OOOOOOHHHHH!!!! I want to HOLD HER!!!!!

I don't know who is more excited that the paper chain is dwindling...Hopie or Mama. I simply cannot wait to have them home.

Hope is showing the strain...she's not napping...she's irritable...she just wants her Daddy home. She says she wants her "baby sista" home too...we'll see how she feels after Claire has been home for awhile! ")

Her daily presents from Daddy and Claire have been a big hit. Every night, after she is asleep, I choose one from my secret stash and "hide" it somewhere in the house. She has an absolute blast each morning searching for her gift. She was explaining to me just how they get to her...

"Daddy makes them in China then Claire holds them. After Daddy wraps them he sends them down while I'm asleep so I can find them in the morning." Ahhhh...to have the innocence and faith of a three year old! I am beyond envious.

She also can't wait to see the pictures that Daddy emails, or Zhou posts, or Kristian posts. Come to think of it, neither can I. " )

Garry and Claire had a very productive Sunday. He said that he's almost finished with my list! What a MAN! It appears that both Zhou AND Garry were right about Sunday's itinerary...two day's activities were combined into one. They spent the morning at the art museum in Guangzhou. We visited there with Hope and really enjoyed it...the museum shops were good too. Our girls...well...let's just say we now have a picture of BOTH of them sleeping there. He said it was a beautiful, warm, sunny day with just the slightest breeze. While they were walking through one of the courtyards he heard sparrows. He immediately took out the video camera and took some video so I could hear one of my favorite sounds in the universe. Crying again...here he is, stressed out of his mind, separated from his family, worried about baby number two...and he's still thinking of me. Is it any wonder why I love this man?

After the art museum they went to the jade market. None of the vendors were interested in bargaining. If you told them no to their first offer they ignored you. Hey, as far as Garry and I were concerned, who cares?! That place was SCARY! LOL I remember it as being dark and smoky and scary...like an old black and white movie about opium dens! ::shudder::

From the jade market they walked to the pearl market. NOW WE'RE TALKING! He did some serious damage there buying gifts for our girls and others. Then he tells me that he chose a strand and had them string a bracelet for Claire, a bracelet for Hope, and the remaining pearls into a bracelet for me. Crud...I guess I'm just going to keep crying during this post.

The group had lunch at Pizza Hut. Again, Garry and I wouldn't be caught dead near a Pizza Hut in the states, but in Guangzhou, it's good enough to roll in! LOL Kristian posted a picture of Garry and Claire at Pizza Hut. He looks so tired...I'm starting to worry.

After lunch, back on the bus and back to the hotel. Zhou told them he needed one member from each family to meet him for paperwork. Ok...what about Garry? He told him to put Claire to sleep in the stroller and bring her. That wasn't happening. Rick, like the sweet, sweet man that he is, came to Garry's room and sat with her while Garry was finishing paperwork. She's bonding with her Daddy so well! She wouldn't take her bottle from Rick...and when Garry returned she put her arms out to him to be picked up. Need more Kleenex!

While doing paperwork Garry was told that the forms the agency had told me to fill out two days before he left, were not needed. Garry kept asking Zhou, "Are you sure? They told me she HAD to fill these out and get them notarized." Zhou said, "Yes, sure! Garry, I do this all the time! I no make mistake!" After forms were passed out there was one rather long and complicated one...and Garry's was already filled out! He said, "Umm, Zhou? Mine's done." Zhou says, "I know. I feel sorry for you. I do it. I no know Melissa's maiden name. You do that."

For those of you who have never dealt with Zhou, he is the best. I would NEVER want to be in China without him. However...and you know the problems we've had with the agency...while the group was waiting for Zhou to join them, one of the fathers said, "We'd use this agency again just so we could have Zhou." Almost in unison, FOUR of the other families said, "He's good but that's not enough." Sad but true. I guess it's good to hear that it wasn't just us...but how sad that four out of seven families in one group had a horrible agency experience. And it was horrible...they shared their stories.

Tomorrow they have the entire day to themselves. Zhou has to go work his magic at the consulate and they have the day to bond...and shop!

More later!

Here I go stealing Kristian's pictures again...but I can't help it! LOL She can deal with me once she's back in the country!

This is Garry, Claire, Kristian and Joslyn...I'm assuming on their outing to the Three Gorges Museum.

Daddy made good on his promise to Hope and emailed her pictures of ALL three gorges. She's thrilled...and obviously my child. What a request! "What would you like Daddy to bring back from China for you?" "A picture of the three gorges." LOLOLOLOL

The museum was interesting, but Garry found the art museum contained in the same building MORE interesting. I wish I could've seen it. From what he described there were some awesome pieces. Another nod to my shopping list...Roxie from Tennessee keeps asking to take another look at it. While at the museum she spotted one of the items on my list and came running, "Mr. Garry! Mr. Garry! Here's these!" LOL

After nap he headed out with Rick and one other family to do some shopping. They visited the big book store. Garry said imagine the very worst Border's you've ever visited and multiply it by a hundred. You know how folks at Border's hang out, lay on the floor, read the entire book, then put it back? He said that most of the books he found that he would've liked to have brought home had been read "several times". That was my term. He said he wouldn't feel comfortable letting our girls even touch them. Covers were torn off, pages had been stepped on...I said, "Like an old library book?" He said, "Like a phone book at a rest stop." EWWWW!!!! He really had to work but he found two books for each of the girls and one for us. The children's floor was jam cram packed with kids. Rick had been there the day before and as they were ascending he said to Garry, "Listen." Garry says, "What *is* that?" It was the sound of all of those children running free! Apparently no parents to be found!

