Wednesday April 24th

We woke up really early to check out of the hotel at 6 am and eat a little breakfast before leaving at 7 am.  We had 3 hrs til our flight but our guide Shirley assured us it would be fine.  However when we got to Cathay Pacific the lines were so long.  After waiting almost an hour, they couldn't find Emmie's ticket in the computer and thus more waiting and searching... Then when they finally got it and we went thru security we again thought we were done but no! - we then had to wait in another line to clear immigration.  We had only 1/2 hr to do all this plus 2 kids and 4 heavy carry-ons between us!
After getting thru immigration there was one of those golf carts waiting to carry us to our gate and it only cost 40 RMB (about 7 bucks).  The guy drove like a typical crazy driver in China and Maddie and Emmie both had huge grins on their faces as we sped thru the airport super fast.

When we finally got to Hong Kong we had to clear security again but we still had time to kill so we went to lunch at a restaurant Spaghetti House and hung out in a lounge.  It's quite a juggling act to carry a thermos of hot water and make formula on the go while holding babies and luggage.  We found that most of the shopkeepers in the airport were very helpful and friendly to refill the thermos since you can't carry hot water in thru security.  Maddie slept almost the entire trip back to JFK.  Emmie slept some too and it helped for Michael and I to share holding her.  It's certainly a long ride (15 for the HK-JFK leg) so my whole body ached after carrying all the weight.   We were so happy to get through US Immigration.  Emmie is now officially a US citizen-!

We also couldn't wait to show Emmie her new home and bedroom she will share with Maddie.  Elvira our au pair was there waiting for us when we got home at almost 10:30 pm and it was very nice that she made us a cake.  Glad to be home sweet home.  Look forward to all our other family and friends meeting Emmie too.

Thank you to everyone who has supported us on the ups and downs of this adoption journey.  We can't wait to see the beautiful little personality of Emmie bloom in her new forever home and share many happy memories together as a family.

Post Update Friday 26 April:  Jet lag is difficult but Emmie is adjusting well to her new home in New Jersey.  Mimi flew in from Seattle they day after we got home and is such a big help with the girls.  Emmie loves this baby walker to scoot all around and follow big sister Maddie. 

We love you both dearly M & Em girls! 

Love, Mommy and Daddy

XXXXOOOO

Tuesday April 23rd

Last day in Guangzhou...Emmie woke up at 3:30 am with a little fever and gave her some Tylenol.  She seemed to act fairly normal otherwise and was smiling, laughing.  So we figured maybe she is just teething and will be OK.  We took a cab to Shamian Island where seven years ago when we started this process we had expected we'd be staying at the "famous" White Swan hotel with it's red couch that all the Chinese adopted babies have had their picture taken on.   The White Swan is closed for reservations : ) and unfortunately many of the shops on the island are closed due to lack of business.  However we still got some souvenirs and enjoyed the colonial architecture.  The island is a popular place for weddings due to the scenery.  There were lots of people exercising in the parks.  Some people say it reminds them of Savannah, Georgia. 

After about 15 days in China we had managed to avoid "squatter" toilets but on our last day on Shamian Island I'm afraid that's all we could find when Maddie desperately needed to go. We looked for the nicest restaurant we could find.  I had to help Maddie take her pants off to go and meanwhile was wearing a Emmie in a baby carrier and I then had to try to go myself while holding Em - challenging but mission accomplished!

In the afternoon we needed to buy more rice cereal for Emmie so we took a cab with no problem to Carrefour.  But could not get a cab on the way home.  It was very stressful holding two kids and groceries and going from corner to corner trying to hail a cab.  It was very warm outside and Emmie's fever was making her feel hot again.  Several taxis passed us  in stead of stopping.  Later we learned that the time we were from 3-4 pm was a changeover of shift hour.  We saw a man and woman at a kiosk with "wall street" written on their name tags.  Don't know what they were selling but hoped they spoke English - and they did! So we asked them for help and suggested that maybe our hotel could send a cab and we'd pay the fare round trip.  But then another taxi pulled up shortly thereafter and we paid him a little more since he was technically going off duty.  The people at the kiosk were so nice.  We offered them a tip for their help but they refused.  This is in contrast to another guy who deliberately ran in front of us to take a taxi even though he saw us with two kids and groceries.  Made it back in time for 4:30 meeting with Lee in the lobby to get the paperwork and Emmie's visa we would need for the flight home the next day. 

