Day 4 As Parents-This Ain't Easy!

Hi Everyone,
First of all, thank you so much for all the comments! They are fun to read and make us feel close to home from the other side of the planet. First of all, Emmy is sick so send her all your prayers and good thoughts. She's okay (don't worry too much all you Grandmothers!), she has an upper respiratory infection and diarrhea. She has been getting a little worse each day instead of a little better so we took her to the hotel doctor and she is now taking all kinds of medicine. She actually played a little bit this afternoon so it must be helping already. The doctor also mentioned how small she is for her age and thinks that she has problems with digestion which is common for orphanage babies, so she started her on something for that too. On top of all it, I think she's just sad. Imagine waking up and everything and everyone you knew was gone. But she seems to trust us more each day. We'll be glad to get home and have her checked out thoroughly. Dave and I feel much better after seeing the doctor here, though. Speaking of us, we both have colds. I can't imagine how-I know personally that Emmy has sneezed directly into my mouth several times and yesterday she put her finger up into my nose!

Other than the crankiness (from all of us) we have had some fun for the past two days. Yesterday was a free day and we slept in a little later (till 5:30!). We went exploring around Shaiman Island and bought a few souvenirs. That night, the four families who were in Beijing together all went to dinner at Lucy's. Lucy's pretty much caters to the adoptive families on the island and serves lots of American Style food. The restaurant was filled with babies. After only one week I am pretty sick of Chinese food (or "food"as they call it here). Our meals were good but one by one, each baby melted down. I guess it was good we all got to know each other in Beijing -prebabies.

We did some sightseeing today with our guide. Six of the families went to the Banyan Temple. It was so crowded. It was worth it though because it was a glimpse of daily life here in China. The monks performed a chant and blessing for the babies which was very special. After than we went to Chen Chen Academy which houses a folk art museum. Then we went a jade factory store. We got to learn about jade and see a pearl oyster be opened. Then we got heavily pressured to buy jade and pearls. I am perfecting my bargaining technique-the ambivalent/walk away technique. They always come running after you with a better price. Kind of fun. Dave's always real impressed.

Now we'll probably spend the night in the room so Emmy can rest. Tomorrow we have more meetings and paperwork and she needs her Visa photo taken. Hope she feels better and quits growling at us (which is still preferable to crying).