JUNIOR'S JOURNEY HOME: 2009-12-20

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Hola, Si, Bien

We stepped off the plane in Puerto Vallarta and the first thing out of Maima's mouth was "this feels like home". The kids soaked into this culture and climate as if they were not African's but Mexican's. The weather was 85 and mostly sunny the whole time. Our resort had a kids water park with attendants to watch the kids play all day while offering on the hour activities. The adult area also had on the hour activities so there was a lot of pool games including polo, basketball, volleyball and aerobics to help ward off the calories of the numerous pina coladas ingested.

The staff was awesome and a total part of the experience as they led the pool and kids games then entertained us at night at the hotel club with extravagant shows each evening.

Maima playing water volleyball

Akins would rather be on the beach in the sand than just about anywhere

Chunk me!

Maima and Akins taking a ride through the rain slide

Every time she comes up she is looking for Mommy-o

The kids playing beach soccer

Mexican hair braids (much needed)!

Maima had a girl crush on this resort worker

The lazy river at the water park

Big slides! We had the whole park to ourselves

The kids got to be part of the dolphin show

The sea lion was just two rows below us and there were only 6 other people there! A real close encounter.

Maima enjoying the sand

Maima is not too sure about the giant iguana

Akins on the other hand is loving it

Our new friend! At the cost of $100 Pesos

Deep water piggy back rides

Maima doing the "sexy dance"

Piggy back aerobics

Akins coming up for air

Akins and I ready to jump in and see the fish!

The reaction Maima gave when she thought they sawed her favorite girl in half during the magic show

Adios

Funniest comments:

At the airport
Akins: (Whispering) Mommy-O that lady has black legs and white hands and face.
Mommy: Yes honey she is wearing nylons they are like big socks that make her legs look black.
Akins: Oh. Why?

Karen's Story

Gosh! Where to begin! Karen wants to adopt two children. She has been open to older children and both genders. After not getting a referral for a long time. Karen even applied in Ethiopia and Lesotho thus holding applications in three countries trying to broaden the options. Still no referral. Finally, Karen found Ishamel and asked about him. He is 9 years old and she has fallen in love. Still - Karen waits on a second referral. Still she holds applications in all three countries. The thought of making Ishamel wait while waiting for another referral has Karen in knots so she has made travel plans and is leaving to get Ishamel on August 23, 2007 and will likely have to make another trip for a second child! Karen has been my sounding board throughout these past few months. We got our referrals at about the same time and began holding each other together via telephone. Hang in there Karen!

Patricia's Story

This woman obviously has the patience of Job. She has waited 2 1/2 years for a child often feeling like she has been forgotten about. Finally, she got the referal for little Alomiza. After all this time and a communication failure she thought this child had been returned home. Later, it was confirmed that Alomiza is still at the house. Patricia hopes to bring her home in September but does not have specific plans yet as due to all of the waiting some of the paperwork has expired. We are all holding on to Alomiza coming home before fall!

July 19, 2007 - The Other Kids and Families

Needless to say international adoption is not an esay process. For the kids they often wait and wait. For the parents they often wait and wait! The only thing to keep everyone sane is each other. In the house there were reportedly 29 kids as of May 2007. The kids keep each other sane they play and learn together. The older kids are harder to place and often wait longer. The older kids seem mature and responsible beyond their years and are often seen caring for the smaller children. It seems to be natural and loving. Several familes are adopting more than one child so there are fewer familes. The familes stay sane by staying in contact through yahoo groups on line and the phone. By working together we learn. Without each other the process is maddening, complicated, confusing and very frustrating. There is little information provided and it is very infrequent.

July 26, 2007 - 12 day countdown!

Twelve more days until flight day! I'm starting to get anxious. I think with all of the frustrations and bad information around passports it was hard for me to "trust" that I was really going to bring Junior home. I now have tickets in hand and I'm goin'!

Heather shot off a short email today and while her arrival in Monrovia did not go exactly according to plan she did get to see the kids briefly - and she got to tell them their Mommies loved them and were coming soon - she wrote (VAL - JUNIOR WAS ALL SMILES!) I can not even explain how this made me feel and now I am really ready!

July 27, 2007 - 11 days and I can't sit still!

Unfortunately, no news from Heather today. All of us waiting families were hoping for an update from her and possisbly some photos! The mix up on her travel included not having reservations booked at the hotel where Internet is available so the communication from her is probably going to be limited. With Independance Day celebrations now complete she may be able to get better accomodations. We are all hoping for this anyway!

Yesterday, July 26th was the official Independence Day holiday Liberia was to celebrate its independence anniversary with something of a light show when Monrovia's street lights were to be turned on for the first time in 15 years, officials said on Wednesday.

Here's to PEACE, FREEDOM and DEMOCRACY in Liberia!