We realized that we are at the halfway point of our trip. Hallelujah!
I seem to be the master of the bath. I again supervised Carson’s morning bath (or swim) and again the bathroom stayed dry. Dry, that is, until I left the bathroom and didn’t notice it getting to high. Saved by dad. Interesting how Carson rinses the shampoo from his hair. He is unused to baths so when he has lathered up, he jumps up, rests his upper body on the counter and rinses his hair in the sink. He is very clever.
We went to a park today. It had a lake with small bridges and area where people exercise. I thought it would have a playground but just t he exercise equipment. Carson definitely likes the superhero play. I learned today that most of what boys watch on TV here is superhero play, including some measure of violence. It is what he knows. We worked today on when it is ok to do that behavior and when not. Basically, never with mom and only when dad says they can play. He had his first series of time outs of any consequence. I am finally becoming immune to the stares of others. Mostly because I am so tired of being ignored and laughed at by Carson when I discipline him. I am only requiring 2 minute time outs now. I had the guide explain that in the US, he is likely to get 8 minute timeouts due to being 8 years old when he is in school or if he goes to day care.
We found an area next to the park with rides. Keith did a strange bike in a wheel sort of contraption with Carson and Carson did a small roller coaster a couple of times by himself. Then I was up. I got on a ride that looked like a scrambler. Was I ever mistaken. With Carson seated in front and leaning back against me, we started to spin. Our cart turned on its side. Then I heard it. The noise. The noise that said the whole darn thing was going up on a giant arm and tilting us while it spun. I was so scared that I screamed and cried through the whole thing. I think Carson enjoyed my terror. I was shaking for a good 10 minutes after I got off. Our guide said that Carson told me thank you for going with him but I was so out of it, I didn’t hear a word. Carson really ran off some energy for the first time today. So much energy that he wanted a nap when we got back. No way was I letting him sleep during the day. I’m sure he didn’t get naps before and I was afraid of what might happen tonight if he slept during the day.
We had lunch at a dumpling restaurant a few doors down from the hotel. Many places do not own forks so we are getting better at chopsticks. We headed back to the hotel to check in with the Kaden family who are here from Wisconsin adopting an almost 10 year old girl. We met on the Dalian Yahoo Adoption group.
We went to the Kaden’s hotel to meet them. Carson and Nina were in school together and seemed very happy to see each other. What a beautiful family. They have 2 beautiful bio daughters, both fluent in Chinese, and 2 adopted Chinese daughters. They just received their older Chinese daughters this morning. Five lovely daughters. Lisa and Dave were such nice people and I learned a little more about Chinese boys from Lisa who has a little more personal experience than I. You never know where you are going to learn things that will help. We also talked about a possible summer get together this next year with Zach and his family who live in MN. Zach was adopted right before Carson. MN sounds like a great place for a summer vacation for next year! I think if we can keep these children in touch with each other, it would be a very special connection over the years.
We stopped at the market across from the hotel again as Carson wanted to buy grapes. Other than a small amount of ice cream, he really does not care for sweets. He didn’t even want any of the sweet and sour pork I had at lunch since it was sort of candied.
Tomorrow we are going to the Imperial Palace. Don’t know how Carson will enjoy that, but knowing that we are at the halfway point gives me a little more energy! I am really starting to miss by girls at home.
10 days down and 9 to go.
Monday, October 29, 2007
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Chinese Wal Mart
Chinese Wal Mart
Saturday (day 7) was our first unscheduled day. Although it was raining and rather cold, we walked to Starbucks for lunch and caught a cab to WalMart. Crazy. It was 3 stories. China has these escalator type things without stairs so you just roll your cart on it. I think it is magnetic so your cart doesn’t move. Carson was pretty comfortable tossing things into the cart. We bought snacks and clothes for him. We later learned that the thing he is eating the most is dried squid. He also loves sunflower seeds and pistachios. He chose nearly 20 more books. As we were heading toward the exit, which was super crowded, I had what felt like my first mommy to my son moment. As we entered the crush of people, he reached for the side of the cart and stayed very close to me. Seems like such a small thing but it felt like he was depending on me for the first time.
