After being away for the last 2 weeks, I must return to work tomorrow.

Do you have any idea how badly that stinks?

It almost stinks as bad as Karys’ last diaper.

Almost.

This is Karys’ “If you don’t get off of me right now, everyone in Target will know I’m here” look.

It didn’t take Eliana long to figure out how to push Karys’ button. After all...that’s what big sisters are for, right?

Eliana and I went to Chik-Fil-A for some lunch. When we returned home, this little surprise was in our front yard courtesy of the Charlotte FCC.

The neighbors will be scratching their heads on this one.

• Karys was in bed around 9:30 pm and slept through the night until 8:00 this morning.
• Eliana went to bed the same time as Karys but stumbled into our bedroom at 4:30 am and said, “Daddy, I can’t go back to sleep”.
• I was in bed by 11:00 pm but woke up at 3:30 am. Eventually dozed back off but woke up when Eliana came in at 4:30 am. We got a snack and tried to go back to sleep but were unsuccessful and up for good at 5:30 am.
• Carmi didn’t get to bed until 2:00 am and was up by 6:00 am.
• I was able to get an appointment to see our family doctor at 11:00 am. He feels like I have a sinus infection (as suspected) and gave me a prescription for antibiotic pills so large they could choke a horse as well as pills to open my congested sinus cavities.
• We took Karys for an appointment with our family pediatrician at 3:30 pm. Karys hasn’t been coughing for the last couple of days and the doctor confirmed that there is no congestion in her lungs so no medication was prescribed. The doctor will arrange for us to meet with pediatric surgeons in a couple of weeks to take a look at Karys’ fistula and determine what, if any, corrective surgery needs to be done.
• I had a White Chocolate Mocha Grande from the Starbucks in Target tonight. Most delicious.
• So far, Karys will go to anyone who desires to hold her, either male or female. What’s strange is that she’ll cry when I try to pick her up. I can understand that she may feel more comfortable with other women since that’s probably the majority of what she saw in the orphanage. However, she’s allowed three men to hold her without so much as a whimper. She will come to me with outstretched arms but goes into a convulsing cry almost immediately. Don’t know if THAT odd behavior is in a textbook.

Be vewwy, vewwy qwiet. I’m hunting wabbits cats.

I don’t think our two cats will ever experience another moment’s peace.

Well...at least not when the kiddos are home.

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.

It’s 4:20 am. We must have our bags out in the hall by 5:00 and we meet in the lobby at 5:30.

It’s going to be a l-o-n-g day and I’m still looking for that Mack truck that hit me.

We’re coming home!!

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?