Fengxin Orphanage
Update 2006-12 - Just want to update you as best possible. We received babies on Monday AM, signed some paperwork, and had adoption completed that afternoon. The next day we went to notary in AM. Wednesday, we visited a temple in AM, and Thursday, we visited the zoo. Friday AM we go to security office to pickup passports. They require the families to come in person with your passports.
We did not go to the orphanage. Several of the babies weren't feeling good, and the group wanted to stay together. The babies all have cold, snotty noses, cough. The only major illness has been an ear infection, eczema, and one baby had an allergic reaction to something as well as a swollen ankle. Looking at what the babies do in their cribs in the hotel, I think she got her foot twisted in the crib. The SWI had a CT scan done to be sure about the swelling on the head and no abnormalities were found. The parents gave Benedryl for 48 hours and she is perfect.
WE (the babies in the group) have a problem with constipation. It's possible that they do not know how to use a diaper. Our guide held the baby in a position that’s hard to describe, let me try. Head/back is against your stomach, you are holding the thighs pulled up, kind like a squat? Then hold baby over toilet and grunt, while squeezing legs gently toward body. As if you were helping baby push out the poop. Since this has helped several babies have BM, we feel this is being done here. There are male caretakers so the babies all adapted well to the dads.
We don't give any gifts. Our guide feels the orphanage fee is enough. Since the babies take the bottles hot and aren't sure what their feet and hands are, we suspect the orphanage has little if any heat.
Someone mentioned strollers. The hotel we are at provides one, so we don't have one. In fact, since our group has very young babies, everyone is using snugglies.
Internet is great. Some shopping, the porcelain of course. The Wal-Mart is crazy, fortunately there is a grocery store nearby that is a lot nicer than Wal-Mart.
The orphanage gave each of us a bag of formula - milk based, and rice cereal. I would pack little if any formula. Worry about getting them on US formula when you get home.
I brought some nice clothes to wear for the official picture, and didn't need them. It was so cold in the civil service office that we never took our coats off, so you couldn't see the outfit anyway.
Pack light! Bring a small bottle of Febreeze to freshen clothes. That's been great!! That and some dishwashing soap. I put some in an old pill vial. I use the bathroom sink and add the hot water from the tea kettle. Works great.
Hope that helps. Safe travels to all.
If anyone gets to the orphanage please let us know. It sounds like the orphanage does allow visitors. (LHM)
Please e-mail me at webmaster@gurrad.com if you have any additional information or if your child is from here and you would like to post a picture here or other contact information.