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10.24.2008

We're here!

**Know that I will be checking my email only every few days ~ email is taking a while to load. Please use commenting on the blog as a way to let us know you are following along. It is quicker for me to check, and it will be a priceless treasure for both of our kids in years to come for them to know how many friends and family loved them through this trip!

Before I begin, I must include a picture of our sweet Maya (now enjoying her two week vacation at Grandma's farm) and her ride to her "home away from home" ~ on top of all our China luggage ~ last night, or two nights ago, whenever it was! Two years ago that Highlander seemed so spacious ~ now two car seats later...
It has been one heck of a 27 hours since we rolled out of bed at Adam and Traci's at 4 am Charlotte time! Adam was kind enough to drive us to the airport and snap a last picture of us as a family of three stateside. Yes, it's a lot of luggage, but it is for four people and I even had to bring milk for Kylie to drink...


Kylie did quite well on the flights considering that she hasn't flown since last August. It greatly helped that we were on the Charlotte to Newark flight with another family in our travel group and then we met up with Darby's family in Newark.

Here's a rundown of the flights in pictures.

Flight from Charlotte to Newark.
Pretzels and apple juice ~ the breakfast of champions!

Flight from Newark to Beijing.
Drinking milk to relieve pressure in the ears.

Getting sleepy while checking out our current location.

Sacked out ~ and yes, that is the floor!
You try holding a 31 pounder for four hours in an airplane seat!

Playing with stickers with Anna Claire after a rest.
Darby missed this play session as she and her mommy were "trapped" in the window seat...

Sharing cheerios.

We're here! Thank goodness that with a total of 17 hours of flying, the only crying we had was during our slightly turbulent landing here in Beijing. Kylie kept saying that she was scared and wanted her Daddy to hold her. After it was all finished, she laughed about it.

The "pants" building as seen from our bus on the way to the hotel.

Three girls giddy to be in their homeland for the first time! They all kept dancing around singing "We're in China," or asking "Is that car in China too?" Darby was tired and didn't want any part of a hug, but Kylie and Anna Claire kept on hugging. Can you believe they met this morning in Charlotte?


And now I'm off to bed (the time is 12 hours ahead ~ until the time changes at home, then it will be 13). So tired and we have a full day ahead of us tomorrow.




29 comments:

Nicole said...

Yeah!! SO glad you all made it safely. Enjoy the touring, you are just days from Caleb now! Can't wait for those pictures!

Amy Woods said...

Yeah!! I'm so glad you made it safe! I woke up this morning and rushed to see if you had updated! Glad to see the girls are having fun. I remember being too exhausted to smile about anything when we landed in Beijing. Once again...I'm impressed!!

Laurie said...

I'm impressed- you awesome blogger you!! So happy to hear you're all there, safe and sound! The pictures were GREAT!! I can't wait to hear about your next few days! :)

Cindy M said...

You get an A+, girlie! I can't believe you did all that blogging after your trek! Now, is Anna Claire in your travel group? Do I know this family? Do they have a blog?

So glad to hear the trip was smooth, for the most part. I love that picture of the three girls, even if they aren't all hugging...it's way more real!

Can't wait to see pictures of your days in Beijing. Does it look cleaner than when we were there? And what the heck are you doing in CHINA without ME???????? :-)

LOVE YOU GUYS!!!!

Nancy said...

Yay!!! We are glad to see you arrived safely and that everything went so well. I am happy you got a seat next to Kylie. How fun that she had a little playmate on the same flight. Kylie is an awesome traveller!!!! Can't wait to follow this journey, especially on Monday!

ps - Sadie has the same dog bed as Maya!

Jen Barbee said...

So glad everything has gone smoothly. Say "hello" to the Horners for us. Lainie and Anna Claire were "Chenzhou Sisters". We've never met them, but have corresponded in e-mails. We can't wait to see you with sweet Caleb. Sending many prayers your way!!!

Anonymous said...

I am praising God that you are all there safely - Millers, Clayborns, and Horners. Thank you so much for getting us pictures so quickly, Kristi. I was thrilled when I opened the blog and saw a new post! Maya is doing fine. She is here at work with me today.
She's laying on the floor beside me. She follows me from office to office.

Can't wait to see our little China girls on the Great Wall!!!

God be with you, LaoLao

Anonymous said...

Kylie, what a big girl you are. You did a great job on that long plane trip. You even made a new friend. Looks like you had a nice nap on the floor of the plane by Mommy and Daddy's feet. I'm so happy that you are in "your" China and will be able to see so many beautiful sites. "Dahma" Shultz loves you and can't wait for you to meet your brodder, Caleb and bring him home to meet me.
You are precious to me, LaoLao

Anonymous said...

