Final itinerary

We finally got confirmation of our Chongqing hotel -- the Holiday Inn Yangtze Chongqing . The reviews on tripadvisor.com look good, and I'm excited to see that one of the reviews is from adoptive parents, with specific directions for exploring the surrounding neighborhoods and shopping districts.

Here is our truly final itinerary:

Beijing

Guide Information:

Name: Grace

Accommodations:

Poly Plaza

Phone: 0086-10-65001188

Address: 14 Dong Zhimen Dajie (South), Dongcheng District, China

Date	Time	Events
10.09	9:35pm	Pick up family#1 and #2 with NW29, and sent to hotel.
10.11	9:00am	Sightseeing Tour to the Great Wall, Forbidden City and Tian An Men Square
10.12	7:50am	All fly to Chongqing with CZ3183.

ChongQing

Guide Information:

Name: Sophie

Accomodations:

Holiday Inn Yangtze Chongqing

Phone: +8623 62808888
Address:No.87 Nanping Xin Jie ,Chongqing , China

Date	Time	Events
10.12	10:20am	Pick up families with CZ3183,and send to hotel.
10.13	2:30pm	Families go to civil affair to meet their child .
10.14	2:30pm	Go to Civil Affairs to do paperwork.
10.15	10:00am	Shopping for child.
10.16	10:00am	Sightseeing tour to E’ling Park.
10.17	4:00pm	Get child’ s passport
10.19	9:30am	Sightseeing tour to CiqiKou Ancient architecture Street.
10.19	9:10am	Families fly to Guangzhou with CA4353.

Guangzhou

Guide Information:

Name: Kelly

Accommodations:

White Swan Hotel

Address: No. 1 Shamian South Steet, Guangzhou, China

Phone: 011-86-20-81886968

Date	Time	Events
10.19	10:55am	Pick up families with CA4353 and send to WS Hotel.
10.20	10:00am	Take families to do child’ Visa photo and do child’s medical examination
	2:30pm	Sightseeing tour to Chen family temple.
10.21	9:30am	Take families documents to American Consulate in GZ
10.22	3:00pm	Families go to American Consulate Interview and get visa
10.23	8:20am	Sent families away with NW28.

HOTEL INFORMATION:

We do our best to put clients in 4-star and higher hotels when available, but do not guarantee that all hotels have all services parents desire.

Upon arriving at your hotel, please call your family in the states and give them your room number. This way family or friends can easily reach you.

For dialing numbers from the States to China- 011-86 + number

For dialing numbers within China – if not local number- you dial 0+number

Packing and repacking

When we were packing for China in 2005, the best advice I received was from my friend, Sarah H in Austin, Mom of 2 China girls. She said, "Pack very few outfits for yourself, only 4 or so. But pack every medication you can think of." And she was right!

It costs so little to do laundry in China, that it isn't worth taking a bunch of clothes. It is so much easier to send laundry out every day than it is to lug extra weight on the 3 flights to China, the 2 flights within China, and the 3 flights home. With that in mind, each of us will carry a backpack and pull a rolling, carry-on suitcase. Plus we will check two large bags with medication, toiletry refills, and shared items. Jon Wiley could have his own suitcase, as he is over 2 and thus has a ticketed seat on all the flights he takes with us. But really, who would carry it? I'll bring Mia's old toddler backpack (primary colors!), so he can carry a few things and not feel left out. And as a new 2 year old, I think he'll like the whole backpack idea. On the intra-China flights, there is almost no overhead storage, so we will check all the rollers and carry-on only the backpacks.

One issue that we didn't have last time is the great variation in autumn temperatures between the cities we are visiting. Beijing's climate is like Chicago, with a high tomorrow of 66 F. Chongqing's is like Dallas, with a high tomorrow of 80 F. Guangzhou's is like Orlando, with a high tomorrow of 91 F. It is particularly cold and windy on the Great Wall, but I'm sure we'll heat up once we get to climbing it. We'll be wearing lots of layers and bringing mittens and hats, which we can leave in Beijing if we want.

