September 7, 2010 was a long day - traveling for a grand total of 22 hours from hotel door to our front door, yet only 8 hours past on our watches from the time we got to the agency to officially add Leo to our family to the time we landed in Minneapolis. Though, I have to say, I am so glad that our first official day with Leo was super-duper extra long for it was more moments we got to treasure with him on our first day together.
Chapter 10: Time to bring Leo home
After grabbing a quick lunch and buying some flowers for Leo's Foster Mom, we loaded all our luggage into a taxi and headed to the agency to pick up Leo. This taxi driver was not pleased with us...no clue why...he was grumbly and obviously annoyed first when he saw all our luggage, again when we showed him where we wanted to go, even more so when he had to call the agency for directions, and then he was the most unhappy Korean I saw my entire week there when we paid him the fare - oh well, we got where we needed to go and we had some serious business to take care of...picking up our son!!
Our experience at the agency started in a tiny little room off the office of all the case workers on September 2nd...and it ended in the same place on September 7th. Our case worker gave us a bunch of stuff to take back to our agency back home (paperwork for us and then it looks like a bunch of photo albums?!). Leo and his Foster Mom came in and gave us a few more things - two of Leo's favorite books, a BUNCH of snacks, and the all important pacifier. We were then told that the President, Dr. Kim, was again not available today and so there would not be the usual prayer said [we must really look like people that are all business - no tours, no prayer...we just want our kid, please]. We were led back out to the lobby, I hurried to pack all these things we were just given in our carry-on bags while talking with a family that was waiting to meet with staff - they were from Australia on there first visit back to Korea with their daughter who was adopted 20 years ago. This family was able to grab a few pictures for us of Leo, his Foster Mom and us before we were urged to get into the agency van (Love Mobile) that would take us to the airport. We all got loaded in...Drew in the third row, Damon, Leo and I in the second row...I hugged Leo's Foster Mom one last time and thanked her before the van door shut. I held Leo up to the window as we drove off. I tried hard not to look back to see how Leo's Foster Mom was doing - but I had to. She was crying and being led back into the agency by the case workers. While I hated to see her cry...it did provided me some comfort to know just how much she loved and cared for Leo. I so look forward to writing her a letter and sending her pictures to let her know how well Leo is doing.
Leo was just awesome. I expected big tears and loud cries. Instead we got a happy and curious little boy checking things out the window and interacting with us. He cried once or twice while we were in the Love Mobile, for not even a minute - nothing a hug and a pacifier couldn't help.
We got to the airport in record time. I put Leo in the baby carrier and we proceeded to check in. Before we arrived we didn't have seats assigned for either of our flights. For our flight to San Fransisco our options were either 4 seats: two together in one row and another two together five rows back; or 3 seats together in the middle section near the front of the plane. You should have seen us trying to decided which option to chose!! Good, god. We opted for being together as a family of four in three seats (wise choice). As, for the flight from San Fransisco home, we'd have to check-in when we got to San Fransisco since they could not give us boarding passes. [which i was not pleased with - what if we didn't have time?!?!] Drew and Leo were extremely patient while we waited. Not a cry or whine out of either of them. Nice job boys!!
We got through security and headed to our gate which was right at a kids play area. Both Drew and Leo had a lot of fun playing. It was fun to watch Leo and see him interact with other kids. Before we knew it, it was time to get back on that beautiful blue plane and start our journey home.
Aside from the completely over-the-top high-maintenance older woman traveling from India to visit her daughter who lives in San Fransisco who took all the space under her seat and mine and blew her nose a million times and coughed and sneezed without covering her mouth (even when i asked her to), showering me with the spay each time...the flight could not have gone better. [seriously, the woman would demand things from the flight attendants every five minutes...open her peanuts, bring her hot water, bring her medicine for a headache, open the medicine for her headache, cover her with the blanket, bring her more hot water, fill out her customs card for her (which, they did!!), open her silverware, blah, blah, blah. thankfully Korean Air rocks and the flight attendants catered to her every need so she wasn't asking me to do those things]
On the flight, Drew was a Rock Star. And, so was Leo. Of course Leo cried some...mostly when we were waiting to take off and the plane was getting hot. The flight attendants were incredible and held him...fanned him...provided him with comfort from someone that looked more like him than we did. Otherwise on the flight, Leo was easily comforted by a walk around the plane (to pick up trash from the floor) or playing with and sucking on some ice cubes. Both Leo and Drew slept a lot on the flight - so Damon and I were able to as well. Over all, we could not have asked for a better flight...or so I thought.
Immigration and Customs went well in San Fransisco...we did have about 45 minutes of waiting in the 'New Immigrant' line. But we all just camped out on the floor and had some snacks and that time went very quickly and smoothly. Leo has his temporary Green Card and we were all welcomed to the United States.
After getting our boarding passes and making it through security (Leo was really crying and the security workers were less than accommodating and most unpleasant - oh, how I suddenly missed the kindness of the Korean people) we hung out at our gate. We got some food to eat and Drew and Leo enjoyed playing with some stacking blocks. Leo really had fun with those laughing and clapping for himself when he'd stack two. I needed to go to the bathroom before the flight, as I started to leave Leo began bawling and reaching for me. As sad as it was to see him suddenly crying again - my heart melted just a little bit knowing that we'd connected. He knew I was his. And, he was mine.
The flight home from San Fransisco was delayed a bit. But, once on board we all fell asleep - the boys slept the entire flight!! Incredible. That gave Damon and I some time to sleep...and some time to talk about the last week and how absolutely wonderful it felt to be going home with two sweet, smart, and funny sons.
We took the elevators down to baggage claim...and waiting for us was all of Damon's family welcoming us home with signs and balloons! It was so great to see them and introduce them to their great-grandson/grandson/nephew/cousin!!! Leo showed off his excellent walking skills...and his climbing skills - trying to get onto the baggage carousel. As much fun as it was hanging out with everyone and playing with Leo, it was late and we needed to get home.
Once home we were welcomed to even more great surprises...Welcome Home Leo signs in the yard and in the house...yummy celebratory cupcakes...a stocked fridge (including some sparkling peach juice to celebrate with - which we did while we all enjoyed a little midnight snack)...flowers...and some nice gifts for the boys (a "little brother" outfit and a wooden truck for Leo and some t-shirts from Drew). Big thanks to our family and friends!!!
We played for awhile in Leo's room. I felt so good to all be in Leo's room WITH HIM playing and having a good time.
The first night of sleep went extremely well...and we were anxious to start our first full day as a family of four back home in Minnesota!
Next time...pictures of all these events - and how we spent our first day.
