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Saturday, December 28, 2013

Home at Last!!!

Saturday was a flurry of packing to come home!  We did make a little time to run by our favorite El Corral for some milkshakes and fries.  We also went to pick up a few small gifts for some of the people involved in speeding up our process.  It was the least we could do.  The kids were really getting excited about the reality of being in our house again.  Julieta ran around all day saying, "Mi casa manana." (My house tomorrow)  It was really cute :) 

Sunday was a crazy day as so many in Colombia were.  We left for the airport at 7:00 am.  The flight did not leave until 10:30 but we had about a 45 minute drive and we wanted to be there early.  Good thing we did.  First we had to stand in line to get all of our passports stamped as being tax exempt so we would not be required to pay the extra fees involved with international airfare.  Then we headed over to the Delta counter to check our bags.  When we got there they could not find Julieta's ticket.  I had purchased us all adoption fare tickets so we could change the return date if we needed to.  But they do not allow you to actually pay for the adopted child's fare ahead of time.  It has to be done at the airport.  Unfortunately that cannot happen in the line we were in.  So....I head over to a special ticketing window where they inform me they can not honor the fare I was quoted or give me the $200 voucher toward the ticket that I was promised.  I said, "I don't care. I will pay whatever.  Just give me the ticket."  She politely ignored me and spent the next HOUR on the phone with different departments to get me the original rate.  Finally, she finished up the ticket and we were on our way to finish checking the luggage. 

We said our goodbyes to Diego and proceeded to our gate. By then everyone was starving and needed a bathroom break.  I found some snacks in the gift shop while Brant started herding groups to the bathrooms.  We only had a few minutes until boarding began so we all sat down on the floor at the gate to eat our chips.  During our trip to Colombia, Jude has decided he no longer likes to eat from containers of any sort.  He pours his food out and eats off the table.  No table here.  So he just pours his chips on the carpet right there in the airport.  And I do not care.  He then steps in the pile of chips.  Still I do not care.  That is your only snack until the lovely stewardess brings something by.  Eat up! 

We get everyone on the plane and we are on our way!!!!  The kids were decent on the plane.  Jude and Reese only melted down a couple of times each which isn't terrible for a 5 hour flight.  When we arrive in Atlanta we make a mad dash toward immigration.  We stand in the line for US Citizens until a man working there notices Julieta's yellow packet of papers I am holding.  He moves us to another line that handles cases like ours.  Much shorter line.  We may make our flight after all!!!  The man we are assigned to mentions that we were supposed to stand in line where we were first to process all of us except Julieta and then move to his line.  But he will let us stay since we were directed to come there by an officer.  Yay!!!  That saved us a ton of time.  Next we have to claim our luggage and then recheck it.   I have no idea why they make us do this step but all international flights are like that.  Time waster.  The bigs scurry off to find us a couple of luggage carts.  We begin loading it all up and I notice we are missing our two carry on suitcases.  When we finished up at the immigration desk, Brant had asked Gavin to pull those two bags down to baggage claim so he could carry two Littles since they are such slow walkers.  Gavin didn't hear him.  So, Brant has to go back up the elevator to the immigration desk to find the suitcases.  Thankfully, they were right where we left them! 

While Brant was gone to find the lost bags, a dog began sniffing around the kids backpacks.   He was particularly interested in Reese's.  The customs officer asked me if we had any fruit in the bag.  "Fruit Loops," I replied.  Because any idiot knows you don't bring fruit across international borders.  Unless you forget that you packed two pears for the kids to eat at the airport in Bogota until you got distracted by more time delays and crushed chips on the airport floor!!!!!!  AHH!!!  He flags my customs slip with the word PEAR.  The officer later hears me groaning to the children about how we are certain to miss our flight now.  He comes back over and questions me on our flight time and then crosses out pear on our slip, takes the pears and throws them away.  Thank you!  Brant gets back with the missing luggage and we head out with the luggage to clear customs.  The man checking the slip does not care if "PEAR" has been crossed out.  He sends us through the agricultural inspection room.  I'm annoyed. Brant says, "I didn't even know we HAD pears."  I imagine he is mad but I do not dare look at his face :)  Thankfully, the man with the dog and the marker was in the inspection room when we arrived and flagged us on without anyone tearing through all our bags!

