Journey with Ruby HOME!!!!

As we pack it all up I can't believe what we have done in two weeks!
We toured Beijing, flew off to some weird city in the middle of no where,picked up our new daughter,
and now we will make the trip home with her!
I could go on and on with so many stories...every-time we leave the room there is one?
I think I will pause for now and savor all the memories for the way home.
We send much love to you all!!!!
Daryl
Billy
Sophie
and
Ruby

The White Swan

Well, by now you have heard what Guangzhou is like.
Pick pockets, a little violence and loads of reptiles for sale and so much more!!!
But, our day did start with a beautiful walk along the river watching some of China's best ballroom dancing!
It was like stepping back in time. The music, the old speakers and lanterns hanging above-
Is this for real?
The White Swan Hotel is on Shamain Island. It's in a world of it's own. I keep looking for the white swan?
I think the name must have something to do with the Fleet of White Mercedes and white slipcovers over the seats?

THere are many chinsese restaurants to choose from in the hotel and one japanese.
Last night we went to the Chinese version of Benihana. We were given lovely white aprons to wear as we sat around
a steaming hot grill. All the chinese waitresses we wearing traditional japanese kimono?
The food was delicious except for the Chef ended up cooking for the entire restaurant at our grill.
We left grease splatterd and smelling like Bar-b-Que. Ruby loved every minute of it and every beansprout!
Next, we hit the arcade down the hall and rode motorcycles, skied, and shot guns!
Billy of course has mastered all the games.He had RUby on his lap the whole time showing her how to race cars.
Sophie is the air hockey Champion in China!!!
Our Visa appointment went well and we are Finally off to the U.S. Consulate to have Ruby sworn in as a U.S. citizen today at 3pm.
I have finally run out of clothes to wear and have a moustache. Sophie has offered me some of her clothes, but somehow I don't think that's going to work out so well?

We had a final lunch with our group and the farewells begin. Everyone is very nice and it's be really easy to be together or not.
Most of them leave for Beijing and then the east coast. I can't imagine packing it all up....
We will leave tommorow for Hong Kong, say our good-byes to Eve and Clara then head Billy Sophie Daryl and Ruby head for LA!

Farmers market?

Hi its sophie in china now its my turn to "blog"

I saw ALOT in the farmers market thing today.. I mean ALOT.

I saw, SNAKES, DOGS, CATS, oh by the way there were no beds for the animals or food! Just some plastic bags to put them in.
To start this um..lets say interesting experience, we got down the stairs and saw this circle with like 50 people and like a zillion cops surrounding one guy, on the floor, ripped pants, ripped shirt, and a pool of blood on him and an ocean of blood around him. Showed me how welcoming this market place was!!! Then we saw some nice starfish, snakes, and BEAUTIFUL snake skin..NOT. To be honest, I had no idea china had an ocean!! Then we turned the corner and saw something that looked like either the animal section or the main course. I saw really cute puppies, exept i knew they were all from gross puppy mills. So i gave everyone who was selling them a dirty look, thats how I roll. I must interupt this story. I have to say, ruby is counting right now and it is the cutest thing in the world. When she counts to 10 she says 3 like thabee and 6 like sidey and 7 like seben SO CUTE.CANT STAND IT!
Anyways, where was I, animals, main course...oh ya ok so after the *dinner department*, we shopped around and i stepped in ALOT of spit. Ew, I am eating dried apples and thinking of the snake skin, ok done with my dried apples. So after about 30 minutes of shopping around , eve and my mom were trying to make a "chineese deal" over what I think were fake pearls. I was standing next to Clara and Billy and holding onto rubys stroller. I had like 25 yuons or something sticking out of my pocket, I had no idea. All of the sudden I feel a hand reach in my pocket. I FREEKED OUT. I jumped and yelped. Everyone thought I was crazy. My heart was beating so fast, i didnt know a heart could go so fast. My hands were shaking for like..what 40 minutes somewhere around there. I was SO beyond done being there. I wanted out, so we left and our dogs were barkin. My brother suggested I get pepper spray and a whistle. I thought that was a brilliant idea! But i guess its not sunday and we are not in good old, safe Brentwood, god i miss brentwood! On the way out we saw our lovely friend in the middle of the street yelling and looked so angry.


