August 25, 2005

Since we had been chasing the sunrise since we left China, time had been moving faster for us than usual. It was odd that we arrived in Los Angeles a few hours before we left Guangzhou, again thanks to the International Date Line. Time literally flies during international travel.

We exited the plane at LAX and followed the crowd to Immigration. The hallways got gradually narrower along the way, forcing all of us along like cattle. We finally reached the Immigration checkpoint and all of us milled around while we waited for people to be processed. All of the adoptive families were grateful when an officer pulled us aside and had us follow her to the correct processing area. By doing so we were able to bypass two planeloads of people waiting to enter the country. We all handed over our passpoerts and the INS paperwork given to us at the U.S. Consulate, then we sat and waited for the officer to process the paperwork. It took quite some time, but eventually we were called up, given back our passports and were allowed to go collect our checked luggage. Hannah was officially a U.S. citizen!

We went in search of the baggage claim area and found our bag rather quickly. Then we had to find out how to get us and our luggage on the connecting flight to Atlanta. We found the gate for the flight and began to head toward it. At the first checkpoint we were told that without boarding passes we would be unable to proceed, then were directed back to the ticketing area that we had passed on the way out of Immigration. We had to work our way through the crowd to the domestic flights area and wait in another line to get the boarding passes. During this time we noticed that Hannah was getting a bit ripe. No more constipation for her. The ticketing agent did her best to get us connected seats for the flight and managed to get us two seats on either side of the aisle. Once the passes were printed we checked our one bag and headed back to the checkpoint again.

We presented our passports and boarding passes at the checkpoint and were waved through. Once we topped the stairs just beyond that checkpoint we were asked again for our passports and boarding passes. Seemed like a pointless request since we just had to present them less than thirty yards earlier. We passed that checkpoint and then had to stand in line for the security screening. Hannah did well while waiting in the line, but she was getting riper while we waited and the people around us probably noticed as well. At this time I was having to carry the computer bag and two carry ons while Victoria carried Hannah and Abigail pulled her carry on along behind her. Trying to remove all of our shoes, push the bags through the x-ray machine and keep an eye on everything was a real chore. The screeners didn't do much of anything to help us considering they could see that VIctoria was having a hard time carrying Hannah and watching Abigail at the same time. We collected our shoes and bags at the other end, but with the confusion of getting the bags through the machine I forgot to pull my laptop out of its backpack. The laptop had to be separately screened because of this which slowed us down a little more. Eventually we jumped through all of the hoops and managed to get to our gate. We were finally able to change Hannah and make the air a bit more breathable.

By the time we had completed the obstacle course noted above, our three hour layover was reduced to less than an hour. We took the time to clean ourselves up the best that we could and get some snacks prior to the flight. It was a full flight for such a late hour and the waiting area was pretty packed. Hannah and Abigail handled the wait well. We were boarding the plane on schedule and were grateful that this would be our last flight before we got home.

The flight from LA to Atlanta lasted a little less than 4 hours, and we were scheduled to arrive a little before 6:00 a.m. on August 25. Abigail fell asleep before we took off and slept for most of the flight. Hannah fell asleep shortly after takeoff and slept for about three hours, but woke during the last hour of the flight and became restless. She seems to be able to sense when a flight is coming to an end, because she began to cry during this time and wouldn't be comforted. She needed another diaper change and Victoria managed to complete the procedure just before we were to be buckled in for landing. Hannah began crying louder at this time and continued her crying through the landing. By the time the door was opened and people began to leave the aircraft, everyone was anxoius to get off of the plane. Hannah managed to get some of her messy diaper on Victoria's jeans ans shirt which only made people want to get away even more. Victoria headed off the plane with Hannah while Abigail and I waited for the crowd to pass before getting our luggage and leaving.

We met up with Victoria outside the gate and went in search of our bag in the Baggage claim area. After getting our bag I called our friend Tommy to let him know we had arrived and that we would be boarding MARTA soon and would meet him at the Doraville station. He let me know that he was already at the station waiting for us with Cheerios and cold drinks in hand. That was the most encouraging news I had heard in hours. We then made our way to the train, fended off a local panhandler and settled down for the train ride to the other side of town. We were all tired and sweaty after the trip and I'm sure the other riders in the car tried their best to give us a wide berth. About a half hour later we were getting off the train and meeting up with Tommy. The ride home from the train station was probably the most pleasant trip we had made for the last two days. Hannah actually enjoyed riding in her car seat and we were grateful to be seeing familiar sights again. Once we got home we found the lawn mowed and a breakfast of fruit and muffins set out for us. Wonderful!

We didn't have the luxury of a nap after our arrival. We had set up an appointment with our pediatrician this same day, so we only had about three hours until we had to get on the road again. We spent the time unpacking and getting showers or baths to get freshened up from the trip. Hannah did well at the pediatrician's office, though she started to fall asleep in the waiting room. She was tired but she didn't want to admit it. She checked out fine and we began to set up a schedule for her immunizations. We stopped for a quick bite at McDonald's on the way home, then we all collapsed for a few hours.

It sure is good to be home.