China 2011: With Alex
The original blog is moved and lots of photos were lost. One day I will fix this, but not today!
Gottchaday
Wonderful! Finally we are four! At the hotel and OUR children play at my feet while we are on our computers.
Sten Alexander Qiuhan Nyberg.
That’s his name. We think. Alexander… yes, it’ll be great!
Lots to say again but I want to go and cuddle and play with him now. Went to Lucy’s café tonight and he probably tried ice-cream his first time, could tell by his face.
30 seconds before we meet Alex the first time
Out of 40 children that had their gottchaday, Alexander was one of 4 by the lift when we got in to the authorites.
No good pic but it’s the first time we see him, be the lift
At the office, all of us plus the nurse
Hundred times more wonderful than I thought…
About 2 hours after we first met
Playing
Tractors and cars were popular gifts
Now kisses and cuddles then sleep and filling in lots of papers again. Tomorrow we’ll go to the authorities.
PS. You cannot comment on each blog entry as I haven’t added that function (have no idea on how to!). I would love tons of comments in our guest book however.
Date: Tuesday 22nd March 2011
Weather: 13C?, humid air
Place on earth: Guangzhou, China
Family situation: Family completed
Our son, now on paper
So nice with comments in our guest book – thank you!
Can’t get hold of You tube in China but click here and a new window will open with a film from when we got Alexander, yesterday. Such important words… “This is your boy”…
Had to get up really early this mornin to go to the authorities, same place as where we got Alexander yesterday. Had to promise that we would take care of him, educate him and not abondon him, abuse him etc. Yes of course!
Wanted to have a lay in today but no chance…
Our own “Buddha-statue” woke up about 2-3 hours last night så guess if he (and we!) were tired this morning…
Efter breakfast we went to the authorities, same driver, same guide as yesterday.
Just signed our papers with the supervision of the woman in dotted jacket. “And do you like the baby?” “Yes, very much…”
Philip, our guide in Guangzhou
Tie-guy no2 in the Nyberg family
Familypicture (one of many) at the authorities på myndigheten
After the must-dos the guide (tourist office?) had booked us in for a visit to a porcelain shop. It’s the 4th craft’s visit we’ve had! Jade, Cloisinette (?), silk and now, porclain. Well. Of course we had to shop a little…
This woman paints INSIDE the glass!
Here she writes DEVIKA in a glass
An old art from the 17thC in China
Amazing how she manages to paint so well in such small items
Another guy made beautiful paintings by using his hands and fingers only.
Young master
Alexander is not over the moon being with us but he does smile and laugh at times. Today he was crying really bad and I didn’t know how to sooth him. Until I found Teletubbies!
His sister also likes Teletubbies, convenient!
And some TV-snacks
He had a lot for breakfast but lunch and dinner was hardly anything. I let him off as he’s had a fever all day apart from when he gets some medicine.
Tried to put him on a potty but he screamed like mad… oh well. Felt a bit nervous about his first bath but there was no need.
Fun with sis
Practise walking with his chair
To be honest, his condition in his leg is worse than we thought but he is ours and we will do what we can to give him a good life. Maybe after the operation, he’ll be no different to anyone else. If not, we’ll deal with it.
Our little emperor can stand anyway so there is hope! And our princess is the best big sister to have!
Yesterday he ate Spaghetti Bolognese at Lucy´s like mad and tonight hardly nothing.
Had dinner with the Moran family today and forgot to use the camera 🙁 Took a photo of our first doggy bag when we got back. Such a good idea, it’s stupid we don’t do this in Sweden! Devika ate her portion when she got him, great!
Doggy-bag from Lucy’s
Went to Moran’s room afterwards and now I understand why she thinks the hotel is great! Their room is completely different from ours! Much spacier, fresch, neawly made. Buhu… but even if we could change now, we won’t it’s better for Alexander to stay put where we are.
PS. You cannot comment on each blog entry as I haven’t added that function (have no idea on how to!). I would love tons of comments in our guest book however.
Date: Wednesday 23rd March 2011
Weather: 20C?, humid air
Place on earth: Guangzhou, China
Family situation: Family completed
Passport & whole sale
Went to the park near Lucys today, so Devika could play with Gavin.
On the way to the park: a pre-school class, so cute! They all held a rope and were saying “hello” to me
In the park, Gavin next to Devika, unknown Chinese girl in the other swing
Alexander wasn’t really in the mood until we went to Lucy’s for some “Congee”.It’s a thing they give children here, like rice boiled really long and added with too much water. It often comes with sugar.
Congee at Lucy’s with mum
Har things to do in the afternoon to do with passports etc. Not sure exactly what we did but we got a load of more papers. After that the guide joined us to a whole sale market for children’s clothes and things and we made real bargains. When it says market, it’s normally a bigshopping centre or in this case, also in normal shops by the road. Bought t-shirts for 20RMB and jeans for 30-40RMB. Got a whole sack for the orphanage and some for our children.
