June 11: Home tomorrow

Hi everyone, thank you again for tuning into Jen, Dean and Cammiles Journey Home! I have another update from Jen:
Received: June 11 10:41am "4:45am Leaving White Swan Hotel at 11:30am. We are all kind of anxious and stressed about the Long flight with the babies but at least Wes, Diane, Rylie will be sitting next to us from Narita to Honolulu. Please pray for our daughters comfort and safety. We will see you in 24 hours! Yah! Can't wait to bring Cammile home where she belongs. Can't wait to see family and our first baby Lexi! We have 2 check in luggage, 2 rolling carry ons, stroller, diaper bag, back pack and A BABY! Precious cargo! Love you all, Jen, Dean, Cammile"

June 10 Update: Dinner with the Governor of Hawaii

Hi everyone, I just got an email from Naomi Kuwaye and she said that they ran into Governor Lingle at the White Swan Hotel and the Governor invited the group to a dinner tonight....and that Cammile was getting dressed. Wow, so many questions to ask them about how that all came about...but so exciting to see how the Lord is adding so many other "surprises" and blessings along the way to make it such a memorable time.

Jen also texted me earlier and this is her update:
Received: June 10 11:02am "4:45am June 11: shopping yesterday was ok at Beijing Road. Dean went into action and bargained the price down on Tag watch four Wes. It was bargained down from 780 Yuan to 400 which is about $58. Our guide was only able to bring the price down to 500 Yuan. We all had fun watching Dean barter back and forth with the sales guy...especially Todd..he just stared in awe and had a permanent grin on his face. Wes was very Happy! All 3 baby's Visa package was delivered and all were correct. Today we are going to the zoo at 10am. Tomorrow we will fly home. Yeah! It's suppose to thunderstorm today. Love you all, Jen, Dean and Cammile"

June 9 Update

Hi again, Jen wrote again:
Received: June 9 10:52am: "5am 6/10 Thursday. Ono dinner last night. We were all in the mood for a basic traditional American food...Pizza! This morning we are going to the Beijing Road - they have good FAKE jewelry shopping. Our HIC (adoption agency) guide will pick up our babies Visa in the afternoon. Tomorrow is ZOO day! Cammile is eating more, so we hope her weight increases too. She is smiling more freely especially with Uncle Wes and Aunty Diane. Aunty Naomi made her laugh for the red couch picture. Uncle Todd got half a smile last night. She does not like to be called Qiao Qiao (pronounced Chow Chow)because it reminds her of the orphanage. All 3 babies do not care for the orphanage. They are happy with us! I will text you later. Love, Jen, Dean and Cammile Kaneshiro"

What an exciting day it must have been for them. We remember our oath ceremony with Kangkang (he was actually was running around with the other children) and there were so many other families going through that ceremony. They will be home in just 3 more days. But we realize that this is such a great time to bond as a family, see China, and have this time to remember before "real life" sets in. Jen sounds so happy as many of you can imagine. I bet Cammile is soaking in the love, attention and deep "awe" from her wonderful parents.

June 8 (update #2) "Cammile is ours!"

Hi again everyone, Jen texted me late last night and this is what she said:
Received June 8 11:28pm: "5pm!! Took oath! We're all so happy, proud, ecstatic, blessed! Lots of Happy Tears! Cammile is ours! She did so well! Todd and Naomi were the first couple to be called and we were the second. Total of 37 children adopted today at the oath ceremony. Wow! How exciting and emotional! All 3 families are going to celebrate with Papa Johns Pizza delivery, beer and wine! HeHe! Good night! Love you all! Wanted to share this blessed day with all of you. I am still crying happy tears! Jen, Dean, and Cammile"
Thank you everyone for celebrating their journey with them.

Red Couch

Jen wrote, "1pm: Red couch picture was done, nice of each family and three girls alone. All did well, Cammile did well! Improvement. Courtney cried a little. Trying to put Cam down for nap before oath appointment at 2:15pm.
Today she ate graduate puff snacks for the first time and she liked it. This was from her Aunti Roleen.
Cam likes brushing her 4 teeth, Uncle Jeff and Dad would be proud. The goal is NO CAVITIES!
We love you all,

Jen, Dean, and Cammile

June 8 update

Hi again everyone,
This is an update from Jen: Received June 8 9:52am
"3:45am 6/9 Wed. There were no problems with the consulate appt yesterday. Nice day shopping and Pearl factory, browsed through Qing Ping open market. Saw live scorpions. Didn't eat any. Hehe. Bought a stroller the other day for $25. Cammile enjoys the ride and did well with head bobbing from massively bumpy sidewalks and roads. We gave a trial dose of Benadryl yesterday to see how she reacts in prep for Saturdays long place ride. Didn't get hyper, Yeah!
4am 6/9 Wed. Can't wait to bring Cammile home to meet her new family! 5 more days! You all will love her. Core strength is stronger each day. She is able to sit and hold herself up better and enjoys standing and being held. I think we have another ballerina! Dean makes her smile and laugh like no one else can. She has such a cute laugh. Not everyone has heard it as she doesn't freely give smiles much less laughs away. It's a trusting thing which is good. Today is the red couch picture and oath taking at the US consulate.
5:25am 6/9 Wed. Dean and Cammile should be getting up soon. We have an early day. Just wanted to thank you for all of your prayers. OOOh I hear Cammile stretching. She wakes up playing by herself in bed, smiles at us and doesn't cry. That's it for now. Love you all, Jen, Dean and Cammile"

