Home at Last!

      We are HOME!!!!  It feels so good to be here after 18 days in another country, I can't begin to tell you!  We arrived home very late Wednesday night after 30 some hours of traveling.  Christopher's comment as the plane touched down said it all:  "Mommy, welcome to the USA!"  All the kids did amazingly well.  I am so blown away by how great all my kids did this entire trip!  By the time we got everyone to bed it was around 2:30 am Thursday morning.  Needless to say we are all still in recovery mode but slowly getting back to EST.  The kids have jumped right back into swim practice and birthday parties and I know are thrilled to be back.

      The last couple days in China were busy with getting Catherine Fujuan's Visa, taking our oath with the US Consulate, and doing some last minute souveneir shopping.  We traveled as a group to the Consulate and met beforehand to take pictures of all the adopted kids on the famous Red Sofas at the White Swan.  It was so fun to see all the kiddos dressed up in their Chinese finery for the picture. 
Since we've been home we have had our first appointment with our pediatrician.  She was thrilled with Catherine's social skills and bright affect!  After just a couple days home she has picked up so many English words and seems so happy to be here,  playing and exploring.  At breakfast the other day she took my empty plate to the dishwasher and put it in; a trick my other children haven't mastered yet :)
     Our major concern is the very apparent spinal defect and there is concern that she has more spinal cord involvement than we realized.  We have been able to get an appointment within 10 days to see a pediatric orthopedic surgeon at Hopkins.  Please pray for her (and us and the doctors) as we work to figure out her problems and the best ways to treat her.
      We are so amazed at the way God has blessed our family with this precous little one.  We will keep you all updated with her progress and our family happenings.  Thank you again for all your support and encouragement and prayers!  To God be all the Glory...

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