I'm propped up with pillows trying to type while Chase is drinking his bottle, tummy to tummy all snuggled so close and sweet smelling from our bath. He was a bit anxious about the tub initially but getting in with him worked great. He prefers to sit on my leg while the girls romp. Its a huge tub here, a deep soaking tub so occasionally I have to pull one of the little ones off the bottom but no one cries. He doesn't mind getting water in his face or getting cleaned. He tells me if he needs his diaper changed and doesn't run away....yet. Aus dressed him for the first time after tonight's bath and started to play chase the naked baby game so I had to ruin his fun or Chase will want to be chased for every change from now on. I'm "too old" for nonsense. We tickle, play little piggies and blow raspberries...just no running away!
Its 11pm here and 10am there! I'm gonna hate myself in the morning after staying up a bit when I could crash but I don't want to forget the things we did. We were up at 7 am when the alarm went off. I had to smack Aus with a pillow after he didn't budge for a while as the alarm got louder and louder. Chase was great sleeping a bit longer so I could let the girls climb up and snuggle for a quick minute. We did a quick pick up incase breakfast took longer so we could come back for our things and depart on time. The breakfast here takes quite a bit of time just collecting the foods. One buffet has the line of beverages, one the breads, one the Asian foods, one the cold salads, one the raw fish and sushi, one the hot breakfast foods then one more with pastries and muffins. Chase had to have a banana in each hand then was happy for me to collect plates of fresh fruit, cups of yogurt, glasses of juices (Brianna had tomato then watermelon juice but Braelyn kept to her usual orange juice then apple). The waitresses hover watching your every move. You have to get used to eating while being watched. Just like on the street, people just stare and even turn to keep watching.
Chase likes scrambled eggs, congee and watermelon. He likes milk and does NOT seem to be lactose intolerant like us girls! He will let me feed him some like we are supposed to in the program "Taming the Tiger while its still a Kitten" by Nancy Thomas if you want to really get your child on track. Its on the internet if you Google it. Doing a lot of what she says and Holding Time by Martha Walsh have helped us heal a lot of trauma with our girls. I do plan to look into Neuro-feedback as well.
Up to the room then back to the lobby right on time to leave for the Medical Appointment a half hour away on the Island where we really wanted to stay. Its all torn up being updated throughout with the street and sidewalks plus the building fronts getting face lifts. But, its a quieter place than mid city where we are staying. Here at the Garden there are tons of people swarming in and around constantly where on the Island you can just stroll to little shops and restaurants. Its hard to say which is the better place in the end.
Knowing I did not want the girls to see how upset all the babies were getting their check ups and shots, I had Aus take them shopping for a few things for our keepsake box. I had my back pack with things for Chase, him in the front carrier and $1000 in US money converted to Chinese to pay for the shots the US government now demands they get before coming to the US only because they are adopted. Chase is current on his vaccinations in his Chinese medical status but our US regulations want him to have a lot of shots that even in the US are optional like the flu shot and chicken pox. So, with the new Hague Conference, to be compliant, he was required to get SIX shots all one right after another PLUS a TB skin test in one sitting. He was such a trouper through the whole two hour process from his hearing, ear and throat check, heart and lungs, height and weight, physical inspection of his skin, palpation of his internal organs, a close exam of his special needs, his left knee hemangioma then his head circumference. His head is whopping 19 inches! Everyone there kept remarking on what a BIG boy he is, how big his head, how he must never miss a meal etc but really, when you really look at his torso, he's not fat. He just has a larger head and broader shoulders and the sweetest smile showing those Hollywood teeth! He smiled and waved at people getting on the bus to the exam now we have so many in our group, its like a Greyhound bus and Rebecca uses a microphone.
If anyone is planning on adopting, for this part, do take a plastic folder for your papers, you will get quite a few and two very important ones. She gave me a yellow shots record book showing the six shots from today plus the ones he had prior in China. Then a document in English showing he is compliant on shots to get home with us. We have to show this at customs along with his passport. So many technical things. I let Aus go to the Visa meeting this afternoon to complete that part of the paperwork so the kids could rest and Chase was finally napping. He never got crabby after his shots at all. He'll fall asleep while I'm carrying him so I just unbuckled and laid him on the bed with a pillow alongside him so he'd think I was still there. It worked! I had a chance to snuggle the girls and help them re organize their suitcases and get out the art supplies. Brianna will need more paper soon as she's almost used up the pack of 50 we got her in Korea.
Once the medical was over I took my little pin cushion out to see Aus waiting with the girls to go shopping for squeaky shoes and updated Chinese dresses. Tomorrow is picture day! I wanted them to have matching dresses and for Chase to have a traditional looking outfit. The store Aus chose as having the best prices was so very pushy. I told them what I was looking for and the size but they kept showing me things in other colors, sizes way too large that I had to put my foot down. I found an outfit I liked but it was a 12. There is NO way he is that big. I asked for a 4 or 6 but it took a long time to finally get a size 9! I'll just have it for him for a long time. Tomorrow we'll just roll up the hem for the photo and use the tape we brought. It is quite the spiffy Chinese dude suit for sure! Can't wait for you all to see it!
Strolling over to our old favorite place to eat from two years ago when we adopted Braelyn, we ate lunch at Lucy's. At night the lights along the river on the back patio are magnificent. One evening we get to do on a Riverboat dinner cruise! Tomorrow we are to get the group picture then depart for the Plaza with the electronics, toys and clothing. I told Brianna what is in her allowance and she is so excited to shop. She has seen quite a few things so far she wanted but was really good not to beg knowing she will get to use her saved money when we find the better deals. I'm so glad she is learning to save and budget.
For dinner tonight we walked around, went down to the subway then back up the other side to the Friendship Store but it was not the friendliest place. So much make up and lotions and potions when you first walk in then up to Woman's wear but items were $2950 RMG divided by almost 7 is still EXPENSIVE! Most things are cheaper in China. McDonalds doesn't have a dollar menu here, its a 6RMB where that is almost a dollar. So we got the girls and Chase a 6 6RMB ice cream tonight. He was so funny trying to stick his tongue out and learn to lick it around so it didn't drip.
So, before Chase has a fit with me typing here with him on my lap, I'd better hand the laptop over to Aus for his turn.
thanks!
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