Homecoming Day

Mario's Homecoming Story:

Last year, Thanksgiving was a whirlwind. It was earlier last year, and the agency called us Thanksgiving Day to tell us to book the plane ticket for the escort to bring Mario home. We could not have been happier calling all of our family and friends to tell them the GREAT NEWS. A Thanksgiving miracle! We booked the flights, were thrilled, only to have that thrill turn into dread when we got home...when we got home from dinner at my mom and dad's, we got a call telling us that there was a problem with the Visa. Our agency director said to cancel the flights, and that she was very sorry. sorry... there were no words for that disappointment. I had waited for what seemed my whole life to see this child, hold him, and they were sorry.

After contacting our congressman, and making about 100 calls and sending about 200 emails, we finally got it figured out...our congressman's office had put some pressure on the Visa office to wire some things and all of the sudden, we were told to book the escort's flight for the 29th. When I say all of the sudden, I mean immediately. Both Jeff and I were guarded, worried that the rug was to be pulled out from under us once again. Would he REALLY be on that plane? We waited until the last minute to call our parents. We even waited until we were on the way to the airport to call Jeff's sister. We were afraid that she would drive all the way from Indiana, only to be met with no nephew at the gate. Who knew if that child was on the plane?

We got to the airport, and the plane was supposed to land at 5:45pm. A wonderful lady got Jeff and I back to the gate. Allison could not join us... I stood there and cried as I had to leave her with my parents at the baggage claim. Briskly, we were rushed back to the gate...Both Jeff and I were sweating by the time we reached the destination. We were a little early, so we walked around a little, only to notice that people started coming through the tunnel! Had we missed her? Where would we find her? We had never met the escort, had no idea what in the world she looked like! Anxiously, one of the final people to get off of the plane was this cute little woman with the sweetest boy in a stroller.... our son. and he was WAVING.... well, he had his hand up. This poor little face, so pale from the travel, was OURS. Jeff and I cried, and finally, I turned to Myana and asked if I could take him out of the stroller. She replied with my favorite words of the day,

"Sure! He is YOURS!"

When we were on our way to baggage claim, we had to take a "tram" to get back. I was holding Mario, and trying not to drop him... I kept saying "Hi!" to him. This lady said, " oh, he is so cute!" to which Jeff replied, "Thanks, we just met him." The people in the tram were asking LOTS of questions, and were SO excited for us! Not as excited as the people waiting for us at the gate! Our parents, Allison, my brother's family... all there to meet the new edition! It was so exciting. The drive home was so funny since we drove so slowly and kept saying, "this is so weird."

The first months were trying due to some health problems Mario had which left us quarantined. The quarantine was wonderful in a way because it gave us all a time to become a family. You can read all about the first month or so in the archives or click below:

November 2007

December 2007

It is amazing what a year can do to change your life. When Mario first came home, we said he was in a "baby coma." The poor thing just laid there silently. His hair was rubbed off all around, and his head was misshapen from the constant laying. Now, the boy is running, chatting, yelling, laughing and playing every single day. He is lovable and always giving "squeezies" and "kissies" to us (and his stuffed animals). He honestly could use a haircut ever 2 weeks, it seriously grows like a muppet! He is joyful. That is what I think of him when I see him:

full of JOY.

This was the best decision that our family could have ever made. It was a huge leap of faith since there are 12 years between our kids, but I honestly feel that even the rough spots have been good for us all. We cannot imagine life without either of our kids.

I look back and see that I wrote on 12/3, "tell me this will get better" as I sat there with an entire sick family and a son getting shuffled from one doctor to another... ALL of you have assured me over the past year that it would get better, and BOY DID IT! I am blessed. Blessed to have my family, and blessed to have "met" all of you wonderful bloggers who have offered me advice, support and humor over the past 2 years!

Thank God for all of our Blessings.

If your would like to make a donation to a cause we support whole-heartedly, please visit the Global Orphan Team at the link to the LEFT (scroll down a bit). You can order from either of the 2 business links as well who BOTH donate to GOT. Just click on their logos by the GOT logo. Lastly, PLEASE take Cameo's challenge and click on this link below to see what she is doing to help with the GOT... see how you can get involved! THANKS!

CAMEO's (red) CHALLENGE