More “expensive” clothes for Devika, about 200RMB
We were starving so had to go back to our island but we will definetly go back. You can’t buy everything you see unless you buy 200 pieces but there is still a lot to choose from.
Give to the cab driver if you want to go too and are visiting town
Dinner at Lucy’s again. Alex har smiled and laughed a lot in the afternoon/night. So nice… He’s been feeding me and Devika with biscuits so we are bonding, lovely!
Am getting i cold. Alexander had a fever yesterday but is better today and Devika complains about her throat. Might be the pollution and/or the humid air.
Popcorn & Teletubbies are appreciated by both
Alexander is happy about Devika
PS. You cannot comment on each blog entry as I haven’t added that function (have no idea on how to!). I would love tons of comments in our guest book however.
Date: Thursday 24th March 2011
Weather: Need wind jacket, less humid than earlier
Place on earth: Guangzhou, China
Family situation: Family completed
Free day
Lots to tell, need to sleep, here’s pics anyway from our first free day in ages, went walking through parts of town. Dinner at Holiday Inn with the Riselius family. Continuing to bond with Alexander and he develops every hour 🙂
Quinping-area (Apothequeare ? market).
More dried medical strange things.
Chicken liver (or something else from inside the chicken) that is meant to be really healthy. Didn’t buy any, suddenly felt very healthy anyway.
Nicer things, dried rose buds and other flowers.
Parking place for Santa?
Scorpions for sale. Alive.
Instead of stroller? Clever!
Cool pharmacist that sold us coughin medicine.
… and behind her, dried lizards. Etc…
Pet market.
Puppy with a jacket.
Belongs to Mickey Mouse? What’s the English word for them? In the cartoon and the kind of squirrells?
Parrot.
Just another shop assistant picking up Devika
Went for a buffet dinner at Holiday Inn. Can really recommend this! Most expensive dinner here so far, but splendid. Apx 200RMB per person and there was everything you can think of. Sushi and deserts on top of that.
Johannes loves chocolate 🙂 and the sisters love to feed him
Fontain of chocolate! Alma-Li is showing me how to do.
The kids at the fish POOL! About 10-15m long with big gold fish…
Where we were
Orphanage and finding place tomorrow… will be tough.
PS. You cannot comment on each blog entry as I haven’t added that function (have no idea on how to!). I would love tons of comments in our guest book however.
Date: Friday th March 2011
Weather: Ok. Not as humid.
Place on earth: Guangzhou, China
Family situation: Family completed
Orphanage, finding place
I was a little worried about visiting the orphanage as Devika grieved her nanny so much but we choose to go all four anyway. Wanted to be able to tell him about it all, both of us.
The orphanage seems to have it financially ok but they asked for clothes when I asked what they need. Made some good bargains at the whole sale so we were able to give them a big bag.
Pile of clothes
Alexander’s room. Forgot to ask why so many beds were empty. Some children are resting here, while listening to children songs… in English! “ABCD…”
Alexander’s bed. He got upset when we entered the room so I went straight out with him. The photo is taken a little later.
After this it was chaos. Devika in the worst mood ever so everything we filmed has a background melody of kranky… Now afterwards, we think that we should have asked Alison or Patricia to baby sit Devika during this day but now it was too late…
Anyway, Devika crying and Alexander choks on a big slippery sound candy that the doctor gave him.
Some tips on massage later and some quick glances at their activity rooms later we were out again. The kids have TV in their activity room by the way!
Devika in her best mood
Some of you from the Yahoo-group have asked for me to see if I see their children. We had the opportunity to see Sydney. She lives in another building, where “Half sky” is, so we went there.
They trow birthday party once a month for those who had their birthday that month.
Children pictures on the walls
Hopscotch in the corridor
The girl who showed us around
Nurses having lunch pointing out the direction of where Sydney sleeps
Sydney sleeps so I have to be really quiet when I get in with the camera. The parents are e-mailed better pics but they choose if the want to have her on the Internet or not. I can tell she is very cute anyway…
Not far from the orphanage Alexander was found by a hospital. Alexander and I stayed in the car and he had a banana while Patrik took some photos.
Maybe Alexander’s bio-mum walked here carrying him. Maybe she walks here every day?
The hospital is to the right, which is where he was left. Exactly where we don’t know.
We have some more pics, but we keep them for ourselves.
Today the new siblings have been fighting. He gets really angry with Devika when she wants to be close to me, he then pushes her away. Not nice but it’s fully understandable.
By the way: Read that China has opened their door for singles to adopt again! Only “special needs”but hurrey, there are so many wonderful children out there who need wonderful special parents.
