This is day 13 of our journey to Kai!

April 10, 2006

This morning we headed awoke once again bright and early. We were meeting at 10:00 am in the lobby to walk over to get Kai's Visa picture taken and his medical completed. We were also checking out of the Victory Hotel and moving over to the White Swan.

At 10:00 am sharp, Xie Xie was there with her two assistants. The group gathered their belongings and off we went on the two block walk to the photo shop. The kids were great about having their pictures taken. Kai looks like a little man in his picture. It's so funny that he looks so much older in pictures than in real life. I keep seeing him as a definite baby. The thought has crossed my mind about whether or not the year of his birth may be wrong.

After the picture, we went a few more buildings down to the Physical Examination Bldg. Xie Xie led the way to a room with a sign hanging over it that read EXAMINATION ROOM FOR ADOPTED CHILDREN. I had heard it was very warm in there and that there would be lots of waiting. Well, we walked in, and there was no one waiting. Xie Xie brought us the paperwork we needed to fill out and sign and she said it would be about 10 minutes. Shortly afterwards, in walks a huge group of about 10 families with their new children for the exam. Once Xie Xie gave us the go ahead, we all headed to different "stations"....what she called a 3 ring circus. First, the checkup section. A one-eyed (seriously!!) female doctor read his paperwork and then proceeded to stick a tongue depressor in his mouth. Definitely not something at the top of Kai's favorite things. He shrieked as gag and spittle flew. She squeaked a couple of toys on each side of his head to see if he'd turn to see what it was (the Chinese version of a hearing test).  She then looked at his ears and nose and said...."He's fine!" Umm...ok! Next, the weighing and measuring station. By then, Kai was "on guard". He knew something was going to happen and he didn't like it. As the female doctor came to pull him away from me to weigh him, he tightly clenched his little fist onto my shirt. It broke my heart to see his face watching me as they laid him down on a table to measure his length. 74 cm. Next, the weight. The screams were in unison with many of the other little ones in the room. Whether or not the weight is right, I don't know...but they said he weighed 19.3 lbs. He's gained only a pound since his weight at 18 months. Again, not sure how accurate this scale was, because I swear, this kid has gained at least 1 pound in the last week. He eats like an adult. 

Finally, we headed to the long line. This was the MEDICAL AND SURGICAL ROOM. Sort of scary just to read. While we waited in line, Kai fell asleep on my shoulder. About 10 minutes later, it was our turn. I had to remove his clothes. The doctor wasted no time in doing this and to hec with the fact that he was asleep.  YIKES!!!  If he could have killed...he would have.  Saying he was not a happy camper was an understatement.  She mentioned something about scabies and treatment, I just said yes and nodded.  Then she laid him down again and felt his abdomen and looked at his genitals.  She was a bit surprised to see he was a boy because the entire time she kept referring to him as a girl.  Finally, she said I could dress him.  Man, was I his Savior.  She walked away and I bent to pick him up and I could tell he had never been happier to see me.   We dressed him and with deep sobs went to join the others outside.

Next, the White Swan check in.   The Victory Hotel is about 3 blocks away from the White Swan.  We had checked out in the morning and had taken all of our luggage (did I mention to PACK LIGHT???!!!) downstairs where the same bellboy that had carried our stuff upstairs smiled as he saw us coming.  They put all of our luggage on one of the big carts and held it in storage.  Then gave us a claim ticket.  14 bags!  Yes....FOURTEEN BAGS!  Vincent, Xie Xie's assistant, was going to walk with us to the White Swan to check in and then he and Scott would come back to hire two taxi cabs to take the stuff over to the White Swan.  We walked over with Mike, Sophie and Joshua because they wanted to see where the White Swan was located.  We said our goodbyes and entered what to me was one of the highlights of our trip.  Arriving at the White Swan had meant we had made it!!   Our boy was ours and we were officially almost part of the BTDT (been there - done that) clan.   Chinese adoptions are synonymous with the White Swan.  I know this sounds ridiculous, but I almost cried as were walking in.  It really hit me that we were there.  This is all REALLY happening.  The long 29 months were almost at an end and life was just beginning again.

We checked into our rooms, got our keys and headed up to the 15th Floor.  Room 1534.  The room was the size of a standard room.  In it was a wood crib and large glass windows overlooking Shamian Island and the city of Guangzhou.  The bathroom we had heard so much about were all tiled in black and white marble with gold fixtures.  The king sized bed, although very hard, was a true king size.  It was perfect and home for the next 3 nights.  At the point, Scott and Vincent said they were walking back to the Victory to bring the luggage.  Mom, Amanda, Kai and I stayed and relaxed while we waited for them. 

 I was starting to wonder what was taking the guys so long.  About 45 minutes later, in walks Scott, or as he calls himself, the mule....carrying about 200 lbs of backpacks on him.  They apparently couldn't get taxis, so they had the bellboys from the Victory Hotel, WHEEL the cart with 14 pieces of extremely heavy suitcases through 3 blocks of cobble stone streets.  Needless to say, Scott was exhausted and aching.  Definitely another one of those memorable moments on our journey to Kai.   I could imagine what a site that must have been.  The backpacks were filled with electronics and some articles of glass my Mom had purchased, so they had to be carried.   

We rested for a while and then went down to the bank next door to exchange more money.  That was an hour wait!  We then met the Mansfields for lunch and walked over to Lucy's for some American food before doing some afternoon shopping.

The remainder of the evening was spent relaxing.  Scott walked over to a deli shop next to the White Swan to buy some sandwich stuff.  Tomorrow, Xie Xie goes to the Consulate for us to turn in all of our paperwork.  At 11:30 we are all meeting for the famous "Red Couch Pictures" on the 2nd floor of the White Swan.  Kai got his bath, songs, massage, bottle and fell asleep happily in his Mama's arms!