Back Home

We arrived here at about 1:15am. We had intended to spend the night in Denver, but upon arrival at DIA, we needed to take Ken to the ER. After an hour in the waiting room and a very unprofessional experience, we headed on home. We had not even gotten his vitals taken. We were sitting in a lobby with patients actually licking the nitro out of the bottom of the bottle as they waited to be seen. Staff behind the desk were laughing, taking personal calls, and reading e-mail jokes out loud. It was terrible. No wonder people in big cities die while sitting in the ER.

We drove about three hours and saw a doctor.... and then, when they were done with Ken, we drove the rest of the way home - as long as we promised to take him to a local physician today. We have an appointment for this afternoon, so we hope to get him on the mend soon.

Elle spent her first night at home in the recliner, because that was where SHE wanted to be. She's still snoozing even though all the lights are on... tired girl after a LONG day yesterday. We thank you for all your prayer and support. Bringing-E-Home as been crossed off our to do list! She is home!!

Longest Day of Our Lives

We are in Denver! We left the hotel at 5:20am on Wednesday morning, flew on three planes, had to re-do our seats because the flight was changed, got searched a million times, and I'd have to guess at least 20 hours have passed, but, its STILL WEDNESDAY and only 2:30pm. Elle did very well on the flights with only a few meltdowns.

We have some business to attend to here in town this afternoon yet, but we INTEND to head home tomorrow. Thanks for your prayers - Elle is almost home!

Last Post from China

We are mostly packed and I think all the tasks are done. Everyone is starting to wind down for the night - and we will have bellhops ringing our doorbell at 4:50am to take our suitcases down. Then, we are off to America! The past two weeks have been slow, but fast. We feel blessed to have spent time here in our daughter's native country, but we are anxious to get back to our own home! Here are some photos from today. Enjoy!

Consulate Swearing and Visa - TIME TO COME HOME!

We were among about 52 other families taking the oath today and receiving our children's visa's from the US Consulate in Guangzhou. We gave a brown envelope that is sealed and stamped. When we arrive in the US, we'll go through the line labeled "non-US citizens" and they will open it for us and complete the documents so that Elle is a citizen of the United States. Since both Ken and I came, she is a citizen from the moment we enter US airspace, which is cool!

It has been an amazing journey - we leave tomorrow morning at 5:15am for the airport. We catch a 8:25am flight to Hong Kong. We land their at 9:05am and then, wait until 12:50pm for a flight to Denver. We have a brief stop in San Francisco to go through customs and immigration, but ought to land in Denver by 2:26pm. Its a fourteen hour (plus) flight, but it will take less than three hours clock time. We aren't sure how Elle will do on such a long, boring flight. It got to be a bit much for us as big people when we came, so I am sure she will probably struggle with it some too.

Yet tonight, we have to re-pack our suitcases, return my international cellular phone, check all the drawers in our room (as Elle likes to hide things), empty the safe of all our important documents, and get some sleep. The boys didn't want to be in the room for Elle's bath (always lots of screaming), so they left to go play ping-pong and pool in the game room.

Look out America, we will be home soon! I am needing a big glass of cold, iced tea. Bryant wants to go for a 4-wheeler ride. Daddy wants to get started decorating for Christmas. Alex misses his friends. Poor Elle, she has no idea what's in store for her, but neither do all the people at home who are anxious to meet her. She is a fun little girl who certainly will brighten up all our lives!

Thanks for sharing our journey - we are ready to bring E home!!

Jumping Over Bryant

See, she is a wild, little girl!

Squeaky Shoes AND Noisy Toys

There are squeakers in the heels of her shoes and she has a noisy toy. JOY!

School Children Saying Hello - Tuesday, 27th

Together for a Week Today

Sometimes, its hard to believe that we only met ElleAnna a week ago today. She sleeps all night long and is a good eater. She is mostly potty trained, but not completely. She loves books and gives high fives. She clearly prefers Ken and Alex. She usually screams if either Bryant or I try to pick her up but we can help her with things, so we are hopeful to be in her good graces someday.

What to say about today.... well, ElleAnna's paperwork went through the Consulate Appointment with no problems. We spent the morning in the room with Elle showing us her funny side. At about 12:20pm we went for lunch and some shopping. At 2pm, all the families met in the lobby and we walked to the open market where you could buy almost anything (yes, those are dried sea horses in the bag) as well as some shopping centers. At 4:40pm, we all went to the White Swan for the Red Couch photos. Someone will need to tell Granny that she has her first mending job for Elle who managed to pull the edging off her dress in two places already.

We ended our day with a meal as a big group. Elle started out doing well - actually sitting in the high chair for the first time, but she started to meltdown, so Momma bit the bullet and carried her back to the hotel. With all Elle's screaming, its a miracle that the police didn't get called.... She wore herself out and after her bath (always an unpleasant experience), the guys arrived. She was glad to see Daddy to save her from Mean Momma! Today, Elle only wanted Alex. Poor guy broke his back carrying her all day long.

Tomorrow, we leave here at 2:40pm to head over to the Consulate building together. All total, about 50 American families will take the oath tomorrow so that our children can have citizenship when they arrive in the United States. We are not allowed to take cameras or electronic devices into the building, so we are sad that we cannot share the event with you. They will give us her passport back with her Visa stamp in it so that she can enter the United States with us. We need to get our plane tickets from Guangzhou to Hong Kong straightened out (the names aren't right), but otherwise, it looks like we'll be good to go. We leave the hotel at 5:30am on Wednesday for the flight back home, so tomorrow night will mean lots of packing!

The photos here are from our adventures today. We hope that you are enjoying being a part of our journey!