Who Knew Oatmeal Could Be So Fun???

So Much Fun!!!

So Tired!

Despite our lack of posting, we have managed to take 202 pictures since we arrived home. Meigan keeps us on our toes as she explores her new surroundings. She seems very comfortable here and I think she knows we are staying here now. (We stayed in many hotels before home) We are having so much fun experiencing so many firsts, at least firsts for us. We've been to the doctor, first time at church, learned to finally love her baths, now tolerates the highchair happily, played on the grass and swings. She was initially terrified of the dog and now loves to chase him. She loves mom's congee, hates ice cream and car seats. We learn tons everyday! Madison and Dalton love to play with her and make her smile, not one bit of jealousy. It was a long wait and they are absolutely thrilled to finally have her home. She is so smiley and we are having a blast! She has each of us wrapped around her finger.

Meigan is Home

Max and Elaine (notice how she still crosses her fingers)

Katie and Brady

Grandma and Madison

Playing with trains

Checking out her room

Meigan likes her new room

Primary Banner

Friends Banner

Meigan likes being with her older sister

She loves playing with Grandma

Our food basket, it was filled with Black Liquorice carmels, pumpkin chocolate chip muffins and Diet Coke, Brian's 3 favorite things

Dalton finally got up and posed for a pic

Meigan and her brother Dalton

playing with her brother and sister

Playing with Grandma

Well we finally made it home. We arrived at midnight after a 2 hour car ride home. Meigan didn't sleep for any of the car ride. We didn't try the car seat for the ride home, we knew it would be a fight all the way home. Brian drove us home and he actually wasn't tired at all, we felt pretty rested from all the sleep we got on the planes. Madison was so excited to see us when she got home and so was Brian's Mom. She went right to Grandma and then Madison. Now she would rather go to Madison then Brian, it's just not fair! It took us a while to wake up Dalton who had fallen asleep while he was waiting for us to get home, but he awoke with a huge smile on his face when he saw Meigan.

When we got to the last airport stop, Katie and Brady (Brian's sister and husband) and Max & Elaine (Jodie's aunt and husband) were there to see us. It was great to see them and talk with them for a while before driving home. Katie made Meigan a beautiful blanket and that was good because it is COLD here. It is also so dry, We actually miss the humidity, never thought we'd say that! Meigan has always been in a humid climate so it will be interesting to see how she adjusts. Brian can already feel the allergies coming back on!

When we got home there was a big welcome home sign from Scott and Melanie and Lora and Matt (our friends with children from China) along with a wonderful food basket from them as well as the rest of our group who have children from China. There was also a huge banner welcoming Meigan home from our Church Primary children, they had all of the children sign there names. Brian's mom also brought over a big fruit basket, so we are well covered with food for the next week.

We really didn't feel to tired when we got home, but it was so nice to sleep in our own bed. We finally go to bed about 2am and Brian was out as soon as he hit the bed. Meigan slept in her crib last night for at least part of it and then we put her with us once she woke up about 6am. Meigan does so well with Madison and Madison packs her all around the house, she'll actually fuss when Madison leaves the room. The kids stayed home from school today so that they could spend some time with Meigan.

We've had a couple of friends come over to say "Hi" which was great. We picked up our dog from the kennel and Meigan is not to sure about him! She doesn't let Cinder out of her sight and does not want to get down to check him out yet.

Well we are going to get some laundry started and unpacking done and then take a nap, so we'll fill you in with more details later.

Hello LA, Back in the USA

Checking out our plane in Guangzhou, China

Doing laps around the airport to help tire her out

Krispy Kreme doughnut fan!

Sleeping in the lounge in Hong Kong

Playing on the chair/bed in the airplane

Mom and Meigan sleeping

Enjoying the ride, although I think Jodie would have liked a break, but Meigan wasn't going to Dad if Mom was right next door

Playing Peek-a-boo with dad
Doing laps up and down the aisle
Just getting off the plane in LA
The first American flag that we saw!

Hey We are finally back in the USA. We are in Los Angeles waiting for our next connection. Meigan had a great trip home so far, except for one little moment. Just before our plane left Hong Kong Meigan had a meltdown. Now we should explain it was very hot in the airport and it was very hot in the plane before we taxied out. Just as we started taxing she felt like she was burning up and we couldn't get up to move around at that point as we had to be seat belted in our chairs. Also there was no air on and she just lost it, she started to cry and then scream cry. We stripped off her pajamas and tried to give her a cool bottle but she was beyond trying anything at that point. So she cried for about 5 mins while we took off, Jodie was finally able to lay back and then Meigan settled down. Meigan and Jodie slept for a lot of the flight, played in the chair that turns into a bed and walked up and down the aisles. The flight attendants were so good with her and they were always asking us if we needed anything. We had a 15 inch TV that we turned cartoons on and let her watch them in Cantonese, although she didn't like having the headphones on.

Just a side note, we were able to fly business class as we used Brian's Dad's miles and the only flight out the day we needed only had business seats left. To those who are adopting in the future that may be reading this, Business class is the only way to go if you can. It is quite a bit more expensive, but oh so worth it. The chairs lay down to become beds, there are large TVs, 4 course meals with various choices. Anything you need is brought to you and you get to use the business lounge before the flight which was huge. The biggest thing was having the bed though, both to sleep and also to play on.

The LA airport is such a joke, it is the ugliest, dirtiest and rudest airport ever (well maybe Miami, but it's close). All of the airports we went to in Asia were so nice and clean. There were always lots of people helping us. Here it is a completely different story! There are a few police officers barking at people and everyone is herded into narrow corridors and taken all over the place in long hot lines. Anyway enough complaining. Customs went really easily they just looked at our slip and waived us through. Meigan's immigration papers went well and easy too. Anyway we are just waiting for our next flight so that we can see all of the family (at nearly midnight)