Plane - Wedding - Spain

I thought about titling this post 72 Hours In An Alternate Universe, but I figured it might be too confusing.  Therefore, let me explain.

My little sister got married last weekend on an island in Spain.  She and her husband live in Austria, so it was a destination wedding for them and their 35 guests.  Not only that, it was an all expense paid three-day weekend for everyone invited, airfare included, so our family was able to attend.  Had it not been for my sister and her husband's generosity, we could not have afforded to go on this trip, given that we are in the middle of a costly adoption journey.

So, last Thursday we boarded our first plane in an 18 hour trip that would take us to paradise, also known as Castillo Hotel Son Vida in Palma de Mallorca.  This has been by far the fanciest resort we have ever stayed and I imagine always will be.  The views from every angle of this resort were stunning:

Here's a photo of our room before we let the kids have at it:

Our private patio

We arrived in Palma on Friday around lunch and were greeted by my mom and cousin in the lobby.  Emilia immediately remembered her Oma and got so excited.  After checking in, we joined my extended family on the terrace for a light lunch.  Aside from my mom, we had not seen my relatives in six years and it was a great reunion.  We were so happy to introduce them to the kids in person finally.  Since it had been a long journey, we decided to hop into the pool for a little while to give Rex and Emilia some relaxing sensory input.  The kiddie pool was perfect for them and they had so much fun there.  You can hardly tell Craig among some of the kids that were in our wedding group:

Then we took a two our nap and re-joined the other guests.  We kept being introduced to more friends of the couple and the family of my new brother-in-law who all welcomed us warmly.  It was great that, throughout the entire weekend, no matter where you decided to be - pools, terrace, outdoor restaurant, tennis courts - you were always bound to find a friendly face and strike up a conversation.

 A disheveled Emilia with her new cousin
who looks a lot like Big Sis

Emilia with her new cousin (blue shirt) and a friend
on the way to the pool

Craig stayed home with the kids on Friday night, but I joined the group for tapas at this restaurant:

Sister Selfie

Apparently this is a happening place right now and impossible to get a table... though we had two.  I laughed a lot that evening with my sister and my cousin. Cuz and I were not willing to let any desserts go to waste at the end of the night, so we sacrificed and each tasted every dessert as well as polished off our favorite three selections per person.  Yeah, I was in a sugar coma after that culinary excess.

Saturday morning started with an incredible breakfast buffet that we ate on the terrace surrounded by family.  The atmosphere was so relaxing and wonderful, we lingered for a few hours.

I love this breakfast photo:
All living women in my family are in it - four generations

Toward lunch, we took the kids back to the pool and then for a nap.  I spent some time with my sister who was getting ready to be the bride.  My sister had asked Craig and her other brother-in-law to walk her down the aisle as they were the two closest male relatives present at the wedding.  The only other two living male relatives are her elderly and ailing father-in-law and our uncle who just battled cancer, both of whom could not be there.  The official wedding ceremony started at 6:00 pm on the terrace with this view:

My beautiful sis
(The flowers are from the garden of our childhood home.)

After the ceremony
with my new brother-in-law

Enjoying the view with my great-aunt

After the ceremony which had just about everyone in tears, there were cocktails and appetizers served on the terrace.  This was Rex's only tough hour on the entire trip, so Craig retreated into a quiet corner with him until it was time to move into the garden for dinner which was delectable:

The magnificent couple

We watched the sun set as we were enjoying our dinner.

Kids listening to music on Craig's phone while waiting to dance

Rexplorer has discovered and claimed his island

After a very leisurely meal together, everyone moved indoors for dancing.  My mom offered to take our finally tired, party animal kids to bed toward midnight and we accepted.  It's been years since Craig and I had some time without Rex and Emilia at an event like this.  One of my favorite memories from the evening will be dancing to Girls Just Wanna Have Fun with my dad's 82-year-old aunt who was sipping lemon vodka and having the time of her life:

Craig and Emilia dancing

Craig and I finally got to bed at 3:00 am, but the party was still going, so my mom went back and joined the others for some fun.  I'll just say that the older generations who attended this wedding showed no signs of wear which gives me lots of hope for getting on in age.

Sunday morning began with another wonderful breakfast outdoors and then we all relaxed around the pools.  We had several lazy hours of talking and eating and recalling the previous night's events.  I so enjoyed this un-hurried time with my family.

The family that naps together...