Now we know about sleeping habit etc. so hopefully he will fall asleep easier now . He is just so exhausted, sitting in my lap while I’m writing. A couple of nights with not enough sleep, lots to do in the days and evenings. So many new things… can’t believe he’s awake at all. Think I’m falling for him…
Tomorrow: Safari
PS. You cannot comment on each blog entry as I haven’t added that function (have no idea on how to!). I would love tons of comments in our guest book however.
Date: day th March 2011
Weather: x
Place on earth: Guangzhou, China
Family situation: Family completed
Zoo: Chimelong
The trip to the zoo took an hour by car and we were still not outside town. Guangzhou is enormous! And we are not talking about one story buildings, there are hundereds of high rises. We also got a glimpse of the tallest buildning in the world, the TV-tower: 600 meters tall.
Once at the park we found out that it is the largest one in Asia! We had to decide which things to do, we couldn’t do them all. Spent all day there and started heading back at 5.30pm, pleased and with aching legs.
Beat my record of taking photographs, 751 in one day! Just snapped snapped snapped, all the time as you can imagine.
Here’s a bonanza of photos. I take them all with very high resolution but when I post them here I have made them smaller. It’s about 40 photos so it might take time to upload them all.
We started off with a “safari-trip” in a small train. Open sides but I saw wire, probably with electricity in them, so the dangerous animals were probably not likely to come close.
Then we moved on to Australian animals.
Albino-kangaroo
Ordinary kangaroos
Koala
As it was Saturday and busy, the guide wanted us to go to the show early.
Alex fell asleep waiting
When it was about time to start, it was nearly full. The show can be seen by 8000 people at once…
Difficult to get sharp pics through the fence
To be continued in part 2
PS. You cannot comment on each blog entry as I haven’t added that function (have no idea on how to!). I would love tons of comments in our guest book however.
Date: Saturday 26th March 2011
Weather: Nice, not humid
Place on earth: Guangzhou, China
Family situation: Family completed
Zoo: Chimelong 2
More pics from the zoo.
See but not touch
This park has lots of pandas!
“Red pandas” or “Lesser pandas”. Much livelier than the others. Never heard of these before though.
You could buy food to feed the aninals. Cool 🙂
Patrik & Devika throws bananas…
… to the elephants.
Me and Devika
White tiger with stripes…
… and without stripes.
The year of the tiger last year.
Looks scary but thankfully there is a glass wall between them!
Baby tigers
Even smaller tigers, only 40 days old.
And other small tigers.
So so so much people in China…
Bonding in the bath tub.
Apart from the bath tub, Alex and Devika aren’t bonding that well. He’s clinging on to me and wants to push her away when she comes. But in due time, it’ll come, I’m convinced.
Ok, that was some of my 700 pics…
Apropå pengar! Fick veta följande månadsinkomster i dagens Kina: Städare ca 1500kr. Guide/chaufför 4000kr (samtidigt som han sa 100 per dag så jag får inte ihop det). En bankchef kunde tjäna mycket och då var det 35,000kr.
Information… A cleaner here makes about 1500RMB/month. A guide or a driver about 4000RMB. A bank manager maybe 35,000RMB. How they make life goes round, I can’t figue out, apartments aren’t cheap and we think prizes are so and so, many same as in Sweden but of course, there are some really cheap things too.
Strange: I can read some Facebook messages but not all.
Tomorrow: Free day! Start to think of packing for Beijing on Wednesday.
PS. You cannot comment on each blog entry as I haven’t added that function (have no idea on how to!). I would love tons of comments in our guest book however.
Date: Sunday 27th March 2011
Weather: Ok, a little hazy
Place on earth: Guangzhou, China
Family situation: Family completed
Shopping
Need wet wipes so went looking for that. Ended up with bags of other things. Too…
“Mummy has been shopping THIS much”
If you are chubby like me, you prefer buying clothes for the children or shoes.
Today: Shoes
Well, some shoes for the children too, I admit.
The red ones beeps. Luckily that can be removed…
It took us an hour to make the assistant understand and find 2 pairs that were similar in two different sizes. Due to the clubfoot, we need one bigger shoe and one smaller.
This is the braise (spelling?) he needs every day
He’s quite happy about the braise
Patrik moans that it isn’t that cheap here and I agree, it’s not as cheap as I have heard it is but I can’t get shoes in Sweden for 120RMB, that I liket.
Oh yes, a jacket too. Hurrey 🙂
Not popular NorthFace but something I like anywas
Tried the Thai-restaurant tonight and bumped into Alice and family, great as always.
Alexander said “look” in Swedish for the first time. The first word was however two days ago and it was… “cheers”… embarrising truth!
Tomorrow: Free day!