Keith had to stand in the rain for 15 minutes to get a cab but we made it back to the hotel. Carson was happy to stay in the room and watch cartoons and read. Keith went down to KFC again and brought dinner back. Sooooo tired of KFC but we know Carson will eat the chicken and we can easily order there. He had picked out ramen noodles at Walmart as well, so he made several bowls of that. He is a very independent child. He was very funny when I opened the window. They pump the heat into the rooms until you are ready to sleep on the cooler bathroom tile. He acted like he would freeze to death with the window open so he started moving the table and chairs so that he could move his bed a couple of feet from the window. They really believe in bundling children up here and I think the kids think they will get sick from open air in a room. We all went to sleep about 9.
Today, (day 8) we woke up rested for the first time. I facilitated today’s bathing with Carson. Today was also the first time without a flooded bathroom. I tried to communicate that he was taking a shower instead of a bath. These tubs are quite shallow. Even though I removed everything that I thought could be used as a plug, he circumvented me again. He took the round soap and put that over the drain. Dang, it worked. Anyway, he floated in the water and did not splash even one time! As one of my yahoo adoption friends put it, he may have figured out that you don’t mess with mama jama.
We went to the zoo today. This is the largest zoo in Shenyang; we were disappointed. We were freezing as the weather was in the high 30’s. It took just a few minutes to walk around the exhibits. There were only about 3 animals out because it was so cold. We had to wait about 45 minutes to get on the bus. Then we were driven sardine style through the zoo with stops at various points where we remained in the bus. The animals were fed through the front window. Pretty weird to see a slab of meat hanging off a stick for the tigers to eat. There were huge, tigers, lions, bears, etc., that ate and followed the bus until we left their area.
Our driver drove us to a public pool so that we could buy a suit for Carson. Keith walked over to see the pool at the hotel next door but Carson says he would rather read or watch dvd’s for now. It appears that the Intercontinental has more restaurants with English writing so if behavior holds up, we will attempt that tonight.
Tomorrow we will go to a park with a playground. I am praying for warmer weather because I cannot stay outside long in 30 something degree weather. I think Carson does better when it is just the three of us. Maybe he feels he has to appear loyal to his f mother still for appearances sake. Who knows. He was pretty loving last night so I’m hoping that lovely little boy comes back today,
8 days down and 11 to go…………..
Saturday (day 7) was our first unscheduled day. Although it was raining and rather cold, we walked to Starbucks for lunch and caught a cab to WalMart. Crazy. It was 3 stories. China has these escalator type things without stairs so you just roll your cart on it. I think it is magnetic so your cart doesn’t move. Carson was pretty comfortable tossing things into the cart. We bought snacks and clothes for him. We later learned that the thing he is eating the most is dried squid. He also loves sunflower seeds and pistachios. He chose nearly 20 more books. As we were heading toward the exit, which was super crowded, I had what felt like my first mommy to my son moment. As we entered the crush of people, he reached for the side of the cart and stayed very close to me. Seems like such a small thing but it felt like he was depending on me for the first time.
Keith had to stand in the rain for 15 minutes to get a cab but we made it back to the hotel. Carson was happy to stay in the room and watch cartoons and read. Keith went down to KFC again and brought dinner back. Sooooo tired of KFC but we know Carson will eat the chicken and we can easily order there. He had picked out ramen noodles at Walmart as well, so he made several bowls of that. He is a very independent child. He was very funny when I opened the window. They pump the heat into the rooms until you are ready to sleep on the cooler bathroom tile. He acted like he would freeze to death with the window open so he started moving the table and chairs so that he could move his bed a couple of feet from the window. They really believe in bundling children up here and I think the kids think they will get sick from open air in a room. We all went to sleep about 9.