P.S. our lovely friend is the guy who got beet up in the begging of this adventure.

Off to Guangzhou

5 bags and 3 children! Just traveling lightly once again.
We woke up at the crack of dawn to catch our early am flight to Guangzhou.
Seating by a window Ruby waved bye bye to the Hunan province.
She was smiling and then crawled into my lap and passed out for the remainder of the flight where smoking is not permitted but it is?
At the airport we were happy to find a really clean bathroom with all the latest modern plumbing fixtures!
The only thing was they didn't work?
Thank god for moist towlettes to clean our hands!
After checking into the White Swan Hotel, Uncle Dougie (not my brother, a family member of one of our families here)
anyways-Uncle Dougie and Billy went to a burger joint and brought back REal burgers and fries!
They assured me they were real cow meat ? Uncle Dougie had one two years ago here.
whatever it was -it was worth it!
Everyone was in HEaven! Ruby loves those fries!
Off to the Dr. office for RUby's physical.
It took all of 5 minutes and once again she waved good bye to her Dr..
Still jumping through hoops here waiting for yet another clearance.
We have managed once again to turn our room into a Zoo.
It's 3 am here all is quiet. My girls are fast asleep next to me. I really like the hotel. It's right out of the 60s. Great waterfall in the Lobby! Robert , you would love the giant Koi!
Our visa meeting a the counslate is in the early am.. Hope all goes well.
As our time here is running out, I am so happy to finally find traditional Chinese clothing here in Guangzhou!
Not easy to find, gone are the Mao jackets, hats and black cloth shoes......
P.S. I didn't order the stewed Pig Ball last night.
Instead I went for the steamed fish. The only thing was that it was brought to us first in a clear box waving it's fins before they cooked it.
Fish out of water-?

White out Party!

I had heard about this but of course showed up with out all the" white out" I schlepped to China!
Just more red tape to work on!
Does anyone really read any of this?
I feel like it's 20 different documents with all the same info?
I will say one thing Ruby is worth every minute of it!
Eve watched Ruby while I was downstairs working, Ruby was reluctant to go with her without one of her siblings!
So in between homework they took turns chapperoning their little sister.
We like that a lot!
Who are you anyway? How do you know that already?
She also knows how to blow her nose!
Pick her nose and eat it!
That behavior I have changed (the eating part)
TOday we went to a "duck" lunch spot!
We walked in and there was lunch hanging in the window by a metal hook! Well, how long have they been there for?
Maybe they could have left the feathers on?
Needless to say Sophie turned Green and settled for some rice. Billy decided it was cool and snapped some photos as a keepsake!
Billy and I Loved it -"yum it tastes like bacon" Our french friend was a little disgusted with our taste buds.
Oh well-the american tourist at it's best!
I have been trying to pack up all afternoon!
In this Maze of a hotel room, I am trying to pack. From dirty coffee cups (room service never takes away any of the dishes) to loads of trinkets/clothes/toys/books/shoes/balloons and even a giant box of Cherrios and a lot of noisy plastic bags.....
As I look out the window from our room it reminds me of that film Brazil.
Strange modern yet futuristic architecture. I am sad to leave tomorrow!
We have been through a lot here. I will never forget Changsha and Hengshan our Ruby's homeland. We will be back.
Quite a wonderful time for a us all.