Michael promised Maddie one more dip in the pool so he took her swimming while I started to pack our bags.  We hit the Exec Lounge one more time for "dinner" of free appetizers and drinks and chatted with a table of Brits there for the trade show.

The 2nd to the last pic below is of our friend Mike and baby Kona who is standing in front of the White Swan being renovated.

 

Monday April 22nd

This morning we had an appoint at US Consulate.  It was really chaotic - imagine about 20 kids and their parents - 1/2 crying/talking fidgeting including our two and the Officer said ok it's very important you listen to these directions.  Of course we couldn't hear everything but caught one of the most important parts - that we are not allowed to open the folder they hand you tomorrow when you pick up your child's visa.  Once you go through first US port at the airport you hand that sealed envelope to an immigration officer.  Basically when we land in New York Emmie will automatically become a citizen and receive a certificate about 1-2 weeks later.  We had to take an oath that all our information was correct to the best of our knowledge...and it was so cute...when Emmie saw the whole room of parents raise their right hand, she raised her hand too!
Everything went smoothly at the appointment and we had some time to relax at the hotel before more sightseeing in the afternoon at Yuntai Garden. Our group from FTIA has 9 families - which is the most they have had in a long time.  We took a big group photo at the entrance to the garden.   I was expecting another traditional Chinese park.  Was shocked to walk in and see "Dutch wonderland" windmills and all.  It was like Disneyland without the rides.  Maddie had a fantastic time running around the park with the other big sisters ("jie jie" in Mandarin).  Emmie napped most of the time.  Michael ran after Maddie and took lots of pictures.
In the evening we had an early dinner with Mike and Kona at a Chinese restaurant at the hotel across from ours.

Sunday April 21st

Today we went to the Chen Clan Temple and Six Banyan Temple and did a little shopping.  We then had to do a quick stop at a store to buy more formula and ended up walking through an area that looked just like Times Square.  Tomorrow morning have our visa appointment at the US embassy at 7:45 am followed by more sightseeing in the afternoon.

Saturday April 20th

This morning we had to go to the clinic to get Emmie's physical done as required by US immigration.  First of all there were so many adoptive families in the breakfast buffet.  It was cool all being there together.  We all gathered into buses to drive to the clinic where they have a whole assembly line thing going on shuffeling you from place to place.  First her photo was taken then temperature, weight, height.  Then the doctor examined her lungs, throat, ears, stomach etc.  She is healthy and cried just a little.  The older kids over age 2 also had to have blood drawn and tested for TB.  When we were leaving the clinic we noticed something funny in the lobby:  a vending machine of wine bottles - how odd!

After the clinic we had lunch with Mike and his daughter Kona at a Chinese restaurant in the hotel.  In the afternoon Michael watched the girls for an hour while I went to a meeting to fill out the immigration paperwork.  FTIA, our agency is so super organized and the guides are amazing.  They helped us fill out the form and gather all the pieces we needed and even gave us a clear vinyl envelope to put everything in so we are all set for Monday.  Our guide Li just needs to add the medical report when it comes back (I think they have to translate it or something).  While we were filling out the forms something interesting happened:  masses of young people ran screaming down the hallway.  We realized that a movie star - the Chinese version of Justin Bieber I guess - was staying at our hotel  - and they were chasing after autographs.  Back in the lobby it was swamped with crowds as well.

In the afternoon we played a bit in the room.  Emmie can stand holding onto the ottoman and played with stacking cups.  We visited a play area on the 4th floor of the hotel (this hotel really caters to kids well).  There was a swing that Emmie was able to go in so that was fun that she could play next to Maddie.  We visited a few shops to get supplies as well.  Then ended up going up to the executive lounge later where they had such good apetizers that we were able to eat enough for dinner.  It was kind of funny taking two little kids to the exec lounge with all the business people there too.  But there was at least one other lady with her daughter.  Michael and the girls fell asleep on the bed at 8:15pm exhausted from the day before.