Wuhan and our baby.

we had 1 day before the rest of the families caught up with us and we sppent it doubled over in bed...One of the effects of TD is malaise...I like that word but not when it is accompanied by queazy, sick, sweating, diareaha and no sleep. Luckily we had come with a full course of cipro and we bombed it as soon as we knew what was hitting us. COnsider the 28th a waist -- maybe a wee bit of rest. Next morning we meet the other families in the lobby , after the bfast buffet (which includes a FULL SUSHI BAR!) I wish I cld eat it (as I'm writing this it's friday and I've had my fill on nori), Anyway we meet up with the other families in the lobby and board our chartered coach for the ministry of giving babies to forigeners. All the families are tense , probably having just had a near divirce fight the night before, excited - a 2 year dream is unfolding, and terrified -- will I get the baby I've seen in the pictures?

We drive through downtown Wuhan...SUUUUPER Sticky, hot, 85 if not 95 and the air is yellow. I have a glimpse that the rest of the world could be like Wuhan in about 40 years if our petro-chemical lust goes unfettered. Guys driving muotuochua (motorcycles) and women on scooters, I'm going to call Wuhan small engine city as I didnt see a bike over 300cc. There is a building craze in china now..no wonder they needed a mine in hibbingshan. Huge skyscrapers towering over 300 year old shantys all the scaffolding is bamboo..really , even the tallest building project is scaffolded with bamboo. People, People people. The chinese business man uniform is black pleated pants, poloshirt tucked in, black leather belt with a cel phone hoster (turned sideways) and the most un-sensable shoes...like cheap loafers with blocky heals, and a cig (with a blue filter?) THe women are either old or trying to look western "hot". I've seen a few handsome and truly beautiful people but most are really trying to look a part to varying degrees of success. We pull up to a non-discript office building and enter the lobby. Several SWI(Social welfare institues) are there to give us MN families the babies. All told we have a large group (13 families or so) and one by one we are called up to a door and our baby is brought out to us. The directors from each of the SWI's are there and a few caregivers. We can tell that there are other caregivers outside walking around the front of the building. We sign a 24hour try out certificiate as we'll be back the next day to confirm we really want our little bugger....once we see Lydia there is NO QUESTION (the questions all came after the 24 hour period...hehehe). She is brought out and P and I are balling...she is balling ..we're just a fountain of happy/scared tears. Right away Lydia, who is in shock ( and still is several days later to some degree) clamps onto P. Thus emerges a theme..it's friday now and she still starts to cry everyother time P leaves the room. Oh, we've bonded over games and that song from that insurance commercial with home video of people doing stupid stuff...she loves to hear me sing that when she's happy bouncing like a pogo stick...anyway...after the most emotional 2 hours of all the families getting babies (BTW I have lots on video dont worry and buy kleenex stock now) we all pile on the bus and back to the Wuhan BestWestern Mayflower. P and L get to the room while I got to the meeting room to finish paper work. One item of which is the formal adoption declaration form. On it I heve to triple check that the info for P and I matches the info on our passport..otherwise when we're in Guangzhou next week and it's wrong, we have to come back to Wuhan...and that would suck. Also there we have to put Lydia's full new US name. Now we've talked alot about the middle name but hadn't really decided..and it's now......hehe you'll have to wait..hahaha!!

Now begins a fun new game...figure out what a 1 year old eats...and once you are playing that one, then start the other one...figure out how they like to poop. It's friday now and we're still trying this or that...One thing we DO know is that she likes to eat savory adult food..a girl taking after her papa! She like them noodles and she likes those other noodles and she like TEETHING BISCUITS!! cuz she has 6 pearly whites and more on the way. IF you are in this situation ever, BRING THE BARLEY BISCUITS..boxes and boxes..cuz the other families wont have and you'll be everybodies best friend.

We had to go back the next day to make it officialSuffice to say we kept the little beaner.

Wuhan Highlights.

Carrefore -- french walmart with a squid monger. THey brought us there so we cld get supplies and gave us an hour to blaze through a chinese grocery store...it was like one of those TV survivor/reality shows...here's 1 hour, buy stuff for a kid that you dont know and guess what all the packaging is in chinese...btw divied all the prics by 8.019 to stay on budget...GO! Our friend karen started a fight between store employees (theres 3 for evry shopper) about a cow on the packaging on the formula bag...we moved on quickly...I got alot of fluids including two big budwiesers for P. We'll be going back there again today.

Yellow Crane Tower -- This is Wuhans Enger Tower only er bigger and er older..actually it's realy new cuz it burned in 1884 and was rebuilt in the 50's. It's lovely and we got some great pics there. We also bought a replica set of the worlds oldest musical instrument, A set of bells that are here in Wuhan. We may go to hear them played later today. And a VCD of chairman mao propaganda for papa (papaganda?)

Rug Fractory -- While not big on our list, we went along anyway becuse the bus was going. I stayed in the bus as Lydia slept on my lap. P went on the tour. They make em' by hand and well short story, we bought one. A really nice rug too...nope it aint fer the back door Jethro, it's for the wall. The wall you say? Hows a person fixin to walk on the wall? Well we're in china right? Anyway this rug is factory direct (handmade over 10 mo.s) and er...very nice to say the least ... will be a present later in life for Lydia (after it hangs on out wall a spell).

ER...Marshall Feilds...or it's chinese equiv. -- Around the corner from the hotel is this department store. Go in the Mcdonalds and take the elevator to the 8th floor. YOu are greeted with a chinese buffet. Charge up a little card with yuan and point and eat. Here's where we found out the L is a little noodle hound...and she like's em with garlic and stuff...daddy's girl! Then take the escalator down after dinner and shop for baby clothes and stuff. P bought a pair of commie red converse with the number 08 on the side...$23.. China only olympic bumber tennys...collectable i'm sure.

So thats wuhan for now.