The Weils are safely back in the U.S. Their plane arrived an hour early. Lorraine said the wheelchair wasn't at plane side, so they had to wait a while, but we weren't there to pick them up yet so they had time.

Lorraine found a way to change Shawna's diaper in the women's bathroom, but then they missed the shuttle across the airport and had to call a private one. Gary and Gary II were waiting on the curb when we pulled up and Marci jumped out to hug them.

Lorraine and Shawna were coming out of the building. The luggage was quickly loaded and we're on the way the back Pennsylvania. The Weils, still being on China time, are awake and ready to roll.

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Well, we're finally on the road. Marci's boyfriend Chris is driving the truck and his parents are driving the van to pick up the Weils. We called the airport and the flight which was supposed to arrive at 7:21 p.m. is actually early despite the snow and traffic. They are to arrive from Bejiing at 6:09 p.m. We're taking it easy and driving slow down Route 83 to make sure we get there safely.

Marci said she cleaned the house and baked a cake to welcome her family. They're braving the snow because Marci said it's like Christmas day, she can't wait to see her family.

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There are so many new patients that have come in and, since we have been here the longest, we feel that we should show them around Beijing. Little Gary and I have learned all the good places to go and get whatever is needed without getting ripped off. Needless to say, we have been very busy lately ... running all over Beijing.

Tonight Gary (Dad) and I are organizing a dinner trip outside the hospital. There is a restaurant called "Morrells" here that all of the locals and foreigners say we must go to eat at. Accordingly, we will all go tonight; can't wait ... everyone says they are famous for their steaks! You cannot imagine how much you miss certain foods until you cannot find them! Therefore, Gary and I have scheduled either Friday or Saturday nights to go out and find real food ... lol.

Shawna is doing just fine. The doctors here are happy with her progress so far ... they keep giving us thumbs up with respect to Shawna. Her therapists seem delighted with her and they feel that Shawna is "in there". Do you know how great it is to hear that? We have believed it all along, but to have someone else, besides family, cooborate with us is a really good feeling.

Little Gary's Birthday is tomorrow, so he will watch Shawna for us tonight while we go to dinner. That way, tomorrow is all his to do what he wants ... and he has planned the entire day and night out already. Turning 18 is such a big deal! lol. He's been sowing some oats over here, but it's all good. He has been a big help to us and other families here at the hospital. We are truly blessed to have such great children.

Well, I'm going to run for now and go find Gary and Shawna in therapy.

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Lorraine shares a few photos from China.

Gary Weil II sits with his sister, Shawna Weil.

Gary Weil poses with some friends while site seeing in China.

Another photo of Gary Weil with friends in China.

The view of the Great Wall of China.

Gary Weil II gets lost in the vastness of the Great Wall of China.

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Lorraine shares photos from China from her visits with friend Christina Smith, who she met through Ed and Toni Smith. From left, Christina Smith (Gao Yan), Lorraine Weil, Shawna Weil, Gary Weil and Smith's friend, William.

From left, Gary Weil II, Christina Smith (Gao Yan), Lorraine Weil, Shawna Weil.

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Here is some video of the Weil family in Shawna's hospital room - shared by Ed Smith.

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Ed and Toni Smith put the Weils in contact with a friend in China -- Christina -- who has been visiting. Here are a few photos she took.

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It has been crazy, but it can only get better, right? It is so difficult to be so far away from home and with a language barrier prohibiting us from getting what we need to make things so much better.

We were supposed to go out tonight with a group ... sort of to get acquainted and find out where some places are ... but Shawna took ill last night, so we decided we best stay in.

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We are now trying to adjust to day being night and vice versa ... that's not going so well yet. Shawna doesn't care if it is daytime here; to her, it's night and she sleeps right through whatever we do with her.

The power adapter that we bought from AAA is a joke; we can't plug anything in to it. It plugs into the wall, but where we are supposed to plug in the equipment is only 2 prong and all of our equipment is 3 prong ... go figure! Anyway, we already fried the Nebulizer machine trying to see if multiple adaptations were going to work. The hospital is ready to kick us out for blowing circuit breakers constantly. Tomorrow, Isabella is going to take us to the Circuit City-type store to see if we can get the proper adapters.

Pray that we find one because Shawna's tube feed depends on it.

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What a long flight!

We finally arrived at Beijing; things not going so well yet. I'll have to report tomorrow because a guard is here pointing at his watch right now. lol. I'm in the computer room at the hospital and he wants to lock the door.

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There is so much for me to do at this point that my head is spinning.

All I do is think of what I have to remember before we leave on Wednesday, October 3rd. Not only do I have our personal bills, but I take care of the finances of our 30-year-old special daughter, Angel Manning. On top of that, I'm trying to remember everything that will be upcoming with regards to our company bills! Calgon take me away! [laughing]

Wednesday will be here before I know it and we will be off to China ... God give me the strength and foresight to handle all that I must.

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