Day 17 - Headed to USA

This morning we got re-packed, ate breakfast, and headed to the airport for the longest day of our lives. There was a long line to get our boarding passes and check our luggage. We ran into a couple from our Guangzhou hotel who was flying out with us. We departed HK 4/26 at 11:30 am HK time or 4/25 at 10:30 pm central time.

I know everyone was praying for us regarding this 14 hour flight because AK did great. We gave her some Benadryl when we boarded the plane and she was out by time we departed. She slept for about 3 hours and I was able to get a little work done. When she woke, it was time to eat. She ate all her, mine, and Nanna's green beans. She played well for four hours. We gave her another dose of Benadryl, but it did not make her tired. She finally went to sleep with two hours left on the flight. For her being awake as much as she was we really did not have any meltdowns. She would get restless a few times and we would walk around with her. When getting off the plane everyone commented on how good she did.

We landed in San Francisco and had a 2 hour layover. That was just enough time to go through immigration (AK recognized as US citizen), customs, pick up bags, recheck bags, and go back through security, and pick up something to eat. I was very concerned we would not be able to get all that done in two hours, but we were fine. Then at 10:30 am PT on 4/26 we left for Chicago.

AK did great again. She slept most of this flight. I started having dizziness at the airport and started feeling nauseous on the plane. I had to let Nanna hold AK and I got some sleep.

We had a short layover in Chicago with flight delayed 20 minutes. We finally got AK to wake up. At 6:45 pm CT we left for Birmingham. AK was awake for this flight. She had a short meltdown when she could not have my sprite. She really snacked on Cheerios the entire flight.

We got back to Birmingham at 8:20 pm CT. So from the time we left for airport to arrival in Birmingham was 24 hours. So 4/26 lasted 39 hours for us. This trip back with AK could not have gone any better. I thanked God every leg of the trip for answering our prayers. She never had a meltdown like we experienced flying from Zhengzhou to Guangzhou.

At Birmingham, Kevin and I ran from the terminal to baggage claim. Coming down the escalator, we saw Bennett and our friends. They had come with signs welcoming us home. AK was an answered pray for all of us. Kevin and I ran to get Bennett. He felt like he had gained twenty pounds. Bennett recognized "sissy" and gave her kisses. AK hit Bennett which upset Bennett. He is so tender hearted. After that Bennett preferred us to AK.

All the temporary brothers Bennett has had while we were gone smothered Bennett with love. Megan and Jaime, Bennett's temporary mommies, said he was great. I was glad to hear he did well. I know looking back we made the right decision to not take Bennett, but for me I will never do it again. Kevin and I did not handle it well. It still upsets me that we left him.

We put AK in the car seat for ride home. She screamed going into the car seat, but when we started going and got her some more Cheerios, she calmed down. For the most part, she handled the ride home well.

When we got home, Bennett went to get his toy cars and AK got down from my lap to play. I don't think Bennett liked his new shadow. Bennett has learned the word "mine". I can foresee future timeouts for saying this word.

Around 11 pm, we put Bennett to bed and then AK. We made her a pallet in the floor of her room. I laid with her for 30 minutes and then went to my bed. She slept till 2:15 am. She woke up from all her congestion. She could not breath. After an hour I could not slip out, so Kevin intervened. He got her to sleep, but she was up an hour later. Around 8, she fell into a deep sleep on the couch which was when Bennett and I got up. She slept through falling off the couch twice and Bennett and I playing. Around 10:30, she got up.

We had a good first day. You can tell Bennett really loves her. He asks about her constantly. However, both Bennett and AK want what the other one has or whoever has one of them. I expected this. I pray as AK gets more comfortable with Bennett that this jealousy will improve.