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One Less Orphan: Mia's gotcha day

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Are you kidding me????

We got to the airport in Kiev and as our driver was helping us inside we mentioned to him that we had a 12 hour layover through the night in Paris. He made some comment about Mia needing a visa for there but then he said it probably was fine for that long and since it was a layover. So we boarded the plane to Paris and our stewardess was super friendly and in love with Mia so we decided to ask her about it. Well she thought we would be fine but another lady said we wouldn,t so when we landed the stewardess had one of the ground staff take us to see if she could help us. She took our passports and such to immigration and came back and said that we could NOT leave the airport! Apparently Kris and I don,t need a visa to enter France but because Mia is still a Ukraine citizen until we touch US soil, she needs a French visa in order to leave the airport. At this point I was ready to lose it! Fortunately we were able to cancel the hotel we had booked....which we literally can see from the airport...it is .Ike 2 minutes away!
So the lady helping us started to tell us that we were not even supposed to leave this little terminal area but she would see if she could get special clearance for us since there was NOTHING in this terminal....no food....nothing! So she gets us the clearance and we have to go back through security and now here we sit/sleep for the night! It is midnight here and our flight doesn,t leave until 11 in the morning.
Thankfully Mia was an angel on the first flight! She was literally the only child on the flight and I don,t think half the plan even knew she was there. The bad part was that she didn,t have a nap (probably the first day in her life that she hasn't,) and when we were about 30 minutes from landing here it was bedtime for her and she fell asleep and was ready to be out for the night so she was super confused and tired and now she is sleeping on the hard ground in the airport...poor thing!
Oh wait it gets better! Because the baggage claim is outside of customs area, we can,t go get our stroller....which for some reason when we checked it at the gate of the plane they sent it to baggage here. Technically one of us could go get it but not until tomorrow because you can,t check into your flight yet...seriously???? Luckily we found a "push chair" they had here for her.
Not sure how I am going to sleep worrying about if Mia will get up and wander off without us waking up. We made a barricade around her on the floor between the two chairs we are sleeping in so hopefully that works.
So we will now be welcomed home in a glorious, stinky, tired, unshowered manner!!! Nothing like making a memorable journey home!

22 comments:

  1. What?!?! No way! How could nobody know this in advance? So sorry :)

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  2. OH my heck!! That just makes me mad for y'all! I'm so sorry!! Talk about a prime example of bureaucracy run amok - there is not some reasonable person there who can't just go get your STROLLER at the VERY least? That really frosts my muffins. :( Hope y'all get some rest and it's a fast night!! {{hugs}}

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  3. Oh, no. What a terrible snafu. I have loved seeing your pictures and praying for your pretty girl. Will raise a prayer for you to survive another day until home!

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  4. Oh, ow we love you all!!! xoxoxo

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  5. The joys of traveling with little ones...sorry to hear this! Will continue praying for you guys :D

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  6. I knew it, I thought you knew it too...Someone from RR should have told ya'll. My friend, Vashti, wanted to stop in Amsterdam when she brings Dillon home and she didn't know about the temporary visa either. What a pain, that's terrible, just stinkin terrible. :(

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  7. oh no!!! that just stinks! but at least you are all together. that is the important thing! so, so, SOOOO excited for y'all to get home! can't wait to see the reunion pictures!!

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  8. Oh no, like traveling with kids isn't hard enough! I hope the night goes well! So sorry!

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  9. Do you have a scarf or belt that you could put through yours or your husband's pant loops and then through Mia's pant loops so if she gets up it will tug on you and you would wake up? Just a thought, I know I would be so scared she would wake up I too wouldn't be able to sleep. Prayers that you all can sleep and the night goes quick!

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  10. Just want to say THANKS for sharing this incredible JOURNEY. My daughter and I talk about "MIA" as if we were close friends with her and your family. She read today's post before I got home from work and had to call me and tell me about it. We look forward every day to seeing beautiful MIA, and seeing what she is up to. We look forward to seeing the progress she makes as she becomes a part of your forever family.

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  11. Oh Kecia I'm so sorry. You are going to be exhausted. I can't believe it's please let me know if I can't help with anything. Love ya. Anna Horne

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  12. I'm so sorry to hear about this bump at the end of a very long road for you all. Try not to stress to much about being welcomed home in a "glorious, tired, stinky, unshowered manner." I'm sure you all will be glowing no matter what. And I'm sure there won't be a dry eye greeting you at the airport. You'll probably be glistening through everyone's tears. :) I hope you can get some sleep tonight. I'm SOOOO excited for you!!!!!

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  13. I am so sorry that you are having a rough night! What a frustrating surprise! At least it will be one more of those stories to tell for the rest of her life about the night the three of you spent on the airport floor in Paris! (One day down the road it will be funny!) So glad you are all en route home and that your travels have been safe. Also, I don't think anyone will notice/remember/care about being stinky or tired at that point! :) Our prayers are with you and your whole family.

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  14. oh no!!!!!!!!!!!you are nearly home, even if a bit stinky! xxxxxx

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  15. almost home.........

    xoxo
    cathy

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  16. Not sure exactly what time is there, but I hope your night is peaceful and swift. Mia is an angel. That is amazing how well she was for you on the flight. My Jordan would have made himself heard that's for sure. We can't wait to have a play date with Mia and Bree. Hope to be at the airport tomorrow to witness your beautiful homecoming. Just so happy for you guys.

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  17. OH NO! I am so sorry to hear this! I am sure you will be welcomed home stinky and all. Hugs to you, hope the remainder of the journey is bumpfree!

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  18. Atleast you can share this with the next family traveling. God is just testing you. :-) Hang in there.

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  19. 'Home Sweet Home' will be even Sweeter!! Bless you for enduring everything for that little girl ~ she will only remember the love she's been freely and abundantly given on this adventure! And hopefully some day soon, you and Kris will be able to laugh about this or at least smile.

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  20. awww, poo....but so happy you are almost home!!! can't wait to see pictures and videos ;)

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  21. It's Friday! I'm thinking of you today!!!

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