THE PHILLIPSON - 5

Alright already, so we missed another day! And we will probably slow down our posts again for a while and just try to get photos on from time to time.

This day is today and E.V. and the boy’s just went to bed about an hour ago.

E.V. definitely has her personality back now and is starting to tease us and give her sweet little looks, then laugh. She is AWESOME!

Here are some photos taken during the day with Tammy:

And here are some photos taken at bed-time… some more of the glue came off her upper lip while getting ready for bedtime:

-Darrell

Well, the surgery came quick and these photos were from right before she went into the operating room. She was in a very good mood. Actually, the anesthesiologist was Chinese-American and E.V. went right to him… it was very cute and you could tell he was happily surprised.

Of course, E.V. impressed the staff with how friendly and happy she was.  The boys stayed with friends for the day of the surgery and overnight, so Tammy and I could both stay overnight with her.  --- Thanks again to our great family and friend network!

-Darrell

I am getting this posted a bit late (things just seem to be to crazy to keep up with blogging on time), but at least I’m getting it posted.

We decided to make sure we took some nice photos of E.V. prior to her surgery so that when she grows up, she can see what it was like and see that she was a VERY happy girl… even with the cleft.

The boys were very sad before the surgery, because they didn’t want her to lose her smile… they love her sooooo much.

Here are some photos we ended up getting taken at Target.

This was the only snapshot they took of the whole family and it wasn’t a very good one, but at least it captures the whole family.

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Here are Tammy’s Pre-Surgery Facebook Posts from the 14th of September:

Tammy Phillipson E.V.'s surgery is in the morning. The boys are sooooo sad that they will never see E.V.'s smile again. I have to admit I will miss it, but I know I said I'd miss the boys toothless grins too, and I still think they are cute.

Tammy Phillipson I am so proud of my boys for accepting all people no matter their differences. Her new smile will be just as special because her personality shines so brightly through it. I won't be posting again till Wed. evening when we get home.

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-Darrell

Well, E.V. has her surgery date scheduled.  She will be having a tooth extracted and her first Cleft surgery on the 15th of September.  We have known for a few days, but trying to get get schedules arranged with everything else going on has taken us a bit of time.

Looks like they couldn’t coordinate schedules with the ENT doctor, so she will probably get tubes in her ears the next time we go in… better to get the cleft surgeries started.

Wish us luck!

*** Family & China Travel Group:  I am still working on loading up our hundreds of photos to Snapfish.  As you know, I took a ton of photos of all of the other travel group families and promised to distribute them once we returned.  I will be sending you an invitation from Snapfish to view and download any of the photos you want.  I have uploaded reduced resolution photos, although they are still good for viewing and most printing purposes, but if you want the high-resolution version of any photo, just e-mail me the name of the file and I will get it to you.

-Darrell

This video was taken about 10 minutes after we received E.V. on "Gotcha Day."

These photos were taken of “The Phillipson Boys,” just before leaving for China…. Jack and Cary are so great!  And now they are such great brothers.

-Darrell

-Darrell

    Today we decided to skip out on the zoo trip... just needed to take an easy day.  E.V. was a little moody in the morning due to constipation (maybe you don't want to know this, but too late... sorry E.V. when you read this blog when you're grown up.)

    We stayed in the room till about 9am, then did a late breakfast and visited with several other families who had opted out of the day's formal activities.

    After breakfast, E.V. was feeling much better and took a nice long nap and I took a bath and read some of an adoption story book... of course, since we are right in the middle of our adoption, I was crying like a baby several times during the parts of the book I read.

    Finally, we decided to get out of the hotel and took a shopping trip to a multi-story department store.  Here we are getting ready to shop.

    Tammy and I took our time (a couple of hours) and looked through all the neat stuff you can buy in China and did some people watching... it wasn't a Chinese Temple, but it is a very interesting way to learn about modern-day China.  We even found stuff that is made in the USA, but you can't buy it in the USA... I guess we just don't have the market for Kiwi, Blueberry, or Black Pepper Rib Eye Steak flavored potatoe chips...

