Here we are in our matching attire from China (except for Kyle - it is just his tie). Trent's sponsors are his aunt, Connie Meyer and his uncle and aunt, Ryan and Dawn Hollman. They weren't able to be with us physically but we thank them (and everyone else) for their prayers of support.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Baptism
Today, Sunday Sept. 21, Trent was adopted again. This time he was adopted into God's family through baptism. It was a busy day at church as he was one of three children to be baptized in the late service. We are very happy now that he is God's child as well as ours.
Here we are in our matching attire from China (except for Kyle - it is just his tie). Trent's sponsors are his aunt, Connie Meyer and his uncle and aunt, Ryan and Dawn Hollman. They weren't able to be with us physically but we thank them (and everyone else) for their prayers of support.
Here we are in our matching attire from China (except for Kyle - it is just his tie). Trent's sponsors are his aunt, Connie Meyer and his uncle and aunt, Ryan and Dawn Hollman. They weren't able to be with us physically but we thank them (and everyone else) for their prayers of support.
Friday, September 5, 2008
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Going to sleep
Q: What is more difficult than getting one child to sleep at bedtime?
A: Getting two children to sleep, especially when they are in the same room.
We are definitely having our bedtime challenges on this trip. On his first night with us, Trent went out fairly soon, but he had a big day then. He hasn't gone to sleep quite as well since. We try to get him to sleep at 8 pm but it has been 9 or even 10 o'clock when he has finally zonked. Of course, he is not quiet when awake which doesn't help his big sister fall asleep either. She also wonders why she has to go asleep when her little brother isn't.
In our bedtime struggles we did discover one thing. The other night we tried to cover him with a little blanket to encourage sleep. Instead he pulls the blanket over his head and starts to play peek-a-boo. At least he is responding to us and is developed enough to play this game.
A: Getting two children to sleep, especially when they are in the same room.
We are definitely having our bedtime challenges on this trip. On his first night with us, Trent went out fairly soon, but he had a big day then. He hasn't gone to sleep quite as well since. We try to get him to sleep at 8 pm but it has been 9 or even 10 o'clock when he has finally zonked. Of course, he is not quiet when awake which doesn't help his big sister fall asleep either. She also wonders why she has to go asleep when her little brother isn't.
In our bedtime struggles we did discover one thing. The other night we tried to cover him with a little blanket to encourage sleep. Instead he pulls the blanket over his head and starts to play peek-a-boo. At least he is responding to us and is developed enough to play this game.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Red Couch
Not much happened yesterday, Tuesday, Sept. 2. We had the consulate appointment in the morning. Usually none of the family has to go; it is just the guide. However, we made a little goof on one of the official papers and it just happened to be one that is notarized so it couldn't be corrected. So, Linda went along with the guide to clear things up. There was no problem and all of our American paperwork went through. We did a little shopping in the afternoon, but mostly took things easy. Everyone is eager to finish here and head on home.
Here is our new family on the red couch.
This morning, Wednesday, Sept. 3, we took a stroll over to the White Swan hotel to take pictures on one of their red couches. The red couch picture is an adoption tradition. In China red is a lucky color.
Here is our new family on the red couch.Here we are in front of the waterfall in the White Swan lobby.
Trent pictures
We flew from XiAn to Guangzhou on Sunday afternoon. Every American adopting from China has to go through Guangzhou because this is where the American consulate is that issues visas for the adopted children. There is not a lot to see in here and by this time most people are tired of sightseeing or just plain tired. We are no exception. We will be here three full days to finish the American side of the paperwork, mostly for the immigration visa.
