Medical Appointment - Saturday

Our first appointment in Guangzhou was Saturday morning at the medical clinic. Each child is examined at the clinic before the consulate appointment for US Citizenship. Our travel group of 8 families left the hotel at 9:00 to drive to the clinic, each child has a picture taken for the US Visa, three medical exams and children older than two receive a blood test. Makenna was not real happy Saturday morning so the process was a bit of an ordeal. She especially hated the blood test (can really blame her for that!).

All the kids played in the lobby after the medical exams while our guide completed paperwork. Our next stop was to buy some groceries - this grocery store was like nothing we've seen before. On the fourth floor of a very high end department store is a grocery department!  Makenna loved the race car shopping cart! We bought some snacks, noodles and drinks to take to our hotel room.

Saturday night, our whole travel group went to a Japanese Hibachi steakhouse for dinner - it was very good! 

Visa pictures

Medical exams

Waiting in the lobby

And, if the medical appointment was too overwhelming, don't worry... There's a vending machine for that...

(Yes, that's really wine via vending machine!)

Grocery shopping

Time for a snack!

Travel to Guangzhou - Friday

Friday morning was the last day in Nanjing, as soon as had Makenna's passport we could leave and fly to Guangzhou. We were set to meet our guide at 1:30 to head for the airport - our flight was scheduled to leave at 4:15. Once we were all settled waiting at our gate we found out our flight was delayed for another two hours... Two hours wouldn't normally be too bad, but combine that with a four year old we have only known for a few days, doesn't understand or speak the same language and has never flown or been in an airport before... Yeah, it felt like days!! We had a melt down... Full blown... I really wish I knew what she was telling all the Chinese onlookers (but, then again, maybe it's better I don't!).  At 6:15, our plane finally arrived - I think we finally took off around 7:30.

The highlight of the trip was absolutely the look of wonder on her face as she looked out the window - pure awe! She didn't want to do anything on the plane but sit and take it all in!  We arrived in Guangzhou around 9:15 and finally got to our room just after 10:00 - we were all exhausted! Since Makenna's time in the airport waiting involved lots of playing on the floor (disgusting, I know, but desperate times call for desperate measures - don't judge!!) - first thing we did was put her in the tub for a quick bath! We are staying at The China Hotel which is a Marriott - yay for American luxury!    

Playing in our room Friday morning while we waited - Makenna buried Daddy under her toys!

Nanjing Sightseeing

Thursday was our last full day in Nanjing - we had no appointments and nothing to do so our guide took us to a large freshwater lake for sightseeing. Nanjing is a large city in China that at one time was the Capitol before switching back to Beijing. We are in the province of Jiangsu which is a prosperous and fairly modern part of the country.

The lake was beautiful as you will see from the pictures. We then went to a local silk factory to buy something from Makenna's province. After her nap, we walked around the town by our hotel, played in our room and got dinner. We are seeing great progress in Makenna's trust and attachment to us. When we were outside, she wanted Daddy to carry her the whole time. She lets us hold her hand more easily and is letting us give her more kisses. We sing a song together that we made up that is cute - I will try to post a video! 

We are truly blessed to call this little girl our daughter!

The city gate into Nanjing

Walking around town

Chinese Oreos