Exactly 1 Week Later - July 26th. (Final posting)

Note from Darlene: Well we made it home safe and sound. The trip was uneventful and Kaylee was her normal perfect little self. We sure was surprised when were met at the gate by family member's! We have such a wonderful family to drag themselves and their children to the airport at 11:00 PM to greet us and to welcome the newest family member home with ballons and a glow worm doll. Kaylee got a kick out of and kissed it all the way home; we love you all very much!! Our family also got a kick out of all of our luggage and had to take pictures while on lookers laughed!LOL There was some bad storm's in our area knocking the power out for most of the day but was on by the time we got home. My Mom, Aunt Linda and daughter had cleaned my house, stocked the fridge, made a "welcome home" banner and had ballons ever where. Did I mention we have the greatest family?

Kaylee is waking up at 3:00 AM but will usually go back to sleep within 1 hour. She loves to play during the day. Keith had to go back to work on Monday and she walked around the house looking into every room calling for her "Da Da." She gets very excited when he walks in the door and runs to greet him with kisses. You can't ask for a better greeting than that!

We have taken Kaylee out to the family farm to pick peaches and to visit. She loves peaches! In fact...I don't think Kaylee has met a food that she doesn't like except for tomatoes. She is a very healthy eater and it shows in her chubby little chipmunk cheeks! My most favorite thing she does right now, is out of the blue she will run up to me, look me in the eyes and tell me "I wuv u!" Melts my heart like butter every time!! She is like a sponge and is just soaking everything up.

Thanks to everyone for sharing in our journey and we hope you enjoyed our enteries into Kaylee's blog. Thanks for all your prayers, well wishes and God bless you all! :o)

Wednesday July 19th.

Note from Darlene: As suspected we ended up buying a total of 3 “BIG” suitcases to haul all of our newly acquired belongings home. Oh well…when in China…SHOP!! Lol

We went to the US Consulate today for the swearing in. Basisly we swore (or affirmed) that all the information and documents we provided for the adoption were true by raising our right hand and repeating after the guy in charge. We also collected Kaylee’s Chinese passport and Visa to enter the USA. Once we pass through customs in San Francisco and the customs officer stamps her passport, Kaylee officially becomes our daughter and a citizen of the United States of America. We will get her American Passport, birth certificate and social security number right away. (Keith, Per the speech there is only one Embasy in a country, usually in the capital city. The "Consulate" is like satelite embasy's in the other large cities, but effectivly it is the same thing.)

We head for Hong Kong tomorrow and don’t know if we’ll have Internet access or not so this could be the last entry until we arrive home. We are staying at “Disney’s Hollywood Hotel” in Hong Kong this time; we thought it might be fun for Kaylee. On Friday we board a plane to come home. It’s been a wonderful trip, nothing but positive things to say about our daughter’s homeland; it’s truly been amazing! I hope we can return when Kaylee is old enough to understand and to appreciate her culture.

By the way, Keith wanted to make sure and have me mention that if you’re coming to Guangzhou, bring a license plate from an automobile in your home state. Lucy’s has them plastered all over the walls of their restaraunt. :o)

Tuesday July 18th.

Note from Darlene: Another free day. We started with breakfast and then all of us took an early morning nap. I think everything finally caught up with me today; I’m feeling a little sluggish. The rain has stopped (knock on wood) and there was a wonderful breeze from the Pearl River as we strolled along it this morning. It sure did help with the heat. I would describe the heat as what one might experience in a tropical rain forest or jungle. It doesn’t take very long for your clothes to be soaking wet and clinging to your body…UGH! That’s the worst I can say about Guangzhou…the rest has been a wonderful experience and I find myself feeling sad to have to be leaving in 2 days.

Good thing we have another passenger for the ride home, we have to buy one (probably two) more suitcases to haul all our treasures home in. Keith made sure that we got Kaylee a lot of items from her homeland so that she will hopefully know someday that we treasure her heritage.