Side trip to Heaven

After a near death experience driving for over two hours we reached the top of Mt, Hengshan.
It's one of 5 most spiritual mountains in all of China.
A one lane road for two lane traffic goes up the side of the mountain along with motorbikes hikers and even 90 year old men carrying very wide loads on their back!
Arriving at the top Billy and Sophie were a little car sick.
We stopped on the way up and bought tons of incense and firecrackers to throw into the furnace.
Climbing the steps to the Temple we watched as the 90 yr. old men and women just strolled to the while we were huffing and puffing?
ALl that Tai Chi really works.
Inside the Temple I had my fortune for future read. I was told that there are three different prices depending on the one you pick and guess what I picked the most expensive one! WHat a surprise...it seems I have the golden touch in China.
It was intriguing that's all I can say.
We bought Jade from a two hundred year old Monk and he blessed us and all our purchases. (ithink he was a little upset that I didn't choose the most expensive one)
A very special time there. I am truly a JewBU.
The veiws were incredible of all the scattered temples-you can spend weeks traveling from one to another.
We stopped at the Laughing Buddha it is a Giant Golden Buddha smiling.
I think it was 50 feet tall. and wide.

After the descend with our eyes closed, we reached Ruby's Orphanage. Very emotional for us. Next stop we arrived at her abandonment spot a clinic with 5-6 mean chinese women who could not have cared why we were there. I wanted a bag with the name and address for a keepsake and they yelled at Eve. we ended buying something weird so we could just have the bag. Looking across the street we spotted HAPPY LIFE MALL. I think that says it all.
On the street around the clinic we did meet some very friendly faces and it was all thumbs up (which means we are happy)

Ruby was counting to ten by the way home sitting on Billy's lap.
Onea two thabee.....
She has mastered wheels on the bus and moving on to itsy bitsy spider.

Off to breakfast with our little Monkey (she is year of the monkey)
xox

Passport!

5pm we received Ruby Dongjin's Passport!
Well, it's 9 pm and we just celebrated the arrival of Ruby's passport.
They are not easy to come by here. One would think it would be cheap fast and a no brainer but this is for real.
Loads of Red Tape.
China.
After a lovely dinner at JOy where the decor is Suzy wong meets the SHeraton-Loved that. great vibe.
We each had are own waitress and we were offered free peanuts and watermelon to start!
After glancing over the menu with Billy we skipped or the steamed tongue. sliced raw pigs ears and decided we would be happy to move on to the main course.
Our choices included Bird's nest soup or salad-maybe just on the brach would be best? Ruby would love to throw the eggs at waitress and Billy.
With a huge smile of course!
The shark fin interested Billy but when we saw they offered raw white dolphin we weren't clear if that was tuna or illegal?
By the way Sophie opted out of the whole night. She is the only one with a head on her shoulders at this point.
Eve was very excited about her jelly fish. I think it was raw not sure she couldn't talk for the rest of the meal because her mouth was completely on FIRE. (as was Billy's he did enjoy some of her dish)
I on the other hand just wanted to take home the menu. I am still trying to pull some strings to get one. It's just very interesting the types of things we are missing out on in our diets.
Ruby had her first giant ice cream bar and managed to eat it with pure delight and not spill a drop!
A girl after her Daddy's heart. "Neat as a pin" We figured out that everyone is so in awe of her because she is so fair skinned. Thank god for her body guards Billy Sophie and now Clara. THey have all learned to say Do not touch Please in 3-4 different dialects so far. She is a magnet. THere is something unique and so lovable about her. She continues to amaze us each and every minute.
Thank god for Passports that allow us to experience turtle soup,sliced toungue,centipede on a stick and so much (oh and lunch today there were black cubes) Shit? it's all so good

Magic of Cipro!

Sophie is back!!! three doses of Cipro and she is good to go for the moment.
I have a feeling I might be next?

I think I left off when Eve and Clara arrived after a 7 hour lay over in Shnaghai!
Somehow in those 7 hours Eve's Chinese came back to her in full force!


