Ok, now for the rest of the planes, trains, and automobiles story.

When we got to LAX it was mid-afternoon and we were deplaned and loaded on buses to go to the terminal. By the way, LAX is not a great airport. First came the line for Immigration, which was of course cogged with adopting families. We found the two others in our travel group and waited with them, keeping some semblance of relationship or cameraderie while we still could, helping out with looking for luggage and strollers, that kind of thing. It hit me then that once we left the international terminal the link between us all would dissolve back into an online relationship, and I found that kind of sad. Especially with the one couple with whom we shared an orphanage trip.

Once Julianna was officially an American (Yay!) we got in yet another line, this one reported to be leading to the China Southern desk for making arrangements to connecting flights. We didn't know for sure because the line snaked around the corner. Eventually a representative came around with a piece of paper with Sherry's name on it. They had (seemingly) booked us a flight to Chicago on an American plane that would be wheels-up in thirty minutes. we took that info and raced to the American desk (a five minute race, to another terminal) only to find that they had booked only Sherry. The American agent luckily found out we were an adopting family and said that her sister was paper chasing. She quickly made arrangements for the earliest possible route home, LAX to Dallas leaving at Midnight, and on to Mobile, and instructed us to get China Southern to book us a hotel so we could shower.

China Southern did so, and we spent several relaxing hours in the Hilton.

The flight out of L.A. was not pleasant. We were in the very back row, and after about thirty minutes Julianna started to cry, and it lasted the duration. There was nothing we could do to calm her or get her to sleep, so she just cried and cried. She finally stopped when we got her some apple juice from the nicest, most understanding flight attendant I've ever met. Just doing her job, I'm sure, but we were lucky to have her back there with us.

A short layover in a chilly Dallas terminal and we were on our way to Mobile. Julianna slept right through it. The airport party was wonderful, and Julianna was alert and responsive for it, thank goodness.

Now comes the hard part. We have to raise her into a responsible caring adult.