We stopped at a park and I got out the bubbles. The local children were shy at first but with the approval of their parents they started having such a good time trying to catch them and it made Kaylee giggle. It’s the little things in life that make it great!!
Tomorrow is our last day in Mainland China and we will travel to the US Consulate for the Visa ceremony and swearing in then we’re heading to Hong Kong

Keith... I added some pictures. A typical market store. The ship that is not quite here yet. A statue of the changing women of china. There are neat statues like this all over.

Monday July 17th

Note from Darlene: Free day. Took another crazy taxi drive through Guangzhou. We toured the Six Ban Yan Temple and while we were there a monk blessed Kaylee. Not that we believe in any other God, it just seemed fitting since this is her homeland. She will know that the only Lord we serve is our heavenly Father. Inside the main temple were three huge golden Buda’s. Incense was burned everywhere and the smell of sandalwood hung heavily in the air. We found it quite mystical.

Keith… I climbed to the top of the temple. The steps and doorways get smaller as you went higher. Fairly scary at the top looking over the flimsy railing. I’d hate to be the roofer. Then roamed around the island and did some more shopping. Kaylee was wonderful and sat or slept in her stroller. Never grabbing at things or fussing to get out. She is quite the little angel...
On our Island I snapped a picture of a Chinese Bride. We have seen several get their wedding pictures here.
Also, In spite of what you may have heard, there is no flooding going on here. A little rain maybe, but no flooding.
There is a reproduction of old sailing ship due to port here in a few days. An exact copy of the “Gotheborg” from Sweden is on its way. Sweden’s King and Queen are coming to see it. It is retracing its ill-fated journey from 1745. On the original trip, which took 2+ years, it made it within sight of its homeport, then hit a rock and sank. You can read more at http://www.gotheborg.com/project/index.shtml

Sunday July 16th.

Note from Darlene: It is still raining, a huge break from the heat we have experienced since we have arrived. After breakfast we went to the Christian Chapel of Guangdong on Shamain Island. The service was very interesting; they sang and had the sermon in both Chinese and English. Kaylee was very well behaved (as normal) and it was a great experience for Keith and I. We thanked God in prayer for our new daughter and the wonderful experience of visiting our daughter’s homeland. There was a mix of Chinese and American families. A little Chinese boy who sat behind us gave Kaylee a Chinese cookie and Chinese fruit. We gave him some American animal crackers.

We went shopping afterwards and then for a dip in the pool. For anyone interesed, my husband has turned into a "shop-a-holic"...so unlike him!! Kaylee loves to go swimming and is pretty much fearless when she is in our arms. We had dinner at a restaurant right across from our hotel called, "2nd Avenue." The three of us split a dinner of lobster thermadore and pasta with shrimp & vegtables. We have been eating very well here for half the price (if not less) that it would cost us back home. All the Chinese people ask us where Kaylee is from and when we tell them Shantou they tell us that all the Shantou ladies have beautiful skin and that Kaylee has the desired shape of eye's by the women here. They said she will have many boyfriends, her Daddy just growled at this comment. They also wanted to see pic's of our other children and when we showed them they thought Tiffany and Alyssa were American movie stars and that Ray must surely be an American football star! LOL. Note from Keith.... It's not me who is sporting Prada sandals, Gucci purses, and a Rolex watch... Keith

Saturday 15th.

Note from Darlene: It pretty much poured down rain all day today. That didn’t stop the 3 of us though! We went shopping around the Island in the morning. Then we met our guide, Mary along with Jane, Bert & Elizabeth and headed to the toy market. They had some neat stuff but we settled on a basket of plastic food and dishes for Kaylee. She has been serving us imaginary food on the little plastic plates and tea in the little cups ever since. Quite delicious! LOL

After the toy market we all went to the largest McDonalds in Guangzhou. Kaylee had her first happy meal, Keith had a Big Mac and I had some sort of sandwich that resembled a gyro. It was all very tasty and Keith said his sandwich tasted the same as back home.

