Thursday pm, 12/10
This evening we were treated to more lights along the Medellin River with Jaime, Sara and Sergio. They picked us up in two cars and we headed out. It put any Christmas light display I have ever seen to shame!!!
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| Lights for miles suspended over the river |
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| A quick blessing :) |
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| I have never seen so many food vendors in one location. |
Packing. All.Day.Long. The kids ran wild and fended for themselves by eating whatever they wanted from the pantry and fridge since we weren't taking any of it with us. The Littles were in their diapers or underwear all day because I was determined to not show up in Bogota with dirty clothes. I know that sounds crazy, but when you are hand-washing it matters!!! We compiled several large bags of unused groceries and paper products along with some toys and left them with the doorman of the building. The kids were sad to see a few of the things go, but it lightened our load and blessed someone else in the process. Double win.
Later in the evening, we did manage to squeeze in decorating some cupcakes with arequipe icing and sprinkles. The kids enjoyed it even if it was quick. Sometime during the day, the boys had a head-on collision resulting in yet another black eye for Reese. I cannot imagine what goes through the mind of the doorman as he see us coming and going with one injury after another.
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| We will miss our views! |
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| No idea what they were even doing |
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| Cupcakes |
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| Reese's 2nd black eye of our trip. |
12:30 flight today to Bogota!! Jaime came around 9:00 to pick up the cell phone, stroller and pack-n-play we had been borrowing. I know I say it a lot but they are just the best people. They generously gifted us with several hardback books on Medellin, coffee mugs, coffee and a USB drive full of Colombia children's music for Little One to enjoy! Thank you Jaime and Stella for all that you have been to us!
9:30 our driver arrived with her car and a van to transport us and our luggage to the airport which is about 45 minutes away. We arrived with no difficulty and began the lengthy check-in process while the Littles took turns weighing themselves on the luggage scales. Whose kids are those?
I am sweating to death by the time we get to the gate since the airport is not air conditioned and all the walls are made of glass allowing the sun to beat down inside. And we find out at the gate, that there has been a gate change....and a delay. So of course, we find bread and coffee and eat! The flight was delayed a second time and then we finally were able to board.
The flight was thankfully uneventful. Jude and Little One fell asleep and the other kids were wonderful. What a change from Little One's first flight. No terror or sobbing. She was happy to be on the "airplame" and drifted off peacefully to sleep.
When we arrived at the Bogota airport, our driver and another van were waiting to take us to our new temporary home. It was about a 40 minute drive and bags of Fruit Loops once again prevented at least 2 meltdowns.
We are staying at the Hotel Paris. It is an adoption house where many other families stay who are in the adoption process in Colombia. There are hotel-type rooms with several common areas and play areas, including a courtyard with a little playground, for the children. It is on lockdown so the kids run and play (loudly) throughout the facility all through the day. You cannot even leave the hotel without someone with a key opening the front door. Feels super-safe. Plus there is no judgment for bad child behavior :) Score.
Meals are prepared and served in a dining room of sorts. We have our own regular table where we eat breakfast and dinner every day. We chose to be on our own for lunch. The camaraderie with other adoptive families (including a wonderful mom I had met online prior to our adoptions who is also adopting a 2 year old girl) and included meals were the two things that sold us on the hotel. It isn't fancy or updated, but it is clean and the staff are so nice and patient with the kids who run through their kitchen while they cook or spill drinks on their recently cleaned floors. The owner has been doing this for 30 years so I treasure the fact that my kids can't be the worst she has seen!
When we arrived, the owner greeted us and started preparing us a snack of hot ham and cheese sandwiches while we unloaded. So thoughtful. They showed us our room which consists of two double beds, two twins and a baby bed. All in the same room. Pray people.
Brant played with the kids outside while I unloaded suitcases. After dinner, came the return of the hand-washing of clothes along with a migraine which I am guessing is from the change in elevation. I could go my whole life and not wash clothes for 7 people in an inflatable baby bathtub everyday again.
Exhaustion and bed.
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| In the van on the way to the airport. |
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| Dakota and Gavin can scope out a charging station in any airport with a quickness. |
Laundry, breakfast, walking around and getting acclimated to our surroundings. These are the events of the day. Hit up the nearest mall, Carulla (grocery store), Dunkin Donuts and a local empanada shop. The Bigs also ventured out with another family to the park while the Littles napped. Gavin and Joshua, the biological son of another adoptive family at Hotel Paris, have been attached at the hip since our arrival. It is nice to see him so excited about having a boy to play with close to his age! Sadly, for us, Joshua and his family will be leaving tonight to go home to New York. The boys exchanged Skype ids so they can keep in touch. Already BFFs :)
Little One had an appointment this afternoon at a clinic for her TB test. Our driver took us. She hated it. Not sure the sucker made up for it completely, but she didn't turn it down!
