Thursday, December 11, 2008
WE MADE IT!
The night before leaving home, we went out to dinner with some
very special friends and we enjoyed what will be our last
uncooked salad until after Christmas. After getting home I did
Zoe’s hair and dressed her in her travel clothes. Then I let Zoe
stay up as late as she wanted hoping she would sleep on the
plane. I know for sure she saw midnight but drifted off soon
after that. 2:30am came only too quickly and I was up to shower.
Rob and Z snoozed an additional half hour.
Our incredible friend Merri Lee showed up as I was trying to pry
their eyes opened and drag them out of bed. She’s a true friend
who loaded up her van up with our suitcases while we scurried
about getting lights put on timers, making beds, and brushing
teeth. We soon headed out the door.
Merri Lee waved us off with hugs at the airport just before 4am.
You are always supposed to arrive for international trips 2-3
hours in advance of the flight time. Our flight was scheduled to
leave at 6:03 and the terminal was practically empty. A few of
us waiting to check in decided to try the automated check-in but
you can only go so far with that when there is no one behind the
counter to check your bags for you. After about 15 minutes of
looking tired and feeling bewildered, United ticket agents
showed up and got everything rolling. We checked our bags and
flew through security.
While waiting for our flight, Zoe and Daddy killed some time at
the play area while I watched. Our first flight was uneventful.
The four hour layover in Dulles was long so Rob actually took
some time to get in a nap.
When we finally boarded for the international leg of the trip,
Zoe passed out before they shut the doors. She slept for a
couple of hours and I was able to snooze for a bit. When she
woke, we read books, colored, used this really cool tape, and
went for a walk. We practiced being a big sister with her doll
Mimi. Rob was seated across the aisle from us so he didn’t get
to play and have as much fun as we did. Time passed slowly but Z
was really well behaved. About halfway through the flight she
asked, “How much longer till we get to China?” At the time we
were nine hours out. She asked that question many more times
today. At about 11am China time I put a mask on her to see what
would happen. She passed out again within minutes and basically
slept the remainder of the trip.
We all had a burst of energy when we landed although we have all
since petered out. In a few minutes I need to wake Rob up. The
three of us need to go buy water and diet coke. We’ll also pick
up something small to eat before calling it a night. Scratch
that. We’re eating oatmeal and waiting until morning to buy
water.
It feels so wonderful to be back in the country of our
daughters’ birth! Adoption is just an amazing thing when it
brings families together from half a world away! |
Ready to go.
Zoe did a lot of running and stretching in Dulles airport.
Enjoying the flight.
Our sleeping girl. |