After a nap we went to dinner at a place called the “Locomotive Restaurant.” It was an upper scale restaurant and was actually a train dining car. We ordered a dinner for 2, which started with escargot and rabbit pate’. It was very good and Kaylee like the rabbit. Then they served us a steak made of beef and some red wine called, “The Great Wall.” It was one of the best wines I’ve ever had. They then served us pizza with ham and pineapple. We were so stuffed after that, that we said no thank you to the ice cream and coffee. Kaylee had her first strawberry shake (that we know of) and finished every bit of it!

We then jogged to our hotel in the pouring rain with Kaylee giggling the whole way. She had a warm bubble bath, a warm bottle of formula afterwards and went right to sleep. We have no idea what we did right to be blessed with this little angel but we thank God daily.

Friday July 14th.

Note from Darlene:
First and foremost…”HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!!!” Man, do we have a great birthday present for you this year…a new grand daughter!! :o)

We ran into the couple with the sick baby this afternoon. The doctor at the White Swan hotel put her on antibiotics and she is receiving breathing treatments for bronchitis and tonsillitis. He also gave them something to bring down her fever. Her color was so much better, Keith and I were so relieved to know that she was ok. Her parents said that the doctor at the White Swan was very nice and personable; they were very pleased with the care their daughter received.

We all went shopping today, sight seeing on the island and swimming in the afternoon. When Kaylee is tired she will whimper and big crocodile tears will roll down her face. It breaks my heart to see this so we quickly wrap up what ever we’re doing and head back to the hotel. She likes a warm bottle of formula at naptime/bedtime; it puts her right to sleep.

Did I mention that we have the perfect baby? She likes to imitate what I do; especially yawning…she is soooooooo funny!! We are going to a temple tomorrow and the toy market…I’ll never get Keith out of the toy market…sigh.

My brother told me something that I always remembered when I would feel my confidence wavering about adopting a child and starting all over again. He told me right after I finished the 2005 Hawaiian Marathon that if I could participate and finish a full 26.2 mile marathon at the age of 45 that I could certainly raise another child! The marathon was grueling; Kaylee is such a sweet and loving child that she makes it easy.

Thurs, 13 July 2006

From Keith…. Today was a free day. We took a taxi with our guide Mary to the Zoo. It was extremely hot but did get to see a Lion, Tiger, and elephant up really close. The Panda’s were stubborn and would not come out of the air-conditioning, not that I blame them. So far every taxi we have taken has been air-conditioned. One even had a little TV for us. Prices are low and they seem well regulated by the government. And while the ride is sometimes like a Six Flags ride; they have been ok so far. I’ve learned sometimes it’s best not to look out though. To many close calls…lol

We ended up going back to the hotel to cool off, and then have lunch, then back to cool off again. A frantic couple stopped us with a sick baby. Their guide was gone for the day and they had no clue where to take her. Darlene, being the expert and having done her research, directed them to the White Swan, which has a doctor on-staff.

Note from Darlene: Did I mention that God has blessed us with the perfect baby? Keith and I vie for her attention constantly…well unless she needs her diaper changed and then he will step back! LOL

She loved her playtime with her Daddy in the pool this afternoon and was a splishing and a splashing!! We will have to take her swimming a lot more now that we know she enjoys it. She is shy around strangers and will cry and reach out for Keith or I to save her. Keith and I were debating about something…not yelling…and she started to cry. She is very tender hearted and doesn’t like loud noises.

We had our laundry done today and when we were in the hotel elevator a gentleman asked if we were leaving to come back home. Keith said, “Oh no…this is just a couple of day’s!” Truth be know, it’s been 1 week. He thinks he is so funny. I have seen the couple with the sick baby in our hotel so I hope I run into them again to see how she is doing. I said a quick prayer for her as we left them at the White Swan, the baby looked very pale and placid. Our hearts went out to them, how very scary to have a sick child and not know where or who to turn to in a foreign country. Well tomorrow is another free day and we are going to relax. Go swimming, maybe some sight seeing on the island, weather permitting, not do much of anything…sounds nice after all the running we’ve been doing.

