Saying goodbye to Ukraine....next stop Paris Mia thought the plane was just a big car. She was SO good on both flights. The first flight from Kiev to Paris was 4 hours. On takeoff she said "weeeee"
She entertained herself with magazines a few books and her baby doll She liked to show her baby what was out the window and read the book to her doll too
she loved hiding under her blanket with her doll and playing She thought it was great that she could be in this big "car" AND have a meal brought to her! She of course used her best manners eating...as usual! People around us could not stop watching her! she slept through the landing into Paris As you know, when we got to Paris our plans changed...and we stayed at the airport for our 12 hour layover
we are so happy to be staying at the airport...haha she crashed before the airport delivered the little foam mattresses and blankets At 11 the next morning we boarded our last flight home....a 10 hour flight This little one did AMAZING! She just sat in her seat and colored and entertained herself! She took 2 naps and hardly made a peep. Everyone around us was amazed at how well she behaved and when they found out we had just adopted her and had only had her with us for a week, they were shocked. They said she seemed so comfortable they thought she had been ours forever. I was emotional as we landed! Kris and I looked at each other and said "we did it!" What a wonderful journey we had, which made it all the more emotional to be safely in America and about to see our family and friends again! It makes you super grateful for all that we have here! After a LONG trip, we finally arrived HOME to a WONDERFUL welcome of family and friends!!!!
Love it. The one where is she is showing her doll what is outside the window made me cry. I don't know why...maybe because she always wanted to know what was outside and now she does! She is beautiful.
ooooooo i have been waiting for these posts of you coming home! the pics of her in the airport in her all in one are so beautiful, she looks so utterly at home with you, it was so just meant to be! i am so thrilled you are home and so happy for you all xxxx
As long as she's with you and Kris, she seems to be fine with whatever and wherever she goes! I can't wait to see her hair grow and frame her pretty little face.
LOVE her! I'm absolutely jealous of Lisa lol! She got to meet her! (& you!!)
Glad you made it! I can't wait til you have been home awhile and have a moment to update on how she's loving her sisters! :) Take your time though. We can surely wait until tomorrow ;)
God has heard and answered each and every one of our prayers. Thank you God for bringing this sweet angel to her forever family!! I can't wait to see pics of Mia meeting her new sisters :)
Yay! So excited to see this post. Thanks for updating - we all know how incredibly busy you all must be. Thanks for sharing her with the rest of us. :)
Again, I'm crying...my daughters don't understand happy-tears yet, so they think I'm just nuts :D I've told them, "One day, you'll see...:)" Everything, except Paris, seemed to happen so easily for you...yay!! Maybe God wasn't wanting you to visit Paris at that time? Who knows?
Mia is so sweet, what a trooper! Ifeel bad that you guys had to stay at the airport! We were so glad when we finally got to meet mia and see you guys again!!!
It's kind if surreal reading your blog now that you are home. I love how she played under her blanket. What a trooper she was on the long flight home. She just couldn't be cuter!
I got to see pics on Laceys blog the other night! (-: I cried looking at the one where u guys are just coming around the corner and hugging your girls! I can't tell you how much I hope and pray and dream of following in your footsteps one day! I love seeing all the pics of Mia, she is so sweet! Christina
What a wonderful adventure to this point. I wish your family well. So much lies ahead. I admire you and your husband so much. You have given Kareen something that will make her life so much better. I look forward to hearing about her reunion and adjustment with your girls! She has such a sweet little spirit and is such a trooper, I am sure she will do well in her new life!
We have 3 beautiful girls. Our youngest has down syndrome and has changed our lives for the better. We are now on an unexpected journey to bring home a little girl with down syndrome from an orphanage in Eastern Europe. Kareen is 4 and will only be one month older than Bree. We know we have been led by the Lord to this little girl at this time and we are eager to bring her home to her forever family.
Adoption Timeline
It has helped me to see other people's timelines who have gone through this process before me so I am going to try and give a vague timeline of ours so far.