By late afternoon, it was time for all the guests to leave.  Only our little family was staying another night to start the trip back to the US very early the next morning.  It was strange, but when the last wedding guests had left at 6:00 pm, I felt very lonely there at the hotel.  Maybe my sister knew this would be the case because she surprised me with a coupon for a one hour massage at the spa which she had scheduled for me for Sunday evening.  What a heavenly gift!

After my massage, I joined Craig, Rex and Emilia in our room.  We had dinner, packed up our things, and went to bed.  The journey home started with a wake-up call at 4:45 the next morning and we were finally back under our own roof at 7:00 pm.  When Emilia walked in the door, she clapped her hands, squealed and said, "Hi home."

Sleeping babes on the last flight

I am tremendously grateful to my sister and brother-in-law for making it possible for us to join this weekend of family, fun, love, and laughter.  The memories from our nearly 72 hours in Spain will be treasured forever.

Emilia's IEP Update

This month it was time to update Emilia's IEP.  While she qualified for preschool services for the 2013/14 school year, we declined them and only took advantage of the therapy offered through our district.  Emilia had one hour a week of a co-treat between OT, PT, and SLP.  It was really helpful for me to go with her each week as I could observe and then practice at home what she was working on at school.  Plus, we could really see the progress across the board and it was recorded officially.  And it was only a five minute drive from home which was so convenient.

For the coming school year, Emilia once again qualifies for preschool services and the three types of therapy.  Our preschool runs for four days a week and your child attends either a morning or afternoon session, depending on your neighborhood of residence.  Not counting time on the bus, the children are in the classroom about 2.75 hours a day.

I think the Special Needs Coordinator at the school knew that we would not go for the four day preschool as I had already explained that we have a new child joining us in the fall and that time together as a family to bond is really important.  So, the school offered for Emilia to attend two days of preschool a week and, even though we are an afternoon neighborhood, that she could go in the morning.  Her therapists know that she still naps, so right now the afternoon session would not be ideal.  Overall we were really excited about the offer except...

From the first of this idea being casually mentioned by Emilia's school SLP, I said that we would need to take special measures to transition Emilia into the setting.  In other words, it would be necessary for me to accompany her into the classroom and through the morning on at least her first two days in the program.  Initially, there seemed to be no problem with this request, but one day before the IEP meeting we received an email stating that I would not be permitted into the classroom.  Craig and I talked it over and were quickly agreed that if this was the final word on the matter, Emilia would not be attending preschool in the fall.  We went into the IEP meeting with firm resolve on this issue.

The IEP meeting took 45 minutes and we left it without having come to an agreement with the school.  I think they believed that they would be able to convince us to change our minds (or maybe that we would simply accept their ruling on the matter), but there was no way this was going to happen.  They just don't know Craig and me that well yet.  Plus, when sentences such as "We know how to handle tantrums" entered the conversation, I realized that some school personnel around the table didn't really understand why we were asking for this accommodation.  Of course, I was prepared for just such a scenario and had printed up research about the structural changes in the brains of globally neglected toddlers and on who were exposed to chronic and traumatic stress and how these changes can affect their reactions to seemingly non-threatening situations, such as classroom settings.

We know that Emilia experiences a persistent fear response and often hyperarousal when faced with sudden new circumstances.  We recognize these situations easily as she will revert to some of her orphanage behaviors, sucking her thumb and/or sticking her fingers into her ears.  Sometimes she may also cover her eyes.  It's not always possible or even desirable for her to be sheltered from such novel experiences, but it is always paramount that either Craig or I are by her side to support and guide her through them.  Hence, my request to join her in the classroom at the start of the school year.

The IEP meeting ended with the school staff telling us that they would need to discuss the matter among themselves and with some other officials.  Craig and I were perfectly fine with this and knew we would be okay, too, if they came back with their stance unchanged.  It would simply mean that Emilia would not be attending preschool and would only utilize the school's therapy services in 2014/15.

On Tuesday we received word from the district that I will, in fact, be allowed to personally transition Emilia into preschool. I know her therapists argued in favor of this accommodation on her behalf with the school's administration.  We are grateful for their help in the matter and for the fact that they trust our parenting to know what's best for Emilia.  Our tiny treasure is worth every battle we have to fight to give her just the right opportunities at the right time.

Summer's Here

Memorial Day weekend is almost over, but summer has only just begun.  We had a great start to the season over these last three days and really enjoyed a little break of togetherness.