July 12th

We started the day with a walk and then breakfast. Kaylee slept for 12 hours last night due to not getting a nap the day before. After breakfast we went to “Sherry’s Place” to get a stroller for Kaylee. They, along with some other shops, supply this to adoptive families free of charge. We then went to “Jenny’s Place” (the outside actually sign says “Art 64”) and bought a ton of things from her. Jenny and her staff are VERY nice and I highly recommend her shop to any adoptive families traveling to Guangzhou. Her shop is on the Island.

Afterwards we dropped off our packages at the hotel and walked down to the get Kaylee’s Medical examination. She didn’t like this and cried when they weighed and measured her. I was soooooooooo happy when she reached her arms up to me to be rescued! I came down to her level and comforted her until they were done. The little girl has had 2 operations so far and it’s totally reasonable for her to be scared with nurses and doctors.

Then we were off to the eyeglass market. Keith and I both got 2 pair of glasses for each of us. The frames and glasses cost right around $50.00 each and are very high quality. I can see again…..Yippee!! It took only 2 hours for them to make them. (It took 2 weeks for Wal-Mart back home)

We went to the pearl and jade market after that. Kaylee took a good 2-hour nap while we were there. We saw a woman carrying a sleeping child with a shirt but bare bottomed, you certainly wouldn’t see that in America! Keith and I were talking about how perfect our daughter is in every way on the taxi ride back to the hotel. We prayed in the beginning that God would give us a child that would be fitting for us but we never expected in a million years that we would have this little angel. She is very laid back, happy all the time, always laughing and smiling and she is VERY clean. She likes her mouth and hands to be cleaned and seems to be very organized.

She likes to look at herself in mirrors and she LOVES jewelry! Her bracelets stay on her at all times, they come off occasionally when she sleeps. We simply love this child; she has stolen our hearts forever.

(Note from Keith.) Many choices for food available at the local restaurants. Including: Crocodile Claw, little suckling pig, chicken with head, stuffed goose bowels, fish head soup, pig jaw. I had the short ribs.
A bus almost hit our taxi today. It came within an inch. The driver started yelling something? Our guide later said he was cursing, lol. Of course that has been about a daily occurrence between us and the bikes and motorcycles. I’m just amazed there are not more accidents. We seem to have gotten the perfect child. She sits in the stroller for hours as we shop around. She just sits and smiles and giggles.
Alyssa, you are going to just love her and we love you and think of you everyday!
Love to all, Keith & Darlene.

July 11th.

(For some reason our pictures are not posting, we’ll keep trying!)


Note from Darlene: We started the day with Kaylee and I taking a leisurely stroll through the hotel while Daddy showered. Then all three of us went for a stroll on the streets of the island around 6:00 am. At 7:00 we went for a breakfast buffet in our hotel. This is free of charge since we are staying here at the Victory. Our baby girl eats EVERYTHING! She loves for her Daddy and I to feed her and she likes to feed us too. She is constantly smiling and giggling, it’s infectious! After breakfast we came back to our room and I was singing, “If you’re happy and you know it clap your hands” and that’s when it happened…she said her first word since we have had her and it was “Happy!” That was so fitting since she is so happy all the time!!


She also says Mommy, Da Da, Kaylee, Blake, GG and Katie. We’re working on the rest of you so don’t feel left out. Mary, our guide, who is sooooooo wonderful, said that Merriella Vasquez and Kaylee have the same smile; they smile with their whole face and eye’s! She babbled all day long and Keith said, “I kinda miss the quiet little girl we had on the first day!” LOL Kaylee became our “official” daughter today and tomorrow is the medical examination. Afterwards we are going to the pearl and jade market, I told Keith to get a LOT of money…”baby needs squeaky shoes and pearls!"


