One week home!

Wow! What a week it has been for us! We arrived home and all ended up sick with one virus or another and jet lag! Wednesday we started feeling better so we went on a few errands. Yesterday we had our doctor visit and she did not heart the heart murmur either! What a miracle! We will get a follow up ultrasound as soon as Mykena is added onto mommy's insurance. Dr. Page said she is healthy and seems to be adjusting well. We thank God for all that he has done! Last night, she slept in her own bed and we are riding in the carseat without screaming! Woohoo for the small victories! Today, we had to catch up on some vaccinations...4 shots! We got to visit Ms. Nancy while we were there, too! Mykena did great, though and the nurse gave her a prize! Mom and Dad didn't cry either! :-) We appreciate everyone bringing food and checking on us this week!

We are home!

So excited to say that we have ended our journey to China and are home safe and sound on Promise Lane in Milton, Florida! What at an adventure we have been on the last 15 days! All our flights went pretty well with Mykena! Our last flight was Houston to Pensacola and it was delayed due to mechanical issues. Thankfully, it was only about 1.5 hours late and we arrived in Pensacola about 10:30. Our family and some special friends were waiting at the airport for us. We looked a little rough, but were so happy to be home! Thank you to everyone who has followed along on our journey and who has prayed for us and given us encouragement. We could not have made it without you! We are so truly blessed with God's gift of Mykena Grace and for all of our family and friends support. We love you!

US Consulate appt!

Finished our last step in the adoption process! Tomorrow we pick up Mykena's passport and head to Hong Kong. We will fly home on Thursday! Tonight will be our last "families" dinner. We have been so blessed to be with such an awesome group! Please keep all of us in your prayers as we begin traveling toward our homes!

Shopping day!

Today, we visited Shamian Island. In the past, this is where many adoptive families have stayed during their time at Guangzhou. The hotel here is under renovations so we stayed about 15 minutes away at the beautiful China Marriott. This area reminded us of being in Savannah, Ga. It was very pedestrian friendly and we saw all kinds of people exercising, singing, and enjoying the weather! We shopped for several hours and let the kids play outside. As you can see from the picture below, the kids found one particular man very interesting! We think the guy was on a date, but the children interrupted with their fascination of his guitar. He didn't seem to mind and even let them try to play it. We decided to rest tonight and not go out to dinner. It was a long day and we were all tired! Especially me, since I'm the one who gets to carry Mykena when she is tired of walking! :-) Tomorrow is our appointment at the US Consulate to apply for the visa. We should pick it up on Wednesday afternoon and then head to Hong Kong. This part of our journey has been so much fun! We will miss our new friends, but know that we have made many special memories for this new chapter in our lives.

Folk Art Museum

Our hotel is very adoption friendly. There is a playground with a nice waterfall area- very peaceful and relaxing. Mykena loves going down the slide and did not want to leave! Today we went to the Folk Art Museum. Mykena was happy to get outside and play! It is a beautiful day and you can actually see the sun and blue sky (which isn't very common here). This afternoon is paperwork and then dinner with the other families tonight. Things are going very well and it makes the time go by quickly!

Guangzhou and one step closer to home!

We arrived in Guangzhou on Friday night and checked into the China Marriott around 9 pm. Mykena did excellent flying, minus a meltdown with the seat belt! This girl does not like being restrained! :-) We were so excited to be back with our other travel group members! We went to breakfast and saw the other kids and that was so amazing! We all traveled to our medical appointments and spent a few hours getting the kids checked out. Most all the kids in the clinic are special needs adoptions. Mykena's special need is ventricular septal defect ( hole in her heart) She did so well thru all the checkpoints! When we got to the medical exam, the doctor asked me her need and wanted to see her medical history. I noticed that she kept listening to her heart and then she told me to go get our guide! Scott got Shiyan and she spoke with the doctor. Then she told us, the doctor does not hear heart murmur, seems like healthy baby! I started crying! They went and got another doctor and he checked her as well. He told me the same thing! He said, when you get to the USA be sure to have a heart ultrasound, but we think it sounds good! We are praying the diagnosis continues to be the same in the USA! WOW!!! The power of prayer! Please continue to pray for us these last few days. We are a little nervous about the long flight home with our active girl! I'm posting some random photos ( she does not like us taking her picture) You will see she is quiet the Diva always having to carry her mama's cell phone!!

Last day in Nanning

Well, we have been very busy the last few days chasing a fully active 2 year old!! Wednesday we spent time around the hotel and walked next door to the mall. Mykena loved going on the escalator and cried when we made her leave. Yesterday we went to a park at the mountain, which wasn't too far from our hotel. It was so quiet and peaceful there, not to mention clean air with no smog. Mykena loved being outside. Our guide, Glen, was with us and told us history about the area and helped us translate Mykena language! She loves to sing children's songs. Scott and I have been singing to her and last night she was humming Jesus Loves Me! Today, we will go pick up her passport and then fly out to Guangzhou about 6pm tonight. The other families are all doing well and we can't wait to see our completed families. Please keep us in your prayers. Six more days and we are coming home! Love you all!