We're HOME!!

Okay, so it's now almost 4:00 pm and my two little angels are still sleeping!  I think I better go up and wake them up or it's going to be another late night tonight!! We are so excited to be home and ready to get back to some sense of normalcy!!

 

Zachary still sacked out!!

Caitlin stacking the Zzzzzz's

Day 16 - Going Home!!

Good Morning China!!  It's 4:30 am and time to rise and shine!  Today is the day!!! We're finally heading home!!!!

We got up and got the last minute items packed and set our suitcases in the hall by 5:00 as we had been instructed.  Zachyman was up and ready to go by 5:15 am and we had to wake Caitlin up at 5:45 am to head down to the lobby.  There were quite a few sleepy heads in their pjs!  Mr. Zhou had the hotel provide us with breakfast boxes to go for the bus ride -that was such a nice treat!  On the bus ride to the airport, Zachary said, "Goodbye Guangzhou!!!" Yep, next stop Richmond!  (Okay, so we have a 3 hour layover on Tokyo and a 3 hour layover in Chicago, but still we're headed in the right direction -- HOME!)  

Once we got to the airport, we split into three groups - one flying through Beijing, one to Hong Kong and one to Tokyo.  Mr. Zhou made sure everyone got their tickets and showed us the way to our gates.  It was then that we had to say goodbye to Mr. Zhou.  Words cannot express how grateful we are for all he has done for us!  He is truly an amazing man!

Caitlin saying goodbye to Mr. Zhou.

We had to say goodbye to some of the other families and make our way to our gate.  We flew from Guangzhou to Tokyo which was about a 3 hour flight and Caitlin fortunately slept for a majority of the trip!  But... what does that mean for our up coming 11 hour flight to Chicago?! Ugh.

Zachary on our flight to Tokyo.

Caitlin on our flight to Tokyo. She found the Dove chocolate wrapper :)

We had some time in Tokyo to wander around and burn off some energy before we boarded. We found a vendor that was selling soft-serve ice cream - talk about hitting the spot!  Yum!  Caitlin tried her first ice cream - not so sure of this "cold stuff" but eventually loved it!  Yeah, that's my girl!!  (We had been told that Chinese babies like warm formula and warm food -that's about to change!)   

Next thing we knew, our plane pulled in an a whole crew of what seemed like a hazmat crew filed on to the plane to clean it.  Yeah, a double-decker plane - Zachary is so excited! (heck, we all were!)

United Airlines 882 flight to Chicago.  

Okay, so it wasn't as nice as we had hoped. This 747 was an older model with not much legroom!!  Fortunately we sat in the first row behind the business class section so we had a wall and some extra leg room in front of us which was where the two kids ended up passing out and sleeping together for a good 4-5 hours! When we got on we asked if we could check out the second floor, which they said we could but had to do it before we took off, no one is allowed up there besides the business first class passengers once we are in flight. So Zachary and I went up to take a look.  The flight attendant told us we could go up and say hi to the pilot if we wanted to.  Unfortunately, Zachary had no desire to do that so we headed back to our seats to get ready for take off.

We were fortunate to have the floor space for the kids to sleep on but, the arm rests did not move because they housed the fold out tables -therefore getting comfortable was next to impossible!  I'm definitely going to need a massage when we get home!

Once we arrived in Chicago we had to part ways with Mom and Dad as they only had about 1 1/2 hours to catch their connecting flight.  We had to go through the Visitors with Visas Immigration line because we had Caitlin, and they could sail through the US citizens line.  It was sad to say goodbye - we had been together for over 2 weeks, we were getting used to seeing them everyday!!  Zachary is a pretty sensitive boy and is always sad to say goodbye to Nana and Granpa! Luckily we're planning to see them and the rest of our family at Easter time!

So, we make our way through the immigration process, which was pretty painless, but a little more time consuming.  We made it through the first check point, had to grab or luggage, and head to the second check point where we had to hand over Caitlin's paperwork to USCIS to be processed for her citizenship.  Once again, since her adoption was filed under the Hague Treaty regulations, her visa was different than the others in our group.  Her visa was an IH-3 instead of an IR-3.  When we handed her paperwork over to the officers to process, they were taken back by the IH-3 category.  They had never seen this before and were confused! So I explained what an IH-3 visa was and they got on-line to look it up.  Sure enough, it does exist and it is what I had explained.  Amazing that this regulation has been in effect since May 2008, yet they had no idea what and IH-3 visa was!  Once they stamped her passport and she set foot on US soil, she is considered a US Citizen!!!

