Valentines Day on Snack Street

Happy Valentines Day! 

It's 10:30 pm here. 2 posts in one day brought to you by jet lag. After we toured  earlier today we took a nap. At least we meant for it to be a nap. We went to sleep about 3:00. I woke up at 7:30 pm and started trying to wake Gabe and Jason up. We finally got up at 8:30. I'm pretty sure we have totally screwed ourselves, this is the opposite of what you're supposed to do to get used to the time change.

There have been fireworks going off all day and night. This is the last week of Spring Festival. The kids get a month off of school here. Many people in China travel to their home during the Spring Festival so Beijing is actually not as busy as it could be. 

Sarah & Nanny-so the eating at someone's house-part of the tour. I think everyone should be impressed at how well I've done with my social awkwardness....

 We decided to venture out on our own. Our hotel is very centrally located so not too scary. Crossing the street is a little scary. As our guide put it, the cross walk signs are "only a suggestion" and pedestrians do not have the right of way here. 

This beautiful church is right next to our hotel.

This was the " walking street" just down from our hotel. We said it reminds us of The Osborne Lights at Hollywood Studios. Now with more communism. 

This. Is. Snack Street. Also known as the night market. It's everything we hoped it would be. This was actually so very cool. Lots of people around, they are obviously adventurous, not afraid to try different foods! 

Edited to add-we just looked, didn't eat anything...

Eel Anyone?

Whole duck on a stick? 

Super cute but I have no idea what they are?

The brown things are worms. Worms on a stick. To eat. 

Who wants scorpions? Crickets?

We love starfish. But not to eat. The prickly brown things are sea urchins. 

Apple store at the mall. 

Everyone wrote on this column at the mall. 

Peer pressure got the better of me...

Chinese McDonalds. Sausage double hamburger anyone? Otherwise, Chinese McDonalds was close to the same. Diet Coke is not the same. 

Plastic Surgery Oral anyone?

Back to our hotel. Fingers crossed that we can get some sleep tonight!!

Touring Beijing

Today was the first of 2 days of touring Beijing. It's now 2:20 pm here, which means just after midnight for everyone back home. My body is not sure what to think. 

We woke up at 3:30 this morning and couldn't go back to sleep. I ate some M&Ms and twizzlers and watched some shows on my iPad. 

If you're from my adoption groups and reading this, express VPN and Panda Pow are both working fine, able to get on whatever website we want, netflix is working. 

We took showers and Facetimed with the boys. It was so good to see them. Quincy was a little shy but Dex was very happy to see us. Technology is an amazing thing!

Our room is very nice but is was sooo hot that we had to change rooms this morning. The new room is much better. 

We had breakfast at our hotel's buffet. It was great. Chinese and western foods both. Wish I had taken more pictures.

 

After breakfast we met our CCAI guide and the other family we are traveling with, Terry & Vern. We are so lucky to be with them, they are very fun and easy going so perfect travel companions!

We got on the bus and headed to Tianeman Square first. 

Our guide shared a lot about the history of Tianemam Square. I wish I could remember more but you all have Wikipedia....

Gabe in front of China's version of the White House. 

One thing we found very interesting is the response when we asked about the rebellion there. Our guide was a little uncomfortable at the question. She admitted we probably know more about it than she does, the news is controlled by the government so we saw much more than they did. It's so easy to forget how fortunate we are to have the freedoms we do....

There were 2 of these huge TV screens. They were just recently on MSN, the smog is so bad that people would go to watch the sunrise/sunset on these screens. 

We Americans were apparently an interesting sight. This cute couple followed us around for a while until the finally asked to have a picture with us. 

The Forbidden City. You can tell how smoggy it is. This was amazing. Huge, beautiful. I wasn't planning on enjoying this as much as I did. 

 This was called the couples tree. (No clue why this is blue and underlined but I don't know how to fix it on the iPad with no keyboard so I'm leaving it). 

After the Forbidden City we took a Rickshaw ride through the Hutong neighborhood. 

           

          Dad, a cat!,

Todd, a jeep!

Next we were served lunch in a home in the Hutong neighborhood. This was not even a third of the food. 

They have racing pigeons!!

All that food prepare in this tiny kitchen, which is apparently big for the area. 