Next stop, security scan.  Getting all the backpacks of the children on the belt along with removing jackets and shoes and belts and everything from their pockets was interesting to say the least.  Only once did anyone have to say, "Um, whose children are these?"  I pointed to Brant of course like any good wife would do.  We all take our turns walking through the scanner and head back to the conveyor belt to reclaim our items.  On the 5 hour flight to Atlanta, the kids got thirsty so the flight attendants offered us water to fill up their Nalgene bottles.  Did not even think about needing to empty those back out before reentering security.  So, litmus tests must be performed on 3 water cups.  All the while Reese is in hysterics about putting his shoes back on.  "MY FEET ARE HOT!!! NO!!!!!"  During all the ruckus, a safety person with TSA comes over to us and wants to know if Reese has fallen and gotten hurt.  The last thing we need is someone wanting to hold us up to file an accident report!!!  "No, he is just very, very angry."  She looks uncertain about the possibility that the reaction she is witnessing could seriously just come from putting back on shoes.  But she lets us go.  We run to the tram to get to our next terminal.  I might be sweaty by now.  And we make it! Amazing Race - Toddler Edition is almost over. BTW, we would totally win that version of the show should they ever decide to do it. 

We were greeted in Huntsville by so many friends and family.  It was wonderful to see the tangible love and support we have felt from so far away.  I wish I had time to spend with each and every one of you who came by.  It was such a whirlwind, we just did our best.  Our families headed to the house with us to get some dinner and visit a bit.  When we arrived, Brant noticed some Christmas decorations in our yard and then he could see the lights of the tree inside.  I think he was more surprised and excited than the children were.  He just loves Christmas. Many of our friends got together and decorated our house for us.  I couldn't have asked for more.  My family and some friends also brought by groceries, snacks, and meals. 

Julieta was so excited and kept running from room to room asking if that was her bed.  She was completely thrilled with the toys and new things surrounding her.   The longer she wandered around and played, the more comfortable she became.  Our families left and we settled in for bathtime and bedtime.  She laid down nicely in her new bed and drifted quickly off to sleep.  Like she had slept there all of her life. 

The next few days were a flurry of activity.  Laundry, Christmas with family and at home, a few visitors with meals and gifts, mail sorting, etc.  Monday, Julieta had a hard time when she woke up from her nap and cried for a while.  But other than that, she has adjusted amazingly well!  She is eating better than she had been, although fruits and vegetables are still a struggle for her.  Her comfort level is increasing with our parents and her cousins.  The language barrier will continue to be a struggle for her for a while.  She understands some basic instructions, but some of these we still give in Spanish.  A lot of hand motions are used to convey our thoughts.  Unfortunately, she is speaking less and less Spanish.  She knows that we do not speak Spanish fluently and is starting to already lose her ability to.  She is in that weird place of understanding Spanish and a little English but not speaking either one.  I know that in 6 months time she will have made great strides.  She is very bright and has learned so much already. 

It has been so wonderful to introduce her to what we can only assume are many firsts.  First time in cold weather, in a car seat, at a movie theatre, on a four wheeler, getting a ton of presents from grandparents, etc.  I wish I could know the thoughts going through her mind.  I have been surprised at how well she has adapted so far.  I know there will be harder times to come.  Periods of adjustment for everyone.  But right now, life is so beautiful.  Reese is particularly loving to her.  He wants her to be served first for snack or dinner.  He tries to comfort her if she is upset.  He SHARES with her.  What?  I am so grateful she has found a soft place in his heart.  Jude is another story.  He does not discriminate when it comes to toy-stealing, food or drink stealing, biting or hitting.  This too shall pass.  So they say. 

All the Littles currently have colds so I would appreciate some prayers for them.  Especially for Julieta, as a cold can quickly turn to something much worse for her.  Next week, we are hoping to begin our initial rounds of doctor's visits and blood work with Julieta.  It should be busy! I will try and keep you all updated as best I can.  We are back to real life.  Work schedules, school, extra-curricular activities, church, family and friends will fill our time.  Blogging will become less frequent.  But I will still post.  Keep an eye out.  In the next few days I am hoping to put together a video of our adoption journey.  You will be the first to know! 

Love you all.  Keep on praying for us.  We cannot wait for you all to meet Ms. Julieta!!!

No one can run away


Our arrival complete with a Reese tantrum :)
First picture all together on American soil!!


Reality!
Car ride to the house
Our yard decorations lovingly placed by friends!!

Our friends even decorated the kid's rooms

And bought Julieta a stocking and had it monogrammed!!!!

A greeting from our dear elf, Peabody. 

She was a little happy about her "casa"
First night in her new bed
My dear friend and neighbor had the Bigs over to make cookies and a real gingerbread house with her children.


And a gingerbread train!


Dakota revealed the Barbie house :)
 
Christmas at Nannie's and Hap's


Story time with Nannie


 
Favorite toys from Christmas at Nana's and Papa's house



Princesa Sophia as she calls herself

Colombian soccer jerseys for Christmas

1 comment:

  1. Hi. We are just starting on our adoption journey from Colombia. We are hoping to connect with others that have done that journey. So we have created a new group in Facebook, called Colombia Adoption Group, and hope you will join and share your wisdom and advice.

    ReplyDelete