Today, (day 8) we woke up rested for the first time. I facilitated today’s bathing with Carson. Today was also the first time without a flooded bathroom. I tried to communicate that he was taking a shower instead of a bath. These tubs are quite shallow. Even though I removed everything that I thought could be used as a plug, he circumvented me again. He took the round soap and put that over the drain. Dang, it worked. Anyway, he floated in the water and did not splash even one time! As one of my yahoo adoption friends put it, he may have figured out that you don’t mess with mama jama.
We went to the zoo today. This is the largest zoo in Shenyang; we were disappointed. We were freezing as the weather was in the high 30’s. It took just a few minutes to walk around the exhibits. There were only about 3 animals out because it was so cold. We had to wait about 45 minutes to get on the bus. Then we were driven sardine style through the zoo with stops at various points where we remained in the bus. The animals were fed through the front window. Pretty weird to see a slab of meat hanging off a stick for the tigers to eat. There were huge, tigers, lions, bears, etc., that ate and followed the bus until we left their area.
Our driver drove us to a public pool so that we could buy a suit for Carson. Keith walked over to see the pool at the hotel next door but Carson says he would rather read or watch dvd’s for now. It appears that the Intercontinental has more restaurants with English writing so if behavior holds up, we will attempt that tonight.
Tomorrow we will go to a park with a playground. I am praying for warmer weather because I cannot stay outside long in 30 something degree weather. I think Carson does better when it is just the three of us. Maybe he feels he has to appear loyal to his f mother still for appearances sake. Who knows. He was pretty loving last night so I’m hoping that lovely little boy comes back today,
8 days down and 11 to go…………..
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Travel is Good!
Travel is Good!
Carson slept peacefully last night giving him plenty of energy to keep us busy at breakfast. He traveled from Dalian, his birth city, back to Shenyang today. We will stay her until we fly to Guangzhou on 11-2. He slept most of the way in the van. Travel is good, he sleeps! Before we left, I bought a beautiful cloisonné tea pot to be given to him and his wife on their wedding day. I wanted it to be something from his birth city. We gave him a pad of paper and his first box of crayons in the van. He drew lots of pictures of us and our guide. He seemed to enjoy making us look like monsters.
We spent the afternoon in the hotel room reading while Carson watched some of his new videos. We then attempted dinner if the hotel restaurant. When we got to our table, he immediately began pulling things off the wall and banging silverware. We had agreed that behavior like this would be stopped so Keith picked him up and went back to the room. I had a beautiful dinner all by myself with duck and udon noodles and peaceful dessert. 30 minutes of bliss. I returned to a sad Keith and a sad Carson. Keith thought that maybe he had scared Carson so they were both in a not so great place. I sat with them while Keith talked to him and patted him. Then he went to get KFC again so Carson would have something to eat. While he was gone, Carson laid against me on the bed as I was reading. Kind of up and down but at least showing some sort of affection. We have determined that he is a master manipulator to get what he wants so we have been bracing ourselves. Nothing so far. He picked up the phone while Keith was out and called his foster mother. It seemed to be a calm conversation of about 10 minutes. He ate his chicken and is happily playing in the tub with the shower running above him.
Tomorrow we attempt a cab ride to Wal Mart to get pants for him and the promised books. He is a voracious reader and I make sure I have one in my bag for him at all times. Hopefully we can find a place to play ball and shoot his cars around. He took the Simon trickster into the bath tub tonight so that it shot. Thanks, Keith. I can’t complain too much about that though. Keith has handled the baths and one comes out drenched when finished. Along with the floor and ceiling and walls, etc. we basically empty the room before we run the water.
Although today wasn’t perfect, it was the best one so far. 6 days down and 13 to go.
Carson slept peacefully last night giving him plenty of energy to keep us busy at breakfast. He traveled from Dalian, his birth city, back to Shenyang today. We will stay her until we fly to Guangzhou on 11-2. He slept most of the way in the van. Travel is good, he sleeps! Before we left, I bought a beautiful cloisonné tea pot to be given to him and his wife on their wedding day. I wanted it to be something from his birth city. We gave him a pad of paper and his first box of crayons in the van. He drew lots of pictures of us and our guide. He seemed to enjoy making us look like monsters.