Chicago airport - First step in the US!!  (not exactly wanting to get down at this particular moment) Okay so I didn't exactly get her all dressed up for this special moment - such a bad mom!  She's still in her pjs from the flight.

When we arrived in Richmond, Aunt Joy and Uncle Nathan met us to welcome us home and meet Caitlin!!  Now... once last torture test for Caitlin... the car seat! She loved it - as you can see below!! 

Yes!  I love this seat that straps me in and won't let me move all around!! :)

Welcome Home Caitlin!!

Checking out family photos with Daddy.

She's already found the Star Wars light saber!!  Look out Princess Lea!

Zachary showing Caitlin her new room.

Checking out her new room and everything in it! 

Our family is now complete!

Everyone came back to our place to have a bite to eat and chat for a little while.  Caitlin wasn't to sure of Otis at first, but by the end of the night, she was giggling and laughing at him.  Not to sure why a dog would be inside the house but is rolling with it.  She also was a little confused by how much Uncle Nathan and Daddy look alike!  There were a couple times when she would grab his hand or ask to be picked up only to realize that he wasn't her Daddy!  Aunt Joy had her smiling by the end of the night!  That was until the 1:00 am witching hour when she was simply walking around carrying her two blankets and crying!  So exhausted!  

 

Enough already, I'm tired!!! 

The kids finally went to bed around 1:30 am - hopefully they'll sleep in tomorrow morning!! We on the other hand didn't get to bed until 3:30ish - Noah had to catch up on all the b-ball games he had missed!!  This jet leg thing is going to be rough! 

Day 15- US Consulate Appointment!

This day is finally here!!  We are headed to the US Consulate General for our final swearing in ceremony.  We had been told that it was a 40 minute bus ride, a simple ceremony, and then another 40 minute bus ride back to the hotel - which doesn't sound all that exciting.  So at one point we offered to the grandparents the option not to go along with us if they needed the time to shop/pack etc.  Looking back, we are so happy they came with us!  It was as we were told, a 40 minute bus ride there and back with a simple ceremony, but that ceremony was filled with so many emotions!  It was the pinnacle of or journey!  It was the moment that we raised our right hands and swore before the acting US Ambassador and the Office of the United States Consulate General to love our daughter, provide a loving and nurturing family and as well as the physical and emotional support she needs and deserves.  (Unfortunately there were no cameras allowed, so we don't have any photo documentation of this beautiful moment, but it will forever be etched in our minds and hearts!)  There were 33 families at this ceremony and we all stood together and repeated the oath that the Acting US Ambassador (until Obama appoints a new one) recited to us.  It made me proud to watch as Zachary stood by my side and raised his right hand and took the oath with us as a family!!  (Later Mom told me that on the bus ride to the ceremony Zachary said to her "Nana, I just love her so much!")  There wasn't a dry eye in the place!  It was like a commencement ceremony in the sense that we've finally completed all the steps and we're moving on to the next chapter in our life as a FAMILY OF FOUR!!

Sign at the bottom of the escalator - my stomach had butterflies reading this!

This was the last photo I was able to sneak in before they confiscated my camera. 

On the way back down the escalators after the ceremony.  Zachary is giving the peace sign but here in China they call it the "happiness sign" - quite appropriate!!!

Our family after the ceremony - with the the official Hague Adoption Certificate!!!

On the bus ride back after the ceremony.  To exhausted even to snack!!! :)

After we got back we went with Bob, Cindy and Molly to grab some take out from Lucy's so we could eat quick and hit a few shops before we had to head back to the hotel and pack!

Wow!  Caitlin is finally starting to like her bath - even if it was in the sink!!  Until now, it was a challenge to bathe her and not have her slip out of your hands as she fought it!!

A final good night hug between brother and sister!  So sweet!

We're heading HOME tomorrow!!  Mr. Zhou has requested a 4:30 am wake up call for everyone - luggage must be in the halls by 5:00 am (for the bell boys to pick up) and the bus is leaving at 6:00 am!! That ought to be a fun morning!

Day 14 - Back to the Doctor's, Shopping and Chinese Family Style meal

This morning Caitlin was up bright and early, so we fortunately did not have to wake her up to go the doctor's office.  When we got there she had a low grade fever (~ 99 - not sure if it was elevated because she was screaming and fighting the nurse trying to take her temp or it's still the crud from yesterday), but they gave her the shots anyway.  This time Mr. Zhou held Caitlin while two other nurses helped hold her and try to sooth her while a third nurse gave her the two shots.  It was awful to watch!  Thank goodness that's over with!

