Chinese Ivy

Finally Home

2008-11-22T13:19:00.001-08:00

I will post some new pics for everyone tommorrow.
We discovered something unusual in HK. Ivy
appears to prefer western food much more than
the offerings of the east. Once in HK we went to
eat at Outback. She has a real affinity for french
fries, bread and hamburger. She is fond of spaghetti
but but opted for her first hamburger instead that
night. It was even tolerable to look at me and I
would have gotten a smile but she made the extra
effort to hold it back. We all did well on the flight back.
Everytime I come back from a long flight like that I
say I am never getting on a plane again. As always,
Emma traveled unbelieveably well. Seldom did she
ever complain.

I woke up at 11:30am and took Emma to Jack's BBQ.
She was quickly asleep on the drive home. I will be
fully adjusted tonight but it may take the rest several
days to get on schedule. Everyone is sleeping now.

Ivy makes alot more eye contact. She still isn't making
much noise, but does get caught off guard and claps things
together and other types of play. At dinner in HK I was
making a noise with my mouth and Ivy was wanting to
mimic me. She looks at me often when feed and rested.
She just wants to be held by Caprice and that is it. I put
her in her crib last night and she cried all the way there
but as soon as she made contact with the mattress she
got quiet. Emma sat by her bed and read to her until
I told her to go to bed. They are sleeping in beds rigfht
next to each other. They watched each other for 10
minutes and then both were asleep. I don't think Ivy
will go that many places in the next several days. I
believe we kept Emma at home for about a week.

We will be going to the hospital to visit my uncle tonight
or tommorrow. It is going to be sad because I know he
has lost alot of weight and the prognosis is unknown. It
is a stressful time for those who know and love him.
We all face uncertainty about our time here. It is just
difficult to deal with when someone we love is in a painful
situation. I just wished we knew he would be healed.

I think as Ivy is home more and gets more food into her
small little body, she will be more open to everything.
It will be an adjustment for us all. Ivy is 20 months.
I thought 24 months+ was a great time with Emma.
I am sure it will be for Ivy also.

Greg

Off to Hong Kong

2008-11-19T08:03:00.001-08:00

It is midnight and we are packing for the train
ride to Hong Kong. We will just be there one
day. We will fly from HK to Newark and from
there to Nashville to arrive via Continental
at 6:49pm. You are welcome to meet Ivy there
or we will be glad for you to stop by the house
when you like.

Ivy... She is just so slow to come around.
The other kids have been stuffing food
down and being very active. When Caprice
pushes her in the stroller she turns her
head back so she can watch Caprice instead
of looking out at what is going on. I have had
only a little contact with her this evening.
She just has a fit when her mother is absent.

We walked over some of the places we like
to go in the local market areas today. It was
our last day and it flew by. We had our
consulate appointment and dinner at the
Italain place again tonight with a bigger
group of friends. We had our own room
upstairs. It really is the best food around.
Today we had a few people that just really
wanted to talk to us so bad but the language
barrier makes it just impossible.

Anyway, the people here have been nice and
I always appreciate that.

Thanks to all who have followed our journey.
We are almost home.

Greg

I saw her smile today

2008-11-18T06:23:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we went to the Safari Park and
I kept Ivy with me in a carrier. She didn't
really care for it that much in the begining
nor at the end. She decided she would start
going limp when be put, or taken from, where
she didn't want to be. That really didn't work
for her so I hope she is over that. Caprice
didn't take her until dinner which was more for
my convience than anything. I think Ivy was
glad to be back with her mother. She started
using her hands more at the table.

Today we went to the pearl and jade markets.
Ivy was kicking her legs around as we were on
our way. I think she was just so glad to be away
from me. We had the rest of the day to ourselves.
I went walking around where the locals are but
the rest of them went to the park. When we all
meet back at the room, Ivy was eating more than
ever before. Caprice had also got pictures developed
from the camera we had sent to the orphanage.
It showed a little girl walking, marching, playing
and smiling. I wished we had gotten that girl.
The one we got looked like her but just hadn't
played or anything. We ate at the Italian place
again tonight and Caprice got Ivy to smile with
patty-cake. That is the first time I had ever
seen her smile. She still gets upset when Caprice
puts her down.

