Anniversary

Normally, if a man were to celebrate his wife's anniversary on a different day then her, you would say "and that's how the fight started". However, when you are over 7,000 miles apart and there is 14 hours difference, I think celebrating a day earlier is acceptable since we are celebrating the same date. So, happy anniversary to my beautiful, wonderful wife! I sure love doing life with you! I wish you were here on this trip with me and I can't wait to get home. I love you babe!

 

First time swimming

No business today. We practiced writing this morning while killing time. Our guide took us to a large park. It was beautiful and they had a big kids area. One of the features was a wading pool that they fill with goldfish. You pay 20 yuan and your get a little net and a bowl then when you return their equipment, they give you 10 yuan back. The kids are allowed to catch as many fish as they want and they can even keep them. They will bag them up for you. He was having fun catching by walking around the outside, but there were several kids in the water, so we rolled up his jeans and took of his shoes and socks and let him get in. He had the best time. He did fall once. But he must have caught at least 20. He had a blast and even asked later if we could go back. On the way back to the hotel, I had our guide ask him if he had ever been swimming. He said no but that he wanted to. So I told him we could go after lunch. He asked if it was  going to be at 1:00. He runs a tight ship and needs to know exactly when things are going to happen. We looked for a while for a place to eat and places were pretty busy. So we decided on McDonalds yet again. On our way through the hotel, we ran into some people and started talking and we were way past his lunch time, but we eventually made it to eat and then headed up to change so we could swim. He was very excited until go time. I got in first and he was apprehensive. So, then Grace had to get in and she wasn't really planning on it. Then he relinquished and got in and giggled the whole time. He was very tentative but had fun with it. We then hit the hotel playground which he enjoyed. For dinner, we ordered a Papa John's pizza and had it delivered. Sam loved it. I think he will do just fine back home. He keeps picking western restaurants to eat in.

 

First full day in Guangzhou

It was an early morning after getting in so late last night. Grace and Sam were not ready to get up. But they got moving, we got breakfast and then it was off to the clinic for Sam's medical exam. He did really good. He is so ticklish that he laughed through most of the exam even laying there buck naked in front of two doctors. Then they take him into a room and draw blood and bring him back out to us. He came out smiling...not a tear was shed. What a brave little guy! Between breakfast and the clinic, we finally started meeting some other adopted families. Your time in province can be so lonely if you there are not other families adopting from that orphanage (thank God for the Pellegrino's and Ellis' when we got Claire). Then we went back to the room with our guide and got all the necessary paperwork together. After that, it was off to McDonald's for lunch and then a little souvenir shopping. That made Grace's day. She has been chomping at the bit to do a little bartering. Sam was really sweet. He got a few things today. As he was picking out a new yo-yo, I asked if he wanted to get one for Jack too. From then on, he picked out everything in 2's (can't wait to get them together). Then I ruined Grace's day after I encouraged her to go with us to the park. All the kids equipment was tore up and being reworked, so it turned into a really long walk thru a beautiful park...she was wearing flip flops...and...it is a little hot here. 

I let Sam call his foster family today to tell them that he made it safely and talk about his first flight. He continues to be affectionate towards us and today we noticed that he started calling me Boby (?spelling)...I asked about this and was told it means daddy. He seems to get more and more comfortable with us. He is very shy around new people and on Skype, but otherwise, he is a fun and ornery little guy. He really cracks himself up too. This evening, we hit McDonalds again...Sam's choice and talked to two very nice families. The one family form Georgia just got a daughter who sounds very similar to Claire.

All in all, it was a good day. The last time that we were in Guangzhou, they were gearing up for the Asian games and everything was on point. This time, it all looks pretty trashy. Our hotel is VERY busy. It makes me wish we were back staying at the White Swan Hotel on Shamian Island.

