Here is the plan for when I (Vanessa) return to Eastern Europe.
I am leaving on March 11th to head back to Eastern Europe.
I will get there on March 12th this is when we should get the paperwork from court saying that Baby A is our son and this is technically "Gotcha Day." Gotcha Day is when you get to take your child with you and they leave the orphanage or hospital for the last time. We have decided it would be better for Baby A to stay in the hospital until the day before we fly back home. So even though I could take him that day I wont. That is also why our Gotcha Day counter changed because I moved it to the date I will take him from the hospital.
During my stay I will be getting Baby A's birth certificate, passport and I will also have an interview with the US embassy then they will give me Baby A's visa so we can bring him HOME!!! We have more paperwork to fill out and I'm not really sure what all will happen that week. I will try to spend as much time with Baby A as possible so hopefully his transition will be smoother.
On March 15th Sandy will fly into Eastern Europe (where I'm at) to help me with Baby A and she will also be flying home with Baby A and I. Sandy has visited Baby A several times and has taken EB supplies to his hospital. She works with EB kids from all over the world and we have developed a really neat friendship over the last year. We call her Aunt Sandy :) She will stay at our house for the first few days we get Baby A home which will be a HUGE help. Thank you Sandy!!!
Sandy, Baby A and I all fly out of Eastern Europe March 17th and once we land in America Baby A will officially be a US Citizen. Jason and I have talked a lot about if we were going to have a big welcome group at the airport and we have decided that it would be better for Baby A if we didn't have a big group there. Let me just tell you all this BREAKS my heart. I so wanted everyone to get to come and share in our joy but after flying for 13 hours then having a 4 hour layover then one more flight home I don't know how Baby A will react and we want to try to keep it as low key as possible for him. Jason, Kenya and Judah will be there and our AMAZING photographer Michelle Monk will be taking pictures so you will all get to see those first few moments of our family together.
We were also talking about if we would let our families come see him and how we wanted those first few weeks and months to go once he is home. Here is our plan. We are going to let our families come over for the first week we are home then after that we are going to go into hiding for several weeks to several months. We really want to help Baby A bond to us as his Mom and Dad and we know that won't happen with a ton of people around. We are so excited to show our SON (he is our son... so EXCITING!!!!) off to all of our friends but that will all come in time. We love you all and hope that you are not hurt by any of this.
I can't wait to share pictures of our son with you all. Hopefully 2 weeks from today we will have the paperwork we need and can start sharing :)
Some things to pray about:
Thank you all so much for everything. I can't wait to bring our son home!
I am leaving on March 11th to head back to Eastern Europe.
I will get there on March 12th this is when we should get the paperwork from court saying that Baby A is our son and this is technically "Gotcha Day." Gotcha Day is when you get to take your child with you and they leave the orphanage or hospital for the last time. We have decided it would be better for Baby A to stay in the hospital until the day before we fly back home. So even though I could take him that day I wont. That is also why our Gotcha Day counter changed because I moved it to the date I will take him from the hospital.
During my stay I will be getting Baby A's birth certificate, passport and I will also have an interview with the US embassy then they will give me Baby A's visa so we can bring him HOME!!! We have more paperwork to fill out and I'm not really sure what all will happen that week. I will try to spend as much time with Baby A as possible so hopefully his transition will be smoother.
On March 15th Sandy will fly into Eastern Europe (where I'm at) to help me with Baby A and she will also be flying home with Baby A and I. Sandy has visited Baby A several times and has taken EB supplies to his hospital. She works with EB kids from all over the world and we have developed a really neat friendship over the last year. We call her Aunt Sandy :) She will stay at our house for the first few days we get Baby A home which will be a HUGE help. Thank you Sandy!!!
