Friday Evening

Well, the four of us are home for the evening. Ken's culture results from the ER visit on Wednesday evening were supposed to be back today, but they didn't arrive - they ought to come Monday instead. They did not find any complications with the clot in his arm when they did the Doppler. They are now running multiple antibiotic IV meds in hopes of getting things turned around. The doctor took the packing out tonight. He cleaned the wound and re-dressed it. If Ken responds to the medications, he could be discharged on Monday, but it won't be sooner than that.

In the meantime, we will brace for an ice storm expected to reach our community during the night tonight. If it is as they forecast, we won't be leaving home tomorrow to go see him.... In fact, we won't be going much of anywhere. We will keep you posted on how things are going. Thanks again for your warm wishes and prayers!

Friday the 30th

Elle had a tough time going to sleep last night, and now, she doesn't want to wake up. Once we can get her around, we will head to see Daddy. Its about a 70 minute drive. The weather is supposed to turn really terrible later tonight, so we'll want to be back home before dark. He is to have a doppler done today as the swelling and infection is in the same arm as his blood clot (which happened several years ago). They want to be sure that there aren't new blockages and that the old clot is not becoming problematic. He says they have done two of the IV doses now. The swelling has now progressed into his fingers... I wanted him to give me good news this morning when we talked, but he didn't have any....

Please keep us in your prayers - it certainly is not the way it the way we had imagined life to be once we got home from China. Please pray that the antibiotics begin to work and that there is no long term damage to the tissue. We are grateful for your words of encouragement, prayers, and offers of support as its been a trying 36 hours, with a long ways still to go.... Thanks!

Now we need Daddy home.....

Well, my dear husband has been hospitalized. They are doing IV antibiotics for the horrible infection and swelling in his arm. Its likely that he will be there through the weekend. Poor guy - he still has not slept in his own bed since we've been home. He even slept on the couch last night so that nobody would bump his arm.

The first photo is the way she slept last night when she refused to get into any of the beds. The other photo is of her eating her first hamburger - tonight! She loved it, until she found a pickle. That makes Big Brother Bryant and Uncle Rodger very happy.... They don't like pickles either!

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!