    The place started getting very busy by the time we were almost done and we were getting sensory overload and pretty tired, so we skipped a small section where they had mostly fresh foods in bulk, which we really can't eat too much, given the possibility of catching something from the water on the food.... unless we cooked it, which we don't have a kitchen.  Here is a picture of what I mean by busy.

    Of course, we still bought way too much... here are most of the items... if you live near us, you'll have to help us try these delicacies... like vacuum packed chicken wings and spicy squid.

    After getting back from shopping via Taxi, an interesting experience in any big city, we decided to get take-out from... you guessed it, a Chinese restraunt.  It was funny, the other day, one of the people with us made a good comment.  It is sureal to be eating dinner in a Chinese restraunt and realize that you are really just out eating dinner in a restraunt.... you just happen to be in China, so of course it's a "Chinese restraunt."

    Well, E.V. is now sleeping and Tammy is watching a horror movie on TV.... our first movie to watch of the whole trip (well, I guess we watched one on the plane).  Anyway, I'm going to sign off for now.

-Darrell

Post Title: 

    We haven't posted for a while, but have been very busy going about life in a hotel.  I'm eating way too much and we have been out on several adventures.  The other day, July 3rd, E.V. and I went to a temple and to the Pearl Market, but Tammy was a bit under the weather, so she took the morning off to get some rest.  Here are a few pictures at the temple.

    The ladies at the Pearl Market seemed very nice and loved E.V. and the pictures of the boys...

They were also very interested the Tammy's Dad was Chinese.  Of course, they were probably just very happy that I was some sucker paying too much for pearls... who knows.  Here is a picture of them making my order out of the strings of pearls I bought.  That evening, we all went to dinner as a group, out on a little island in a little park not far from the hotel room.  I had eaten a big lunch and Tammy wasn't feeling too good yet, so we just went along to socialize and I had a beer.  Of course, I did more socializing than beer drinking, so when everyone got up to leave, I had more than half of my beer left.  One of the couples we have spent a lot of time with stayed with us for a while and we finished up and walked back to the hotel together.  Here is a picture of us walking off the island.

    Then it was goodnight time and we got an e-mail from Aunt Angela (my sister), who told me to give E.V. a kiss for her... here was the kiss.

    Yesterday was July 4th, but of course we didn't have much of a celebration.  Several families dressed with a lot of American flags, but other than that... not too much.  In the morning, we went back to the island with the White Swan Hotel to do some more shopping, while several other families that arrived in Guangzhou went to do their medical checkup.  After a couple of hours of shopping again, I was whipped.  The heat, humidity, and bargaining takes it out of me.

    After making it back to the hotel and doing some paperwork for E.V.'s passport and Visa, I asked the front desk to have a cab take me to a large market and drop me off.  Well, it was a huge street, like downtown New York City and it was filled with shops and markets selling everything from mass-quantity Chinese New Year's decorations, to dried squid and legs of beef.  The legs of beef were all just stacked on crates and all dried out in the open air.  There was also an 8 story mall with thousands of little 10X12 ft shops that were selling trinkets of all sorts.  Check out the pictures.

    Of course, I was looking for some regular food and candy items to bring back for Jack and Cary and some diapers, of which I couldn't find any.  So, I finally realized that I didn't need to stick around that area, so I started walking down the street, just taking it all in.  The stores just didn't end... Finally, I found the equivalent of a Walgreens, which was small, but 3 stories high, so I was able to get some diapers and a couple of other things.

    Then it was time to get a cab, not much about getting a cab in a strange city, I walked up to a lady who looked like she was waiting for a cab and said, "Taxi."  She shook her head yes, so I figured I was in the right place.  After a while, she decided to try out her English, which was WAY better than my Chinese.  The summary was that I was really waiting on the side of the road to catch a cab way out of the city and that it was rush hour and would be waiting for a long time.  I should either take the bus (which I told her I didn't really want to try right now because Tammy was waiting for me at the hotel and not having any clue about the bus route, I could get lost pretty easy) or I should cross the 6-lane street and try to get a cab on the other side.  I decided to try my luck on the other side of the street and half way across the street, I saw an empty cab going my direction.  I gave out a yell, with my diaphragm, like I had been taught to give out commands, and sure enough, the Taxi pulled right over and came to a quick stop.   Believe it or not, I think that is the first time I actually hailed a cab.  I showed the driver the card from the China Hotel and off we went.  About 30sec after we started, the rain started pouring down out of no where.  By the way, if we haven't mentioned it, Guangzhou is extremely hot and humid...The joke is that you get a free sauna every day on the street.  If I walk quickly out of the hotel, my glasses fog up in about a second.

