April 20, 2005
Home at last
We pushed open the front door to our home and Tara walked inside, smiling. Home at last. It had been a very long day of traveling. She strolled around a bit, from room to room. Then we took her upstairs to her butterfly bedroom. She seemed to feel right at home, patting the bed with her hands, looking at some new toys from her Aunt Karen and cousin Caroline. She sat on the little fold-out Dora the Explorer couch they bought her, she pushed the doll stroller with the bear in it. This is your new room, little one!
The journey home was long on Tuesday-- up at 5:30 am then 3 hours from Kiev to London, 2 hour layover, 7 1/2 hours from London to Detroit. Tara acted like it was her birthday or Christmas, squealing, talking, laughing, running, spilling her baggy of cereal six times-- and that was just in the Ukraine airport (the poor woman with the broom). Tara is good at being two. She was active the entire time, making passengers smile and her new mom very tired. On the seat, off the seat, spill the water, grab the plastic knife. She didn't fall asleep until the very last 90 minutes in the flight to Detroit.
They made me check the stroller at the gate in Ukraine, and that was the last I saw of it the entire day...
About 19 hours after we left our apartment in Kiev, Tara and I stood in line at Immigration in Detroit. We had to turn in sealed documents from the US Embassy in Ukraine. STAMP, STAMP, and now she is a citizen of the U.S.
Some neighbors stopped by when we were outside last night, getting some fresh air. It was so good to see everyone. They approached Tara with care; they didn't want to scare her. She seemed just fine. They will be seeing a lot more of her. Today is her first full day in her new life.
Posted by Laura at April 20, 2005 10:27 AMPosted to
hi laura,
i'm so glad you finally have your happy ending. it really is a great thing you have done! for a while, i imagine every day will be christmas or a birthday for tara.
i'm bringing ben tomorrow for a long weekend (sally hasn't met him yet). we'll be hanging around on saturday. i imagine you will be home recovering, but if you think of some way for us all to get together, call my mom's. i would love to meet tara.
heidi
Posted by: heidi at April 20, 2005 10:55 AMHi everyone: SO HAPPY TO HAVE YOU BACK HOME IN US. SEEING YOU AND TARA MADE ME FEEL SO GOOD. TARA WILL BE VERY PROUD OF AUSTIN. I COULD TELL SHE LOOKED AT HIM KNOWING ITS HER BROTHER. AUSTIN SURE GREW UP FAST DURING THIS ORDEAL HE IS A VERY HANDSOME GUY AND TELL HIM GRANDMA SAID SO.
TARA REALLY LIKES TO JOKE AROUND, AND TEASE. BEAUTIFUL CHILD. I LOVED HOLDING HER.
i HOPE YOU CATCH UP ON YOUR REST, YOU REALLY NEED IT. YOUR SO SPECIAL IN HANDLING THINGS, LIKE A SUPER MOM.
lOVE ALL OF YOU
Posted by: jeanne at April 20, 2005 11:59 AMDARN IT! See???? Planet Ukrainus! I KNEW the stroller thing wouldn't work! ARGHHHH!
I'm still upset about it and it's over!
GAAAWRSH!!!
I'm so glad you guys are home!! She is such a sweetie, her fan club probably got about 200 new members across Ukraine, London, the ocean and Detroit. Well, rest up and just kick back if you can. You will probably go through Adoption Process Detox, I hear it's similar to going scuba diving, then flying in an airplane on the same day. THE BENDS, BIG TIME. Take it easy, cuz. Hugs for everyone! sally
hey Laura!
i am so sorry that i couldn't keep in touch w/ you guys while you were in the Ukraine, the stupid people at comcast had some weird computer issues with pretty much everyone in our area. i just wanted you to know that i am sooooo glad that you guys are FINALLY home!!! Tara is so super cute, the pictures are great! glad that you guys had fun, but even gladder that you are home! talk to you soon i am sure!much love!
And someday, years from now, this will all seem so surreal.
Caroline can't wait to babysit, and stay overnight and help out. (Psst, is Tara going to be baptized, Caroline wants to know if you have to be a certian age to be a godmother!)
Good job and now Tara makes four.
Home at last, home at last, Hallelujia you're home at last! (Shout to the cadence of "Free at last!") WOO HOO!
Hey Laura can you do me a favor and delete Heidi's comment from today please? Internet security and all.
Heidi love you sweetheart pls. don't be mad, your comment can't stay up here due to privacy issues. You must have had a brain blip!! :o)
FROM LAURA: Comment edited.
Posted by: Pamela at April 20, 2005 05:41 PMHappy Days! Welcome home!
Laura, super job, take a 3 day nap. I am sure John left the house in order, so you can relax.
Tara is home. Laura is home. Tara is home.
Everything was worth it. The sausages, the small apartment, the cold winter, crazy bureaucracy, John's hat,long flights, nutty friends, return trips, sally's novels, language barriers, goofy siblings,jet lag, money spent, time invested, all for a beautiful little princess.
uncle dave
Posted by: Dave at April 20, 2005 06:05 PMCongratulations with your little Tara!!!!!!!
I discovered your blog a couple days ago and read about second "birth of your new daughter with great interest! Thank you so much for sharing!!!
My husband and I are only at the very beginning of our adoption journey.
Right now we are trying to select a facilitator or agency to work with...
Can you please share with us the name and contacts of your facilitator and all other information you are willing to discuss?!
Thank you so much in advance!
Blessings,
Elena
Thanks for the edit Laura! (whew!) :o)
I love cousin Dave's description of the journey. What amazing writers we have here! I agree w/ David, take a 3 day nap, and Sally, you'll need post-adoption Planet Ukrainius detox.
Laura, I was thinking, now that you've been tested and found to be equal to this crazy challenge, it will only make you a more confident & influential mom for your 2 kids to take example from all their lives. Everyone knows it's the woman's level of inner strength that cements (or fragments) the family. And most of us here know it from experience too, don't we! Thoughts of Grandma W. come to mind! :o)
On the Finnish side of the family, we have a word called SISU. Loosely translated as "The resolve to do what must be done, no matter what." You may not be a Finn but you have SISU to spare, you kick butticus!
Posted by: Pamela at April 21, 2005 01:35 PMJust googled you -- congratulations. Our adopted daughter is now 14 months old -- and it just keeps getting better and better -- you'll see!
Best of luck to your family,
K.
Posted by: Karen at May 3, 2005 12:19 PM