Finding Rest

Today was the end of our first week here in China.  Its been a whirlwind tour that we will never forget and some of my deepest memories were created today.  Lainey has had a little constipation problem that we seem to have "worked" out!  But we really didn't want to travel with her today so I went with an interpreter and a driver to her home town, while Christina stayed here with Lainey at the hotel.  One family needed to go to a different city for the processing of their adoption so it left a sort of free day for the other families.  A group went to an aquarium which we here was fantastic.  A couple others went to finding places as I did.  Lainey is from Anyang about 2 1/2 hour drive north of Zhengzhou.  And what a ride it was.  Getting to see the country, the real heart of the country was both exciting and disturbing. 

 

First the ride itself.  I was in a van and sat in the middle of the back seat because I was never sure when another vehicle might land in my lap! It is more apparent after this drive that the white line lane markers on the roads are merely suggestions! We were on several roads with two and three lanes in each direction and routinely we would have five lanes of traffic fighting for the space.  Lane changes are spur of the moment based on who cuts in front of you! Travel is slowed because of the uncertainty but moves along like a well orchestrated pile of spaghetti.  In the week here I finally saw my first accident today.  I am amazed there is not one every block!  Today we backed up along an Interstate because we missed an exit and no one even honked at us, its accepted!  People will edge across several lanes of traffic turning left without a second thought. They just cut across knowing the oncoming traffic will stop!  Meanwhile there are bicycles, three wheel carts, and pedestrians all on the side of the road too.  The roads are interesting too, we were flying along at probably 60 on a highway and suddenly there is a pile of dirt in our lane big enough to send us on a dukes of hazard like jump!  No warning, just you better move there is a pile of dirt! (Just had to pause, Lainey was making quite the buzzing fart noises with her mouth, better than a fart machine could!)  And then the garbage, the roads are littered with it in the country. But they have people all over the place with brooms made of straw and branches sweeping the dirt off the side of the road!  I haven't seen any homes like we would recognize.  Everything on the way to Anyang was block or brick buildings with large walls around them.  No yards to speak of either.  This is a huge agriculture area too, and they plant in any little corner they find ground. 

 

Ok enough lets get to Anyang already.  That was tough too, I've realized many streets around here have no signs at all!  You need to know where you are going and if not you ask someone sweeping dirt on the side of the road like we did 4 times to find our way to the orphanage!  We finally got there and I took some pictures out front.  Its in the heart of downtown and Anyang is very similar in size to Columbus, 1.5 million people.  The interpreter I was with said she had gone past the gate with another family a couple weeks ago so we ventured in.  She said she better double check with the guard and he called his boss.  Within a minute the vice director ran out and when she saw me she smiled! She handed Lainey to us on Monday and welcomed me in!  This was a surprise, most orphanages have been closed to the public for months because of swine flu scares.  But she said I was welcome any time and we went in!  The grounds were very large, there were several buildings. Apparently they house disabled adults, some other challenged adults and the kids.  There are over 200 kids there right now she said.  They take kids from newborns to 16 years old.  They have a playground area, small but an area.  The kids are up on a third floor of a three story building.  Its all cement, no carpets or flooring, but they do have central heat and air.  It was still quite cold, the heat wasn't on much.  The kids have painted frogs and birds and other scenes on the walls on the way up to the top floor.  It is gated at the top so no-one can leave or come in.  They showed me the room Lainey was in, it was long and narrow with about 10 chrome cribs lined up.  There was one little boy there in a walker.  The rest were in another area eating.  I met one of Lainey's nannies, she remembered her well.  Lainey left there last summer to be with a foster family.  It was not a bad place by any means, but still made me cry.  Lainey will have so much better.  The next stop was the hospital gate where Lainey was found.  Its a couple miles away still in downtown.  I just took a few quick photos there because a lone american taking pictures there with a flash attracted a little attention! 

 

Meanwhile back at the ranch Christina was tidying up our room and playing with Lainey.  She is making progress already.  She is learning that she can kick her feet pretty good.  We don't think she was able to move her feet much before!  She has smiled more and eats anything we give her.  I think she weighs about 14 pounds.  She is wearing the 6-9 month clothes we brought pretty well.  We had a late lunch today and the waiter brought a high chair before we could say no, and we put her in it as a test.  Well she passed! We were surprised, we didn't think she could sit like that but she did.  So its a little easier on our arms to eat!  I'm sure that's plenty for today so let me attach some photos for you to enjoy!