Maddox

Today was a day we will never forget. I can't completely relay the emotions we have been through. The morning started with our getting up at 4:30am to catch an early flight to Taiyuan, the provincial capital of Shanxi. We were tired when we arrived but immediately had to go about the things of changing money and getting our room in order for Maddox. We had our last meal as just the two of us in the hotel restaurant, all the time having no idea what to expect. I started having nasal drainage and muscle aches and believe I caught some respiratory virus (probably related to my excessive sweating and freezing at the same time while climbing the Great Wall). So, I was doubly tired. Stephanie took charge and packed everything we thought we might need in a little backpack and we were swept off to the government building where we would meet our son. We were taken up a small elevator and into a room. The door was opened to us somewhat dramatically, and, to be quite honest, we weren't sure Maddox wouldn't be sitting in that very room waiting for us. He wasn't there yet, but we met another nice couple from Louisiana who were there also adopting a son from Datong. We found out that Maddox's car trip had been delayed because of snow in Datong. That reminds me to say that it has been very cold here and much more so here in Taiyuan than Beijing (there was snow on the ground here when we arrived). Not that we can boast the huge amounts the southern US has apparently gotten there recently. The people in this province are used to it, and today was an average day for them while we were bundled to the hilt.




We sat in that room waiting for close to an hour and made nervous chatter with the other couple. Actually, they were amazing folks and really engaged us - it took all of our minds off the anxiety of the moment. Then, suddenly, the door opened and 3 women walked in, one carrying Maddox in her arms. They walked over to us. Stephanie took him in her arms and he immediately started crying. She soothed him and whispered to him and we rushed around to get juice and Cheerios which REALLY went over well! His skin was very dry and his lip was bleeding where it had been chapped. He was very thin with a pot belly and his hair was thin. He was absolutely precious, though, and even with the sad, scared look in his eyes, we thought he was the most beautiful thing we had ever seen. He had an upper respiratory infection, which likely was not helping him feel too well overall. He had clear nasal discharge and a pretty coarse cough. Stephanie was kicking herself for not bringing her otoscope and kept saying "if he has fever he has bought himself some Suprax!" We didn't end up starting him on that but did find out that he had been in the orphanage hospital the week before, poor thing.




Food was the way to his heart and we used it as much as we could. They led us to a formal portrait setup that was "conveniently" located in the same building which we honestly wished we hadn't even been offered. Maddox wasn't up for smiling for that, so we gave it our best shot and then left. We went to a HUGE multilevel shopping center that made Wal Mart look like a 7-11 and bought lots of stuff to have in hotel for him (drinks, more snacks, diapers, etc.) He is potty trained, so we actually bought a little potty for him to try to use here. He was entertained in the shopping center and stayed quiet the whole time. He was so attached to Stephanie that he wouldn't even think about letting her put him down for an instant.




Being back in the quiet hotel was just what we needed. We settled down and Maddox started opening up. He played with us, throwing pieces of candy on the floor and chasing after them. He even cracked a smile one or two times. His walking is fair but certainly delayed, Stephanie suspects around par for a 12-14 month old or so. He does pinch Cheerios and holds and drinks from a sippy cup. We had noodles in our room for dinner which was fun (but messy) and then bath (with lots of lotion after) and bed. He lay right down and is in a crib with one side down that adjoins Stephanie's twin bed. He is snoozing now, so cute. We are truly blessed. JP