 

 

Travel day to Guangzhou

Yesterday was bitter sweet! For Grace and I it was one step closer to being home. For Sam, it was good and bad all mixed up in one. An abundance of differing emotions that took its toll on our boy. Most of the morning, he was pretty good. We know from previous conversations that he was/is excited to get home to the U.S. and to fly on airplane. We went to lunch at our favorite Cantonese place and as he finished eating, the reality of going farther away from his foster family set in. He just sat in that booth and tears began to quietly run down his face. We paid and got out of there and headed back to the room. There he began to cry and the knowledge of what this little guy was going through was very emotional for Grace and I too. We all 3 sat there and cried and I do believe he found comfort and then humor in the fact that we were crying with him. We let him make his phone calls to his foster family and finished packing. At 2, our guide picked us up to go get our last bit of paperwork and then they took us to the airport. In the van, Sam curled up in the seat and fell asleep...very uncharacteristic of our little guy. We woke him at the airport and he was excited to wheel his own little bag. We got checked in, got our tickets and found our gate. At this point, we were a couple of hours early...then...you guessed it, our flight was delayed. He handled it pretty well. He had his first Subway sandwich (I think). We tried to keep him entertained secretly hoping that the emotion of it all wouldn't cause him to melt down. We were finally able to board and he was very excited. We had 3 seats all together and Grace got in first. He quickly motioned her to the middle seat asking if he could sit by the window. Of course she let him. He sat and watched intently out the window. Unfortunately it was already dark. Just after we got of the ground, we hit some turbulence or they pulled up hard...it gives you the funny feeling in you stomach...and he went "ohhh" and started giggling. He loved it! And of course they won his heart when they served dinner. No troubles what-so-ever with him flying which is a huge blessing with a 15.5 hr flight coming up. Anyway, it made for a late night as we didn't even get to the hotel until 11:30ish.

 

out on a ledge

Sam worked his way out onto a window ledge today. 

 

Re: no worries

I saved him with my Spiderman abilities !!!

no worries

I saved him with my Spiderman abilities 

The Fullers

)

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Our Thanksgiving is about over and yours will soon begin. No turkey, stuffing, mash potatoes & gravy etc...happening here. Missing our family today and definitely ready to be home. Yet, we have so much to be thankful for. Safe travels, my gallbladder is not giving me any trouble anymore, and Sam is precious! He is shy at first but opens up more every day. He is silly, fun, laughs a lot, is a little ornery, polite, and becomes more affectionate with us every day. He is now passing out kisses and will hug if you ask him. He is crazy about Grace which I think is a great sign. It breaks my heart that he misses and will miss his foster family and especially his grandma. I still let him call them every now and then. Today, he asked our guide, Lina, if we get to fly home tomorrow. She told him, no, that we have to go to Guangzhou first. She told him that he is ready to get to the U.S. What a blessing to be chosen to be his forever family. He likes to take care of Grace and I at the restaurants. He likes to order, and have the servers clear plates out of the way and get us to-go-boxes if we need them. He likes to keep and reuse all of the manufacturers original packaging. Little to no waste is his M.O. He seems to have attached really quickly. I am excited for him to spend some time with Leslie and the other kids! I think it will be amazing. He is such a good boy! He picked out a gift for Jack today on our outing. He is also very interesting to observe. He is so efficient with modest means. He is very independent and cares for himself with the smallest amounts. Very little bath water, very little toilet paper, very few napkins, etc...

Once again, we got Grace outside of her comfort zone as we took a tunnel under the river to get to our destination.Today we went to the Pearl Tower which is actually a TV tower, that is a tourist attraction.  You can ride an elevator up inside of it and there is a look out floor and then down a small flight of steps is another lookout floor that is open air but enclosed with glass. Yes, even the floor. It was pretty cool. Sam was the only one brave enough to go out onto the glass floor. He was excited to go to the tower as he had heard about it and had always wanted to see it. Then down stairs is a  museum depicting the history of Shanghai. It was very interesting and I was surprised to learn how much outside influence there was from other countries. Then it was back to the hotel and down the street for lunch. Sam got to open some new activities and toys that Leslie sent along for him (she is such a good mommy). We had plans to go back to the Bund this evening as it was supposed to be very impressive at night. However, Grace was fighting a nasty headache, so we stayed in. Sam and I went and got supper and gave her a chance to sleep peacefully. Baths are done, teeth are brushed and her I am blogging.

So, I wish all of you back home a very happy Thanksgiving!

