I'm about 100 days older than Marty - yet it seems that significant dates in our history together seem to fall in this timespan where my age is more advanced than his. We married during this time so our license has me as 42 and him as 41. Mary was born during this timeframe and I was 43 and he was 42. Now we have adopted Julia and I was 47 and he was 46. He beamed when they asked my age at the CCAA back on 9/4 and I knew exactly why... he loves teasing me about being the "older woman" and we now have one more official document touting that fact.

Mary Phillipson is in Marty's bed when I open my eyes. He was up early this morning (packing stress) and scooped her up before Mary Romer left at 5:30. At breakfast later this morning it seems just a bit "off" not to have her present. It isn't morose/terrible but we're just aware that she isn't there.

Oh! And last night Ann came through for us again. Mary and I had found a silk scarf/wrap in the gift shop downstairs that is classy and has even little pockets on the end. Ann wasn't sure if she could locate them but said she'd look. Well we got a call last night from Ann. She had found them and was at the shop. Did we want her to choose some for us (and how many) or did we want her to take me there tomorrow? How is THAT for service? The price was much less than half of the bargain price we had tried to negotiate downstairs. We told her how many to get and knowing that Mary was to be leaving early - she made another trip back to the hotel to deliver them! I tell you what - if I had to do it again, I would not buy a single thing (except something that was province-specific) and then simply let Ann take care of the rest. No pressure, custom designed trip. I wasn't sure what all I may want and she offered suggestions and listened when I told her yes or no and developed her strategy around feedback. We did learn also that someone had been on the island and impersonated Ann earlier - so if you are thinking of using her, look at the photos either here or on her website. She's a treasure!

Marty has decided that he would rather stay at the hotel and pack, organize, and exchange the suitcase, while I go out with Ann. Mary can stay with him and they can go to the Swan Room and park and such. We didn't expect it to be really a long-term purchase but surely it should get us home. He wants to make that trade and has moved all the items from the broken suitcase to the other one in anticipation of the return.

Ann has a birthday present for Marty! He now has a pair of slippers that her sister actually makes. They are silk with a hard sole that he can wear outdoors and they are cushioned and comfortable (yes I tried them and promptly fell off of them). Ann and I have the Ergo carrier set up for Julia and we are ready to head out. Marty is to return the suitcase with Mary, head to the park and playroom and take a few more supplies to Jennifer's. We had such a plethora of things we did not utilize and were warned about all sorts of potential complications. We have been so very blessed that we have enjoyed extremely good health and remembered not to drink the water (winking - although rinsing my toothbrush is difficult to stop and I've in turn had to rinse it in mouthwash numerous times).

Ann tells me that Mary Romer left her with instructions for our shopping trip. She would like to see me get some nice pearl earrings with sterling silver posts. Ann tells me that finding pearls is no problem, but sterling silver posts and especially just wanting a few pair may make the task more daunting. We head to get pearls first. We weave around booths and merchants and Ann is on her mission. She goes right to the stall and begins talking with someone. She asks do I want small pearls or larger ones. I tell her the smaller the better. She asks me about classification. At first I cannot tell the difference and then she begins my education. I learn about shine and smoothness and hue. She then tests my knowledge by mixing strands of different qualities and having me pick out the different levels. I did it! I never thought I would feel such accomplishment.

Then Ann has an idea. She is wearing a pair of pearl earrings that dangle on sterling silver. If I were to buy a strand of pearls, I would have enough pearls for 29 pair of earrings. Then I could buy the hoops/dangle apparatus (they aren't exactly posts) and even with paying her time to assemble them (she sells jewelry on her website) I will have pearl earrings for less than $2/pair. Oh my, oh my, oh my. Can I believe this? I do decide on a strand for each girl (we purchased something for Sarah earlier based on what I had seen her admire) and I feel that Marty will not balk at the cost. Ann carefully picks the individual strands and one worker begins the task of stringing the necklace and attaching the clasp. Ann grabs some of her tools and I'm amazed to see her deftly begin to work on the second necklace. I must have shown my surprise and she explained that I'm paying for her time and if she can speed the process she will. The worker looks at Ann's handiwork and admires it. I'm psyched!

We now head back to where Mary Romer and Dianne were yesterday. I'm a big lover of Christmas tree ornaments (started collecting as a young teen) and I'm enthralled with the idea of virtually indestructible cloisonné ornaments that I can look at for years to come (as well as passing on to my girls) and knowing that they came from this very adoption trip. We arrive at the stall and I realize I'm wanting more to purchase than I have money for. Ann immediately realizes my situation and offers to buy for me and me pay her back! Once again I am appreciative of her inspection and input. I was going to purchase some cloisonné bracelets that were less than $1 apiece and she went to inspect and started to put some back. She then asked why I wanted them. When I said that I wanted something simple to remind me of China and could give as gifts of appreciation, she pointed out several other things that would be of similar cost but higher quality. She advised me to pass on the bracelets and I did.

Julia and I are really hot (we are in a booth in an outdoor market) and I must be pretty red-faced and Julia's hair is wet where she is pressed against me in the carrier. Ann begins fanning Julia (hence me) and I am instructed to stand outside the booth where it is cooler. Maybe it's the excitement of the shopping but although I am hot, I'm not miserable at all. A woman with a child is in the alleyway right near the booth and extends a bag to me, inside I clearly see what looks like cinnamon rolls. I defer and she keeps it out. Julia has noticed and is clearly reaching (The Chicken Hawk is on the attack)... I then accept and realize this is a steamed bun and Julia begins to devour it with gusto. This child amazes me. She has half of it gone in no time and before we begin our retreat, I am once again offered the bag and accept a second steamed bun.

