Home turf!

We are finally home! Jie's Mom was so wonderful to us. She helped get us a hotel room in Shanghai and then she stocked our room with fruit, bread, snacks, and drinks. She also brought us to the airport for our return flight.

The 14 hour flight from Shanghai to Chicago wasn't too bad. Sen Lin was amazingly easy on us. He watched Alvin and the Chipmunks 4 times in a row, and then he slept about 7 hours on the plane. I think he liked the plane ride b/c every time he woke up there was a meal ready and waiting.

Chicago to DFW was very hectic. We missed our original connection b/c we landed 1.5 hour late due to delays in Shanghai and a route change to avoid bad weather. Immigration took about an hour in Chicago, but as soon as Sen Lin landed on US soil he is considered an American citizen.

American airlines re-booked us on the next available flight to DFW and didn't give us enough time to get to the domestic terminal. Luckily an employee rushed us through re-checking our baggage and security checks. We were the only ones to make the 8pm flight to DFW and we had landed at 6:30pm. We left immigration at 7:30pm.

Edith and Jie picked us up at the airport at 10:30pm. It was so great to see them. It was easier for them to pick us up then to have Aunt Wendy drive at night to an unknown airport. Mom and Aunt Wendy were waiting up for us when we got home. May was sleeping but she woke up briefly from all the noise. Josh and I were able to hold her and put her back down. Sen Lin was a little wired, he investigated his new surroundings and we got him to settle down in a temporary bed in our bedroom. But we did kick Bullvide outside. Sen Lin was a little intimated by him.

Sen Lin slept well last night and napped 2 hours today. He and May play very well together. Well, he did bounce a ball off her head and made her cry but it wasn't intentional on his part. I think he hurt May's feelings more than anything. It was a very soft ball.

Sen Lin has been so easy on us and he quickly adapts to all the changes we have been throwing at him. It is unbelievable. Josh and Aunt Wendy took him to the doctor today and he has a clean bill of health. We have to made appointments for a specialist about his cleft palate but his pediatrician thinks Sen Lin won't require surgery until his permanent teeth come in.

I went to the doctor also with May and my Mom. He gave me a steroid shot to clear my sinuses, put me on antibiotics, and cough syrup with codeine. I feel better and the jet lag is bearable.

Everything is going so much better than we ever imagined and we are so grateful for the wonderful people in our lives. Thank you for following our blog. I hope you enjoyed it.

Love, Malinee and Josh.