A New Day

A New Day:
The last 36 hours have been worrisome, exhausting, and down right scary, but we 
think we have turned a corner.  Chloe got a little sick in the taxi on our way 
back to the hotel.  We thought it was from being car sick or hot.  She slept 
through the night but woke up Friday morning crying and then she started 
throwing up.  Thankfully we did not have to go anywhere until 2:30 when we had 
to check out of our hotel.  We began praying, and praying, and praying.  At 2:30 
she was still sick.  Our guide came to pick us up and was worried that she 
didn't need to fly.  She said we needed to see the doctor so we agreed since it 
was located in our hotel.  The doctor said she probably wasn't adjusting to the 
food changes (which we knew) and that she just needed to eat something and drink 
some hot water.  She said if she wasn't better by the time we got to Guangzhou, 
we needed to head to the hospital.  She also gave us some type of medicine for 
her, that smelled very strong.  They said it tasted bad but would help, but 
honestly the smell was so strong I couldn't bring myself to give it to her.  
Plus, I didn't know what it was.  We traveled to the airport where we waited for 
4 hours for our flight, and then boarded our airplane for our 1 1/2 hour flight.  
Chloe's first plane ride, wasn't so fun. :( Five outfit changes, multiple bags 
(thank goodness for ziplock bags! they have a new use now!), and hours of 
crying, whining, or moaning, and we arrived at our hotel in Guangzhou a little 
after 10:00 pm on Friday night.  The people here were very kind and trying to 
help by bringing her hot water, she was thirsty and wanted it, but would gulp it 
down and then it would come right back up.  They were so worried that one of the 
guys that worked with the airline came over to us and said he didn't think we 
should fly with her.  Um, you should have seen the look on Jeff's face.  He 
replied with, no, we HAVE to go on this flight.  Chloe was so thirsty but we 
were trying to give her stomach a rest that she jumped up and grabbed another 
ladies water bottle!!!  The lady wanted me to give it to her, but I kept shaking 
my head and just picked her up and walked away.  I have to give it to Jeff.... 
he was wonderful throughout the entire day.  No one likes dealing with a child 
that throws up, and certainly do not want to be thrown up on.  I was already 
feeling queasy before this started and by the time we got to the airport and we 
had not eaten anything all day but crackers, I really was feeling bad.  I am so 
thankful that he was with me through it all, and really cleaned up more times 
than I did, carried her through the entire airport, held her on the plane, etc.  
Neither one of us ever got food yesterday (other than crackers and granola bar), 
but he handled it all much better than I did.  

She slept through the night without throwing up, but moaned, whined, and tossed 
and turned the entire night.  We were up and down all night.  This morning we 
had our doctor visit for the adoption which included a picture, ear, eyes, 
weight check, and blood work.  We tried to move our appointment to another day 
since she was so sick, but we couldn't so we headed out praying that she would 
be ok.  I am happy to report that she did not throw up and although she is weak 
we made it!  They wouldn't let us go in with her for her blood work (Mommy & 
Daddy didn't like that, and Jeff said he hoped she threw up on them... ha) but 
she came out mad that they had put a bandaid on her.  As soon as we took that 
off she was fine.  (This sounds like her sister Anna Kate who use to not like 
bandaids either :) She kept pointing to the different places that they stuck 
her, apparently they weren't successful the first time.  As much as I dreaded 
going in fear she would get sick, the room was filled with many, many children 
being adopted!  What a precious sight.... LESS ORPHANS all around us!  Although 
we didn't know a soul in there, it felt like we knew them all.  

It is Saturday afternoon now and we are back at the hotel.  Chloe has been 
sleeping off and on all day, but has had some more sprite and just a few bites 
of some broth with noodles.  We are thankful she seems to be on the mend.  
Please continue to pray for her that she continues to improve and get her 
strength back.  

We were very sad to leave our guide Penny yesterday.  She was very knowledgeable 
and kind, and she was the one that introduced us to our daughter!  Jeff was able 
to write down some bible verses for her and share with her one more time before 
we left.  She said, "I think this will be good.  I am sad sometimes and I think 
this is what I need".  Please continue to pray for her.  

The hotel here in Guangzhou is beautiful!  We have a suite, so the little extra 
space is nice.  :) Our guide in Guangzhou is Elvin and he seems like he is going 
to be wonderful too!  The driving here is much better, just busy like Atlanta.  
He said that Fuzhou is one of the worst places for driving!  We weren't too 
surprised by that. :)  Tomorrow is a "rest" day for us.  We plan on just hanging 
out here in hopes of Chloe getting well before we start another busy week! 

In closing, I read this today and found it very fitting in my life.  Maybe you 
will too! :)

 God has perfect timing; never early, never late.  It takes a little patience 
and a whole lot of FAITH... but it's worth the wait!! 

Our hope in Him,
Jeff & Katie