The people in Guangzhou do not stare and say
hello like other places. I kind of miss it. There
are so many people here. I was out for about
2.5 hours today and saw so many beautiful
people here. It is just different here. I have
been out very late by myself and have never
once worried that I am going to get shot or
mugged. I may get ran over if I don't pay
attention when walking, but I am careful
with that. I wished any of you who have
yet to come could just experience 30 minutes
of this place. It is overwhelming in some
ways. It is just different than what we are
use to. The people here are nice, helpful
and friendly.

see you soon,

Greg

Ivy takes small, very small steps

2008-11-16T06:43:00.001-08:00

Today we went off the island to where the locals shop.
It is the same meat and vegtable market we were at
last time we were here. You know what the vegtables
look like, but the live chickens become chicken parts
right before your eyes. We noticed they also had cute
bunny rabbits there next to the chickens. Cuts of meat
were hanging on hooks above the chopping counter. It
was all right there for you to see and smell. That is the
bad thing about pictures from China; Without the smells
you cannot experience China. At home, we have about
6 maybe 7 repugnant odors but China has many unique
odors. Regardless, a stink is a stink in any country.
We also went to the electronics and toy market with the
group today. We returned in time to join a friend for
dinner at the italian restaurant. It was the best food
we had had in quite some time, though not the cheapest.
We all went to the playroom at the White Swan again
tonight.

Ivy rejected me this morning. I mashed a banana
for her this morning and she ate most of it. She took a
few bottles today and ate a little supper tonight.
She cried when I took her out of her stroller today but
I held her anyway. The most promising thing I saw
today was at dinner. There were Cheerios on the table.
One must have stuck to the edge of hand at one point.
She tried to mash them with both of her hands and then
would lift them up to check and see if there were any
Cheerios hanging on. At the playroom she pushed a few
buttons on the toys but a hand would remain on Caprice.
All of there are good signs. She still looks around with
her eyes moving and head not. The distress always
apparent in her face. The transition has been hard
for Ivy.

I know several people have had trouble posting
comments. I appreciate the personal emails also.

Thank you all.

Greg

Day 5 and 6 Orphanage visit and more

2008-11-15T07:35:00.001-08:00

It seems like a long time since I posted.
First, thanks for all of the concern and
prayers for my uncle. I hope that he
has hope. He was diagnosed with lung
cancer today. He has an appointment
with a specialist. I hope there are options
for him.

Yesterday was a long day. Our guide took
us and another lady and her newly adopted
soon to the Dongguan orphanage which was
an hour drive. It was a really nice looking
place and very clean. We got to see some of
the kids there and the crib were Ivy slept
and her favorite playmate. He also cried
at the very site of me. Most importantly, we
got to see them feed the babies. They had a
bowl of this oatmeal like porridge and they
lady the baby in their lap and just started
spooning it into its mouth very quickly. We
had them feed Ivy, but after a couple of bites
she started rejecting it. They tried to force it
but to no avail. They said she must be sick or
stressed. We then went to Ivy's finding place
which was the nursery at the hosptial in Humen
City. I guess her mother had her and sneaked out.
I walked along the road leading up to the hospital
thinking about how this mother walked that same
road for the same child, but under very different
circumstances. I know all of us who have adopted
from China have heard the comments from people
who believe these people don't love their babies.
I believe this woman who I traveled behind had to
make some pretty difficult decisions. That area is
more wealthy than alot of China. They had a
McDonalds so we grabbed some to eat on the 3 hour
ride back to our hotel. We ate at Lucy's for dinner.

