Red Couch Day!

The three "Orphanage Sisters"-Sylvia Joy; Mei Li; Taryn Joy
Mei Li and Taryn goofing around...
Our Asian Princess!
How cute are these two! Everyone says they look alike! Because they are both Cute!
Faith Ann; Emmalee Rose; Liam Kai; Mei Li; Taryn Joy; Sylvia Joy

There is a "tradition" among adoption families that when you have "made it" to Guangzhou the babies in your travel group all take a picture on "the red couch" at the White Swan Hotel. First, let me start by saying the White Swan Hotel is the sharpest hotel I have ever seen...hands down nice! It is like a 6 star hotel! We are staying up the road at the "ghetto"(just kiddin') , but our hotel, The Victory is NOTHING compared to the White Swan! We all went to "check it out" the other night after dinner, which we shouldn't have done! We left all sad and mad because we weren't staying there! Anyway, we had to walk to the White Swan from our hotel to get the red couch pictures today. The babies in the photo are all in our "travel group"...meaning, all 6 families are from the same adoption agency and traveled together (in Beijing and now in Guangzhou...we split up for the Provence week). Three of the families are in the "special needs" program and three of the families (including us) are in the "non-special needs" program. All three of the non-special needs babies were in the same orhpanage so we have been together now for almost 3 weeks! We have become really close with these two families and it means a lot that our babies started out together! I really hope we can keep in touch! The other 3 families are precious as well...they have been "called" to a much higher calling than adoption. Taking a special needs orphan takes even more dedication and determination...they are truly wonderful parents!
So, that being said...Enjoy the "cute" pictures of the Red Couch. I will try to "explain" who the children are! Taryn, is the cute one in the light pink Chinese "tutu" (thank you very much!). Mei Li is her "orphanage sister" on her right in the hot pink "tutu"...she has the great hair! Her parents are so much fun to be with, they are from Miami Fl. And then Sylvia (to Taryn's left...the one needing her mommy for the picture!) was Taryn's friend in the orhpanage. We actually have pictures of them together with Sylvia's arm around Taryn! Her family lives in Georgetown Ky! That is great because the two can stay friends by living close to each other! In the middle is Liam...we LOVE this kid! He was special needs simply because of his age. He is 4 1/2 years old...he is the sweetest little boy! The only American word he knows is "hello" and he says it ALL OF THE TIME! You can hear him coming because you hear "hello...hello...hello"...he is precious! Next to him is Emmalee Rose...she has a cleft lip/cleft palate to be repaired in the States. She is ALWAYS smiling...just like her parents! And on the end is Faith Ann...she has a hearing disorder that hasn't been taken care of yet but will be as soon as they get back to Ohio.
So, these are the "kids" in our group. I will miss seeing them! It is funny how "attached" you get on a trip such as this! You really rely on the families to "watch your back" so to speak when you are in an unknown place. And it has so helped to have people going through the same stuff as you! It has been a life changing experience...one we will never forget.
On another note...we have "one man down" in the Feck family right now. I have been a single mommy today...Steve is sick. And, just like at home when he gets sick...he gets REALLY sick! He looks awful and has a fever...he has been in bed all day accept for the short "outing" to the White Swan. We have been teasing him that he is just trying to get out of eating another Chinese meal...but, in reality...he feels awful! Please pray for him if you think about it...we have another day here and then a LONG, LONG, LONG flight home. He will need to be feeling better to get through that!
I also wanted to say a big "HELLO" to my little friends at Rosenwald Dunbar Elementary School in Nicholasville Kentucky! I know some of you have been keeping up with the blog in your classrooms and I hope you have learned a lot about China! Hello to Ms. Brakebill's class and Ms. Burn's class...We will have to bring Taryn in to meet you as soon as she is able!
That's it for now...enjoy the pictures...ONE MORE DAY in China!