Guangzhou: Day 1

Let me attempt to draw you a word picture. Today was Medical Exam day. So, they piled all 13 families in our travel group (with their new additions whom they have known since Monday) then drove us to the island. We arrived at the medical exam office just after another bus load of families from a different adopting agency. So there were probably 20+ families going through a maze of medical stations (4 to be exact). This maze took place in a small hallway and 4 very small examination stations. Please keep in mind that at this point most of the babies/children being adopted have started to bond with their new parents, but are largely not warming up to anyone else, especially people in white lab coats who poke, prod, pull their clothes off, etc. By and large it was sheer chaos. We are glad to have that step of the process out of the way. We did learn that Joshua has a fairly large hole in his right ear drum. We also discovered an old black suture in the back of his mouth. We're wondering if there has already been some work done to fix his palate. A little confused though, because he continues to have food come out of his nose when he eats.

After the exam and a quick lunch we had what was called a "paperwork party." Not such a party, but definitely a lot of paperwork!!! I filled out about 15 forms to get Joshua's visa and complete his adoption.

Tomorrow is a shopping day. Hopefully, it will be much easier on the nerves.

Medical Exam Day Slideshow