We flew from GZ to HK pretty smoothly.  It took FOREVER to check in at the HK airport because of our psychotically out of sequence numbered bags (we had 11 of them!  We packed small bags so we could monitor the weight).  We did manage to find a Burger King and enjoyed the most expensive hamburgers we have ever devoured wholeheartedly.  (Anything to be able to refuse an in-flight meal…)

We boarded and we seated in the very back of the plane, with all the babies.  (You know where this is going, don’t you?)  There was a toddler 2 rows back that screamed…not cried…SCREAMED the first 7 hours of our flight.  If they were American, I would have offered some Benadryl or candy, but so such luck- this family would have considered me off my rocker, I am sure.  They just strapped the child in tight and let him/her wail.  Thankfully, he/she settled down for the second half of the flight and we were all able to sleep- only to be disturbed by beverage carts and the occasional crying of the other babes on the plane.  We arrived in Chicago and made it through the initial customs clearance.  (They send you to pick up your bags before opening the brown envelope now.)  We reached the carousel to see some of our bags whirling around.  Dave picked up 1 of our 2 larger suitcases to find quite a surprise- it was leaking.  (Not a dripping faucet sort of leak, but more of a leaving a good-sized puddle on the floor sort of one.)  And the smell…WOW.  I promised him that I did not pack dead fish as souvenirs!  I was instantly devastated as it was a suitcase carrying very valuable items, particularly an electronic pen and book set for English-Chinese learning that is out of this world in both price and educational value.  As I stood completely stunned trying to figure out what in the world they had done to our bag, Dave continued to collect 8 of our 10 remaining bags.  Then the carousel stopped and that was it.  We managed to find a United worker who scanned our claim tickets only to tell us our bags never made it to Chicago.  It was time to move on to brown envelope world (the documents that finalize Anaia as an American citizen) and then to re-check our bags for the flight home.  They did allow me to open the fish-case and remove some things to try to save them- the inside reeked so bad I nearly lost my airplane food.  We put the books in a plastic bag and ran to catch our next flight.  All of this had taken 2 hours, so we reached the gate as they were boarding the plane.  Whew.  That flight was uneventful- other than the fact that I sat there completely dumbfounded as to what on earth had happened to our bag.  The smell was unbelievable.  We have a book sitting in the house that got wet on the top 2 inches or so.  It is dry now, but whatever room it is sitting in, it makes the whole room stink.  I cannot possibly convey how bad it really was/is…

We arrived home to a warm greeting by friends and headed down to the baggage carousel to pick up our bags- this time armed with a giant plastic bag to try and contain the smell of the one bag, only to find that now 2 more bags were missing!  One of which was the other large bag full of just about everything else important that we bought in China.   GEESH.  We waited for the next fight to come in and when the bags weren’t on that one either, we filled out the necessary paperwork and said a prayer that we would see our belongings again one day.  (The bags we had in Chicago I wasn’t too worried about, surely they would resurface, but the ones that never made it I was imagining floating in the South China Sea smelling like the one in the back of our car…)

We dropped off our stuff, watched Anaia flit around everywhere and then decided to indoctrinate her in the joys of Culver’s cuisine from day one.  We took our friends out for burgers and frozen custard---boy was it good to be home!  Nothing beats Culver’s frozen custard!!!

We received 2 bags this afternoon, it seems TSA had chosen them to search in Chicago, thus explaining the delay.  Still no news on the other 2…they finally told us they had no idea where they might be.  J  I was starting to make a very depressing list of the contents.  This wasn’t too difficult because BLESS HIS HEART for trying to be helpful, Dave has emptied out all of the suitcases in the dining room Friday night at about 11:00pm before going to bed.  Since they contained many Christmas/future presents for the girls, I stayed up until 2:00am sorting everything.  I had a very clear idea of what was missing… J J J

We also celebrated Anaia’s birthday today.  We had wrapped her gifts before we left and had them waiting for her.  (She noticed them right away.)  I somehow had the where with all to make a cake, much to Anaia’s delight.  This little girl was thrilled beyond belief to celebrate her birthday with us.  We explained to her that the reason we did not send her a cake in China the way her friend Mia’s family did, was because we wanted to be with her to celebrate TOGETHER.  She smiled from ear to ear- it was so sweet.  She let us know that she thought this idea was a better one as well! J  This is one smiley girl.  She is amazingly full of joy.  She is relishing in the love and attention being poured down on her.  It is beautiful to see- she seems to know she is right where she belongs.  I love hearing her giggle and shriek with delight.  My heart overflows to finally have her home.