Dec 28th

Today started out a bit like the movie, Groundhog Day - more french toast at the White Swan. After breakfast we had to wait in our room while Maggie went and handled our paperwork at the US Consulate. At 10:30 a.m. we got the call that our paperwork was ok at the Consulate and we could leave the room. Since Piper was not feeling well last night, she and Parker stayed home for a special day with Daddy and Harrison and I went with the group to the Pearl Market, Pet Market and Medicine Market.

I did not expect to buy anything at the Pearl Market - oops - instead I bought about 6 things at really great prices! Then we did our favorite thing - we walked through the markets. I have so many great pictures that I will have to update once we get home. Harrison and I loved the adventure and I am so glad we went. We saw puppies, kitties, turtles, hamsters, bunnies, fish, scorpions and sadly, tiger paws.

On our walk home we passed a man without any legs who was begging for money. I walked by and Harrison was so appalled that I just walked by that he stopped me and asked for money to go back. I dug around and found him some and back he went. That was the first time I almost cried. Then, we rounded the corner and time #2 hit.

As we finished crossing the bridge, there was a woman pushing a child in a wheelchair with a sign that the young boy was holding. I knew that it was a sign begging for money, but what got me is that when I looked at the little boy he had a serious case of hydrocephalus and he was probably 3. I knew that under other terms that could have been my babies. Parker has hydrocephalus and I just kept seeing his face in that little boys. It was very hard to walk past him, but I didn't want Harrison to notice.

We rushed back and loaded up for our visit to the US Consulate. It was all kids over 2 and there were TONS of amazing kids and their new families. LOVED seeing all of them.

Once back, we headed to the Japanese restaurant in our hotel. Our travel mates had raved about it, but we did not really like it. Now we are snug back in our hotel room - have I mentioned how great and worth the money the suite is? I am about to take a bath in our huge soaking tub with the bath salts and the candle, then I am going to snuggle in and read my book. I figure it may be the only peace that I have for a while. Stinker Butt - aka - Parker is into everything so I know going home is going to be tough. We are going to have to put Harrison's Legos under lock -n-key.

Oh, and its my birthday. Happy Birthday To Me!