While we were nursing Sophie back to health the men in our group went to visit the Orphanage.
31/2hours later they arrived. They took millions of photos for us and of where our RUby was left on the steps of the hospital when she was 2 days old. THey also managed to get her outfit that she was left in. I wish I could have gone but we needed to be with Sophie. I look forward to bringing Ruby back when she wants to go .
She hasn't been in the Orphanage for the last 6 months. I think it would of been traumatic and confusing to have taken her .
We did mange to pool our money and buy them a washing machine, air conditioner and water heater.
They sent us other meaningful gifts that I will cherish forever!

Ordering breakfast to the room is always fun if you have an hour of absolutely nothing to do and nothing on your mind.
I left the job to Billy this am. I will say nothing else on the matter except for 3 carts of food just arrived.

Sophie and Ruby are sitting on the couch looking at all of Sophie's photos on her camera. They are both in their PJ's and of course Ruby is wearing her Ruby Red Slippers and Hello Kitty Back Pack! Every few minutes she runs over to the mirror to look at herself in it! She is so proud!

Time for Breakfast! Soup with egg and noodles!!!!! Ruby's favorite (and she knows how to get just the broth on the spoon)

waiting for ruby's passport...

thursday- Nona left for Shanghai on her own!
(Robert orgabized her adventure)
She was so sad to leave us but I know she will enjoy it so much!
We are stuck here in Times square/tijuana/anything goes...
Our outing today was a private room at Hunan Chinese restaurant. Tv blasting and two old recliners plus a table for 10.
A lovely environment for lunch combined with nice florecent lighting.
Billy and I looked at each other and the group of parents with us?
Where are we?
As we spin the lazyy susan we feel so at home for some reason.
All the strange smeels and flavors are somehow comforting?
WHere are we?
Back to the hotel for a two hour nap Ruby style, Billy worked on his homework , Sophie threw up and all is well in Changsha!!!!!!!
Billy Ruby and I went out for an afternoon stroll in search of a small roll away bag.
Dirty Dirty Dirty......
Love it...spitting,eating,shoe shine,yams cooking.fresh bettlenut ,cigerettes, flied rice, garbage,squatters,spit, cars running you over and driving on the sidewalk, and dirt.
All in a 3 block stroll.
We did manage to purchase a Hello Kitty back pack for 2 dollars.
Ruby loves it and Eve just arrived!!!!!!
GTG
Lots of Love....
Still waiting for passpaort!

Bon Voyage Robert!

Just as Robert left for the airport Sophie started puking. I guess she held it in until he left because he really doesn't like a mess!
As I stood in the middle of our room which looks like an amusement park/tenament covered in barf I realized that the journey has just begun!
Not two minutes later the phone rang -Billy had tripped over the glass table in his room and cut open his leg which he told me was
broken!
I took a deep breath and ran down the hall throw up and all to find him lying on the floor screaming.
Back to the room, Ruby woke up with her usual smile and Sophie was smiling back at her. THe calm......
101.5 not too bad for soph-schocked that she was smiling. The magic of Motrin.

Our afternnon was spent shopping in Changsha. Intersting. Not sure what is real and what isn't here.
We bought a pair of Nike high tops for 20 dollars-they came in the box and everything? They look and feel like Nike?
Billy still hasn't found his size yet. After a few hours in search for Billy's size, we found out that Yao Ming's shoes are from the good old USA!

This City is a combo of mexico/tijuana/las vegas/tijuana/tijuana/atlantic city/tijuana/chop suey?

THe hotel-well, it says it's a Sheraton but that must mean something else in Chinese. It says it's 5 star but not sure they know what that means? I am not sure about anything here? It shoud be called Ripleys belive it Or not. Nothing really is what it seems?
Not sure that makes sense and don't get me wrong the accomadations are very nice but it's almost like a facade. My guide who took us shopping yesterday helped me buy some cream at the pharmacy-he negotiated the price and then asked me for 20 yuan-I gladly handed it to him and then the cashier handed back a ten to him but he gave it back to her? Dunb american tourist I guess?