On Saturday, we met up with an incredible group of families whose children are affected by the same genetic syndrome as Rex.  It was so refreshing for me as a mom to sit with other moms who truly get it and to hear statements from them that could have come straight from my own mouth.  Even if it was just for a little while, it was a relief to be able to let it all hang out for once.

As part of this outing, there were free rides on a pontoon boat and the kids loved being on the water.  This was their first time on a boat, so Craig and I were excited to be able to introduce them to yet another new experience.

The main meal at this gathering was catered by a restaurant, but desserts were potluck, so I brought fresh berry pies.  Whipped cream not shown in these photos.  What better way to welcome summer?

On Sunday, I did a little bit of organizing around the house and we dropped a trunk full of stuff off at Goodwill.  Since Rex's last week of the official school year starts tomorrow, I also took some time to prepare little gifts for his 11 therapists. I wasn't very creative this year and went the Bath and Body Works route.  I mixed and matched scents, so hopefully every teacher can find something to her liking.  I got this stuff as a steal, too.  Normally each gift would have been about $15, but with coupons and other offers, it was only $4 per set.

At the end of the school year I also always like to recognize the hard work of Rex's classmates with a little token of our affection.  All of these children are amazing and have a special place in our hearts.  This time around, I put together buckets with some sand toys, a few organic snacks, small bubbles and a curly straw.  Again, with some thrifty shopping, the cost of each set was just under $3.

And, with the gorgeous weather we had this weekend, we took the kids to the playground twice on Sunday and twice today.  They were in slide, climb and swing heaven.

This morning, Craig had the chance to golf nine holes with his cousin Bryan.  I am so happy he got a little break from our normal routine and could spend time with a great friend.  Meanwhile, Bryan's wife Maria came to hang out with the kids and me at home which was also a treat.  We are really excited that these awesome cousins have recently moved back into our neck of the woods and their first baby will be arriving soon.

Here's to summer!  Welcome back!

Lahmajun Martini Style

One of the really affordable and delicious street foods you can buy in Armenia is lahmajun.

Not too long ago, I realized that the "pizza" I now prepare for Rex regularly is much more like lahmajun than pizza as we know it here in the US.

I always start with beef and a variety of vegetables that I saute with assorted herbs and spices.  No two batches are ever exactly the same because I never measure and the ingredients are chosen based on my mood.

After the meat is fully cooked, I add marinara and/or canned tomatoes to the pan and let it simmer a little longer.

Finally everything goes into the blender and then I spread the mixture onto a gluten-free bread base like thinly sliced bagels or focaccia.  Typically I make around a dozen single serve portions at once which I then freeze and just pop into the toaster oven for Rex as needed.

And there you have it, our little Armenian gets his own pretty close version of lahmajun which he enjoys tremendously as does his Bulgarian sister.

How We Met Big Sister

Our first meeting with Big Sister was on Monday afternoon, May 5.  We had been told we would not be able to make it to the orphanage that day, so we were surprised when the opportunity arose unexpectedly.  Since this would be a short visit, we decided to take Rex, Emilia and Ms. Rie along, too.

When we got to the orphanage, the director was just leaving for the day and said she would spend time with us on Tuesday.  We sent Ms Rie and the kids out to the playground and were ushered into the doctor's office to wait for Sis to come.  Minutes passed and then we heard her in the hallway which was otherwise quiet.  Before she entered the room, I dropped onto my knees to the floor and tears started flowing.  I know some agencies (not ours) tell their clients to avoid crying around a prospective adoptive child, but I disagree.  This moment was real and my tears were real and I did not want to hide from Big Sis what I was feeling.  Plus, there was nothing prospective about the situation in our minds.  In an incredible turn of events, when Big Sis saw me there on the floor after having walked through the door, she immediately came over and placed her arms around me.  We held each other for a long time and then I released her to meet Craig.  She was more cautious with him, but with some encouragement from her caretaker, shook his hand and smiled.  We spent about 15 minutes with Big Sister in the doctor's office.  We made small talk and she sang us two songs.  Then we joined Rex and Emilia on the playground, so they could meet their new sister.  Emilia and Big Sis played bubbles together while Rex enjoyed swinging.  We didn't stay long that day as it was getting late and we still had to drive back to our apartment, but we promised Big Sis we would return the next morning.  On our way out of the orphanage, one of her caretakers caught up with us and said, "She wants me to tell you that Papa should come without a beard tomorrow because the beard scares her."

