We made it home!

Just wanted to let everyone know we made it home safely on Thursday afternoon, we were blessed with no delays to our already long flight and wonderful layover in Beijing.  We were greeted at the airport with a beautiful crowd of our family/church family and it was such an emotional thing to see all of them there, we are so thankful for all of them.  Shiloh did really well on all of the flights and has transitioned well at home so far.  Her and Anna share a room so this is helpful for her as she is used to sleeping with someone, so the girls get to sleep together!  All the kids love her so much and are all competing for her attention, of which she likes sometimes and sometimes not.  Bath time has proved to be difficult again, but I'm sure will get better as time goes on.  Overall we are so thankful for what is only the beginning of our transition.  Will post more pics of our last days and airport later, just wanted to say we are home and getting over jet lag!

More pics from the East

 A gator girl already.

 Fun was had at the pearl and jade market, The U.S. Consulate, and whatever Travis is doing in this pic (Lorraine is still posting via satellite, since The Williams can't from where they are). that means I can caption their pics with whatever I want. Ohhh, I could have so much fun with this. (But I won't). More from the Williams later. OR when they return home which is very soon!

Correction, Travis is eating Octopus, now I see, now I see!!! Yum (maybe?)

One day closer

Today we went back to the medical clinic to have Shiloh's TB test read and she passed with flying colors! 

The office was filled with other adoptive families doing the full medical we did on Wednesday, it did make me thankful to have that part out of the way. 

Then we came back to the children's play area that our hotel has, its a little room, with some fun toys, a change of pace from our pretty boring hotel room.  After that we finally ventured over to the Irish Pub that we had heard rave reviews about and I will say it didn't disappoint!  Travis ordered these amazing nacho's, while I got a fish sandwich, all of which was good, while in the background we had music from Vanilla Ice, to 80's rock,
to early 90's stuff, needless to say it was a good lunch!  

Now back to paperwork meetings this afternoon to get everything
in order for the big day on Monday. 

A few things Shiloh loves to do:  she loves to color; the paper, the table, the chairs it doesn't matter she loves her some crayons!  she has loved Baby Einstein videos(thanks Dana H!) and when she sees something like bubbles she gets really excited you can tell she has played with them and even says a word that sounds like bubbles. she loves puffs, boy can she eat some puffs. she loves to try and do what you do, so Travis is working on her winking right now and its pretty cute.  And she loves stickers, oh she likes to put them all over her face, and clothes and take them off and put them back on. 

 

She currently still doesn't like to go to sleep, and fights that pretty good.  She also is pretty grumpy when she first wakes up, you know she's a Williams:)  She is getting better with baths, last night was the first time she didn't cry. 

We are thankful that we are one day closer to coming home and yet it still seems so long, please pray for our hearts that are ready to get back and start life there with her.  To get her to American doctors, who can give us a better idea of her health, and what lies ahead for us in that regard. 

Chen Clan Academy

Yesterday we went to see the Chen Clan Academy, which is a museum highlighting the Chen Family. 
It was beautiful, but quite quaint and Shiloh wasn't too impressed by it, she fell asleep toward the end
of the tour.  We came back and ate Taiwanese food for lunch, which was really good!  Shiloh loves
to devour the rice, she might be messier than Anna when it comes to rice, will have to sit them next
to each other at the table:)

They use these stones for pillows. Ouch.

Shiloh says bye to Aunt Lorraine

December 13, 2012

She may have been saying: 'I can't wait until this girl with the camera goes home', OR more to her personality: "I can eat and charm at the same time". She loves bananas, rice, and we discovered: boiled eggs. She eyed Julie's egg as she peeled it, so she had to offer it up, she ate the whole thing!

Since this was my last day with the Williams, I requested some pics with my new niece. We decided to explore the beautiful gardens and waterfalls around the hotel. 

Please take good care of your children so as to avoid any accidents. This is really good English, in our town, the same sign would have said something like: Watch your children to fall carefully.

 These smiles of hers don't happen often but they are priceless. She really enjoyed the outdoors.

I love that she and I were making eye contact, we recovered from the snub she gave me yesterday.

These fish were crazy. Tons of them and flopping on top of each other for the small morsel of bread we offered.

 I taught Shiloh how to feed the fish and then she did it well, though the bread was hard to tear.

 They actually splashed us they were flopping so much.

 I enjoyed this sweet cuddle time, and concentrated hard on not letting her fall in!

I am her favorite Aunt, she just doesn't know it yet. 

Williams family minus four others.

This guy was scrubbing the bottom of the pond area. I really want him to come do this to the pool in our complex. His blue Uniform says "Johnson" on it. I wonder if he is a way distant relative of ours (Johnson being Julie's and my maiden name)

Mind your head!

Heading back toward the hotel.

Travis having fun mocking the statue.

Shiloh can walk well, but she is careful. For a 2 1/2 year old she is not super stable, but once she gets going she does fine. We think she will probably need more physical therapy of some sort.   

 

Next we went to the fourth floor to explore the pool and other amenities. It was too cold to swim. 

Can you see me? 