Today, Caprice and Ivy went to do the medical exam.
I wanted to go, but was just feeling up to it. Then
Caprice dropped Ivy off with me and Emma at the
park and she went and did some paperwork. She
has really been the one pulling everything together
on this adoption. We met back at the room and
ordered PaPa Johns. Off to shopping for kids cloths
in the late afternoon and then back to Lucy's. We
finished the night at the playroom at the White
Swan. We did not even know they had one until
our friend told us about it.

So that is what we did but the question remains how
is Ivy doing. Well yesterday was alot of traveling and
not really any chance for her to grow any. So it was
cry at Greg and latch on to Caprice all the time. The
funny thing was when the nanny at the orphanage
said Caprice needs to stop carrying her so much.
It didn't mean so much when I said it but now Caprice
is trying to make her walk more. Last night I spent
a little time with her but it didn't go very well.

Today, she rode in her stroller and would cry when
Caprice was not pushing the stroller. She fell asleep
as did Emma while shopping and through most of dinner.
When we went to the playroom she stood next to Caprice
and fretted. Tonight as soon as we walked in the door I
took Ivy in the bedroom and shut the door. She sat in
my lap at the computer. While it was uploading pictures
I would rub her and talk to her, but didn't let her look
back at the door or start to break into crying. I gave her
a bath and a bottle. She feel asleep a few minutes ago in
my lap as I was typing this post. She has a long way to go.
Her medical exam said her throst could be sore. We are
starting her on the antibiotic tonight. She has had a cough
that sounds like there is a lot of fluid back there and her
crying voice does sound really funny, kind of like the blare
of a poorly played trumpet.

A friend left us some pedialite that will help her. She just
hasn't shown the ability or desire to eat anything. The
sooner we get home the better. When I had her shirt off
tonight her stomach looked really wrinkled at times. She
has had to lose weight.

The bottoem three rows are new photos:

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/la8N4qwBqwVw6mT6esvGGw?authkey=snk_9LTml44

You all keep thinking about us.

Greg

Day 4 Not Really Eating

2008-11-13T07:03:00.001-08:00

Today, we went to the Botanical Garden
and a Buddhist temple. After lunch we
walked around some of the local markets
with another family. They traveled with
a family from Franklin on their first adoption.
We had dinner at Lucy's, again.

Ivy didn't eat hardly anything yesterday.
Today she didn't do any better. We have
been giving her Ensure we brought, but
are down to just a few of those. She threw
up on Caprice at lunch today. We got some
rice cereal to bottle feed her. We are going
to visit her orphanage in the morning so
maybe they can help tell us what she really
ate each day.

I think she is just tramatized. I brought her
back to the room while Caprice and Emma
were at the park. When I came out of the
bathroom she was in the bedroom in the
farthest corner looking distress and rocking
side to side. Past her tears, I see her beauty.

She is still not active. Once in a while Ivy
will pick up a toy and hold it, but not play
with it. I make her get down and walk
a little everyday to help her gain some
independence. She looks so funny.
We thought from her referral picture
that she would be husky, but she is
small. I can't wait to get her home
to get her settled in.

We got some news that my uncle is in the
hospital with a heart condition and is to
have/had surgery. I sure hope that he
is made well. We were looking forward
to seeing everyone when we are home
Thanksgiving.

At top are a couple of picture from today.

Much Love,

Greg

Day 3 Still in Guangzhou

2008-11-12T04:08:00.000-08:00

Today we walked off the island to the street
market where you can buy dried seahorses
or antelope antlers for cooking. We had an
official adoption certificate done this afternoon.
The we came back and Caprice took Emma to
the park with another girl. I stayed here with
Ivy. After Caprice left, Ivy went and laid by the
door. I had to move her when room service came.
Then she would go into whatever room I wasn't in.
We stayed here and then I decided she would like
to go walking. She walks really well. I haven't seen
her fall once. We walked down to the park and
I walked up to a woman that looked like Caprice and
Ivy had her arms out, but was shocked when picked
up, realizing it wasn't her mother.

