Sat, Dec 29 3:12 am North Carolina time!!!

Well, after 30 hours of travel we made it. However, you know there is always an adventure with the Setzers. We arrived in Chicago with no problems. Going through customs and immigration was no problem. If you have been watching the weather, you know it snowed in Chigaco the day of our arrival. Of course our flight to RDU was not delayed, but cancelled! At the check in counter (you have to get your baggage and check it again when you enter the counrty) they told us to leave our bags and go to terminal 2 in Chigago O'Hare airport (not a small place!). We made it and stood in line for what seemed like forever. We got a real nice lady, Ms. Johnson that was trying to help us. Our 7:30 pm flight was cancelled, but there was another flight at 9 pm. When she started checking, Hope had already been rebooked on the later flight but Scott and I were not. Go figure. Ms. Johnson helped us get a flight with US Airways (our original flight was on United) to Charlotte. We said we will take it - anything to get to NC. She told us we had to run to get to US Air, so here we are again like the Amazing Race only this time Hope was in the lead! We made the flight and got to Charlotte about 11:50 pm. Thankfully Aunt Margaret and Tina could pick us up. We had to call and say surprise we are staying with you. Ok, here's the last straw. You have probably guessed it, OUR LUGGAGE! It is sitting at the RDU airport because it made the 9 pm flight from Chicago! Great. Now we have to wash out clothes again, but at least this time we have a washer and dryer. Our friends, the Tyndalls are going to help us get our luggage and bring our car to us. We have truly learned the value of friends on this trip. Old friend and new friends.
Hope did great on the long fight over, as a matter of fact, she is still doing great (at 3:20 am). Our schedules are a little off. We are just so thankful to be home in NC and with our family and friends. I am personally grateful for being able to brush my teeth using the spicket and not bottled water. Hopefully we will have more tales later, but no more about luggage!

Merry Christmas!

We have been in Guangzhou since Saturday and today is Christmas Eve. Hope had her medical exam today so just one more step before we come home. Dec 26 we go to the Consulate to get her Visa and then we are on our way home! After the medical exam we went to an island to go shopping and it was fun. Scott and I "negotiated" all of the prices for our souvenirs. The sales lady, Judy said that Scott was a good bargainer and Scott told her she probably says that to everyone. The ladies in the shops called Hope a special girl because she was being adopted. In every shop we went into they told us Merry Christmas. It is interesting to see how the commercialism of Christmas is everywhere. We brought a small Christmas tree with us and decorated it this morning. Hope was interested only seconds. Hope continues to make progress everyday. We may not be able to post after this until we get home because we are having to use the business center and it costs. We wish you all a Merry Christmas!

12/21/07

We are still in Jiangxi Province in Nanchung. This is the province Hope is from. I am already having to learn to do things with one hand even typing this blog. I want to recap our first week. On the way here our flight from RDU was delayed, then we had to run through the airport to catch our plane in DC. Scott said he felt like we were on the Amazing Race. When we got on the plane, our seats were double-booked, but we were not getting off. A wonder flight attendant named Lisa helped us get upgraded to Business class. Two words about that - SWEET RIDE!! However, when we arrived in Beijing, one of our bags was not there. Hope's bag was there so that was good. The bag Scott and I shared had all of our clothes and medicines in it. I became sick on the plane so folks in our group shared medicine with us. We even had people share clothes with us. I am pleased to tell you that after 7 days of wearing two sets of clothes and washing out underwear everyday we have our luggage!! I think it had traveled more than we have. We actually found out that it was delivered to our hotel in Beijing on Monday - the day we checked out! Yes, I called to tell them the new location, but it was still delivered. Anyway, I now have Zertec and nasal spray so all is well! The best part was having our pajamas to sleep in.
Now to more important things, Hope. She has made such progress the past 4 days. We are so proud of her. She is eating well and is up to one poop a day! Please pray that we can get her to drink liquids. She does not want the bottle anymore, but doesn't know how to use a sippy cup. I have been trying to give her water from a spoon and she will drink from a bottle cap. Thanks Mistie, I saw you do that with Xane when we visited. Hope is also trying to hold herself up more and when she is on her belly she will push up with her arms. She also likes to stand (with help) and bounce around. When we first got her she would say "ma-e" a lot and we think that is what she may have called her Nannie. Now when she is making sounds she says "Ma Ma Ma Ma". YAH!!! We are working on Dada, but when I ask her where Dada is she looks at Scott. We see progress everyday.
The one picture that is of a squatty potty is what they use in China. It is in the floor and you have to squat to use it. Yes, I have used one twice.
Some of the pictures posted today are from the Jiangxi countryside where many people live. They are mostly in the country rather than the city. The village we visited could be very much like where Hope stayed her first year of life. I cried when we left just knowing what circumstances she had been in. I am thankful to her foster mom, but glad she is with her forever family now.
We still have another week here but we are moving to Guangzhou tomorrow. Hope's first plane ride, yikes. We did get to eat a Big Mac yesterday and loved every minute of it. Oh yeah,Hope likes fries! We were right on with her clothes being 12 months. On Monday she weighted 19 lbs and today she weighted 20.2 lbs. She is a trooper. Mama and Dada are doing much better today. We are feeling better physically and are being encouraged by Hope and her progress. It was hard to believe the day would ever come when I could be somebody's Mama, but God has provided and blessed me beyond what I could have dreamed. Thank you for your prayers.

