Doctors, shots and swingsets!

We are settling here at home with Ella.

Yesterday was a big day. Ella had her first doctors appointment.

We had several questions (of course, we're first time parents)!

Ella weighed 14.1 lbs and is 28.25" long. She is in the zero percentile of her weight and the seventh percentile for her length. And, that's on the Asian charts. Clearly, we have some work to do.

Also on her first appointment, she got three immunizations and a TB test. So, she was not happy. For more added excitement, we took her to the lab at the hospital where she had blood drawn. Boy oh boy, is that ever heart wrenching for the parents. You have Jenn, me and a nurse holding her steady while a second nurse is digging in her arm for a vein to get the blood. The poor thing cried so hard and was just so upset. Thankfully, at this age, she has a very short memory as she was smiling on the way out.

She goes back in three weeks for test results and two more immunizations.

Today, we met a friend of mine in Jackson and went to Ella Sharp Park and spent quite some time walking around. Below is a photo gallery of her at the park and her first time on a swing.

How sweet is she?

Home sweet home

Well, we made it home... THANKFULLY!

It was a long flight but a safe one, which is the most important. Ella did great for the first 10 hours of the flight, but the last five were rough. She was antsy and fussy but rightfully so.

It is so nice to be home, though. We can brush our teeth with tap water rather than bottled (or boiled) water. We can wash our clothes in our own washer and dryer (and, yes, Deb, I did buy Dreft). We are sleeping in our own beds and have our own stuff. We can walk outside and not feel like we need to take a shower... Michigan was a comfortable 80 degrees today!

Scheduling is going to be the hardest and most critical right now. Getting Ella on a schedule AND us on a schedule. We all, basically, slept until 1 p.m. today. Ella went down about 8:45 p.m. for the night. We, however, aren't tired at all.

Below are some more photos, including Ella's first time in a swimming pool. That was fun. And, our great friends the Jaconette's and the Wall's decorated our house and made us food for our first night (or week) back! So, sweet!

http://s888.photobucket.com/albums/ac84/kevinmcfatridge/Miscellaneous%20Ella%20photos/

Almost home...

Last night we made it back to Hong Kong via train.

Our time in China has come to an end.

While it's exciting, it's also very sad. We feel for Ella. The emotions she must be feeling, even at 14 months, has got to be difficult.

While we are proud Americans, it is also hard to know she will not grow up in the Chinese culture for which she was born into. We have learned so much about China and Hong Kong, and, in some respects, have fallen in love with it. It's been an amazing trip and a trip of a lifetime.

We are so saddened it's come to an end, but are so grateful at the same time. We are ready to come home. We are ready to drink tap water and not boil it first. We are ready for a dishwasher. We are ready for a washer and dryer. We are ready to not live out of suitcases. We are ready to see our stuff. Our home. Our other clothes. Our friends. We are ready for Ella to see her room. Her house. Her toys. Her yard. We are just ready to begin our lives as a family.

Jennifer and I are deeply indebted to Ella's birth parents. We feel for the loss they have. The emptiness they must feel. The toughest decision they have probably ever had to make. At the same time, we are filled with so much joy it's very difficult to describe.

Now the toughest job begins for us... raising our daughter. Teaching her right from wrong. Making sure she understands values, principles and respecting others. Being courageous. She needs to understand the value of a good education -- school is important. Remaining healthy and making the right choices for exercise and nutrition. Giving her all sorts of opportunities, whether it's swimming, music, or underwater basketweaving. We will support her in whatever decision(s) she makes.

I leave with one quote:

"All of our dreams can come true -- if we have the courage to pursue them." Walt Disney

It's official!

[Originally posted 08/16/10]

Today we had our appointment at the US Consulate’s office and took an oath.

Ella is officially ours and we will be free to leave China tomorrow upon issuance of her visa.



Cheers!

Kev, Jenn and Ella

Photos...

[Originally posted 08/15/10]

Here are some more pictures: http://s888.photobucket.com/albums/ac84/kevinmcfatridge/

Love,
Kev, Jenn and Ella