Ivy didn't really eat anything today. She doesn't really
chew anything. She holds things in her mouth and
may swallow later, may not. Thank goodness for Ensure.
She isn't reaching for things much and just doesn't do
much other than sit with Caprice. She travels well and
doesn't complain. I can still make her cry with the touch
of a finger. When she cries she looks like she really tries
to hold it back.

I just wish she would eat.
We ate at Lucy's twice today.
The top photo is one I just took.
I can wait to get her back so you all can see her.
Thanks for all of your emails.

Greg

Day 2

2008-11-11T13:28:00.000-08:00

On gotcha day, Ivy was poseable. Whatever position
you put her arms in is where they stayed. Finally this
morning she started to reach for a few things. She
crys whenever Caprice puts her down or gets out of
sight. I can put one finger on her hand and she
will cry. I have been showing this off to the other
travelers. Emma gets so mad when I do it.
(Emma is the real hero of the trip. We have been
lost, hungry, no toliet, and long sitting and no
real complaints) Ivy looks so funny walking
around. She walks rocking side to side and
still rocks when standing in one place.
I am torn between wanting Ivy to walk
and do more but also letting Caprice hold her
to bond. I am posting this at 5am here and I
think it is the first night the 3 or 4 of us have
slept all night. It will be interesting to see
what new development Ivy will have on day3.
Now she eats many things, but a slow pace.
She will suck down a bottle of Ensure but
place any food in her mouth and she holds it
like she wants it to dissolve and then swallow.
Other kids here are chomping and chewing!

We didn't do activities yesterday. Except we
did go and make Ivy's adoption final!!! There
are some really cute babies here. I met a 9 year
old adoptee boy last night at our group dinner.
We only played a little while but had so much fun.
He insisted his new parents take a picture of us.
I have always thought it would be cool to adopt
an older child someday. Hopefully today we will
get out and do more.

The frustrating thing on this trip is that we
brought so much stuff that we cannot find what
we need when looking for it. Even though our
our suite is large, there is no place to put things.
I am going to try the gym today to get on some
type of schedule of doing something.

There are other families with our agency, but since
we didn't travel with them, we really don't know
them. Emma reall likes our guide Bob. She lights
up when she seems him. It is nice to see someone
play with her since I am the one usually playing
with other peoples kids.

More tommorrow.

Gotcha Day

2008-11-10T04:04:00.000-08:00

We didn't do anything today before our 130pm
meeting in the lobby. By 2pm we were loaded
on a bus and rode a few miles. We went up the
elevator and waited for about 20 minutes. I
was taking pics for another family and then
someone said that my baby was here. Emma
had seen her first and said "that is my sister".
Before I got there Caprice was already holding
her. It was so fast! There was no orderly
calling out names and going up to recieve your
child as with Emma. We also haven't traveled
with any of these people, so other than meeting
at breakfast this morning, we didn't know anyone.
Ivy never really cried. She has had the same
expression as in all her photos. One of the
Chinese ladies there shook her and said something
that almost brought a smile. I broke off some
pieces of a cracker and put it to her mouth.
She will take it in but will not move toward it
or react if you move it away. She took a nap
once we got to the room. We feed her some
chocolate ensure and then I gave her a bath.
She didn't want to sit on the bathroom counter
but once I put her in the sink with the water
running she was fine. She seems well. She
laid in bed with me and fell asleep but Emma
was getting tired so it was quickly interrupted
to go dine at Lucy's, again. We ordered rice and
conge. She ate more conge than rice but ate
just as much of Emma's spaghetti noodles.
Caprice gave her a french fry and she held
it until it dissolved. She ate one bit of it when
we fed it to her. She does not do anything but
move her eyes around and turn her head a
little. Shortly after I held her I put her down
and she can walk without falling. There
were alot of families there with cleft babies.
There was one cute Chinese boy. He acted
like he thought he was suppose to cry but
really was happy with his new dad. There
were a total of 51 families getting their baby
today. I think half was with us and the
other half came in as we were leaving.
Oh happy day!

