After an amazing breakfast at the hotel, we headed out to orphanage by 8:30. We were so excited to meet the children. We were met out front of the orphanage by QiRui, our room manager, Yang Yang, who is responsible for First Hugs at the orphanage, and the woman who prepares files for adoption. We were welcomed and thrilled to be there. We first spent time with the some of the smaller babies in the room all the kids sleep in. We had a chance to feed them and of course our experts, Leslie and Aimee were able to start assessing some needs and how we might help them right away!
Aimee and Leslie set up the equipment Leslie borrowed from her generous audiologist and began doing preliminary hearing screens on all the kids. Krista and I (Moya) headed up to the playroom to watch the kids through the window, not wanting to disturb them interacting with their nannies. They enjoyed their fruit for the morning, sliced banana, and then went back to playing. We joined them and played some, getting to know them before lunch and then nap time.
Our lunch in the cafeteria was fabulous. And the vegetables waiting to be cooked were breathtaking. Really!
After we finished lunch and while the kids were still playing, our shipped luggage arrived from Beijing. We worked with QiRui, Yang Yang, and several other staff to unpack and organize them all. By the time the kids, awoke we had decided which toys would be out for now, which would be stored to be used next week, a taggy blanket (thanks Suzanne Butler Court) was in each child's crib and the orphanage staff were so happy! The kids came to the playroom and dove right into the new toys. We loved seeing the smaller babies on the playmats with toys overhead and on their tummies on boppy pillows. Aimee and Leslie began evaluating each child to see how they might be helped and what they will teach the nannies in the next few days.
We ended our day with a short trip to the mall to get a few more storage containers for sensory items and some cough medicine for Leslie. QiRui wanted to accompany us but there was no room in the car so she was going to ride with Yang Yang on her motor scooter. The words were hardly out of QiRui's mouth when Krista (literally) jumped out of the car and offered to go on the bike. She so enjoyed that ride! Back at the Hotel now and getting ready to meet with our team (Krista, Moya, Leslie and Aimee) to review our notes for the day and prepare for tomorrow. Thanks so much to all of our supporters for their generosity. Our nannies and the orphanage staff were blown away by your generosity!
No comments:
Post a Comment