Today, we got an upgrade. No more tiny room. No more holey sheets. No more stained wallpaper. I could go on, but I won’t. We’re movin’ on up, and now we have a sitting room, a fridge, a balcony and all the amenities. We also have a date of release: Saturday, at 5:30 am. Why 5:30? Not gonna ask. Just gonna be there.
So we’re bouncing along. At dinner, they had eggplant with pork–my favorite Chinese dish. And as we walked out out with our little plastic trays, my mom and agreed that the only thing we really still wanted was a cold drink (this was before we’d found the new fridge). Since we were eating outside, I asked for water at the desk–and they turned to a big cooler and produced five chilled bottles.
If we could, we’d go buy a lottery ticket.
We’ve made friends. Eric the hotel manager is fine–we’ve been given chips and chocolate, and we shared. Plus we gave him some of the treats we bought for friends–sorry, guys, Eric needs Sour Patch Kids and beef jerky more than you do. He’ll be heading out with us Saturday morning. There’s a family from Chicago and a high school student, and we shared with them, too.
The kids alternate between playing together and totally, utterly deviling one another. We tried to split them up today, and that helped. Lily and I took crayons and paper and sat outside and drew pictures, and for a minute, it felt like a real vacation.
Thanks for listening, everybody. We’re ok. Rob’s still pretty miserable in his cell–I’ll post pictures–but on this side of the fence, we’re fine.
Hang in there… um… yeah, hang in there!
I understand about your mixed emotions regarding having brought the kids and subjecting them to this. I’d have mixed emotions too. Don’t dwell too much on the regret part – they’re there, and they’re doing the best they can, and it’ll end sometime.
And just think – when we’re all sharing our shocking adoption stories to the latest batch of newbies on the mailing list, you’ll have one of the most shocking stories of all! You, and the family whose child was airlifted from the orphanage during an earthquake, and then they couldn’t figure out where she’d gone…
your family is handling this amazingly!
I am so glad to see that they have moved you!!!
And your capturing of the details of your days is amazing!
You are all in our thoughts!
-JC
You are amazing. Special picture for you on my blog.
xoxo.
5:30… nice and dark and early!
I am glad to see that you are fine dining in China and taking in all of the promised sights. I am also glad you are having all of the quality family time expected. If this was my husband and I and my 2 little ones, we would be in jail for attempted murder on each other!:) Its almost Saturday, hang in there.
I cannot imagine being in a hotel room for a week with my kids. Heck, with my oldest son, if he doesn’t do at least one sport a day he is difficult to be around. I think I would have to build an obstacle course around the room.
I am sure that in the end it will all be worth it.
I cannot imagine being in a hotel room for a week with my kids. Heck, with my oldest son, if he doesn’t do at least one sport a day he is difficult to be around. I think I would have to build an obstacle course around the room.
I am sure that in the end it will all be worth it.
I’m glad to see, at least from the pictures, that your kiddos seem to be taking things pretty much in stride! Make the best of things, hope nobody else tests positive and go get your little one!
It WILL be a memorable trip!
Nanetta
Still reading along and glad to read that you have better accomodations….new material for that best seller you will write. 😉 And, a date that you get to see the “outside world”. I know that date must rank up there as one of the most amazing dates in your lifetime. You have seen a part of China that not many peopel do. You all arehandling it amazingly well. Stay strong.