How 31 Became 54 After 16 Became 17

This chronicles our very very long trip home.

The night before, mom and Jackson snuggle at the hotel.

Dad takes the subway route to cross the street and pick up dinner.

Thai food from The Banana Leaf. Yum!

Back at the hotel our new friends the Vicks are ready for departure.

We left Guangzhou at 6am, took a big van to the border with Hong Kong, then switched to

a smaller van to to go through the border and on to the Hong Kong airport.

We waited a few hours in Hong Kong then boarded the plane to Seattle.

Meanwhile, back home, everyone celebrated Matthew's 26th birthday!

Many hours into our journey, Susan noticed that the plane was going the wrong direction.

After making it two hours past Tokyo, the plane turned around and headed back to Japan.

No announcement was made until we were almost to Tokyo, then they told us the plane was

having problems and we would not make it to Seattle. We landed safely in Tokyo and folks

came on board to fix the plane but could not do so until a part arrived the following day.

The Americans on board were allowed to take a 90 minute bus ride to another airport where

they would board a plane to Los Angeles and be there by nightfall. The Chinese passengers

(including our newly adopted son), however, would need a visa to travel more than a mile from

the airport so we were taken to a nearby hotel and asked to return for instructions at 9 am,

Susan and Jackson

(notice how the Americans are going the opposite direction: home)

Our glorious accommodations near the hotel.

Uh oh, Toto, I think we're not at the Garden Hotel anymore!

We reported to the airport at 9am.

They had a plan for us to be home!

Two flights: first to JFK in NYC, then on to Richmond

Great! Only one catch. The plane to NYC leaves in 8 hours.

Our 31 hour trip is now a 54 hour trip. Ultra-marathon.

We spent countless hours exploring the Narita International Airport.

So much fun!

The Ronald McDonald House is everywhere.

Narita

The observation deck. We observed and observed.

Air Susan?

Okay.

Finally getting close to home. Like any marathon, the last few miles are the hardest.

The Last Day in Guangzhou

We are pleased to declare this our final day in Guangzhou!

Tomorrow morning we will leave at 6 am local time in a van to Hong Kong!

If all goes as planned, 31 hours later we will land in Richmond!

It could be a long day.

Prayers are welcome.

I will probably update the blog sometime Sunday.

Until then, enjoy these timeless photos of Jackson and the Garden Hotel.

Jackson likes stacking his toys.

Mom and dad like watching Bones.

Sometimes we stroll around the grounds of the hotel to see the fish.

But we eventually find our way back to room 1416.

Guangzhou Groundhog Day in the Garden Hotel.

Chef Susan's Secret Recipe

Jackson has a cleft palate and feeding is an issue.

Susan has found the right combination of taste and texture.

When she feeds Jackson it is a symphony of happy eating!

Yum Yum

Aaahhh!

That's pretty tasty stuff.

It makes Jackson smile (yes, that's a smile).

He likes her to keep his chin nice and clean!

Jackson is a happy camper (at the moment).

After she feeds Jackson, we have to feed ourselves.

We have quite a few more choices than yogurt and formula.

Some nights we end up wishing we had stuck with yogurt!

We will be home in less than 3 days!