    Anyway, I was hurrying back to the hotel because Tammy had been reserving her energy and appetite all day to partake in an all-you-can-eat Japanese Buffett.  The food was not cheap, but it was awesome and didn't cost anything more than a nice evening out would be at home, so we treated ourselves.  I have never eaten so much sashimi, caviar, escargot, etc, etc, etc, plus various very rich deserts, plus did I tell you that the beer was included.....  After that, I rolled myself up to the room and E.V. and I crashed for the night on the bed.

    Oh, I forgot to relate that while I was on my city-adventure, Tammy took E.V. to the hotel play room, where E.V. has the reputation as the smiley baby already (not that she doesn't have her moments like any baby).  Well, while we were eating dinner, a Chinese lady came up with her little girl, who was having her 1st birthday today (July 4th).  I couldn't understand anything she was saying and she knew as much English as I knew Chinese, but she obviously knew E.V. 

Tammy quickly informed me that the two girls had played in the playroom earlier.  Then, the lady's Dad or Brother came up and he spoke English very well, so we were able to talk back and forth through translation with lady.  When we left for the evening, we walked by her table to say Happy Birthday.  She looked very happy that her daughter had made a friend... it was a nice moment.

    We don't have too much planned for tomorrow, but I will try to type a little up at the end of the day.

- Darrell

    Today we met some of the other members of our adoption group.  Of course, I had to warn them that I would be taking pictures of everything... including them.  And that I would share them when we got home.  Yesterday and today, I took almost 400 photos per day.  I would post them all, but Tammy's sister Karyn, is already being a saint by helping to get our blog posted with this many photos.  We are not able to update our blog from this hotel, as the ISP has blocked blogspot.com.  Hopefully when we get to Guan, we will have better access.

    If you know me, you know I am a bit "thrifty."  Well we started out today with a bit of a scare.  I thought that breakfast was included at the hotel, but found out about halfway through breakfast that we might be paying for it, $20/person/day.  I finally decided that it would have to be ok, and it is a great breakfast and way to start the day.  After coming to terms with it, Tammy asked our CHI point of contact and confirmed once again that the breakfast really was included.... Yay!

    Today we visited Temple of Heaven, the Hutong District, and a Chinese Acrobat show.  Here are some photos of the group on the bus, going to the Temple of Heaven.

    Michelle was our guide again today.  On the bus ride over, she shared with us that her home town is the same place where the Terra Cotta soldiers were found.  That would be a great place to visit.

    Michelle also gave several facts as we drove through the city.  As everyone knows, I am taking notes throughout the day in my black book, so I will just share a couple of items in this blog.  The city of Beijing is built in rings.  The 4th, 5th, and 6th rings were built more recently, much of which was built for the Olympics.  Many of the large appartment buildings downtown are empty, but the owners are keeping them to sell them when the prices really go up.  Michelle spoke about the competition in school for a while.  She said that the competition starts even in pre-school and that there is only one way to get into University, by taking the national exam.  It is very difficult.  And of course, since the 1980's 1-Child per family policy, this has increased the pressure on that one child even more to get into University.

    The ride wasn't too long, then we toured the Temple of Heaven.  Outside the temple, we were able to watch caligraphers who were writing in the oldest of writing styles.  Apparently, there is a story that the oldest and most intricate of writing styles is said to be able to be read easier when drunk.  The most famous Monk who wrote in this style wrote his best work when drunk.  I'm not making this stuff up.  You should see how messy my notes are, I think I might have to have beer to try to read them... sounds good to me.

    On to the Temple of Heaven.... On the way, there was a round raised area with a marble center piece that you could stand on.  This is supposed to be the place closest to heaven... "The Heart of Heaven."  Tammy stood there for a picture and to say a prayer for our family.