Wed, Dec 19, 2007

Sorry these are short but we are borrowing someone's computer. Hope is progressing well. She is not developed like most 13 month olds so we are working with her to get her to sit by herself, stand and eat well. She has shown good progress for 3 days being with her. We have learned that she is fiesty and has a temper. We are seeing more smiles when we tickle her sweet spots and she is trusting us a little more. This trip has been nothing like we expected. Our bag is still not here and we are in day 6. It is supposed to be on a flight from Beijing to Nanchung today and we should see it within the next few hours. Here are a few pictures of Hope today. She was reading with Scott and being tickled by Mama. We love our baby girl. Please pray for us to gain strength because we are tired. I am struggling with sleep (because I keep getting up to look at Hope) and our eating is not great. At least my pants are a little baggy (but that could be from wearing them day after day). If you would like to send us a message please email it to crystal.setzer@yahoo.com because we can't read our blog. Ten more days to go!

We made it!

I am finally able to make a post. Sorry for the delay. We have had a rough weekend - very little sleep and lots of running around. One of our suitcases did not make it. We have been here 4 days and it is still in DC. Not too happy about that. Scott and I have been wearing a set of clothes and washing out the ones from the day before. (Thanks Steph for telling me about the Tide packets.) Thankfully we packed some in our carry on bags. Hope's bag made it fine!

The pictures are of Hope and Baba (Daddy) and Hope's first big smile.

Please pray for me, I have been pretty sick with a cold and all of the meds are in the bag in DC. We have had a lot of help from the families we are traveling with.

We picked up Hope today! Scott is in our room with her while I borrow a computer to blog. We are adjusting so pray that she will bond with us and we will bond with her. I'll try to write more later. Time for sleep.

Beijing, December 14, 2007

Crystal and Scott arrived safely in Beijing; however, their luggage did not. Pray that their luggage catches up with them. They have their backpacks, but not their checked bags.

They called Scott's mom to report their safe arrival and she relayed the information.

12:56 p.m.

Our flight from Raleigh to D.C. was late. When we arrived we found out that they had double booked our seats. After telling the flight attendant our story, we were upgraded to business class! We're on our way to China in recliners!
Ah - leg room! God is SO good to us!!

Travel Day!!

It is a little after 6 am and I (Crystal) have been awake since 4:07. Oh well, at least I won't be late. We are headed to the airport soon, but I wanted to take a minute and share verses God gave Scott and me this morning. I try to read a Proverb for each day so we read Proverbs 13 this morning. Here are the promises we found.

"Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life." Prov 13:12
"A longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul." Prov 13:19a

Isn't it awesome how God's Word provides for us? Well, off we go! Pray we make our connection in DC.

One week from today we will have Hope in our arms! We are trying to gather everything we need for the trip, but not take too much. That is hard considering we only have 44 lbs each to work with! Thanks to everyone who is helping us prepare for this trip. We found out at our conference call that these are the fastest travel approvals America World Adoption has seen. This was a specific prayer of our friend Sandy and her Sunday School class so we see evidence of how good God is with this answer! Three days until travel!

We received our in country itinerary today and we will meet Hope Xiaoxue on Monday, December 17th!! Our hotel arrangements have been made and the adoption agency has been paid. We are on our way.

We are trying to get everything ready to pack for our trip. We leave next week and are getting anxious to see Hope. All of this is a little overwhelming and we just want to make sure we have everything in place. We have had so much support from our friends and family so thank you for everything. I (Crystal) want to say a thanks to the students at Gaston Christian School for your prayers and excitement. 9 days before we leave!!