Embassy and river cruise

Message from Kathy:

Hey, We had our swearing in ceremony today at the US Embassy. We signed a form and tomorrow will pick up Ava's Chinese passport with the US visa on it. That's the last step before we can come home with her. We'll receive an envlope which is sealed and will hand it over to an ICE officer to open. Once her passport is stamped in the US, she's a real US citizen-Yeah!! We went on a river cruise tonight with a bunch of other Holt families and had a great time. We ordered Papa John's pizza, which I don't ordinarily like, and it tasted great! The city really looks beautiful at night with the bridges and buildings lit up. I can't believe our adventure to China is almost at an end-what a wild ride it's been!!
Talk to you soon-I'll try to post tomorrow before we go to Hong Kong.
Love you,
Kathy

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immigration day!

We had our exit meeting today.  We're going to the embassy in less than 1 hour and will swear in for Ava.  We have to sign a form for her US visa and then we come back to the hotel.  We're going on  a river cruise tonight with most of the Holt families.  I hope to collect emails and addresses tonight.  Tomorrow we'll pick up our visas and then we'll be all set.  We found out that our hotel in Hong Kong is connected to the airport so that'll be easier.  The family from Coatesville is travelling with us via train to Hong Kong on Friday so we'll have company.  I can't believe it's almost over...just a few more days.  Ava's been dancing and singing a lot lately. She really enjoys people although, at first, she's a little shy.  Well, gotta go.  We love you!!

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getting closer

Hi, We had a free day today.  Took a taxi to a huge shopping mecca of toys, and other things.  Frankie got 1 toy there.  We didn't go on the scheduled safari-too hot and already saw pandas in Fuzhou.  We went out to dinner with our friends from Coatsville, PA and Ava ate almost an entire serving of steamed broccoli.  The White Swan has a playroom with Matel toys in it and Ava loves it. She was running around, jumping, throwing and kicking balls and just having a great time. Each day it's getting easier.  Ava's picked up "hi" and "goodbye" and understands more English every day.  We're still calling her Zhu Ying along with Ava and using Chinese along with English to communicate and it's working fairly well right now.  Tomorrow we will travel to the Embassy and have a swearing in ceremony. Then, Thursday, Ava's visa to America should arrive which means we have the green light to go home.  We left 2 weeks ago tomorrow and we're a little tired of living in suitcases at this point.  Don't get me wrong, it's not like we're "ruffing it" but we just miss our house.  It makes me think that Ava might feel similarly for awhile after we return home.  I still can't believe I have a new daughter.  It's been an incredible experience.  I love this new little person so very much.  I can't wait for you to meet her too!!  Love you,  Kathy

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Frankie's Birthday

Message from Kathy:

We celebrated Frankie 's13th birthday in China. Had a good day overall-we're all ready to go home. Love you!

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TB test

Praise God! Ava's TB test came back negative.  She needed a chest xray but it came back clear.  Last big hurdle finished.  It looks like, because we had to wait and stayed the I600 track, we don't need any immunizations done here but can wait until we get home.  Ava hasn't had any yet at all because when she first got to the orphanage, they thought she might have a heart condition.  When they realized that she didn't, they never changed her over to the immunization schedule.  If we were the newer I800 track, she'd have had to have them all in one day-not fun!  Today is the picture on the famous red couch.  With 25 families, this should be fun!  I can't believe this part of the adoption journey is almost over.  It's been an unbelievable ride!!  I'll write soon.

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Crazy woman!!

Message from Kathy:

fun in the hotel room...

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We're in Guangzhou

Hi!  We made to Guangzhou!! Got in late on Friday night due to airline delays.  Checked in and collapsed.  Early Saturday, we went to the medical clinic.  Ava was checked out by the staff and had her TB test.  Please pray it doesn't come back positive.  Frank and Frankie checked out the pool and said it's great.  The White Swan is the best hotel we've had yet.  We've met up with a lot of families from Beijing and also from Fuzhou and everyone is so nice. Ava's doing great.  I'll try to send a video of her talking and singing soon.  She's really come out of her shell.  Today Ava and I went to the jade and pearl markets.  It was overwhelming-so many shops and floors of shops.  I managed to find some things and was glad I'd come.  The boys hung out poolside today.  Frankie's been fabulous.  He really enjoys a couple we met in Beijing-they're from Oregon.  We've been out to dinner with them the last couple of nights.  On Tuesday (Frankie's birthday), we're getting him a cake from the hotel and planning a trip to a 6 story toy store in town.  I think he'll really like that.  Frank is feeling better.   We'll write soon!!

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we met the family

Message from Kathy:

Hi all, sorry it's been awhile since I last posted. We had the best possible visit. The family was wonderful. Ava's foster mom told her it was ok to go with us to America. Ava told her she would come back to see her when she grew up. We told Ava through our guide that we would help her visit when she gets older. We're happy we agreed to the visit because Ava has opened up a lot since then. I think she needed the assurance that she could like us and that it's ok to move on. She cried and clung to her foster mom but she didn't let Ava know that she was sad. Ava's foster sister was recently married and she and her husband both took off a 1/2 day just to see her one last time. It was really a beautiful experience. I'm also glad we got pictures for Ava to see in the future when she asks about her life before us. We weren't able to get pictures of her finding place because the building was torn down. I think though, that knowing the information we now know about the last almost 2 years will be invaluable to her. We thanked them from the bottom of our hearts for taking such good care of her.
After the visit, we signed out of the hotel and then went to the police station to pick up Ava's Chinese passport and then went to the airport. The plane wasn't there when we got there, our gate was changed and also they began to serve airplane food in the airport (not a good sign). But our plane did take off and we rode to Guangzhou with other families from other agencies coming from Fuzhou. we've met so many wonderful people along the way. Anyway, I'll try to send another video soon. We love you!!

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