Day 15 x 2 and a home update

From Jeff~

It's day 15x2 because we traveled over the International Dateline on Easter, allowing us to experience that day twice.

When we woke up in Beijing I was feeling pretty bad - stomach, fever, headache, all of that. Grandpa got us some continental breakfast sent to the room which was just right to get us going. We were surprised to see a crisp clean day outside in Beijing - the first day like that since we got to China.

We got to the airport 3 hours before the flight left, and of course we had to do battle at the check in counter for another 45 min. Ty was REALLY tired of hanging around check in counters and he let us know this time. We finally got squared away and the next 12-14 hours is a big blur in my memory stick - all I know is my Dad really stepped up when I needed him and took care of Ty on the long flight to San Fran. I was taking cold medicine to reduce the searing sinus pressure when flying while sick, so I was out of it. (What I remember reminds me of when Galndalf fought Balrog, but for 10 hours.)

747s seating is 3-4-3 across, and those wonderful UA people couldn't give us a set of 3 together. I felt bad for the Chinese scientist who sat beside me - he was the unlucky guy on the flight. Ty did well over all - an 11 hour flight for any 2.5 year old is a bad idea.

I actually felt better when we landed in San Fran and we all sat down for smoothies and pizza to celebrate our re-entry into the US. Going through customs with all our paperwork went smooth. We were glad to be back - so many things we take for granted on a daily basis.

We all slept the majority of our last flight - I told Ty to enjoy this flight because he wasn’t going to see another airplane for a long time. We landed in Chicago exactly 24 hours after we woke up in Beijing. After collecting luggage and then walking the 7 miles dragging our luggage to the shuttle area, we felt pretty good about the drive back to Grandpa's house.

Ty wasn't expecting the car seat. He was all excited when he saw us loading the car, but when all his buckles where suddenly clicked in, he was stuck. He cried and screamed off and on all the way to Grandpa's house. If he was eating, drawing, or watching family videos, he was OK. He was better if the light was left on too. Never fell asleep on that trip.

Got to pop in and meet Grandma, we got there at the stroke of midnight - finally the day was over! TY and Grandma hit it off pretty good - snacks and plush toys are his weak spot.

We wondered how it would go leaving Grandpa - I think things were coming together for Ty. I told him this was Grandma and Grandpa's house, and we needed to go home to Mom and Lily. He took his bag of Cheerios and didn't say one peep getting into his seat, or when we left. He was awake another 15 min into the trip - traffic was light at 1am on a Monday morning. We made it in good time and Mom was still up.

It was like no other homecoming, being gone for so long away from Tiffany and Lily was hard. Ty and Mom hit it off really well right off the bat. As tired as we were, Ty stayed up until 8am. When I laid down I decided this journey to China was over.

From Tiffany HOME UPDATE~

Well...... on Sunday night I should have gone to bed when Lily did (8:30pm) because I would have had about 6 hours of sleep. It was one of those times when you feel exhausted but also wide awake.

Jeff and Ty arrived at 2:30am on Monday.

I heard the garage door open and I peeked out to see Ty looking so cute in the back seat.

He looked like he knew who I was but he was so tired, in very unfamiliar territory and therefore he was hanging on to dad pretty tight.

He did come to me after about 30 minutes but really wanted to be with Jeff so I didn't push it. This meant that Jeff was up even longer.

Lily slept through everything. When she woke on Monday morning she was SOOOOOOOOOO excited when dad came in to get her up. She knew Ty was here and immediately ran to his room to see him sleeping (Jeff just got him to sleep only 15 minutes earlier).

As hard as it was not to wake him she let him sleep. Of course I had to take a picture of her looking at him and she was more than happy to pose for that.

It worked out perfectly because Ty sleeping right then allowed us to have a little bit of time with Jeff... so nice after 2 weeks.

After a few hours the excitement was getting the best of Lily.......so off we went to wake up Ty. She jumped up and down in his bed, kissed him, hugged him, and pretty well smothered him until he woke up. Hee hee

He wasn't quite sure what to make of all this attention from a VERY excited Lily. But decided some lunch and playing would be a good idea.

We weren't sure how the whole Lily and Ty thing would go but so far it has been better than we thought it would be. She LOVES him. She thinks everything he does is so funny... She tells him "YOU ARE SO FUNNY TY BABY". He is trying to repeat everything she says and she tries to say whatever language he is speaking in (seems to be a mixture of Chinese and Ty's own language). Lily is a combination of being a little mom and also a big sister.

MUCH to our surprise she shares MOST of her toys and books with him. She even lets him in her room (AKA The Pink Palace) and he is allowed to pick up all of her Hello Kitties. He has a rough side to him but has been very gentle with her toys SO FAR. He actually seems to like her room better than his own and loves all of her stuffed animals. He put all of his stuffed animals in his bed like she has some of hers. They seem to be watching what the other one does and they want to do what the other one is doing.

Lily doesn't mind when we hold him or do things for him. She did make it clear to him that we are Lily's mom and dad. When we explained that we are now also his mom and dad she didn't care to hear that.

How are mom and Ty doing..... Ty is letting me do things for him and will now come to me on his own. This is a huge step considering how close he is to Jeff. I am sure you could all see it in the pictures. Today he ran back and forth between the two of us giving us hugs. He even let me put him in bed for his nap (today) and in bed tonight. We were a little worried because he has no use for getting in his bed. I sang him the same songs I sing to Lily and within 5 minutes he is fast asleep. We are praying that continues. Sleep has been an issue because he is still very much on China time. He has been up ALL night the last 2 nights.
SO other than an afternoon nap today we've kept him up all day. That was not an easy task but it worked with Lily and so we are trying it with Ty.

We took a ride in the car today and as long as Ty was loaded with snacks he was just fine. They each had snacks and cups. When we got home the back seat looked like we just went on a cross country road trip.
They were a riot... laughing, taking their shoes off, eating snacks, talking NON STOP, and just being silly.
Ty takes a handful of Cheerios and puts them up to his mouth. About 3/10 make it in his mouth. The rest go all over him and the floor. Lily tells him he is making a mess and that he is so funny.

Well we certainly know that this little "honeymoon" time could change as the days go on. But for now we are really enjoying being a family of 4.
A VERY TIRED family of 4. (3 of us are tired... Lily is well rested... thank goodness)

I'll post pictures in the next day or two.