Travel Day from Nanchang...

Mia's hot hand in "Crazy Eights" while stuck in airport....her first flight and a ridiculously long bus ride face....

Mia Crawls...

We have heard that many babies in an orphanage are able to crawl, but only the distance of the length of their crib. This is because that's the only terrain they've known. So when they are set on a carpet with lots of acreage to cover, they still will only crawl the two feet and stop. Unbelievably sad, huh.

Here's a video of Mia making up for lost time.

That's what I'm talking about.
dad

"Mia Pu" Has Earned Her Name

I think the first thing you need to know about my daughter is that she is strong. As in, Cherokee strong. If you were to add up all her ailments (ear ache, ear rash, chest cold, some allergy thing I can't yet figure out, and a serious hangnail situation), this little girl has every reason to cry like an Oakland Raider. Then tack on the following:
1. A new caregiver, namely Dad.
2. A new location, namely a different hotel every 3-4 days
3. A different way of doing everything (changing, holding, rocking, feeding, playing)
4. A 13+ hour travel day that required 4 buses/shuttles and her first plane ride
5. Constipation. I mean the poor baby was seriously impacted. She couldn't go for 2 days since Gotcha.

Now, we had heard that many orphans in China are potty-trained before the age of 1 and we didn't believe it. Sure enough. My girl's a genius. They had literally trained her to sit on a potty and, when they would give the grunt noise, she would do the deuce. Automatic. Sure thing. Can't miss. Except for when your world gets rocked and you lose everything you've ever known. That'll plug ya - as it did for all the babies, in fact. So, sadly, we began to see severe signs of discomfort as Mia began to slowly keeling over into a bow position (for those who still stretch or can remember when, her position was akin to grabbing your toes while in a seated position). This would really be the only time she would cry. At other times she'd whimper, but this always caused the real deal.

The second shot above is just after one of the episodes had passed, I believe. It went on like this for a day perhaps - and we felt just helpless. So one night it got so unbearable that I sat with her on the toilet, which didn't work so well b/c I didn't leave much room for the toilet hole. Not wanting her to go in MY LAP, therefore, I carefully just held her over the pot. That freaked her out all the more. Talk about compounding stage fright. By this point, it had gotten REALLY bad, her crying inconsolable.

Elsie, our CHI coordinator, heard her crying from the hallway and came rushing in. Now,what came next was a moment for the ages. She picked up Mia, ripped off her diaper, grabbed a trashcan, and held her over the can, between her legs, and then began rocking her back and forth. Then, she started doing this little chant...it wasn't a hum, nor a lullaby, nor a whistle. It sounded like a British police siren, really...over and over...no words...just this siren sound and a lot of rocking and caressing as Mia SCREAMED and SCREAMED and pushed and pushed.

Meanwhile, I was yelling for the epidural. Then passed out. No, just kidding. But it was THAT intense and I was sitting there, in the words of Bill Cosby, "acting like I was Johnny Bench." I felt a bit afraid, useless, and wished that someone had trained me in Zenpooping too. Finally, it happened. They landed like bullets but were shaped like tree trunks. Horrible to see. And so, like I said, my baby girl is STRONG...not to mention, again, a genius - because that's just what we do now. She starts to keel. I get the can. She starts to moan. I begin shedding her layers. She starts to push. And I hold her over the can trying desperately to remember how a London squad siren goes.

o she's definitely earned our little nickname for her: Mia Pu. Um, this is OUR nickname, mind you...not yours. Give the girl a little dignity, please.

note: still working on the camera malfunction. hopefully new pictures tomorrow.

random musings

This is footage from a brisk walk through Nanchang's retail promenade. Meanwhile, below are some random thoughts that have been swirling:

* Guess what the VERY first store I saw upon landing in Beijing, after baggage claim: Starbucks. Ah, good ol' IMPERIALISM....my fair weather friend.

* Guess what was the first thing I did "on my own" in Guangzhou today. Yup. Ordered me a "Tall" - with no room for cream.

* The China Airlines all serve hot meals on every flight. Even if it's only an hour long. They don't use puddlejumpers, either and the crews have better uniforms. Think about that.

* The service here is amazing. They are incredibly kind, gracious, and they KILL in their language skills. I'm convinced we don't stand a chance in the emerging global economy.

* I've seen only one mini-van in China thus far. Quite a commentary, I think, in of itself. It was a Chrysler....which is another.

* Things I miss about the U.S. - mexican food...smoking laws...intimate space zones...traffic laws...traffic lights...the sun...italian food, but not nearly as much as some tacos...or the chicken and cream cheese enchiladas from El Ranchito...working heaters in stores, restaurants, hotel lobbies...tap water...Walk-in health clinics....the occasional cell phone etiquette...the quesadillas at La Tienda Casa Paloma...or their french toast, ironically enough.