Ruby is string 3 words together now. I put her on antiboitics and suddenly her hair is getting darken and her cheeks are rosey! When she arrived she had a giant cough and a green nose.

3rd day with Ruby

My day started on the right foot.
standing in the shower enjoying the steam to try to clear my stuffy nose the door to the bathroom opens and it's my smiling jewel Ruby waving at me!

She already has a large vocab in 3 days-
I love you Sophie
I Love you Billy
I love you Mama
I love you Daddy (baba)
and so on
Pee pee
poopoo
one two

Went shopping for clothes yesterday and she picked out on her own ruby Red patent shoes!
Is this really happening?

I put her down for a nap and she smiles at us plays a little and goes right to sleep?

gtg -Sophie is throwing up!

Our Jewel has arrived!!!!

Not sure where we left off, but I will try to catch up....
Today is Wed. am around 10.
Where do I start....We arrived at the the government bldg on Monday am.
We were shuttled into a giant waiting room. It wasn't Cedars thank god!
Big beautiful bamboo loveseats and plenty of room to just hang!
About 5 minutes later a little boy was carried in to meet his new mommy!
He laughed and gurgled at her cleft lip and all!!!
What a lucky buddha.
Next, a large man in a red shirt followed by 2 squeaky girls jumping around by his side!
There she was our Ruby!!!!!! Our hearts stopped and our eyes filled with tears of JOY!!!
Ruby Dong Jin Offer. SHe was placed in my arms forever. SHe sat quietly in my lap and studied our white ghost like faces.
10 minutes later she was fast asleep in my arms. Off to the hotel we put her down for the first time.
SHe woke up screaming her head off-not for long ...Billy stuck a red vine in her hand and that was it!
A girl after his own heart. (if you know Billy and sugar)
The rest of the day wnet as smooth as can be!
She is truly meant to be ours (sorry if I keep repeating that)
So much more to say but we are off to tour the city of Changsha.
We will try send photos around through email.
You can reply to us through my email.
Xie Xie
Ruby Offer's new family!!!

Monday Morning ?????

Good morning. Good morning. 7 am in Chang Sha. The hotel has no air conditioning because they decided it is getting a little cold outside. So you can open the window, as long as you wear your gas mask to prevent smoke inhalation. That is the bad. The good is that we are going to get Ruby in 4 hours. Wow. Nervous but excited and ready. It has been over two years and two home study's and two fbi clearances and two finger print sessions since we started this process. If we were blue whales we could have had two sets of two ton twins by now and swam from Hawaii to Alaska and back twice more easily.

24 hours and counting

Blogger bob here for first time. We really made the most of our last day as the parents of adult children. Daryl and I woke up early and went to some famous park where all the people do their thai chi in the morning. Daryl joined in and was complimented on her natural grace. Back to the hotel, grabbed the kids and our other kid - Daryl's mom - and off to the dirt market, where they sell dirt and other shit that daryl loved. fun and eclectic and dirty. Back to the hotel and then off to 798 - - the artist's community. Think Bergomont station with incredible architecture and great restaurants and very hip chineese people. Really really cool. Highlight of the trip. Then off the the airport to come to Ruby's provence. I'm sure we all got SARS on the plane, but if we don't die by tomorrow we get her in the morning. We met the rest of our group.. Checked into our hotel, where smoking is mandatory and the room has no place to put your clothes. but basically pretty good and i get blackberry service, so it works for me. Tomorrow is very exciting and they told us that she will cry for two or three days and since i leave in two, it shoud be great. The kids are being great, and handling the stress much better than I. All good. Love and miss.

The Great Rong!

