Our coordinator was
able to get the negative sputum test reports on Sunday evening, and
first thing Monday morning, we headed to the original clinic so the
doctor could sign off on JP's medical packet. She got a little teary
eyed while we were there. I tried to explain that she didn't have to do
anymore tests, bless her heart. I'm glad FIVE negative tests were
finally enough to prove to the CDC that she doesn't have TB. Poor baby.
As
soon as we got the medical packet, we rushed to the embassy. We had
already done the interview and paid our fee when we were there on
Thursday. There was hardly anyone there then. When we walked in Monday
it was packed out. The gentleman at the desk knew our coordinator, so he
took our paperwork right back. For about an hour or an hour and a half
we waited, and wondered, and prayed...and prayed some more. We didn't
know if they would issue the visa then or tell us to come back in the
afternoon, or, worse, the next day. Finally, they called us up and
handed us JP's passport, complete with visa, as well as our official
Hague adoption certificate. Thank you, Lord!
We
had to check out of the hotel at 2:00, but our flight out wasn't until
11:35pm. Our coordinator surprised us by giving us a hotel room at his
hotel (on his tab) so we could relax before our flight. Of course,
there's not much relaxing going on with a hyper five year old in the
room, but I was so thankful we didn't just have to walk around the mall
for six hours.
Our
driver dropped us at the airport, and we were on our way. I swear we
had to go through half a dozen security checks, and everyone was very
curious about JP being with us. We got interrogated by airport staff
about every five minutes. Thankfully, there was no trouble, and we got
on our flight without any problems. JP slept the first seven hours...and
climbed the walls for the next eight and a half. Kudos to those of you
who take long flights with young children. I hope I never have to do it
again, because not only was I unable to sleep, but I was constantly
having to keep her from breaking things or disturbing others around us.
By the time we touched down in Newark, I was pretty frazzled, but oh, so
happy to be back in the good old US of A. We went through immigration
without a problem, got the official stamp declaring JP a US citizen, and
got our bag to go through and recheck it on home. That's when we found
out that our flight home had been canceled, along with hundreds of other
flights, thanks to the snow storm that came through yesterday. All of
Newark was about to hear this mama ugly cry.
Initially,
they said they couldn't get us home until tomorrow, but after hearing
our story, the rep was able to finagle some things around and get JP and
I on the next flight out. Husband was on standby, but he didn't make
the first flight. Thankfully, he got the last seat on the next flight
and was home within about three hours of us. It made me sad not to walk
into the airport together for our little welcoming committee, but at
that point, we were just so glad to be home, we didn't think too much
about it. One battle down. Another beginning.
No comments:
Post a Comment