The packing puzzle

This weekend we set out to accomplish packing and did pretty well.  We still have a few things to purchase and squeeze in but overall we are basically ready to hop on a plane.  And if we forget anything I am sure we can buy it in China!  Here is a bit of what we are taking....

Food: (a few "safe" snacks for the days we aren't feeling too adventurous about food)
peanuts, trail mix, dried fruit, slim jims, protein/granola bars, fig newtons, peanut butter, nutella, applesauce pouches, water flavor packets since I am sure we will get tired of plain bottled water fairly quickly

Medicine for us:
Tylenol, triple antibiotic ointment, Tums, Pepto-bismal, Imodium, Benadryl, hydrocortisone cream, Theraflu, antihistamine, Albuterol, eye drops, probiotics, cough drops...and Cipro in case we catch the terrible bacterial stomach bug

Medicine for Audra:
Tylenol, Advil, Benadryl, Bactroban ointment for skin infections, Amoxicillin for a chest, sinus or ear infection, Pedialyte packets for re-hydration

For Audra: (a few things to entertain a 5 year old in a hotel room for 13 days)
alphabet blocks, stacking/nesting cups, doll, Kai Lan book, bubbles, glow sticks, playdoh, coloring books, foam puzzle, My First Words board books, beach ball, and a small panda backpack to hold her new treasures.  And my favorite....a personalized board book with pictures of her family. 

Electronics:  (to entertain two adults in hotel rooms for 15 days!)
camera and video camera
Laptop for blogging...hopefully...if I can figure out how to use the VPN
Nook for catching up on some reading during the flight
iPad for Facetime with the kids at home
iPod for Audra loaded with apps of songs and stories in Cantonese (her native language)

Paperwork:
3 copies of each passport
3 copies of the visa page of each passport
2 passport sized photos for each of us
original home study and addendums
copy of complete dossier
Audra's original referral information and pictures
original I-800A approval
original I-800 approval
original NVC letter
Notarized vaccination affidavit (so Audra can wait to get her vaccines in the US instead of in China)
DS-230 (Audra's completed visa application)
2 original Letters of Invitation ("travel approval") and 2 copies

For the orphanage:
toothbrushes, socks, and cleft palate bottles

Gifts:  (for the orphanage staff and provincial officials)
giant Hershey's chocolate bars and giant Hershey's kisses
"Jelly Belly" jelly beans
Estee Lauder cosmetic bags with cosmetic and skin care items
(I'm not yet finished shopping for all the gifts we need to bring)

PLUS...all of our clothing and toiletries...

Equals 3 very full (and hopefully not too heavy) suitcases: