Safe in Guangzhou

We got up early this morning to get on the road to the airport for flight #4 of 7 on this journey. At the end of the day, we were housed safely at the White Swan hotel in Guangzhou for the night. Along the way, we experienced the joy of trying to get an infant to take a nap on an airplane (yummy goodness... or not...) and leaving a warm and humid city for a hot and humid city. However, this hotel has air conditioning, and we are one step closer to home. In addition, the Chinese airline seats are not as small as I remember them. Maybe I'm shrinking. They also insist on feeding you, even on a 1-1/2 hour flight. Remember those days in the States? Me neither...

The next time we get on an airplane, it will be to fly to Tokyo, catch a connection to San Francisco, and then on back home to DFW. And yes, that will involve much more of the aforementioned joy with infants and airplanes. I'm about to call United to see if they can get us bulkhead seats and possibly a baby bassinet like we had with Sydney coming home four years ago. The bassinet didn't make much difference then, because Sydney screamed and wailed any time she was put down, but Kate is doing much better with bed time and nap time, so hopefully we'll actually get some relief out of it, if I can manage to reserve those seats.

I'm still a bit under the weather, but nothing like the trip four years ago. Something about China and my colitis don't mix well. Amy said if we ever come back again, she'll insist that I start on a steroid treatment ahead of time to prevent this kind of flare. Ah, the joys of imperfect bodies in a fallen world.

Anyway, that's about all for now. Tomorrow we'll take Kate for her physical and fill out all the remaining paperwork for the U.S. Consulate. We'll have our appointment at the Consulate on Wednesday and will get her visa at that point. Mixed in there will be trips to see some of the sights of Guangzhou, and I hope to post photos of the hotel and the surrounding area, as it is quite a treat.

Thanks for hanging in there with us!