On Monday we took Trent to a clinic for a quick checkup as required for his visa. It is also good to double check his medical report from the orphanage. It is a fairly quick process as they have a lot of children to process. There are three 'stations' to check his various medical conditions such as weight, height, hearing, sight, etc. There were no surprises. Obviously his club feet checked out. They also indicated he was somewhat developmentally delayed as was stated in the orphanage medical. The doctor told us that it is related to his club feet. He is not able to walk so that part of his brain is not yet developed. Also, it has delayed some of the motor skills with his hands and arms as the area of the brain that controls these is interconnected with the area that controls the feet and legs. It took a little less than an hour, including the short walk from our hotel. We were a little surprised at how quick it was. With Nora we waited for quite a while at the clinic and there were a lot more children. Since Nora's adoption there have been fewer American adoptions from China and we figure adoptive couples did not want to travel during the Olympics.
That same day, Linda and Connie went shopping for a new outfit for Trent. The little guy certainly looks sharp. Linda also got a new outfit for herself, a matching dress for Nora, and a matching tie for Kyle.
On Monday we took Trent to a clinic for a quick checkup as required for his visa. It is also good to double check his medical report from the orphanage. It is a fairly quick process as they have a lot of children to process. There are three 'stations' to check his various medical conditions such as weight, height, hearing, sight, etc. There were no surprises. Obviously his club feet checked out. They also indicated he was somewhat developmentally delayed as was stated in the orphanage medical. The doctor told us that it is related to his club feet. He is not able to walk so that part of his brain is not yet developed. Also, it has delayed some of the motor skills with his hands and arms as the area of the brain that controls these is interconnected with the area that controls the feet and legs. It took a little less than an hour, including the short walk from our hotel. We were a little surprised at how quick it was. With Nora we waited for quite a while at the clinic and there were a lot more children. Since Nora's adoption there have been fewer American adoptions from China and we figure adoptive couples did not want to travel during the Olympics.That same day, Linda and Connie went shopping for a new outfit for Trent. The little guy certainly looks sharp. Linda also got a new outfit for herself, a matching dress for Nora, and a matching tie for Kyle.On a less pleasant note, Grandma was not feeling well on Monday. We were somewhat worried about dehydration so Grandpa and our guide took her to an American clinic in the city. The doctor thought it was a virus and gave some medicine to help with the symptoms, not much else they could do except wait it out in bed. Today on Tuesday she is feeling much better but is still resting up. We hope she is well enough to attend the swearing in ceremony at the American consulate on Wednesday afternoon.
Monday, September 1, 2008
XiAn city wall
On Sunday, Aug. 31, our plane to Guangzhou was not scheduled to leave until 3 pm so we had some time in the morning to see one more sight in XiAn, the city wall. The current wall was rebuilt in 1370 AD. It has been kept up over the years and is in very good condition today. There are four original gates although they have added several more in modern times to improve traffic.
This is one of the guard houses above one of the original gates.
As you can see, this wall is fairly level and goes for quite a ways. It forms a complete rectangle around where the old city was. We only walked for about 40 minutes, 20 minutes one way and then back.
This is one of the guard houses above one of the original gates.As you can see, this wall is fairly level and goes for quite a ways. It forms a complete rectangle around where the old city was. We only walked for about 40 minutes, 20 minutes one way and then back.The van ride to the airport was interesting also. Our guide pointed out a number of burial mounds visible from the highway. Most are for lower level officials and generals. The countryside around XiAn seems almost littered with the mounds. Probably only a small fraction have been explored.
Terracotta Army
Saturday, Aug. 30, was a big day. We drove a little ways east from XiAn to see the Terracotta Army. It was ordered built by the first Chinese emperor in about 210 BC. He was the first one to conquer several neighboring kings to form an empire. He also had some of the walls of the northern kingdoms connected to begin what was to become the Great Wall.
First we stopped at a local factory that makes terracotta souvenirs. They make reproductions of the soldiers at all sizes from very small to lifesize. They use clay from the same area as the original army. First the wet clay is placed into a mold. In the picture you can see a few of the small molds which are the white rectangles. The lifesized ones require a mold of several pieces. The heads on the lifesized ones are made separately. Next in the process, excess clay is trimmed off. It is then allowed to air dry. Finally they are baked. The smallest ones are baked for about a day. The lifesized ones take a lot longer. They require multiple bakings. After each time, any cracks are repaired and then the figure is rebaked. The process is repeated until no more cracks appear.