Caitlin and Daddy on the way back to the hotel after shots.

Morning group exercise in the park. They have their music playing and everyone is doing the Chinese Zumba!  (or something like that!) ;)

Zachary and Caitlin wrestling in the hallway!  It's so amazing to see the love between these two grow so much in such a short time!  Zachary loves his little sister!! And Caitlin loves her big brother! The two have such a great time chasing each other up and down the hallway! 

They talked us into buying balloons for them from a a guy walking down the street.  They had so much fun playing with them and amazingly enough, neither one floated away! 

After breakfast we all headed out for some more shopping and haggling!!  

 

The grandparents enjoying some tea with Dong at Susan's Place. (one of the many shops)

While in one of the shops, Noah noticed that she had a rash of sorts on her wrist - not sure what that is, but it doesn't seem to bother her.  Once again, Caitlin fell asleep on the way back to the hotel, but once we got her undressed to change her diaper, we noticed more rashes on her body.  We immediately gave her a bath to clean her up and tried to find Mr. Zhou to see if he knew what this was. Unfortunately he was not in his room, so we decided to put her down for a nap and and see if it clears up while she is sleeping.  We're wondering if it's a reaction to one of the shots as well.  Not sure!

I stayed back in the room to blog while she slept and the rest of the gang went out to get lunch from the street vendors.  Meanwhile Mr. Zhou stopped by, after running into Noah on the street, to check Caitlin out.  He seems to think it's nothing to be worried about.  Hope he's right!  I just can't say enough good things about Mr. Zhou - he truly is an amazing man and we are so lucky to have him with us, helping us through everything!!!  Thank you Mr. Zhou!

Caitlin ended up napping for 3 1/2 hours!!  These shots and the crud are really wearing her down!  Poor thing!  It was nice to be able to let her sleep and not have anywhere to be this afternoon.  

All eleven families met Mr. Zhou in the lobby of our hotel (Victory Hotel - West Building) to go out for a family style Chinese dinner at the Victory Hotel - East Building (or the new building as they call it).  Wow, what an amazing spread!!!  We started out with steamed eggs which were for the babies (on the line of an egg custard with chicken broth), then came the stir fried broccoli and garlic, barbecue pork, pork and veggies, fried rice, chicken and cashews, chicken and snow peas, shrimp, celery dish and I'm sure there were a couple others I'm forgetting, but the finale was the beautiful fruit plate - yum!  The food was delicious and very plentiful as you can see!!!  Caitlin is not big on sitting in a high chair; which will change once we get back to the states; so we took turns walking around with her throughout the meal.  I'm sure the fact that she's not feeling 100% isn't helping matters either. 

At dinner we sat with Jackie, Avery and Keith.

The fruit plate!! Yummy!

After dinner we headed back to the hotel to put Caitlin to bed, while Zachary played with Legos in Nana and Grandpa's room. We have a big day tomorrow - the final swearing in ceremony at the US Consulate!!!  So exciting! 

Day 13 - Free day & Group Photos

Caitlin and Zachary both slept in this morning, and Caitlin woke up feeling rough after yesterday's shots and quite possibly coming down with a slight cold.  (Snot everywhere!! - Poor thing!) So we decided not to join the group on the subway trip to the museum and instead just get outside for some "fresh air", that is, as fresh as polluted air can be!  The grandparents however,  went with the rest of the group so they could see more sites during their last few days here.  We went around the corner from or hotel to an exercise area / playground area for about an hour and then walked around area to check some things out. We found lots of cute squeaky shoes for Caitlin and Zachary found a mini Lego man! Amazing!!  If there is a Lego toy to be found, he will find it!!  

Caitlin and Zachary see-sawing with each other!  So Cute!

The intricate detail on some of their sidewalks here in China are absolutely amazing!  Someone painstakingly arranged these tiny rocks into this Yin and Yang pattern as well as many other patterns on the sidewalks all around the park. 

 

Dried Seahorses!!

While Caitlin was napping, Noah and I ventured out to check out the local street vendor cuisine!!  Dried seahorses or snake skins anyone?!  Someone in our group googled recipes for dried seahorses and there were actually several.  However, we believe these both are used in medicines over here.  Surely they are FDA approved medicine concoctions!!  We found some Chinese pancakes and other bread pockets filled with green veggies and egg which were delicious.  As well, we found bakery lane, or so we call it, as there must have been 4-5 bakeries on the same street!  We picked up 7-8 cookies and 1/2 loaf of bread.  Everything together totaled less than $1.00!!  What a deal!

