We drove to Atlanta
(about 4 1/2 hours away) to fly out. Our plane was very late leaving
because of mechanical problems. They had to bring in a new plane.
Otherwise, we had a great flight this time, and were only in the air for
3 1/2 hours, with no stops. This was actually only the 2nd trip that I
had ever been on a plane, so a short, easy flight was quite nice.
The hotel had a
taxi waiting at the airport for us. Taking a ride through the streets
of Guatemala City in a taxi is a wild ride. We stayed in La Casa
Grande, which was such a neat hotel. There is no AC, which is very hot
during the day, but they do give you a fan. The nights are pretty
chilly, though. In the center of the hotel is a pretty courtyard where
the restaurant is. Almost everyone in the small hotel has a baby or
child that they are adopting, so the atmosphere is so fun.
We arrived at the
hotel at about 9:30 that night. The next morning we had free time to do
some shopping. That's a lot of fun, but you have to cross La Reforma
Avenue, which is a 6 lane street, and no one is doing under 60. Whoever
is in front or beeps their horn the loudest wins. It is dangerous to
cross, and pedestrians have no rights of way. We went to the "safe"
shops, not the downtown market. There's a McDonald's across the street,
so that's where we grabbed lunch. Guatemala City is basically like any
other large city--traffic, high rise buildings, stores (even Chucky
Cheese and Rooms to Go), but you have to throw in the occasional women
in traditional dress carrying baskets on their head, or the man pulling a
horse cart down this crazy road. Once you step outside the city,
though, you are transported to another time.
We went back to the
hotel just after lunch, and waited for them to bring Daniella to us.
It was a nerve wracking wait. I guess we felt like a nervous dad pacing
while mom is in labor. They came around 1:30. We were on the upstairs
balcony waiting, and jumping at every car that pulled in. : ) When
they stepped out of the car with her, we snapped a couple of quick
shots, then took off running to meet them at our room. It's a small
hotel, but I did not want to miss her coming up the stairs. I was in
sandals on a marble floor, and I almost busted it trying to turn and
hurry to the room. I was shaking and in tears.
This was an
extremely emotional experience. This foster mom had had our little girl
since she was just 3 days old, and she was now about to turn one. The
foster mother was crying before she even got to our room. She cried so
much. She would cry, and I would cry. It was such a mixed
feeling--finally holding my little girl, but feeling like I was taking
away her little girl. In the midst of all of this emotion, you are
having to have a meeting with the Guatemalan lawyer who has represented
you in court, and the translator, trying to complete paperwork that has
to go to the U.S. emabassy the next morning.
Daniella with her foster mother
Daniella was
somewhat bewildered when she first came in, but she took right to us.
Never once did she cry that day. In fact the only time she ever cried
was the next day when James came in the room, and it startled her. I
had so tried to prepare us all for it to be a difficult transition for
her, but it never was. It was like she knew this is where she was meant
to be. (Many prayers had gone into this.)
We had to be at the
Embassy the next morning at 7:00. The appointment went smoothly, and
we picked up her visa and other papers that afternoon. The rest of
those 2 days were spent playing with our sweetie.
There were so many
babies in the hotel that they ran out of cribs, so the first night they
pushed 2 highback wicker chairs together and put a sheet on it. She was
sandwiched between the wall and our bed. She had been sleeping through
the night, but that first night, she woke up, crawled out of her
makeshift crib over into our bed. She crawled up on top of us and just
grinned. It was a priceless memory.
Daniella had a ball
on the plane trip home. There was a Guatemalan lady sitting behind me
and she bounced on my legs (about killed me) half way home, playing
peek-a-boo with her.
Looking out the airplane window
The only problems we
had was after that episode where James came in and it startled her, she
would not go near him. Everytime he tried to hold her she cried. She
would only go to me or the girls. So, that meant I got to carry her
through the airports and hold her most of the plane ride. She sat, or I
should say stood on, Ashley or Briana part of the time. Man, I was
worn out by the time we got back to Atlanta, and then drove that 4 1/2
hours home. I ended up with a severe sinus infection, and was in the
bed for several days. So, Daniella had to do some Daddy bonding time
whether she wanted to or not. By the time I was out of bed, they were
best buddies.
Daniella now at 5 years old
So those are the
highlights of our 2nd adoption experience. It is a difficult and
emotional job, much harder than my 2 pregnancies with c-sections, but it
is so rewarding and worth it. It is an amazing journey.
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