Finishing up our time in China

❤ Family ❤

Our wonderful group

The children who were adopted by our group

Hope and her best buddy

Last minute laundry duty the day we left for Hong Kong

What a great helper!

"Public Toilet"

We are going to admit it: we prefer the squatty-potty over the Western potty when it comes to public restrooms. Yep! Now you know. Just remember: BYOTP!!

Safely in Hong Kong

Today was a travel day for us. As soon as we received Hope's visa, we hit the train station. We gave our two check-in luggage pieces to the porter from the taxi, so we easily got up the four flights with no problem. (We are so glad we packed lightly!)

All the children travel so well. There was lots of silliness and giggling on the train. Cherish and Andrew are learning how to joke with Hope--even though she speaks a different language. And Hope? Well, she's always ready to laugh and play.

When we arrived in Hong Kong, instead of taking the subway like we intended, we got a taxi. The two youngest children fell asleep for the night while driving to the hotel. Good night.

Chilling out at the playground between appointments

Medical Clinic

The day we went to the medical clinic, Hope was so scared. She had to be seen by three doctors and cried for each one out of terror. When she thought it was all done, the nurses ushered her into another room--this time without her family. The nurses stuck Hope 5 times trying to get her blood test. She was so upset! (And mommy and daddy were so glad not to be the "bad guys". We got to be her comforters when she emerged from the examination room.)

Afterwards, we all were to a park and took a paddle boat around little lake. It was a wonderful way to "wash away" the morning's activites from Hope's mind.

After that, we took a boat ride along the Pearl River--an early Christmas gift from Derek's parents. However, while we were sitting in the holding area waiting to board the boat, Cherish broke out in a fever! And, her belly began hurting tremendously.  Our guide helped us get her comfortable by having her lie down on the boat--as there was no turning back.

Cherish became terribly sick, and the guide and I did everything we knew to keep her from vomiting, etc. Toward the end of the ride, our guide stayed with Cherish, and I went up on the top deck to view the sights.

So, here are a few pictures from that day: