Medical Appointment Today

This morning we met up with the three other families we said goodbye to in Beijing and loaded the kids up on a bus to the medical center for their check up.  This medical check is a part of the process of getting Chloe's visa to the United States.  

The check-in desk at the medical center

There were three centers that the kids went to.  The first housed nurses measuring children's height and weight; the next held an ENT checking ears, nose, throat, and eyes; and the last held two doctors who gave her a quick physical.  In this last check, we asked the doctor's about Chloe's skin since she appears to have some scarring, and as we suspected, she had scabies (in the past) and those were left over scars.  They also checked her heart and said that all sounded well.  Our ticket out was then a TB test where a nurse stuck a needle with active TB virus under the children's skin.  Chloe whimpered a little, but she was a good girl.

A snack after the TB test...such a good girl

One of the examination rooms

The nurse who measured her height and weight

After the medical exam, we went back to the hotel, had lunch, took a nap, and then went to the play area on the fourth floor.  Chloe's favorite activity was definitely the swings, and she made her Baba push her for at least one-half hour.

Chloe enjoying the swings

The play area is located in a little man-made oasis on the fourth floor of the hotel.  It has small ponds, a beautiful gazebo, and even a waterfall.

A view from the play area

I think I'll bring my Kindle and read here while Chloe naps tomorrow.

Sitting by the waterfall

We are truly enjoying the hotel and its amenities.  (Having actual air condition is a plus.  In Hefei, we had a thermostat, but we think it was just a prop.  No air ever circulated from the vents.)

Also, Guangzhou is such a beautiful city.  It's much more lush and tropical than Beijing or Hefei.  It is also much more Westernized.  There are adoptive families everywhere, and we don't feel like such outsiders.

Guangzhou is definitely a big city.

However, lush trees and other foliage line the streets.

 Chloe is continuing to make great progress.  Today, she stayed with Tim twice in the room while I took care of some things and one whimpered a little when I left before she and Tim played.  She also allowed her Baba to give her a piggy back ride in public.

Tomorrow is one of our down days, and we're planning on meeting Ann, a shopping guru that has been highly recommended, tomorrow morning with Karen and her crew and shop for great deals.  I'm thinking pearls, squeaky shoes, good knock-offs, and kid souvenirs.

Hope everyone has a great day!