We spent the afternoon in the hotel room reading while Carson watched some of his new videos. We then attempted dinner if the hotel restaurant. When we got to our table, he immediately began pulling things off the wall and banging silverware. We had agreed that behavior like this would be stopped so Keith picked him up and went back to the room. I had a beautiful dinner all by myself with duck and udon noodles and peaceful dessert. 30 minutes of bliss. I returned to a sad Keith and a sad Carson. Keith thought that maybe he had scared Carson so they were both in a not so great place. I sat with them while Keith talked to him and patted him. Then he went to get KFC again so Carson would have something to eat. While he was gone, Carson laid against me on the bed as I was reading. Kind of up and down but at least showing some sort of affection. We have determined that he is a master manipulator to get what he wants so we have been bracing ourselves. Nothing so far. He picked up the phone while Keith was out and called his foster mother. It seemed to be a calm conversation of about 10 minutes. He ate his chicken and is happily playing in the tub with the shower running above him.
Tomorrow we attempt a cab ride to Wal Mart to get pants for him and the promised books. He is a voracious reader and I make sure I have one in my bag for him at all times. Hopefully we can find a place to play ball and shoot his cars around. He took the Simon trickster into the bath tub tonight so that it shot. Thanks, Keith. I can’t complain too much about that though. Keith has handled the baths and one comes out drenched when finished. Along with the floor and ceiling and walls, etc. we basically empty the room before we run the water.
Although today wasn’t perfect, it was the best one so far. 6 days down and 13 to go.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Better Blog Today
Unbelievable Gift
Quite a day. We drove to the orphanage in our van. 2 of the other 3 families met us there. We were the first to arrive and we had our guide explain to the director, Ms. Pan, that Carson is still calling his foster mother a lot. She talked to him about calling once a week and about being respectful to his parents in his behavior. We saw all of the rooms that the children use, bathrooms, shower rooms, exercise, classroom, assembly. Carson seemed to be a hit with the younger children, especially when he passed out the candy we brought. He acted like a wild child, running and flitting from place to place. He kept teasing other adults and I was so much at a loss for what to do. We had lunch there and our guide told us that the director and one of the caregivers said that we needed to discipline him more. It was difficult for me not to cry at that point because I will not spank him and I will not be rough. When he caused trouble at the lunch table with the president sitting next to Keith, I asked our guide what those 2 people would have expected me to do in that situation. She couldn’t answer. Nothing is easy right now.
We tried to shop to get Carson some more clothes. He kept dropping like a lump to the ground so Keith finally picked him up to carry him down the steps. Carson bit him and we both knew that it was time to step up the discipline. We sat on a bench with him in between us and Maggie kneeling. She talked to him for a long time. It was interesting that he stayed leaning against Keith during the whole time. I finally asked her to ask him if he wanted to be with us. He said no and my response was that we were his parents, he was our son and that was that. We loved him and in the Crossley family, we do not hurt each other. We found a place to buy DVD’s. He tolerated me because I bought them and gave them to him. I use tolerate loosely. He was very clear that he wants nothing to do with me.
