Packing, etc...

An adoption trip is like a regular overseas trip "on steroids". Many of you know what I am talking about! Packing includes clothes for me, Tony and Aimee, medicines for all of us -- and those need to cover any type of malady you could possible conceive of -- because you don't want to have to even buy Tylenol at the Chinese pharmacy on Shamian Island, Guangzhou (they sell many interesting 'medicines' at the shop, but not Tylenol). I've got all of the paperwork and documents organized into a zipper closing binder - so hopefully that should all be in order. We also have to pack small gifts for all the Chinese officials, nannies etc.. involved in the adoption. I'm also packing quite a few snacks - mostly for the air travel times over and back - and for those times late at night when your clock is still off and you don't want to trek around the White Swan hotel looking for a midnight snack. We did decide to stay at the White Swan again, and Tony - being as charming as he is -- got on the phone and negotiated a great deal for us there! I had actually bet him he couldn't get the price he got for us! Mostly, we wanted to stay there for the awesome breakfast buffet they have. All other meals for us are usually not purchased at the White Swan -- dinner can run $30 per person.

We have found out that we will receive Aimee at the Civial Affairs office in Guangzhou on Monday afternoon at 3 pm. We are so excited and so ready to get her. I have packed a lot of little activities for us to do in the room - so we can maybe take some focus off of her grief if she gets too upset. What girl won't feel a little better if she gets to paint her nails or fix her hair up? We hope activities will be a good way to break the ice a little and for her to feel comfortable.

Abbey and Alex are doing pretty good - but Abbey has been having some seperation anxiety, which is very expected. Alex doesn't quite understand yet that we will be going and for how long, but he will probably have some trouble at bedtime and in the mornings while we are in China. They are set up on a great schedule with both grandparents and they will have a great time while we are gone. We plan to Skype video with them each day to keep in touch - and for them to meet their new sister.

We leave first thing early on Friday morning on United -- Okc -- Chicago -- Shanghai. We are spending the night Saturday night in Shanghai -- at a Ramada Inn! The International airport is very far out of town, and there aren't many hotels around. The Ramada will look pretty good to us at 1 am Oklahoma time:) Then, on Sunday we take an afternoon flight to Guangzhou on China Southern. Really, it is a pretty easy trip -- and the weather looks like it will be good all the way there. Temperatures in Guangzhou this time of year are in the mid 70's - so we are pretty happy about that too.

thanks so much to all of you for your friendship, love and prayers. You all are so awesome to us!!

Many blessings -- Gayle