The Call: This was the part of the adoption that drove me the most insane. We had already received one
previo so waiting for the call to let us know that we had exited
PGN made my "
spidey sense" all the more intense.
Every time Tera called me when I was at the airport or at work or if there was a message on the answering machine I would get this sick feeling in my gut. And when the eight week mark had approached I was hovering around the phone waiting for "the call". So of course the call came when I was in the garage goofing off. Tera called out the back door to the garage and said "Guess what?" I began to cry immediately. I'm not ashamed. I was so waiting for this call. All Tera and I wanted was to be with Emma. And this was the call that told us that it was going to be
ok.
Emma's
rotavirus, our family reunited and our stay at the
Westin: Tera had left for Guatemala about a month or so prior to my departure for Guatemala. We felt it would help Emma's transition if Tera and Emma were together as soon as possible. So Tera and Emma moved to Antigua while I remained at home in Minneapolis preparing the house and tying up loose ends. I missed them terribly but we were able to see each other often via
Skype. Things were going well until Emma became very ill with Rota virus. This really was really hard for Tera and I felt so bad that I couldn't be there for her and Emma. Emma's health had deteriorated so quickly but Tera was on her toes and handled it like a seasoned veteran. Way to go T! Sadly, Emma did end up in the hospital but to the credit of a couple of "angels" in Tera's corner she was able to provide everything that Emma needed so that her recovery was as fast as possible. Thanks to those who helped Tera and Emma. We decided that it would be best that Tera and Emma go back to Guatemala city as soon as Emma was well enough to go. The girls arrived on a Friday and I arrived that following Sunday. I was so excited to see them both. Tera and Emma happened to be in the lobby when I arrived at the hotel. Emma looked tired. She had a harrowing week and I could tell. But she looked beautiful nonetheless. I could tell Tera was exasperated. I immediately began to make sure to take over everything that I could so Tera could kick back and enjoy her stay. One night we stayed in, ordered pizza and caught up all the events in Guatemala and back home. About 3am that next morning I woke up feeling not so great. I thought nothing of it. Lack of sleep, maybe not enough water.
So much had happened in a few days so maybe it was beginning to catch up with me so I headed back to bed. We woke up at around 7 that morning and headed for the sacred
Westin breakfast buffet. I couldn't eat a thing. I just sat there with no appetite. I felt drained. It was as if I never went to bed. I couldn't stand for more than 10 minutes, all I wanted to do is lay down, and it kept getting worse. Much to Tera's frustration I slept most of the afternoon. I would be frustrated if I were her. Here I was sleeping the entire first day I am there. I was supposed to take over take over so Tera could let her hair down and relax after a most hectic week. But something wasn't right. And at about 5pm that night it was obvious. VERY obvious. So I began to "purge my soul" for the next 3 hours or so. It got to the point where there were discussions with our agency about whether or not I would be able to even make it to our Embassy date. I couldn't believe it. Months of paperwork, politics,
PGN and a ton of other stuff I can't think of right now and I might not make it to the appointment that I had longed for for months. I was determined to go. So Tera being of sober mind (and sick of being the only one who isn't sick along with being the family nurse by default) she had the front desk call for a doctor. To make a long story short. One shot, one black out, one bump on my head, one last "purging" and a healthy dose of
cipro and I was well enough to go with Tera and Emma to our appointment at the US Embassy. The remaining days in Guatemala were so sweet. We just hung out as a family taking in all that had happened and that we were together as a family.
Our departure and arrival home: This part went really well. It was a bit of a tornado as far as the running around but it was very sobering for me. We were leaving Guatemala with Emma. For the first time we didn't leave Guatemala alone. I was so relieved but kinda sad at the same time. Much of my feelings about that day are still unprocessed and probably a bit private for now. I hope that you will understand. Sometimes there are no words. Emma slept for most of the flight. The flight was long...12 hours from beginning to end. We arrived at our gate at almost midnight on the night of June 9
th. Much of our family was there to meet us. It was surreal. Everyone was so nice. I think that I seemed a bit aloof. Maybe even
despondent. I just needed to stand aside and quietly take it all in. I felt like crying. It was a mountain of feelings for me to feel that day. It was an awesome day. Tera had experienced way more on this trip than I did. I couldn't imagine what was going on in her mind when we arrived at the airport. But I did have a clue. I could see it in her eyes. Though very tired I knew she was full of joy. We got home and laid Emma in her crib at about 3am. I can't remember falling asleep. I'm sure it happened at light speed or close to it.
The "Day After" and some "Then & Now": One again I am at a loss for words. I fall asleep at 3 in the morning and then 4 hours later I am awakened by the beautiful sound of a baby's voice in the next room. Surreal. It was an awesome day. Very family oriented.
I can't think of our lives without Emma. She is such a blessing from the Lord. The last year has quickly disappeared. So much has happened.
Emma has drawn things from deep within me that only Daddy's little Girl could do. I find myself often
reflecting about what Tera and I have experienced up to this point and there is so much ahead of us. We are grateful. We are blessed. I admit that I allowed fear to overwhelm me at times. I feared the things that many families that are currently in process are going through. In relative terms Emma's adoption went fairly smooth. Sadly there are those who have and are still experiencing massive woes throughout. Please do not forget these families and the children whose lives are at stake. Till next week. Adios.
Some things change...some things stay the same. Back when were in the process of adopting Emma we decided it would be a good idea if I got a part time job at the airline. Flight benefits and a little extra money definitely helped the cause. The work was physical and the hours were brutal. At that time on a weekly basis I was working an average of 80 hours a week. This lasted for approximately 9 months. A couple of months before Emma came home I resigned from the airline job so I could fully take on the responsibilities of fatherhood. That was back in the spring '07. Fast forward to July of 2008. The economy and a couple of other things to boot has put us in a position where I had to go and get a part time job. Guess where. Yep, the airport. It has called me back. I started my training a week and a half ago and just finished it up last Saturday. 160 hours in 11 days (this was just the training part at the airport along with my other job, I'm not working those kind of hours now...lest you think I'm neglecting my family.) The training is done and I am working my new schedule as well as my regular full time job. I think my dad is the most excited out of anyone seeing as he's retired and is able to take full advantage of my flight benefits.
