Sunday, September 24, 2006

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BRITTANY!!
ALL THE WAY FROM CHINA!!

     We have had a busy weekend. We arrived in Guangzhou at about 12:00 p.m. Saturday afternoon. Alivia did wonderful on her very first plane ride. She was awake at takeoff but then she slept until we landed. I pray she can be half this good on the 14.5 hour plane trip home in LESS THAN FOUR DAYS!!!! The other four babies did just as well. It has been quite nice seeing and being reunited with all the other families with their new precious bundles of joy. We have missed them so much! After waiting almost 2 hours at check-in, we settled in our room at the White Swan Hotel. Yes, there is a waterfall in the lobby. It is a very beautiful hotel and a very busy one, too. Lot’s of people everywhere. We were starving so Jennifer broke out the beef jerky and looked who enjoyed it more than us! She's such a silly girl!
     Saturday evening was so much FUN!! We ate American food at Lucy’s. That cheeseburger, French fries, onion rings and apple pie never tasted so good. The Hunan group has had a taste of American food, we had not. It was a real welcoming treat. Alivia accomplished a lot of “first” today. At dinner, she made her first attempt at feeding herself and did a wonderful job! We went to the room for some place time and Alivia stood by herself alongside the bed for the first time. We are seeing so much progress in her and it’s only been a few days. Bedtime was quite early (8:00 p.m.) as we had gotten up so early to catch the bus to the airport.
     Sunday morning was our first breakfast in the White Swan. A really big selection with lots of American foods. Boy, I love saying that. Alivia is not much of a morning person. It usually takes several hours before she is awake enough to start enjoying her day. But by that time she is ready for her nap. Oh well, when we get back home we’ll worry about a routine. Spent most of the afternoon working on the all important paperwork for our US Consulate appointment on Tuesday. Elvin has been a great help to all of us. I pray all is in order. Tomorrow the babies are having their medical exams. That should be very interesting!
     Sunday evening was a blast! We got American food AGAIN. All of the families (all eleven) decided to miss the Chinese meal and stay in the hotel. Three of us families ordered pizza, salad and garlic bread from Danny’s Bagels. The food was out-of-this-world. We hung out at the end of the hall where we have a big open area for the babies to play together. It was the best evening, yet! Alivia, Samantha, and Baby Kat got their first taste of pizza and Hershey kisses! They are addicted! After much socializing – we headed back to the room for an early bedtime. Gave Alivia a bath (which she still doesn’t like), but none of the babies do. Am heading to bed now and it’s only 8:30 (nothing feeling the best tonight).
     Love you all and miss you! Can’t wait to get home – only 4 more days!

God bless – Lisa, Jennifer and Baby Alivia