3 / 24 / 2004
We are going home! It's 3:30pm here now. They are coming for our bags in an hour or so. Our flight leaves at 9pm tonight. We'll finish our updates and post some photos of our final day and flight home tomorrow when we get there.
3 / 25 / 2004
We're home! We got home last night around 11:15pm. We are so glad to be here. Unfortunately our homecoming was dampened when we learned that one of our cats had escaped a few days ago. It's not the same without LuLu around. We are hoping she will turn up soon.
We left the White Swan hotel around 5pm yesterday. Our flight was at 9pm. The traffic was pretty bad to the airport. By the time we got there and got in line it was 6:30. They only let you check in 2 hours in advance for flights so we had to wait until 7 pm. At first there was an orderly line and we were the first adoptive group. The closer to 7:00 it got the more free for all it became. I was disappointed that the worst offenders for cutting in line were the fellow American adoptive families. Once you get thru the checkpoint you pay your airport tax and get to check in with the airlines. We were hoping to get a bulkhead seat but they were gone by the time we got checked in. After checking in you head upstairs to fill out departure cards and go thru another security checkpoint. It felt really good to finally sit down at the gate. We took advantage and fed Ruby while we waited to board. There were lot's of adoptive parents on the flight. Lot's of cute babies.
Ruby was a real trooper. She really didn't fuss that much on the long flight. She slept off and on. It was hard to get her comfortable as she likes to squirm around when she sleeps. When she is sleeping on us that tended to wake her up. Given how many babies were on the flight the screaming wasn't too bad. We both got a little sleep on the flight but not enough. At the immigration in LA they have a line set up just for adoptive parents. We made it through immigration and Ruby was officially a US citizen. We got our bags through customs and rechecked. We walked over to the Alaska terminal and got checked in for our last flight home! We are ready to be home! I don't want to see another airport security checkpoint for a little while!
Ruby slept most of the way home from LA to Seattle. We just woke her up as we were landing to get her to drink some formula. I guess it helps them equalize the pressure if they eat or drink something at landing. Julie's parents and our good friends Anne and Pegge were at the airport to welcome us. It was great to see familiar faces and to have them meet Ruby. She turned on the charm and quickly won them over. Ruby's first experience with a car seat was about as expected. She screamed bloody murder half the way home before mellowing out some. We hope it won't take too long for her to get used to it.
It was nice to be back home and show Ruby around her house. She seemed to take it all in. I suspect it will take a few weeks for her to fully realize that this is home and we aren't going anywhere for awhile. I know it will take us awhile to figure out a routine with her and get used to life with a baby! There isn't much time as she just about got from a sitting position to a standing one by herself last night. It won't we long till she is fully mobile and looking to get into everything. I have a few childproofing projects to do tomorrow! She has already slammed her fingers in a drawer twice. After the second time last night she would grab the drawer handle and then drop it and look away. I think she knew it was trouble!
We put her in a pack-n-play in our bedroom last night to sleep. We didn't want her to be in another room just yet. She did take her nap today in her crib. We've heard the jet lag is worst coming home than going there. Hopefully we will recover quickly. I need to get back to work soon.
Ruby has her first appointment next Thursday with the International medicine clinic at the UW. We are fortunate to have the clinic so close. They only deal with kids who are adopted internationally so they have great experience. We don't expect any major revelations as she seems in really good health.
Thanks again to everyone who has followed along! We will put up a "Home with Ruby" page for updates and pictures as the months go by. Stay tuned if you are interested.
thanks
Dan, Julie and Ruby
***LuLu is back! Julie went out tonight to search and call for LuLu and she showed up! She was wet, cold and scared but ok. Ernie keeps hissing at her but that should pass. Theirs has always been a more like/tolerate relationship. We are just thrilled she is back and safe. Now our family is complete!
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