And there off...

Not a lot of time to post today, but wanted everyone to know our schedule so they would know where we were going, when we would be there, and when we would be home.  We are leaving out a couple of days ahead of our group because we have been offered the opportunity to go to Shanghai and see the hospital where Leila had her surgery at 1 month old.  Since Leila won't know much about her past in China we are going to try as best as we can to find out as much as we can while we are in China.

March 2nd - Leaving on the 9:45 flight to Shanghai, 16 hours direct.

March 3rd - Arrive in Shanghai.  One of the volunteers of the BaoBei Foundation has offered to pick us up at the airport and see us to our hotel.  What a wonder ful organization they are!!  http://www.baobeifoundation.org/

March 4th - meet up with a couple of the BaoBei founders for lunch, and see some sights in Shanghai.

March 5th - fly out at 9:30 am to Beijing, Arrive in Beijing at 11:40.  Our agency adoption guide will meet us at the airport and make sure we get to where we need to go.  There are about 10 other families that are also flying in that day that will make up our adoption group.  We will be with them the rest of the trip. Staying at the Qianmen Jianguo Hotel

March 6th - various tours in Beijing with our adoption group.

March 7th - various tours in Beijing with our adoption group.

March 8th - fly out at 11:40 am to Zhengzhou.  This is the capitol of the province Leila lives in.  Arrive at 1:00 pm.  Staying at the Crown Plaza Hotel

March 9th - LEILA DAY!!  We will meet Leila for the first time this morning!

March 10th - Spend the day filling out paperwork much of the day.

March 11th - Visit Kaifeng Orphanage - where Leila lived before her surgery and where she was found at 3 days old

March 12th - local touring/shopping/some paperwork

March 13th - local touring/shopping/some paperwork - our China adoption is now complete!

March 14th - fly out at 10:50 am to Guangzhou.  This is the city with the US Consulate offices where we will finalize the US adoption.  Arrive in Guangzhou at 12:55 pm.  Staying at the White Swan Hotel

March 15th - local touring/shopping/free time

March 16th - Leilas visa photo and physical/some paperwork

March 17th - Consulate Appointment with US Consulate Adoption Unit

March 18th - Oath Ceremony at the US Consulate

March 19th - Free Day!! - most of our group will be leaving today, but because our non-stop from Shanghai only leaves on certain days, we aren't leaving until the 20th.

March 20th - fly out at 9:30 to Shanghai.  Fly out to Atlanta at 3:30 pm.  Arrive shortly after 6:00 pm after the 14-hour non-stop.  Yup, all this in the same day.  Since we are flying to the other side of the world we will be gaining 11 hours.