My new motto. Previously to date, the motto was, “Go with
the flow…they’re fine to just hang with us…no worries!” That jersey has now
been retired….or burned…or framed. Whatever.
We finally had our first
official free day yesterday, Friday…so we hit the town to get some fun souvenirs
for our family back home.
We had to make a stop first
though, at a pharmacy and then a medical equipment store to get some
supplies. Something I haven’t touched on
that much…or maybe I have…typing these blog posts at midnight or so have left
me a little foggy on what I’ve shared and not shared. I know I mentioned that Zoe had been in the
hospital for 3 days before we got her. (Just checked because I didn’t want to
rehash…yep, told ya.) So…anyway, ever since that day, we’ve been going back and
forth with doctors and guides and the adoption agency in regard to Zoe. The
first day I held her in my arms I said we wanted the doctor that treated her at
the hospital to contact our doctor. Not gonna happen. Therefore, it’s
completely impossible to know what actually happened. There is, of course, no
medical record given to us either. It is absolutely maddening. We’ve tried to
explain the varying opinions to the adoption agency only to have them insist
the one they were told is the correct one…and then insisting we continue to
pursue Chinese doctors…who continue to disagree. We were told by her caregivers
that it was likely a translation thing…the same word is used for heart disease
and heart attack. They also questioned who would know what’s going on more…her
caregivers in her home or the over-arching city orphanage that reports to the
agency? Good point. We explained that. “Are you refusing to see a doctor?” Ugh.
We were sent a long email when we woke Friday saying that agency doctors had
been contacted, and they recommended several things. The agency said we should
pursue those options at the minimum. Fine. The easiest items to apprehend were
a face mask (to guard her against contracting other people’s germs…catching a
cold would be very bad for her) and a portable “blah, blah, blah” that reads
her BPM and O2 level.
On our way to the pharmacy,
we contacted the clinic we visited the previous day to ask if a cough
suppressant would be ok with her current meds and heart condition. (She had
been coughing quite a bit more throughout the night but not waking. Just didn’t
want to chance anything.) The clinic said that would be just fine. So at the
first place they bought these face masks that apparently were made for
Gigantor. But they didn’t stock the other thing we needed. Next. The clinic
sent us to their equipment distributor. We bought children’s masks, cough
stuff, and the thingamajig. $100+ later, the masks are still falling off her
tiny face, the machine is garbage (says I’m about to have a heart attack when
I’m completely resting…no smart aleck comments), and our doctor friend back
home said absolutely DO NOT give her the cough suppressant as many have cardiac
side affects. Get my drift…you picking
up what I’m throwing down?!? Let’s just put it this way…some of you could be
Zoe for Halloween…we’ll provide the contraptions, mask and all.
Not to be swayed, I
jimmy-rigged that sucker on her little face and off we went! Never
underestimate the power of the ponytail holder.
We had a great day hunting
down souvenirs for our kiddos…made me a little weapy…even to the point of
missing all their big-kid drama…especially because they’re not allowed to
scream at me. Incidentally, the payback
of all paybacks is going to be putting them on twin duty asap. *rubs hands
together and emits menacing laugh*
We ran into one store and
asked the lady how much a couple things cost that were in the window. She said,
“I give you good price for all things…friend price.” I smiled and said, “but
I’d just like to know how much each thing is first.” “But I give you friend
price for all!”
Woman. Do not push me right now.
Chris missed all this and
walks out of another section of the store and asks, “How much are these? I
can’t find a price.” You guessed it. “I give you good price...” Chris never
being too gifted in the accent category said, “Excuse me?” “I give you friend
price!” Ser. i. ous. ly. Nevertheless, I really wanted the things so I endured.
She gives the price. We say it’s too much. She looks to be in childbirth. We
look like we’d rather take a bath in hot lava. I HATE this stuff…ask my
deal-shopping friend, Michelle, who just helped me buy some used furniture (I
“took a call” while she did the deed)…takes me right back to garage-saling,
under protest, mind you, with my dad. Shoot me now. We were buying a China
puzzle for Zane…because what cool parents would that make us, right?!? Holla!
It’s wrapped in plastic…or it was. Fantastic. Since we’re already 3 pieces
short, I’m pretty sure they’re still in the store with our “friend.” I’d had
enough. I asked our guide to come in and help the angry white couple before friend
or foe needed the super cool pulse thing we’d just bought. She starts talking
for us…then we get the “friend price.” I kid you not…she charged us MORE for
everything than they were individually. She has been defriended. Chris, of
course, caught it by catching her in the act before she even realized it. The
ol’ switcheroo, buddy. He’s all impressed with himself and gives me the “check
me out, babe” wink. I give him the “get me out of here” roll of the eyes. Incidentally, my buddy also told me the wrong
Chinese translation on a shirt (gave me big brother instead of little brother
for Zane) so we wonderfully had to go back to her store…again. I stayed
outside. That store’s way too friendly for my taste.
We spent a good portion of
time in a fun store that seemed happy to help us, happy to let our kids break
toys while we shopped (ahem…), and we went back for seconds after lunch.
Our favorite store, though,
was the very first one we went to…we also returned there after lunch. So if you’re following along, boys and
girls…that’s 3 stores…twice…yea. We quickly realized something was different
here when Chris found a wooden plaque with the Beatitudes in Chinese…pretty
cool. He started asking questions while we shopped and had a great conversation
with the sales clerk. We also noticed a
sign that said all profits go to local charities. Double cool. When we left,
the girl walked us out and said, “It’s so nice to have a p*st*r stop by…G*d
bless you and your family!”…hence the return visit and subsequent purchases. We
found out they support orphans in the area with their proceeds. They’re caring
for the least of these through their business. Trifecta.
We ate lunch at an “American”
joint that the Kolanowski’s recommended. I’d been waiting all day because
Kenney told Chris they had Dr. Pepper there. Big. Fat. Liar. Cover your ears,
kiddos…momma’s got a potty mouth. C’mon Kenney!!!! It is NOT better to have
loved and lost than never to have loved at all! NOT TRUE!!! Way to crush a
girl’s spirit. No seriously. Crushed. My food was also icky mcickerton…so we
promptly went to 7/11 and got me…you guessed it…another Pepsi Max, peanut
M&M’s, and some meatsticks…not to be confused with beef jerky…it was
meat…on a stick. You lower your standards, people…that’s what you do. Could it have been dog? Yes. Did I care? Absolutely not.
By the time we got back to
the hotel, the natives were toast…so a nap was in order. We only let them sleep 90 minutes…which still
made for an interesting bedtime…or maybe it’s because we ate noodles out of
buckets on the floor…again standards…gone. Regardless, they took forever to
fall asleep…yelling at each other in Chinese for eternity…the same phrases over
and over…wow…gonna be awesome once we get home.
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