PS. You cannot comment on each blog entry as I haven’t added that function (have no idea on how to!). I would love tons of comments in our guest book however.
Date: Monday 28th March 2011
Weather: Great!
Place on earth: Guangzhou, China
Family situation: Family completed
Great weather!
The sun came out finally and we didn’t need jackets today. Apart from on Alexander as the Chinese peoplel always come up and show us that we should put on more clothes on him… Hm… He had heat rashes when we got him and they are gone now…
If there weren’t photos on the safari blog, try again. Forgot uploading them yesterday…
Lovely weather, so we went shopping… Didn’t find that much, but still some…
Alexander loves shopping – honest!
Love!
To not shop til we drop, we wash some clothes “at home!
Took a walk around Shamian Island when we got back. Bumped in to Alison, Sean, Gavin and Allegra again and forgot taking pictures again. So many things to talk about I guess 🙂
Spain. I mean China.
Found some gifts in a shop and also paid 350RMB for a Samsonite suitcase. Good deal!
Went to Lucy’s again, don’t know how many times we’ve been there now…
Devika wanted to go to the playgroundn nearby so we left patrik and Alexander for some male bonding at Lucy’s.
A ston throw from Lucy’s,we have the playground
On the way there we find the typical flower for the region
No leaves on the tree, just the flowers.
Then something strange happened. The boy here gave Devika a flower.
A moment later, we meet him on the playground. Devika gives HIM a flower. He takes it and looks at us and then throws it on the ground and furiously steps on it, several times! How do I explain this to Devika!??!
No grumpy face here!
China-girl trying to talk with Devika
We enjoyed the weather so we carried on walking along the river “Pearl river”. Some pics…
Men playing Mahon.
Hig rises…
Common trees here. Did Tarzan use these?
Palma de Mallorca. No, I forgot where we were.
I like this photo
Wherever you go on Shamian Island, you see photographers…
A model changed t-shirt several times behind the blanked
Carried on walking and went inside the White Swan. Probably the nicest hotel I have ever been in to!
The restaurant with white swans
Several designer shops inside
And Jade stores
And also, the beautiful waterfall with goldfish in the “lake”
Moved on the Starbucks
“We want this, and that, and that!”
Patrik went home but I wanted to walk back in slow motion and take more snap shots.
A shop assistant caught up with me and talked for ages, very sweet girl. Met her earlier when we got a load of things.
At Victory, not like the Swan but ok. Alex sleeps…
Vid talks soothingly with a sleeping Alexander
Och jag som tänkte att det skulle bli en liten blogg idag!!!
Having some trouble with a crying Alexander, in his sleep, he doesn’t want any physical contact in his sleep, nor comfort, tough to see when he pushes our hands away…it’ll get better, I am sure.
Tomorrow: Last day in Guangzhou :-/
PS. You cannot comment on each blog entry as I haven’t added that function (have no idea on how to!). I would love tons of comments in our guest book however.
Date: Tuesday 29th March 2011
Weather: Ok, yesterday was slightly warmer but no need of jacket
Place on earth: Guangzhou, China
Family situation: Family completed
Last day in Guangzhou
After breakfast I went to the children’s room on 3F with our children (so nice to write in plural…). Patrik was here yesterday with them so Devika proudly showed the way.
3F it was
A ping-pong table. Of course.
Devika loved being there
Alexander is slowly starting to like “speeds” such as slides and when hissing him in the air. This made him terrified a week ago so we are making progress.
Went shopping some more small bits and pieces and went to pick up or “free” calligraphy at Jordan’s. Sure it’s free but once inside the shop, you want to buy lots of things. Bought a really nice present for Patrik’s birhtday which I for obvious reasons can’t show you here.
Jordon was the one who finally understood what Alexander means when he says “Ottowa” and points =”over there/I want to go there” and this makes sense
He also says “bye bye” in English and the Swedish word for daddy (very annoying that he said that before mum…).
Statues on the way to the park
Statues of 2 photgraphers
Lots of Chinese people were playing this Chinese game today in the park, it’s a springy thing with feathers that they kick.
Dinner with the Moran family
Allegra Moran, the sweetest thing!
And Gavin who loves to smile on photos 😉 at least this time!
Alison loves to shop as much as I do so it was nice to see her discoveries.
Mother and daughter
Bye, maybe see you again sometime!
Tomorrow: Flying back to Beijinjg.
PS. You cannot comment on each blog entry as I haven’t added that function (have no idea on how to!). I would love tons of comments in our guest book however.
Date: Wednesday 30th March 2011
Weather: Spring is in the air!
Place on earth: Beijing, China
Family situation: Family completed
Transfer in China
Time to leave Guangzhou but we’ll be back, that’s for sure!
