Sleep, Sleep, & Still Not Enough Sleep

Well, just to post this was nearly an act of congress. So here goes..... After a night of no sleep before our long, long, long, flight to Beijing we just can't seem to catch up. I don't know what we would have done without all of those who had helped pre-family of 4 to get us ready for China. I can't thank them enough...David's Parents have done so much that down to us being here as a family wouldn't be possible without their gracious gift of financial support. There will never be any words worthy enough of our gratitude to them for helping us bring home Jadyn. They have been such a blessing to our family and our daughters. Without them this journey at this point, would have been much more difficult, if even possible at all. So, Mom & Dad ~ thank you for loving us so much. For loving our Gracyn the way you do, and for loving us so much you would help us make a family of four. For them, I hope the love that will soon be doubled from two little girls brings them more, love and joy than they ever thought imaginable. Thank you to those who contributed financially ~ Aunt Bonnie, Bryna & JR, The Evangelista's, The Green Family, Pam Hjort & Family, and all of those who previously purchased dresses, aprons & Pillowcases when it was Nancy and I who were to go, for Nancy's iron will to get just one more dress sold. Thank you Annette for your contribution of the Cleft Lip & Palate bottles for the orphanage. Thank you Bryna for coming over and spending the day keeping my head on straight, painting Jadyn's letters, taking Gracyn to the movies the night before cause she had a blast with Addy. Thank you for the clothes, oh my the clothes & Toys that her & JR bought for our girls.....so so sweet, and I cannot thank Bryna and JR enough for the gift of pure cuteness for the girls ~ I hope they will like one another cause they will be dressed just alike. Thank you Amy for helping the night before with some of the packing and for moral support. Thanks to Pam for Taking Gracyn while I ran around like a chicken with my head cut off just days before we were leaving. Thank you Kathy Donovan for buying my girls clothes, blankets, and books. Thank you Kelly & Dale for Gracyn's travel neck pillow and her writing pad & stickers. Thank you Penny and the entire Sharp Family for your countless gifts such as diapers, cups, silverware, plates, backpacks, power converters, toiletries, games for the girls and so much more. Penny your Adoption expertise has been a blessing to our family. Thank you Risherrah & the Teti family for all the clothes and blankets, and shoes for Jadyn we had so few items for her, it was so generous of your family and we appreciate your generosity. Thank you Chad for setting up our VPN so we even have the ability to post to this blog. Thank you Tina for all the hours you could have been spending doing something else, but instead you spent days packing and organizing and re-packing and re-organizing, you've got some serious packing and organizational skills. You were there even for the final pack and clean up of the terrible mess I made:). Tina I could not have done it all without you because what had to be done seemed too overwhelming for just me, you are such a hidden treasure I want to keep you all to myself. Thanks to everyone I did not mention who have blessed our family....Most of all Thanks to all who have and continue to pour prayers of protection & love out for our family during our journey. To all of you, our family is so grateful. Had to start this post out right.... with every ounce of thanksgiving.... Who would have thought that a three year old could do so well on an airplane. Gracyn and David got the most sleep (of course). Gracyn slept more than half the flight, but today still remains very jet lagged. We got off the airplane and were in awe of how big the airport was. There were very few people surprisingly. Getting through customs was a cinch, and couldn't believe how simple. No bag searches, no body searches, just passport and Visa check. Cindy our local area guide and rep from CCAI picked us up along with another family who is from Tennessee. We entered the hotel around 4:15pm Beijing time exhausted and in desperate need of a shower. The three of us were so out of synch that Gracyn would wake up every couple of hours and ask if it was morning yet, and say she was hungry. We finally couldn't sleep anymore after 4am Beijing time, so we all got ready to do what was planned for the day. We ate breakfast and met all the other families in the lobby at 8:30 am. Headed on the bus to the city to ride on the rickshaws. Our rickshaw driver nearly died pulling the three of us.....we were the last in the group and could barely see the rest of them, but eventually made it back to the rest of the group. We got to see an old living quarters of a family and courtyard that has remained in their family for generations. Then we went to the silk factories... Amazing.. Gracyn did well right up until lunch, then she started to squirm a bit. She was still so jet lagged, her and I had to leave the tour to the Forbidden City to head back to the hotel. I Could not wake her up for NOTHING. she was catching up on her lost sleep, so I did as well. David went with the group and was nearly a popsicle when he got back around 4:30. The time the date, a mess for me ~ I don't know up from down right now. David is sleeping, or trying with Gracyn watching a movie on the DVD player. No pictures because i can't seem to upload them...Until tomorrow...or soon. Love to all goodnight...