June 7 - medical exam

Hi again, Jen wrote again with an update: Received: June 7 10:04 am
"4am Medical exam done yesterday. Cammile cried the entire time. She is underweight 5.1 kg with clothes on and 67 cm height. They had to weigh her 2 times because the first weight was below 5kg (below their growth chart norms). The nurse actually added 1.2 kg to scale for 2nd weight even before putting cammile on the scale. We think they will do anything they can to pass the adoption medical exam throught. You will see that she is small, skinny, but happy. She is pooping regular (not stinky either- spoken from a proud mom). She is eating better.
4:15am She is tolerating food, no allergies so far. Cammile likes to be where the action is. She doesn't want to miss anything. She would rather shop than eat or sleep. Courtney and Rylie are opposite. They can eat while on the go and sleep anytime. Cammile is very observant and inquisitive! Bright! She will sleep in the stroller or in the baby bjorn. If she is super tired, she would rather stay awake for the action. Cute! Still hates bath time. She falls asleep at night easily but has to hear our voices so we can make as much noise as we want and she is content. We went shopping after the medical exam just around the neighborhood and bought Cammile some clothes including Chinese dresses. We ate dinner at seafood restaurant and ate water beetles. Dean and Todd pounded! Tastes like chicken! hee hee. Today is the consulate appointment then we will go shopping at the pearl factory, qing ping market. Weather is hot/humid 80's hazy. I am ok. Inhaler/meds helping." I

New Family Pic

For all of you waiting with bated breath for another picture update. Here is one that trickled out of China from Naomi Kuwaye.
Hello from the White Swan Hotel!

For all of you who don't know about the White Swan Hotel, it's a hotel in Guangzhou famous for lodging adoptive families on their way home. It's got a special toy/play room and every adoptive family gets a special edition adoption Barbi! Yes even Kangkang got one!

June 6 Update

Jen wrote a text again this morning.
Received: June 6 12:10am
"6:05pm internet in room is down. Called the high speed internet help desk and still not able to connect. Even tried changing cables without success. We don't want to pack up and change rooms just to get service so we will text. Today we went go Chen Clan Academy, shopping for jade and porcelain. Found 2 nice jade jewelry for Cammile. Ring and pendant to give to her later. Tea set for her too. Tomorrow the babies will get their medical exam and take their visa photo.
6:15pm: hot weather in Guangzhou. Cammile is doing well. No fever since last week Tuesday. She had a mild cold. Bonding well. I will text later. Cammile woke up from her nap. Love you all, Jen, Dean and Cammile"

PS: This was a photo that was taken the day they left for China. Lexi is in great care with Grandma Kaneshiro! Thank you Mrs. Kaneshiro!

Cammile's first plane ride

Hi everyone,
I wanted to pass on you some text messages from Jen:
Received:
June 3 10:22am "Good morning. We have been busy sorry for not emailing or texting. Yesterday we went to pavilion and shopping for porcelain. Ate dinner at authentic Chinese restaurant. Today we are doing lots of paperwork to prep for consulate appt next week. We will be leaving for Guangzhou tomorrow. Will try to email tonight. By the way the orphanage visit was interesting. Will share later. Love you all, Jen"

Received:
June 5 12:37pm "6:25am Sunday...made it safely to Guangzhou. Cammile did pretty well on her first plane ride! I have a slight cold (wheezing, sore throat). I am taking antibiotic and prednisone. But ok. Today we go to some type of academy or museum and then to an open market. Sorry no time to email. Whirlwind. We are not sure of the internet yet. Love you all,Jen"

So from those texts, it sounds like they are quite busy. We will continue to pray for strength, health, and safety for all families. Thank you everyone for checking in on them. I will keep you posted.

Ps: This is a shower picture from a family shower we had for Jen and Dean the other week. Thank you Manago, Iida and Kaneshiro families!!

Update on Fever

Hi again,
Jen wrote a text late last night (11pm China time or 5am our time this morning - June 1).

She wrote: 11p Cammile's latest temperature is 97.9. This afternoon she was more fussy. Todd Kuwaye (one of the other couple/friend, who is a doctor that also works at the same clinic as Jen) assessed Cammile and said that the fever may be from her teething, being constipated (all 3 babies haven't gone #2 yet) or a common cold. So she gave Cammile some teething medication, continued giving Tylenol every 4 hrs, apple juice, and Ibuprofen. Cammile has been sleeping since 5:15pm and hasn't woken up yet. She is tired but at least no fever. Good night.

Today the 3 couples were invited to the orphanage by the director, so I am sure it was a busy day for them. I will continue to keep you all posted.

Thanks again everyone.
Bev

PS. This was a picture of a surprise shower that Jen's coworkers from Kaiser put on for her. They are a great group of people who have surrounded Jen and Dean with much love and encouragement.

More photos

Here are some more photos received today