Alexander likes my camera
Playing with Alexander, I take photos of what he sees and then he can watch them straight away on the camera display.
One of many high buildings in Guangzhou.
Another one, on the way to the airport.
They come in all shapes and sizes.
Devika is so popular in China, this is the staff by the café at the gate.
Feels like spring is in the air in Beijing – lovely! Really warm when we landed.
Andy – a great new guide. We will however try Beijing on our own this time but he’ll help us with the visa and take us back to the airport on the 4th.
IKEA on the way from the airport
Alexander is playing with me when I take photos. He can be a real mischief I think, Devika is always the good girl so we are not used to this. Good sign though, that means he is interested in life and how it works.
No special car seats for children here
“Daddy, if you are the king, mum the queen and I the princess… then Alexander can be Labolina” (Labolina= a girl baby ghost in a story!!)
Went to the pool at the hotel when we got back to Tangla. Devika loves it but Alexander was a bit hesitant.
We’re getting closer and closer with Alexander. Mainly me but he’s starting to be curious about Patrik and Devika too. Nice 🙂
Again: Thanks a million for posting greetings in our guest book! We read every single one and enjoy 🙂
Tomorrow: Tiamen square and the forbidden city
PS. You cannot comment on each blog entry as I haven’t added that function (have no idea on how to!). I would love tons of comments in our guest book however.
Date: Thursday 31st March 2011
Weather: Spring is in the air! Too hot to wear jackets but the Chinese had scarfs, leg warmers and hats.
Place on earth: Beijing, China
Family situation: Family completed
Forbidden city
Went to the Forbidden City today which is located in central Beijing. some buildings are from 1420. The last emperor Xuantong (Puyi) moved out 1924 and now most parts outside are open to the public.
We get disappointed very often when we do tourist things but here in China it’s been the opposite. The Wall, the Summerpalace and now the Forbidden city have all impressed us and you can’t help thinking “wow!”. Here´s pictures:
The main entrance with Mao Tsetung greeting us
A China-day who wanted his daughter to be pictured with Devika
And hugs. Thank you SAS airlines for the crown… it´s popular.
Mr Chinese having a rest
Guards
Me and Alexander in front of the main house. We think. We didn´t bother to open the tourist book we bought about the city. The book… well you can haggle on everything “Inside 100RMB, I give you for 80RMB”. We paid 20RMB.
10RMB didn´t work, he walked away on that offer
Our guide Lily told us this lion symbolizes that she protects the children as she has a child under her paw. This statue is also found at the Summer palace and copies everywhere.
Daddy Lion holds a round thing and he symbolizes richness and power, something like that.
I wanted to buy copies of these statues in Guangzhou. When I told the shop assistant that I knew what they symbolized “… mother protect the children…” she laughed and said “You have good imagination madame!”. Haha 🙂
Interesting photo I think
Then the couple wanted me to photograph them.
And then these men wanted that too 🙂
Hm. THIS is the main building, not the last one.
One negative thing is (also in the Summer palace) that you are not allowed to go inside and look. You have to fight the chinese with your elbows to take a photo of a room that isn’t lit up so the photos are no good really.
Elbow fighting the chinese
Don´t know how I managed to take this light photo
The emperor´s garden
Spring flowers
The walk came to an end, about two hours and we didn´t stop much
White magnolia?
Hutongs to the left and Forbidden city to the right
We missed stepping on Tiān’ānmén square due to strollers and misunderstanding on how to walk. This is the largest square in the world but also where thousands of students were killed in 1989 when they peacefully made protests. That caused tense relations to the rest of the world for a long time.
I´m borrowing the classic image från “NE” and they quote STUART FRANKLIN/MAGNUM PHOTOS/IBL as their source:
1989
This is as close as we got until we turned to the city, the square is behing the tree…
We have seen the whole square while passing in taxis several times though
Patrik very much wanted to go to the Pearl Market 😉 so I gave in. The Pearl Market is a large building with several floors filled with bags, shoes, jackets, t-shirts, electronic things and of course pearls.
One seller confirmed, after a long discussion about buying 7 jackets (!) that these are fake. Our guide said the opposite but then again, she wasn’t that familiar with going there as she prefers normal shops. The sellers are pushy and hard, I’d give them that! Ended up buying a Canada goose too, just like that! 350 I got that one for.
Some of the bargains. Or were they bargains?
Bumped into two Swedish ladies who work for an orphanage in China. Very interesting for us!
Found a really interesting restaurant that server “hot-pot” which is a Chinese thing. Let you more next time we are there and then we’ll also bring the camera. Next time will be with Julie and Vince who are on their way to Guangzhou to bring home their princess Sydney.
