The Emma Has Landed!

Emma looking for a diversion to get past me into the aisle
Denny trying to Explain to Emma about the "no more than 28 Cherios-at-a-time in your mouth" rule

We made it back. After a 12 1/2 hour flight from Guangzhou, a one-night layover in Los Angeles, and a 1 1/2 hour flight this morning, we arrive on time in Salt Lake at 12:35 PM. Our flight didn't leave Guangzhou until 9 PM on Friday night, so we had to hang out at the airport from 5 PM until we boarded the flight at 8:30 PM. Emma fell asleep in her stroller just before boarding, and we thought perhaps the flying gods were smiling down upon us. Just a fleeting thought. Although she woke up with the bright lights in the cabin, at least she wasn't upset about it. We almost had her asleep a hour into the flight, when the flight attendant shook a boney finger at us and said that babies sleeping on the floor were not allowed (we spoke with other parents after the flight, and they told us of the glorious feeling of having their kids sleep for hours on the floor). Give the Governor a harrumpf! Between Denny and I, we held Emma while she was sleeping for about seven hours.

We arrived in LA just after sunset, three hours before we left. There were five other adoptive parents on the flight, and it took just under two hours to get through immigration and customs. Not too bad. We had a room booked for the night at an airport hotel, so we made the transfer over and luxuriated with a large room, ice, diet Sprite, soft beds, Dominos Pizza, and Conan O'brien. Emma slept from 11 PM until 1:30 AM, and from 5 AM until we had to wake her up at 6 AM to get ready for our next leg. She was a trooper through the whole deal.

Upon our arrival in Salt Lake, there was a welcoming committee of Aunt Barbie and Uncle Dennis, Cousin Tony and his wife Cindy, and kids all over the place with balloons. Quite the welcoming comittee for us! We were also surprised by Denny's friend who had finished Emma's 100 good wishes quilt and presented it to us. It is beauty (there will be more on the quilt in a future post, with pictures)! Andy and Mac were there with a couple of vehicles to help us get ourselves and all of our stuff back home. Amazing how much room you loose with a carseat. What ever happened to rope? Anywho, when we turned the last corner into our block, we saw that our garage door was decorated with a welcome home sign, compliments of Kathryn and Andy. What a treat! I was hoping to lay low for a few days, but I guess that option is out the window.

Grandma and Grandpa came over with Boo, Alex, Jason and Allison, but they had to just look, as Emma fell asleep just before they got here. She woke up about 8 PM, but went back down at 11 PM, and is still sleeping. Denny and I are tag-teaming it, so she is now able to get some sleep. The next few days may be a little strange, but we got her, she's a beaut, and everything went as planned. Murdock of the "A-Team" couldn't have been more pleased.

Thanks to all for your interest in our China experience, and I assume the writings will continue when Denny can find a moment to collect her thoughts. OK then.