The Sick Suite

From Karin:
Hope everyone enjoyed my very unladylike prior post about the icky topic.

I wish that I was just writing today about the fantastic hotel upgrade the Marriott made for us. When we checked in to the Marriott's five-star China Hotel, we found that they had high occupancy and couldn't give us the two two-double bed rooms we had booked. All the hotel had was King rooms. All the hotels here charge for a roll-away bed and I was afraid we were going to revisit the battle we fought at the Majestic in Nanning to explain that 6 people can't sleep in two Kings and I wasn't paying extra for as proper bed.

The Marriott lived right up to it's 5 stars for us and upgraded us to two huge one bedroom suites and no charge for the rollaways. These suites are sweet and sick! Of course the biggest one has a view of really beat-up city apartments. One child used the word "slum" when he saw it and it may be accurate. However, the room is fabulous so we just keep the sheer curtains closed. If we want to have a nice view, it is just across the hall in Nana's room where we look at the luxurious outdoor pool where Minlan had her first baby pool swim last evening. It is obvious that she has never had the opportunity to float before and that she loves the sensation.

Today, what I'd really like to share about is health. I think Thom might have posted previously about Lulu developing a very high fever and horrible junky cough about 8 days ago. It seemed like a virulent pneumonia or bronchitis so she got Azithromycin along with Tylenol and a bit of ibuprofen. She was so terribly sick and it was a bit scary but we and she got through it. It seems to be a bit less terrible as it makes it way through each person. Quin was next. He is on day 5 of his antibiotics and much better. Dec developed his fever and junky cough and then I got to enjoy it myself. The first night I couldn't breathe laying down. Better on Dayquil and Nyquil but about to run out of the day version. Thanks goodness we brought a whole pharmacy with us. Oh and the makers of Motrin produce a kid's version here.

Mom thinks it is starting for her too. Not too bad yet but it seems to be starting the same way for most of us with the exception of Lulu's very high fever.

Dec stayed in bed for a day while Nana watched over him and Quin, Thom, and I took Minlan to have her TB test read. Negative (no TB)! Woo hoo! However, she had to go to the same nurse at the same station where she had had her five injections. We had already had the guide Ike tell her that she would have no shots and they only wanted to look at her arm. I held her and as soon as the woman spoke to her, she recognized the situation immediately and started to cry and howl. She was sure she was goint to have shots. Poor sweetie. They let me scoop her right out into the hall and comfort her and repeat over and over that she was all done. No shots. All done. Let's go -"Zou ba!" She was fine then. She is such a smart cookie.

Two days ago we had the housekeepers look for Mei Mei, Minlan's Gotcha Day dolly that she sleeps with and takes everywhere. Unfortunately we didn't take her with us to the TB test reading and it looks like she was bundled up in the sheets and sent to the laundry. The housekeeper felt horrible about it and was on the search. I sure didn't want to have to explain to Minlan that she is gone for now. Goodness but she loves that doll.

The good news was that it took over 24 hours to find her but she was discovered and returned. Last night the Manager brought Mei Mei up herself with a tiny teddy bear to make up for Lulu's loss and with a very sweet apology for the error. Lulu has been very happy to have her dolly back. Mei Mei went to the park with us today for a very sweaty quick look around.

Now we are back in the rooms. We have showered and are resting up for our big trip to the consulate for Minlan's swearing-in ceremony to become a citizen when she emigrates. We are so excited for this day.

Tomorrow, we are to receive the visa that will allow her to enter the US as our daughter and a full citizen. It's so exciting! This certainly keeps me buoyed up through this nasty illness.

More soon,
K
Tomorrow is consulate


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