We arrived home around 10:45 on Wednesday, July 20. As we walked off the plane, Lizzie became an official US Citizen. Pretty incredible. I have many posts to still catch-up on, but I thought I'd write about our flight home, being home, and then I'll back-post the others.
Lizzie did GREAT on our adventure home. We left Guangzhou for the airport on Tuesday evening, July 19, around 7 pm. Our plane was delayed for 1/2 hour, and took off around 11:15 PM (scheduled at 10:30) and arrived in Hong Kong just after midnight. We just missed the Delta counter to get our boarding passes for the next day because the plane was delayed, and we hadn't planned to find a hotel room. So, we spent the night in the airport. Lizzie slept a solid 6 hours in her stroller, I slept on the seats just as long. My dad can sleep anywhere, so he did fine, too. Jake and my mom played games and slept about 2 hours.
We finally received our boarding passes, headed to the Delta Lounge for some food and drinks, and then took off for Tokyo at 8:30 am. During our 2 hour layover in Tokyo, we took showers at the Delta Lounge, ate some more, and caught our flight to Utah at about 12:30 PM Tokyo time. The flight was 9 1/2 hours, which Jake (after taking 2 sleeping pills), my dad (no sleeping pills) and my mom (1 sleeping ill) slept the entire time and were surprised at how quickly the flight went. I, on the other hand, slept for the first hour until Dinner was served, and then Lizzie woke up and I held her the rest of the time. I couldn't get anyone to wake up enough to help me, so I'd just have to leave her sitting in First Class crying while I used the restroom. I tried to hand her off to Jake one time because I was sooooo tired, but he was so asleep he let her fall off his lap onto the floor. Needless to say, she was good, but just never fell asleep enough for me to feel like I could fall asleep. She didn't fuss unless I walked away, she ate and drank well, played, laughed, gave lots of hugs and kisses, but just didn't want to fall asleep...until 1 1/2 hours before we landed. I finally kicked Jake out of his seat and sent him to a vacant one in the row in front of us, and I let her just sleep in my chair until we landed.
She took everything in stride as we came off the plane, though she was very tired. Because we were early, the rest of the family was just arriving to greet us. She took to the kids right away, thanks to Grandma Anderegg's Bee Balloon that she was able to hit into the kids. It made her laugh so much. After that, she was willing to let them each hold her as long as I was in sight.
My Sister, Aimee, brought her daughter, Aubrey, and my 3 to the airport. She is moving to New Hampshire on Monday, so it's probably the last time I'll see her. Man, she's been amazing, helping me with my kids while trying to get things ready to move. I hope to see her Saturday evening briefly, but it depends on how Lizzie is doing. It was so good to see her! I will really miss her!
It was so good to see my kids, too. I have really missed them. They've been a lifesaver, playing with her and letting me get laundry and house catching-up done. They're helping to change diapers, get wipes, play games, feed, and bath her. They're the best. My Monkey Boy said that it seems like I love Lizzie best, but he knows it's just because she needs me right now, and he understands. I am so grateful that he expressed those feelings. It created an opportunity to share with him my feelings, and my love for him. I had the opportunity of just cuddling with him for a little while, and it was good for both of us.
The Lord has been a part of our journey the entire time, and I am so grateful. I miss my friends and wonder how they are adjusting. How is Benjamin, Ellie, Allie, Will Hudson, Jenna, Tien, Tyson, Nellie and all of the others? I have photo's of each of the families on Gotcha Day and Red Couch Photo's, and experiences I want to share about them. We made some great friends whom we will always treasure. What an incredible experience to share with so many really neat people! I will be forever grateful for their faith and their examples.
Well, I need to go spend some time in the scriptures before Lizzie wakes up. My time is precious! Dad has the kids out playing today at Trafalga, and they went to see Harry Potter last night. Jake is such a great dad. He asked if I was OK staying home with Lizzie....oh, I'm really OK with that, especially knowing the other 3 are having a fun time with their awesome Dad!
