Our Trip

We traveled to Guatemala on Monday, June 11 and arrived around 8:00 in the evening. We just settled in since we were getting Elena the next morning. We didn't know exactly when so we were ready by 9:00 a.m. Well, 9:00 a.m. came and went and the phone didn't ring. It was the longest morning ever! Finally around 11:00, I checked the phone and they weren't working!! I couldn't believe it; one of the most important calls of our lives and the phones in our room didn't work. Sean rushed down to the front desk and as he was coming back, he ran into our foster mother, her daughter, and Elena coming in the door. What a coincidence! They actually asked if they could come early, before the coordinator, to spend time with us. She is comfortable with us because Sean speaks Spanish. We sat together then had lunch. I didn't take Elena from them; I let them hold her the entire time. We knew that this was a very emotional time for them. The coordinator/translator, Oscar, came a few hours later and we went over the Embassy appointment and what was needed for that. He is a true blessing! He was the only person that we met from our agency on both trips to Guatemala. We couldn't have done it without him! He took some pictures of all of us together and let them know it was time to say good-bye. Our foster mother told him that she was just going to wait there for the taxi, so he left. The taxi arrived and we said our good-byes. It was very sad for all of us. Sean promised her we would call as soon as we got home and he did. Her and Sean have a special relationship since he speaks Spanish. I know that she appreciates that he does.

We hung out for the rest of the day and got ready for the Embassy appointment on Wednesday. We were so excited that our friends John and Nina were visiting their new daughter the same week! It was so great to meet them face to face and spend some time with them. While they were visiting with us in our room, the earthquake happened! Sean was the only one who felt it, but he didn't know what was going on at the time. It measured 6.8, but Guatemala City didn't experience it like the coast and places like Antigua.

Thanks to our awesome coordinator, the Embassy appointment was a piece of cake! He picked us up, along with another couple, and walked us through the whole thing. I hope that all of my friends who are on their way to bring home their babies have the same experience. We were there for three hours (that wasn't so great), but Elena did great! She is so content and is so easy to care for. We just love her so much! Once it was over, we headed back to the hotel and hung out at the pool. Daddy did a great job swimming with his daughter. It was so sweet! Elena's visa arrived on time Thursday afternoon and we started packing for an early departure the next morning . . . holy early . . . we had to be in the lobby at 4:30 a.m. I packed the night before, so it wasn't so horrible.

Our flight left at 6:25. We checked in at the airline office located at the hotel which made the airport very easy. I carried Elena in the carrier in front of me and had the diaper bag (backpack style) on my back. It was a good workout, that's for sure. I carried her all day and I think I did pretty good. I wasn't even tired when we got home. Our first flight into Houston was about 3 hours and Elena didn't make a peep! She actually fell asleep during take off! Sean and I didn't realize it, but on both flights, we were separated. Ugh. We managed to trade seats on the first flight, but not the second. He was eight rows back and had all of Elena's toys! Our flight attendant was wonderful though. She passed things back and forth and tested the bottle for us and everything. I highly recommend Continental; they were awesome. Elena did great on the second flight as well, which was another three hours. I was relieved and immigration was easy too!

Once we got to Baltimore, we called Sean's parents who met us at luggage claim. It was a great reunion!!! We made it home to another wonderful reunion of friends and family! It was just great to be HOME with OUR DAUGHTER! My nieces decorating our house with balloons and welcome signs and best of all . . . food! We were starving. Elena did great with everyone.

The entire trip was smooth and we are so happy!