On Wednesday, October 26, 2011, we got the news that we would travel to Colombia to pick up our son, Michael on Monday, October 31, 2011 - WAIT! change that to Wednesday, November 1, 2011. We were so grateful for those 2 extra days. First thing - we called our parents! Gram and Pop came up on Thursday the 27th to help us get everything done. Gram and Mamai shopped for Michael's travel supplies on Friday the 28th.
Before we could travel, we had to drive down to Houston to get our visas. We drove down Wednesday night and were at the consulate's office Thursday morning. Everyone in the office was so nice. It usually takes 3-4 days to process visas, but the consulate general offered to do it all in one day, so we would not have to travel back to Houston the following week. We showed him pictures of Michael and he told us of a connection he had with 2 small children also from Cali. We think he and his wife adopted them - the accent was thick and it was hard to understand exactly. We met his wife and they were so happy for us. The ladies running the office were also extremely happy. One was from Cali and told us to eat a lot of desserts while there. :) Our case worker, Beth at Gladney told us to bottle whatever we did because finalizing a visa in one day never happens.
After returning home, we started making plans. Gram and I shopped on Saturday for Michael's clothes and other odds-and-ends. We capped Saturday off with dinner at Silver Star with Gram and Pop. Sunday, my sweet friends Shelley, Jennifer, Deanna and Leann hosted a baby shower for me. It was all so wonderful. Gram took one look at the cake and teared up, which made me start crying, which made Deanna start too! I was so touched by all the family and friends who were there or who sent their best wishes. My closest friends, my League friends and my Justinian friends were all there. They are all family! After Pop and Ford loaded all the gifts up and we got home, Gram, Shelley, Jennifer and Mrs. Nancy (Shell's mom) came over to help us go through all the gifts and put everything away. I am so glad for their help because just looking at it all was making me insane. :) We got it done in 30 minutes, tops! Miss Kennedy was a helper too; she organized all of Michael's toys in the closet.
Monday the 31st was Halloween! Ford and I both worked and wrapped up things at our offices. Before going in to work, I said goodbye to Gram and Pop at their hotel. Pop told me "now, go get me a grandbaby!" We gave out Halloween candy that night to all the Legacy neighborhood kids. They were everywhere. Jennifer and Deanna and their sweet kids came by and we took pictures.
Tuesday, November 1st I ran last-minute errands while Ford worked the first part of the day. Then, we packed. What an experience. We managed to get a month's worth of stuff for 3 people in 3 suitcases. Michael's took up 1 and 3/4ths of the space. :) Neither of us slept very well that night because of our nerves. I woke up at 2:15, laid there until 3:30, then got up and played on Facebook. Ha.
Leaving your home for a month is so hard. We hired a pet sitter from our vet's office, Mandi Little, to come over every day to check on and play with our sweet Naboo. He is just as big a part of our family as the rest of us, and I am so thankful to have Mandi taking care of him. She sent us an update last night and he is doing great! Brian and Doug and checking our mail for us, watering the plants and feeding the fish. Jennifer is running errands for me - taking back stuff to Target and checking on my registry at Ladies in Waiting. We are so thankful for all these special people in our lives. ;)
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