Next we went to the sight of the actually warriors. There are three different pits on the sight, each is where the soldiers were originally placed and found. The main pit is the largest and has mostly infantrymen and chariots. The chariots were made of wood so they did not last. The only thing left of them were horses and charioteers.
Like a lot of early rulers, the first emperor wanted this clay army to serve him in the afterlife. It is buried a little ways from his tomb. (His tomb has never been opened.) This army was stored in an underground bunker. A later emperor who disliked the first emperor's family sent his real life soldiers into the bunkers to destroy the terracotta warriors and burn the bunkers. After a while the location was forgotten. In the 1970's some local farmers were digging a well and came across pieces of the soldiers and reported the find to the authorities. Three of the four farmers are still alive and frequently visit the museum to autograph photo books. We saw one of them during our visit. Because all the warriors were broken, they are carefully being pieced back together like an enormous jigsaw puzzle.
Near the same area they also found two bronze chariots that were half lifesized. They carefully put them back together and display them in anther building on site.
After seeing the Terracotta Army, we visited the HuaQing hot springs a short distance away. Baths were built in this location by another emperor at about 757 AD. He would visit them in the winter with his favorite concubine. The picture shows the crab-apple flower bath. It is also know as the concubine bath because this is were she bathed. There are four other baths in this complex. Unfortunately the hot springs are slowly drying up so there is no water left in some of the baths.
First we stopped at a local factory that makes terracotta souvenirs. They make reproductions of the soldiers at all sizes from very small to lifesize. They use clay from the same area as the original army. First the wet clay is placed into a mold. In the picture you can see a few of the small molds which are the white rectangles. The lifesized ones require a mold of several pieces. The heads on the lifesized ones are made separately. Next in the process, excess clay is trimmed off. It is then allowed to air dry. Finally they are baked. The smallest ones are baked for about a day. The lifesized ones take a lot longer. They require multiple bakings. After each time, any cracks are repaired and then the figure is rebaked. The process is repeated until no more cracks appear.Next we went to the sight of the actually warriors. There are three different pits on the sight, each is where the soldiers were originally placed and found. The main pit is the largest and has mostly infantrymen and chariots. The chariots were made of wood so they did not last. The only thing left of them were horses and charioteers.Like a lot of early rulers, the first emperor wanted this clay army to serve him in the afterlife. It is buried a little ways from his tomb. (His tomb has never been opened.) This army was stored in an underground bunker. A later emperor who disliked the first emperor's family sent his real life soldiers into the bunkers to destroy the terracotta warriors and burn the bunkers. After a while the location was forgotten. In the 1970's some local farmers were digging a well and came across pieces of the soldiers and reported the find to the authorities. Three of the four farmers are still alive and frequently visit the museum to autograph photo books. We saw one of them during our visit. Because all the warriors were broken, they are carefully being pieced back together like an enormous jigsaw puzzle.Shortly after the accidental discovery of pit 1, scientist located pits 2 and 3. Pit 2 contains archers and cavalry. Pit 3 is much smaller and contains generals and other officers. It is sort of a war room for the terracotta army.
Near the same area they also found two bronze chariots that were half lifesized. They carefully put them back together and display them in anther building on site.After seeing the Terracotta Army, we visited the HuaQing hot springs a short distance away. Baths were built in this location by another emperor at about 757 AD. He would visit them in the winter with his favorite concubine. The picture shows the crab-apple flower bath. It is also know as the concubine bath because this is were she bathed. There are four other baths in this complex. Unfortunately the hot springs are slowly drying up so there is no water left in some of the baths.We finished the day with the Tang Dynasty Dinner Show. It had traditional music and dancing from that era. It was very interesting and enjoyable although it made for a long day.
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