We finally made it home.

Our plane landed in Charlotte around 6:45 pm. By the time we grabbed our luggage, finished fellowshipping with those who met us at the airport and drove home, it was close to 8:00. Actually it didn’t take us long to gather our luggage. We were in the last 2 rows of the plane so we were also the last ones off. By the time we made it to the baggage carrousel, our luggage was the only luggage left. All 5 pieces were sitting on the floor.

Both kiddos really did very well considering how long our day was. The biggest issue on the planes was jealousy. Every time Carmi would touch Karys, Eliana would cry. Every time Carmi would touch Eliana, Karys would cry. I was zero help because I’m still sporting a fever and feeling like major crud.

A big surprise was how easily Karys took to members from both sides of our family at the airport. I really suspected that she would pitch a fit when someone else wanted to hold her but she never did.

My sister Kerry, brother-in-law Art and mom brought us home.

Here’s one happy gran’mommy.

We were reunited with the other four families from our adoption agency who are also staying at the White Swan. The others arrived yesterday so the Hendersons were the last ones to join the party.

After Karys’ physical and visa photo, our group met for a short joint road trip to the local mall. Eliana and Katherine were the dynamic duo and kept us busy chasing them down and trying to round them up. I’m glad they have each other to play with.

Look at this brood of mama hens gathered around the jewelry counter!

At 6:00, we finished up and went to dinner at a nearby restaurant. When you walk in the door, you’re greeted by all sorts of creepy-crawly things just waiting to be delicacies on your plate:

There were snakes and eels and many other choicy morsels.

Still hungry?

No lie...Eliana was crying when we sat down at the dinner table. She was sure that we would be eating them.

We had a short period of rest in our hotel room before taking Karys for the requisite physical exam. She was none too crazy about being poked and prodded.

I guess she passed. They took our money anyway.

We made it to Guangzhou a little before noon and have checked into our room at the famous White Swan hotel.

Our guide is named Elvin. We’ve heard good things about Elvin so our last few days in China should go well.

Woohoo! The party is in our room! And let me tell you...it’s a nice room.

I’m preparing to put away the laptop as we pack up for the final leg of our journey.

We meet Amy in the lobby at 6:45 am for the 1-hour van ride to Beijing Capital International Airport. Our China Southern flight is at 9:15 am and the destination is Guangzhou in southern China. The flight is 3 hours long as the crow flies at 600 mph.

It’s going to be hard to say goodbye to Amy. She was absolutely wonderful and a better guide than we could possibly have imagined.

See you down South!

Today was another busy day that started with a visit to the Beijing Zoo. We didn’t visit the zoo in 2002.

This was the normal scene in our van as Eliana talked Amy’s ears off for the entire 30-minute trip.

How about a 3-point road turn in the middle of a busy street by a bus?

The main attraction is, of course, the pandas.

Funny sign at the panda compound.

Come here, mom!

We passed an ice cream stand and just had to stop. Carmi started out giving Karys just a taste of her ice cream and the Littlest Empress decided she wanted the whole thing.

This is what happens when the ice cream runs out.

There were Red Pandas.

I’ll be darned if Godzilla wasn’t there too. I guess he swam over from Japan.

6-1/2 hours later and we finally were checked into our hotel room in Beijing. As a matter of fact, we’re in the same room from last weekend.

All five of us are so tired we can’t see straight.

As soon as we settled into the room, Carmi gave the two girls a bath and I put them straight to bed. I’ll bet it didn’t take two minutes before they were both sound asleep. Carmi and I have had our showers and I’ll bet it won’t take us two minutes either.

We have an early start tomorrow and a full day starting with the Great Wall!

G’night.

Karys had a slight fever this morning so we gave her some medicine and she fell asleep again after breakfast.

Even though I’m sure she’s not feeling well today, we’ve had an abundance of smiles and laughs since lunch and a major poop job. Guess that would make most anyone feel better.

We leave for the train station in 30 minutes for a return trip to Beijing. I wonder if Karys is as happy to be leaving Shijiazhuang as we are?

The girls watch Mulan after breakfast while we wait to meet Amy at 11:00.

This journal offers a peek inside the Henderson home where you'll find two Little Empresses. Eliana stole our hearts on October 29, 2002 and Karys forever became a part of our family on September 17, 2007. Is a Little Emperor in the future?