Friday, March 28, 2008

Forever and ever..... March 28, 2006


After what I thought would be the longest plane ride of my life we landed in China. Fin-ally! The ride home would be by far the longest. Evv-eer. It was March 28th just after midnight. We were scheduled to arrive the day before, but discovered while waiting in the lounge at the Beijing airport that there had been a flight change. That day. A five hour delay! When we fianlly arrived in Nannig to our suprise our guide was still waiting for us. And even in the late hour wearing a smile and waiving the big agency banner.(little did we know how big his tip was going to be!) He quickly loaded our luggage in the car and after a really long ride we arrived at our hotel where we were greeted by an oh-to gracious staff. They rolled out the red carpet as if we were Brad and Angelina! We were a little slap happy at this point and thought it was all really sweet. We had been up over 36 hours. But nothing could have prepared me for what I would experience minutes later. The bellman wheeled our luggage up and we carefully inspected our suite as he brought everything in. It was beautiful. Of course at that hour of the morning a card board box would have been inviting. But as I walked into our bedroom I nearly dropped to my knees. There set up next to our bed were two tiny little blue cribs. I was racked with emotion. I gazed upon their tiny little cribs and cried. It occurred to me at that moment that we really were going to be parent's. Dh by this point could barely keep his eyes open. He was beyond exhausted. While I unpacked he fell into bed. I couldn't have slept if I wanted to. I was in over drive. I carefully unpacked the babies things smelling everything to make sure it still smelled fresh. Planning out what I would put on them in just hours. I prepared the gift bags we would give to the officials the next day. Then fretted that we hadn't brought enough stuff even though they were overflowing!









Our guide scheduled a driver to deliver us to the Civil Affairs Office later that day. Daddy and I were anxiously awaiting your arrival. We were nervous. Pacing. Jumpy. Anxious. No words were needed. You had just arrived from a long hot bus ride with your nannies. They ushered your into a "holding" room while they finalized paperwork with the officials. I had rehearsed this moment in my mind--100 times, no a million times over. What would you feel when you looked into my eyes? Would I be overcome with joy? Would I know you? What would you smell like? Would you look the same? Would you cry? Would you embrace me as your mommy? I was beyond nervous. I could barely whisper anything audible. Speechless. The room was spinning. I couldn't stand it any longer. I had to see you. I snuck down the hall and peeked my head in the room where you were. Oh. My. G-d. You were more beautiful than I imagined. You were both sleeping. I couldn't wait to get my hands on you and smother you with sweet sweet kisses.

Then suddenly there you were. Both of you. In my arms. There was a ton of commotion. I let out a gasp when they handed you to me. First Abbey and then Katie. And right on que you both took one look at me and started crying. It didn't matter though. When I looked into your beautiful black eyes my heart nearly melted. Yes, you were born in China, but you grew in my heart a very long time ago. You took my breath away. I was crying. Tears streaming down my cheeks. I looked at your daddy and smiled, as if to say "they're ours, all ours". I had waited for this moment for so long and now you were mine.


As I sit here watching you play together today my heart is full. I couldn't imagine my life without you. You were my beginning. I love you today and always.
I love you both with all my heart.

Mommy





36 comments:

Sophie's Mom said...

OMG. You made me feel like I was there with you! Congratulations!!! What beautiful babies they were (I love the pic of them dressed in blue on the bed!) and what beautiful young ladies they have become. They've grown so much, as has your love for them.

It's such a shame that some people don't 'get it', and won't adopt. They don't think they could love 'someone else's child'. Yeah, they're missing out BIG TIME.

Lucky Babies, Rony, and Lucky Mommy.

Sue said...

Oh Rony! How Beautiful!!!! I nearly bawled my eyes out reading your 'Gotcha Day' feelings. The girls are so darling! I can't believe how much they have grown. And, yes, I truly understand about being born in your heart. I know exactly what you mean.

Congratulations to the Happy family!!! Hugs, Sue, Jon & Natalie

Kathryn said...

What a beautiful moment!!!!!!!!!! I often wonder the same things you once did and you had two of them to meet for the first time!!!! How amazing, they are so adorable, okay gotta stop thinking about it, starting to get vaklempt!!!!!

Kim said...

Beautiful!!!!!
It was like I was standing there with you....
That is a wonderful post for the girls when they get older.. they will know that you loved them soooo much....
LOVE the pictures..
The girls are soooo adorable..
Have a Great Weekend..
HUGS..

kerri said...

Thanks for sharing your very intimate time with us, what beautiful memories you have.
The photos are wonderful, the one with the girl sitting on the bed together, wow, just stunning!!
What a gorgeous family. ;)

4D said...

Thank you for sharing your story. Your words brought tears to my eyes. Special moments.

Keep smilin!

jennifer said...

What a great post. I have been catching up, and loved reading your story of meeting your girls. They are so adorable.

LaLa said...

What a beautiful post! I love anniversaries of family days..sooooo sweet!!

