Surprise - An Actual Update!

Okay - I got the message loud and clear - people are demanding a blog update. Don't think I haven't thought about it. I have composed hundreds of entries in my head - some funny - some heartfelt...even tried to type a few of them but something always got in the way. Kennedy needing my attention, our computer going off-line, etc., etc. Well now that I am out of excuses and Kennedy is sound asleep upstairs (oops, need to turn on the baby monitor!) I thought this was a good time to catch everyone up on our family. Here goes...

We arrived smoothly in Guatemala on Friday, April 18, 2008. We got to our hotel and there was already a message for us waiting from our attorney, Paco. We got settled into our apartment style hotel suite and I took the opportunity to get a shower and freshen up. After we were there for only a few short hours (guess who is awake and screaming...see I don't make this stuff up - wait, all is quiet again...false alarm.) we went down stairs to meet Paco and the Foster Mom...and Kennedy. Just remembering those feelings makes me cry. I was so excited and couldn't wait for Brit to meet Kennedy and my mom and Brit's mom were both there with us. We sat in the hotel lobby just waiting. Every time we heard someone entering the hotel I would stand up in anticipation. Finally, Paco arrived...but no Kennedy. "She'll be here soon," he promised. We went over some documents at my request, but he knew I wasn't in the right state of mind to focus on paper work. About 15 minutes later, the Foster Mom and Kennedy arrived. I of course started crying and jumped up to great her. I said hello to Kennedy first and told her how much I missed her. I hugged Foster Mom and just kept saying "Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!" I scooped up Kennedy and introduced her to her father. I left him hold her right away - I knew from experience that holding her for the first time was all you imagined it would be and more. We hugged Foster Mom and thanked her again. She did not speak any English, but we both looked at each other and just knew what our hearts were feeling. I could only imagine how difficult this would be for her. She reached up to Kennedy as Brit was holding her, but her hand behind her head to hold it, gave her a kiss on the cheek, and turned away and left just as quickly has she arrived. I think she was over come with emotion and needed a quick exit. Paco told us previously that Foster Mom (isn't that terrible, I don't even know her name) would return with Paco on Sunday when we were going to meet to go over documents. She never returned, we never saw her again - but I will never forget her and will always be grateful for her time spent raising Kennedy. After a few short photos we retired up to our room and all took turns holding Kennedy. We cried together, laughed together, and most importantly, made Kennedy smile. I don't recall one moment that she was ever "strange" with us. We all just wanted to jump on a plane and go home right away! We had what we came for and we couldn't wait to introduce her to the rest of the family. That night she slept in a pack in play beside our bed. She didn't wake up once. I however, kept waking up to check on her...and just to watch her sleep. By the next day Kennedy "left her hair down" and we were introduced to her squeals of glee. She hits this high pitch note that I, a trained Soprano 1 singer, could never touch! We spent a day shopping in Antigua and Monday was our embassy appointment - it went smoothly. That night we went back to Antigua to have dinner with Gary and Ellora who we met during our February visit trip. We got to spend time sharing our adventure with them and visit with their three precious little one, Julia, Leo, and Lorenzo. During our trip, we went shopping in Guatemala City and traveled over to the Westin to meet other mom's and babies from Carol's adoption group who were picking up their little bundles of joy too! We picked up Kennedy's VISA on Tuesday (after 3PM) so we left Wednesday afternoon to return home. Kennedy did awesome on the flight. As we were walking through the airport in Charlotte, we were pushing her in an umbrella stroller. So many people stopped us to say, "I thought that was a baby doll you were pushing!" My internal response was...what 30-something year-old couple would push a fake baby through an airport?!?!? I didn't realize just how often we would hear that phrase. ANY TIME we are in public, we are bound to hear, "She looks just like a baby doll!" and "Look at all that hair!".

We arrived in Harrisburg just before Midnight. Brit carried Kennedy off the plane. We were seated in the back, so we were one of the last ones off. As we walked down the corridor, I was again filled with anticipation. I knew my Mamma, sister-in-law Alicia, and stepfather Mike were going to be waiting for us. As we turned the corner, there they were, standing with balloons and a "Welcome Home Kennedy" sign. I dreamed and prayed for this moment, and just started crying with joy. Mamma held her, then Alicia held her and carried her to baggage claim.

We got home pretty late. As we were approaching our house I saw this light. Immediately I thought..oh my goodness, someone wrecked into our front light post and knocked it over. Then as we got closer I realized it was a spot light shining on a yard full of pink flamingos. Our front porch was covered in streamer and a big "Welcome Home Kennedy" sign was on our front door. I cried again that night as I put Kennedy to sleep in her crib. There were many tears shed in her room along this journey. All of those tears were leading up to this moment, putting my daughter to sleep in her room, in our home, words can't describe how GOOD that felt.

Well, it is Midnight and Brit is home from work. I promise to add some photos and fill you in on our Welcome Home Party/Baby Shower, Kennedy's baptism, our trip to Myrtle Beach, and our new life as a family.