SEBASTIAN"S MEDICAL CHECK TODAY

Well today the weather in Guangzhou turned very cool
and we felt like we were back in Chicago with the
windy conditions. Nikki is starting to feel better at
last, and Annie is begining to turn the corner as
well. Today we had to take Sebastian for his medical
exam prior to leaving china and being allowed into the
U.S. He walked into the building cool as a cucumber
and was doing really well until he had to go into the
room where the doctor examines him. Then he started
to lose his courage. He is just so sweet, he tries so
hard to be brave and such a big boy, and then he
begins to wipe his eyes and the tears start to fall.
He is very quiet, but the tears keep coming I ache
for him at times. He obviously has seen his share of
doctors and he was afraid. I pulled him on my lap and
just kept whispering to him mama is right here. He
let me hold him and he did everything they asked of
him, but he was so afraid.

On the other hand, he is so smart and funy. Today he
was watching the television and it was a cartoon in
english. He looked at the television and said mama
and pointed to the t.v. and started to count in
english all the ducks on the t.v. He is saying more
words in english everyday....and now when we say "wo
ay ni" (I love you) to him in chinese, he will say it
back to us! He also will give me and nikki and annie
(at times) kisses. NO he will NOT kiss Rich...oh
well!

Annie had a rough 24 hours the other day. First she
hadn't been feeling well and then yesterday, I decide
to take Sebastian to this museum with the rest of the
travel goup while Rich stayed back at the Hotel with
the girls who weren't feeling well. No sooner had
Sebastian and I stepped on the bus, when Annie threw
up in the restaurant all over a clean table,herself
and Rich..I must say I have taught my kids well they
rarely htrow up on me, mostly they hit Rich...LOL. I
bet the poor server who first passed by Rich was
thingking, "Don't look at me, don't look at me" Then
later that evening we were taking group photos with
all the kids and Annie was running around and tripped
and fell and split her lip open,,,poor thing was
miserable. However she did end the night by getting a
light up princess crown from our china program
director...so the day did end up on a high note....you
can see her crown in the photos!

This afternoon we spend about 2 hours doing paperwork
for our Consulate appointment on thursday. We will
wait in our rooms on Wednedsay until our guide tells
us all our paperwork is in order and we are clear to
go to our swearing in ceremony on Thursday.

ON Wednesday afternoon we will celebrate Sebastian's
6th birthday with our travel group. I had been told
that the orphanage doesn't celebrate the children's
birthdays, and that must be true because if you ask
Sebastian his age he will tell you he is 5. Tomorrow
he will find out he is indeed 6! I have ordered a
chinese birthday cake, and I think you will enjoy the
photos. the chinese decorate their cakes really cool
and very differently than we do in the states.
Look for more photos tomorrow. We miss you all very
much and are very anxious to get home. It just has not
been the same without Ryan being with us. We miss him
alot. Please keep us all in your prayers, especially
Sebastian as he continues to adjust and learn to live
in a family and the outside world. We have been
Blessed by God with this little boy. He is
challenging and requires a lot of patience at times,
but once again, God has given us a gift and we are the
lucky ones.

Check in tomorrow for new photos and our last two
posts from china.
hugs to you all and thank you for joining us on this
amazing journey. it means so much to all of us that
you care enough to check in.
Much love,
michele, rich, nikki, annie, and sebastian