Once again I am touched by the kindness of people. Would I think to offer to share food with someone of a different culture obviously simply out shopping? I'm humbled by this gesture of outreach and thank the woman. I never get to sample even a touch of the delicacy, though, as Julia continues her assault most thoroughly on them. Ann laughs and tells me that many children have an affinity for steamed buns - Julia most decidedly validated it!

We head back to the hotel and I repay Ann for what I borrowed. We are trying the delicate balance of spending what yuan we have left but still have some for tips and such. Ann goes to work on the earrings and I'm insisting to pay for her time spent and she is refusing such. I tell her that we would love to take her to late lunch/early dinner at Lucy's and she readily agrees. She then laughs and asks if that is greedy of her. Greedy? After bending over so to accommodate us?

Marty finally returns with the luggage - they were out of stock and had to get the replacement sent to them. He begins packing with gusto and I'm alternating between trying to assist and staying out of the way. We are both tired and trying (and I feel successful) not to direct it at the other. We're leaving TONIGHT!! He continues to pack while I tend to the girls and I notice that he didn't realize my purchases are still out. I don't point it out to him. He's such a good man!

Ann returns and I have a bag full of dangle earrings! I had originally thought of studs but of course if they had been strung they already have holes drilled. Marty keeps saying... TWENTY NINE pair, Carole? Hehehe. Ann still refuses payment for her time but I will later insist. We head to Lucy's where Marty and I both get a burger. Ann banters with the staff and I just am relaxed and enjoying this outing most decidedly. Mary and Julia are both in high chairs as Mary has still reverted and when she needs to potty, Ann takes her (there are more wedding photos being taken on the patio that leads to the potty). Mary has mastered the art of squatty potty well!

Now Ann weighs... goodness - maybe 85 pounds? She is just a tiny person. And Marty and I enjoyed seeing her eat. Her entrée had soup and a roll (Mary ate it) and tea and such. Marty and I enjoy our burger and the girls are happy. We have a matter of hours left.

All too soon we say goodbye and return to the room to finish up the packing. We are to have the bags out to be brought down in the hallway. I've already pushed Julia's crib out to allow for more room to arrange. We're numb to it all and in the end start cramming things. I'm wondering how the trip will be. We will be landing in Los Angeles and then heading to a hotel to get some rest before two more flights to be home tomorrow night.

And then somehow it is done. The bags are picked up and Marty checks us out without a hitch. The girls and I wait downstairs as the two other families traveling on the same flight and staying at the same hotel come down. We are the last of the group. I pass out earrings and we check to see who is sitting where. It'll be nice having someone we know on the flight.

Kelly's sister, Judy, meets us and we head to the airport. She sees that we are checked and our luggage passes muster. Earlier, one suitcase had some issues and we now have bright orange duct tape adorning it (Holding it together).

I still have two carry-ons (diaper bag as well as one with snacks and changes of clothes for the girls), Mary has a rolling carry-on with all of her toys and stickers and animals and such. Marty has a backpack, his ever-handy jacket with what seems like 100 pockets and compartments. We're a sight for sore eyes. I think I wore makeup one day on this trip, and it wasn't gotcha day, either!

Marty gets the responsibility of everything, though. He has all the passports, the tickets/boarding passes, declarations for customs, etc. I find myself totally dependent on him to do what it takes to see that we are able to proceed. It is nice having the other families and after each step toward boarding we wait for one another. One family is really under the weather and I feel so for them.

The China Southern flight was nice - the seats have headrests that you can pull forward on the sides that I find fascinating. I would probably have enjoyed the flight more but I have Julia in my lap. She's actually wonderful, but having a 19-month-old against you is not condusive for watching the tiny TV with earphones (Julia can disconnect in 2 seconds flat) or being able to sleep myself. She is a restless sleeper and I'm decidedly afraid of her smashing my nose when she flails about. When we get food, Julia ate more than the three of us combined. Julia and Mary sleep much of the way. I keep my TV on the progress of the flight and watch as the plane nears LA. Whooo hooo, and we are there. Over 12 hours of flight and even after leaving China at 9 p.m., it is STILL Marty's birthday.

We head through the various stations to get our luggage and learn where we need to go as we have new immigrants with us - although they have now just become US citizens the moment we landed. What better present for Marty?

We find the shuttle for our hotel and struggle to get all our bags situated. We arrive and the clerk at the Westin kept wanting our VOUCHER. We don't have one - we have reservations, confirmed. Not good enough. The other two families are in similar situations and they booked through a travel agent; we booked through the AAA website. Ugh!

Finally we are headed to our room and wind past a wonderful band playing to get to the elevators. We're grimy and hungry and looking forward to bed. It is now almost 10 p.m. We get a crib delivered and Marty inquires as to pizza delivery services. When he calls the number we're given we're told it'll be over an hour - we don't have an hour. I head for the shower/bath and at this point can find enough stuff for the kids. After getting clean I'm even more relaxed and don't care as much about the food - but Marty goes out to see what he can find. I play with the TV and delighted at ENGLISH. It seems Marty has been gone a long time.

And suddenly, he's back. He has been across the street to the Pizza Hut Express/Taco Bell combo. We have personal pizzas and drinks and pintos and cheese. What a combo! Mary is delighted and Julia grabs a garlic bread stick (we hid the marinara sauce from her). Ahhhhh - nice! Mary decides she will sleep with me and we open the drapes to see all the lights. I drift off and am aware of Julia's screams in her sleep. They are still disturbing and we keep speaking out to her in her sleep that we are still here. I'm not sure if she can hear.

And at least for me, sleep claims me despite my anticipation. Marty, on the other hand, stays awake restless and still on China time.

We don't have photos for this day so we thought you'd enjoy seeing some that we didn't get to post earlier on when we were in Beijing and Taiyuan...