We made it safely home everyone. Thank you for your prayers everyone. We barely missed record breaking bad weather and airport closures in China. We also had a frightening landing in Bangor last night.
Noelle did wonderfully on the 22 hour trip. She was one wasted girl last night. We all went to bed around 8:30pm and slept about 8 1/2 hours.....still feel pretty woozy right now.
Noelle is having a great time in her new surroundings. All of her new toys are a big hit!
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Last day in China
We are happy to announce that we are back from the appointment at the US Consulate. First we stood in line with all the other families while waiting for our turn at a glass window. They basically just looked at our faces (Tonya's, Mike's, & Noelle's) and stamped a copy of our passports something like "approved". Then we all sat down and waited about 10 minutes. There were about 40 families there from a bunch of different agencies. 15 from AWAA. After a while an American man gave a short speech and then had us all stand up and raise our right hand. Then, all at once we declared that everything in our adoption documents was truthful to the best of our knowledge. After that the man said "congratulations" and everyone cheered. A few people threw things like blankets and bibs in the air. Then we were handed out a brown envelope with all of Noelle's visa information and her passport with the US visa. We were told not to open the brown envelope, only to hand it over to the customs officials at our point of entry into the US (Detroit Wayne County Airport for us).
We will check out tonight so we don't have to do it in the morning. Our luggage has to be packed and outside of our door by 5am. We leave at 5:45am for the airport. Our flight for Tokyo departs around 8:30am.
China has been an awesome adventure. We are thrilled that Noelle is now together with us as her forever family. We are very excited for home sweet home!
Next post to be from Orrington, MAINE!!!!!
We will check out tonight so we don't have to do it in the morning. Our luggage has to be packed and outside of our door by 5am. We leave at 5:45am for the airport. Our flight for Tokyo departs around 8:30am.
China has been an awesome adventure. We are thrilled that Noelle is now together with us as her forever family. We are very excited for home sweet home!
Next post to be from Orrington, MAINE!!!!!
Monday, January 28, 2008
Staring
First of all pardon Robin sticking out her tongue. She is a typical 13 year old. To the right of her is a lady staring at us at the airport in Nanchang. This happens a lot in China, especially when our group is all together. They just walk up within a couple yards of you (or closer) and just gawk at you. When you make eye contact they will look away most of the time. That's when you take their picture. We haven't learned the Mandarin translation of "take a picture, it will last longer".
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Hello everyone back home!
It's about 11am Monday morning here in Guangzhou. We are stuck in our hotel room until noon while we wait for our guides to complete their appointment at the US Consulate. They deliver our paperwork for us and wait there to see if there are any questions or problems. We have to be available until they are through. Around 1pm we are all meeting in the lobby. We will be leaving the hotel for Shamian Island, there are a lot of shops where there are good deals....lots of baby clothes, shoes, and souveniers. After that we will probably go somewhere for dinner or come back to the hotel and find something here. The hotel is very fancy. There are at least 3 or 4 restaurants here. Tonya, Robin, and some of their lady friends are going to get foot massages tonight. I'll probably have Noelle duty. We will probably walk around and explore, have Cheerios and Shrimp Crisps, play toys, etc.. I feel really bad that they do not sell Noelle's rice cereal back home because she loves it so much. She is addicted to it big time. It is called Fish Flesh & Vegetable. She had two good sized helpings of it this morning. I think I may try to buy a bunch here in Guangzhou to bring home if I have the chance.
We bought an extra suitcase last night. A real nice one for about $40 at a shop nearby. We need the extra cargo space for some things we bought here in China. Tomorrow is the day that we have our official interview at the Consulate. We will have to promise to take good care of Noelle to the officials there. There is a short ceremonial type event that will take place. I think that's all we'll be doing tomorrow. We'll probably start packing tomorrow night so that we won't have much to pack on Wednesday. Robin and I plan on having one more little adventure tomorrow out on the streets of China. It's a wierd feeling when you are the only Caucasians around in a sea of Orientals. Most everyone in China has been very very friendly, especially when they find out that you are adopting here. They realize that their country has a problem that they can not handle and most people are very appreciative to adoptive families. They often say "lucky baby, lucky baby".
We are anxious to get back to Maine and our house, clean air, dust free rooms, good temperature control, etc.. We also are anxious to get Noelle set up in her own room with a vaporizer with the Vick's or something similar. That might help with the coughing....also anxious to get her to a pediatrician for a physical and bloodwork, etc..
I think she is going to do great at home. She is very happy and easygoing most all of the time. I think our posts show that pretty well. She is very inquisitive and curious about anything new so as long as she is not too tired bringing her to new places is always enjoyable.
I'm sure she will warm up to all of you fairly quickly. She definitely does not like being handed over to strangers. It is pretty scary for her. The Chinese women at restaurants and hotels will come right up and pick her up without asking.....complete strangers! I still don't understand that. So don't feel bad if she cries or acts scared when she sees all of you at the beginning. Thanks goodness, I am past that stage. It made me feel pretty bad sorta.
We're Anxious to come home and see everyone evern though we'll probably be wasted.
We bought an extra suitcase last night. A real nice one for about $40 at a shop nearby. We need the extra cargo space for some things we bought here in China. Tomorrow is the day that we have our official interview at the Consulate. We will have to promise to take good care of Noelle to the officials there. There is a short ceremonial type event that will take place. I think that's all we'll be doing tomorrow. We'll probably start packing tomorrow night so that we won't have much to pack on Wednesday. Robin and I plan on having one more little adventure tomorrow out on the streets of China. It's a wierd feeling when you are the only Caucasians around in a sea of Orientals. Most everyone in China has been very very friendly, especially when they find out that you are adopting here. They realize that their country has a problem that they can not handle and most people are very appreciative to adoptive families. They often say "lucky baby, lucky baby".
We are anxious to get back to Maine and our house, clean air, dust free rooms, good temperature control, etc.. We also are anxious to get Noelle set up in her own room with a vaporizer with the Vick's or something similar. That might help with the coughing....also anxious to get her to a pediatrician for a physical and bloodwork, etc..
I think she is going to do great at home. She is very happy and easygoing most all of the time. I think our posts show that pretty well. She is very inquisitive and curious about anything new so as long as she is not too tired bringing her to new places is always enjoyable.
I'm sure she will warm up to all of you fairly quickly. She definitely does not like being handed over to strangers. It is pretty scary for her. The Chinese women at restaurants and hotels will come right up and pick her up without asking.....complete strangers! I still don't understand that. So don't feel bad if she cries or acts scared when she sees all of you at the beginning. Thanks goodness, I am past that stage. It made me feel pretty bad sorta.
We're Anxious to come home and see everyone evern though we'll probably be wasted.
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