Snake skins!!

We actually had to wake Caitlin up from her nap to take her back to the doctor's for the second round of shots.  When she woke up the nose was just running and she felt very warm! Sure enough, she had a fever and they would not give her her shots until the fever was gone - so we have to try again tomorrow!!  Ugh!  The clinic opens at 8:00 am so we have to meet Mr.Zhou at 7:50 am to get in and out quickly so he can then take our paperwork to the consulate.  Once we got back to the hotel we changed her clothes and met all the families in the hotel lobby to get a group photo taken.  Mr. Zhou led us over to the White Swan Hotel (a couple blocks away) for the photo.  

There are gold fish and coi fish swimming in the indoor pond.

Haddie, Amelia, Molly and Caitlin on the famous red couch.  We hoped to get all the kids together for a photo shoot, but it just didn't happen!  Haddie and Amelia are both three while Molly is 13 months and Caitlin is 14 months. They all looked so cute in their little silk Chinese dresses!  

Molly and Caitlin chatting it up. "You got to see the purses I found.."

"What do you think of this one Molly?!  It would go great with your dress!"

Nana and Granpa with Zachary and Caitlin (note our little snacker not missing a bite - even during the photo shoot!  :)

Grandma and Grandpa with Zachary and Caitlin (snacking some more! :))

The whole gang on the red couch!!  

We're so blessed to have been able to share this amazing experience with both sets of grandparents!  We couldn't have made it through these two weeks with out you guys!!!  We love you and thank you from the bottom of our hearts!!

Day 12 -- Free Day and Medical Exam

Today we took advantage of our free morning to get out and enjoy the nice sunny weather and get some shopping done!  There are so many little shops here selling the SAME stuff!  I think I mentioned this before, but really, how do they stay in business?!  We are enjoying the haggling processes with the merchants, it's become a fun game for most of us.  

Kristin, this one's for you!!  Each morning I look out our window, see this down below and think of you - you'd love it here!  ;)

We met Mr. Zhou at 3:00pm to go get the kids photos taken for the visa paperwork and then it was on to the medical examinations.  From what I had been told, they were pretty quick and easy.  Basically, they did a quick check over- eyes, ears etc., then it was on to the next room where they weighed her and measured her.  Unfortunately our little sweetheart was very cooperative - she wanted nothing to do with this exam!!  For here weight, the nurse actually had to get on the adult scale holding Caitlin and then give her to us, weigh herself and the determine the difference between the two numbers to get Caitlin's weight!  Well, she weighs 22.5 lbs and is 31 inches tall.  Growing nicely!!  Next we moved to another room where the doctor listened to her heart.  (She has a hole in her heart - VSD).  This doctor then asked us to follow him in to another room where two other doctors listened and then chatted in Chinese (of course) for what seemed and eternity as we listened and watched their facial expressions trying to figure out what was going on!  The female doctor finally turned to us and said "Her heart murmur, we cannot hear it anymore, the hole probably has closed up."  What a relief!!! We will still take her to be check out by her pediatric cardiologist in the states, but this was great news!!  Unfortunately the last stop we had to make was in the vaccination room!!  Once again because we are under the new Hague regulations, we have other guidelines/rules we have to adhere to, one of which is making sure her vaccinations are up to date before we leave the country.  (The other families got to leave after the basic check-up!  Poor Caitlin!!)  They reviewed her medical paperwork and determined that she needed FIVE shots!!!  UGH!!  Poor little thing!!!  Unfortunately they cannot give her all five today so we have to return tomorrow to get the last two!  Caitlin has some lungs on her!! It took myself and a nurse to hold her still while a second nurse administered the shots.  I teared up watching her go through this whole ordeal, as if she hasn't been through enough already in these few days!!!

Just a little side note... not sure how thorough these doctors/nurses are.  For example... one family adopted a little girl who is missing an ear, however when the did the hearing test (which consisted of squeezing a squeaky toy on either side of her head), she passed in both ears!  Go figure!  Another family's little girl's special need was that she had MS yet on her exam they marked that she was recovered.  We're not sure if the initial diagnosis we incorrect or this one was, but we're pretty sure you can't be recovered from MS.  (maybe we're wrong!)

Caitlin didn't exactly enjoy the medical examination.  :(

Mr. Zhou holding Caitlin while we wait the mandatory 30 minutes after the shots - they're pretty strict about it too!!  At one point when I thought the time was up, they told me 2 more minutes!!  Come on now, seriously?!

