We spent it playing, packing, posing for more pictures,
picking up Danielle's visa (more bus riding),
and eating candy to pass the time away.
picking up Danielle's visa (more bus riding),
and eating candy to pass the time away.
We started at the airport in Guangzhou on Thursday night. The airport was crazy busy - we had to mad dash it to the gate for our flight - security took forever!
We made it to Beijing and had 6 hours to run through the halls of the hotel, eat, shower, and sleep. Once the kids finally got to sleep it was UGLY trying to get them back up again a couple hours later.
But we rallied. We had told the hotel that we would need their nifty little shuttle bus to take us to the airport at 5am (and they were fully warned about the amount of luggage), but when we came to the lobby to board the bus, there was no room for the Nowlins! Yikes! Greg's blood pressure shot up like the Indonesian volcano. The lava was flowing, so 2 cabs had to be called to accommodate the Nowlin troops and put out the flames!
We made it to Beijing and had 6 hours to run through the halls of the hotel, eat, shower, and sleep. Once the kids finally got to sleep it was UGLY trying to get them back up again a couple hours later.
But we rallied. We had told the hotel that we would need their nifty little shuttle bus to take us to the airport at 5am (and they were fully warned about the amount of luggage), but when we came to the lobby to board the bus, there was no room for the Nowlins! Yikes! Greg's blood pressure shot up like the Indonesian volcano. The lava was flowing, so 2 cabs had to be called to accommodate the Nowlin troops and put out the flames!
Last photos in China - ready to go.......except that stupid little light in cockpit on the dashboard that seems to tell the pilots that they can't fly without a "maintanence check"....ughhhhhh... 3 hours of sitting on a plane ON THE GROUND before you know you have to sit on that same plane for 13 hours IN THE AIR is the modern form of Chinese water torture....
But we finally made it to Chicago. O'Hare was surprisingly quiet on a Friday morning.
When we met with Immigration, they stamped Danielle's paperwork and she is now an American citizen! A monumental thing for a little 4 year old!
When we arrived home, Grammie, Popper, Uncle Bryan and Aunt Sandy and the twin cousins had decorated the house with Welcome Home signs and balloons for Danielle! It was Awesome!! She is home!! We are so thankful!!
She met her older brother, Austin, in person (she figured out he isn't a cartoon on the video screen after all!). We were so happy to see him after these 2 long weeks. Today is the day we have been waiting for for a long time. To be together as a family finally. It feels so good.
But we finally made it to Chicago. O'Hare was surprisingly quiet on a Friday morning.
When we met with Immigration, they stamped Danielle's paperwork and she is now an American citizen! A monumental thing for a little 4 year old!
When we arrived home, Grammie, Popper, Uncle Bryan and Aunt Sandy and the twin cousins had decorated the house with Welcome Home signs and balloons for Danielle! It was Awesome!! She is home!! We are so thankful!!
She met her older brother, Austin, in person (she figured out he isn't a cartoon on the video screen after all!). We were so happy to see him after these 2 long weeks. Today is the day we have been waiting for for a long time. To be together as a family finally. It feels so good.
Oh my GOSH! I'm so behind!!
ReplyDeleteCongrats!!! She is beautiful & GOD is GOOD! ;) Glad you all are home safe!
Hi Linda, I've been following along on your journey. What an amazing trip and and even more amazing children you have! :) Danielle is awesome & your other kiddos certainly seemed to do great during the trip & welcoming a new sibling.
ReplyDeleteI would love to chat w/you about the province sometime. Blessing to you & your lovely family.
Jenny- from Atlanta, GA (another Urumqi Mom)