Day 14--Coming HOME!

Yesterday (Wednesday) was a long day, but we survived and we are HOME. Praise the Lord for His goodness! 

     We were up at 5am and at the Guangzhou airport at 6:45am only to find out that our flight to Beijing had been cancelled with no alternatives provided by the airline.  Oh boy!  Our adoption agency representative went into full Chinese negotiation mode waiving our American passports around between ticket counters like it was the NY Stock Exchange.  We were smart enough to just hang back & pray. Thankfully, a kind soul on at another airline gave us four seats that got us into Beijing in time for our international flight. I'm not sure I want to know what body part Shiyan had to offer to get those seats, but Hallelujah!  Isaac was amazing on the flight. He sat like a big boy in his seat and munched on his favorite crackers. I don't think he even realized that we were flying. An answer to prayer. 

Happy flyer

Chilling with Auntie Jessie

 

     Our time in Beijing was short running between domestic & international terminals with 9 pieces of luggage and Isaac in the exo-womb. He chilled through it all. On the plane, a nice Chinese woman switched her seat so the four of us could sit together. XiXi ma'am!  And we were excited to find out that our flight home would be less than 10 hours. I think Jessie let out an actually Yahoo!  (Two weeks away from your kids is a long time).  Isaac ate & konked out pretty quickly.  He did decide that sleeping in my arms & being patted was better than the chair, so it was a long 10 hours for me (thanks Gramma for the breaks) but I was thankful that I wasn't the lady with the screaming kid on the plane!

Konked out!

Getting ready to land in America

 

Landing in Seattle was uneventful and we sailed through immigration where Isaac was officially declared a US Citizen (no photos allowed). His "Made in China, Loved in America" shirt was a good way to celebrate the momentous occasion.  Once we made into Baggage Claim a whole host of friends & family were there...and my little brother blasting "Coming to America" by Neil Diamond! (welcome to the family, kiddo). An especially precious moment was captured as all the cousins gathered around to 'pet' the new animal in the zoo.  :)  They asked questions about China and Isaac and if his baby talk was in English or Chinese (still not sure).  It was a sweet way to welcome him into the fold.

Auntie Ange joining us on Skype thanks to Miss Debbie!

Jessie's reunion with her kids.
They were so sweet to loan her out for a couple of weeks.

The airport reveal.

Meeting the cousins.

 

 



Our next few days will be a survivalists attempt to concur jet lag. I've been up for 24 hours. Isaac is in a new brand new environment with new smells, sounds & textures. God's hand has so obviously been upon this process, I am believing for a quick-ish transition into our new lives together.