They stopped at a department store and he bought Claire a couple of outfits. He said it was really interesting...there were NO clothes in "little" sizes. Chongqing sees so much international adoption that there was simply nothing left that will fit the girls now. Doesn't matter...she'll grow into them!

When he called this morning Claire was sleeping...in his words, "Only one hurp today!" LOL Obviously she's taking after Alicia! He was packing. He can't wait to get to Guangzhou because, again, a direct quote, "I know that the next stop after that is home."

We can't wait for him to get home either...we're all feeling the strain. He was so broken up last night after talking to Hope on the phone he couldn't speak for a minute or two. I can't imagine the stress he must be under...and he's so worried about disappointing me.

Kristian has told me he's doing an amazing job...Roxie told him yesterday that he's more together than their entire family...and this is their THIRD trip! Know what he said? "It's because our girls have a great Mama and I have a great wife that got us organized and ready to go." CRYING!!!!!

It hits at the strangest times...ok...I have to quit...can't see the screen.

Sorry for the lack of updates...however we've...and I say "we've" like I have anything to do with it other than worry...we've had a sick baby.

I guess all of the girls have colds to some degree and Claire had the unknown rash on her back. Dr. John (thank you so very much from the bottom of my nervous Mama heart) checked her out on their Tuesday morning. She had been coughing so hard that she was throwing up...a lot. Dr. John said that she felt a little warm, she was NOT dehydrated, he felt it was just a snotty nose, and the rash, well, he said it looked more like impetego but since she had been in an institution to go ahead and use the scabies cream that Garry had brought. In Garry's words? "She's just like you! She coughs and then she throws up!" Awww...she really *is* my baby! LOL

Garry also said that he felt incredibly sorry for the maid who had to come in and strip every single piece of linen from the room covered in baby puke.

Their Tuesday was pretty laid back. I think he called me a half a dozen times. By the last call we were all feeling better. She was coughing less, keeping the Tylenol down, keeping her bottle down for longer and longer amounts of time, and sleeping more. Thank you God. Before he told me goodnight he told me what they were going to do on Wednesday...yes, they've already HAD their Wednesday. Again, in his words, "We're going to go puke on the pandas!" ROTFL!!!

He said the trip to the zoo went VERY well. She didn't puke on the pandas, but she did "spit up" a little. Hey, this is the first time he's used that term. I'm thinking we've turned the corner.

Also, at least two of the other girls have started the severe coughing/throwing up cycle and two more have presented with "The Rash". Dr. John has recommended that they all go through the two treatments of scabies cream and that if there is any left, the parents should use it as well before going home.

There is also a sign posted in the hotel lobby that Internet usage may be limited or down due to the earthquake in Taiwan. I know Garry told me this morning that he had sent me an email which I've yet to receive. He said that Kristian was complaining about not being able to post pictures as well.

The gal who lost her passport, I believe has her temporary visa. She can't travel to Guangzhou without it. As for the passport, I'm guessing that's being taken care of as well.

So what's Claire like? Through it all she's always smiling! He said the only time she's screaming or upset is when he tries to wipe her nose, or bathe her! Hey, *that's* normal, right? She doesn't have a clue yet about solid food or eating from a spoon...again...just like Hope. She's got the two bottom teeth, one coming through on the top, and ANOTHER top one appearing just below the surface. So on top of being sick and having a new Daddy, she's teething. Several of the other families have commented on what a great personality she has. Sorry to keep saying this...we heard the same about Hopie! I don't think it's anything *we* did, I just think we've been blessed beyond measure. Sandy! Remember how Garry kept calling Alice "Baby Alice with Kung-Fu Grip"? Well, Claire has apparently inherited her Kung-Fu grip. He said even Zhou has commented on how strong she is.

Garry played the DVD for her that Hope and I made. He said she sits perfectly still and watches while I sing to her, but as soon as Hopie comes on she tries to grab the camera. How perfect! She's already going after her sister! This morning he told me that he had given her the book with all of our pictures in it. He says that every time he tries to turn the page away from my picture, she turns it back...and pats my face. Oh crud...I really was fine until I typed that!

He holds the phone to her ear and I talk to her. I know very little Mandarin, but what I do know, I use with her. He said that she was trying to kiss the mouthpiece just like she gives him kisses. How awesome is that? They've been together for three days and she's already giving Daddy kisses!

The move I personally can't wait to witness is the head-bob. He says she's got this emphatic up and down "yes" deal. One is very slow and serious, and the other is two very short yet firm up and downs. He said if you watch the Chinese, it's how they greet each other. In any case it sounds too cute for words.

Thanks to Rick for watching her so Daddy can partake of the breakfast buffet without a baby on his hip. And I *know* he would without complaining, but it's just nice that Rick is there to help too! I'm not sure I could balance a plate and fill it AND hold a baby...but I'm willing to try!

The grandmother who is traveling with the family from Tennessee picked Claire up. She said she couldn't help herself! I completely understand...I can't wait to get my hands on her either. Garry reminded her of my "No women get to hold her rule"! LOL

I guess my shopping list is a big hit too. At least one family has asked if they can have a copy! LOLOLOLOLOL

Well, it is time to feed jie-jie! Thanks to all for your prayers, emails, and support through this entire journey.

Later y'all! ")