The Carollo Post: December 2012

December 7, 2012

Dear Zachary,

Yesterday I went to visit your old home. It was an hour car ride from the Jianguo Hotel in Xian, where we are staying, to Xianyang City in Shaanxi Province. I hated to leave you for those few hours, but I knew it was important for me to go see it and that you wanted some alone time with Mommy!

I was told that Xianyang City was a rural area. I was expecting an area with some trees and green grass. However, the entire car ride from our hotel to your old home was very urban. On the way there were many people along the streets selling things, buying things or just hanging out. We passed literally thousands of apartment buildings and factories full of people. I traveled in a van. Others on the highway were in cars, buses, trucks, motorcycles, scooters, bicycles (most overloaded with more boxes than you can imagine) and others people just walking. I believe they have traffic laws here, but from my observations, I’m not 100% sure. It seems like mass chaos, but it seems to work.

As we got closer to your old home, our guide pointed out your building to me. I could see it from a distance, as it was at the end of the road straight ahead. If the road didn’t curve, we would have driven straight into it. For the first two years & 12 days of your life you lived in this colorful 6 story building. We had to go through a guard gate, since your building was located inside a small complex with other similar buildings. There was a building for older people like your grandparents (maybe slightly older), another building for people that needed a little extra assistance for various reasons, a building for school aged children, a building for all the care takers and your building. The building you lived in houses 140 pre-school age children.

We parked the van and I walked up to your building. I noticed the playground where you would have played. It had one large swing set with a bunch of fun stuff on it. I bet you had tons of fun going down those slides! The playground had a concrete wall with happy cartoon characters painted on it and the ground was all concrete. I hope you never fell on it and scraped your knee – ouch! The playground was near the street and across the street you could see a bunch of smoke stacks from some factories – I wasn’t very happy to see that.

The playground was just outside your building. As I walked up to enter the building, I looked up at three boys watching me from their window. I waved to them and after a short delay, they waved back. I was hoping I would have a chance to meet them, but unfortunately I didn't make it to their floor.

I entered the building and the first thing I noticed was how cold it was and that the lights were off. They even had the doors propped open and it was in the 30’s or 40’s outside. You lived on the first floor, just to the right of the lobby. The director told me that the entire first floor is sponsored by Shaanxi Agape Community Care Association, that provides for the needs of the children inside this Chinese Government operated institution. As we entered the area you lived, it felt much warmer and way more comfortable. At that time, all the children were still taking their afternoon nap and were just about to get up. I saw all the caregivers on their knees – they ---- several times a day for the children under their care. What a blessing for those kids!

Before I could enter the area you lived, they asked me to remove my shoes and put on a pair of slippers. Well, I put on the largest pair, but they were way too small and my feet hung over the backs (they might have been pink or a baby blue - not very manly). I guess they don’t have too many male visitors, but I was glad they kept the area clean. They also asked me not to take any pictures, sorry.

Your living space consisted of two rooms, both approximately 18x18. The first room was the play room. It had colorful foam tiles on the floor and was a wide open space. The other room was for sleeping and eating. It had 14 cribs; they let me take a picture of your crib. I was glad to see it was near the window, so you could enjoy the sunlight. As I was taking a picture of your empty crib, a little girl, maybe 3 or 4 years old, asked me to pick her up. A few moments later, a little boy walked up to me wearing the fuzzy blue shirt you wore in the only picture we had of you before we met you. Without saying a word, he used the international sign for “I want up” and put both of his arms up in the air. I couldn’t resist and I quickly bent down and picked him up!

As I held that super sweet little man, I had an opportunity to talk to your care givers. There were six of them and each one was feeding a child. Most of the kids were much smaller than you and I only recognized two from the pictures (from the CD we the caregivers gave us on the day we met you) of when you lived there. They said you and six of your friends had recently been adopted and they have a new group of kids to care for, mostly babies.

I had an opportunity to talk to your caregivers. Here are some of the questions and answers we discussed:

Me: What signs does Zhong-Zhong (your Chinese nickname) know?

Caregivers: He knows some signs, but he talks now, so he doesn’t need them.

Me: Yes, but he speaks Chinese. We noticed that he signs and that could help us communicate.

Caregivers: He knows thank you, give me & more.

I was surprised, because that means this week you picked up: eat, up, no, please & night-night while you have been with Mommy and me.

Me: How does Zhong-Zhong handle bedtime?

Caregivers: No problem. After our prayer and praise time, we put him in his crib and he lies down after he plays for a few minutes.

Me: No crying?

Caregivers: No crying. (We need to talk about this, since this is not the bedtime routine we currently see. You demand to sleep with Mommy and me and you kick and punch us all night long. Never mind, we enjoy it!)

Me: What interesting or memorable funny stories about Zhong-Zhong can you share?

Caregiver: They all laughed and smiled! They said that you love to be held – all the time. They explained how smart you are and how you always get what you want. They said that if you wanted something and they wouldn't give it to you, you would distract them by grabbing their cell phone or something else. Once their attention was on the distraction, you would run back and get what you wanted in the first place and be victorious! I appreciate that heads-up and will keep a close eye on your shenanigans. They also said you are a bit stubborn, but we figured that one out already. My favorite observation from asking that question was that they all smiled and I could see what joy you brought to them. It was obvious how much they all loved you!

One caregiver gave me a great description of you: "He likes to eat a lot, sleep a lot and play a lot!" You will get along with your brother and sisters just fine.

It was a short visit, but one I am glad to have made. It was a long ride back to you and Mommy at the hotel and I missed you so much already. I look forward to the days to come when we talk about this special place you lived for your first two years and 12 days.

What I can tell you now is that Mommy and I are so thankful for how well cared for and loved you have been. We had been praying for you over the past several months and to see how God answered our prayers, beyond our expectations, is overwhelming.

Mommy and I love you very much Zhong- Zhong!