Medical Exam and Shamian Island

Much earlier than our bodies wanted, it was time to get up Thursday morning as Darcy had to go for her medical exam.  I had read wonderful reports from Lifeline folks that were here a few weeks ago that the breakfast buffet was really good and thankfully it did not disappoint!  We filled up (and Ian and I had at least three coffees each) and then hurried to meet our guide and the five other families in the lobby to get on the bus.  (Two of the families are first time adopters, but have other bio children in the home, one family is a second timer with a son from Vietnam, one family is adopting a little boy who makes kiddo number 8 in the house (fourth from China), and the last family is here adopting a ten year old who is their THIRTEENTH daughter!)  It is a delightful bunch of folks, and we're enjoying getting to know them all.

We stopped near the White Swan to have the Visa photos taken, and then walked to the back of the island to the medical exam.

 

My girls running to the medical exam with Daddy.
  

Checking off one more mandatory step before coming home.

Most of the exam was not much of a bother for Darcy.  She sailed through both the height and weight AND the ENT (ear, nose and throat) stations with smiles.  But the other part of the exam brought her to tears. 

Offering some snuggles and words of love during the exam.
 

Then it was time for her vaccinations.  Like so many others, I totally disagree with us being forced by our own government to administer shots outside of our own pediatricians office.  I signed a form for both Kylie and Caleb stating that I'd have them vaccinated when we got home, and I did it.  But now because of the Hague regulations, I had to let them give Darcy four vaccinations plus her TB test.  Poor baby was so stoic and hardly made any noise though a few silent tears rolled.  The most frustrating thing about it was that several of them she already had (according to her orphanage medical records) but our government only recognizes some of the vaccines if they are given from two clinics in this entire country.  Thankfully though she only had four.  The two babies being adopted this time had seven and eight shots each.  IN ONE DAY!!!  Darcy had a light fever last night ~ little booger wouldn't take any Tylenol ~ but the 14 month old had a raging fever of 103 this morning.  I'll stop before I really get charged up on the forced vaccinations, but after I say that Darcy's cost us about $250, but would have only been a $20 co-pay after we got home...

Needless to say, we were looking for a way to make the kids smile after the exam and shots, so we stopped and let them play for a while on a playground on the island.  Here are just a few sweet pictures...

You see the mischief, don't you?

 

So thankful that these two still have love to spare for each other! 

  

When communication ceases to be a barrier, these two together are going to give me a run for my money!   

  

My belly sliders.  (You shoulda seen Darcy's shirt when we left the playground ~ it may not come home with us...)

And then it was off for a bit of shopping.  We needed a dress for Darcy for the red couch picture on Saturday.  And where else would we go, but to visit a friend...

and were amazed at how many of the shops were closed on the island due to the construction in preparation for the Asian games that Guangzhou is hosting later this year.

No one offering us the "special friend" discount along the main street this time... 

and then headed back to the hotel for some MUCH needed nap time.  While the rest of the family napped, I joined several other families in one of the suites to celebrate one newly adopted child's birthday, and then our family headed out to an Italian restaurant for some AWESOME pizza.  Cindy, couldn't help but think of your pizza fiasco three years ago.  And then that king size bed (minus three pint sized bed hogs who were in the "really cool little bed") was calling my name...

(It was a productive nap time for me, so scroll down for a few more posts)