Hewitt Family: May 2013

Monday, May 27, 2013

Monday, May 20, 2013

Sunday, May 19, 2013

Saturday, May 18, 2013

Finally home

Leah Fei was a little overwhelmed at first, but quickly settled in.

Just like Devorah always does, she pulled off her socks before she started playing.

She'll fit into our family quite well.

Friday, May 17, 2013

Coming home to Minneapolis

We are packed up and ready to go to the airport. We should arrive in Los Angeles late Friday evening, go through customs, and then get on a plane to Minneapolis. We'll be home early Saturday morning!

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Today it rained in Guangzhou, leaving us stuck inside the hotel. We found a window that Fei enjoyed looking out of.

Note: Updates are still being posted under the "Travel Updates" post from a few days ago. Keep checking there about our progress on coming home.

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Another Park

We went to another park in Guangzhou today, but the weather makes outdoor activities rather undesirable. It was only 95 degrees, but 100% humidity. It would be nice to be back in Minnesota.

Note there is a news report posted under travel updates about another family in this mess.

Staying in Touch

It's been hard having Daddy and Fei away, and the news that they are going to have to stay longer is difficult. At least we can video chat. Devorah and Fei have been playing together via video. Fei likes to imitate actions that Devorah does. She now waves when we call and can also blow kisses!

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Travel Updates

Will keep posting updates about traveling home here on this page, so keep checking this post...

The Consulate in Guangzhou is closed Wednesday and Thursday because someone mailed an envelope with suspicious white powder. I can't leave until Saturday at the earliest.

Here is the news article describing the incident:

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/05/14/mystery-substance-sent-to-us-consulate-in-chinese-city-guangzhou/

I last heard that the Consulate will be closed until Monday. It looks like Fei and I will be here through the weekend.

05/15/2013
Another news article and video featured a family that had the same consulate appointment time as me.

http://m.wcvb.com/news/consulate-lockdown-traps-family-coping-with-lifethreatening-disease/-/17428308/20163166/-/11i5vh5/-/index.html

05/16/2013
It sounds like we will finally be able to pick up our visas Friday afternoon. I am still working to figure out our flights home. As you might imagine, there is a high demand for flights out of here right now. I will post again when I finally know more.

05/17/2013
I bought a plane ticket to fly out tonight, which puts us home in Minneapolis Saturday morning. I could only get 1 ticket, so Fei will have to be on my lap the entire flight. Rumor has it that they are overbooking the flights, so I will go to the airport early...

Will keep posting updates about traveling home here, so keep checking this post...

Went to the zoo

Since we couldn't get Fei's Visa yesterday and finish the paperwork, we took a trip to the zoo.

White powder scare

The Guangzhou consulate was shut down yesterday possibly delaying my flight home. I was able to submit my paperwork, but shortly thereafter they locked down the consulate because they found white powder. Probably someone's baby formula but they are testing for Anthrax. The adopting families there were locked down for four hours. Apparently a little hysteria and a lot of upset families.

Should know later today.

Update: The consulate is still closed today. It will hopefully be open tomorrow. My guide thinks there is a 50/50 chance that we'll be able to pick up Fei's Visa tomorrow. We have a late night flight, so I haven't changed any travel plans.

Monday, May 13, 2013

Getting around the hotel room just fine

Fei is a busy little girl and enjoying the larger hotel room in Guangzhou. Today was our appointment at the U.S. consulate and Fei's swearing in as a U.S. Citizen (I took the oath for her). We're almost done and ready to come home!

Sunday, May 12, 2013

Tea and Art

Saturday, May 11, 2013

Mother's Day

It's midnight on Mother's Day back home. She's down for a nap.

Breakfast in Guangzhou

Fei is starting to learn to like waffles.

Excitement at Home...

Devorah is so excited for Daddy and Leah Fei to come home.

Here is the picture she made of our family-- all 5 of us.

Went to doctor, no fever or ear infection

A medical check-up is part of the final adoption paperwork.

Whole crew of Americans adopting

Friday, May 10, 2013

Travel to Guangzhou

Yesterday was a day of travel and Fei's first plane ride, as we had to travel to Guangzhou in south China to finalize the adoption at the U.S. Embassy. There are still a lot of appointments and paperwork to complete. Fei did well on the plane and fell asleep for the last part of the flight.