The Day!

Monday 8/10 7:15am

Well, yesterday was a whirlwind! We met our Holt guide and started out on time at 8:00 to go to the orphanage. 40 minutes into the 50 minute ride, we remembered that we forgot all the gifts! So we turned around and headed back to the hotel. Fortunately, we had started early in case of traffic and hadn’t hit any, so we were running rather early. After the second near-round trip, we were a little late, but had everything we meant to have.

We arrived and all the kids were arrayed in the lobby area. Ca was waiting for us, and greeted us with hugs and kisses on arrival. We went up the elevator with our guide, April, and Ca and many of the staff. 

12:10pm

Continuation…when we were upstairs, we completed some paperwork and played a bit with Ca. Discovered that Apple made a good design… It took very little for her to begin taking photos with my iPhone. We went downstairs again, and had “the party” - a song/dance from some of the kids in the orphanage, cake, candy - very short, and then back upstairs for more paperwork. 

The party cake. It tastes as good as it looks. That's all I'm going to say.

Um, Merry Christmas everyone!

The orphanage staff had a backpack prepared for her with some snacks and games and, I think, notes from some of the staff (although we’ve not sorted all through the backpack yet, so not sure). An enormous stuffed Mickey Mouse (almost the size of Ca!) was sent with her as a parting gift too - one of her favorites, according to the orphanage staff. Ca was all giggles and smiles, scampered right out to the van and got in. Just as we were leaving I had my only moment of teariness - as I said thank you to the ladies who had cared for our sweet girl for her whole life.

Some of the ladies at the orphanage

A short ride in the van to a restaurant that was recommended by the orphanage. Ca seemed a little shell-shocked in the van, and when we arrived at the restaurant, we were seated in a private room. Our guide ordered the meal for all of us - 4 Fletchers, one guide plus intern, and one bus driver. As we sat, the tears came. She cried throughout lunch and several times during the hour-plus ride back to the hotel. Lunch time was her normal nap time and her lunch was inordinately delayed. From this point, Ca was completely non-verbal even refusing to answer April’s questions.

Tears

Sleep

When we arrived at the hotel April explained to Ca that she would be staying with us here until Friday when we would travel by plane to Guangzhou. Ca seemed to understand, but did not reply. After walking her around the hotel room showing her the beds and toilet and shower, April left us for the night. Then we took out the bubbles! 

(Not sure if this movie will work for you. It's a .mov file, which I can view natively, but can't seem to view via this website. Sorry 'bout that if you've got the same problem. If you know how to fix it, post a comment and I'll do so. Thanks!)

Non-verbal girl disappeared.

Last night (now two nights ago due to the laptop issue), our first night, she slept in the bed with us next to Emily. Ca slept wonderfully; E, not so much. Tonight, we’ve brought the rollaway in next to our bed and she seems comfortable with that arrangement.

I has been a huge help and a great trooper. I think he (and we) are just getting an idea of the boredom that is bound to ensue. Most of our attention is devoted to his sister and there is not much for him to do. He’s read through most of the books he brought already so I’ve given him some of the ones I brought. Even so, all the riding & waiting is tiresome.

To our Facebook moms: We have several photos of each of your dear ones which we’ll send your way once we’re stateside. To those of you who are coming in the next months, we're compiling a document of things we want to share with you about your trip.