I took this picture to show to the office workers in our complex. They need some real training on Chlorine (they hadn't heard of it), and how to clean a pool. 

 This pool was amazing and had showers that would come on when you stood underneath (which we did not do)

I personally loved the lounge chairs (beds, rather).

These laughs are sweet. Travis is tickling her.

 Overlooking part of the city. This city was very nice and clean, with a 7-11 on every corner.

On the elevator back to the room Shiloh ducked herself under the railing. 

And then I had to go pack up and get ready to go! When I did leave she said a sweet goodbye and let me hug her! I was so thankful for the time I got to spend with Travis and Julie, and their new daughter, Shiloh!

Medical Day!

 We have yet to walk down this beautiful stair case. I am sure the Williams will before they leave!

After breakfast, the crew gets ready to go to the clinic: 

 I love this dress, my girls wore this dress. It looks especially cute with the kitty hat and beautiful face.

 Shiloh snookered Papa into taking her up and down the long escalators a few times while we waited for everyone to show up.

On the bus, clutching the backpack.

I am telling you, this town is ready for Christmas, everywhere you look, trees, decorations, snowmen and Santa. Cra-zee.

The clinic was very busy, but our group did not have to wait long, as we had to go to a different section.

 

Guangdong international Travel Health Center. 

Hat off, waiting her turn.

There were four things that needed to be done: general screening, ENT, height/weight, and a TB skin test.

This clinic was so nice and clean. I was truly amazed compared to our humble town's facilities. 

But still. Not so amazed by the actual doctors themselves. I think they are used to in/out, check you off, you are good to go kind of thing. But we had some questions.

Shiloh did very well, though. Seriously. She cried a little during the general screening, but was never hysterical. We ended up going back to the ENT (this guy) to ask more about an issue, we are not sure he was very pleased with us.

At the general screening this guy didn't say much at all. He listened to her lungs for awhile when we told him she had a pretty congested cough. But he offered us nothing. And then at the end he asked a few questions:

What do you think about her intelligence? and

Do you want any medicine for your child for her cough? (um, we thought you were the doc and if she needs medicine, yes). 

When I finally asked what he thought of her breathing and lungs (in Chinese, because his English could have been why he was not forthcoming with stuff), he said the Chinese non-answer: hai keyi, this means not good, not bad. Very informative.

Another Christmas tree!

And then off to the TB skin test. Julie let Travis take her for this and since I don't mind needles or blood going into or coming out of someone else, I followed right along. 

 

The nurse was already saying how good Shiloh was (for not crying right away).

She let her take her arm, but then when the swab came out, and the firm grip, the real tears came.

She tensed up and cried a good cry, but then it was over (okay she did keep crying for a little while). They will get this rechecked in a few days.

And that was it. This medical clearance is needed to get U.S. visas!

The other thing the Williams received today was a copy of the newspaper announcement of Shiloh's abandonment. This completely surprised me, but whenever you get matched with a child here in China, they put this announcement in the paper in case anyone may come forward to claim him/her.  Obviously no one did, and so they give this to the adoptive family for their records/keepsakes. 

Outside the clinic were these huge skyscrapers. This city is really quite pretty and clean in most parts.

We celebrated another day with Shiloh with her first ever happy meal. She did like the fries and ketchup. She was mesmerized by a water fountain outside. She let me carry her to the table without mama and papa, a first.

I realized that a couple of these 'grimace' shots are just her starting to try to smile for the camera, she does this little scrunch up her eyes and smile, but since I am never ready for it, I don't get it in time. I get this painful look. I keep telling Julie that I am so glad she is going home to a real photographer (Kristen, who is incredible)

After nap, Shiloh is slow to wake up. She stood there playing with her phone in one spot for quite a while. 

 Then Julie built the block tower and she was intrigued.

Shiloh loves to put all the blocks away, and has to take them apart first to put them in their bag, and then she zips it up. She also likes to throw things in the trash, and make sure messes are wiped up. I forget the exact quote, but Travis joked that she may just be the cleanest Williams.

That was our day. Julie and I had some good girl time out shopping while Papa and Shiloh took good naps. We came back and laid low for dinner. 

But Shiloh did show some new expressions, even maybe a tad of anger. It started when Julie and I were leaving, she hung her head, pouted a most precious pout and started the whimper cry. It was the most pitiful and cutest thing ever. It certainly broke Julie's heart. But a good sign that she loves her mama and doesn't want her to leave.

Travis said right after that she did show a little angst toward him as well.

And then when I sat down next to her later, I was trying to talk to her and she turned her head clearly away and down. And would not move it. We really did not know what she was doing. She looked back at me and then did the same thing. I said: "Julie, she is rolling her eyes at me and giving me a real good stink eye!" 

Travis said it was because I took her mama away. Well, we have no idea what is going on her brain, but I got down next to her talked to her, sat closer, gave her and her panda bear a potato chip and we were friends again. I am not above a bribe, my friends, not at all.

Tomorrow this guest blogger will go home, but we are working on a way to keep the updates coming, and hopefully video at some point! Stay tuned.