Promised Devika fries from Mc Donalds if she tasted everything at the hot pot place. She managed to squeeze in about 5 fries… She enjoyed to play there though with som chinese boys in her age. It´s so great with kids that they can play without the language issues.
Alexander spent the dinner organizing the food. On two plates and then on the floor. We always leave a war zone with him… He had no appetite as his father fed him with FIVE mini-banananas before we left. Devika had three.
Banana moment and some film watching. Alexander likes to comment everything in the film and press the keyboard. Devika gets slightly frustrated…
Last night was diffibult putting them to sleep but due to joyful things. Alexander wanted to tickle me and Devika joined him and then they started playing them too. So nice to see as they haven’t yet found each other although Devika is longing for it. Daddy then put the foot down and the fell aslepp at ten totally wiped out…
Tomorrow: Chill around the hotel and do as little as possible.
PS. You cannot comment on each blog entry as I haven’t added that function (have no idea on how to!). I would love tons of comments in our guest book however.
Date: Saturday 2nd April 2011
Weather: Spring is in the air!
Place on earth: Beijing, China
Family situation: Family completed
My worst night ever?
No pictures today, something has happened to my beloved camera. Think it’s a simple button I have pressed but don’t understand it… Have some pics in my “shitty camera” that I really regret buying, but at least it’s something. When I find the cable to upload the pics that is…
Saturday night was maybe my worst night ever. I thought Alexander would die in my arms.
It all started at 1am when I woke up by him coughing badly. We must have fallen asleep after awhile. At 2am I woke up by him shaking next to my, he had convulsions for, as far as I know and was awake, around 3-4 minutes. It was absolutely terrifying. When the cramps stopped we couldn’t contact him, he was kind of somewhere else.
To cut a long story short. It was very likely fibre…… and not an epileptic fit as I was convinced of at first. This can apparently happen to children under 5 years old and it happens when the temperture is rising quickly.
Our guide took us (for free, God bless him) to a hospital with western doctors and the doctor confirmed the above. We got some medicine to help him breathe but it was only a normal cold + bronchitas. It’s the virus that causes the fit.
We went into the clinic for 45 minutes but me and Alexander were gone for 3 hours. The traffic in Beijing is a nightmare and it doesn’t seem to matter if it’s rush hour or normal hour. Alexander was very good in the car however, he talks a lot in cantonese. I wonder what he says!
Back home we hade some McDonald’s – again and fell asleep quickly.
PS. You cannot comment on each blog entry as I haven’t added that function (have no idea on how to!). I would love tons of comments in our guest book however.
Date: Sunday 3rd April 2011
Weather: Spring is in the air!
Place on earth: Beijing, China
Family situation: Family completed
The last full day in China
Alexander seems fine and he is coughing a lot less now. He is really charmy when he wants too…
Patrik can’t get enough of shopping 🙂 so we went to Silk Street market and, as usual, came back with tons of bags. We have (I think!) now realized how to do with the haggling. They say a prize, you bring it down to 1/5. In between that, they say “You are killing me” and that my offer won’t give them any business and that I should consider that they are selling good quality. If the don’t give in, walk away. They will run after you and then you know that you are close to a deal and don’t give in. Maybe 3 times, they haven’t come after us and then we knew we said too price and could agree on a little higher price in the next stall with similar products.
Fun but tireing shopping in Beijing!
Devika: “Mum, why do all these people want to sell you clothes? You already have clothes?”.
In the evening we finally got to meet with Julie and Vince who are bringing home their Sydney next week. Julie and I got in contact over the Internet some weeks (months?) ago. We went to eat at the Hot-Pot place we went to the other night and it seemed like they thought it was ok. At least it’s typical Chinese and an experience.
Our kids were, naturally, exhausted and now they are fast asleep. I can’t wait to get home and get into everyday routines. I feel sorry for Devika who really needs routines to stay in a good mood and these past three weeks have been nothing but routines. And also the big change of having a brother and having to share her mum and dad…
I will add pics to this post as soon as I am home and find the cable to upload photos.
PS. You cannot comment on each blog entry as I haven’t added that function (have no idea on how to!). I would love tons of comments in our guest book however.
Date: Friday 1 April 2011
Weather: Cold! Not at all like yesterday! Some rain ande 14C
Place on earth: Beijing, China
Family situation: Family completed
Bye bye China!
Three weeks have passed. We are so glad (of course to bring home Alexander) to have gotten to know this part of the world a little more. We are very positive to our experiences and are looking forward to go back when Alexander is a little older. The only negative thing has been the cabs who refuse to stop for us! We have heard many explanations but what we believe in most is that they simply are afraid of foreigners.
Hopefully I will blog with some photos later on this week but today we´re leaving the hotel at 11, Beijing ground around 2 pm. Land in Cophenhagen, change flights to Stockholm, change flights again to Luleå, Kallax where we live. We will land at midnight local time but for us it will feel like we land at 6 am so hey jet lag, here we go again.