After shopping, we drove to JinZhou district where Carson was born. His information told us that he was born in a hospital and his parents disappeared while there. Not true. Carson kept dropping like a lump to the floor so Keith stayed with him in the lobby while Maggie and I went to the maternity floor. We looked into a room and a nurse came out. Maggie told her why we were there and the woman started to cry at his name. She was the one who found him! He was not born at the hospital. He was abandoned there in the corridor. He had a note that he was one month old, so his birthdate as given to us is incorrect. He was wrapped in a warm sleeping bag. This nurse (who is now the Director of Nursing) called the police and many of them came. It was unusual to have a baby abandoned in a hospital. They took him to the police station (consistent with our information) and one day later taken to the Dalian Social welfare Institute. The nurse wanted to meet him so Maggie went to get Keith and Carson. While this was happening, there was a pregnant woman lying on the table next to me having some sort of test with a fetal monitor listening to the whole thing. When Keith and Carson came in, up to a dozen people kept coming in and out and listening to the story. I think the story was spreading among the staff. I asked Maggie if Carson was uncomfortable and she thought not. She thought this could be very healing for him to have a beginning to his story, even one that is a month from his birth. She told him how lucky he was and all of those other predictable things. She also told him that he was a very lucky boy to be found be her and to be saved by us. Other children in the orphanage are not so lucky. He is to treat his parents with respect and learn as much as he can. She expects him to go to University and come back in 10 years to see her. There were several other details of his abandonment that we will keep private for him. This was an amazing gift that we did not expect.
Maggie came to our room to be sure that we could handle getting DVD’s going with Chinese instructions. Carson actually asked her to ask me if he could call his f mother one time tonight and then watch one of the new DVD’s!! I said yes and he gave me a thumbs up. He has watched one now and gave me a hug and wo ai ni when done. He is now happily splashing in the tub, which he requested. I have no illusion that the rest of the trip will be a piece of cake but the last hour of easier time with him gives me hope.
The comments and emails you all are sending are enormously helpful. It feels very much like Keith and Carole against the world. Being stared at as you stand by a lump of 8 year old on the ground is getting old!
More tomorrow!
Quite a day. We drove to the orphanage in our van. 2 of the other 3 families met us there. We were the first to arrive and we had our guide explain to the director, Ms. Pan, that Carson is still calling his foster mother a lot. She talked to him about calling once a week and about being respectful to his parents in his behavior. We saw all of the rooms that the children use, bathrooms, shower rooms, exercise, classroom, assembly. Carson seemed to be a hit with the younger children, especially when he passed out the candy we brought. He acted like a wild child, running and flitting from place to place. He kept teasing other adults and I was so much at a loss for what to do. We had lunch there and our guide told us that the director and one of the caregivers said that we needed to discipline him more. It was difficult for me not to cry at that point because I will not spank him and I will not be rough. When he caused trouble at the lunch table with the president sitting next to Keith, I asked our guide what those 2 people would have expected me to do in that situation. She couldn’t answer. Nothing is easy right now.
We tried to shop to get Carson some more clothes. He kept dropping like a lump to the ground so Keith finally picked him up to carry him down the steps. Carson bit him and we both knew that it was time to step up the discipline. We sat on a bench with him in between us and Maggie kneeling. She talked to him for a long time. It was interesting that he stayed leaning against Keith during the whole time. I finally asked her to ask him if he wanted to be with us. He said no and my response was that we were his parents, he was our son and that was that. We loved him and in the Crossley family, we do not hurt each other. We found a place to buy DVD’s. He tolerated me because I bought them and gave them to him. I use tolerate loosely. He was very clear that he wants nothing to do with me.
After shopping, we drove to JinZhou district where Carson was born. His information told us that he was born in a hospital and his parents disappeared while there. Not true. Carson kept dropping like a lump to the floor so Keith stayed with him in the lobby while Maggie and I went to the maternity floor. We looked into a room and a nurse came out. Maggie told her why we were there and the woman started to cry at his name. She was the one who found him! He was not born at the hospital. He was abandoned there in the corridor. He had a note that he was one month old, so his birthdate as given to us is incorrect. He was wrapped in a warm sleeping bag. This nurse (who is now the Director of Nursing) called the police and many of them came. It was unusual to have a baby abandoned in a hospital. They took him to the police station (consistent with our information) and one day later taken to the Dalian Social welfare Institute. The nurse wanted to meet him so Maggie went to get Keith and Carson. While this was happening, there was a pregnant woman lying on the table next to me having some sort of test with a fetal monitor listening to the whole thing. When Keith and Carson came in, up to a dozen people kept coming in and out and listening to the story. I think the story was spreading among the staff. I asked Maggie if Carson was uncomfortable and she thought not. She thought this could be very healing for him to have a beginning to his story, even one that is a month from his birth. She told him how lucky he was and all of those other predictable things. She also told him that he was a very lucky boy to be found be her and to be saved by us. Other children in the orphanage are not so lucky. He is to treat his parents with respect and learn as much as he can. She expects him to go to University and come back in 10 years to see her. There were several other details of his abandonment that we will keep private for him. This was an amazing gift that we did not expect.
