Daniel Liu Chao

9 August 2009

We fly to Shanghai, then take the train to Hangzhou.  David loved the video games on the airplane and the food. 

10 August 2009

We met our new son Daniel Liu Chao Styer.  We were very impressed by the love and care that the director of the orphanage, Madame Liu, showed to him.

He liked eating crackers, and watching his brother David play then taking his toys, and he loved his bath and splashed until the whole bathroom floor was wet. 

11 August 2009

We receive our official adoption papers. 

Our guide introduced us to "horns of an ox", which has a nutmeat inside reminiscent of chestnuts.  

We visit Daniel's orphanage in Taizhou, over a three hour drive.  We were very impressed by the loving caring manner of the staff. 

About half the children currently in the orphanage are in the next photo.  They are all cute and Peggy would have adopted them all. 
The girl with the pink top and blue-spotted pants in the middle is actually 16 years old.  She has a bone disease. 

A long day: though the scenery on the drive was beautiful, the boys did not see most of it. 

12 August 2009

We take care of more paperwork, but mostly just hang around. 

13 August 2009

We take a walk along the lake, and decided to take a gondola ride.

14 August 2009

Daniel's TB test was good, and we completed the China side of the paperwork.  We left for the airport to fly to Guangzhou for the American visa portion of the paperwork. 

15 August 2009

Daniel had his medical exam.  He obviously has seen a fair number of doctors in his short life (having had surgery for his cleft lip and palate already) and every time he saw a doctor in a white coat he cried and tried to get away.  But he got his vaccinations and a second TB test despite his protests. 

For dinner, Peggy felt daring and we went to a restaurant and ordered a hot pot meal: a whole chicken and giant shrimp.  Peggy was surprised that the shrimp came alive and wiggling and with eyes!  The chicken was almost a whole chicken, no head, but complete with the feet (picture below is posed; she did not actually eat the foot). 

16 August 2009

We attended the Chinese church (the later service has an English translator), the same church we attended when we adopted David, and it was again very good.  We relaxed most of the day, eating dinner with several other families at a Thai restaurant (which are evidently very popular in China).  

17-18-19 August 2009

We are waiting for the US Consulate to process our paperwork, so just enjoyed playing with Daniel, swimming in the hotel pool, shopping in the tourist shops, and seeing the open air market.  Cantonese cuisine is famous for eating anything that moves, such as scorpions and seahorses.

20-21 August 2009

We go to the US Consulate for the final paperwork, and then pack to fly home!  The boys were remarkably good on the flight back.  When we arrived at Newark and stepped outside, we saw a rainbow and a sunset.  When we arrived home, the older kids had cleaned the entire house, set out some tpys for Daniel, and prepared a welcome home sign and cake.  We are very happy to finally bring Daniel Liu Chao home.  

Our goal:

When Daniel Liu Chao was found in the People's Square (a large public park) his parents included a note: it evidently says that they love him; they are poor; and they want him to be placed in a loving home.  Please pray that the desire of his birthparents will be fulfilled.

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