Medical Exam

Look Nana & Paw-Paw...I'm wearing Mommy's sweater from when she was a little girl!!

Four Years ago I met Angie online through our November DTC Yahoo group. We shared the same LID and many other common interests. We quickly became friends and have relied on each other for support, encouragement and prayer throughout our adoption experiences. We always thought we would travel to China together but then we accepted our referral in February and it looked like that might not happen. Then in April, Angie and her family accepted a referral for their little Ruthie and with my documents taking so long and hers coming so quickly we thought for sure we would be in China together. But then Angie's Consulate Appointment came a week earlier than ours so we just hoped that our paths would cross one day in China for us to meet.

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When I finally got my itinerary we were so disappointed to learn that we would miss each other by a day. It wasn't until we were in Nanjing that I learned from our guide we would actually be leaving there a day earlier than planned which put us in Guangzhou the day before Angie left. We quickly made plans to meet for dinner the evening we arrived. But then our plane was delayed and it was too late in the day for us to get together. I was so upset that we were just 10 minutes apart with the daughters that we had dreamed about together for so long, that I just had to find a way to at least hug her neck and give her Ruthie a kiss.

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So, long story short, Dawn, Eva & I got up early this morning and took a taxi to her hotel and were able to see them before they left for the airport. It was so great to see her, her beautiful Ruthie, to meet her son whom I felt like I already knew and her friend Caryn that traveled with her. I wished we could have met for longer but it was enough to just see each other and our girls together, Finally! Love Ya Angie...Can't wait for the beach next summer!!

After a whirlwind taxi drive back to our hotel, David & I joined the rest of our travel group and brought Eva to her mandatory Medical Exam. Dawn & the boys hung out here at the hotel while we were gone. After stopping to have their visa photos taken, we made our way to the Physical Examination Building...all within walking distance of the hotel.

Eva had to go through three screening areas. First was: where they said she was 30" tall, weighed 18 pounds and did not have a temperature.Next was:where the doctor measured her head, listened to her heart and did a cursory glance at her abdomen and back.Then we went through:There she had a "hearing test" which was nothing more than them squeaking a toy and playing a key on the little keyboard and seeing if she turned her head. Looked in her ears and said that she didn't have an infection and checked her throat.Lastly, because Eva is over the age of 2, she had to have a TB test. This is where David & I thought for sure she would loose it...but she was a trooper and didn't even flinch!All in all the process, including walking to and from, took 2 1/2 hours which I really didn't think was too bad. I've waited longer than that just for a doctor's appointment at home!

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Back at the hotel, we grabbed a quick lunch. When we walked back into our room I was so excited to find Eva's special Barbie doll; another thing that I have heard about for years. Mattel sponsors a playroom here at the White Swan and gives every adoption family a specially created Barbie holding an Asian baby. The box reads "Going Home"!! We lucked out and actually got two since we have adjoining rooms. This way Eva can play with one and the other I can keep boxed up for her.After this, while everyone in our rooms took a nap, I met back up with our adoption group to complete the remainder of our paperwork for the American Consulate appointment. This took 2 LONG hours!!

We ended the day with dinner at Lucy's! This is a favorite for adoption families and serves some of the Western food that we have all been missing -Quesadillas, Roast Beef sandwiches and Peanut Butter & Jelly never tasted so good!!