Maggie came to our room to be sure that we could handle getting DVD’s going with Chinese instructions. Carson actually asked her to ask me if he could call his f mother one time tonight and then watch one of the new DVD’s!! I said yes and he gave me a thumbs up. He has watched one now and gave me a hug and wo ai ni when done. He is now happily splashing in the tub, which he requested. I have no illusion that the rest of the trip will be a piece of cake but the last hour of easier time with him gives me hope.
The comments and emails you all are sending are enormously helpful. It feels very much like Keith and Carole against the world. Being stared at as you stand by a lump of 8 year old on the ground is getting old!
More tomorrow!
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Update from Carole & Keith in China
We had a 3 hour layover in Beijing and then landed in Shenyang at 7:10. We went straight to our hotel with our guide. We had enough time to brush our teeth and get the gift for Carson in the bag and head downstairs to meet him.
He hugged us when instructed with a sheepish smile. While Keith signed temporary custody papers, I gave Carson the bag. He opened the lego car kit and wanted to put it together right away. We took pictures with all of the officials and then our guide left. We didn’t know that she wouldn’t be staying at our hotel so that was scary.
We headed up with Carson. I had forgotten to close the suitcase with all the toys and things to use over the next couple of weeks. He dove in and wanted to open everything. Note to those of you still to come: Do NOT bring anything you can’t put together! Carson kept telling Keith to put together the Lego car and me to do the transformer. We were hopelessly inept. For two hours this went on. I put on my pajamas and got into bed hoping this would help. Nope. I got back up.
He wasn’t interested in pajamas or toothbrushing. We didn’t fight it and let him sleep in what he was wearing. He has slept with the light on both nights so far. He didn’t want to change the next morning either. I remembered that at the orphanage they change every other day so again didn’t push it since we had to go to the civil affairs office and start paperwork.
Carson has been calling his foster mother frequently. We didn’t stop him in the beginning. Yesterday, after several calls, we said no more until the next day. He cried, yelled, knocked things over and acted like he was going to punch me. Keith quickly stopped him. He also kept trying to go out the window (12th story) or out the door. We piled suitcases in front of the door which didn’t help. He is very strong. Keith covered the door and I covered the window. We are exhausted. I finally let him call her and she didn’t answer. I think she knew it was him and is trying to help the calls slow down. He finally got through around 10:30, 2 hours after the grieving and anger began. She sounded harsh with him and he hung up on her and went straight to bed. He slept until this morning.
I was able to get his clothes off finally and get some others on him. We have not yet managed a shower or teeth brushing. That will be the battle for tonight. We drove about 4 hours today to Dalian. We did paperwork and came back to our hotel, the Ramada Inn. Carson is again trying to get through to his foster mother. I don’t know whether she is not answering purposely or not. When we visit the orphanage tomorrow, we will ask the director, Ms Pan, to talk with him about this. He is very violent in his actions and really doesn’t want much to do with me. Our guide and I think that he may be shunning me now as a way to remain loyal to his foster mother. I can live with that. He has been very sweet previously. He accidentally hit me with a bat the first morning and immediately was hugging me and telling me he loved me in Chinese. He has been a spontaneous hugger up until the calling problems.
He is picking up a few words, bathroom was the first. Might as well pick an important one! He can also count to 10 and is very proud. I watch him problem solve and thing he is clever. He also loves to read. We went to a bookstore and we walked out with several bags. He has kept himself very quiet through all of the govt paperwork by reading. He even carries it and reads as we walk along the street.