When we arrived on Tuesday morning, Big Sis met us at the playground.  She came right up to us, raised her hand, and said, "High five" (yes, in English - we had taught her the day before).  She then asked us why we did not bring her sister and brother with us that day, so we explained that we wanted to spend some special time with just her.

Her hair was arranged beautifully by a very talented caretaker.

Big Sister wanted to blow bubbles (another English word she picked up and started using right away) and also enjoyed blowing up balloons for balloon animals.  As many other children and caretakers were outside at the time, she took me by the hand and paraded me around.  She told everyone, "My mother has come."  Big Sis also started getting really interested in our camera and was taking lots of photos, not just that day, but for the rest of the week.  Once she figured it out, she actually took many good ones, including a great selfie.  Here's one of her early attempts that I really like:

Big Sis showed us her personal photo album with pictures from her life and asked us to print her some of the photos from our time together.  We gladly obliged and after her lunch and nap time brought her a small stack of photos which she promptly added to her album.  She studied all of them intently.  When she came to the one of me crying the previous day, she asked, "You were crying.  Why were you crying?"  "I was happy to meet you."  She smiled.  Then Big Sister was looking at the pictures of her life at the orphanage, flipping and flipping through them repeatedly.  Our translator asked her what she was looking for and she answered, "I am looking for Mama and Papa."

We spent the afternoon doing some coloring and stickers with Big Sister as well as more bubbles and balloons.  At one point she asked us, "Did you get a lunch?"  "Yes, we did."  "Well, your lunch took too long.  I was waiting for you."  Later we asked her, "Did you get a nap?"  "No, I could not.  I was waiting for you."

The orphanage director also spent some time with us on Tuesday, explaining Big Sis's medical diagnosis and asking what kind of care she would be receiving in the US. She told us that Big Sis is "the flower of the orphanage" and loved by all and deserves the very best of everything to which I replied, "Every child does."  The director asked about our life and then showed me many pictures of the kids' life at the orphanage which includes elaborate birthday and holiday celebrations, field trips to the zoo and parks, train rides, eating out at restaurants, etc.  She also explained that Big Sister has classes every morning and would not be permitted to miss them on Wednesday and Thursday, so we could only visit her in the afternoons.

On Wednesday, it was a bit chilly due to some rain, so we spent our visit in the doctor's office.  Big Sis was rummaging through my bag and found my adoption notebook that I have used to jot down thoughts, questions, and memories during all of our adoption trips.  She asked me to teach her letters, so I started with M-A-M-A, but somehow this didn't look familiar to her so she began scribbling her own minuscule creations into the lines.  When asked what she was writing, she responded, "I will tell you when I am finished."  And so she did a few minutes later, "I wrote [insert her name here] loves Mama and Papa."

Can you believe that among the only 10% of left-handed people in the whole world's population, we found ourselves another one?  If Emilia decides to go solidly lefty, Rex and I will be outnumbered soon.

On Wednesday, Big Sister began asking some questions about us and our life.  She wanted to know what we do all day and if she would have a bed with a pillow and a blanket.  She got excited when I told her that sometimes we have icecream for dessert before bed.  Shortly before this conversation  I had asked Big Sister if she likes strawberries (yes) and icecream (yes - any kind). I promised to bring her some before our week with her was over.

Thursday was, once again, a day with only an afternoon visit as Big Sis was not permitted to miss her morning classes.  She is being prepared to start first grade now and if she were not being adopted, would transfer to a different orphanage in September to begin formal schooling.

When we arrived on Thursday with a bowl of fresh strawberries, Big Sister tasted one and then asked us, "And where's my icecream?"  She really doesn't miss a thing.  We were in the doctor's office again that afternoon due to some cooler weather and spent our time with the fun stuff from my bag.  Balloons and bubbles and scribbling in the notebook were favorite activities.  Big Sister also really likes the little purse and its girly contents that we gave her the previous day.  She carried that purse around all week, putting her bracelets off and on, looking at herself in the compact mirror, etc.  She also found the sunscreen in my bag and started putting it on her hands and face, then on mine and finally on Craig's which was wonderful for him. I asked her if she was still scared of daddy's beard and she said, "No, that's okay now."  Speaking of okay, this is another word she started using in English during our visit.  On Thursday she told us that she taught to word okay to all of her group mates and encouraged them to adopt it into their vocabulary.

