug the night before we left - I was pretty sure there was no possible way I was getting on an airplane the next day.
Poor Graham, he got sick partway through our flight from Detroit to Shanghai. Everyone on the plane gave him a wide berth and his own private bathroom. I felt so badly for him! Steve is the only one of us to hold it all together and I hope that this bug has passed him by.
One bonus, wheelchair escorts help you get through the airport at top speed. I had a wheelchair escort in Detroit, and Graham did in Japan and Shanghai.
By far, the best site we have seen yet was our new friend, Amy and her driver, Carl, and assistant Brandon. They were a Godsend!! Amy is a friend of my friend, Elisa, and has just moved to Shanghai from the states. She and her husband Paul are taking care of us and spoiling us and for that we are soooo grateful.
Now that I feel like a person again, I am ready to go get our girl!
If I don't post, it is because I am having trouble getting on blogspot from China. I am not sure why, but Paul is able to get through with his work computer.
Ian, Catherine and Max - I love you all bunches! I am sending you big cyber kisses and hugs.
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Good news/bad news
The bad news is that two of our kids were up all night with the stomach virus. The good news is that one is feeling much better (one of the travellers) and that she and her Dad have a head start on adjusting to Shanghai time
The bad news is that Steve was taking out the trash this morning, only to find a rabid looking skunk in our yard. The good news is that Steve found it before the dogs did. (** Our vet assured me that most likely the skunk had distemper and not rabies. To me, a shaking, drooling skunk in your yard is just plan bad not matter what his diagnosis is.)
The good news is that our local sheriff came over to lend a hand with our skunk problem. The bad news is that when he sent his deputy back for his shotgun, he brought the wrong ammunition. The good news is he made another trip and came back for with the correct ammunition. The bad news is the shotgun didn't work.
The good news is that we have a neighbor that is a hunter. The bad news is that once the skunk was no longer a threat, everyone left us here with a dead skunk in the yard. The good news is that it is trash day. The bad news is that, apparently, Labor Day delayed the trash pickup.
The good news is that this all happened today, the morning before we leave for China, and not tomorrow!
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Here's the plan
In case you are following our journey through blogdom, here is the plan -
Thursday 9/6 - we leave for China, via Detroit, Tokyo and then onto Shanghai. We arrive in Shanghai on Friday evening. (Shanghai is 13 hours ahead of central time).
We will spend 2 days in Shanghai with friends of my friend Elisa. We are really looking forward to meeting them and seeing how and ex-pat in Shanghai lives. I think we are going to love it, it sounds a lot like Seoul.
Sunday 9/9 - we head to Hefei, which is the capital of Anhui Province and where we will meet Hope Hai Ting Mae!
Monday 9/10 - Happy Birthday to me - we meet our daughter!!
Tuesday 9/11 - more paperwork and hanging out in Hefei
Wednesday 9/12 - We travel to Ma'anshan, to visit Hope's home of the last 12 years, and say our goodbyes, and thank yous and see you soons:) At least 4 more older girls will be traveling to their families in the states this year. We are privileged to be able to deliver gifts and photos to these girls from their families.
Thursday 9/13 - Steve heads home, via Shanghai
Saturday 9/15 - Carly, Graham, Hope Hai Ting and I head to Guangzhou and the famous White Swan Hotel. The White Swan is a 5 star hotel, chosen by the adoption agency - not our normal type of lodging. What will Hope think on our next trip, when we squeeze all 8 of us into a measly old 2 or 3 star room?
Tuesday is our consulate appt. so I guess that means we have our visa on Weds and then we head home on Thursday 9/20. Our flight arrives late - about 8 pm. There was an option to arrive earlier, but that would have given me less than 2 hours to get myself and 3 kids through customs. Not likely to happen.
So, that 's the plan. Please pray for a smooth transition for our new daughter. While I would love to come home asap, I know that having time with Hope in China will make her transition easier. At least she doesn't have to be barraged by all things new at the same time she meets her family.
Please pray also for my kids who aren't traveling and for my wonderful friends who are looking after them while we are gone.