I AM GETTING GOOSE BUMPS KNOWING I AM HERE IN AKRON OHIO READING YOUR BLOG FROM CHINA! PRAYED FOR YOUR SAFETY AND KNOW GOD HEARD OUR PRAYERS. ANXIOUS TO READ THE NEXT BLOG AND SEE MORE PICTURES.
LOVE YOU GUYS.

Elaine said...

We're following along and celebrating with you that you're safely in China. Counting down with you until you met Caleb! The Horton family (parents to Sarah Mei)

Mendy said...

WOOHOO! So excited for you all! Glad your flight went well. Praying for a healthy and wonderful trip. Mendy

Anonymous said...

I thank God that you all made it safely to China and that it is only a couple days until you will be holding your son. Can't wait to see the pictures. Enjoy China with Kylie. We are praying for you!

Angela said...

I thank God that you all made it safely to China and that it is only a couple days until you will be holding your son. Can't wait to see the pictures. Enjoy China with Kylie. We are praying for you!

Jordan Carl said...

That's so wonderful! I am very excited. Funny how little ones comprehend that they are in china, but don't comprehend that china is a place and everything they see is in china too. I will be following as much as possible! Love you

Donna said...

So glad you made it safe!!
You must be some kind of iron woman to blog coherently after that trip (I seem to remember being a zombie by then!)
Hope you have an amazing time in Beijing & can't wait to see the pics!!

Ally said...

Wow what a good little girl! I know you must be so excited! It gives me chills just reading about you being back in China!

Anonymous said...

So glad you made it!!! I hope you get to relax a bit until Monday - you have had quite the month! Best wishes - can't wait to see you with Caleb!! Say hello to Lu from the Way family!

Carla Lewter said...

Yeah, glad you made it safely and that Kylie has 2 little buddies to play with, that is so great!! Can't wait to see pics of your sweet little guy!

Denise said...

Thanks for the update! It is so great to see you all in China. I got a little teary seeing that picture of the three of you in China and remembering that moment. Knowing you are in the same country as your child.

bbeatley said...

I'm so happy you guys made it safely. I too was shocked to see a new post. I pray that God continues to grant you peace and safety during all your days in China. Can't wait to read more about your trip!

Jenn said...

Loved following your journey the first time. I am soooo excited to be able to follow it again. Can't wait to see Caleb with his family.
<><
Jenn

Our Journey said...

It's just so exciting to see you all back in China. I'm so glad that you made it there safe!!! We prayed for you all! It just makes me wish we were back there too!! Looking forward to more news!

Imoen Grace said...

Kristi,

I am so glad that you guys made it to China safely. I hope you will have a great time, and I cannot wait to see pictures of Caleb!

Jen Brayley said...

It's so good to hear from you and that everyone had a safe trip! I love the "nap time" picture! Can't wait to hear from you again!
Love you all!

Anonymous said...

We thought of you guys as we ate Chinese food last night. The girls (and us) are excited to meet Caleb. Glad you guys made it to your children's homeland. It looks like you guys are going to have a great time and make some more great friends along the way. We can't wait to see more pictures and read more about your trip. Have fun and we can't wait to see you as a family of four.

Beth ( and the rest of the Whitener's)

Amy Jo said...

Just popped over from Emily Horner's blog! Looks like AnnaClaire had lots of fun with your little girl. Praying God's sweet blessings upon you as you await the reunion with your new son! With joy, Amy in OR (Mom to Sara adopted 11/06)

Anonymous said...

Wow we are sooooo excited for you guys. Take lots of pictures. Maybe you'll get some at the great wall on a day without so much polution! I love all the pictures of kylie on the plane. So glad you all had a great flight.
We love you and miss you. Caleb we are sooooooo sorry we aren't there to greet you the second you're put in your mommy and daddy's arms! But we'll be at the airport and be first in line with bells on!!!
We love you
Aunt Cici and Uncle Adam

jennifer said...

I am so excited to follow your journey! Our prayers are with you for health, safety, God's presence, and rest! Can't wait to see that cutie Caleb! Jennifer

Whit Cook said...

YAY!! I am so glad to know that you all made it safely! Enjoy this, as I know you three will, and make sure you are giving us all as much info and PICS as possible! I am so happy that you are all able to be there and get to see little Caleb soon! Yay again and know that you have way too many people back in the states anxiously waiting for the next post!

Whitney Cook