New Blog!

We've created a new blog - The Tkach Adoption Journey at www.TicTkachs.blogspot.com. For updates on Aiden and the rest of his family please come visit us there.

Aiden @ Home

Safey Home!

After a very long day and a 3 hour flight delay from Newark to Dayton Aiden arrived at his new house at 2 AM Saturday morning. He spent around 30 minutes playing with his new sisters and everyone finally settled in for a few hours sleep. Aiden seems to like his new house, his new sisters, and even his new dog.

We'll post some more pictures a little later on - but we would like to again thank you all for your prayers. We would like to especially thank our friends Bev and Jerry for taking great care of our precious daughters, our neighbors George and Jackie for watching over our house, our dog Gertie, and making sure we had breakfast Saturday morning, and our friend Carol for keeping us in touch with home town happenings, and providing us a welcome home meal.

Aiden is home where he belongs!

Zai Jian Zhongguo (Good-bye China)

Thursday was another day of rain - but not as heavy as Wednesday. But it did mean no swimming. We took some time to get in some final shopping, take some more pictures, eat at the Thai restaurant one more time and of course, Lucy's for dinner. Right now we can't wait to get back home and get a taste of some Skyline Chili.

The highlight of the day was the trip to the US Consulate. Unfortunately we were not allowed to take pictures there. There were at least 40 families there to get their child's visas and help make them US citizens. Two of the families were on their 4th Chinese adoption (still think we are crazy?)

We will be leaving the hotel at 6:45 AM Friday Morning(6:45 PM Thursday Dayton Ohio time) and arriving in Dayton at 10:30 PM Friday. We will fly from Guangzhou to Beijing, Beijing to Newark, then Newark to home. We will clear customs in Newark and Aiden will become a US citizen shortly after landing there. The flight from Beijing to Newark is approximately 13 hours. We will have been gone almost 15 days. It usually takes a good few days to get over the jet lag and feel normal again. We wish we could could just say "Beam us home, Scotty", but we are thankful it's not a month long boat ride followed by a week on a train.

Good Bye China - thanks for letting us bring Aiden home. To everyone else - catch ya back in the states real soon. To Mackenzie and Makayla - we can't wait to give you hugs and kisses at the airport!

Rain!

Wednesday was a day full of rain. We think caused by a tropical storm just off the coast. We got outside in the morning for a short walk and shopping trip - and then around 10 AM it started - and never stopped. You can get the picture - two boys - rainy day - no chance to swim to burn energy, small hotel room. Boy, are we ready to head home. Tomorrow doesn't look much better, but we can only hope.

We did get a chance to do some sightseeing, to two places we've never been before even though we've been to Guanghzou two previous times. We went to the The Temple of the Six Banyan Trees, an ancient Buddhist Temple built in 537 and to the Guangdong Museum of Folk Handcraft. The latter had many displays of art including wood, ivory, and stone carvings.

The morning walk was done in order to get this picture. Why? Because we've had similar photos next to this same statue on previous trips with Adam and Makayla. We've met several families on their second and third adoption trip while we've been here (we are not the only crazy ones - we are in good company!). We've seen several children, like Adam, accompanying their parents back to China to adopt their new brother or sister. We got a chuckle today as one of the waitresses at breakfast tried to converse with Adam in Mandarin. He didn't understand her at all.

Aiden had a sad spell today as one of the toys we bought him this morning broke later in the day. It was a toy gun that lit up at the tip and made laser type noises. Well, the light stopped functioning and he become inconsolable for a spell. It probably broke due to some roughhousing between him and Adam. You can proably guess where the toy was made. Anyway, how do you communicate that these things happen and are a way of life when you can't use spoken language?

Tomorrow we head to the US Consulate to pick up Aiden's Visa and take the oath of citizenship for him. America's newest citizen will soon be home. One more post from China tomorrow - then the next one will be from Ohio. Thanks again for your continued prayer support and encouragement.

Guangzhou

Well Aiden did very well on his first flight - but keeping him in seat belts - especially when we get home - may be a problem. He does not like to be restrained.

We made it to Guangzhou and our hotel around 6:30 PM, Monday night. After being met by our guide we headed to Lucy's Grill for dinner. Lucy's is a little restaurant near the hotel where you can get an American style cheeseburger, fried chicken, onion rings, and such. It is frequented allot by Americans looking for a break from Chinese fare.

On Tuesday morning we went to have photo's taken for Adam's Visa and then had his medical examination. Guanghzou houses the US Consulate that deals in entrance Visas to the US. On Thursday we will have Aiden's Visa and on Friday we head for home.

We spent Tuesday afternoon having lunch at a Thai restaurant, then shopping at a Jade and Pearl market, back to the hotel for swimming, and then back to Lucy's for dinner.

Aiden, we are finding out, is the opposite of shy. He greets everyone with a loud Hello!" We've been asked if he responds well to his new name and the answer is yes. As we did with Adam we began by calling him his new name followed by his Chinese name "Aiden Yuan Peng" Most of the time now he will respond just to Aiden. We've been told he likes his new name.

Only two full days left in China. We are ready to come home. We miss our little girls very much and miss the comforts of home. We've met many new people on this journey, all coming to adopt. Most of them little girls like we did with Makayla, but other's with older kids. It's been great to be able to speak to other Americans and share stories.

Well - the journey home continues...

Let's Go Youyong!

The last two days were spent at the zoo, the park, and at the hotel swimming pool. Mostly though it was spent getting to know Aiden. We've learned for the most part he is a happy, playful kid - but at times will let you know he is unhappy when he doesn't get his way. And that's when the communication challenge is greatest. Sometimes we wish it were easier to explain to him what is going on or why we won't give him what he is asking for. But we've managed to make it through. Sometimes our communication consists of a mix of English, Chinese, and whatever other language comes to mind at the time.

Aiden loves the pool - to go swimming (youyong) - so we say Let's Go Youyong! He's learning to say "Water please" and "ice cream please". And he loves when we tell him "Good job!"

Yesterday we had lunch at Pizza Hut, one of the most expensive restaurants in Nanchang according to our guide. Pizza never tasted better! Tomorrow we leave Nanchang for Guangzhou and Aiden's first ever plane ride. Four more days in China then we can head home. Please pray that Aiden will do well on the plane rides - especially the long one on Friday from Beijing to Newark. The journey home continues...