Happy New Year and Happy Birthday

Wishing everyone a happy new year!

Jake and I are justing relaxing together tonight, Emma did not sleep well last night and we are tired. Lets just say we did an emergency load of laundry.

And happy birthday Honey. Jake is 31 years old today. I will miss you when you go back to school.

We're Home

We arrived home on Christmas Eve. Emma slept most of the flight and played the rest of the time. We are so thankful.

Leah's Mom, Dad, sister and brother-in-law came down for lunch on Christmas day then Emma opened Christmas presents. Thank you Kim!

Since we have been home Emma has been great. It is almost like she knows that she is home and we are all more relaxed. She plays with me all day long and is so giggly. There are a few lasting effects of her past, but we are amazed at the progress she has made so far. She has even started to imitate some words.

Unfortunately, Jake seems to have mutated what Emma and I had in China. We spent a long time in the ER this morning to find out that he has the beginnings of pneumonia. He is all drugged up now and hopefully starts to feel better soon.

Sorry for the Delay

We are now in Guaongzhou where the US Consolate is. At the medical exam, a requirement for the US Consolate, they found two ulcers in her mouth. We were given some herbs to help them heal, but Emma won't drink it. So, she is just eating bland food until her mouth is better. Her temperature finally broke right before we flew here. She is feeling better, but is still not 100%. She has finally got her appetite back also. She went almost 24 hours without eating.

We are very happy that she is feeling better so now we can focus on her opening up to us. She has been snuggling with us the whole time, which we love, but she hasn't tried to talk to us/babbling and she hasn't showed us her crawling (she has thrown herself at me).

Here are some photos...

A sick day

Yesterday Emma was feeling pretty bad so we decided to stay in our hotel and let her rest. Here are some photos from the lake here in Taiyuan. We walked around the lake while waiting to meet Emma on Monday.

Yesterday was so much better than we ever imagined

Jake and I had discussed so many times the different ways Emma could react when we got her. She could cry for days, she could shut down and show no emotion or sleep to avoid the whole situation. But instead we got a happy, smiley, laughing girl.

This is what we know so far about Emma...

*she loves chocoloate chips cookies

*she does not like to share said cookies with other children and will let them know

*she likes to sing and sings whenever we walk

*she is very observant and likes to watch other children

Today I think the excitement from yesterday has taken its toll. She woke up with a slight fever and has been exhausted the whole day.

Tomorrow we are planning a trip to a temple just outside of town.

Here is what you have been waiting for, pictures...

A little about Taiyuan...

Taiyuan is the capital of Shanxi province. It is a city of 3 million people and its largest industry is coal mining. The weather is sunny, but there is an obvious haze in the sky. This area has the highest cancer and black lung rate in the country.

Yesterday we went shopping at the open market. We bought some odds and ends for cheap. We are going back today with Emma (so exciting!) to get some clothes for her.

We are scheduled to get Emma at 3pm today. Our goal is to stay as busy as possible until it is time to go get here. The only problem is that it is 4am now. That is a long time to fill!

Here are some photos of the city last night.

Our hotel

Christmas decorations

flower lights at the city park

bicycles

gifts for the orphanage Director and nannies

Emma's crib

December 12th & 13th

We are in Taiyuan (where we get Emma)!

Our "day" started at 4:00am Friday when we checked in at Sea Tac and ended at 9:30pm Saturday night when we landed at the Taiyuan airport.

Today we are going shopping to get last minute stuff and hopefully meet up with the other family that is adopting the same day we are.  

I need a nap.

A Good Cause

Robeez, a company that makes shoes for infants and toddlers, is donating up to $250,000 in shoes to the organization Kids in Distressed Situations. All you have to do is go to www.seasonofgiving.robeez.com and send e-cards to friends and families. You will also be entered into a drawing to win a shoes and socks set, which would look great on Emma.

I do not like cold!

It is supposed to be 28 degrees when we arrive in Taiyuan. We will be in Taiyuan for 6 days then we move onto Guangzhou where the weather is sunny and 75 degrees. Can you say packing dilemma? How do you pack for a 50 degree difference?

Any suggestions?

We are FINALLY going to China!

Here is our itinerary...

December 12th - Leave Seattle at 7:30 am

December 13th - Arrive in Shanghai at 5:45 pm (Spend the night in Shanghai)

December 14th - Leave Shanghai at 10:35 am and arrive in Taiyuan at 12:30 pm

Try to relax!

December 15th - Get our daughter!!!!!!!

December 16th - Interview with Civil Affairs and Justice Dept and apply for Emma's passport

December 17th - Tour of Taiyuan and shopping

December 18th - Pick up our notary documents

December 19th - My birthday! Pick up Emma's passport and fly to Guangzhou at 4:00 pm

December 20th - Emma's medical check up

December 21st - Guangzhou Zoo

December 22nd - Interview with US Consulate

December 23rd - Pick up Emma's visa

December 24th - Free Day

December 25th - Leave Guangzhou at 8:00 am

Arrive in Shanghai at 10:00 am

Leave Shanghai 1:45 pm

Arrive in San Francisco 8:00 am

Leave San Francisco 10:30 am

Arrive in Seattle 12:45 pm (yeah home)

We are going to go get this cutie!