Day 12 Sunday, April 22
We didn't get to go on the Pearl River cruise tonight. It's been raining on and off all day, which is good because it clears the air and drops the temperature somewhat, but bad in that we had to stay in most of the night. Its hard to describe the warm muggy weather here. We in the northwest of course know all about humidity, but we just don't have the heat......it just feels like a sauna around here when the clouds keep the heat in, and the humidity is close to 100%. Very stifling, but I (Blair) seem to be the only one sweating....everyone else looks great. :)
In the morning, we took a small tour of Yuntai Garden, a tropical park in the mountains overlooking Guangzhou. Strollers in hand, we climbed the walkways up and down this lush park. Allie of course fell asleep very early on into the walk...she seems to love the motion of the stroller, and falls asleep easily there.
Which reminds me, I forgot to mention that in my walk with Allie between 6 and 7 pm last night, she had fallen asleep and must have slept the entire one hour that I walked around Shamian island. Rookie daddy mistake, because she then was wide awake and wanted to play until midnight....ugh. Mommy and Daddy of course were exhausted, and wanted to go to bed at 10 pm. I hopefully learned my lesson!
Tomorrow is a special day. Tami and Hope are going to stay in Guangzhou with the girls, while Ralph, Cordelia and I take a five hour bus ride down to Maoming city, Allie and Arabella's hometown. We are excited to see all the landmarks there, including the kindergarten where Alison was found (one day old) on December 29, 2005. Arabella was orphaned just 6 days before, also at a day old, but at a separate building.
It will be fascinating to see some more of China, especially the country side. Maoming is a pretty big city we are told (aren't they all here?!), but along the way, I'm looking forward to taking plenty of pictures.
Cordelia tells us that we will also be meeting the director of the orphanage there. We will be presenting him with another group gift, this time funds earmarked for the materials and building of furniture for the disabled kids. I'm making sure that Cordelia follows up with the orphanage at a later date to make sure that this furniture was indeed ordered and built, and that a picture gets sent to us and the Gonsoulins sometime next month. We'll see, it was one need that they told us they had......
I don't think I will be able to take pictures inside the orphanage, but I'm pretty sure I can take pictures of the outside. I just think it's important for Allie to see where she came from, I hope it will help in her understanding growing up.
Should be a long day. We catch the bus around 8 am, and may not be back until 8 or 9 at night. I probably won't post tomorrow night, but should have some great memories or stories for Tuesday night.
(Update on Allie's ear infection: the antibiotic we brought with us has really worked well so far. Today was the first day we didn't have the two hour screaming match in the middle of the afternoon.....thank you, Lord).
In the morning, we took a small tour of Yuntai Garden, a tropical park in the mountains overlooking Guangzhou. Strollers in hand, we climbed the walkways up and down this lush park. Allie of course fell asleep very early on into the walk...she seems to love the motion of the stroller, and falls asleep easily there.
Which reminds me, I forgot to mention that in my walk with Allie between 6 and 7 pm last night, she had fallen asleep and must have slept the entire one hour that I walked around Shamian island. Rookie daddy mistake, because she then was wide awake and wanted to play until midnight....ugh. Mommy and Daddy of course were exhausted, and wanted to go to bed at 10 pm. I hopefully learned my lesson!
Tomorrow is a special day. Tami and Hope are going to stay in Guangzhou with the girls, while Ralph, Cordelia and I take a five hour bus ride down to Maoming city, Allie and Arabella's hometown. We are excited to see all the landmarks there, including the kindergarten where Alison was found (one day old) on December 29, 2005. Arabella was orphaned just 6 days before, also at a day old, but at a separate building.
It will be fascinating to see some more of China, especially the country side. Maoming is a pretty big city we are told (aren't they all here?!), but along the way, I'm looking forward to taking plenty of pictures.
Cordelia tells us that we will also be meeting the director of the orphanage there. We will be presenting him with another group gift, this time funds earmarked for the materials and building of furniture for the disabled kids. I'm making sure that Cordelia follows up with the orphanage at a later date to make sure that this furniture was indeed ordered and built, and that a picture gets sent to us and the Gonsoulins sometime next month. We'll see, it was one need that they told us they had......
I don't think I will be able to take pictures inside the orphanage, but I'm pretty sure I can take pictures of the outside. I just think it's important for Allie to see where she came from, I hope it will help in her understanding growing up.
Should be a long day. We catch the bus around 8 am, and may not be back until 8 or 9 at night. I probably won't post tomorrow night, but should have some great memories or stories for Tuesday night.
(Update on Allie's ear infection: the antibiotic we brought with us has really worked well so far. Today was the first day we didn't have the two hour screaming match in the middle of the afternoon.....thank you, Lord).
posted by Tami and Blair Masenhimer @ 7:14 AM
4 Comments:
At 11:26 AM,
Anonymous said…
Just back from WLA in Kennewick, where I was able to keep up with you three at the Internet cafe. You have been seeing some amazingly beautiful places. It will be interesting to hear if you get the chance to see ordinary places, and how rural people live. We're so glad Allie is getting relief for her ear. OK, how many L's? You guys really look like you have been at this family business for far longer than a week! Love, A & F
At 12:21 PM,
Anonymous said…
Hi guys just wanted to say hi and say how much i love the blog. Every morning i grab my coffee and head off to the computer to see the latest update. works out perfectly, while were sleeping your blogging and I get to wake up to a new chapter in your lives!!!! and how beautiful the landscape is there and the parks and lovely the kiddos and i especially loved the bird and fish scupltures. we miss you guys and can't waot for you all to get home. We've had some beautiful days here and have gotten alot of much needed yard work done. wish we could pop over to China and take some tours with you, what a trip of a lifetime!!!!
Six more days until we see you at the airport!!!!! not that I'm counting or anything, ha ha. Can't wait to hold allie!!!!
Love Joy
At 9:16 PM,
Anonymous said…
Hey BB,
I'm on the phone with your Dad and he suggests that you might want to get a baby prescription for decongestant, like Actifed, and something for pain, like pediatric liquid Tylenol, for your flight home. He says that Alison might suffer earache during takeoff and landing so the decongestant and painkiller might help. I did tell her you have benedryl and he said that would help but also make her sleepy. I told him I think that was the idea.
We've been following your blog, enjoying your stories and feeling some of your pain. Can't wait to meet Alison. :)
Hi to Tami and Alison. Don't shop too much!!
Take care,
Jenn
At 11:45 AM,
Anonymous said…
ok, dying to see aligator. i check out your blog every am before work. i'm a dork, too, tami. i had a stress moment when i needed you to talk me off the ledge of insanity, and i called your cell phone before i realized you are, in fact, on the other side of the world. miss you guys tons!
xoxo
~marce
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