Sandy, Baby A and I all fly out of Eastern Europe March 17th and once we land in America Baby A will officially be a US Citizen. Jason and I have talked a lot about if we were going to have a big welcome group at the airport and we have decided that it would be better for Baby A if we didn't have a big group there. Let me just tell you all this BREAKS my heart. I so wanted everyone to get to come and share in our joy but after flying for 13 hours then having a 4 hour layover then one more flight home I don't know how Baby A will react and we want to try to keep it as low key as possible for him. Jason, Kenya and Judah will be there and our AMAZING photographer Michelle Monk will be taking pictures so you will all get to see those first few moments of our family together.
We were also talking about if we would let our families come see him and how we wanted those first few weeks and months to go once he is home. Here is our plan. We are going to let our families come over for the first week we are home then after that we are going to go into hiding for several weeks to several months. We really want to help Baby A bond to us as his Mom and Dad and we know that won't happen with a ton of people around. We are so excited to show our SON (he is our son... so EXCITING!!!!) off to all of our friends but that will all come in time. We love you all and hope that you are not hurt by any of this.
I can't wait to share pictures of our son with you all. Hopefully 2 weeks from today we will have the paperwork we need and can start sharing :)
Some things to pray about:
- Please be praying there wont be any delays in the paperwork we really don't want to have to change our flights.
- Please be praying they won't try to search Baby A (at the airport) and please pray they wont give us a hard time since he is bandaged. Please pray they would listen to me if I need to tell them how to handle him.
- Please be praying that we can get 3 seats together on the flight home. It is pretty full I know they can get 2 together but I really need Sandy to sit with us so this is a big one.
- Please pray for Baby A as his whole world is about to get turned upside down. Please pray that he would do well on the flight and that the pressure wouldn't hurt his ears. Please pray that he would be able to sleep on the fight and that he would eat well on the plane.
- Please pray for our family as we add Baby A to it. We know it will take him time before he realizes we are his parents and Kenya and Judah are his brother and sister. We are willing to do whatever it takes to help him bond to us.
Thank you all so much for everything. I can't wait to bring our son home!
Cheering & giggling with glee from Whitehouse! :) So excited for you! It's almost time!!!
ReplyDeleteWe are very excited for you and immeasurably happy for the Baby A!
ReplyDeleteI think you and Jason have made the best decision possible in taking some private time to bond Baby A to your family.
ReplyDeleteI'll be praying for the flight home and for all to go well. I can't wait to see the pictures of your new family of 5!!
:)
Will continue to keep you all in my prayers....How exciting for your family to be united.
ReplyDeleteSo excited for you guys!!! Can't wait to see the pictures :) Praying for you guys!!!
ReplyDeleteI had thought of that, long trip home and then gathering at the airport. It makes sense, you need to do what's best for Baby A :) Can't wait to see the pictures and I will most def. join you guys in prayer!ML
ReplyDeleteI'm getting so excited for you. I was one of the first to see Baby A online and start advocating for him. I'm thrilled that you found him to be your son.
ReplyDeleteDo you think it would be a good idea to have pictures of him on you at the airport to show security what's under his bandages with a medical letter?
It sounds like you have a good coming home plan. Please make sure that the family who come to see him understand that they must also help. Not with Baby A, but with cooking and cleaning and all the not-so-fun stuff so that you can devote yourself to your new son.
Exciting times for the Delgado family! Yep, praying you through the process and transition! God is good, all the time! All the time, God is good!
ReplyDeleteKim M
Vanessa,
ReplyDeleteI've been following your blog for quite a while, and I've never commented before. I am praying with all my heart that this trip will be as smooth as possible for you, Sandy and especially Baby A. Be sure to have doctors' letters regarding his bandages and ways to handle him for people in the airports!
I have a question that's been bugging me... Baby A is really attached to his nanny: she's been his "mommy" since he arrived to the hospital, right? As you said, his world will be turned upside down, and leaving his nanny is the biggest thing of all. How are you all handling that? On top of all the other prayers, I am praying a lot for this specific transition: so tons of special, loving prayers for you all!!
Lilia B.
Less than two days to go!! SO excited for you, please, please PLEASE keep us updated.
ReplyDeleteBec :)
Praying for your journey!
ReplyDelete