Chen Temple and Tea House

Yesterday, we went to the Chen Temple in Guangzhou. It is really a
museum and has a lot of wood carvings and gardens. The people of
Guangdong Province ( where Maggie is from) are known for their wood
carving and embroidary skills. We also saw some venders selling real
Tiger paws. I am not sure what you would do with them - but they were
very interesting. We did buy some almonds and raisens from a street
vender and they were yummy, especially with a coke !
Next, we went to a tea house and they taught us all how to make
traditional Chinese Tea. My favorite was the rose tea. Some of the
families decided to go out to eat last night and we went to a
Malaysian Restaurant. It was wonderful ! We were all so happy with
what we ordered. My favorite was Coconut rice and Vietnamese spring
rolls. Maggie did so good yesterday. She was so content all day and
just played happily in her high chair at the restaurant. Once we got
to the hotel she went right to sleep ( after her bottle). We've
noticed that she is NOT that happy in the morning and takes a good nap
after breakfast. After her nap though, she is much happier and
content.
The cute little boy pushing Maggie in her stroller is Rhet. He is so
busy and loves to push Maggie's stroller.

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Still in China !

We went to Shamian Island yesterday for the day. The weather was
beautiful and sunny, and a perfect day to stroll around the island.
There are some beautiful gardens near the water and it's so nice to
see trees and flowers.
The island is just about 20 minutes from our hotel, and it's very
relaxed. There are many little shops there with everything from Jade
to chop sticks. Chuck had a fun time bargaining with the local shop
owners. The Chinese shop owners expect you to bargain with them and
it's kind of the norm on the island. We ate lunch at Lucy's again.
Chuck got a hamburger and I got a BLT. Two other families ate their
too and I felt like we were actually on a vaction in Florida not in
China. Maggie loves to shop and is so content strolling around in her
stroller. She doesn't fuss a lot and likes to be outside. We saw
some cats in the garden and she loved watching them !
She is still getting used to us and we are starting to see her
personality. Maggie is very laid back and sweet. She loves to cuddle
up with a little stuffed animal bear and give it kisses. Her other
favorite toy is the little pink duckie I brought. She is not a fussy
baby, and goes to sleep so good for us.
She has made many friends here and loves Violet - her friend on the red couch.
We are so blessed to be here with Maggie and focus on her right now.
But, we are so, so, so ready to come home and get back to life. Beam
me up scottie !!!

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Shamian Island Fun !

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The Red Couch

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Medical Exam

Maggie had her offiial medical exam today. She weighs 20 lbs and has
gained all her weight back from her hunger strike. Everything went
great at the exam except that she had to get six vaccines ! The USA
has strict regulations on the babies getting vaccines before they go
home. We were really shocked that Maggier needed six because her
immunization recored looked caught up. Oh well. We gave her motrin
today and she seems to be doing great.
We ate at Lucey's again today. Yummy American food.
Maggie is doing so good. We saw lots of smiles today again and she
loves stuffed animals ! I was really surprised to see that she loves a
little stuffed bear. She kisses it and laughes when she sees it. So
cute !!!!

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Happy Baby !!!

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Lots of Smiles and Lots of Shoes !

Maggie gave us bunches and bunches of smiles and laughter today. She
really opened up. Her favorite thing to do is grab my finger and pull
her self up to a standing postion. She thinks it is a game and we
love to play it with her - over and over. Chuck can really get her
laughing too by tickling her tummy. Maggie loves her daddy so much !
We had a great time on the island today walking around and visiting
the shops. I got Maggie just a couple of shoes - he he !! They are
all different sizes and were so cheap. It was really fun ! We also
ate at Lucy's and it was so yummy. The island is beautiful and reminds
me of Chrarleston. We saw a lot of beautiful Chinese brides getting
their picture made in front of the big trees and iron gates.
We met up with the other families tonight and celebrated New Years Day
with a Cantonese dinner. We also celebrated Ava's, a sweet little
girl in our group, first birthday tonight. Please pray for one of the
families here. The husband had to fly home Wed. and immediatly went
to surgery. It has ben difficult for the wife, Amy, to be here with
her new son and not know how her husband is doing. We are beleiving
with her that her husband will be doing better soon and that she can
get home quickly.

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Maggie Beams Video 1

The first few days with Maggie...

