Well, I now know what it feels like to raise from the dead, as I have done it several times now. There is not enough coffee in Columbia to fight off the Powers of the Circadian Rhythm Gone Bad. Will someone please tell me what month, day and time it is???!?!?!!? And how in the world did a third child end up in my home???!!! Someone!!! Refresh my memory!!!

Nathan informs me that if he doesn’t get some rice and kung pao chicken right this instant, he will simply shrivel up and die. I just tell him to take a number—there are three other mouths-a-hollering (okay, make that four).

The Princess made her Big Debut in town yesterday. We had to head to Stuff Mart to obtain some more constipating formula, prunes, and apple juice. One mom we ran into guessed Eliana at three months old. (See, that’s about where I put her.) Imagine their surprise when I tell them that Princess Jellyana is nine months old! But she handled her admiring fans with grace and dignity. It’s just the beginning of her life in a Small Town of Round Eyes and Big Noses.

I must give another Carry On Only plug, for those who dare to belong to the Club. COO ROCKS! When we arrived at O’Hare, we had the option to check our bags for the final flight home. My hunch was “Don’t do it.” O’Hare has a history of delayed, cancelled, disappearing flights and our chances of experiencing one of those was high. When we got to the blessed counter (which was quite a jog), we saw that both remaining flights to Fort Wayne that day were delayed. I begged the United Man to squeeze us on the earlier flight – and he would only do so if we had checked no bags. Well Hallelujah to the Hunches – we were able to switch flights (still arriving an hour later in Fort Wayne than expected). And once we got to Fort Wayne we saw on the boards that our original flight had been cancelled. Cancelled! We could have been STUCK in CHICAGO ANOTHER DAY!!!!!! Oh, no one would have wanted to see the Severely Sleep Deprived Stinking Mama in that state. But by the grace of God, all airline personnel survived, and we arrived home on the same day as planned. As I said – I done got to Beijing late, I was NOT getting home late.

Well, I’ve sat still for 5 minutes and I’m about to doze off. Guess I’d better get up and feed the crew. It’s time for the third breakfast (that’s what happens when we all get up at 5:30).