So Here's the Story

Ella is a climber and jumper - always has been. Earlier in the evening she had jumped off a chair. We told her to stop... that she was going to get hurt.... I'm going to totally avoid the comment that maybe she doesn't understand English... On with the story...not 15 minutes later she came to us crying! AND with her arm dangling and a bone poking out. It was awful! We felt so sorry for her.

We immediately called my friend Michelle to come over and keep the other 3 while we went to the ER. We checked in and bypassed all of the people in the waiting room. Everything happened so quickly. We got x-rays, and were told she had broken her elbow/arm. She would need surgery the next day and we would have to spend the night in the hospital.

I had just called Grandmama and Pops to come over and spend the night with the other girls. The next thing I knew the nurse came in and said the surgeon was waiting on Ella in the OR ready for surgery. From there it was a whirlwind of activity! We were signing releases, and talking to the anesthesiologists. They took her from us, not completely under yet and she was crying for us. We had worked so hard on bonding with her for the past month and hearing her crying like that just killed me.

Afterwards the doctor came out and said all went well. They had put 2 pins in and put a cast on her. So after she woke up they put her in a room about 1:30 am. We spent the night and talked to the surgeon the next day. We go see him in 3 weeks to take pins out and recast it.

So here we are with another major adjustment! It has been difficult! We have to take things slower now and we have a new rule (or just are stricter about it)! NO RUNNING OR JUMPING IN THE HOUSE! Ella is actually doing great. We have to keep her arm elevated or her fingers will begin swelling. Hopefully the next cast will be smaller so she can get around better.

Some photo notes...These were taken when she first came home. The one with the bowl over her head is hilarious - actually the family "puke bowl" from when she was so sick from the pain meds!

We're Settling In...

More Airport Pictures... A Homecoming for Mia Too!!

There has been some writing about children who have been adopted as toddlers not quite being sure that their family is the last stop. There is no way of knowing what was going on in Mia's head while she was in China and watching Ella's adoption take place. She has definitely had her moments! It's hard to be the center of attention for over a year and then to have to share the spotlight. We are so grateful for friends and family who have worked hard to keep Mia "in the love" while we all try to adjust to being a family of six! We are also hoping that Mia's security has been strengthened by leaving and realizing that she will always come "HOME" to her house, to her sisters, to her wonderfully inclusive grandparents, to her cousins and aunts and uncles, and to her friends. We love you, Mia!

More Airport Pictures... So Those Sisters Are REAL??

More Airport Pictures... Are All These People MINE??

Some Ella News

Since we have been home, Ella has been quite sick! When she coughed, she sounded like a seal distress call! We took her to the doctor and they listened to her heart AND did a chest x-ray. They found that she had walking pneumonia and gave her breathing medicine and antibiotics.

Her heart sounded wonderful when they did an EKG. But when they looked at her lungs, they saw a stray wire from her heart surgery. The wire had originally been around her sternum and lung(?)... Well of course we heard that bit of information just as all the doctor's offices closed. All we could think was that something was terribly wrong.

Today we heard from the cardiologist that all was well - nothing to be concerned about at all! We will have a more complete examination with a specialist soon, but that was very encouraging!

The Homecoming

I know the date says January 5th, but just for the record, we arrived home on Saturday morning, January 2nd! And not a moment too soon! A horrendous snowstorm hit Beijing on Sunday, keeping all of the travelers in the Beijing airport for an extra day or two. It was the biggest one day Beijing snowfall in 60 years! We are so thankful for the perfect timing of our trip!

Finally at Home

Here is a photo of the girls at home after their first bath. They curled up on the couch - so cute! There will be plenty more pictures to come as we settle into life together! Thanks for following our journey becoming a family of six! Wow! Did I just say a family of SIX??

Finishing Up the Journey - Part Two

Our plane rides were okay - the ride from Beijing to Los Angeles went on forever and the girls were restless. Our greatest relief came when we were hosted by the Yingling family in LA for our marathon eight hour layover there. Karen made a great meal and it was such a needed break to just sit in a home. The time flew by as we enjoyed their wonderful hospitality. Only too soon, we had to pack up again and head back to the airport for another flight to Atlanta. And then finally home. I would show you pictures of the airport reunion... but Ella and I were covered in throw-up from the last five minutes of the trip as we landed in Asheville. I'm hoping some other photos of that reunion show up somewhere - but I was not thinking about a camera during that time.

Finishing up the Journey - Part One

I know there has been silence from us since returning... jet lag is awful! And coming home to a full house of activity, you want to sleep and be with your children, not on the computer! Have I mentioned you want to sleep?? And at all the wrong times! But anyway.... here are some photos of us leaving the White Swan before travel hit us squarely in the face!

A Photo from the Road

Just saw our picture on another travel log....http://kennedyohana.blogspot.com/

Home!!!

Home Sweet Home! There's no place like home!! Home is where the heart is... and all of that! We'll post photos soon!

Happy to Report....

...that Kevin, Bridget, Ella, and Mia are all in Los Angeles for the next 7 hours! They have made it through customs, Ella is a brand new American citizen, and their fellow-adopter-friends (not sure what else to call them:) have just picked them up and taken them home for hot showers and a meal! You can meet the wonderful family here and bookmark the site so you can follow their journey in a few weeks!

http://casadealegria.blogspot.com/

They will be back at the airport in about 5 or 6 hours to catch their flight to Atlanta and then home!

Travel Days in "Asheville Time"

In case you are interested in following the travel during the next hours... I'm going to try my best to interpret times to "Asheville Time"...

Leaving Guangzhou to fly to Beijing: 1:30 AM - 4:30 AM (January 1st) - 3 hour flight
3.5 hours layover in Beijing

Leaving Beijing to fly to Los Angeles: 8:00 AM - 7:30 PM (January 1st) - 11.5 hour flight... if you want to track our progress follow the link below and scroll down to the bottom of the page - You'll see our plane in flight!!

http://www.airport-la.com/lax/flight?flight_arrival=CA983

7.5 hour layover in LA... the adoption community is wonderful - we are planning to spend time with a family in LA who is also adopting from the same special needs list where we found Ella - they leave January 19th to pick up their daughter!



Leaving LA to fly to Atlanta: 2:55 AM - 7:08 AM (January 2nd) - 4 hour flight
Almost 3 hour layover in Atlanta

Leaving Atlanta to fly to Asheville: 9:52 AM - 10:50 AM (January 2nd) - 1 hour flight