Sports rehabilitation center, shenzhen

Between moving, flying, and our ever growing baby, two weeks ago I hurt my back.

So I ventured to a rehabilitation clinic for shorts injuries - Timon found it and since I was unable to stand out sit without pain I said Yes!

It was far off in Futian district, about 30 minutes by car. Timon stayed home with baby A while I hobbled out, and for an excruciating minute thought I may never obtain a cab.

When I arrived, I found that it was a huge sports area with several stadiums and training grounds. A kind fellow offered to guide me to the clinic, but I was in so much pain I want sure I could make it.  I said to myself, "you gave birth to an almost 9lb baby!  This is nothing! " so I told the security guard I would be fine, and continued according to his directions. After about 100meters my back could no longer hold me up and I was really confused because where there should have been a path it was bushes and chained off stairs. I ran into a convenience store where I saw a stool - a respite of relief - and then cried.

Over the phone  Timon helped and then the cashier lent me his arm and held my bag for me. He have me lots of encouragement as he his me to the clinic around the corner. I felt really embarrassed and small, and also grateful for the strangers help.

When I entered the clinic they were all expecting me,  and took care of my situation instantly. They were thorough in inquiring about all my physical activities,  and poked and prodded, trying isolated motions to determine what the unhappy muscle was.

After a massage,  I could stand up straight with out pain!  They also put me on a warm buzz table for 30 minutes. Ahhhh.  It felt so much better!

I would definitely go back.

Breakfast at the tencent cafe

Alden left his little signature on the Tencent note wall. Tencent is trees here internet company behind QQ, WeChat and other apps.

The had dozens of versions of their mascot logo penguin in different costumes. We have the snake costume one since alden is year of the snake.

Lunch break

1. Extruded foam corn sticks. I think they taste like styrofoam-not that I've eaten styrofoam.
2. Baby bunny seller. Baskets of cute waiting for a home.
3. Lone Lion dancer offering his services to the restaurants.
Lastly I since this is a lunch post,  I guess I should mention what I are. Lamb and veggie dumplings with garlicky vinegar sauce. Yum!
An old lady also told  me alden shouldn't wear such a huge diaper because it wasn't good. I said, "but he pees so much! "

Visit to Shekou

Aldie in his new Sack n' seat portable chair!

After a long first week settling in, we headed south to Shekou for brunch, Al fresco by the ocean ish. Shekou is the expat area of the city, and also where one ferry departs to HK.
We ate at Mama's,  open air bacon and pancakes for T(78rmb) and a croissandwich with salmon and home fries (42) and a caramel roll (25). It was in a cool area of restaurants mostly western with a large open plaza like Santa Monica. At the end of the plaza was a small cruise ship. It was a hotel and restaurant, with palm trees on its open deck. Hotel Rooms began at around 500rmb. We boarded the shop only to find it was docked in a teeny body of water,  and we still a ways from the actual ocean. Funny thing was that there was a whole mess  of people on the ship deck taking photos and sitting next smoking,  then a lady with a no came up and yelled at us to all get of the ship!  As we made out way down,  more groups of people were trying to board the ship. It's a pretty cool idea and seemed to be in partnership with Paulaner.

We also got to try out Alden's new fabric chair- which was awesome! He is grabbing and reaching for everything, so it was relief to be able to eat together without juggling him back and forth, except that he kept chucking his toys on the floor. He can throw surprisingly far. Ok - its not really throwing, but he can wave his arms a great deal and release his grip at the same time = toy across the room. But he's not quite aware and sit there confused... like, "Where did my toy go??"

The char is easy to use. Slide it on the back, buckle around the seat (so he can't stand up and pop it off the back) and then buckle the strap under his armpits through upper loops which is an upwards seatbelt if you will. The shoulder straps were a bit big for him- as you can see, his 6 month little arms can't quite reach around the straps to hold things with both hands.

First weekend shenzhen

Sunday afternoon naptime

Horse performance- reenacting a battle. Flaming arrows, and other cool tricks.

Splendid China park with mini versions of famous historical places of China, and also replicas of minority homes. We saw a war reenactment on horse, zip line over a mini west lake. And took naps.

 The first parking lot - walmart I've ever seen in China.

Other sights

woof woof! our adorable 6 month old

 

On the way to Xin'an ancient city

At the Ren ren le grocery store

security tagged toe-shoes - who would steal these?! Lots of weeping willows.