Optimism and Adrenaline

Jan 12--Off to the Airport

We are spending the night in a hotel near the airport. I wouldn't consider it, except for the ice and the 7:30 flight. I have to admit that it's nice to have the van parked and my bags packed. I have to get up at 4:30 AM, but I won't sleep anyway. It's only 24 hours away!

The last song on the radio before I left the van was SC Chapman's I'm Diving In, so here I go, off to China! My friend Karen told me to have faith and not fear, so that's what I'm holding onto right now. The panic is just under the surface.

I'm thinking about how everything will change for Ethan. Everything that's been familiar to him will change. He'll be ripped away from his familiar to go with strangers. I can't wait to meet him, but he has no idea what's about to happen.

Jan 13th-- On the Airplane

We arrived at 5:15 and got boarding passes. It took five bins and 3 bags through security. I had to remove my shoes and Jackson's shoes, shed the coats, put the liquids in my 2 allowed baggies on the line, get out the laptop etc. No one wanted to be behind us. Going through security with a 5 year old was challenging. US Air didn't ticket us correctly, issuing a paper ticket instead of an e-ticket boarding pass. Even though we were over 2 hours early, we were pulled from the loading ramp and had to go change the pass. I was angry and panicked! I had been so afraid I'd miss the SF flight because of delay, not because of incompetence. We were the last ones on the plane, but we made it. Jackson watched Wonder Pets the entire flight all 5 and half hours!

The second flight was longer. After about 3 hours, Jackson thought we would go upstairs (to business class) and find a bed and sleep. I had been telling him that we would need to sleep for the last part of the flight. When he found out there was no bed waiting for him, he had a full meltdown, laying down in the aisle and crying. I was terribly embarrassed, but a few Chinese grandmothers close by chuckled and said, "Oh he so fussy. He so tired." After that, he did sleep for the rest of the flight. 27 hours after we left our hotel room in Charlotte, we were in our hotel in Beijing, exhausted.

Home Again!

So, we are home. I am slowly getting back into the routine. I love just being at home and playing with all of my children. I love watching the oldest three get to know Ethan. My three oldest have all come to me and said it's so much better to get a little brother who can already play with them, no endless crying, constant feeding and constant quiet. I admit that I never considered this. Ethan is doing great! He's so funny and playful. Every day he gets more affectionate. I kept a diary in China, and I'm planning to post the days I was gone, but for now, here's more info.

Ethan's Size: 18 months
Ethan's Weight: 26 pounds ( I don't know how the "latest" update was so wrong)
Ethan's favorite food: watermelon and milk, but he eats most everything
Ethan's least favorite food: applesauce
Ethan's favorite activity: zooming around the house in the red coupe
Ethan's favorite thing: his shoes, sometimes he sleeps with them
Ethan's least favorite thing: a bath, ooh he hates them
Words he knows: no, bye-bye, cracker, uh-oh, shoe
Nickname in China: Qiangze== rhymes with Kwanza, but Cha in the front
Mom's favorite memory: His first piece of cakeh
Cutest thing he does: cuts his eyes at me and grins
Mom's favorite: his eyes


He's a very polite boy. He says thank-you in Chinese when I hand him something. He's responding to Ethan now. Zach spent about 10 minutes pointing to Ethan and Zach back and forth until he got it. Zach now thinks he's brilliant. He told me in a why-didn't-you-think-of-it tone.

I'm so in love with him! I'm just bursting with love for all of my kiddos right now. So blessed!

1 Day To Go! Packing Up

As you can see, we are packed and ready to go. The sun is shining and the ice is melting. Flying out early tomorrow morning!

We are almost there, Ethan.

2 Days and Counting! Rob Goes to the Opera--Jan is Iced In

I leave in 2 days! I can hardly believe it. Yesterday seemed to drag by. Today is the same. Rob was able to go to the opera in Jiangzu. He is the only American in the audience and the opera is in the local dialect. Even his collegue can't understand it.

