Sunday, July 24
We are busy enjoying the girls and Guangzhou! I have not taken time to post I the last couple of days because we have been busy. We are in Guangzhou, of which our hotel is on the Shalimaan Island. I am not much on the history, but the Island was developed with British influence. The lsland is beautiful. The paved streets are lined with cobblestone and beautiful banyan and other shade trees. I am so excited about being out of the hotel and being able to walk!
There are many little shops that line the streets and some other hotels and restaurants. Our dining choices in Guangzhou are better, they even have a subway, which I think we will try today. The breakfast buffet is amazing!
I am beginning to finally find foods that Samantha really likes. Yesterday we were at breakfast and I had a whole selection of Chinese foods for her. After finishing her watermelon, which is loves, she did not want anything else. I was disappointed hoping she would eat better. We started to get up to leave and she pulled my shirt and started pointing at the food! So she understands that after we leave breakfast that food is not available any longer for the day. She ate almost all the food I had brought for her! Her favorites are Congee, steamed bread with filling and wontons. Leslie, can you teach me how to cook Chinese? I hope so!
I have not posted everything we have faced since getting Samantha. But I want to say a heartfelt thank you to Dr. Madera and Sonia. Around 10:30pm Florida time I called Sonia in distress, I needed to talk to someone I trusted, Dr. Madera. I have not told the whole story of getting Samantha, but on Gotcha day she had a few large red spots. I thought they were bug bites, but then later in the day and the next morning they went away and then more appeared. You could tell she did not feel well and would hardly eat, although she was very happy and responsive to us. Long story short, she had a cold a couple of days before we were to get her and the orphanage decided to give her IV antibiotic therapy on July 16 and 17. She had an allergic reaction to the antibiotic and they had to then give her IV glucose, sodium and hydrocortisone. Finally I found this all out, after being very direct with our translator to contact the orphanage. She was still having an allergic reaction to the antibiotic when we got her and continues to. In Nanjing there were no American doctors and I did not want to take her to the children’s hospital that is the only place you can get meds. So Dr. Madrea suggested to give her Allegra, which I had brought with us and get an RX for oral steroid. It is still a long story, but we finally were able to get the rx-not easy in China. If other families are traveling, make certain you bring meds with you. I brought so many meds for emergency, but did not have the oral steroid only the antihistamine. So now she is doing great and you can tell she feels better. She was so sweet through everything. Every time a new hive would appear she would come show me, and look at me like please mama make them go away, for they were very itchy. It was a good bonding experience, but I do wish she would not have had the experience. Her recent experience also did not help when we had her medical appointment, she was very scared, but she held on to mommy and did fine. We go back today to have her TB results read, but she is fine, no reaction.
Matt said it right when he said, she is a “good fit”. You think your family is complete and then God has other plans, which are always the greatest of plans! Samantha is really a blessing and Sarah and Anna have really bonded with her as well.
We got to enjoy the Swan room which is the playroom at the hotel. The girls had great space to run and play, Sarah even got to do her cartwheels.
One of my favorite things is to see all the children who now have loving homes. They each have their story and each is very special. We have met several wonderful families from IN, MO, NC and other states. Most of the families are on different timelines so they can and go but will stay part of our memories. We are doing good and are looking forward to returning home. Love to All, Matt , Shari, Sarah, Anna and Samantha
No comments:
Post a Comment