Warning: packing lists below. I know this is incredibly yawn-o-genic material for most of you, but internationally adopting families seek out packing lists like junkies seek out meth. So if it bores you, then click back to your email or something.

First up: Eiley's and Mia's list for their rolling carry-ons and backpacks. My list is nearly the same, plus I will have the 3 ring binder full of important documents. Devyn's carry-ons have fewer accessories (like no bra, duh), more spare outfits, and lots of room devoted to her favorite big, blue blankie. Scott will create his own list for himself, probably 18 minutes before we get in the car.

Backpack/duffel:
1 pair underwear
1 bra
1 t shirt
1 pair pants

small towel,bandanna, or handkerchief
thin jacket or hoodie
1 pair socks

ipod - if you want to bring it.

camera
small book
small video game or playing cards

1 qt. baggie with deodorant, toothpaste, sunscreen, shampoo, conditioner, lotion and purel

Klean Kanteen -- EMPTY
Ponytail holders
Dry snacks like granola bar or crackers or fruit leather
Small packet of kleenex
Your own personal advil bottle
travel journal and pen
A small pillow or blanket ONLY if you have room
Or a small llama (Readers, this will make sense if you know Mia).

DO NOT BRING YOUR PHONE OR YOUR COMPUTER (Mom will have hers.)
Eiley and I are still negotiating about her computer.




Rolling suit case
1 winter hat, 1 sun hat

15 pairs underwear

5 bras
2 nightgowns or pjs

2 pairs of jeans
2 pairs capris or yoga pants
2 pairs shorts
5 t-shirts -- 2 long sleeved and 3 short sleeved
1 hoodie or light jacket
1 sweatshirt
1 pair mittens or gloves

1 pair of COMFORTABLE tennis shoes

1 pair pool shoes or crocs.
2 swimsuits
baggie full of Kleenex

toothbrush
Brush
ponytail holders
nail clippers

pillowcase
small flashlight
cough drops
pill box -- I will fill it for you
Mia - Melatonin. You will be carrying this for the whole family
Eiley - Benadryl. You will be carrying this for the whole family.
Wear earrings and pack one other pair in case yours fall out.

NO EXPENSIVE JEWELRY. NO DRESS CLOTHES. NO DRINKS. NOTHING SO BIG OR HEAVY THAT YOU CAN'T CARRY OR PULL IT YOURSELF.



Next the blue, hardsided, checked suitcase, weighing in at 43.6 pounds

Medical
Allegra D
Levaquin
Avelox
Tums
Nasacort x 6
Patanase
DM syrup
Dimetapp syrup
Ibuprofen suspension
Albuterol inhaler
Primadophilus
Fish Oil
Probiotic

Non Medical
Easy ups x 72
Formula
Kleenex
3 shorts outfits, size 12 - 18 mos
2 winter outfits, size 18 - 24 mos
Hoodie 12 - 18 mos
Boys socks x 10
Jeans outfits, 12 - 18 mos x 4
swim trunks 12 - 18 mos
Tank tops, 12 - 18 mos x 2
Cars PJs
Hoodi 12 - 18 mos
Sippy cup x 3
Plastic storage cubes x 4
swim trunks, 18 mos
Rice U sweatshirt for JW
Coming Home Outfit, 18 - 24 mos
Sweat Pants/ Shirt outfit, 12 - 18 mos x 3
Swim Sandals, size 7 toddler
Sneakers, size 7 toddler
Blue Blankie
Baby toothbrush
Baby toothpaste
Small backpack for JW
Power converter/voltage adapter kit
Hinged chopsticks x 4
“Texan Baby” hat
Plastic spoons and forks
Method bamboo deodorizing ring
Rain poncho x 2
Blue rain jacket
Apricot baby oil
AA batteries and charger
Bubbles
Winter Gloves x 2 pairs
Lavender Baby Bath
Baby wipes



