Tuesday, May 10, 2005
We're on our way!
We are getting ready to go to bed... if we can sleep that is. Our flight leaves Wednesday morning from Memphis to Chicago at 8:10 a.m. Then, we leave Chicago for Hong Kong at 12:35 p.m. Think of us Thursday morning at 9:45 a.m. Central--we will finally be landing in Beijing--some 25 hours later!
We are so excited--please check back here and on our Yahoo Group for updates. Please click on the link on the right to join our Yahoo Group as this will be the easiest way to communicate and post pictures. We will continue to update this site too, but won't be able to post as many pics.
Xie xie (thank you) for all of the love, thoughts and prayers during the past year. It feels like the end... but it is only the beginning!
Love,
Jennifer and Brett
We are so excited--please check back here and on our Yahoo Group for updates. Please click on the link on the right to join our Yahoo Group as this will be the easiest way to communicate and post pictures. We will continue to update this site too, but won't be able to post as many pics.
Xie xie (thank you) for all of the love, thoughts and prayers during the past year. It feels like the end... but it is only the beginning!
Love,
Jennifer and Brett
# posted by JDonnals : 8:39 PM
Monday, May 09, 2005
One more day...
We take off for our journey of a lifetime in just one more day! I can't believe all of this waiting is about to come to an end! Friday was my last day of work. Brett is working through Tuesday. I needed the time to run errands, but tonight, everything is done and we are packed! All I have to do is throw my contact lenses in my suitcase and I'm ready to go!
Brett's kidney stone scare is over. He went to his doctor on Friday and they decided not to do the outpatient treatment scheduled for today. The doc said it wasn't worth the pain he'd suffer on the trip, and prescribed him a healthy regiment of beer and walking (no, I am not kidding). He still doesn't think the stone has passed, but the painful part of this experience is over (we hope!).
Tomorrow we take Orion (aka "Buddy") to Camp 4 Paws. Dogs sense change, and I think he knows something is going on because he has been very clingy the past few days. I am so sad to leave him, but he will be well cared for at Camp 4 Paws. He'll be dropped off from doggy camp when my parents get here, a few days before we come home. We plan on sending some of Hallie's clothing home so he can get used to her scent. I think he'll be OK. Chloe (our 11 year old cat) is oblivious. She has been laying on the full sized bed we put in Hallie's room, but only when I'm in there too. Life is never going to be the same in the Donnals house--for them or us!
Brett's kidney stone scare is over. He went to his doctor on Friday and they decided not to do the outpatient treatment scheduled for today. The doc said it wasn't worth the pain he'd suffer on the trip, and prescribed him a healthy regiment of beer and walking (no, I am not kidding). He still doesn't think the stone has passed, but the painful part of this experience is over (we hope!).
Tomorrow we take Orion (aka "Buddy") to Camp 4 Paws. Dogs sense change, and I think he knows something is going on because he has been very clingy the past few days. I am so sad to leave him, but he will be well cared for at Camp 4 Paws. He'll be dropped off from doggy camp when my parents get here, a few days before we come home. We plan on sending some of Hallie's clothing home so he can get used to her scent. I think he'll be OK. Chloe (our 11 year old cat) is oblivious. She has been laying on the full sized bed we put in Hallie's room, but only when I'm in there too. Life is never going to be the same in the Donnals house--for them or us!
# posted by JDonnals : 9:29 PM
Thursday, May 05, 2005
Our appointment with the pediatrician led to a trip to the ER!
I had a consultation appointment scheduled Wednesday with the pediatrician to go over Hallie's medical records. It had been scheduled for weeks. So when Brett called me that morning to tell me he was having kidney stone pains, I didn't want to hear it! We NEEDED to make this appointment to get the medicine we need to take to China.
At 1:30 p.m., Brett picked me up from work in his car ('86 Honda Accord, stick-shift) and we headed to the doctor's office. I thought he was going into labor! He was in such pain. I told him he didn't have to go, but he insisted. His face turned as white as a ghost while we were sitting in the waiting room. I grabbed his cell phone and called his urologist, who earlier in the day he had called and scheduled an appointment with for Thursday (the pain wasn't THAT bad, he said earlier). I told the nurse on the phone he looked horrible and was in severe pain. She told me to take him to the ER.
Less than 60 seconds later, we were called into the pediatrician's office. She took one look at Brett and asked if we wanted to reschedule. "NO!" I yelled. "We are leaving in one week and we need you to look at these medical test results and I need you to write me prescriptions for these medications (recommended by our adoption agency) to take to China!!!" I insisted. She must have thought I was a maniac! Meanwhile, Brett was about to pass out on the floor. We hurriedly left her office and I called a friend to pick us up (remember the stick shift...never did learn how to drive one of those things!) and take us to the ER.
Five hours later, Brett was feeling good (real good, thanks to the IV drip) and I was feeling exhausted. But today, our pediatrician called us and said from all accounts, Hallie seems to be in excellent health. The prescriptions are waiting for me at the office. As for Brett, he never did pass that stone. His urologist said he will do outpatient surgery on Monday if tomorrow's CT scan shows it's still there. And as for me, well, I may need to see a doctor for some valium before all of this is over!
At 1:30 p.m., Brett picked me up from work in his car ('86 Honda Accord, stick-shift) and we headed to the doctor's office. I thought he was going into labor! He was in such pain. I told him he didn't have to go, but he insisted. His face turned as white as a ghost while we were sitting in the waiting room. I grabbed his cell phone and called his urologist, who earlier in the day he had called and scheduled an appointment with for Thursday (the pain wasn't THAT bad, he said earlier). I told the nurse on the phone he looked horrible and was in severe pain. She told me to take him to the ER.
Less than 60 seconds later, we were called into the pediatrician's office. She took one look at Brett and asked if we wanted to reschedule. "NO!" I yelled. "We are leaving in one week and we need you to look at these medical test results and I need you to write me prescriptions for these medications (recommended by our adoption agency) to take to China!!!" I insisted. She must have thought I was a maniac! Meanwhile, Brett was about to pass out on the floor. We hurriedly left her office and I called a friend to pick us up (remember the stick shift...never did learn how to drive one of those things!) and take us to the ER.
Five hours later, Brett was feeling good (real good, thanks to the IV drip) and I was feeling exhausted. But today, our pediatrician called us and said from all accounts, Hallie seems to be in excellent health. The prescriptions are waiting for me at the office. As for Brett, he never did pass that stone. His urologist said he will do outpatient surgery on Monday if tomorrow's CT scan shows it's still there. And as for me, well, I may need to see a doctor for some valium before all of this is over!
# posted by JDonnals : 8:30 PM