After that we took a tour of the Guangdong Folk Arts Museum. We were served white jasmine tea in the traditional manner. The tea was awesome as was the tea ceremony. I purchased some to bring home for GG. We also went to a department store called, “Carrefour.” I have noticed that some the Chinese children stare at Keith and I, i.e. the blond hair and blue eye’s. In this store, while we were in the check out line, adults and children alike were interested in what we were buying. We had an economy size package of baby rice cakes for Merriella and Kaylee along with bottled water, sports drinks, soda and quite a few toys for Keith and Kaylee. I also got some Pantene hair conditioner with Chinese writing (I forgot mine at home) and Johnson’s baby powder. All the Chinese people I have met have been very nice and polite and more than willing to try and talk to us. We love our daughter’s heritage and we will do our best to let Kaylee know and learn of it and so she can be proud of where she came from.


I am amazed at the love I have for this little girl. I had been preparing my heart for 10 months to accept her and love her but the love I feel for her is truly amazing and it happened so instantly. I really don’t know how to explain it…and I see the same thing when I see her Daddy look and play with her too. Then I think about how our heavenly Father has an even greater love for us…amazing!

Gotcha Day (for real)

The train ride from Hong Kong to Guangzhou was amazing to say the least! Keith and I absorbed the scenery and tried to let the muscles in our face relax as much as possible from smiling so much! We knew in a very short time that we would hold our new daughter in our arms.

The only bad thing that has happened is that some where between the Marco polo hotel and the train station, I lost my glasses. Anybody that knows me knows that I can’t read a thing without them…so everything up close is a blur. Good thing I have my “seeing eye person” with me. Forgive and miss spellings as I am winging this until I can get another pair of glasses. Spell check doesn’t always correct everything.

When we got to Guangzhou we took a taxi to the “White Swan Hotel” to drop off Jane and Bert, who were staying there. Mary, our guide, took Keith and I to the Victory Hotel. The Victory is very grand, not as grand as the White Swan but it does have marble flooring and polished brass everywhere. The money we are saving MORE than makes up for the adoption Barbie that you get at the White Swan.


So we went to the adoption Affairs office and signed paper work while waiting for Kaylee to arrive. Jane and Bert’s daughter was already there so they got to meet her right away. She is not from the SWI as Kaylee is. As soon as Kaylee got there she was brought to us and I scooped her up and started planting kisses on her and NO…I didn’t cry!! I know it’s hard to believe but I REALLY didn’t want to scare her. I know that you don’t believe me Mom, Tiffany and Lisa…but just ask Keith! LOL

Kaylee is very quiet and she whimpered a little when her caretaker left her with us and a single tear…what a brave little girl!! We left immediately afterwards and went back to our hotel’s. I undressed her, changed her diaper (which was bone dry) and changed her into a pink overall short outfit w/ pink lacey socks and a barrette in her hair. We went down to the local grocery store and got apple juice, water, yogurt and soda. We went next door and bought her, her first pair of pink squeaky shoes to match the outfit. Kaylee is firm 24-month size clothing. Her general appearance is that she is very healthy. She is a good eater too. We went to Lucy’s for dinner and she had a cheeseburger, French fries w/ ketchup, (that’s “check up” if you’re talking to Blake) assorted steamed veggies and pear juice.


Afterwards her Daddy put her on his shoulders for the walk home. Did I mention that she gets very heavy to hold for long periods of time? We’ll be getting her a stroller right away and her Daddy and I need to start some upper body weight training! Kaylee will walk and reaches for our hand to steady her. She goes to both Keith and I with no problem and we’re bonding with her quickly. She is very quiet so far and just smiles forever!! When we got back to the hotel I gave her a bath and we all went to sleep quickly after such an emotionally draining day. She seems to be just drinking every thing in with a zest; we are VERY blessed to have her in our lives!! Thank you Jesus for this precious gift that you have given to us.