Gabe and Jason rode together on the way back while I rode with Cecelia. Felt sorry for this poor guy....

Tomorrow we got to the Great Wall of China! 

Again, thank you for all the kind words and prayers. We love it and really do appreciate it!!

Live From Beijing!!

We're here!! I had typed a whole post on the plane, thought I saved it but I guess not. We survived the flight. Nonstop for I think 14 hours. Flight was completely full. So glad we had economy plus, 5 extra inches of leg room definitely felt worth it! The business class seats looked like heaven...

The flight had plenty of entertainment and it felt like they were constantly feeding us. 

 

Getting off the plane. We were the Foreigners! After I took the picture I saw the "no cameras" sign. Oops. 

Went through immigration and customs. You had to mark the purpose for your visit. 'Settle Down' sounds nice....

Our guide, Cecelia, was waiting for us and the other family we are traveling with at the airport. 

She told us so much about Beijing on the way to our hotel. I hope Gabe is able to remember it, he should be able to give an awesome report! 

We had dinner at a noodles shop just down from our hotel. They put us in the NBA room. It was funny. 

I didn't take food pictures, but we had authentic noodles, that were awesome, fried rice, and spring rolls. So much food, so cheap.  The picture of the tea is for my mam-you would love it! 

Outside 7-eleven which is across the street from our hotel. We're not supposed to drink the water here. I of course immediately forgot and brushed my teeth with the sink water. Hoping I don't need the cipro.....

Our hotel is beautiful. We've already been needy asking for help with extra pillows, trying to get the AC to work (spoiler alert-it doesn't) and figuring out the powere adapters. 

As I type this, Jason mad Gabe are both asleep. I've talked to Dex & Q, they sound great. For the very first time, Penelope and I are sleeping at the same time in the same country. Soon it will be in the same room!!

Tomorrow we tour Beijing. This is so surreal. I'm still not sure I believe I am here! 

Thank so much for all the nought a, prayers, comments and messages. They mean a lot to us!!

All our Love from the other side of the world!! 

And We're Off....

We're in Chicago. I'm typing this from the airport Holiday Inn Express. We fly out at 11 something tomorrow morning. 

This is my first post from my iPad so bear with me if it looks weird. 

Leaving the boys was rough. Many tears were shed. All by Jason and I. The boys were fine. I did my best to try to make things as easy as possible for them, but the truth is I think they're going to have.  Great time hanging out with Mam & Bamp and Nanny & Papa. 

They have a little treat for each day we're gone. 

We had some fun this evening before we left. 

Our last picture as a family of 5!!!

Our luggage was overweight so we made some last minute adjustments and that was it. We walked out. Walked out of the life we knew. On an adventure of a life time to start something great. 

As I site here tonight, it's already Wednesday in China. The last Wednesday Penelope will spend in the orphanage. Just a few more days.

We're coming baby girl!!

Love Will Leave The 99 Just To Find The 1

One week from now, About this time, we will have our daughter in our arms. I started shaking typing that.

In. Our. Arms.

We are so very close. Today has been a good day. We had a great church service and have spent the rest of the day packing. 

Quincy has been battling a stomach ache yesterday and today. Jason and I are starting to think it may be at least in part due to nerves.

Quincy is up in the corner-packing supervisor.

Dexter on the other hand is anything but nervous. 

He can't wait. For us to leave. 

He has been sleeping with his bag he packed himself (I have no idea what's in there?) for days. He is literally counting down the days.

As excited as I am, the nerves of leaving Dexter and Quincy are starting to set it. 16 days is a longggg time. I KNOW they will be fine. They get to hang out with Mam & Bamp and Nanny & Papa. I know it's harder for me than them. 

But I also know they will miss us. My QQ may be big, but he loves being the baby and I know he will miss his mama. I have chest pain thinking of them without us, but there could not possibly be a better reason.

What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off?

                                                                             Matthew 18:12

So in just a few days, Jason and I will leave our 99 to find our 1. 

               

Travel Call and Itinerary

One Week. That's it. 

After all the research, meetings, paperwork, money, time, and tears. We are down to this. One week from now we will be on a plane to Beijing.

Yesterday we had our official travel conference call with Joshua Zhong. He is our agency's founder. His story is really quite amazing. Josh and his wife Lily truly are world changers. Their story helped us decide that Chinese Children Adoption International was the right agency for us.
Take a minute and read more about Josh and Lily here.

