Counting Down...

Happy 4th of July!  It's kind of hard to celebrate America while in China.  We wore our flag t-shirts, but we won't get to see the fireworks this year.  It made me a little more homesick.

I have also actually been sick.  I finally decided that I had something wrong with my stomach and started on the antibiotics that we brought.  I think I was in denial that I was really sick, but today after lunch I felt awful.  The medicine seems to have helped, and I've also had 2 bottles of Gatorade which seems to have helped as well.  I was able to eat dinner and have not gotten sick yet.  Yay!

We went back to Shamian Island today to have Katie's TB skin test checked and to do a little more shopping.  Katie's test was normal so we were thankful for that.  She didn't like going back to the doctor, but it was a very quick visit.  After that we were able to walk around Shamian Island.  It has beautiful landscaping and sculptures, lots of little shops, and a playground for the kids by the Pearl River.  We ate at Lucy's, which is very popular with the American tourists.  Katie and I had our first stare down at the dinner table.  She gave me "evil eyes" when I told her to sit down in her chair, and she refused to obey.  I eventually made her cry just by looking at her and took her out of the restaurant.  It was quite amusing.  This was not a scared or confused cry, but an "I'm mad because I'm not getting my way" cry.  The terrible two's sure are fun!

This afternoon was not very eventful since I was not feeling well.  Katie and I both took naps, and then we met for group pictures.  Travis and I had bought traditional clothing as well, but I just didn't feel up to changing into it.  The kids, however, dressed in their clothing and I love some of the pictures we got of them.  We plan to have family pictures done in the clothing when we get back home and can have Ryan and Spencer in the pictures.

I have loved experiencing another culture and have gained a greater respect for China.  This has been such a wonderful trip but I'm glad we will be coming home soon.  I think it has been a combination of being here so long and not feeling well that has made me miss home so much today.  There's no place like home, in your own bed when you're not feeling the best.  We get to sleep in tomorrow morning and will go on the Pearl River cruise tomorrow night.  We're going to take it easy and just relax most of the day.