    We were also told a story that when people die, the family burns yellow paper models of things like cars and stuff and it is believed that in this way, the deceased can take these real objects to their next life.  There are whole shops dedicated to selling yellow paper replicas of stuff you might want in your next life.

    Here are several pictures of Tammy and me on our tour of the Temple of Heaven.

    After the Temple of Heaven,we walked through a park and took a break, where a lady was trying to sell the group a Hackysac type toy with feathers.  Here is a picture of some group members playing with her.

    As we walked through the park, we also witnessed a large group of people singing along to a famous military song, like we might all sing the national anthem.  Then we walked through an area where it looked like there as a spontaneous dance party.  A hundred people or more were out in the park doing what looked like country swing dance to Chinese music.  I have a video of that I will need to share sometime. 

    Finally, we were done with the 1st tour an on to lunch.  Here are a couple of photos of the group... ready for lunch.

    The food was great and there was a ton of leftovers.  I think Tammy and I were the last ones eating.  We hate to see it go to waste, but unfortunately if we keep eating, it is all going to go to our waist!  Ha Ha, just a "not funny" Darrell joke.  Outside of the restraunt, Tammy got her picture taken with some wooden carved elephants.

    You will also notice that the trees are full of little red threads.  I believe people hang them there for good luck.

    Next up was a tour of the Hutong District.  We rode in rickshaw and rode around teh area.  We stopped several times to hear about the area.  Here are in the rickshaw.

    This door is the entrance to a high official, and there are several indicators, such as the 4 beams above the door, the stone symbols at the base of the door and the height of the threshold, which is made to keep evil spirits out.... apparently evil spirits cannot jump very high.

    The next stop on this tour was at a "typical" home of someone who lives in this district.  They were trying to give us the feeling for what it would be like to live there, but the area has actually mostly been rebuilt, since the time when the government took over the area and much was destroyed.  The owner told us that most of what we were seeing was "replicas."  And that if you go down town and buy antiques, they are replicas as well.  The house & courtyard we looked at would typically house 3-5 families, but now only houses one family of three.  Not many young people live in this area now because the local transportation isn't too good and it is too far away from places of work.  Here is a picture of the one of the owner's birds.

    At the end of the Hutong tour, we walked down a road with several bars and restraunts along the river.  Here is Tammy with a huge duck.  She said she had to get a this picture for our son

Cary.

    These next to photos were just some interesting shots I took on that street.  Very cool door handle.

    After going back to the hotel for a 45min rest, while Tammy took a short nap and I ventured out to try to find the "Women Street Market." We took the bus over to see the Chinese Acrobat show.  Were we got off the bus, you could see the CCTV tower, which is this next photo.  The architecture of the towers is pretty cool and they are connected as you can see.  The building alongside them is all burned out, which is amazing to see on this scale.  Apparently, they were having a huge fireworks display, shooting fireworks off the CCTV tower and the building next door caught fire.  The building was still under contruction, so no one was living there and no one was hurt.

    The acrobats were great, but we were not allowed to take photos or movies during the performance.  Here is one of the curtain before they started.  It is hard to explain the performance, but if you have ever heard of the Chinese acrobats, you probably know the type of things they do.... It was just cool to see it live.  I bought some "sweet" popcorn for Tammy, which was actually a bag of microwave popcorn, still in the microwaved bag.  It hit the spot for Tammy.

    After the show, Tammy and I were pretty tired.  We almost just went up to the room to eat some left-over yogurt and a papaya that we have in our room, but I felt like something a little more substantial.  We went for a little walk and found a place that looked like a little high school cafeteria, but they had a huge menu and the food on the customers plates looked pretty good.  So we ordered some food to go.  The food was great and now we know where we can go for a huge variety of good Chinese food quick.  They had a full page of different types of dumplings to order and after a few very confusing moments, we know how to order them.

    After eating, it was time to call the boys for the day... we miss them a lot, but know that they are enjoying their mini-vacation at the Chambal's house.

    It is the morning of the 27th now and we are heading down for breakfast and to send this blog off to Karyn.... Have a great day!

- Darrell