I believe this is going to get easier. It is exhausting for now and we are seriously struggling. Hopefully the visit to the orphanage and a talk with Ms. Pan will improve things.
He hugged us when instructed with a sheepish smile. While Keith signed temporary custody papers, I gave Carson the bag. He opened the lego car kit and wanted to put it together right away. We took pictures with all of the officials and then our guide left. We didn’t know that she wouldn’t be staying at our hotel so that was scary.
We headed up with Carson. I had forgotten to close the suitcase with all the toys and things to use over the next couple of weeks. He dove in and wanted to open everything. Note to those of you still to come: Do NOT bring anything you can’t put together! Carson kept telling Keith to put together the Lego car and me to do the transformer. We were hopelessly inept. For two hours this went on. I put on my pajamas and got into bed hoping this would help. Nope. I got back up.
He wasn’t interested in pajamas or toothbrushing. We didn’t fight it and let him sleep in what he was wearing. He has slept with the light on both nights so far. He didn’t want to change the next morning either. I remembered that at the orphanage they change every other day so again didn’t push it since we had to go to the civil affairs office and start paperwork.
Carson has been calling his foster mother frequently. We didn’t stop him in the beginning. Yesterday, after several calls, we said no more until the next day. He cried, yelled, knocked things over and acted like he was going to punch me. Keith quickly stopped him. He also kept trying to go out the window (12th story) or out the door. We piled suitcases in front of the door which didn’t help. He is very strong. Keith covered the door and I covered the window. We are exhausted. I finally let him call her and she didn’t answer. I think she knew it was him and is trying to help the calls slow down. He finally got through around 10:30, 2 hours after the grieving and anger began. She sounded harsh with him and he hung up on her and went straight to bed. He slept until this morning.
I was able to get his clothes off finally and get some others on him. We have not yet managed a shower or teeth brushing. That will be the battle for tonight. We drove about 4 hours today to Dalian. We did paperwork and came back to our hotel, the Ramada Inn. Carson is again trying to get through to his foster mother. I don’t know whether she is not answering purposely or not. When we visit the orphanage tomorrow, we will ask the director, Ms Pan, to talk with him about this. He is very violent in his actions and really doesn’t want much to do with me. Our guide and I think that he may be shunning me now as a way to remain loyal to his foster mother. I can live with that. He has been very sweet previously. He accidentally hit me with a bat the first morning and immediately was hugging me and telling me he loved me in Chinese. He has been a spontaneous hugger up until the calling problems.
He is picking up a few words, bathroom was the first. Might as well pick an important one! He can also count to 10 and is very proud. I watch him problem solve and thing he is clever. He also loves to read. We went to a bookstore and we walked out with several bags. He has kept himself very quiet through all of the govt paperwork by reading. He even carries it and reads as we walk along the street.
I believe this is going to get easier. It is exhausting for now and we are seriously struggling. Hopefully the visit to the orphanage and a talk with Ms. Pan will improve things.
Monday, October 15, 2007
Practice
Hi everyone!
Carole's little sister trying to figure this out so I can help while she is away to bring my new nephew home!
Carole's little sister trying to figure this out so I can help while she is away to bring my new nephew home!
New photos of our son
Cindy, a mom I met through our Dalian Yahoo Adoption Group, is in China now adopting her son Zach. She has been so wonderful to give those of us waiting photos and information on our children. In the last post I included a photo that she took of our two boys. Carson is on the left. Aren't they both handsome boys?! Cindy says that Carson was brought along as Zach and Hannah were being adopted so that he can see the process before we get there next week. She says that he has a sweet disposition and likes to read. He was fascinated with her husbands blonde hair and kept rubbing his head. He should be happy with Keith and I! He really liked the matchbox cars and nerf football that Zach had so we went to the mall and the girls picked out more cars and another football for him.
I've added another picture from Cindy. Carson is on the right.
Five days and counting!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)