There's No Place Like Home

We are home. What an amazing, surreal, exhausting, wonderful journey! We will never forget India. It is etched into our hearts. When we arrived in Chicago, and went through US customs, it took only a few minutes to hand them Leena's visa. When they said, "that's it!" I had overwhelming emotions come over me. Our Leena was in the US and cleared to be with our family. A little while later someone was asking us about Leena and the adoption process, and he asked us if the paperwork was bad. We both said, no not to bad. I had to stop myself and laugh. It was just like giving birth...everything before the baby was forgotten now that she was ours!

The homecoming at the airport was really fun. Cole, Eliza and Dalton were there with Grammy, and Grandma & Grandad G. They had balloons and posters with pictures of Leena on them. Leena readily went to everyone and was excited by the attention. She was really good, and loved the balloons. It was so heart warming to have our family together again.

As we drove into the neighborhood, our friends were lining the street to greet us. They had balloons, and each was holding one word from a sign that said "Welcome Home Leena". It felt so good to be home, and I feel very blessed to have such dear friends. They didn't want to overhwlem Leena or our family, so they dropped off cookies and the balloons and got a quick peek at Leena and then left.

When we got to the home, the rest of Kent's family was there. They had made Welcome banners and had cleaned and done laundry from the kids at home. It was great to have everyone there to welcome Leena. Aunt Lyssa made homemade Chicken Noodle Soup which was just what we needed after a long journey.

For the rest of the evening, although we were still in a jet-lag fog, friends, family and neighbors stopped by to see and welcome Leena. Cousin Libby Mei came to see Leena and she loved the balloons too. When my sister Jennifer came, we were so exhausted. The last thing I remember is telling her that I think Leena is tired. Kent was already asleep on the couch. Nate had crashed downstairs. I fell right asleep in the chair. She rocked Leena to sleep, and then gave her to Cole to hold. Then Cole fell asleep. Lucky (our yellow lab) was happily sleeping and snoring so glad we were home. Dalton had gone to basketball practice. When she left, she had to tell Eliza what was going on since everybody else was aleep.

Leena is doing well, she is adjusting to our family. She is loving the constant attention from her siblings. She loves to laugh and play. It's official...we are in love.