E. said...

I just had to use the allergy excuse as to why my eyes were all red and I had tears streaming down my face. How everyone can't want to experience that moment is beyond me. Happy forever and ever day!!!

Marla said...

What a great post! Your girls are just adorable. Happy Family day to all of you!!

RamblingMother said...

Aww I love the little fat rolls on their arms and legs. Such chunky monkeys!!

Beverly

polkadot said...

the sailor outfits are PAINFULLY cute!

I'm so glad the CCAA did not split these beautiful girls up, but kept them together and allowed them to come to your family.

Congratulations on a very special day. Your girls are beeeeyootiful.

Truly Blessed said...

Oh Rony,

You painted such a beautiful story for your girls in these last two posts...what an amazing blessing adoption is.

Simply beautiful!

Jewels of My Heart said...

Oh, Rony, thank you for allowing me to be there on the day you first held your daughters in your arms.......
I know you dreamed of that moment in time since your were a small girl.... dreaming of the day you would hold your babies....
I do know how heartwrenching the LONG wait was.... but I also know how worth it they are.
Katie and Abbey are breathtaking and their Mama is so very beautiful too.... inside and out...
God Bless Your precious, sweet family my friend.

cougchick said...

I felt like I was there, Rony! Hopefully I will be someday...

Annette said...

Love your story and loved seeing the photos. The photo of the girls in their sailor dresses are just adorable! What beautiful babies (and big girls too!)

Steffie B. said...

Beautiful post girl....I had tears streaming down my face....

Chan said...

Thank you for sharing such a beautiful story. I love the picture of them in their separate cribs yet touching each other... it shows how they always have each other and they are always connected.

Cindy from central NC said...

oh my goodness...what a wonderful gift you are creating for your girls with your awesome blog/awesome account of your most precious memories.....You are inspiring....I so need to do the same...

beautiful, Rony, just beautiful...

lovelove
cindy

Fliss and Mike Adventures said...

Thanks Rony... you have now made me cry like a baby... I sometimes think the same things you just mentioned... sometimes I wonder if my turn will ever get here... then sometimes I think of our daughter Shauna and my heart swells up with love for a little girl that I don't know if she is born or not right now... Don't worry it isn't a bad cry... take care - oh you did hit the jackpot...

The Byrd's Nest said...

Brought me to tears.

I love the way they are sticking their hands and feet through the crib to touch each other. Very sweet!

Yoli said...

You always have a way with words Rony. I am reduced to a puddle of tears. Beautiful.

3 Peanuts said...

What a beautiful post Rony! I was all teary. Our forever family day (s) are this week too! Happy Anniversary.

Kim

Sam said...

Oh Rony! You don't know how happy I am to know you!!! Thank you for sharing so much of yourself!

You made me cry and smile at the same time! Beautiful post!

Love & Miss You!!!
Sam

Jessica McFadden said...

Crying!!!! When I met you Friday night I did not know you all this about you, your family, your beautiful daughters. You were the wine lady! I love love your gorgeous story and your strength and my first love in the blogosphere have been the stories of how women achieve their families.

Awesome.

Lauren and Ed said...

What a great story. I remember feeling that way too seeing the crib. It somehow made it all real! What cute babies they were...love them in the sailor like outfits. They are just blossoming into such beautiful girls!

FHL said...

What a wonderful day to discover your blog! Your post brought tears to my eyes....thank you for sharing this special part of your journey! Your girls are beautiful!

Julie said...

Loved it! And those precious sailor outfits! They were and still are precious!

Julie

kitchu said...

Hands down one of my fave posts of yours ever! Thank you for sharing these precious memories (and 2 very precious girls) with all of us!

JessTrev said...

Those babies holding hands?! So sweet! Love your story and didn't know on Fri night that it was such a huge day for you. Thanks for being my carefully attentive yet helping-out-the-driver wine-pourer (loved the microscopic sips!!) Great to meet you! Jess

Kate said...

Oh I loved looking at all these pictures!! I have to sy you look so calm and together in all of them. Your writing was so poignant and sweet...made me feel that I was right there! Did you use GW?? I think you belonged to our GW April LID group for awhile?? I could just be crazy and confused!

Anyway.....thanks for sharing the memories...they are priceless!!

Jen said...

You made me cry - which is really hard to do in blogland.

This was too sweet.

Heather said...

Even two years later these Gotcha Day pictures bring tears to my eyes. And your little ones were so cute and chunky! I laughed out load over the cough syrup comment. I think we've all done that!

Maia said...

WHat great memories! Thanks for taking us along that journey back...

Pixel Fairy Princess said...

That is one of the absolute best post you have ever written! Just two month after you got these two angels in that room, I would be sitting there, waiting for my princess! I really have tears reading this :D

Lots of love and ladybug hugs,
;D

Heza Hekele said...

Awesome pictures!

Your awesome tan makes poor faithful man look like he hasn't seen the sun in a while... You should let him out of the house more often!