Guess Who's Home!

Yes, I'm sorry. I have been MIA for quite a long time. Where have I been? Adopting my son of course!

On Thursday, October 26, around 6:00pm I got a phone call from our case worker. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. She said that our embassy date was the following Monday. While I was still on the phone with her, Greg was already looking for plane tickets. We needed to leave on Saturday just to be sure that we got to Guatemala and got Marcus in time to make our early morning embassy appointment on Monday. It took Greg 3 hours to find plane tickets since everything was booked so last minute. Friday we went into work and announced that it was our last day before taking parental leave. Saturday we hopped on a plane and headed to Guatemala.

We decided to wait until Sunday to be reunited with Marcus, knowing how tired we would be. We had intentions of doing some shopping and looking around Guatemala City Saturday afternoon but I was just too beat. Instead we laid low and attempted to enjoy our last night with just the two of us.

Sunday morning we got Marcus! I said I wouldn't cry this time and although I did pretty well, I still cried. It was so sad seeing him with his foster mom for the last time. She held him and fed him and tickled him, holding on for those few last minutes. We all hugged good-bye and she allowed a few of her tears to slip away.

Since then things have just been crazy. Sunday went just fine. Monday was the embassy appointment. Everyone said how stressful it was. It was not. It was soooo easy. We had two nice young ladies take us to the embassy. More or less we just sat there while they submitted everything for us. We went to one window where we had to initial some things. Then we went to another and we had to take an oath that everything in our paperwork was true. Then the lady said congrats and we were on our way. I kept looking around for the fireworks but, nope, just lots of people crowded into the building.

Tuesday we got the visa so Marcus could travel. We wanted to leave on Wednesday but we weren't able to find plane tickets so we didn't leave until Thursday. Marcus was great on the plane, slept most of the time. Immigration wasn't so bad although I don't really understand everything they said there. I guess we are waiting for some paperwork to show up.

Friday we all hung out. Our friends brought our dog back over and she seems to be doing okay, apart from making sure we know at all times that she is here too and we are not under any circumstances to forget that. Saturday the inlaws came to visit. Marcus started getting diarhrea and slept a lot of the day. He still hasn't cleared up and we took him to the doctor today but they said they thought he would be fine in a few days. Sunday I woke up really really sick. I knew I was down for the count. My parents came and brought us dinner but mostly I just slept. Poor Greg had his hands full but was doing a wonderful job. My parents left and a few hours later I was even sicker. We called for backups. My dad drove my mom all the way back (1 hour in one direction) and she got here around 10pm. Whether she realizes it or not, she was a huge help. Greg was able to do what he needed to do. Mom cooked dinner and got me toast and took me to the doctor. Mostly though I could rest knowing that all the pressure wasn't falling on Greg alone. We kept Mom around until Tuesday. (I found out today that Mom and Dad both got my illness. I'm so sorry!!)

Slowly I am hoping things are turning into what normal is going to be. I'm still tired from being sick. Greg is tired from doing everything. Plus we had some running around to do today (never did make it to the store...). Maybe tomorrow will be a good day and Marcus will decide to take his 3:00 nap at 3:00 instead of at 5:15 like he did today! But yes, he is home. We are all slowly adjusting. I go from complete high to complete low in a matter of seconds, which I have been warned would happen but never quite believed it. But most importantly, we are finally a family and that's forever!

--Annie