Finally, the black, checked suitcase, weighing in at 43.4 pounds

Medical
Acid Controller
Mucinex DM
Itchex Spray
Liquid Motrin
Pepto Bismol x 120
Baby Gas Drops x 2
Baby Shampoo
Iodine Solution x 2
Cough strips
Tussin
Kids’s Advil
Thermometer
NS 50mL bag x 4
Needles
Syringes
ASA
Decadron
Zofran
Phenergan
Phenergan Supp (1)
Gas X Tablets
Loperamide
Cough Drops
DM
Allegra
Sudafed
Blistex x 2
Visine
Afrin
Kids Pepto x 24
Toradol
Kanka solution
Dermabond x 2
IV tubing x 2
Epi vial
Steri Strips
Suture Removal Kit
Bacitracin
Lidocaine Jelly
Dramamine
Dimetapp
Nasal Bulb Syringe
Moleskin
IV Lidocaine
Ace Wrap
Nepafenac eye drops

Non Medical
Chex Mix
Fruit Snacks
Trail Mix
LIquid Dial x 2
Baby bottles x 3
Fruit Leather
Swim Diapers
Baby wipes x 2
Clorox wipes
Boy socks x 10
Travel Converter/Voltage Adapter x 3
Small Blue Blanket
Dial Bar Soap x 4
Umbrellas x 2
Apricot baby oil
Baby goggles
JW flip flops
JW hooded towel
Yellow sleeper
Blue sleeper x 2
DiDi Bib
Wall shirt for JW
12 - 18 mo swim trunks
Floaties
Slippers, toddler size 6
Orange baby hat
Hand sanitizer x 4
Scissors
JW Sunglasses
Baby boy shoes, toddler size 5
Hand Warmer
Room Deodorizer x 3
Sharpie
Rice Cereal
Pat the Bunny book
Art storage tubes x 2
Baggies - gallon and quart
Boots, toddler size 6
Shoes, toddler size 7
Insect repellent wipes, added 9-28-08 per Sarah H's suggestion

12 days until departure

I can hardly believe it. Ten months after seeing Ai Qiang's picture and file, and now we are so close to making Jon Wiley part of our family.




We got our updated itinerary today, and although it still doesn't list our Chongqing hotel, it does contain a wonderful surprise. Our guide for Guangzhou is Kelly, the same guide we had for our entire trip to adopt Devyn in 2005. I am so excited to see her again and for her to see Devyn again. Her daughter was born the same day as Devyn, so I hope we get to see her, too. She was about twice Devyn's size in 2005, so it would be interesting to see how they compare now. Knowing we will have Kelly also provides me a great deal of assurance that the American Consulate process will go smoothly. I still remember our entire travel group sitting in the hotel hallway, completing the myriad immigration forms under Kelly's guidance. I also fondly remember Kelly telling Devyn in English, "Xiao Yu, you are so serious," and then in Mandarin, "I'm going to give you a pig kiss." (Like a snorty kiss.) Then Devyn laughed and laughed, and Kelly turned to me with astonishment and said, "Your baby is very smart!" What a treat it will be to be in her capable hands again. One of the three pics I have of her is not in great focus, but I am taking copies of all of them with me to give her. And I'll be sure to take lots more this time, as we'll probably never see her in person again. Wow.

Kelly, Devyn, and Jolie at the White Swan, May 2005

Kelly Wu and her daughter, May 2005

JW turns 2

Yesterday was Jon Wiley's birthday. This evening, I received an email from Adele at Blessed Kids with some wonderful news. Not only did Jon Wiley get his birthday cake, but also the orphanage staff took pictures of him enjoying it! There are 4 pictures in total, posted below. JW appears to be right-handed, and his right eye is a little puffy. Perhaps conjunctivitis after returning him to the orphanage from foster care. The little girl in the picture with him is his foster sister, so he knows how to say jie-jie (big sister). That knowledge will come in handy for him.

