Medical Appt and SHOTS!

We survived the day with NO TEARS! We met our group, walked to have the visa photos, and then went to the clinic for adoptive children. It felt like all day we heard, "do it this way, except for H family"! The med exam was rather uneventful (I can say that since I didn't get the shots!). The cardiologist that examined Alaina said she has a healthy heart! They were back and forth reading her meds and told me she would have to have surgery for her hernia when we got home. I was confused, because her English translation said she already had the surgery (and she has a scar!). Finally, they looked at the scar and said "OK" -- crazy! Then she was weighed (15 kg) and measured (108 cm). Next was the fun part - the shots. While the rest of the group was able to leave, we stayed at the clinic. In a front room, Alaina was sat on a stool and a nurse gave her 2 shots in one arm and 1 in the other. At some point she took a pill, but I missed that. She did whimper a little bit, but no tears. What a nice day! We are saying a prayer of thanksgiving for the good news about her heart and for making it through the first real step of the Hague requirements.

Lunch was a quick run to Subway, which is right outside our hotel. Not quite like home, but tasted pretty good. Ally took her nap and then we went to the playgound in the median. The little girls spent most of their time on the slides, while S, L and I went to the exercise "equipment". On some of the things, we had no idea what to do, so I'm sure we provided a few laughs to the locals passing by. There was one lady there that walked about 6 laps around the little track BACKWARDS! No idea why! We met 2 families that were just getting into town and meeting their daughters tomorrow. Once of them is getting a 7 year old, so she had lots of Q's for us.

At 3 PM, I met with the other "smart" parents to complete paperwork for the consulate. Our adjenda said to send the "smart" parent to the meeting!!! So, I went (HA HA) mainly because I had put all of the paperwork together for the adoption and consulate (and they can read my writing!). It went smoothly, but once again, I was the exception to the rule! I was just thankful that I had every piece of paper that I needed. Alaina would be proud that I was so organized!

Doug and the girls did a little shopping, but came back empty handed. They taught Alaina to say "happy birthday mommy" which made my day! How cute is that?

Also, this afternoon, Doug and I got another lesson on pronouncing her Chinese name. Lauren made a label for her drawer that says "Alaina's Drawer" and she wrote her name on the label in Chinese. She pulled us over and had us sit (or squat) down in front of her labeled drawer. I suppose I got a passing score since I only had to say it once. Daddy, on the other hand, was not a good student! After each failed effort on his part, Alaina would get louder and louder. I was laughing so hard I could hardly talk, as she got louder with him and scolded him for his skills. We wonder if she has been schooled by a super strick teacher! We felt like we had gone to Chinese school after that. We got it on video, but our camera is not cooperating right now...

We met our group for dinner at the "Cow and Bridge" Thai restaurant. We had so much fun talking to everyone. Before we ate, I was surprised with a B'day cake that Doug and the girls ordered for me! It said "Luck", and Doug later told me he had requested that it say Lucy. Close enough! Our guides insisted that we eat it before ordering our meals, so we obeyed! Go ahead, make me eat cake!

Upon returning to the room, with Ally asleep in my arms, we got a phone call from the hotel. They called to wish me a happy birthday and said they would be delivering a cake to our room! About 10 minutes later, they arrived with a cake, fruit bowl and card that said "happy birthday Lusy"! HA HA! I laughed so hard! Apparently, they don't get a lot of requests to spell Lucy around here. Please notice how Alaina is squatting on the EDGE of the little table - maybe some cake will put a little weight on her!

It was a very happy birthday - thank you for all the nice wishes from home!