Second Day

--- On Sun, 8/1/10, Todd Sipala <domoson@hotmail.com> wrote: From: Todd Sipala <domoson@hotmail.com> Subject: FW: Second Day To: domoson42000@yahoo.com Date: Sunday, August 1, 2010, 11:56 PM > Subject: Second Day > From: domoson42000@yahoo.com > Date: Mon, 2 Aug 2010 11:46:51 +0800 > To: domoson@hotmail.com > > We went to the store today to buy a few things. Grant took us to a very large mall and hit up the grocery part. I got some bowls and a spoon set. Pull ups, but I hope not to use them. Grant told us they potty train very early ( we trained Ling-Li at 18months) because they send kids to K at 2-3 years old. And a few snacks to go in Lai Chun's back pack along with his toys. Tracey bought a cute pocketbook and she's very happy. From there we went to the Largest Buddhist Temple in Wuhan. It was so historic and just great to see and hear the culture of it all. After returning to the hotel we took a walk to check out all the tiny shops on the street. > > Our room is soooo HOT! The AC has been on since last night and it's just not doing the trick. We asked for a fan to help move the air around. Hope that helps. Also the Internet is very slow here and can't use our Slingbox to watch our home cable box. So it's BluRays for the rest of the time in Wuhan. I set up a VPN to get over the Internet great wall, but that didn't work. I put a new VPN on my laptop and it works on and off. It would be better if the speed was faster. > > Our guide told us today that we will be getting Lai Chun at 3:00 tomorrow!! The Bank opens at 9am. It's a short walk from the hotel, turn left out the May Flower. We need to change $1600 to RMB. That will cover the cost of everything here and in Guangzhou. I hope. All our paperwork we need for Wuhan CWI is in order and ready. We make three trips there this week. Monday to get Lai Chun, Tuesday to fill out all the paperwork and make the adoption legal and give them gifts from home, and then Friday to get his passport and the adoption papers. > > I am so ready to see my son. I'm going to kiss his head so much. I hope the shock isn't too bad for him. I know things will be much better after we get home. 24 hours my son and you will be with your loving family. > > Todd >

China, Tattoos, and the May Flower

We made it!  We are at the May Flower Hotel in Wuhan. After traveling for more than 30hours, to be here in Wuhan where my son was born is fantastic!   The last time we were in China, it was the Winter.  I wore long sleeves and long pants.  The weather here is 95 and muggy....did I mention it's 11pm?  I have on a T-Shirt and shorts.  Everyone is looking at me, not just quick glances either.  Long hard starring is going on.  They might think I'm in a rock band or something.   The May Flower isn't as nice as we thought it was going to be.  4-5 star rating? Maybe I'm just tired and cranky.  I'm looking forward to shopping tomorrow and eating everything Wuhan.  Our guide Grant said McDonalds and Pizza Hut, we yelled at him and said NEVER!  I mean, I don't even eat that crap in the States!  I think he was pleased.  I'll take and post pics tomorrow when its day time.  I think we are going to watch some SlingBox and go to sleep.  Tracey and I Skyped with Ling-Li, boy do I miss her!  She will be a big Sister in two days and more than that, we will have our little boy forever! So looking up his name months ago, there were 3 different ways to pronounce Lai. There is Lay, Lie, and Low (cow). So we have been saying Lay.  Our guide Grant said it's Lie. All those people I have been correcting, I'm sorry. Todd

CA

Our CA is August 11th. Hello China! It's finally here. We are so happy. We bought our Airline Tickets last night and got all our in China info today, that included CA, hotels and a few other details. Tracey and I decited to skip Beijing this time around and fly straght to Wuhan. We plan on shopping for a few things we need on that Sunday to be ready for our son on Monday. My cute little boy. So this is it. I will post every day while in China and try to bring you there with us. Hope you enjoy our journey to the last member of our family.

Todd sent this from his iPod

TA

So we were hoping our TA would be here by Wednesday. Tracey, Ling-Li and I went out around 4 today for what else? Shopping for Lai Chun. While at Five Brothers eating burgers and fries, our AA left a message that we are TA! How great is this? We hope to leave in two weeks. We already got our Travel Visa, so that's done. Plus we plan on flying straight to Wuhan, Hubei and not stopping in Beijing first. Great, Hot times ahead! I'm very Lucky!

Todd sent this from his iPod

Hardest Wait So Far

So it's going on two weeks since our A5. We are now waiting for TA. This by far has been the hardest wait to deal with. Ling-Li took 3 years to get, but we didn't know who she was until two months before travel. Just knowing our sweet little boy for almost 8 months has been tough to think about. Now the last wait before travel has stopped time in our house. Lai Chun needs to be home where he belongs and will be cherished and treated with respect. That little boy won't know what hit him with all the kisses we have been saving for him.

On a great note, his room is about 99% done. I think all it needs is a small lamp and more toys. I bought him some med sized trucks today along with a collection of dinosaurs. Plus we plan on taking a backpack (Spider Man, I bought it yesterday) with a bunch of small toys and books and candy and.....to give him when we first meet him. I picked up some of those things today and a car seat/booster for my truck. So things are getting done on that end. I love you son and need you here to make our family complete.

Todd sent this from his iPod

Visa Letter

We got the letter from National Visa Center today. It says our I-800 petition has been sent to Consulate General of the U. S., Visa in Guangzhou! 

Todd sent this from his iPod

Skype

So I'm getting excited knowing we could be traveling in two months to get our son. On the other hand leaving Ling-Li is killing me inside. I will make sure my sister in law has Skype all set up on her PC and also for my in laws. I need to see and hear my Lingy everyday while we are in China. Skype will be our best tool to bring us back home during our travels. Lai Chun will also get to meet his Big sister from half way around the world. Every time Ling-Li and I go somewhere she takes my ipod and needs to show people pics of Lai Chun and say thats my brother Lai Chun, he's in China. It's too cute.