But wait...YES!!!

Wait, is this real? Is it happening? No turning back now!

Had a melt down on Sunday night, knowing that that was actually Monday morning in China and that we were supposed to have met our little girl for the first time that day. Shawn and I both got so upset and frustrated, not hearing anything yet from China and then reading about how the mayor of New Orleans just got quarantined upon landing in China and fearing that all of this quarantining was going to lead to indefinite delays in our travel, then thinking of all the worst possible scenarios and worrying about when, or worse yet if, we would get over to meet Mali. So, not knowing what else to do, Shawn texted Kim at our agency (a bunch of times) to try to get some peace of mind. But not hearing anything back, we didn't understand what was going on and so got ourselves a little more worked up...it was that sick, suffocating feeling of helplessness again. But little did we know...

Kim and Zhou were feverishly working their asses off all weekend to finagle some way to get us to our little girl...and lo and behold - they frickin did! Shawn got a call yesterday morning at 8:30am -> Kim saying, "Pack your bags!" That's right, they did it, we finally got provincial approval to come in on July 1st! Yeehaw!!

And today, we got the more official version of this wonderful news, and actually booked our flights through EAC's travel agent in OKC. There's just something about actually booking travel that makes it all seem final...no turning back now (not like we ever would, but you know what I'm sayin'!)

This is still a little scary though because we were told that not only will they check our temperatures and symptoms for swine flu upon landing in Beijing, but also when we travel from Beijing to Guangzhou...anything over 98.8 and you could/most likely will be quarantined. Lots of tylenol, ibuprofen, and ice packs on our wrists and neck before landing for us! But regardless of whether or not we get quarantined, at least we'll be there, that much closer to our baby girl. And it will all make for a better story in the end, right?

Ok, I just need to sigh...*ahhhhhhh*, what a relief to have approval and be locked into a flight. Thank God! Now on to fret over all the packing and loose ends to tie up (once again) before we actually leave...it never ends, does it? Of course, to answer my own question ~ I have this strange feeling that this is only the tip of the iceberg...the very beginning of the best adventure of our lives :)

Here's a sneak peak at our itinerary (all except for our in-country flights from Beijing to Guangzhou) as it is now...however it could all change should we get quarantined at any point during our journey. Keep all of your fingers and toes crossed for safe and quarantine-free travels for us!
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Flight - United Airlines Inc Wednesday, July 1, 2009


Flight Number: UA0331 Confirmation Number: T0KT2O
Class: COACH
Depart: Columbus Port Columbus Int'l Arpt 08:00 AM
Columbus, OH USA Wednesday, July 1


Arrive: Chicago O'Hare Int'l Arpt 08:13 AM
Chicago, IL USA Wednesday, July 1
Terminal 1
Seat: Not Assigned Stopovers: 0
Meal: None Mileage: 286
Aircraft: Airbus A319 Travel Time: 1:13


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Flight - United Airlines Inc Wednesday, July 1, 2009


Flight Number: A0851 Confirmation Number: T0KT2O
Class: COACH
Depart: Chicago O'Hare Int'l Arpt 12:41 PM
Chicago, IL USA Wednesday, July 1
Terminal 1


Arrive: Beijing Capital Arpt 03:15 PM
Beijing CN Thursday, July 2
Terminal 3
Seat: Not Assigned Stopovers: 0
Meal: Lunch Mileage: 6572
Aircraft: Boeing 777-200/300 Travel Time: 13:34


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Flight - China Eastern Airlines Thursday, July 16, 2009


Flight Number: MU5316 Confirmation Number: EZ01Y
Class: COACH
Depart: Guangzhou Baiyun Arpt 08:05 AM
Guangzhou CN Thursday, July 16


Arrive: Pu Dong Arpt 10:00 AM
Shanghai CN Thursday, July 16
Terminal 1
Seat: Not Assigned Stopovers: 0
Meal: Snack Mileage: 752
Aircraft: Airbus 320-100/200 Travel Time: 1:55


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Flight - United Airlines Inc Thursday, July 16, 2009


Flight Number: UA0836 Confirmation Number: T0KT2O
Class: COACH
Depart: Pu Dong Arpt 03:55 PM
Shanghai CN Thursday, July 16
Terminal 2


Arrive: Chicago O'Hare Int'l Arpt 04:16 PM
Chicago, IL USA Thursday, July 16
Terminal 5
Seat: Not Assigned Stopovers: 0
Meal: Lunch Mileage: 7065
Aircraft: Boeing 747-400 Travel Time: 13:21


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Flight - United Airlines Inc Thursday, July 16, 2009


Flight Number: UA0334 Confirmation Number: T0KT2O
Class: COACH
Depart: Chicago O'Hare Int'l Arpt 07:43 PM
Chicago, IL USA Thursday, July 16
Terminal 1


Arrive: Columbus Port Columbus Int'l Arpt 09:54 PM
Columbus, OH USA Thursday, July 16

Seat: Not Assigned Stopovers: 0
Meal: None Mileage: 286
Aircraft: Airbus A319 Travel Time: 1:11


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