Thank you all of you who are following us, I will blog a few more days, every day, to let you know how things are and they I’ll continue my normal blog, which is writing very irregular.
PS. You cannot comment on each blog entry as I haven’t added that function (have no idea on how to!). I would love tons of comments in our guest book however.
Date: Tuesday 5 April 2011
Weather: Cold! Not at all like yesterday! Some rain ande 14C
Place on earth: Kallax, Luleå, Sweden, Earth, Universe
Family situation: Family completed
Life is WONDERFUL!
Hello from Kallax and the webcam!
My beloved Canon 550D is ill. I have to take it back to the shop… Have taken 3530 pictures in a month. Maybe it needs some TLC? The pics from now are taken with my webcam, shitty-Beijing-camera or lousy mobile phone camera.
The third washing machine are working its way round. Patrik, Devika and Alexander are having a nap. We have unpacked about half our bags. OMG how much it is! Had to buy 3 big bags/suitecases to bring everything home.
Alexander is getting better and better, he only coughs a few times a day. After my post about the fever, many have told me that they have children who also have had that fever-convulsion-thing.
“Look!” Webcam on the plane home
Alexander has developed a lot in our 2 weeks together. At the beginning he didn’t dare to touch the light switch, now he is a charming mischief who explores the world continuously. Fantastic to see!
He keeps babbling in his own language, Cantonese, and has not said more words in Swedish than “mum”, “dad”, “look” and “cheers” (!). It will come, I know.
Got a bit moved a couple of times during the trip home. Walked in corridors and escalators where we had walked just a few weeks earlier without him, now we were bringing him home!
He quickly found himself at ease at our home. Either he notice on us that we are so relaxed or he is the coolest guy in the world. He can stay in one room playing and don’t worry when we walk away. When he feels he is done, he comes out, not always looking for us. The only thing he doesn’t like is when I go out, we have our freezer in the garage so there have been some tears over my walks there.
The siblings haven’t really found each other yet but one step at the time. This morning I nearly cried when I saw them cheering in tea, laughing and looking at each other. I’m so happy…
Webcam on the plane home
I have plenty to catch up on as I couldn’t read some blogs and Facebook in China. But we’ll see when I get the time, tons to wash, unpack, errands to run and kids to cuddle.
One day I’ll proof read the blog. I can see loads of mistakes and strange sentences but at least I have written my memories down. It was hard many nights as I was exhausted but I’m so glad I did!
Webcam on the plane home
The scale shows only 1kg plus (apx 2lb)! Thought it would be worse as I don’t normally eat much carbs and these three weeks I’ve been stuffing myself with bread, rice, sugar and all the carbs I can find.
We took a short walk around the village so Alex could see where he lives. The pics are taken at Devika’s “day-mum” who lives close to us. It’s like a kindergarten but only one childminder which we call “day-mum” in Sweden. She is wonderful! She has read our blog to the other children everyday and showed them on a globe where we are. Can’t publish photos of the other kids as I would need written permission from their parents.
Devika with Barbro (her childminder)
Alex in the twin-stroller
Devika wants to be tall
Alexander now laughs when being hissed into the air
PS. You cannot comment on each blog entry as I haven’t added that function (have no idea on how to!). I would love tons of comments in our guest book however.
Date: Wednesday 6 April 2011
Weather: Ok spring weater for being in this part of the world. Snow.
Place on earth: Kallax, Luleå, Sweden, Earth, Universe
Family situation: Family completed
Running errands
Confusing with jet lag. Thought I was back to normality as I hardly slept on the plane but oh no, woke up at 4 am today and am, of course, now dead tired. The children seem to have adjusted surprisingly quick however, although Devika is extremely touchy still.
Practising eating on his own
Today we had to go to the tax office which is where you register an adoption. Alexander will then get the “personal numbers” that you need everywhere in Swedish society. The woman who dealt with our errand was kind enough to come out to the car to see Alexander as he was fast asleep there. Talk about service!
Next trip: Four similar passports
Later that day, I handed in the camera to see what is wrong with it, cannot wait to get it back… now I use my video camera and mobile phone to get the pictures and they are no good quality whatsoever. Must check eBay and buy a simple pocket camera.
Devika has slept between us ever since she finished having the bottle before sleep. We have discussed a lot about that and what to do when Alexander comes, it must be an end to this. A very sad girl fell asleep the first night, beside her brother in the old sofa bed that we made into a child–bed. She slept there all night! We‘ll see how it goes with co-sleeping between them though. Alexander moves like mad in the bed, they might need separate beds but we try a little while longer.
Alexander hates having a cover/duvet.
