A free day in Hefei

Today was our first real free day since we arrived in China. We had no appointments, no tours and no paperwork. I did receive Fu Mei's Chinese passport today though. She is free to fly to Guangzhou with us tomorrow afternoon.

And I would like to report that I slept in finally! I still woke up at 4:04am as I have since we got here but I was able to get back to sleep this time! I could not believe it when I saw the clock at 7:45a this morning...ahhh!!

Last night, we had a great conversation with Al via Skype. Fu Mei was in rare form and repeating everything we were saying plus some! Al thoroughly enjoyed his conversation with her. He was able to ask her questions and tell her what to say; I know it felt like his first real connection to her. We told him about the "You fart" in Chinese; he could not believe it. I think it endeared her to him. She even said it for him. Oh and I even got to "talk" to Philly! Al put the headphones up to her ears and I spoke to her in my mic. Al said her ears perked straight up, she tilted her head and looked at him! Insert "awwwwww!" here.

So after slowly rousing this morning and another wonderful breakfast, we decided to venture out on our own to the shopping area nearby. We went there the first day to buy supplies but we had Michelle with us. This time, just the families went. I stopped in 2 children's clothing stores and bought Fu Mei her first pair of shoes!! And a clean outfit that fits her! The pants I have for her here are too big. I think the cooler clothes I have for her to use in Guangzhou will fit better but she looks like a rag-a-muffin in all the mismatched, too large clothes she has been wearing. We don't care tho, she looks like a million dollars to us!!!

The kids are having a blast..they know and like all the other families and their children. There is another 12 year old boy and a sweet 6 year old girl (besides all the newly adopted babies). Such wonderful people. I am honored to share this adventure with them and we are all planning a reunion in Hilton Head.

Since we leave tomorrow for Guangzhou, we wanted to see if there was anything we forgot to do this week in Hefei. We heard about the awesome massages at our hotel's salon even before we got here, so Tricia talked me into getting a massage. 38 Yuan for 30 minutes which equates to about $7. I've never had one before, heck I only a few years ago allowed a stranger to touch my feet for a pedicure (I am now completely over that phobia)!!!! We let the kids babysit Fu Mei if you can believe that! Tricia said it's the second kid syndrome kicking in already! Whatever! We were just downstairs. We arrive at the salon, and I chose the Head Massage and Tricia chose the Shoulder massage. We were taken to one room with 2 beds and asked to wait a minute (although we did not know that is what they said). Soon a beautiful woman comes in and motions for who is getting the Head Massage? My arm slowly goes up! I am hardly able to believe I am even in China, let alone getting a massage from someone who doesn't even speak English! But what the heck, I am going for it! So she begins with my face, oh man, it is feeling so nice! Hey, this is ok, not too uncomfortable and sorta downright feels good. I start to relax. A man walks in without knocking (see, that is why I could never get a body massage) and brings in water that I would not touch in a million years. Another woman walks in to tell Tricia that she has to wait but shows her that the TV can be turned on. We kinda giggle at that hoping against hope that General Hospital will be on. Chinese television leaves alot to be desired; in fact, it has only been on once since we have been here. But the woman tells Tricia in English, "[Channel] One, H-B-O!" That brings more giggles. So I am starting to enjoy my first massage and in walks Tricia's masseuse. She begins to rub Tricia's shoulders and I ask how it feels and she says it feels nice. Then I start to hear some tapping, then some heavy hitting and then some pounding!!! I'm like, is that what she is supposed to be doing? I ask Tricia but when she responds, it is with garbled words cause the pounding is making it sound like you are driving on the edge of the highway where the ripples are!! I am really laughing so hard on the inside but so relaxed now that I can't move to save my sister from torture. Lordy, it is making me laugh all over again! My massage keeps getting better and better and I am in heaven. Tricia on the other hand is being beaten now and is probably bleeding and bruised but I don't care and can't get up anyway! After I was done, I sat up and laid back to rest while they continued to beat up my sister. As her massage was ending, the masseuse gave her one last giant hit on the middle of the back with an "ok?" question. Tricia says yes, sure! She leaves and I ask if she is ok and she falls on the bed saying, "Noooooooooooo, I am not!" I can't even type this without getting tickled again. We are both dissolved in laughter and I look at her back and it is beet red and about 180 degrees! I doubt she will be sleeping on her back tonight! We will never forget that one!

When we return to the room, Julee has Fu Mei in her stroller in the room in a time out! It appears that Fu Mei did not like it when Julee told her she was not allowed to throw the Barrel O'Monkeys around the room anymore for the millionth time! So Fu Mei was pouting! Big time! Arms crossed, bottom lip sticking out. Man, she is something else. Julee said she had had enough and could she go to the other room for a break! Sounds like sisters to me!

We had our 5th meal at Noodles and Chopsticks and celebrated our last night in Fu Mei's province. I have to admit, I am sad and pensive about leaving tomorrow. It feels strange to be taking her away from the only home she has ever known. I don't know if she will ever be back here again. I have loved every minute here because it is her land, but I can not wait to get one step closer to coming home with our wonderful new daughter! She has a daddy to meet, two grandmas, some very anxious cousins and a very missed dog! Plus alot of friends and family who love her simply because she is ours!

Wish us luck on her first flight.......