I am looking at the glaze thicken on the road. I don't know how my flight will leave on Thursday. It's not going to get any warmer. I'm a little bit panicked by it. The snow didn't bother me yesterday. I lived in Blacksburg long enought to respectfully navigate in the snow, but no one with any sense gets out in the ice.

My plan is to drive in the warmest part of the day tomorrow, spend the night in Charlotte and take a shuttle Thursday morning. My flight is at 7:35, so I don't really want to be scraping my van at 4:00AM.

I've confirmed my flight to Beijing. I've printed out all of the papers I need. I've packed--I just have to squeeze those tennis shoes into my bag. I even cleaned the refrigerator. All that is left is more house cleaning and packing the older children for Marmie and PaPa's house.

Breathe! Breathe! I'll be okay! Really??

6 Days and Counting--Updates!

I got updated sizing and pictures today!

Ethan is almost 36 inches tall, 33 pounds and his foot is 5 and 1/2 inches long. That puts him right between 2T and 3T and about a 7 shoe. I think most of the clothes I bought for him will fit. I have a few 24 months sizes I'll add to the orphanage gift. I have a set of socks that are definately too small, but I have already packed those in the other suitcase, the one that is already in China.

I guess he's sleeping in a crib. That's one question answered.

If you were reading my blog yesterday, my carry-on weighed in at 27 pounds, 5 over! The limit in China is less than international. I'm not sure what to do about that, but I'll think on it. I can't think of anything obvious to leave behind.

One Week to Go! What's in Jan's Carry-On?

So, I'm packing (or repacking) my carry-on bag today. Since I already sent one bag to China with Rob last week, I put everything else in my carry-on. I knew I wouldn't remember what I sent ahead, so I had to see everything I needed. I didn't think to take pictures. And yes, I have forgotten what I packed in that bag. I vaguely remember packing all of the gifts, warm clothes and swim suits for GZ and clothes for Ethan. I packed a diaper bag and meds for every ailment any child has ever had just in case.

Here's what I know I have in my carry-on bag:

1 warm change of clothes for Jan

1 pair of socks

sweatsuit and light pjs for Jan

a bathing suit coverup to double as a robe

underwear for Jan--Yes, I put it in a ziplock bag so that an unknown person in customs won't touch them

meds and vitamins

makeup and toiletries

kleenex

snacks--hopefully enough until we get to GZ. There is plenty of western food for Jackson in GZ.

disposable bibs

diapers

2 outfits for Ethan

pjs for Ethan

socks for Ethan

1 warm change of clothes for Jackson

underwear for Jackson

socks for Jackson

blanket--the special knitted one from Blacksburg that all of my babies have loved

IMPORTANT adoption papers

passports

gum

toys

raincoats--light hiking ones

Dickens novels for the airplane IF Jackson sleeps and I get to read

red envelopes

Dramamine--I'm no supermom

I can't forget the camera!!

Look at these sweet shirts I bought for the younger brothers. One says Big brother. The other says Little brother. I can't wait for that picture.

New Year Blessings

Happy New Years! I usually dread New Year's Day. It's the anniversary of my father's death (nine years now) and it usually approaches with such despair and dread. God has given me a new something to celebrate in January, a Gotcha Day. It looks like it will be Jan 16th. Now, I'll have a little special celebration to plan for after Christmas every year. I had so wanted to be in China before Christmas, but as usual, this works out so much better.

Rob says that it is cold, very cold. The heat is not usually left on in the hotel room during the day, though he made a special request and was accommodated. I'm afraid that our pjs won't be warm enough in Shandong, so I'm going to buy some warmer pjs for me and Ethan. LOL, another reason to go shopping!! Jackson has some warm ones I can pack, along with some lighter ones he can wear underneath.

Overall, I'm finalizing plans for the children staying home, (and our furry friends, too). I'm so ready to go! Only 9 more days!