Home at Last!

After a 12 hour flight to LA, and a hour more to Salt Lake City, we made it home at midnight on Friday. Helena's new Aunt Kelly, Uncle Tyler,Nana and Granddad were there to greet us.

The transit went  extremely well and Helena was a very good little traveler. Our agency finished as strong as when they started, exceeding our expectations. Jason, our CCAI rep checked us in, worked out any last minute details with the airline, and escorted us to the security checkpoint with a big hug and well wishes for the New Year. After a little dinner on board, and with the help of Benadryl, a veterinarian (trained in administering medicine to small squirmy critters), and a bassinet attached to the bulkhead, Helena slept the next nine of the twelve hours on the long flight. With a wailing 3 year-old sharing the cabin with us, Helena's parents were not quite so lucky (Helena's seasoned orphanage ears could care less about the noise). 

Our arrival in LA, with immigration and customs also went smoothly. INS was extremely  courteous, efficient and helpful (as was the general service in the airport). I told Val it felt like everyone at LAX had just taken a customer service course.  

Aside from a small delay, we arrived in Salt Lake without a hitch and seeing my folks and sister and bro there to meet us was truly a very special moment Valerie and I will never forget. I get teary just thinking about it and I think the above image really caught the moment. 

The worst part of the whole journey (from beginning to end), was the thirty minute car ride to our house. We knew she would not like it, but Helena absolutely freaked over the car seat. She seriously balled for thirty minutes straight- we had never seen her that angry. Wow, good times ahead in the car I tell you. 

Our house was warm and welcoming and stocked with Mom's home cooking. We hunkered down for the weekend and started to recover from our colds and jet lag. Helena has taken to the place quite well. She likes her new room and all her new toys- especially her book collection. She seems to like her bed, even though the time change has been a real bear for her to break (hard on Mummy and Daddy too). She took a bath last night and absolutely had a blast. I think she would have stayed in all night, if we would have let her. 

Last night Helena helped me take down her match photo that has been on the back of our kitchen door since December 7th. She seemed to recognize her old self, but only for a minute, then she glance up at me with a quick little smirk and I knew what she was thinking...I'm not the same girl I was, when this photo was taken. 

We created this web log to give our families the opportunity to follow us along on our trip. We know from comments and emails that our family has grown well beyond our dreams. We have been touched with all of your well wishes and support. Thank you all for allowing us to share this amazing experience with you. It was truly a trip of a lifetime and we are excited for the next phase in our lives and the changes and challenges it is sure to bring. Val and I have not discussed the future of this blog. I suspect we will update it periodically with images of our family, especially our daughter as she continues to make us laugh and cry and worry and wonder and most importantly, count our many blessings.  Check back with us every so often. But for now, as they say in China, "bye, bye"