Sickies

Wow - what a month. We went to Singapore thinking thinking we would get to enjoy the beach and pool and cleanness of that country, but instead we struggled through one sickness after another. Arggg. Day 3 Gracie came down with fever to accompany her cough so that kept us from going to church as a family the first Sunday we were there. Day 5, I started coughing, much worse than Gracie even, but thankfully didn't have a fever. While at the doctor I was given the other normal tests and found out I had a UTI... then the blood tests returned to show that my cough was due to pneumonia, so I ended up on 2 different antibiotics - yuck, especially while prego. Day 8 Matt got a stomach virus that kept him in the bed for the better part of 7 days... which meant we lost a lot of time and I got no rest. Gracie was not very cooperative being stuck in a new place, still getting over being sick, and not being able to play with Daddy. Finally by the 3rd week we were all on the mend and all seemed to be well. Except for my rapid heartbeat... also known as tachycardia. Going back to the doctor it was determined that I have gestational diabetes. Great! Exactly what I wanted... so no more sweets for me.

So this is the depressing blog... let me get to the good stuff!

And they lived happily ever after...

Dora finally came back to China for her Chinese wedding ceremony. We were so happy to see her, especially Gracie! I think Dora was happy to see Gracie too!

A Chinese wedding is quite different than what we have in the West, fortunately for Dora she got the best of both. She was married in Australia back in January with the full deal. Church wedding, Christian ceremony, big dinner reception, the whole package... Here in China it was a little different for her than it is for most Chinese girls, mainly because she married a foreigner. He didn't do all the customary things because he is not Chinese.

Usually the bride will get ready at her home and the groom will come with his entourage to pick her up, which entails him begging to be let into the house, many red enveloped being slipped through a crack in the door and a lot of jubilant noise. Once he has his bride he'll take her away on a ride through the city, usually with a long train of cars following each decorated with some flowers or double happiness stickers or balloons. Of course the bridal car is done up the most.

We did do the ride through the city, and everyone knew we were coming. They even had a truck with men hanging out the back lighting strands of firecrackers every 100 yards or so... it was a loud experience. Actually, I think Dora's parents set off more firecrackers than I have ever seen or heard at a wedding or any other event. They began when Mathew took her down the steps and into the courtyard at her parents home. He carried her all the way to the car and then we followed after when the firecrackers were done popping.

After the ride we went to the hotel where we were staying and checked in - Dora had to change into the traditional wedding clothes, which are usually red, but she opted for a more colorful and I must say more beautiful dress. Then it was off to the big dinner.

The dinner was actually good - I know I said in an earlier post that wedding day food is usually strange and pretty much inedible for a 'lao wai' like me. But being in a small town and going to more normal type of restaurant we got more normal food. Lots of tofu dishes, peppers, peanuts, then the pork, pork fat, chicken, and cucumbers. Other than the swine, I ate plenty.

After the dinner we went back for naps at the hotel, then had dinner with all of Dora's family back at her parents' place. Gracie learned to kill mosquitoes and had a very good time doing it. She bonded quickly with the children of Dora's cousins and even cried when it was time for her new gege (big bro) to go home.

The next morning we were back at the house for breakfast and more firecrackers. It was a nice trip and we really enjoyed being with Dora and her family. We also got the chance to get to know her husband, also named Mathew, a lot better. He is such a nice guy and I am so happy for Dora. She is doing well - living in Australia, working as a Chinese traditional medical doctor alongside her hubby, and missing Chinese food!

Dora and Mathew came back home with us and spent the rest of the day and night before going to Yunnan Province for a honeymoon. We shopped and ate yummy food and repacked their bags before they left. It was over too fast and I have gone back to missing my best friend. Wow! Congrats Mathew and Dora! I love you guys!

Hong Kong Revisited

Well enough has happened this week to produce a blog everyday, unfortunately I have been sick with the flu so I'll make it one blog and see what I can remember.

We got here the day after Christmas - me, Matt, Gracie and Matt's mom (Mackie). I have had some medical problems, mainly just some unidentified aches and pains, that need checking out, so that was the reason for our trip. Mackie was happy to finally get to Hong Kong so we thought we would enjoy the sights for her benefit. We did have several days of fun together. We went to the Peak and rode the ferry around the harbor. We ate at a few good places and they shopped while I went to a couple appointments. But then on Saturday I woke up with the dreaded flu. Before that day was out I had run a 102 fever, thrown up violently, and moaned my way to the doctor and back wondering if I could really make it. That's where my fun ended, so I'll tell you the dilema of the day.

Mackie is supposed to fly out of Beijing tomorrow morning, which means she'll need to get there tonight and stay in an airport hotel. We had this part all planned out before we got stuck in Hong Kong. With me being sick, Matt had at first decided to take Gracie and return with his mom to our home to retrieve her luggage then get her off to Beijing. I wasn't too happy about being left in HK alone, although I'm not literally alone since we know people here. But the worst of my bug was over so that was the plan, then Gracie woke up in the middle of the night with an earache. She screamed a long time and after 4-5 days of not holding her I finally took her in my arms which was the only thing that soothed her. This morning Matt took her over to a neighboring physician who checked her ears and said they were indeed red along with her throat and that we (meaning she) should not travel for a few more days. So, Mackie in on her own. Not kosher - I know, but I am not well enough to take care of Gracie and she can't fly... so what is there to do?

This was not the first of the issues. Matt and his mom spent several hours at the travel agent on the 31st trying to figure out what to do. We realized too late we had come on an unexpected trip to HK and Mackie would need a visa to get back into Beijing to get home. After a bunch of ideas they finally decided she was just going to have to stay for a few more days and pay the penalty to chance her ticket, go get another visa, and go home later. But then we discovered that she has a multi-entry visa... amazing! I have no idea why she has that kind of visa, but she does, so PTL! So it is back to plan A - Matt and Gracie to take her... but then Gracie gets sick. So off they went this morning to get a ticket for Mackie. Yesterday they were all closed for New Year! Problem! The latest flight out of our city to Beijing is 8, the first flight Mackie can make to our city doesn't arrive until 6:30 - so she doesn't have time to get from the airport to our house, pack her stuff, and get back to the airport for her flight. Then back to plan C - change the original flight - but they said there were no seats available until January 18! Finally we decided to do this...

I called our sweet nanny and friend - Fan Jie Mei, and asked her to go to our house, pack up Mackie's things and take them to the airport. Our friendly driver was asked to buy her a ticket to Beijing, pick up the nanny and meet Mackie too to give her the ticket. Just in case, my friend Lizzy agreed to go to out house too and help gather up all Mackie's stuff while I talk to her on the phone. She speaks English - PTL! So, Matt and Gracie are at this moment getting on a bus with Mackie to take her back to Shen Zhen, just over the border, so she can catch a flight back to our city. We are counting on the Lord to bring this plan together - it is pretty insane.

Me, I'm lounging on the couch trying not to spread too many germs. Gracie and I both have appointments tomorrow and hopefully we will finally get to go home ourselves in a few more days!