July 9 - 10

July 9, 2006

Walked about Kowloon. Man is this place crowded! Took the “Star Ferry” tour across the harbor to Hong Kong and back. Walked along their version of the “Movie Star Walk of Fame”. Saw the star for Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, and other local movie stars that were from Hong Kong. Saw lots of extremely tall buildings under construction. All were using bamboo for scaffolding. It looked pretty treacherous to me.
Ate at a small local restaurant and attempted to eat a bowl of soup & noodles with chopsticks. I guess they realized our plight and finally brought us silverware.


July 10, 2006
GOTCHA DAY!

Note from Darlene: I still haven’t grasped the concept that this day we having been preparing for, for 10 months has finally arrived. I finally just got out of bed (after Keith threatened me for trying to talk to him when he was trying to sleep) to take a shower and prepare for the day. At 5:00 AM I convinced Keith to get out of bed. He cleverly put a “Do Not Disturb!” hotel sign on top of the blanket on the bed, while he had buried himself underneath. Ha-Ha-Ha…like that would work!

Keith and I went down to Café.Marco in the hotel for another wonderful breakfast buffet. The cost was $168.00 HK per person. That translates to about $20.00 US. Pricey, but very good! We met Jane and Bert Gaessler there, they are the couple we will be traveling to Guangzhou with. Afterwards, Keith and I walked along the pier outside of our hotel and watched the boat’s coming and going. My opinion of the harbor is that it is “mystical” in the early morning hours…fitting for the orient, I would say.

Time to wrap this up; it’s 8:45 AM and we need to pack up and go to the lobby to meet our guide, Mary. In less than 7 hours I will hold my daughter in my arms. :o)

Hong Kong

Day 1, 7 Jul 2006
On our way! Flight to LA is at 7:15 AM, so of course Darlene made us get up at 3:00 and drive to the airport. She didn’t want to miss our flight…no chance that’s going to happen.

Now in L.A. waiting for our connecting flight on Cathay Pacific to Hong Kong. Our plane is a new 747. We leave at 1:00 PM and get there by 7:00 PM, yet because we are chasing the time zones it really is about a 13-hour flight.

(Note from Darlene: We are sitting in the VIP lounge thanks to Keith’s frequent business flying…we are really racking up the mile’s on this trip! They have free food and drink in here…. I personally didn’t even know these existed! I told Keith that VIP stands for “Very Important Parents!” We exchanged $150 dollars for $1000 Hong Kong dollars while still in L.A.)

The flight from LA to Hong Kong was a LONG flight. The Cathay Pacific 747 had little TV screens on the back of each seat. I think I went through every movie they had, but after in those cramped seats without room to stretch out, Hong Kong was a welcome site to see. Landed at 7:00pm and was hit with a wave of hot humid air. Went through Immigration and Customs w/o a hitch. Bought tickets and took the Airport Express train to Kowloon station, then a shuttle bus to one of the Marco Polo hotels. I was glad we already had Hong Kong money, (Thanks Roberto for the advice) that saved us some time and effort. It did not go all the way to our Marco Polo Hong Kong hotel, so we went to the closest one then had to hoof it with our entire luggage. Darlene was not amused. While stopping to wipe the sweat off and search a map for where the heck we were, we found we were right in front of it. Checked in were told we were a day late. Seems we had lost a day in the time zone change. Finished checking in then walked down the busy, neon lit Hong Kong streets and found a 7-eleven to load up on bottled water.

(Note from Darlene: As Keith pointed out, I was not amused with walking the 5 blocks to the Marco Polo Hong Kong hotel in the sweltering heat. I did notice that there is no handicap access on the sidewalks so we had to pull the luggage up onto them every time we crossed a road. Also, downtown Hong Kong on a Saturday is bustling with lot’s of people of all ages and lot’s of bright lights…kind of what I would suspect a New York night might look like on a busy weekend night. We send all of our love to our family and friend’s back home.)

We'll add photo's ASAP. :o)