Mostly this is about Monday even though it's Wednesday.

Good morning from Hong Kong!!! We have had an UNBELIEVABLY BUSY few days!  Guangzhou was beautiful and there were so many things to do:  adoption related AND just for fun.  We haven't had two minutes to rub together...... Helen would say things like.... "You can go rest for 10 minutes, then we board the bus again."  Or.... "We no have time to stop.  Bring milk for babies."  We.  Are.  Exhausted.  We kept telling each other that we'd have time to update the folks at home when we got to Hong Kong..... but there are problems:  #1: The wifi in this hotel ain't free.  And it costs ALOT of money to get it for just ONE device.  So, we chose the device that had the most charge..... cause we have problem #2:  The plugs here in HK are WHACK.  We have adapters, but none that support a three prong thingie (and they act like they have NO idea what we're talking about at the front desk)..... so I'm typing on the one computer with wifi and it has 35% charge...... so, this will be the one and only update until we can find some wifi!!!

So, let's get going:  I'm not sure what day it is, but I THINK it's Wednesday morning here in HK and it's about 9:30am.  I'm gonna go back a couple of days.... back to Guangzhou.... back to Monday, I think.  Monday was our Consulate Appointment.  Have I talked about that yet?  Well, here goes.

The week in Guangzhou is spent completing the US side of the adoption.  We had to be ready at 7:50 to board the bus with four other families from Lifeline to head to the US consulate. Mary was wearing her ultra cute red, white, and blue dress, and she was ready to get her paperwork DONE.  Our guide, Helen, gave very detailed information about what to do once she got us in the building, but said she couldn't go up with us.... not a US citizen.  It was a bit crazy there for a while..... no cameras, cell phones, backpacks... NOTHING.  We literally had a diaper and some wet wipes in a ziplock bag and our passports in our pockets.  Up we went to a very hot, very tiny room where we sat and waited for directions.  Then, an American fella named Ian got on the microphone and started giving us directions.  (They have glass windows with little holes to talk through like at the bank..... )  He started talking about the child's passport (do not travel internationally again on the Chinese passport), the BROWN ENVELOPE (guard this with your life and do not open it or else you'll have trouble getting your child into the US.... present this SEALED envelope to immigration officials at your first stop in US), adoption certificates (this is just for fun... yours to keep), and oaths.  The oath:  Yes, we promise that all this paperwork that we've been filling out for the last ten hundred years of our life is correct.  Then, they called us up one by one to the little glass window, did some MORE paperwork, and sent us on our way.

That's it.  No big deal..... but a huge step in our process.  As soon as Mary's feet touch the ground in Detroit (our first US stop), she'll become a full American citizen.  God bless America.

When we came out of our CA, it was POURING.  Have I mentioned that there's a typhoon in these parts that's bringing unbelievable amounts of rain to Guangzhou? Have I mentioned that it's not easy carrying a child, all her loot, and an umbrella at the same time?  Do we stop touring and going during these downpours?  No.  We do not.

Once we all got on the bus, Helen informed us that we had about 10 minutes to "freshen up" and then we are off again for Shamian Island.  This was something that I'd read about and was super excited to see.  The US consulate used to be on Shamian Island and all adoptive families would stay in a little quaint hotel called The White Swan.  There are some lovely little shops there and a great "American" restaurant called Lucy's.  A couple of years ago, the US consulate moved.  The White Swan is now under renovation, so the island seems a bit deserted.  But, after you've been in the hustle and bustle that we've been in, you're glad for some peace and quiet.  This island reminded us of New Orleans..... and it was super fun.  We shopped, took pictures of the many statues on the island (they are kinda known for these statues), and ate a delicious American lunch.

A word about the shopping:  Although I accomplished most of what I had set out to do.... it was STRESSFUL.  The shop is about the size of my pantry, Helen informed us that we had, "20 minutes... is okay?", and then we crammed six families in that store.  Top it off with a MONSOON outside and six tired, hot babies in strollers with six husbands counting their cash and you've got yourself an interesting experience.

NOTE:  I'm planning on posting LOTS of pictures to accompany this blog, but it ain't happening now. Why?  Well, the boys just took my phone (the only one with charge!!) and have headed out to HONG KONG DISNEY.  Yes.  They are going to live it up at HK Disneyland today!  Mary and I stayed behind to rest and eat crackers and tear up kleenexes.  We aren't QUITE ready for the fun of Disney just yet.....  But once I have a chance (or have a computer with more than.... YIKES!.... 30% charge... I'll get right  on those pictures.)

Anyhoo.... after shopping, we all headed over to Lucy's for lunch.  Cheeseburgers all around, please.  The place is full of American movie posters, pictures of American movie stars, etc.  And the burgers and fries were a welcome reprieve from all the rice and noodles we've been eating.

On the way back from the island, Helen told us we had a little while to rest before the Pearl River Dinner Cruise that night.  Well, Mary apparently didn't want to go on any more tours that day.  She worked herself up into a mighty fine tailspin on that bus back to the hotel, and by he time we got back to the room, we were drenched, exhausted, sad, mad, and done.  And Mary wasn't doing too good either.  So, we called it a night.  We took a long nap.  The boys went swimming. Joe, Mary, and I headed back to that little Chinese diner that Joe had discovered in the basement under McDonalds and got some DELICIOUS fried rice and noodles (plus McDonalds for the boys) and went to bed early.  We hated to miss the dinner cruise, but it just wasn't happening.  It was fun just hanging out in the room as a family.  Plus, Little Miss started doing more of her tricks.  We had finally gotten her some shoes (oh my WORD the cute shoes I got on the island) and once we put them on her feet, a few steps of walking weren't far behind.  She was so proud of herself.

So that gets us up to speed until Tuesday.  (That's yesterday, right?)
Highlights of that day (which will be another blog post, cause they're just not the same without the pictures....):  Guangzhou Zoo, more torrential rains, a 3.5 hour van ride to Hong Kong (that's a story for ya), and checking into The Metropolis Hotel in Hong Kong where the hair dryer is drilled into a drawer in the DESK and there's no wifi.  Can you tell I'm tired?  I promise to have a better attitude in the next blog post.  We are all just REALLY ready to go home and we are all working HARD to be positive and continue making memories.  Some days are harder than others.

Currently, I'm about to take my girl on a walk.  We are digging our new stroller and, hopefully, we'll get in a good morning nap.  She continues to amaze us with how SMART she is and has mastered shaking her head NO when she doesn't want something.  Mercy..... We all ADORE her (especially Max..... he cannot get enough of her..... he calls her his little buddy.... so unexpected, but so wonderful.)

Alright.  The computer is warning me that my power is out.  (So no editing!  Sorry!) Next post hopefully coming as soon as the boys get back with my pictures!  And there BETTER be some good pictures of HK Disney.  They were given VERY strict instructions (and a shopping list).  K!