Josh told us we are the smallest travel group he has ever sent, just us and one other family. I know so many families were delayed due to Chinese New Year. It was seriously a huge prayer answered that we're getting to go now.
Sounds like we'll definitely be getting personalized attention! He talked to us a lot about what to expect for our travels. Basically he advised us to "give our brains" to our guides. Just trust the system they have in place and we should be fine.

We also received our itinerary. Looks like we have an exciting couple of weeks! China is 14 hours ahead of us (I've been saying 13 hours but it turns out its 14 with the time change).

So here's what we know....

2/12/14
Depart Chicago at 11:55 am on nonstop United flight to Beijing. Flight is 13 hrs 45 minutes

2/13/14
Arrive in Beijing at 3:40pm.
Will be met by our CCAI guide at the airport
Check into Sunworld Dynasty Hotel

2/14/14
Tour Beijing
Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Hutong Tour, and optional acrobatics show.

2/15 /14
Tour Beijing.
Great Wall of China. 
~Diel & Leffler girls-now is the time to start the pool of how long it takes me to fall down. I'm gonna guess in the parking lot before we even make it to the actual "great wall".

2/16/14
Depart Beijing for Zhengzhou on China Airlines flight CA 1325 (12:55-14:30).
We will be met by our CCAI guide at the airport.
Check in to Crown Plaza Hotel.

2/17/14
Gotcha Day!! Penelope will be in our arms and with us for the remainder of the trip. Actually, forever!!

2/18/14
Finalize the adoption in the morning.
Notary Interview-apparently part of the process for her visa.
Travel to Luoyang to apply for Penelope's passport.
*We will request to visit the orphanage but no guarantee we will be allowed to do so*

2/19/14
Free Day!

2/20/14
Receive your notary documents in the afternoon.

2/21/14
Receive Penelope's Passport
.
2/22/14
Leave Zhengzhou for Guangzhou on China Southern Flight CZ 3971 (11:10-13:25).
Met by CCAI guide at the airport.
Check into China Hotel.

2/23/14
Meet with CCAI representatives to prepare paperwork for the Consulate appointment.

2/24/14
Penelope's visa physical and visa photo taken this morning.
Hoping to shop with Ann, a guide who is practically famous in the China adoption world, in the afternoon.

2/25/14
Back to Clinic to have TB test results and chest xray if needed.

2/26/14
Consulate Appointment!!

2/27/14
Receive Penelope's Visa.
Depart for Hong Kong in afternoon.

2/28
Depart Hong Kong on nonstop United flight at 11:10 am. Flight time 14 hrs 35 minutes.
Arrive in Chicago at 11:45 am the SAME DAY!!
Penelope Mei Fulton becomes a US citizen the second her little toes touch the ground!

After The Approval

Two weeks from today Penelope Mei will be in our arms!!!

This may be stating the obvious, but I feel sooooo much better! It's like a million pound weight has been lifted off my heart. It is so very nice not to be completely glued to my phone all day waiting for an email that brings us closer to our daughter. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure the panic of leaving the boys will set in soon, I type this with my teeny tiny baby  60 pound 4 year old on my lap with his fabulous arms wrapped around my neck. I can't imagine how much I will miss these boys!

Since we got our TA, I had a busy couple of days figuring out flights. We used a travel agent who specializes in adoption travel. Apparently booking a 2 year old a one way ticket to America is a little more complicated than one might imagine.

We know we leave for China next Wednesday, February 12th. Our "Gotcha Day" (the day we get Penelope) is February 17th. Other than that we don't know much in the way of travel details. We are flying out of Chicago, nonstop flights! I am completely amazed that a plane can go from Chicago to China without stopping!
We will get our itinerary tomorrow, then tomorrow afternoon we have our conference call with Josh, the owner and founder of our agency.
More to come as we get more details....

I can't close this without saying a huge Thank You to everyone for the prayers, congratulations, and well wishes. I can't say enough how much it means to us! We have been overwhelmed with the interest, support, encouragement, and kindness. I really plan to try to blog from China so stay tuned.I love all the comments on the blog. Sarah shares the facebook comments with me as well.

Thank You Thank You Thank You!