ShiYang, Here we come!!!



Bags are Packed (4 suitcases; 4 carry-ons)



Phew!  Finally, we are packed (and I'm not up until 2am this time)!  It was very tricky to stay within the 44lb/bag limit as the suitcases themselves weigh 10lbs apiece!  We have been instructed to stay within the 44lb limit since inter-country flights in China are very restrictive with what you can bring.  We are allowed one suitcase per person and one carry-on.  When you're traveling with 4 people and picking up a baby (whom you have to pack for as well) for a 3 week trip, it gets tricky.  I felt bad for the kids last night.  When I asked each of them to go to their rooms to choose some books to bring along, they each chose a book that was a hardcover only to be sent back to their room since hardcover books are too heavy!  I'm even looking at Emily's electric toothbrush and thinking...hmmm, how much does that weigh?  It was pretty funny last night when Mike packed his clothes and kept standing on the scale with a pile of clothes in his hand exclaiming "Damn!  These clothes weigh 5lbs!!!"  Never thought I'd see the day that even Mike felt he was over-packing! 

We have had to pack an interesting variety of items such as:

• documents (panicked I'm forgetting something important)
• lice shampoo
• clothes for ShiYang (as he only comes with the clothes on his back)
• donations for the orphanage
• over-the-counter drugs (Imodium being the most important)
• formula, diapers, bottles, pacifiers, blankets, toys
• snacks for us (since the kids are a bit worried about what they'll be forced to eat)
• band-aids, neosporin, ace bandages
• travel books
• translator (cool device which will speak Mandarin for us...phew)
• sunscreen (it will be in the high 80s in middle and southern China)
• gifts for orphanage/officials

The "gifts" have caused me much grief.  We were told it is expected that when we meet ShiYang, we are supposed to replace the clothes he came to us in with new clothing, provide gifts for 3 caregivers and the orphanage director.  These gifts are not to be made in China and they are supposed to be something that is unique to Chicago or the US.  Oh, and don't give anything that is a clock (they believe that signifies your impending death) or anything that has a #4 on it (their character for death looks similar to the number 4).  Hmmm...what to bring?  Cosmetics are desirable as most cosmetics are made in the US and are cheaper here, but something seems strange as they had over our son to us, we thank them with lip gloss???  Odd.  So, we decided to give gifts of Frango mints from Marshall Fields (Chicago tradition and yummy - but they are heavy, unfortunately), lotions, Chicago t-shirts and cosmetics.  In addition, we were told to bring two gifts for the official magistrates who will finalize our adoption.  While I had NO problem giving gifts to the orphanage workers as they were the ones who have diapered, fed, hugged (hopefully) our son over the past 20months, giving gifts to two people who simply rubber stamp our documentation gives me a funny feeling.  We have been told that it is less about what you give and more about the presentation of a gift that matters.  All I'm thinking, as I pack these strange items in my suitcase is...how much do they weigh???  (:

Either way, at 5:30am, Mike's parents (very nicely) will be taking us to the airport and sending us on our way...to China.  Walking Emily home from school yesterday, I asked her if she knew what continent we were going to and she said "China!".  After I explained that China is a country in Asia, she exclaimed "That's why they call them Asians!"  I giggled but am sure at the age of 7, I couldn't have told you what continent China was on either. (This is the same child who, after discovering that we need to be extra careful not to swallow any water from the shower while we're in China, announced, "That's OK Mommy, I just won't take a shower for 3 weeks!"  Ummm....NO!)   Every now and then I announce to my family "We're going to China!  Can you believe it?  We're going to China and coming home with a son!"  After I endure the numerous eye rolls from my children and snickering from my husband, we all agree this is going to be an adventure, one we will never forget.

ShiYang's New Bedroom (newly painted)



This is probably the cleanest it will ever be...