We had a series of calls and skypes and emails between us, our agency and our lawyer about the adoption process today. The lawyer from Valledupar, Little One's city, has assured us that the adoption decree WILL be signed by the judge on Monday. When that happens, Brant can fly back to Valledupar to sign the decree and pick up a copy of the new birth certificate. It is a lengthy process involving lots of notaries, copies and official stamping. There are no guarantees they can finish the paperwork all that day. We had to decide again about travel planning. We opted for Brant to fly out of Bogota on Sunday morning (which was the only flight available that day) so he could be there first thing Monday morning. We are hoping that will allow all the steps to be completed before his flight back to Bogota Monday evening. Then he could bring the adoption decree and birth certificate back with him to Bogota and we can start the passport process on Tuesday. That is best case.
Another possibility is that Brant gets everything completed that he needs to on Monday, but the courts don't finish their stamping by the time his flight departs. In that case, a courier would bring the paperwork to Bogota on Tuesday but we lose a day on getting the passport process started.
Worst case would be the judge NOT signing on Monday. I do not want to talk about the potential delays that could cause! Especially since the court is closed on Tuesday. Yes, another holiday of some sort.
A quick little praise to insert here. The cost of the round trip ticket for Brant to Valledupar is going to set us back about $600. Add to that the cost of the hotel room around $75 and we have another huge expense we didn't anticipate. After all, the 7 of us flew from Medellin to Bogota for $450. We mentioned our concerns about the rising costs to our rep at the agency without laying out exact figures. A short while later she called Brant and said something along the lines of: "You won't believe what just came across my desk. The company that did your translation is issuing you a partial refund. We just found out that it is $678. I hope that helps with some of your expenses in Valledupar." Yes. $3 more that our anticipated cost for the trip. The Lord is so good to us!
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| View from our room down to the courtyard with swingset and slide |
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| Gavin and his new friend Joshua |
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| Our table in the dining room |
Ready for the ride to end. Not even really all that interested in exploring Bogota. I might regret that later or my mood may shift in a few days. If that happens, stand aside as I rip-roar through the city with 5 kids in tow trying to see it all before we leave!!! As for now, Brant is the only motivated one. So we headed out after breakfast to a children's museum. When we arrived, we found out they only do guided tours of the museum. In Spanish of course, so I'm sure all the kids would love that. Fail. Grouchy is an understatement for my attitude. Brant tried to push past my lack of desire to explore and plan something and it didn't work out. I was not so forgiving in the moment. Just over it. Life was on the up-swing again as we grabbed some crazy-good burgers at El Corral Gourmet. One of the best I have ever eaten. I needed a good burger. Obviously my attitude was directly related to some sort of iron deficiency, because after the burger I was fine. I know my family thinks I am INSANE!!!
Brant hit up the playground with Dakota, Gavin and Reese while Little One and Jude napped. More running around the hotel and another day is over for the kids. Brant got his things all ready for the trip to Valledupar and we called it a night.
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| And Jude's left eye is now black. Also his 2nd of the trip. Fell climbing out of his crib. Told you so. |
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| Playroom at Hotel Paris |
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| On the way to the Children's Museum |
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| The restaurant which cured my mental issues |
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| See the joy a good burger can bring?? |
Brant left this morning at 7:00 to catch his flight to Valledupar. The flight of course was delayed. I think they are all delayed. When we booked his flight, the business class seats were the cheapest for the flight out of Bogota. Because of the delay and his seat, he was able to sit in the VIP lounge eating muffins and drinking coffee until the flight left. Sounds fair, right? :)
The kids and I walked to the park after breakfast where Gavin and I threw some baseball while Dakota helped Little One and Reese and Jude napped in the stroller. So thankful to have Dakota here to help me with the Littles. She is my right-hand stroller pusher since I haven't perfecting pushing the double and single stroller at the same time! After the park, we had some lunch and played on their indoor playground at the restaurant. More playground time at the hotel. Seems like playgrounds will be our main time killer here in Bogota. The kids aren't tired of it yet. So we are good. Naps!!!!! My favorite part of many days. I was able to catch up on a little more laundry while the Littles slept and even took about a 15 minute nap myself.
Dinner, more playtime outside, baths and Skype with Daddy ended our day. Brant said he was able to do a little sightseeing, street vendor eating and market shopping today in Valledupar. He is staying at Hotel Vajamar (our old Valledupar home) while he is there. Glad he is getting a break for a bit. He needs and deserves it!!
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| Brant's friend on the flight. His Spanglish is getting decent enough to talk to people a bit. He is fearless!! |
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| Swings at Hotel Paris |
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| Gavin never meets a stranger. This little boy was at the hotel while his mother did mani/pedis for some of the staff. They played soccer for hours! |
Another praise: Little One's health is doing great! The elevation of Bogota, which should be negatively affecting her body, seems to be taking no toll AT ALL! As usual, she tires easily and needs her rest, but this is within the realm of "normal" for her. I am so thankful, that God is protecting her little body during this transition. She even seems to have put on a pound or two or weight which she desperately needed (and still needs) to do.
Please continue to pray for her body and our process. We would love to get our signature (Sentencia) tomorrow! There is still a chance for Christmas at home!!!!
Love you all!
Readjng every word of your bkog. Thank you so much for sharing your story.
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