Guangzhou - Finally

Is she the skinniest thing you have have ever seen? Not too happy right now!
This is the bridge on the way to the town where Emma was in the orphanage.
In front of the Nanjing Wall. They built a wall around the city to protect it.

I feel like I have lost touch with the world as we were not able to use the Internet yesterday in our hotel for some reason. We are in Guangzhou finally. Our plane was delayed from Nanjing, but finally made it here. Right after we landed, major monsoon hit, so glad to be on the ground instead of the air.

We are in the China Marriott and it is very nice. The boys are loving the rooms with robes, and lost of hair supplies - too funny. Our hotels have been so nice while we have been here. This one has a Starbucks and McDonalds. I had to take a temporary break from my McDonalds boycott and eat a Big Mac when we got here. It was so good.

Little Miss Emma has had a very long day. She got up earlier this morning and then only got a short nap before we had to leave for the airport. We visited the Nanjing Museum this morning with our guide John and it was fascinating. Such amazing history. The Chinese certainly respect the history and have maintained it well. Emma was not as thrilled with all of the artifacts, but she loved riding in the stroller for the first time. But she wants to keep moving. She is very busy. Everyone has been very nice at our hotels. Americans could learn a lot about hospitality from some of these folks. Brady finished his first plate of food this morning and went back for more at the buffet and the waitress walked over and folded his napkin in that short period of time. He looked so funny when he sat back down. I told him not to get used to it. It's too hard to fold paper napkins. After the museum, we made it back to the hotel for a quick nap and then to the airport. Might I just say, she wasn't too impressed with the 2 hour flight here, so I can only imagine how much she is going to love the flight home. This kid has her mind made up the way things are going to be done and she ain't changing it! She will not go to sleep until you lay her in her crib, so holding her on a plane is going to be fun!

As our plane left the Nanjing airport today I couldn't help but think of her other mom. We found out that Emma was left in front of a dormitory at the Tobacco Mansion and was found and taken by police to the Tai Zhou orphanage. They estimate her date of birth to be Feb. 13, 2007. When I was looking out of the window on the plane all I could think about was that somewhere out there was a woman who made the ultimate sacrifice in my opinion and because of that I am now blessed with a daughter. It's been a hard day in so many ways. The emotions you feel here are overwhelming. That seems like a word I have been using a lot.

Emma has done very well the last couple of days. Much more at ease with us. She has such a sweet smile. You have to work to get it sometimes, but she has the cutest toothy grin. She seems to be feeling so much better and her lungs are much clearer. She is still coughing some, but no more fever.

I can't even begin to explain what this trip has been like for us. It's one of those things that you can never understand until you have been through it. Bo and I are waking up around 4:30 each morning and just sharing while little miss sleeps and we both agreed that we never realized just how much this involves. It's an exhausting process, but so worth it. I can honestly say that we have begun to really fall in love with her over the last few days. Each day has been better and she is so sweet. She is doing better with her little habits (grinding teeth, touching head with hand, etc.). They are still there, but noticeably better. The sweetest thing she does is suck at her little invisible thumb. It just makes me want to cry.

The people in the airport today were really looking at her and you knew they were checking out her missing digits. They don't shy away from staring at her and getting close and talking to others about it right in front of you. The sweetest moment of the day was when we were waiting in the baggage line at the airport and the crowd was looking at her and making us feel a bit uncomfortable and Ashton said to me "Mom" and gave me that look. I explained to him that it was okay, they were just curious and that they had never seen a baby like this before. He was quick to say just how rude that was and how he wanted to punch them. Yes, my son wanted to start an international incident over his sister. Too sweet. I think he is going to be very protective of her. I'm glad of that.

The traffic in Nanjing was horrible and the driving will give you a heart attack. Nashville has nothing on the driving here. It's amazing that we have not been in an accident. I hold Emma very close when we are riding because I'm afraid she's going to get hurt. No car seats here.

Well, it's bedtime at last. We are very exhausted after such a long day. Tomorrow Emma has her medical exam here and we get to see our other AWAA families. I have seen a couple of the dads in the lobby tonight and it was like a reunion. We have really missed seeing them and can't wait to see their children. It's a unique kinship that you develope with these folks.

Thanks again for all the sweet comments and your prayers. We have felt them so much. I know they have sustained us when we weren't sure what we were doing. Keep them coming! 14 hours on a plane home in a few days is going to be a killer!

We love you all and praise God for this journey.