Today was a free day with one organized trip to the Guangzhou Zoo, the second largest zoo in China. You can see the way our international adoption agency attempts to break-in new parents. Give them something to do besides just take care of the baby yet make the event simple enough that everyone will all go along. Besides that, tempt those timid eaters by saying they will stop the bus at Pizza Hut for lunch after. Liz and I could eat Chinese food all the time so for us this was not enough bait alone, hey just last night we had cuttlefish, crab and octopus.
Today was also a challenge for Aliyah. After her first meal she would no longer take a bottle. For such a good eater the first two days we became very worried. We had given her regular cold medicine in the morning to treat her cold symptoms, but by early afternoon when she would not take a bottle again and again (she put a lot of energy into the refusal) we became concerned and sent an e-mail to our adoption pediatrician who got right back to us. At his direction, we started her on antibiotics. He also suggested that this is the time period where she may realize she is no longer on a day-trip from the orphanage and may be grieving that familiarity. We were thinking the same thing and for that reason we had made a point to be in her vision as much as possible. With Aliyah this is not always easy. She is a busy girl and interested in everything around her. She likes us to walk her facing out from our chest to get a good view or sit in the stroller. What we did was walk for hours with one of holding her facing out while the other walked backward just in front of her. What parents won’t do for their kids. By the close of the day she was watching daddy in fascination as he danced and mixed the medicine.
Aliyah really is a sweet young lady. As sick and hungry as Aliyah was toward the end of the day she still managed some extensive close play time with Liz. Aliyah really likes finger kisses and little back rubs to quiet her just as she is going to sleep. It was hard to see her sad and sick.
Playlist for the day:
- You and Me and Aliyah Makes Three – sung to the tune “You and Me”
- The whole CD “Lullabies for a Peaceful Rest”
- “In Christ Alone”
- Shake Your Medicine – sung to the tune “Shake Your Booties”
Well, I’ll finish the daily journal and then polish off my Prawn Cracker (tasty but the first wiff from a just opened bag may take some getting used to). They have some great stuff here in China.
All those animals make me tired.
Guangzhou near zoo.
What should I wear to the zoo?
What would a zoo in China be like without a Giant Panda?
Yeah she’s cashed … so you’ll have to look at a picture of us
