SHOPPIN & PACKIN

I took the opportunity to do some travel errands & shopping on Scott's days off this week and got a lot done! I went to our bank and wired money to China. This is actually a huge benefit our agency offers so that we don't have to carry a VERY LARGE sum of money like most people do when they go. I also had to "order" money that will be here next week--crisp, fresh bills to take for spending money. Due to a lot of money laundering, they are really particular about foreign currency they exchange. We also had to request that they write down each bill's serial number so we can prove our money is not counterfeit. Plus, we will have to write them down again in China when we actually exchange them. SHOPPING! I got the prescription filled for Gracie but kind of felt like a "junkie" by the time I had all the medications in my cart that are suggested for us to bring "just in case." Here are a FEW: infant & adult tylenol & ibprofen, infant & adult cold medication, infant & adult benadryl, hydrocortisone cream, Lotrimin, oatmeal bath wash & lotion, simethicone drops, orajel, teething tablets, emitrol, cipro, dramamine, tylenol pm, pepto, rolaids......I we really blew the immunization thing for us! We were supposed to have gone through several series' of them over the last six months but somehow we completely spaced it! We are going to go in this week and at least get the first doses which we're told is better than nothing. OOops!! Some practical items I bought: neck pillows, eye masks, & earplugs for sleeping on the airplane rides, money belts & passport holders, various sizes of Ziploc bags (to pack everything in for customs), travel containers to put toiletries & such in, an international outlet converter, DIAPERS (haven't had to use those in a while!!), bottle brush, binkis....Some fun things I bought: gymboree bubbles (best bubbles in the world!), cute bathrobe for Gracie, couple of bath toys, Elmo board books, turtle stacking toy, cute sunhats....Items we bought to donate to the Tonggu Orphanage where Gracie is from: socks, "fun" underwear, headbands, candy bracelts & rings, bubble gum, fun pencils, erasers, stamps, stickers, construction paper, balloons....Gifts for Gracie's foster parents, the Tonggu orphange director, our travel guide in Nanchang & Guangzhou, Civil affair officials, the caretaker who will bring her to us......Wheeeew!! It was fun but I hope I have everything I need as I'm not one of those "I love to shop" kind of girls! Only 10 days until we leave!!!!