Photo's will be coming....I promise! Keep praying for our family! They've been working miracles so far, and we still need miracles as we adjust. We love you all!!
A few re-wrapped gifts and Baby Einstein video's from Amazon, Cinnamon Rolls for Breakfast, and we have a birthday. We figured that she's had soooooo many new clothes, toys, books, puzzles, etc., since being home that it really is the concept of opening up gifts rather than what those are. It proved to be true. It is so good to have her home!
Lizzie experienced her first rodeo, found the joy in clapping, and the ooohs and aaaaahs of fireworks. Besides being very tired, I think she had a great time! I know the rest of us did! And Princess's hat was a huge hit!
With Daddy
Playing in the Fountain and Discovering Water
Enjoying our new little addition!
We are here, and we've had our "Physical", and she passed. No fever, things look great, they took copies of her medical records from Zhengzhou, and a happy girl today. She weighed in at 13.3 kg, that computes to 29.9 lbs. Yeah, that's what I'm feeling! Ugh. They said "she's very healthy", and everyone around us says, "big baby". But, oh so cute!
It's a beautiful place, so many places to just walk along the Yellow River. This is a much nicer area of China, very clean, peaceful. We love all of the statues they have! And the little shops to buy souvenirs. I love listening to them sing (there was a choir practicing), playing music, drawing, and practicing Thai Chi. I love all the bronze statues representing children. I will take more photos of them! I like this place! (And we don't have any tours we have to go on, though we may choose to.) I am glad to be here and have the pace slower!
On the bus, heading to the Airport
Dad, Apple, Rita, Mom, Jake, Lizzie, Me, Ysha
Then, the excitement began! We headed to the airport (on the bus) and found out our plane had been delayed at least 1 hour. After 2 hours, we boarded, pulled out about 45 minutes later, and then sat on the airplane, grounded, for another 2 hours. Finally, we had permission to leave, and we were able to check into the White Swan Hotel in Guangzhou around 12:30 am, approximately 6 hours late. Now, you have to remember that we had 14 families with toddlers, and they make you empty out all of your bottles before.
I feel like I didn't take near enough photo's of the city as I should have, but where we stayed, The Crown Plaza, was a much nicer area than she would have been from, and there were so many tours and things to do, that we decided to skip them (it was the birthplace of Kung-fu, which would have been cool, but was another long bus ride, which she does not like-and a museum which is not good for toddlers).
But, we did have a wonderful day off walking the streets, shopping at the local Wal-mart (much different than ours-it is 3 levels, but it was cool) where we actually found a pair of slip-on shoes for Jake, and walking the pathways. We love the green pathways they have along the river, and the parks with the exercise equipment. As nice as it is to see all of the touristy sites, what we like best is seeing the people, shopping in their shops, trying to cross the streets, and getting a glimpse of how they live. We did enjoy a local 7 Eleven's ice-cream bar, which was much cheaper than the $10 per scoop at the hotel! It melted so fast that we had to keep helping her, and ours were melting just as fast. It was so hot! But, she loved it. While we were out, we had several people ask us if she was ours. They are all so surprised and impressed. They think she is lucky to be going to the US. We think we are lucky to be bringing her!
Ysha, our guide, said that everyone lives in very small apartments, except the really wealthy who own a home that is not attached to anyone. The wealthy can also have more than one child because they can afford to pay the penalty. Many of the children abandoned because of a medical need is done because the people just cannot afford to have their child's needs met. I think this is what happened with Lizzie. Many are abandoned just after leaving the orphanage if born with a condition. One of the little girls in our group was left near the heart surgery unit just a few days old after being born with a heart condition.
As we drove and walked around, I kept wondering where it was that she was born, where was she those first 3 months. Her finding ad (the one the government places before the child can be released for adoption) said she was tiny, tiny eyes, and was found in big puffy clothes & wrapped in a red blanket. I wish I could have that blanket. So precious. Red is so symbolic in China, she must have had someone who loved her very very much.