Next stop - Shanghai!
Thursday 9/6 - we leave for China, via Detroit, Tokyo and then onto Shanghai. We arrive in Shanghai on Friday evening. (Shanghai is 13 hours ahead of central time).
We will spend 2 days in Shanghai with friends of my friend Elisa. We are really looking forward to meeting them and seeing how and ex-pat in Shanghai lives. I think we are going to love it, it sounds a lot like Seoul.
Sunday 9/9 - we head to Hefei, which is the capital of Anhui Province and where we will meet Hope Hai Ting Mae!
Monday 9/10 - Happy Birthday to me - we meet our daughter!!
Tuesday 9/11 - more paperwork and hanging out in Hefei
Wednesday 9/12 - We travel to Ma'anshan, to visit Hope's home of the last 12 years, and say our goodbyes, and thank yous and see you soons:) At least 4 more older girls will be traveling to their families in the states this year. We are privileged to be able to deliver gifts and photos to these girls from their families.
Thursday 9/13 - Steve heads home, via Shanghai
Saturday 9/15 - Carly, Graham, Hope Hai Ting and I head to Guangzhou and the famous White Swan Hotel. The White Swan is a 5 star hotel, chosen by the adoption agency - not our normal type of lodging. What will Hope think on our next trip, when we squeeze all 8 of us into a measly old 2 or 3 star room?
Tuesday is our consulate appt. so I guess that means we have our visa on Weds and then we head home on Thursday 9/20. Our flight arrives late - about 8 pm. There was an option to arrive earlier, but that would have given me less than 2 hours to get myself and 3 kids through customs. Not likely to happen.
So, that 's the plan. Please pray for a smooth transition for our new daughter. While I would love to come home asap, I know that having time with Hope in China will make her transition easier. At least she doesn't have to be barraged by all things new at the same time she meets her family.
Please pray also for my kids who aren't traveling and for my wonderful friends who are looking after them while we are gone.
Next stop - Shanghai!
Monday, September 3, 2007
Tag You're It!
Apologies to my friend, A, for copying her tag blog word for word. We even have the same middle names, so that made it easy. I did at least change a few of the relevant facts.
I am officially a part of the "Blog World". They have invited me to play their "Reindeer Games". I have been tagged by A. The details are, you have to post these rules before you give the facts. Players, you must list one fact that is somehow relevant to your life for each letter of your middle name. If you don’t have a middle name, use the middle name you would have liked to have had. When you are tagged, you need to write your own blog post containing your own middle name game facts. At the end of your blog post, you need to choose one person for each letter of your middle name to tag. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged & to read your blog!
- M arried to my best friend, who always makes me laugh
- A vid laundress
- R eading a good book keeps me up past my bedtime
- I never planned on having a half dozen kids, it just happened
- E cstatic about the arrival of our sixth child
(You've been tagged : Marlene, Nancy Ann, Linda, Sarah, and Kim)
Saturday, September 1, 2007
Carly's blog
After a brief hiatus, Carly is up and blogging again. Her blog is listed in my sidebar. It might be interesting to read a 15 year old's perspective on our trip and life with a new sister.
My motto
Sometimes people will ask how we manage with five, going on six kids. Here is how I see it. Having your first child is life changing, having a second child turns your world upside down because the first one has to learn how to share Mom and Dad. Having a third child means you are outnumbered and have to change from man-on-man to zone defense.After three kids, it is all just chaos and in my estimation "chaos is chaos". More than three kids means more laundry, more dishes, more messes to clean up, more noses (and other parts) to wipe; although, unless you are a parent to multiples, hopefully you won't be wiping every kids parts simultaneously.
But when it comes to chaos, you never hear someone say - "it was just a little bit of chaos, or it was chaos to the n-th degree. It is alway just chaos.
So that is my motto - "Chaos is chaos" and 3 kids or 6 kids, it is still just chaos. That is my theory and I'm sticking to it. I am writing it here so that when I return with kid #6, you all can remind me, "Chaos is chaos." Let's hope my motto holds water.
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