Guangzhou...one step closer to home!

I have been receiving a fair amount of grief for our delinquent entry and apologize for the delay. Before I catch you up I just want to send a great big hug to Liam's cousins, Mark and Jacob, from the other side of the world. Thank you for loving your cousin before you have even been able to meet him. We have loved reading all your comments and can feel all of your genuine love and support and thank you so much for taking the time to care.

We are now in Guangzhou which is very southern part of China. Can you say tropical? We left our hotel in Changsha after one last dinner with the other 2 families we connected with. The last day there we learned that they had shared the same guide named Amy. For those of you who have followed from the VERY beginning, you will remember I have shared that our little boy has one most amazing guardian angel. She abides in the good ole' U.S.A. She coordinates with the help of a woman who resides in Hunan to act as her hands and feet. Last October, Love Without Boundaries, did a regular follow up with Liam at his foster home. They felt strongly that he would benefit greatly from daily physical therapy. The problem was where to get the funding and how to arrange such a solution. Enter Amy. SHE IS THE HANDS AND FEET IN HUNAN FOR LWB!!! She was the person who helped to make that dream a reality. We had the great honor of meeting her. It appeared that Liam had remembered her too. We attached a picture below. God is good.

We got to the airport. Picture a VERY small airport. We felt it was the same person who checked us in, scanned us through security and flew the plane. From where we entered the building, it was probably only 300-400 yds to where we walked out to get on the plane. (every flight thus far we have taken a bus from the terminal and boarded the plane outdoors-no live chickens though) When we arrived there were 2 flights waiting to board. Nothing was in English and no one spoke English. Fortunately we were with the 2 other families we had met. Practically everyone lined up at a door to go out and we couldn't figure out whether it was our flight. We scurried to learn that flight was going to Beijing (I went up to a man and said "Beijing Changsha" to which he replied "Beijing". After they all boarded the only people left, I am not exaggerating, were the 3 of us families. Uh oh. Fortunately our guide had given us her phone number and told us how to use the phone. We proceeded to call her and she was able to tell us that our flight was delayed from 8:00 until 10:00 (we had arrived at 6:30) but that it was coming. Enter one very nice Chinese gentleman who spoke English. He was able to give us updates the remainder of our time. Liam was way overtired but remained a trooper through his first plane ride. He finally crashed about half way through our flight and slept all the way through until we woke him the next morning (Saturday) at 9:00. His head never left the pillow all that night.

Saturday he received his required physical along with about 75 other children being adopted. It is referred to as adoption day at the clinic where the babies go from station to station. Liam remained a trooper and didn't even cry when he got his TB test. He weighed in at 18.9 pounds and 30.5 inches. We had his intial weight at 17.6 pounds and felt rather proud (if the scales are accurate) at putting a pound on him.

We then had a few hours to explore Shaiman Island which is where the clinic is. Most adoptive families stay on the island which would have been nice as they really cater to the American crowds but it is literally being torn apart and rebuilt as they prepare for some festivities this fall. Some parts are pretty accessible but some of the sidewalks and roads are impassable. Staci, after we had the kid's Visa pictures taken we were walking as a group to our medical appts. A nice looking man was passing out business cards inviting us in his shop. It was Jordon! We introduced ourselves and he was SO excited. We came back later and shopped and he wrote out the kid's names in Chinese Characters. He was every bit as great as you said. We will go by later and I will ask for his e-mail for you.

We stopped on the way off the island at a Carrefour. Think of Wal-Mart on steroids. It was two floors and it was underground. Our guides pointed us in the right direction so we could buy any necessary supplies. I decided to adopt the assertiveness of so many of the people and forged our way through the store. I was rather proud of myself.

Amy C., you may not want to read this next paragraph. In Changsha, we were not by any American traditions like McDonalds or Starbucks. Steve and I got starry eyed as we saw a McD's next to our hotel. When we got back (but after we fed Liam a healthy lunch) we went and inhaled a BigMac and french fries. Steve insisted (I promise it wasn't my idea) to give Liam a french fry. So much for the attitude of we will only feed this boy healthy foods. LOL Amy, you'll be here a whole two weeks. We'll have to see how long you can hold out.

Today, we went as a group to a very very nice park. They had areas set up for badmitton and table tennis as well as a very cool playground for adults and children. In the park they also had an amusement park for the little ones and also paddle boats.

Lot's of poop stories for today. While we were walking around earlier I got hit with a hot splat which turned out to be bird poop. My choice was to cry or laugh so I chose the later. The other poop story is from our son. You have been reading about his potty (our potty) training. We had been told the way to tell him to go poo poo was "Wo Ba Ba". We have cracked oursevles up saying it every which way you can with no results. We thought it was crazy anyway but now say it to him almost as a joke. Well last night we put him on the potty one last time before bed and Steve said "Wo Ba Ba". This time Liam grunted his little face and ploop...out came a poop. How's that for crazy?!

Steve is downstairs filling out Liam's Visa paperwork with the rest of our group. One step closer to coming home. We have regrouped with the other 10 families. We all have stories to tell. One little baby had to be hospitalized after she met her mom and dad and has to be in the hospital until the doctor's release her. We pray that she will be discharged soon. Steve and I had to do a reality check as we were feeling so homesick. Look at the start to life each of these kid's has had and how resilient they are all being. We have no room to speak.

Enjoy the pictures (double the dose is one benefit of a delayed post).

Love,
Paige, Steve and Liam

Amy (aka Yvonne), the hands and feet of LWB


Adoption day at the medical clinic

How many nurses does it take to weigh Liam?

This one is for Staci; wish you were still here!



We are supposed to be staying at a more western type hotel. I would have preferred a more current decade than this!

"I was sleeping so soundly but Lauren and Jenna made mommy wake me up to Skype"


Looking at pictures of my jie jie and ge ge




One of the unexpected benefits of being on this journey has been falling in love with my husband all over again. He has always been an excellent husband and father but watching him with Liam over this last week has made me fall more in love with him than I could have ever imagined.