Monday at Starfish

Today was cold and rainy and Jake and I stayed in all day.  Ryan and Glenn took a trip out to the worksite but there really isn’t anything they can do until later in the week when the tile arrives.  It is not ready to be painted either.  To keep busy (and sane) we will create a moving plan complete with inventory for the four apartments.  The move must take place no later than Dec. 1st.  Ryan is responsible for creating the Excel spreadsheet.  Amanda would like to move one apartment at a time.  Three of the apartments house the almost 50 babies/toddlers that are here.  The new house will have four living suites and two dorm rooms for volunteers.

Glenn is still not feeling well and I think I have accidentally made his feel worse.  I gave him the wrong medicine over the past 24 hours and he is experiencing some side effects.  Hopefully he will feel good tomorrow.  He and Jake are asleep right now and Ryan is playing a video game (surprise surprise). For those of you who want to follow, Ryan also has a blog:  http://www.monthinchina.blogspot.com/  Since we have no access to blogger.com, Leah is updating the blog for him (thanks Leah!). 

Jake is doing well.  He would not eat Chinese food the first few days we were here, but he is doing well now.  In fact, when he lets me, I have conquered the ability to feed him with chop sticks.  I am quite good, I must admit, and have even mastered the art of eating and feeding Jake with chop sticks. 

Today Jake and I played with the kids in one of the apartments on the first floor.  I will take some pictures tomorrow and post them.  The kids, mostly boys, LOVE to be held and some of them are a little more aggressive than Jake is used to.  Jake is SO sweet and I have to keep one eye on him at all times.  While there is a huge box of toys, none of the toys were out on the floor.  We pulled out a bunch of balls and other toys but put them away before we left.  While the foster home is a much better place for these children, it is a far cry from a real home.  It is heartbreaking to see these kids living the way they are living, even though, again, it is much better than living in an orphanage.

The nannies cook lunch everyday and we have had some really good, authentic Chinese food.  We had MacDonald’s last night (they delivered) and chicken and rice soup with toast for dinner tonight.  It was too cold to head out and Glenn did not eat dinner, so we ate in again tonight.

The apartment is very cold, particulary our room. I miss carpeted floors and our mild climate.