Our day began with at 3am with a call from Weber! Back to sleep and then another one at 5:30pm!
Sweet.
A giant buffet breakfast around 6:30am where I found Billy starving to death because he slept through yet another dinner and in the middle of the night wanted to order room service but Sophie said he wasn't allowed to-
In the meantime Robert was MIA in the hotel in his Shorts and bare-feet looking for a converter????
Somehow we pulled out of here at around 9:30 am and headed to the Great Wall!
Bumper to Bumper we made it there in no time! A little over 2 hours? Oh Ms Rong we love you!
On the way we did see the Olympic buildings and stadiums! Incredible architecture!

Upon arriving at the Wall Robert and Billy flew to the top.
Sophie and I made it half way- It's Steep!
Sophie just bounced her way on up. Nona made it to the first tower with Ms, Rong at her side at all times

Lunch-that was interesting. Should we have the turtle or shark? MAybe sea turtles? So many choices-Pig ear slices perhaps raw?
Well, I asked Ms. Rong for Chicken Breast and she fell on the floor and laughed her head off?
Nona ordered Ginger Soup which turned out to be a large Vat of Diarrhea?
We toasted to Dad on his Birthday and then we all burst into tears, which Ms. Rong found very confusing when she came back from paying the bill.

Off to THe Lama Temple, home of the 80 meter Buddha. THe tallest inside Buddha in the world! Truly a very special and spiritual place. Not to be missed!

Arriving back to our Hotel, we bid farewell to the Great Ms. Rong!



.

our day with Ms. Wrong......

Well, she picked us up and off we went!
First stop- Tianammen Square where we proceeded to spend a few hours walking through each courtyard and into the Forbidden City! Red Flags blowing in the wind, clear skies and No pollution.
We learned about the Yin and Yang of it all . The Emperor's lucky number 9 and that there were over 3,000 concubines living in the Forbidden City from the ages of 12-17.
On to the check out the old hood (hutong style) we hopped into rickshaws and held on for dear life!
The tour through this area by a beautiful lake was a dream-although the whole day seemed to be magical.
Not sure if it's the jet lag or just China?
We jumped off the rickshaws and popped into a home where they offered us tea and showed us their wares?
They were so lovely and warm and they Loved Billy!
Everyone here is so nice and so warm.
After driving home by car through the friday evening traffic, we dropped off the kids and hit the Foot Massage Palor that Robert loved so much. Sitiing side by side in recling chairs I never new feet could feel this good. I think it worth coming here just for the foot massage.
After our day I have to say the Ms. Wrong turned out to be so RIght!

3 days to Ruby Dong Jin!

Today is friday. We woke up at around 4 am ready for breakfast!
Starving after all the centipede/worm kebobs!!

Robert finally made his way back to the hotel last night after a 2 hour walk (talking to his office on the cell and walking in circles ) oh and a one hour traditional foot massage!


Ms. Wrong (our guide) will be meeting us soon to take us all over Beijing.

Billy and Sophie are busy doing homework this morning.

My mom is a trooper-she can't believe what it looks like here, she was here in 1979 when everyone wore MAO jackets and only rode bikes.....




3 days to Ruby!

wed or thursday? lost day and exciting Beijing!

not sure at this point?
We are in Beijing and I have to say it was well worth the 12 hour flight!
We are so exhausted you just cant imagine I am sure nothing is making sense.
What I do know is that we went to an amazing totally modern restaurant for dinner and it was filled with
incredible paintings and over looked the east gate of the Forbidden City that is all lit up at night.
We walked there through the night market of centepede on a stick to fresh strawberries on a stick???? meat squid and things that looked like snake/ all so yummy! I had to hold robert back from trying it all,
Oh and the starfish (i guess they must taste like crackers)

I am fading fast! The kids came to dinner and fell asleep at the table.
Robert is out walking around and I am going to pass out!

Packed and Ready!

Well, after 2 years and and 2 months we are finally here.
Our journey begins tomorrow at 6-am when we leave for Beijing, China!
5 bags, 4 carry-ons, 4 lap tops and plenty of butterflies.
Lots of unknown ahead in these next few weeks.

I hope I have everything?????