Caitlin and Daddy making a break for it as soon as we were allowed!  She's a trooper!

One of the many wedding photo shoots we saw around the Guangzhou  Shamian Island.  This couple is dressed in typical Chinese silk outfits.

After the medical exam we decided to try a new restaurant on the island - La Dolche Vita da Raffaele.  It was owned by an Italian man who opened the restaurant up for business last year.  The food was fantastic!!!  It was so nice to have fresh tomatoes on my brushetta!!  What a special treat to top off the meal with some homemade gelato too!!!  Yum!  Caitlin passed out in the stroller on the walk back to the hotel, which was only about 4-5 blocks away!  :)  

Once we were back at the hotel, Noah put Caitlin down and passed out himself while I read one of the Magic Tree House books with Zachary.  After he went to bed, I went down the hall and watched Slumdog Millionaire with the grandparents!  (Movies are cheap to buy here.) What do you mean it's still in the theaters back home!  ;)

Day 11 - Guangzhou Zoo

Today our whole group (all 11 families) set off to see the Guangzhou Zoo - in the misty/drizzling rain! Our group has gotten so big now that we need a bus and an 11-passenger van to haul everyone around. Our immediate group of eight and one other family of five rode in the van with Mr. Zhou's assistant, Jason. (Children ride on their parents laps here - this ought to make for a fun transition into the car seat when we get back to the states!) Jason was very nice and informative. He told us that the people from Guangzhou are very tough and will eat anything that flies except airplanes and anything with four legs except tables and chairs. He is originally from the Hun an Provence and he told us that he only eats normal things, not crazy stuff! He also told us that many young couples come to Guangzhou to get their bridal photos done here because it's so picturesque. He said that on the day of the wedding, there is a banquet after the ceremony and the bride and groom will get drunk and they don't want any photos of themselves this way, so they wait 1-2 months after the wedding day to take their photos. We've already seen at least 1/2 dozen to a dozen couples in the few short days we've been here!

The zoo was pretty nice, I even found my nephew Aidan hanging around waiting to see Zachy-man! See if you can find him hiding below!!! :) (We love and miss you! Say hi to Finley and Emily for us!) They had everything at this zoo from lions, tigers & bears (oh my!) to coypu (looked like they are from the rat family), zebras, camels (with humps that were drooped over) and of course the ever popular Pomeranian Puppies!? Plus we got to see one tiny panda while we were there as well. I think it would have been even more enjoyable if the weather had cooperated!

Aidan waiting to pop out and scare us! :)  (or is it Sophie?!! - say hi to Ivy for us too!)

Zachary and Caitlin checking out the lion!

Posing for a photo!!

Mommy and Zachary in front of the beautiful bamboo.

Zachary acting silly with his buddy Thatcher and the elephant!!

Granpa, Nana Zachary and Me on our way out of the zoo.

After we go back from the zoo we headed around the corner to the Cow and Bridge Thai Restaurant with three other families. The food was good, but unfortunately we haven't been able to sit down and enjoy a meal the whole time we've been here! Caitlin doesn't particularly like sitting for more than, oh let's say 2 seconds!!!! I have a feeling she's our "Aidan" :) We keep warning her that she's in for a rude awakening when we get home! It is so hard to set rules and enforce them as there is no consitstency in our days here! I can't wait to get home and establish a routine again as well as eat some fresh fruit and vegetables!

While Cailtin was napping, Nana and I went out shopping for a couple hours. Come to find out, she never actually fell asleep - oops! So, it ended up being playtime for Daddy, Zachary and Caitlin! Once we got back from shopping, we headed back down to the palyroom for some fun!

Caitlin and her new friend Molly from Midland, Michigan (which is the next town over from Noah's Grandpa's cottage!! Unbelievable!!

Dinner was low key (sandwiches and leftovers) and in our rooms tonight, I just couldn't handle another meal in a restaurant today!!

Chowin' down some cold pizza with my big brother in the hall way to no where!!

Zachary is a sleepwear fashion expert and he tells me that it's the new look for fall!

Another great day is over and we have no where to be early in the morning, so Zachary asked if he could "sleep in for the whole day tomorrow"?! I'm with you buddy, that sounds great! The only appointment we have tomorrow is set for 3:00 pm - Caitlin's medical exam, which I hope goes pretty smoothly and is a breeze!

More tomorrow... Only a few more days until we head home!!!!