Weekend in Chicago!

We were actually there about 30 hours. Brogan toured the School of the Art Institute, we had some deep dish pizza, looked at some art and walked through Chinatown.

Meet Lexi's "Chinese" Grandparents

We would like to introduce Ron and Sue Burns. They are an amazing couple from Australia who cared for Lexi after her surgery just after her birth in China. They are volunteers with ICC, International ChinaConcern, who are working in part of the Social Welfare Institute that was caring for Lexi. Since meeting them via an email introduction, they have sent us stories, photos and video.
Yes, video of Lexi first walking!
We were able to make a Skype call to them a few days ago and Lexi was so excited to see her Ye Ye (Grandpa) and Nai Nai (Grandma). She was calling to them, blowing kisses and waving. We are all so lucky!
We feel like our family has grown by more than Lexi! We feel so connected to everyone in China who played a part of creating this amazing little girl that we have the privilege to raise as our daughter.
ICC's motto is "Love, Hope and Opportunity to Every Child". Thank you ICC!

A little more Lexi!

Lexi and I were just hanging out this morning....

Ragtime winner!

Cullen placed second in the Metro South Arts Council's Scott Joplin Ragtime Competition
last weekend with the Maple Leaf Rag.

Home from China!

LEXI'S FIRST WEEK HOME
Our travels home from China and the first day back went pretty smoothly. On our first night's sleep, we all dozed at least 12 hours straight.

Apparently we celebrated too early. . .Over the next few days, we all suffered jet-lag, Lexi was wakeful and coughing through the night, none of us could sleep, and at one point, we were all up at 3AM eating cereal! Lexi's cough went to pneumonia; she was treated, and we are happy to say, she has made a strong recovery.

Our sleep has now balanced out, the boys are back to a regular school schedule, and things are somewhat back to normal. We apologize if we have not extended invites for all to meet Lexi as we are now just getting her out of the house. Thanks for the greetings, calls and stop-overs. . . hopefully, we can visit more in the coming weeks!

For those who commented, "how about more Lexi?" on the blog. . .well, here you are! She truly is our ray of sunshine. . .brightens any room and puts a smile on every face.

DAY 15 - China Adventure

CHINA ADVENTURE, DAY 15

Well, our final day in China has arrived, we received Lexi's passport and Visa today, and we are nearly packed and ready for departure in the morning.

Before we go though, we asked the kids to help conclude our blog posting with their final thoughts on our Great China Adventure. 

 

Here is what they came up with:

 

Getting LEXI, The Great Wall!, Herbal Market, Chinese boys with weird haircuts, the weddings, pollution, spot lights, traffic!, Crazy Taxi, 50km/hour cab rides, metric system is awesome. . .the US should use it, same with military time, eating shrimp heads, ping pong in the hotels. . .Cullen the Champion!, low tide sludge on the Pearl River, only one bout of food sickness, six dollar Starbucks, ICE CREAM, no fat Chinese people, the Safari Zoo, white tigers, Monkey King Show!, dead dog in bag, sugary duck skin (one liked it, one didn't), water dripping from the buildings on Shamian Island, dust, squatty potty (none in the streets like we were told), Cullen's weapons!?, 7-11, 200 calorie sodas, pizza at La Dolce Vita, Chairman Mao, cruisin' on the river, laser pointers, Beijing, Helen, Learning Chinese ("shay-shay"), spitting indoors, smoke!, big Justin from the orphanage and his Canadian friend, Jade factory, squeaker shoes, the fake Monk, creepy Carnival in Changsha, Tiananmen Square, The Forbidden City, Santa Claus posters, the Tea Room, pee pee boy, Army training, "granny mummy", the Toy Market, and INSANE breakfast buffets!

 

Well, that about sums it all up. If you have any questions on any of the above items, feel free to ask either kid (or Lexi) when we return.

See you all stateside!

DAY 14 - China Adventure

CHINA ADVENTURE, DAY 14

Realizing that we only have a few more days left, we are packing as much activity into the day as possible. Today we started at the Xiangjiang Safari Park to view pandas, but found so much more. We were able to explore two halves of the park by train and by foot, viewing not only pandas, but lions, white tigers, bears, giraffe, koala, rhinos, etc. in their natural environment.

 

Richard then picked us up and shuttled us to the American Consulate in downtown Guangzhou for our final act to complete the adoption; the Oath. We, along with about 20 other adopting families (following a brief meeting with a consulate official), stood and pledged our commitment to raise our adoptive children in a loving and healthy environment. Certificates were passed out, and it was done! Now, the only thing left, is to receive Lexi's Visa and travel papers, which should arrive tomorrow, and then we are able to travel home with her this Friday!

 

To celebrate tonight, Lexi first posed with her new friends on the traditional "red sofa" at the White Swan Hotel, and then we all took a dinner cruise on the Pearl River. A terrific finale to our two week odyssey.

 

One final note. . .as we celebrate one of the most memorable events in our immediate family history, our hearts ache for all those affected by the earthquake(s) in Haiti as we have been keeping up with the disaster in the news. Our thoughts and support go out to all those affected by this disaster as we now prepare to leave for home.