The doctor was in her office with us for part of this visit and asked Big Sis what she wants to be when she grows up and she answered, "A mother."

Friday was our last day with Big Sister and we were permitted a morning and afternoon visit.  We spent most of the morning going over a book we had made for her.  The book explains how we found her and how the adoption process unfolds.  It has photos of us and of her and even some photos of all of us together.  The text in the book is in English and Sis' native language.  She looked and looked through the pages and got very quiet.  It was obvious she was processing and understanding.  At one point she looked at a photo of herself and declared, "I am very pretty."  Later she asked us, "But you are coming this afternoon?"  "Yes, but it will be our last visit and then we won't see each other for a long time.  After your birthday when fall starts, we will be back to bring you home to America."  We had left two pages in the book blank and encouraged Big Sis to decorate them as she wished.  As part of that effort, she dictated a sentence to our translator to be written into the book.  What did it say?  "Dear Mother and Father, I will miss you."

When we returned to the orphanage for our last visit on Friday afternoon, we made good on our promise of icecream.  Not only did Big Sis get some, there was enough to share with the 14 other children in her group.  It was raining hard that afternoon as if the weather could sense our emotions and we spent our time in a drab visiting room.  Big Sis ate her icecream and then we worked on some sticker pictures.  She decided to save the last sheet of stickers to do with her best friend later.  Again, Big Sis applied sunscreen to our faces and was very happy when I presented her with her own bottle of hand lotion and two tissue packs to add to her little purse.  She said she would share some of the lotion with her best friend as she also likes to keep her hands nice and soft.

The minutes of that last meeting were ticking away and I think all three of us had heavy hearts. Big Sis finally took the situation into her own hands by packing up her things and declaring she was ready to return to her group room.  Once there, she walked in to put up her stuff and Craig and I stood in the door crying.  Big Sis must have come back to give us hugs and kisses at least half a dozen times. She clearly was trying to comfort us, wiping away our tears, patting our backs, stroking my hair, etc.  I knew it was time for me to be the grown-up, so I told Big Sis that she should go play with her best friend now and do the sticker pages she had saved.  So, as Big Sis ran off into her room, Craig and I quickly exited the hallway.

One of the last things we saw when leaving the orphanage were dozens of disposable diapers that had been washed, hanging up to dry.  This final image made me even sadder, thinking of the years Big Sis has spent at this place and the conditions that have been her experience thus far.  We do know that she is well loved and happy, so we have some peace of mind, but we certainly cannot wait for the day that she marches out of those metal gates and into a new life.

IAC 279 & 280 Results

The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 279 which was held on April 2, 2014:

1) Spanish dossier from July 2010 referred a male child aged 2 years

2) Italian dossier from July 2010 referred a female child aged 4 years and 4 months

3) Dutch dossier from July 2010 referred a male child aged 3 years and 11 months

4) Dutch dossier from December 2010 referred a female child aged 1 year and 7 months with features in health status

5) French dossier from February 2012 referred a male child aged 7 years and 9 months

6) Italian dossier from October 2012 referred a male child aged 9 years

7) US dossier from October 2012 referred a female child aged 5 years and 1 months with features in health status

8) US dossier from April 2013 referred a brother and sister aged 6 years and 4 months & 8 years and 11 months

9) US dossier from July 2013 referred a female child aged 2 years and 1 months with features in health status

10) US dossier from February 2014 referred a female child aged 1 year and 6 months with features in health status

11) US dossier from March 2014 referred two waiting children (#5 & #640) with profiles on the MOJ site

12) US dossier from March 2014 referred a waiting child (#1738) with a profile on the MOJ site

13) US dossier from March 2014 referred a waiting child (#447) with a profile on the MOJ site

14) US dossier from March 2014 referred a waiting child (#2273) with a profile on the MOJ site

15) US dossier from March 2014 referred a waiting child (#1733) with a profile on the MOJ site

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The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 280 which was held on April 9, 2014:

1) French dossier from February 2010 referred a male child aged 3 years and 11 months with features in health status and a family history

2) Italian dossier from June 2010 referred a male child aged 6 years

3) British/Irish dossier from September 2010 referred a male child aged 1 year and 7 months with a family history

4) Italian dossier from November 2011 referred a male child aged 6 years with features in health status and a family history