I just assumed from the picture that she
would be the exact opposite of Emma.
Her hair is thick, Emma's thin.
She looks husky, Emma is petite.
She is fair and Emma is darker.
Emma cried the first three days and
would not make eye contact. Ivy will
make eye contact and has hardly made a
sound.

Emma has enjoyed being a sister today.
She is curious about everything and
wants to help out.

We are just taking it slow and mete
out what we think Ivy would like.

Here are a few added pics:
http://picasaweb.google.com/abouttheallens/ChineseIvy?authkey=snk_9LTml44#

Greg

Our Wanzai Trip

2008-11-09T07:59:00.000-08:00

Tonight we are in Guangzhou. Tommorrow

we meet Ivy. Thanks to everyone following

and commenting. I wish you all could be here

to experience this.

I was going to do a long and short version of

our Wanzai, but my short version is getting

long. So here is the one.

When we adopted Emma we were offered a

trip to Wanzai but we decided against because

we were told it was a long bumpy ride. I was

having back pain and we were told we would

not get to go inside the orphanage. So we

opted to not go.

Yesterday we started our drive. It was

three hours of seeing all types of vehicles

on the highway, but mostly scooters. How

many people can a scooter carry? Atleast 5

but more when you tie a rope and pull a

second one. Little kids sandwiched between

adults. No helmets. It is interesting to see
little kids playing within 30' of the highway.

I guess if you don't learn quick
you don't stick around long. We saw so many

things we think are hazards but
when you have to worry about food everyday

you have a different perspective. There were

factories along the way and a few times we

came upon a city/factory area that had alot

of tall apartments and many more being

built. It is just amazing that in a rural area

you would see so much housing. One of them

we were told had 300,000 population.

Once in Wanzai we went to the orphanage.

We waited on the director. She at first
seemed a little cold, but that soon went away.

We did not get to see inside where the
babies stay, but we had already asked and

gotten so much that we did not want to ask
for anything else. I will explain more about

this in private and especially to those from
Wanzai. There have only been 6 kids

adopted from Wanzai this year and 30 babies
are there now. We of course did make a donation

to the orphanage and to my suprise got a reciept.

They insisted we go to eat with them. So we went

a small restaurant that only had private rooms for

dining. I found a dried beef that I could eat, Caprice

ate noodles, and Emma ate alot. I left the room

before anyone else and went outside to walk

around and see the river that flows through town.

We drove to the civil affairs building. A crowd

quickly formed. It was hard to do anything
because of the noise and constriction of the

people around. We stayed only for about 10
minutes. I had tried to explain to Emma

here and at the orphanage that she was here
for a little while when she was a baby.

She kept asking to play with kids or go to a park.

We all failed to acknowledge how the actions of

one person in that spot just a few years ago

had changed our lives. We started to walk

away but the crowd began to follow so we

got in the car and rode to the other side

of the town center. I didn't care if they

followed us but our guide seemed less

comfortable with strangers. We found

a park area. There were electric cars
that kids could pay to ride in a courtyard.

It looked dangerous and fun. Emma loved it.
I played with a couple of girls at the park.

Emma just loved being there and approached
alot of kids and played with them. There

were a line of young girls there that would
say "hello, how are you?" and then laugh

when I replied in there same coached manner
"I am good. How are you?"

Our guide was ready to go, but I always

want to see where people live and work.
We walked around the street markets

there. It seemed that the middle age people
were less lookers, but the older and below

30 were very interested. There were
alot of young kids walking along, crossing

streets without any adults. I was suprised
when I noticed that the two girls from the

park were following us. They followed us
a long way. I would stop and play with them.

