We're Home!

I wanted to title this one 'Jetlag' again but decided it wasn't fair to use the same title twice. Too many days have gone by and my mind is still a little in a fog but I will try to rehash the last few days for those of you who have become a blog addict like myself. I will back up to Friday, May 28th Guangzhou, China. We had been asked to be ready to leave for the airport at 6:30a.m. We protested for two reasons. First reason being that the last flight we took we had to wait at the airport for unnecessary hours as we arrived early and then our flight was delayed. And number two, but the much more important reason, was that they didn't start serving the breakfast buffet until 6:30! How could my precious little Liam leave China without having one more of his favorite omlettes??? Mission accomplished. We headed for the airport with to-go omlette in tow.

We were VERY pleased that our luggage passed weight restrictions this time around. We ate enough granola bars and peanut butter to save a few bucks on the way home. Steve got us checked in while I got Liam situated with breakfast. Steve got done before us and so I had to pack up his breakfast. If I had never been sure of just how much he liked his breakfast we were now...he turned that bottom lip out and shed a few crocodile tears as though he would never get fed again (stay tuned-we have learned the lip has an on/off switch) I am mighty sure we got quite a few looks as we put Liam on the floor to play while we waited for our plane. We knew what we had in store and wanted to give him the chance to burn some energy. I have to wonder just went through everyone's minds with each look we received. Backing up to the night before...we went to dinner in the hotel. As we would expect, we were served our meal with chopsticks. You would think I would have mastered them in two weeks time but instead regressed if anything. However, I had been smart enough to borrow a fork, knife and spoon earlier and pulled such appartus out to better enjoy my dinner and to feed my son. I told Steve that I wanted to stand on my chair in response to the looks and go on a litany about just how efficient my silverware was and that yes, we are Americans who have come to China to adopt one of their children...Steve talked me down and I did not proceed with my proclomation.

Back to our travels. Our flight to Hong Kong was quick and smooth. We felt like we had re-entered civilazation. Even though we were only in the airport for a short while we could just sense the difference. China only took back control of Hong Kong in 1997 but yet you are still crossing an international border??? (I have been inspired to learn more of Chinese history through all the little nuggets of information we have learned through this journey). Anyway, we had to make a transfer at which time we learned they had checked our bags incorrectly back in Guangzhou resulting in us being delayed and then having to run to catch our plane. No chance for lunch or bathroom break. We boarded our very cool 2 story plane (747 I think). We were in the very back and had the 3 side seats. A very nice father of 6 sat behind us and offered to babysit at any time. I gave him the chance to change his mind mid-flight. There were at least 3 other adoptive families in that area with us which gave us comfort that we probably wouldn't be the only ones in distress. I won't bore you with the details but will totally brag on our son for just a minute. He was such a trooper. We got lucky in packing the right combination of snacks, toys, diapers, etc that we were able to meet his needs. He didn't cry but 2 x for about 30 seconds when Steve was walking with him and he spotted me across the plane. It was so stinkin' sweet. We made eye contact and then have waved and then he put out his lip and began to cry. (okay, we still hadn't caught on to the on/off switch just yet) He put his pee pee in the airline potty and slept between the two of us for a nap and then his own nighttime. They kept the plane dark almost the entire time so we just used 'his' normal schedule.

We arrived at O'Hare and we gained greater respect for the airport way back in Changsha. We had to clear customs and Liam became a citizen once we landed on the ground. The other families and us all cheered and applauded as we touched down. Based on the processing we had to go through we literally had to run to our gate. There was NO WAY I was going to miss the last leg of our flights to St. Louis. As it turned out Liam had still been in his jammies. It was 4:30 p.m. Chicago time but 3:30 a.m. China time. I am slightly embarassed to say that the first thing that touched American soil was his teeny tiny tushy as I layed him down to change his britches and clothes! Hmmmm. Not the picture I had planned on capturing.

We got on our flight and Liam said he could last one final flight if getting home was really going to be as good as we had been telling him. It was a super small plane and I wanted to announce that our son had been a trooper for 16 total hours of flying already that day and they may need to prepare for one hour of crying but he stayed in his resilient form and didn't shed a tear. We were greeted at the gate by my dad who somehow cleared security to film us coming off the walkway. It was a very sweet piece of video to have.

The sweetest moment came, however, as Lauren, Jenna and Ryan's faces came into view. The girls had tears flowing that matched mine and our previous dilema about how to hug was solved by the bestest group hug we have ever had. According to the video it went longer than I had realized-also a while before I realized that I better check on Liam's reaction. He didn't smile right away but instead looked like he was soaking in the magnitude of the moment. Both of our families were there to greet us along with our nearest and dearest friends. Steve and I had kept a wager on who got to carry Liam off the plane and into the arms of our waiting loved ones (hope you wouldn't have bet against me). We introduced Liam but I finally had to hand Liam over to Steve so I could give my other China mommy a two arm hug. Each of our families and friends have provided so much support each in their own way. Staci had only returned a week earlier and my emotions were so raw that it felt so good to hug someone going through those same vulnerable emotions almost right alongside of me. We had explained to Liam the role that all these people had played in our lives.

The 'experts' would have been mortified by such a large gathering upon returning home. It is suggested that everything stay very low key for many weeks upon your return as your child learns to trust what is constant and what will be changing. Steve and I, however, agreed that the homecoming was much more for our emotional well-being than anything else.

We bid Steve's family a farewell as they went out for dinner to celebrate Jim's birthday. My own parents had taken the second week shift primarily so they would have the chance to meet their newest grandson before having to return home to North Carolina. They treated us like royalty as we returned home to a spectacular dinner with everything we had requested. Liam took instantly to each of his siblings. I know it may be hard to imagine the significance of that but it is very real, at least to us. The first week he really kept himself to Steve and myself but would smile and be sweet with our guide. Upon reuniting with the other families in our group he only slowly warmed up offering a hint here and there of his sweet personality until the last couple of days. However, upon returning home it was just like he had been dreaming of Lauren, Jenna and Ryan as much as they had been dreaming of him.

As I stated in the very beginning of the post, jetlag is once again kicking our butt. Sure Staci, just drink lots of water! (hope you can detect the sarcasm) We have slowly been settling into a semblance of a routine. At least everything is in the same order-the time may just be off a bit. We have been torn about how much to do and in what timing but for now our overall fatigue has dictated that we not do too much. I promise that we are continually commenting on how amazing each of our family and friends have been through this trip. Life is good for now and that is enough for today (thank you Sandy Matthews for the wonderful comment on our last entry-words to live by) We are not so naive to believe we won't have our struggles. Just logistically speaking we came home to a problem with our AC and a crashed computer (but just as wonderfully our friend who works HVAC came over Saturday evening to fix and another acquaintance is coming Monday, Memorial Day, to fix our computer). We realize that all of those things are just that...things. It is the people that matter more than anything. God's commands are very simple. Love God. Love people.

I am undecided whether I will continue to blog. I think Liam's needs will influence that to a large degree. I've said it before but can't tell you enough, thank you for all of your love and support. We love all of you!

With Love,
Paige, Steve, Lauren, Jenna, Ryan and Liam

Liam didn't seem to care that we flew coach

Almost home

Last flight from Chicago to St. Louis

Three very anxious kiddos

Look at the anticipation on the girl's faces; priceless!

My worries about how to divvy up hugs is solved

Formally meeting their little brother for the first time

Liam taking it all in

Liam's gege showing him one of his new toys

Liam checking out the grass in his new backyard; he was fascinated

Liam absolutely LOVES his bathtime

Liam's verdict is in; his new family is a keeper!