More good news: Dianjiang SWI only uses Nestle formula, mixed with rice. So as far as we know, our little man has no melamine floating around in him.

Melamine in Chinese Infant Formula

Whew. I'm so glad we never gave Devyn any of the formula that came with her from the orphanage. I threw it away immediately, distrustful of Chinese food safety standards.

FDA News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 12, 2008

Media Inquiries: Judy Leon, 301-827-3314 or 301-696-8921 Consumer Inquiries: 888-INFO-FDA

FDA Issues Health Information Advisory on Infant Formula

In response to reports of contaminated milk-based infant formula manufactured in China, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today is issuing a Health Information Advisory. This is to assure the American public that there is no known threat of contamination in infant formula manufactured by companies that have met the requirements to sell infant formula in the United States. Although no Chinese manufacturers of infant formula have fulfilled the requirements to sell infant formula in the United States, FDA officials are investigating whether or not infant formula manufactured in China is being sold in specialty markets which serve the Asian community.

The FDA is advising caregivers not to feed infant formula manufactured in China to infants. This should be replaced with an appropriate infant formula manufactured in the United States as mentioned below. Individuals should contact their health care professional if they have questions regarding their infant’s health or if they note changes in their infant’s health status.

The FDA began investigating the reports of contamination immediately and received information from the companies who manufacture infant formula for the American market that they are not importing infant formula or source materials from China. The following manufacturers have met the necessary FDA requirements for marketing milk-based infant formulas in the United States: Abbott Nutritionals, Mead Johnson Nutritionals, Nestle USA, PBM Nutritionals, and Solus Products LLC. Also, one manufacturer, SHS/Nutricia, Liverpool, England, markets an amino acid based exempt infant formula that does not contain any milk-derived ingredients.

We are asking state officials to work with the Agency to assist with the removal of any Chinese infant formula found on store shelves, and to warn members of the Asian community to avoid using Chinese manufactured infant formula.

It has been reported that a number of infants in China who have consumed Chinese manufactured infant formula are suffering from kidney stones, a condition which is rare in infants. The Chinese manufactured infant formula may be contaminated with melamine. Melamine artificially increases the protein profile of milk and can causes kidney diseases such as those seen in these Chinese infants.

FDA requires that all infant formula manufacturers register with the Agency and adhere to specific labeling and nutritional requirements. All properly registered infant formula manufacturers marketing infant formula in the United States undergo an annual inspection of their production facilities.

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Dianjiang Kids International

Relatives and friends of children adopted from Jon Wiley's orphanage, Dianjiang Social Welfare Institute (SWI), have a foundation supporting the orphanage. They have provided training to the Nannies, funding for foster families, and a special room called Gracie's Room for special needs kids. Go to Dianjiang Kids International to see it, as well as pictures of the SWI.

Family Pics

Several people have asked for some pictures of our family.

Our first day with Devyn in May of 2005.

Eiley, Mia, and Devyn at Devyn's 4th bday party in January, 2008.

Gotcha Day will be October 13th

What an exciting day we've had! We got an email that our Consulate Appointment had been confirmed for October 21st, and that we would be in China October 9th through 23rd. This completely contradicts our agency's stated policy of not traveling during the Canton Fair . But, hey, we're not going to argue! This afternoon, we booked our tickets through Delight Travel. We are over the moon!!!

We leave from San Antonio at 8:45 AM on Northwest Airlines, and go through Detroit and Tokyo to Beijing. We get our son October 13th!!! He becomes a U.S. Citizen on October 21st. And on October 23rd, we leave from Guangzhou and go through Tokyo and Minneapolis to land in San Antonio around 5:30 P.M. Devyn entered the US through San Francisco, and Jon Wiley will enter through Minneapolis.

Now we are negotiating with Eiley's and Mia's schools regarding their planned 2-week absence, and I am scheduling my absence from work. I plan to go back to work on November 5th.

We will still miss his birthday, but not by much. And I am so happily surprised at being able to travel during the trade fair in Guangzhou.