PS. You cannot comment on each blog entry as I haven’t added that function (have no idea on how to!). I would love tons of comments in our guest book however.
Date: Thursday 7 April 2011
Weather: Around 0C
Place on earth: Kallax, Luleå, Sweden, Earth, Universe
Family situation: Family completed
Family
Patrik went to work today so I have been on my own with the kids. Now they are watching Teletubbies but earlier all day, they haven’t stopped! Children take time … Breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, dinner and in between wiping up food that ends up everywhere in the kitchen and at least on one of the children.
The thing that takes up most of my time mentally is that Devika and I are arguing so much. I feel completely exhausted by this, more than by the jet-lag I think. Alexander is like a ray of sunshine, and I would really like to be able to enjoy it more but most of the time now is spent on fighting with Devika and then discussing with her what happened. Often, she replies that she does not know why she whines or gets angry. I understand that it is about getting a new brother, that we may not totally be back in the routine and possibly even the terrible three. Or I hope it is and not something else, it‘s just against me she breaks down and have a tantrum, on the trip she also did this to Patrik. Before the journey his happened 2 days out of 3 but now, two or three times a day. Sigh.
And right now she was just wonderful … I told Alexander “no” to resist the power outlet and so she ran to fetch a toy to distract him, just as I told her earlier on.
The life of a mother of two.
Alexander is real ly happy and pleased with life! He can get angry, sad, disappointed and shows that , but after a half minute or so, he is fine and he plays on.
He finds all sorts of things to help him walking. Seeing a doctor initially next Friday.
Likes the Christmas gift he got yesterday.
PS. You cannot comment on each blog entry as I haven’t added that function (have no idea on how to!). I would love tons of comments in our guest book however.
Date: Friday 8th April 2011
Weather: Around 0C, snow.
Place on earth: Kallax, Luleå, Sweden, Earth, Universe
Family situation: Family completed
Bye bye blog!
Friday. We’ve had tacos, the popular “Swedish” food from Mexico/Texas. Swerved to my Chinese son and Indian daughter, by me who is half Finish and to the children’s father who is as Swedish as you can be. This is how my wonderful, strange and at the same time, ordinary family looks like.
From the book “Syster och bror liten och stor” Rabén & Sjögren. Freely translated by me:
Silk and seashells
A silk ribbon from anohter country
Beautiful seashells from another beach
They are my treasure
Because
I was not born here
I was born there
But here was my bed placed
Here I could find my pyjama
Here you were, who wanted to give me a hug
I became your sister
You became my brother
From another beach
In another country
Here were my shoes
Do you know what I think?
Between our beaches
In our countries
Waves are rolling and carrying
Small seashells like this one
(It rhymes in Swedish but this is a quick translation so can’t get the rhyming)
Our lives will continue even though I will take less notes. I am so happy I have taken the time (nearly) every night to write down some of our happenings but now my time will be devoted to washing, ironing, cooking, cleaning and L I V I N G. I will post entries irregulary on http://pianyberg.blogspot.com/ but it will be in Swedish so Google translate might be your friend unless you are taking a Swedish course 🙂 I have my status on Facebook in English in respect of you all my non-Swedish speaking friends and family.
The entries in my blog are not the complete truth our real thing, the photos doesn’t show the complete truth, it’s what I have chosen to tell you and show you. Just like all other blogs. If it seems like a fairy tale then it is. Parts anyway. Parts are tough and sad, mainly for Devika who has trouble finding her new role in the family, she didn’t choose this, she didn’t understand fully what it would mean to her. It’s also tough to not have known Alexander since his day one. We don’t always understand why he is sad or frustrated or happy. But, this is family we grown ups have chosen to have and it’ll be fine, one day soon.
Our lives will continue in a new way, different from what we have gotten used to in the past six years. We are now four members, with different needs but we are now also free to plan our lives! Now we don’t need to think that maybe we can do this and that or maybe we get notice of child then, maybe we are travelling then, or maybe not. Our most important project in life has come to an end. Do we need another goal or will daily life take all the energy so we won’t notice? Our family is complete and only lacks a rabbit or two, or maybe a fish tank, hamster or a cat…?
I’ve added some more photos now, on the following dates:
- 2/4
- 3/4
- 4/4
- 5/4
- 6/4
- 7/4
The counter says 2201
visits since I first launched the site the 13th March2011. Again, THANK you for all the comments we have had in person, through the guest book, facebook or e-mail. We appriciate every single one! If Alexander knew how, he’d also say thank you for the flowers and gifts, it will be nice telling him all this when he is older so he understands he was welcome from the beginning.
22 mars på Adoptionskontoret i Guangzhou
PS. You cannot comment on each blog entry as I haven’t added that function (have no idea on how to!). I would love tons of comments in our guest book however.