Yangxi

Today was a very special day and one that we did not know if we would get the opportunity to have. We traveled to the orphanage in Yangxi today to see where Megan spent her life until now. The trip to Yangxi is a long one, about 4 hours, but now there is a freeway to that area so travel was not bad and faster than it could have been.

We are so glad that we took the trip. We got to see so much that was enlightening to us and will be very valuable to Megan in the future. Not only were we able to see the orphanage we were also able to see the room that all our girls came from. What is more, they were able to show us which crib was Megan’s and we also learned which girls were Megan’s neighbors. The best part is that we were able to take pictures and video. This is privilege. This would not likely have been permitted in the recent past.

This was an emotional experience. Definitely the most emotional since gotcha day. The orphanage has about 90 babies all under 2 years of age. The room we were shown housed about 30 something children. We had seen prior video of the orphanage so we were prepared for some of the things like the austere surroundings and the wooden floored cribs with no padding. You can never be prepared for the little faces. So many of them.

The orphanage staff looks to be quite caring as Megan remembered some of them and lit up as they greeted her. The facility was very well kept and well run but you are not human if you heart doesn’t break a little when you see those cute babies looking up at you. Like I said, we took lots of pictures (to be posted) but the video will touch you if you get a chance to see it. BTW, we are not able to post our video from our video camera, only the small videos from our digital still camera, so we have lots of other video to view when we return.

Oh, I almost forgot the best part of the trip. The orphanage director took us around the city and showed us where all of our children were abandoned. We were able to take pictures and pose for a photo. This will be very valuable to have if Megan would like to see this down the road.

Megan was a real trooper but not as big a trooper as Mommy who, unlike Megan, was on the receiving end of the biggest spit up event of the trip so far. It was a long bumpy ride so we can’t hold against Megan. Mommy showed great material skill as she contained the toxic spill to a well placed towel and was able to come out unscathed. We all made it back safely. Mama and Dada did the only thing they could find the energy to do… order room service. Time for bed. Megan is already out. Tomorrow is another day of adventure.