Home Sweet Home

We're home at last! And what a thrill is it to be able to post straight to the blog! (Thanks, Mom, for uploading for me while we were gone.)

May 27
In the morning we hung out in our hotel room, finishing some last minute packing while Dh went to the agency mtg at the White Swan. When he was finished, we walked to lunch at the Cow/Bridge. Although it had rained some in the morning, the skies cleared for our last day in Guangzhou. We stopped at one shop, loaded our bags onto the bus and headed to the WhiteSwan to meet the rest of our group for the famous "Red Couch" photos.

After photos, the agency families as well as several other adoptive families from the White Swan boarded a bus to travel to the American Consulate. We weren't allowed to take photos there, but you're not missing much. We were basically led through a series of security checkpoints into a large waiting area. As families, we went up to the window to turn in paperwork that our guides had just handed us. Then we all (whole room full of us...maybe 15 families or more?) had to stand and swear or affirm that we'd care for these children. If I was emotional it was because this signaled that we were finally DONE with this excruciatingly long, arduous process. We were one of the only Hague families in the room; they even mentioned the fact that a Hague family was there. What an (ugh!) honor.

After the ceremony, some of our group returned to the White Swan to await morning flights out of Guangzhou. The rest of us rode a bus to the train station for a trip to HongKong. The train to HongKong took about 2 hours. We were thermo scanned going into the train station. Note to self/oldest son: don't spend the entire wait time playing with your new Chinese hacky sack toy. By the time we were ready to enter the train station, Anakin was sweating like crazy. He went to the bathroom to get some water to wash his face/legs and got through without incident.

On the train to Hong Kong, Dh talked with an Indian fellow who lived in HongKong. He recommended that we find an Indian taxi driver when we reach HongKong. He told us that their prices were reasonable and that they were trustworthy. Almost immediately upon getting through security, we were approached by an Indian man who said he would like to take us to our hotel in his van. We were thrilled as this would save us having to take two taxis (for all of us and our luggage.) We easily fit into the van and he drove us straight to the hotel, about a 30 minute drive away.

We stayed at the Novotel in Hong Kong; this is the same hotel chain as the one we stayed at in Beijing. This hotel was something else. Ultra modern rooms with glass walls between the room and bathroom with full windows looking out on a glorious view of Hong Kong. We would have loved to spend a day there but unfortunately we arrived after dark and we needed to leave the hotel by 6a.m. We were in such a rush we didn't even have time to photograph what was the funkiest hotel we'll probably ever stay at in our lives. I guess we'll just have to return some day.

May 28
This morning we took an early shuttle to the Hong Kong airport. Everyone tells me that we were thermo scanned as we entered the secure area, but I never noticed. Tells you how oblivious I am. We had a good, noneventful flight to Tokyo. We were not scanned there, although as before we did have to pass through security after de-planing and before catching our connecting flight. I can't quite figure out why we weren't scanned in Tokyo this time. I don't know if they are aware that all of us are going West and the West doesn't care about temps? Or if they are already backing off scanning? Whatever the case, it wasn't an issue.

Of course, today we had no reason to be concerned. We're all perfectly healthy. Now. When the trip is over. Cause we wanted a little excitement while on the trip. To write home about. Cause it would have been boring if we'd all been healthy. Sigh.

We generally had a great 8.5hr flight (flight to Tokyo was 4 hrs.) On the first flight GG had some trouble. He seemed to think that I should give him exactly what he wanted, when he wanted it, or he would let the other passengers on the plane know what a bad mom I was. Quite hilarious, actually. It started with the console control. He wanted to push the buttons. That would have been fine had the flight attendant call button not been on the same control pad. (What IDIOT designed a control pad in your armrest that includes a button to alert all the flight attendants and the entire cabin full of passengers every time a toddlers finger starts wandering????) So I stretched the cord as far as it would go and sat with it behind me all the way to Tokyo. If he couldn't get his way, he'd throw a mini fit and then refuse to look at us, sometimes even going so far as feigning sleep. When we'd give him blankets and pillows and show him how to lean against an armrest and get comfortable, he'd ignore us and lean harder against the unpadded armrest. You had to admire his tenacity.

When LilDude's gluten free breakfast arrived, GG insisted that he get to sample anything he wanted from the tray in any order he chose. When it was finally his turn to eat, he ate a LOT, including one adult-sized scrambled egg breakfast. (Although maybe "adult sized" in regards to plane food is an oxymoron?) Late in the flight he actually fell asleep on Dh's lap. I got a little shut eye myself.

On flight #2, GG again seemed to think he was in charge. I had one thing working in my favor...he did NOT want to sit with Daddy. So when he'd throw a little fit, all I'd have to say was "Daddy?" (as in "Would you like to sit with Daddy now?) Despite my lack of Chinese and his lack of English, we understood each other rather well. At the merest suggestion of Daddy, he'd immediately drop his fit and settle into my lap. Both he and LilDude finally slept; LilDude for about 2 hrs and GG for the last 3 hrs of the flight. And yes, he does suck his thumb when he sleeps. Very cute.

GG is definitely very concerned about staying in my proximity. On the plane when I took LilDude to the bathroom, GG became very concerned. Dh said he immediately settled down when he told him "Mommy. Potty." He is understanding some minimal words (potty!) and definitely understood what Dh told him. On the entire trip he has been very content (except when it gets hot/long) in the Ergo (baby pack). Whenever he'd see me putting it on, he'd rush straight to me, grinning, with his arms up. I think he was comforted to be kept close as we traveled about.

In the US we had to wait in the "foreigners" line to turn in GG's paperwork and go through immigration. We had a very nice immigration officer, among several nice immigration folks who welcomed us home. At customs they glanced at our declaration list and let us go through without even peeking in one bag.

We are thrilled to be home. We've slept a bit. Played a lot. And started the laundry. GG got teary eyed when I was loading photos from the trip and he saw his foster family. But it's all good. They are wonderful people and he has very good reason to cry.

Thank you all so much for your prayers! I'm continuing to post at my main blog talking about GG's adjustment. If you comment, I'll know you're still reading (hint, hint!)