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Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Finish the story

We made it to the hotel with our daughter..our daughter..that sounds so cool!
For the next few days we do nothing but look at her!!! She is eating good, sleeping really good! Our next big day is to pick up our Visa's..So, we head to the Embassy of Kazakhstan. We get there at 6:15pm they open at 6:30pm..they are a lot of people waiting outside. The doors open people start pushing like there is a million dollars flying around inside. They are pushing me I'm holding Josie trying to keep up with Saule and Danny is behind me! For those that have meet Danny he is 6'6 not a little fella! We get to the door way and they are really pushing and shoving!!! He stand in the door way (he is as broad as the door) nobody can get there..he just stands there, he said three guys was pushing him and said I'm not going anywhere. So, after fighting the crowd we get to the window with about 10 other ppl trying to get there little heads in a 12x12 window!!! The guy comes out and tell Danny and I it will not be ready until Thursday of the following week..this is Tuesday. I start to cry and the JERK! says "you cry over this?" And I said this had been a rough week and I/WE want to go home!! He just laughs and walks off!!!! After the room has cleared there was about 25 of us that didn't get our visa's they tell us to leave..And of course Danny and I just stand there because they are speaking Russian and we pretend we do not understnad what they are saying..which we didn't but the hand movements did :) lol So, they end up getting a guard to remove us!! And then tell us to wait outside that was about 7:15 and they CLOSE at 7:30 I told Danny they just made us leave so they could close the door!!! I went to the curb and cried and prayed God please move in a mighty way..get me out of this country!!! Get me home...I/we had just had enough of everything the devil fighting us everystep of the way..I continue to pray..Danny knew what I was doing I don't think Saule did...I came back and held Danny and cried some more!!! I knew God was going to do something...We have trusted in him for him not to.
About that time all kind of police officers are clearing the streets, no cars aloud and if you have been to Kyrgy you know there are millions cars everywhere at anytime!!! So once the cars/people are clear here comes a big line of nice cars..it was the President of Kyrgy...and here at the Embassy there are 25 people standing around that they didn't move off the street or area!!!
That was great for us! About 5 mintues later this "diplomat" comes I go up to him and ask him to help us and gave him our last name..he kept saying I'm just a diplomat and I keep saying I'm an American and I want to go home!!! So, within 5 more minutes...image we had our visa's!!!! It was a good thing we had our clothes backed our driver waiting to take us to Kazakstan..and had already checked out of our hotel and they didn't have any rooms open!!!
Saule goes w/ us to the board THAT was SCARY! They searched the car...just scary situation! We get in to building Saule is once again pushing people (the same ppl we were in line w/ that the Embassy) we are first to the window and off we go!!! Very tense situation. So, we are off THANK GOD!!!! Saule was great the whole time we where there...She truly has the best interest of the children!
OUr driver speaks NO English!!!!!!! We start of and get this I get MAJOR car sick if I'm in the back...I pop two motion sickness pills...I remember passing BIG trucks and the curvy road but that's it!!!
Oh I forgot we don't have reservations in Kaza....the hotel said we didn't!!! GRRRR
But Zoria our advocate had us on!!! King size bed!!!! I slept great!
The next day we have an appt w/ the SOS clinic!! She did great. All test came back good. She weighed 12.3 and was 23.5 inches long!!!
Next step was the US appt...which took about 5 mintues no questions asked...just sign here here and here!! Simple and once he said you are ready to go home I started to cry!!!!! What a relief..Josie did great through all of this!! She is such a good baby!!!
So, that evening we pack up the room and head to the airport at 12:15am
We get to Frankfort, Germany no problems, we make it to Chicago!!! YEA!!! USA USA
My baby is an AMERICAN GIRL!!!!!
Then the devil tries to fight us AGAIN!!!! I call my sister "WE MADE IT" but our flight is delayed..and might be cancelled they over booked down sized the plane ppl are mad everywhere and Josie has a melt down!!! She is just wore out we all are!!
I told Danny, if this flight gets cancelled I'm calling my sister and she can come and get us which is about 8 hour drive but I didn't care. My cell phone is going dead! So, I told her I would call her when we knew something...We get to Charolette!
with 20 minutes to get from one side of the airport to another..and carrying all our stuff. I had Josie on my hip and we are running!! She is laughing!! Thank God!!!
We get to our gate!!! The plane is backing up!!! And they ladies seen us running up and asked us our names and stopped the PLANE!!! We didn't puck up our luggage..so yep we lost our luggage AGAIN!!! I didn't care at that point!!!!
We run to the plane!!! And within seconds we are off...HEADING HOME!!! I call my sister and tell her we made it and we will be home at 9 instead of 9:45!!!! PRAISE GOD PRAISE GOD!!!!!

We make it to Huntington..which is about 30 mintues from our house!!! And I'm crying before I get off the plane!!! Josie is ready to meet her brothers...What a reunion it was..I'm so proud of our boys! They are really good guys!! And are in love w/ Josie!

4 comments:

Lisa Brotherton said...

Johnda,
I am just bawling right now. I SOOOO needed to hear something good and positive about this crazy journey we are on!
I know, with all of the drama and difficulties you faced, as a PAP I should be terrified by your experience. I am not, I am rejoicing in the miracle of your family. Thank you, Thank you, God bless you! I NEEDED THAT!
Congratulations. Love the photos! She is a doll and looks so happy and healthy.
Thank you again,
Lisa

Gen 's Family Story said...

I'm with Lisa, it's a miracle you got home with your baby!! Our God is sooo good and great and I am so happy for all of you!!! WHEEEEW!!!

Anonymous said...

Johnda~
I am so happy for you. As I wipe away the tears, I imagine myself in your shoes for the day that I too will be picking up my baby girl. If I face the same obstacles, I will remember that God will get us through!!
Thank you so much for sharing your journey. You have a beautiful daughter and family.
Congratulations and have fun making lots of new memories.
Tamara
(PAP from the Yahoo group)

Hilary Marquis said...

Oh Johnda what a trip! I don't think I can complain about spending the night in JFK now. I'm glad you made it home with the most important thing, your DAUGTHER!!! Looks like her big brothers were very pleased and proud to meet her (love the shirts!) What a blessing and proof that God is in complete control.

Hilary