Two Steps Forward - One Step Back

Saturday Afternoon March 25, 20006 3:00pm
Sorry for the delay in posting. Friday was another difficult day. We left at 9:30 to go porcelain shopping and only spent a short time in the store. Hannah Joy was NOT happy about this. We picked up a small gift for her when she is older and then went back outside. She is much happier outside than inside. Afterwards, we went to the Security Office to pick up her passport. She sat nice and quiet on my lap while we waited for our turn. When we got back to the hotel, we ended up sitting outside the room with the Drakes and the other adoptive family on the floor while the kids played. Hannah sat and played with her stacking cups for quite a while. After a while, we went inside the room and Hannah was NOT happy. By then, I (Donna) was not feeling well. I think the air quality has finally caught up with me as I have a scratchy throat and low grade temp (100.2) I basically sat on the bed while Hannah screamed while sitting on the floor. Chris took her for a walk for a while and came back which led to another screaming meltdown. Donna was able to get some benedryl in Hannah Joy and 20 minutes later, she was asleep. Donna finally dozed off on the bed and rested for a while. We had to pack on Friday night so our bags could be picked up at 7:15am Saturday. Chris was wonderful at helping get everything packed. Hannah Joy finally settled down and sat happily playing on the bed until she nearly fell asleep. Chris was able to lay her down and she dozed off (Donna had already fallen asleep)
Today has also been fairly difficult. I suspected that this would be the case as we were leaving Nanchang and flying to Guangzhou. Breakfast went well and the ride to the airport was good. Hannah Joy was very content for me to hold her this entire time. However, our flight was late and she had a number of meltdowns. Thank God for Kevin Drake. She likes him and he was able to pick her up and take her for a walk around the airport. When we boarded the airplane, Hannah Joy had another meltdown. This was somewhat of a good thing as we were able to get the Benedryl in her. She had refused her anti-biotics on Friday and I desperately wanted her to take her meds. After giving her the meds, I gave her a lollipop. However, she wouldn't suck on it; just hold it. She screamed again and Kevin finally took her. After about 30 min of fussing, crying and screaming, she fell asleep. Unfortunately, this was only 20min before landing. Once again, she was content for Donna to carry her through the airport, but then had a meltdown in the van on the way to the White Swan. After arriving, she was happy for Donna to hold her until we got to the room. Chris then took her for a walk as Donna is still not feeling well. We ordered lunch from Danny's Bagels and it arrived just as Chris and Hannah Joy returned. She likes hamburgers and also like the bagel we got her. However, Chris tried to put her on the bed next to me and this led to another major meltdown. She is finally laying quietly on the floor and is thinking about a nap.