The Fuller

 

First free day w/Sam part 2

 

First free day w/Sam

So, we had nothing adoption related on the schedule, so we could have slept in, but of course we can't. So it was an early breakfast again and then back to the room to chill a while. Lina picked us up at 10 this morning to tour to go tour the Yue Garden and surrounding market. It was very cool. All of the old historic architecture. The garden was huge and built by a very wealthy business man for his parents. Grace took a lot of pictures and we got to feed the fish. By the time we were thru the garden, it was about lunch time and Sam apparently has a very strict eating schedule. So, the only thing to do is get some Dairy Queen to hold us over...and mom is not here to stop us! Grace got a couple of souvenir items from the market. Then we headed back to our hotel and then down the street to eat. We kept a tight leash on Sam this time when we ordered and we still ended up with way too much food. Looks like left overs for lunch tomorrow. I let Grace get a nap yesterday and so she returned the favor and let me get one today. Sam even fell asleep and got in a little cat nap before we had to leave. We then left the room about 5 to walk a couple of blocks to the subway to get over to the Chinese acrobat show called "Era - Intersection of Time". I didn't think Grace was going to survive the subway ride as she tends to be a little claustrophobic. There was just enough room for the 3 of us to get in and then they shoved some more people in. At the next stop as some people exited and more got on, Grace was kind of shifted to the middle and away from us. I knew my girl, and knew she would be freaking out. There was know way that she could just come over to us. So, I assured her that it would be fine and that I wouldn't leave without her. After a couple more stops, she was able to shift over close to us. Lina met us at the subway station and took us to a local hot-pot restaurant for dinner. Think a Chinese version of the Melting pot and you would be pretty close. It was really good! I wasn't sure what Grace was thinking about it, but she ate some and said it was good and that she was full. Lina did a good job ordering for us and we had a great variety of food. She then got us to the hall for the show and was even able to get our tickets and get us all the way into our seats before she left. Our seats were incredible! Front row! We all three loved it and had an amazing time. Then Grace got her first experience at hailing and riding in a Chinese taxi. It wasn't too bad for her. This was the latest that we have kept Sam up, however he did tell Lina that he had taken a nap so he could stay up late. But the boy is now bathed and in bed and finally sleeping. I may have to make several posts, because we got some good pictures today.

 

 

One additional update for Tuesday

Yes, it's 2:30 in the morning here which is about what time Grace and I have been waking up. Initially, we had been Skyping back home but now we have Sam and he is sleeping. Anyway, had a couple of other things to share. We were trying to teach Sam how to play Uno before bed and I think he enjoyed it. He has obviously played cards before. He is definitely getting more affectionate with us. I looked into the back seat of the van today where he and Grace were being silly and playing while we were going from one place to another. Then he kind of hugged her arm and laid his head in her lap. It was pretty precious. So, thanks to all of his extra ordering at meals, we had left overs in the fridge and did dinner in tonight (the fact that it has been raining all day plays into this as well). Then he played with the laptop and tablet some more. I found him a bunch of new puzzles for the puzzle app. The boy is a puzzle whiz! Although I would have chosen to go to bed at 5 or maybe even 3, I held out and waited till later. Got his bath and new jammies and before bed, we brush his teeth. Our vanity is really high so I sit him on the counter to brush. Tonight when he was finished, instead of just getting him down, I picked him up to hold him and he snuggled in on me. Man did that feel good. Then we walked out and I pointed at my bed and his bed and he chose my bed. So to be sure, I pointed at myself and then at the 2 beds and he again pointed at my bed. So....I acquired myself a little sleeping partner in my ever so small double bed and I'll take it. I guess he was able to deal with my uber loud snoring (according to my family anyway...I've never heard it). Maybe tomorrow night I'll see if he wants to snuggle. One of my favorite things in the whole world is snuggling with my children...um...when they are little of course. Well...time to see if I can back to sleep for a little bit.