* Things I love about China - the way they place their napkins: half on the table, half off. That way it never falls off. There's enough slack to reach your chin without bending (for the average man, of which I am) and yet, it won't hit the floor, nor your chair. Having a cloth to cover your lap I've always felt was over-rated...chopsticks. love 'em. gettin' good with them...food tastes better I think. plus, I think I'm really cool when I use them. Especially, when I don't have to think about it. You know, like tonight, when we were out for tai food and I was in a great conversation with someone who was sharing something rather personal when all of a sudden I thought, "Dan, look at you with those chops in your hand. You're so natural. With such ease, you use these sticks. Why, they might confuse you for an ex-patriot. Or CIA."...

More things I love about China: the food. I know you've heard me talk about pizza and McDonald's but that was always Butde's idea. I go where there are chopsticks.

Most of all: their warm spirits...gracious hearts...it's humbling.

I went to a church service today. It was truly good for the soul. I was having a rough couple of days and needed a little perspective - you know the reminder that I'm a Christ follower. So, it truly was powerful at times (at others, quite dull) - sitting there, singing worship songs in both mandarin and english, and holding my little Mia...worshiping over her, praying for her, then feeding her a bottle (Moms: how do you ever hear a word the pastor says?). Anyhow, it was just what I needed.

Naturally, I couldn't help but to make a few comparisons - which I found some similarities:
1. They started right on time, and everyone still arrived 15 minutes late
2. They told people to silence their cell phones and no one stirred.
3. The place was FREEZING
4. The pastor went long

So, we must be doing something right....

Nanchang Ice

What was supposed to be a 30 minute bus ride to the airport to catch a short, one hour flight (Mia's first ever)...turned into a 4 hour bus ride, a 4 hour delay in the airport, another hour delay on the runway, and then one stormy flight to Guangzhou. All in all, we arrived and slugged our way into the White Swan Hotel running high with nerves and low on formula.

The reason? Ice.

This was the worse ice storm to hit China in a decade...millions were stranded...power lines were down...thousands more went without heat...Chinese officials prepared for the worst...Gov. Schwarzenegger declared California a "State of Emergency"...etc. You can read all about it in the China Daily. (http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2008-01/27/content_6423659.htm)

It took us 2 hours just to get over the bridge that was right beneath our hotel. This was partly b/c of a 6-car pile up, but mostly due to the hundred or so uniformed military that lined up in the middle of the bridge with little tiny shovels in their hands. They stood just about a foot apart from one another and dug into the inch-thick ice, some without shovels used their hands. Others took pictures.

I've always heard about China's "standing army" but never expected to see them in the middle of the bridge like an M-DOT worker (or "Caltrans" or whatever). Those guys are lean...and nimble, let me tell you.

Well, I have much more to write - mostly about Mia. She is absolutely amazing and I've been logging so many things in my head...but they will have to wait until after dinner.

Until then, enjoy the pictures.

chow.

note: my camera is not uploading and so these are all old pictures. I'm gonna have to wait until tech support wakes up (aka: elise) to get me back going again.

Gotcha Day Video

One of the other families on the trip captured some video of Gotcha Day and posted it on YouTube. Dan and Mia are shown a couple of times on the video. Warning....it will make you cry.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2D6pFBhe5g

feeling better...

We all slept much better last night. Mia didn't cough nearly as much. Butde's (my Mom) feeling better. And I'm on Cipro.

Almost went to the hospital yesterday - in fact, was on my way out when someone from the group offered me their antibiotic. Risky, I know. But oh so worth it. I turned right back around, put Mia Pu down for a nap, and we both slept for 3 hours.

I'd be lying if there weren't a small part of me that was kind of looking forward to the adventure of going to a Chinese hospital. Even brought my camera for the occasion. It just sounds cool to say you went to a chinese hospital. Not quite as cool as saying you went to a chinese prison, but cool nonetheless.

You know, like when I'm at my next dinner party back in the states and a group of us are in a conversation that goes like this:

Dinner Party Person #1: "Man, it seems like everyone is sick."
Whole Group: "Yeah...it's that time of year"
Dinner Party Person #2: "I had to rush my son to the hospital just last week."
Whole Group: "REALLY!"
#2: "Um Hm...and it was a horrible experience...they were so rude and made us wait so long."
Whole Group: "Oh, that's awful."
#2: "It really was."
Me: "Hmmm....reminds me of the time I was in a Chinese hospital."
Whole Group: "hmm....."

They nod unthinkingly, and then startle from their suburban malaise and say:

Whole Group: "YOU were in a Chinese hospital?"
Me: "Oh sure."
Whole Group: "For what?"
Me: "I think it's better if I don't say."

Thanks so very much for your prayers.

just to clarify

It seems that Elise did not quite find the humor in my countryside story. I should have known. The idea of her baby being out there in the cold improperly dressed will ALWAYS draw a Mommy's ire. So allow me to clarify. The point, you see, was not in that Mia was under-dressed...the point was that the Chinese are obsessed about bundling their babies.

Think "Christmas Story", then add a layer.

Just so you know what we're talking about here...and so that you can see two more cute pix of Mia (which is the real reason)...to the left I have posted a couple of different "going out" shots. Notice - if you will - the tights, the thick cap, the warm sweats, and the parka - all over, of course, a long sleeve onsey, warm socks, and, um, a cozy diaper.