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Happy New Year fom China

It is already 2010 here in China ! We finally got out of our hotel
room last night and walked around town. They still have Christmas
trees up here.
We saw a lot of very expensive clothing shops and interesting restaurants.
So far, we have eaten at KFC, Pizza Hut and McDonalds because of
Maggie not feeling good. To say we have cabin fever is an
understatement !!
So, we are going to Shamaian Island today and getting Maggie a little
stroller ( She gets heavy in the carrier).
Here are some things we are so thankful for :
- Our beautiful Daughter. We have told her about a gazillion million
times how much we love her. Chuck and I are so amazed at her and
thankful God chose US to be her parents. I can not imagine our life
without her and she has us wrapped around her finger !
- We finally had Starbucks cofee this morning and a Blueberry muffin.
Finally !!!
- Maggie is really playing with her toys and starting to look at us
more and more. She crawled to me when I moved away from her today. I
got it all on video.
- Maggie has a full, round tummy and chunky cheeks again. We are so thankful !
- Chuck and I are sleeping so good - the best sleep we have had in a
LONG time. Maggie is also sleeping so good. No problem in the sleep
area here.
- All the other families arrive today. We are ready for some socialization !
- We have been able to talk to Walker and Will and family/friends
using our Magic Jack. I highly recommend getting a magic Jack if you
are going to China or use long distance a lot. We love Magic Jack..
Buy one today.
- We fly home in 8 days ( and counting !).
Love to all !!!

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Test Video from Chuck

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Maggie's First Bottle !

Another praise ! We finally received the package from Maggie's
Orphanage with her bottle,formula and cereal. Chuck quickly made her
a bottle and she started guzzling it down. It took her about one
minute to drink almost all her bottle. She is a different girl now -
very alert and playing so good !

We are amazed at the many miracles we are seeing here ! Her tummy is
so full and big now too. She played for a while and even started
looking at us in the eye. This is a big change. The past couple of
days, Maggie has been so lethargic and didn't want anything to do with
us. She is taking a nap now, and I think she is having happy dreams
of a beautiful bottle !!!

Thank you all for your prayers and encouragement ! We love you.

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Update

Praise the Lord !  We were able to give Maggie about 250 mls of the glucose solution today.  She even stopped fighting with us and allowed Chuck to give her the syringe.  Maggie started actually pulling the syringe into her mouth and guzzling the solution !  We tried to sneak a bottle in, but she threw it up.  The orphanage director is sending a package with her bottle, formula and rice cereal and we should get it tonight or tomorrow.  We are praying she will take her bottle then and she will start to feel better soon.

Our guide - Winsi - is the one that called Maggie's orphanage and requested help.  The Director of the Orphanage called today concerned about her and wanted to see how she was doing.  I am so grateful for everyone that has helped us.  Especially the UAB International Adoption Clinic  (Dr. Chambers and Leigh Ann).  Dr. Chambers said that she has never seen an Orphanage  help out this much. We are making progress but still have a weak and sick baby.  Please continue to pray for us and Maggie.

Update

This has been a really hard time for us. We are so blessed with
Maggie and love her so much, but she is grieving hard.
Our guide called the Orphanage director several times to make sure
we are making her bottles correctly. He is FEDEX-ing us her bottle,
formula and cereal. AMAZING ! We feel so blessed that they are
helping us. The package should be here either tonight or in the
morning. This is God's favor on us !
We talked to Dr. Chamber's ( thanks's to Kim Porter and Leigh Ann)
and she suggested we take Maggie to a Western MD here and have her
checked out. The MD at the Western Clinic said her mouth looked fine
and she was healthy ( no fever). He gave us some vitamins and glucose
solution and we will have to force feed her with a syringe. She does
not want anything near her mouth and is a strong fighter !! We did
get about 30 ml of broth in her this morning using a syringe and
fought her all the way. She is exhausted and weak. Thank you for all
the prayers and encouraging e-mails.
We love you all !

Thank you all so much and keep praying !

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One more thing....

We met these two sweet ladies when we walked in the Adoption Center.
The one sitting on the couch with me is from Anniston, Alabama and an
Auburn fan. It was neat to hear War Eagle in China ( 7000 miles from
home).

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More pictures !

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She's grieving.

Today has been a little tough. Maggie is realy grieving and she hasn't
eaten in over 24 hours. When we try to give her a bottle, she gets
mad and clamps her mouth shut. We know this is very common when
children are grieving, but it is still hard to watch her cry and know
she won't eat. We are trying everything, and know eventually she will
take her bottle and eat. Right now, it is the only thing she can
control and she is letting us know that she is not happy. Please pray
that she will start eating and that we will have patience.
Maggie is sleeping very good and slept al through the night. I've even
been able to sooth her and let her sleep on me for a while. She is so
smart and is starting to copy a few things. We've seen a couple of
smiles today and she loves playing with her toys and Chuck's watch.
The boys saw Maggie today for the first time on Google video chat and
they were so happy and talked to her. She had no clue what was going
on, but it was wonderful to talk to the boys and see them this
morning. I miss them so much !
Walker and Will : Mommy and Daddy are so proud of you and love you so
much. I hope you are having a GREAT day and we will be home soon.

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