Day 2

Well...day 2 with Sam is about a wrap. It started early with breakfast as we had some official adoption business to do today. He slept great for us last night and hoping for the same tonight. We headed out after breakfast and went to finalize the adoption. We met a lady from the orphanage there and she was super nice. Sam really seemed to like her which made me feel good about his time there. She is the one who made his photo album that the orphanage gifted us. She also said the she recognized us from the pictures that we had sent Sam and that she read our letter to him to explain that Grace and I were coming and that Leslie had to stay home with Claire. She took some group pictures of all of us to send back to his foster family. I was also able to provide our address and e-mail for her to share with the foster family in hopes that we could stay in touch some how. The women taking his photos for the adoption document, 3 older women, told us that Sam was a beautiful child and was considered a very handsome boy in China. Which I contributes to the extra stares. Since this is the third trip, I fully expected the stares, but I think they are worse this time. To start, I'm taking a beautiful boy which is unusual, and second, I think they are all trying to figure out if I am some horrible cradle robber in regards to Grace. Oh well. It doesn't bother me. Our guide Lina had several conversations with Sam today. Right out of the gate, he told her that he was a happy boy...a huge answer to prayer. I also had her ask about the phone calls to the foster family. He told her that his foster grandma, whom he is very fond of, told him not to call every day and that he should call when he gets back to U.S. so they know he made it ok. So, he hasn't even hinted at calling them today. He also seems to be showing a little more affection towards us. He has quite the personality and he and Grace giggled and played in the back of the van the whole time we were out running around today. So, as I mentioned, the first stop finalize the adoption. They gave us the adoption paper and then took some pics of us. The next stop was at the notary where they asked me a couple of questions and got us a passport. The woman, who only spoke Chinese, asked thru our guide "if I was willing to treat Sam like a biological child and care for him and not beat or abuse him". Of course I replied yes, but he chimed in with his little Chinese accent, "oh thank you"...it was pretty funny!

It has been rainy here all day, so we didn't do much besides the business stuff. We walked down the street for lunch and despite my best efforts, he managed to over order for us again. That just added to the growing amount of leftovers in our fridge and allowed us to stay in and eat leftovers tonight. We then walked down to the Nike and Adidas store, but everything was very expensive. So, we headed back to the room and stopped at a little bakery on the way. I busted out a new toy for the boy to play with today since we were stuck inside. We also started to teach him how to play Uno. We have eaten, he has had his shower and once again, I am whooped. Hoping to crash soon.

P.S...Gracie ran into a friend at the Adidas store...(see pic)

 

Giggles gotcha day

 

Gotcha Day

Well the day is finally here. Over a  years worth of blood sweat and tears culminating in this day. The day we get to not only meet Sam, but we get to make him ours. We got a surprise yesterday when our guide told us that we can actually go to the orphanage. We left the hotel at about 8:30 a.m. and had about a 45 minute drive to the orphanage. Plenty of time to go over your plans again...Who is taking pics, who is running the video camera, be ready because you never know when they will bring him to you, etc...Then you run through the mental game plant. My first reaction would be to scoop him up and love on him, but he is almost 8 and from a different culture. Will that creep him out (we all know that you don't come back from creepy. So do we need to take it slow. Seemingly 1,000 different scenarios play out in your head. We were the first family to the orphanage and soon found out that there would be 7 families in all there. They started us on our paperwork. Once it was finished, they took me upstairs to an accounting office to pay the orphanage fees. While there, I get word that same is in the conference room and crying. Awesome! (that is sarcasm). My first chance to meet my son and I'm stuck up here playing with money. I was really discouraged about the way it played out. I finally got back down there, and with some coaxing from another mom, Grace had it pretty well under control with new toys and M&M's. He did cry several more times. Talk about rip your heart out and stomp it on the ground. They said he was very attached to his foster grandmother. But we finished our paperwork and headed back for the hotel. We took advantage of the long car ride to communicate with Sam and find out some of his likes and dislikes. He was very quiet and cried some. We got back to the room and showed him some snacks we had bought for him and another new toy. We Skyped home to mom and the family. He was pretty impressed with the tablet that we had brought along and was very excited to play with the Play-dough with Grace. Then we busted out the football and started tossing it around and he really started to come out of his shell. I would fake running into the wall and Grace would tickle him and he got to absolutely belly-laughing. Did the heart good to hear that. He kept trying to type a phone number into Grace's cell phone and then mine, so I let him have at in on the phone in the room. I believe he called his foster grandmother. He talked about us and his siblings and at first had big crocodile tears. The call seemed to bring healing though. Then he dug into secret stashes of phone numbers and tried calling other foster family members. Then he was ready for lunch. At lunch, we were trying to order and he kept pointing to things and the waitress kept writing them down. We had to call her back to remove 2/3 of the items he had ordered. Then it was back to the room for more play time as it was raining here. He loves electronics...cell phones, cameras, laptops. He also loves puzzles. As the day went on, we really got to see more of his personality. He is fun and silly, loves to laugh. He is very ticklish and very OCD organized. What a brave little guy! Well I am whipped and need to get him into bed. So, so long for now.