We could not speak the same language
but we still had fun together. We walked

until it was time to leave and then our
guide could not give our driver directions

to where we were. So we waited. While
waiting, I made some new friends at a hair

salon. I wanted to do free hugs in Wanzai
(look it up on youtube) but no time. So

when a girl at the salon said hello, I did my
version there. Everyone had a good time.

They all stood outside and watched
us until we were gone. When we were

getting in our car two little girls went by
and I said hello, they ran away.

Unexpectedly, one of them came running

back. I held my hand out and she touched it

as we were pulling away. That moment
was priceless. I hated to leave, but

everyone else was ready.

On our way back we saw a fatal motorcycle

accident victim. Then it got darker and
harder to see. Cars ride in the left lane

and bikes and scooters in the right. Sometimes
drivers cross the double yellow and pass

sometime they pass in the right lane. Alot
of scooters and bike didn't have working

lights. Two little boys ran in front of our
car when it was dark. It was kind of scary.

We made it back late and ate with our

guide. We flew to Guangzhou this morning.
We ate lunch at Lucy's came back and

fell asleep and order PaPa John's.
Our suite and service at the Victory

is the nicest we have had in China.

Thanks for suffering through the long post.
This link may work for a few photos we have:
http://picasaweb.google.com/abouttheallens/ChineseIvy?authkey=snk_9LTml44
greg

What a day

2008-11-07T06:12:00.000-08:00

We flew into Nanchang today. My favorite city in China. It was light rain and drizzle.
We got settled into to our room and got ready to visit some of our favorite places, but
because of the rain we hurried past everything. Then I led Emma and Caprice off on
the wandering that I like to do when out of the country. We went down side streets and
alleys until we were really turned around. It was getting dark. No one speaks any english.
More rain meant all the taxis were full. Finally some young men stopped to help. They
stayed with us for about 20 minutes until we got in a cab. Caprice had her room key that
had the hotel name in Chinese. Otherwise we are not sure how we would have told anyone
where we needed to go. Emma was a real trooper. She said she was getting a little nervous,
after she realized we were trying to get a taxi but none would stop. We came back to the room
and crashed for a little while and then went back out to Pizza Hut. Emma fell asleep after eating.
We made it back without detour.

I had kind of forgotten what the people here were like. There are just a few responses we get.
Some people walk by and hardly notice us. Many will pass and after making eye contact will
offer some engagement, a smile, a wave, or a hello. Most will stare and continue to
stare without attempt to hide their actions. It is really funny to see people walk ahead of you and then turn around and look back at you. It really is kind of funny and we enjoy the attention
(I admit it).

I will be posting pictures of Wanzai tommorrow. It will be a long trip.
Thanks for following.
greg

We are in Hong Kong

2008-11-06T07:56:00.000-08:00

We finally made it to HK. We had 1 hour wait on the plane and 15.25 hours in flight.
We got in settle in our room about 10pm last night and walked looking for a place to
eat. Emma wanted noodles, but we had to settle for very bad McDonalds. Today we
went to Victoria's Peak and Stanley Market. The first was real nice the second, not.
Emma fell asleep on the taxi ride back to the ferry at 530 and is still asleep(it is midnight).
Tommorrow we will fly to Nanchang where we met Emma.
Today at Victoria's, Emma saw some kids playing and said, "Look at those Chinese kids.
I want to play with them" When I asked if she was Chinese, she respnded laughing "yes".
She had tried to play with this other little girl who immediately sought her family each time
Emma approached. Here parents and grandparents tried to improve the situation, but to
no avail. Pictures of Wanzai(Emma's birth city) expected soon. Good Bye. Greg

the day before we travel

2008-11-03T14:48:00.000-08:00

Thank you for your interest in following our journey to adopt our second daughter.
As many of you know, picking a name was difficult. We chose Ivy.
We leave tommorrow morning. We start with Nashville to Newark and then onto
Hong Kong. We will be in Jiangxi and Guangdong. I can't wait to get there and back.
Greg