5) Italian dossier from March 2012 referred sisters aged 4 years and 6 months & 5 years and 6 months with features in health status and a family history

6) US dossier from May 2012 referred three siblings aged 8 years and 1 month & 5 years and 9 months & 4 years and 5 months

7) Italian dossier from March 2013 referred a male child aged 8 years and 10 months with features in health status

8) French dossier from March 2013 referred a female child aged 6 years and 10 months with features in health status

9) Italian dossier from June 2013 referred male twins aged 9 years and 2 months with features in health status

10) Italian dossier from July 2013 referred a female child aged 1 year and 5 months with features in health status and a family history

11) US dossier from September 2013 referred a female child aged 2 years and 5 months with features in health status

12) Italian dossier from November 2013 referred three waiting children (#2406 & #2407 & #2408 ) with profiles on the MOJ site

13) US dossier from January 2014 referred a female child aged 1 year and 6 months with features in health status

14) US dossier from March 2014 referred a waiting child (#2118) with a profile on the MOJ site

15)  US dossier from March 2014 referred two waiting children (#2031 & # 520) with profiles on the MOJ site

Meeting Big Sister - A Travel Journal

May 3 - Today we left the US with our kids and Ms. Rie in tow to make our way to Big Sis's country.  Everything went very well and according to plan.  Both kids did great on the planes, but to our surprise, Rex did better than Emilia.  He had only one melt-down at the airport in Paris which was from sheer exhaustion, so we simply needed to let him scream himself to sleep.  Yep, we got plenty of nasty stares, but we knew this was the only way to help Rex eventually feel better.

Everyone but me asleep at the Paris airport
(Craig is in the red shirt)

May 4 - We arrived in Big Sis' birth country and were taken to our apartment.  The team in-country did a great job choosing a place and a location according to our specifications.  We were able to keep Rex safe indoors throughout the week and being next to two parks was perfect for the kids' outdoor fun.

May 5 - After our appointment with the Central Authority, all five of us piled into a taxi and drove two hours through the mountains to Big Sister's orphanage.  And then we met her and it was lovely.  More on that in a separate post.

Scenery during our daily drives
to and from the orphanage

May 6 - Today Ms. Rie and the kids stayed in the capital city while Craig and I trekked through the mountains again.  Four hours total in the car each day on roads with many bumps and holes would eventually wear on us.  We got to spend two hours in the morning and three hours in the afternoon with Big Sis.  She is a wonderful girl and had us laughing and marveling many times.  Meanwhile, we knew that Rex and Emilia were in good hands with Ms. Rie and with a young local woman hired for us as an additional nanny.  I wish I had had more time to talk with her.  She seemed years ahead of her country in terms of her attitude toward special needs and how people with disabilities should be regarded in a society.  Her kindness toward our children really touched our hearts.

Sometimes we waited in traffic jams
until the cows came home

May 7 - This morning we did some sightseeing in the capital.  The weather has been gorgeous if a little on the hot side, but we didn't mind after our long winter here in the Midwest.  Around lunch, we returned to the Central Authority to sign the papers that allow us to continue with Big Sister's adoption.  In the afternoon, we returned to spend time with her at her orphanage.  She's a smart cookie and already kept us on our toes.

May 8 - Since Big Sis was not allowed to miss her classes this morning, we had time to walk the capital city a little more and let the kids enjoy a park with some rides and trampolines etc.  We were also preparing for a miraculous experience that would happen later this day and which I cannot discuss further until Big Sister is home.  In the afternoon, we made our four hour round trip to and from the orphanage to spend time with Sis.  She's really warmed up to us and waits for us every day.

Delicious caramel covered walnuts
at a roadside stand

May 9 - Our last day in country and we were permitted to see Big Sis in the morning and in the afternoon. Her lunch and nap gave us some time to explore her city, but it was a national holiday, so all the stores, restaurants and roads were extremely crowded.  We gave Big Sister a book explaining how we found her and the adoption process.  She was really taking it all in and understanding this was our final day of visiting.  Saying good-bye was hard, but she is well loved and happy, so we have some peace of mind.  Over the next few months, she will receive some English lessons and be prepared for her transition into our family by her teachers.

May 10 - Time to go home.  All went well until we hit JFK where the weather had us stuck overnight.  24 hours of travel turned into 42.  The kids were super troopers.

May 11 - Finally home.