Day 8 (Visa Medical Check)

Welcome to Guangzhou!!! I'm sweating profusely. High today was about 97 with 85% humidity. It's hard to even describe it. I feel like I'm breathing in an oven when outside. But it's a beautiful city. Long gone is the abhorred first floor of Walmart smell that seemed to permeate Changchun! There is a Starbucks, 7-11, and McDonalds right beside the hotel!

So after the day that shall never be spoken of again, Cindy and I slept until 8 and Lacey until 9. Then off to the buffet, which was even better than the Shangri-La! The bacon was crispier, the coffee was great, and they used the same syrup for pancakes that we use at home! The day was off to a good start.

I also should mention how surreal it was to walk into restaurant and see Americans adopting Chinese kids everywhere! Since all adopting families have to go through here, they all end up close to the same place. Pretty awesome to see so many loving families!

After breakfast, we had to meet with all the Holt families and head off to the medical clinic for Visa check ups. Lacey handled it like a trooper, which was great considering so many kids were apocalyptic. I have no idea what the results were, because they didn't know English, of course. So I guess we'll find out soon. They didn't lock her into a quarantine room, so I think that's a good thing.

Then it was back to the room. Cindy stayed with Lacey, and I went with two guys to 7-11. We bought some drinks and snacks and I snuck in an ice cream bar along with Jim. It was awesome, and we agreed to bro-code it and keep it a secret. I, of course blew it to Cindy and his wife. Oops! So much for the code.

When I got back, Cindy had just gotten out of the room from putting Lacey down for a nap. She told me she had cried for 20 minutes. It was likely because I wasn't there to put her down with Cindy. I felt really bad, both for Lacey AND for Cindy.

I had to head back downstairs for a Visa paperwork check at 3, which went smooth. Then, back to the room for a bit before heading out to a group dinner. There are 13 families here with Holt, so it was a big group! Great place, delicious food, and a nice evening out.

Lacey is doing much better with her baths, which is nice. I actually gave her a bath for the first time tonight (and also changed my first Lacey Nuke Bomb Diaper, a much less meaningful milestone). Figured she might as well get used to that since that's my job at home!

And now she's in bed. Bedtime has gotten more and more challenging, as she has gotten more stubborn about going to sleep. Then, after she is asleep, we transfer her to the crib.

The road so far hasn't been easy, and I know there are challenges ahead. But as my infinitely wiser than I wife said earlier, God brought Lacey into our lives and us into hers. It will all work out for His Glory, which is always best. I can't say enough how blessed I am to have Cindy as my wife. She keeps me so grounded and focused. She constantly shows me what it means to REALLY love. She teaches me patience. Lacey is just beyond blessed to have This wonderful woman as her mother.

Tomorrow is a free day. I miss church. I miss Monday night Bible study. I miss our families. I miss Lexi and Ava. I miss home. Tomorrow is the first day of the week we bring her home. Can't wait!

Thanks for reading,
Daniel