We're in China!

We have had quite the adventure so far. It has been fraught with some amazing challenges and I hope that what lays before us is not as difficult as we have just experienced.

We almost didn't make it to China. Pete had been sick since Sunday and our flight left Tuesday evening at 11:50 pm. It started with flu-like symptoms and a cough and by Monday, he thought he had a bladder infection. He went to the doctor on Monday, they confirmed the infection and prescribed some anti-biotics. Tuesday morning he was in agony and feared he had kidney stones. He went back to the doctor's at 10 am and they did every test possible to diagnose his condition. Stones were ruled out early, but appendicitis was not. That would have required immediate admittance to a hospital. It took 5.5 hours for them to decide that it was a bacterial infection and clear him for travel. He arrived home and we left an hour later for the airport. That was really cutting it close.

When we arrived in Beijing, we were exhausted (and Pete was still very ill). Daisy and her father picked us up at the airport and later that evening took us out to a famous restaurant that serves Peking Duck. They even give you a certificate for the number of the bird you ate. A little hard for Lori, the vegetarian, but when in Rome..............

This morning we went to the Great Wall and rode a cable car halfway up the mountain. Then we walked around a little bit, but didn't climb too far with Chloe. Chloe has done amazingly well so far on this journey. We got some really bad news from home that we cannot share on the internet, but suffice it to say, we are doing all we can to keep our wits and sanity. It is very stressful right now. Pete wasn't well enough to join us for lunch. It was an Emperor's Feast served in a beautiful Palace in Beihei park. Tonight they will take us to a dinner show. It is probably a bit much for us, but they are such gracious hosts and this is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Daisy's uncle is driving us around today and he has even decided to join us on our trip to Chengdu.

Well, I need a nap, so that's all for now.