End of December-started looking more serious into RR and thinking maybe we should pursue this
Jan. 10- Formal Commitment
Jan. 14-FSP set up and "announced" our commitment to adopt Kareen
Jan. 19- Found a SW and started Homestudy process
Jan.19-Jan. 29-County assessors office, gathering vital records, gathered mortgage documents and proof of home ownership, had medicals done, employment letter, etc.......gathered most of the dossier documents and had them notarized
Jan. 29- mailed CSP's and POA's to EE
Feb. 3- Homestudy in home interview
Feb. 5- Received official homestudy report
Feb. 10- Mailed USCIS I-600A
Feb. 16-USCIS received our I-600A into their system
Feb. 28-received fingerprint appt. (scheduled for March 14)
March 2-walked in and got fingerprints done early
March 2-took dossier documents to the capital to be apostilled
March 7-picked up apostilled documents
March 8- called USCIS and learned we were approved; the form was put in the mail
that day
March 12- i171 (golden ticket) arrives in the mail
What an angel! I can't imagine taking that trek with my boys; it would be a nightmare!
ReplyDeleteLove it. The one where is she is showing her doll what is outside the window made me cry. I don't know why...maybe because she always wanted to know what was outside and now she does! She is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteJennifer
ooooooo i have been waiting for these posts of you coming home! the pics of her in the airport in her all in one are so beautiful, she looks so utterly at home with you, it was so just meant to be! i am so thrilled you are home and so happy for you all xxxx
ReplyDeleteAs long as she's with you and Kris, she seems to be fine with whatever and wherever she goes! I can't wait to see her hair grow and frame her pretty little face.
ReplyDeleteLOVE her! I'm absolutely jealous of Lisa lol! She got to meet her! (& you!!)
ReplyDeleteGlad you made it! I can't wait til you have been home awhile and have a moment to update on how she's loving her sisters! :) Take your time though. We can surely wait until tomorrow ;)
:)
Love the pictures! I just want one of her sweet hugs! Seems like she's been with us forever! xoxoxo
ReplyDeleteGod has heard and answered each and every one of our prayers. Thank you God for bringing this sweet angel to her forever family!! I can't wait to see pics of Mia meeting her new sisters :)
ReplyDeleteYay! So excited to see this post. Thanks for updating - we all know how incredibly busy you all must be. Thanks for sharing her with the rest of us. :)
ReplyDeleteAmazing! So glad you are home and I hope it works out that we get to meet Mia soon.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you're back home! Love all the photos, especially Mia showing her dolly out the window, too cute!
ReplyDeleteAgain, I'm crying...my daughters don't understand happy-tears yet, so they think I'm just nuts :D I've told them, "One day, you'll see...:)" Everything, except Paris, seemed to happen so easily for you...yay!! Maybe God wasn't wanting you to visit Paris at that time? Who knows?
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Rochelle
Elk Grove, CA
She is beautiful!!! What a precious gift from God.
ReplyDeleteMia is so sweet, what a trooper! Ifeel bad that you guys had to stay at the airport! We were so glad when we finally got to meet mia and see you guys again!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting. I was having serious withdrawals and after the "fun" visit I had with Nevaeh's birth mom I needed a feel good post :)
ReplyDeleteWaiting patiently for the next update. Thanks for sending us to other sites where we could see fun pictures of her homecoming celebration.
All of this makes me so emotional!
ReplyDeleteI bet you are tired and happy!
Congratulations to all of you!
Much love!
It's kind if surreal reading your blog now that you are home. I love how she played under her blanket. What a trooper she was on the long flight home. She just couldn't be cuter!
ReplyDeleteLove this <3
ReplyDeleteI got to see pics on Laceys blog the other night! (-: I cried looking at the one where u guys are just coming around the corner and hugging your girls! I can't tell you how much I hope and pray and dream of following in your footsteps one day! I love seeing all the pics of Mia, she is so sweet!
ReplyDeleteChristina
So happy that she is home and that you are now all together as a family!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful adventure to this point. I wish your family well. So much lies ahead. I admire you and your husband so much. You have given Kareen something that will make her life so much better. I look forward to hearing about her reunion and adjustment with your girls! She has such a sweet little spirit and is such a trooper, I am sure she will do well in her new life!
ReplyDelete