Henry is Here!!
NOTE: I TRIED TO POST THIS ON TUESDAY MORNING BUT FOR SOME REASON IT DIDN'T TAKE. IT IS OUTDATED NOW, FOR REASONS OBVIOUS TO THE NEXT POST...
Just let me preface this posting by stating the unfortunate fact that we forgot the connection to hookup the camera to the computer, so it doesn't look like we can post any pictures on this trip! We will try to read the instructions for the camcorder and see if that works later...
But the big news is that we have had custody of Josue/Henry for about 15 hours. He came to the hotel last night at 6:30 with the foster mother and our attorney. We met them in the lobby then beat a path back to our room. Henry was all covered up for the weather so it was hard to even see him! Once we got back to the room he looked around and we looked into his eyes for the first time. Quite a moment! He is even more beautiful and handsome then the pictures that we have seen, although we are pretty biased! The foster mother gave Henry for us to hold, but it was clear that she was having trouble with the situation. It was so obvious that she is really attached to Henry and loves him very much. She stated that she never considered herself a foster mom, but a real mom (the attorney was translating for us). Kind of makes the eyes moist to think about it now. There was not a dry eye in the room.
We eventually did get to cover the paperwork that we need to bring to our U.S. Embassy appointment tomorrow. We are to be ready to go in the hotel lobby by 6:20am! Yes, a.m.! Once we did that, Erin asked some questions of the foster mom about Henry. How often does he eat, how does he like to be held, what is his temperment, etc. This was a great time to find out some information on the little guy, who was taking a bottle at that moment. We found out that he sleeps in a crib unless he fusses too much, then he goes into bed. He also likes to play with "foamy" toys, and he needs to be covered up most of the time. Once we got done with this there were more tears then we handed over some presents for the foster family. Then, another tough moment as the foster mother said her final goodbye, in private, to Josue. We will be sending many pictures of Josue's growth to her and may even telephone her in the future. We were blessed to have her taking care of our son.
Andy walked our guests to the door and then it was go time. Remember when your parents dropped you off at college for the first time and then left you? Take that times 100 and that's what it felt like last night. Life is definitely not all about us anymore! It already seems like a blur, but Henry drank a little of a bottle and went to sleep. He had received an immunization that very day in his arm so he was a little groggy. He slept in the crib for half the night and then came over to our bed for the other half. He woke up a couple times as well, then was up for good at 6:30 this morning. I think this morning he was finally realizing that his foster mom wasn't around and he was having a bit of trouble with that. Andy took him for a walk outside and surprisingly has acquired the ability to get him to go to sleep (2 for 2 thus far). Erin is very busy with diaper changes, clothing changes, and feeding. I don't even think we will leave the hotel today, too tired!
Let me digress for a moment about yesterday, which probably was the longest day in my life. We just assumed that we would get Henry around noon or so, since we had flown in the night before. We got antsy around noon and called our attorney's office, and was told the meeting would probably be at 4. Because we had some time, we took a taxi to a nearby mall and bought a few things, as well as groceries (imagine traveling to the Guatemalan equivalent of Target in the few hours before you meet your son...very weird). The mall was in a suburb of GC called Santa Catarina Pinula, which is actually where Henry was born. I didn't realize it was that close.
I have to head back now. More to come later!!
Just let me preface this posting by stating the unfortunate fact that we forgot the connection to hookup the camera to the computer, so it doesn't look like we can post any pictures on this trip! We will try to read the instructions for the camcorder and see if that works later...
But the big news is that we have had custody of Josue/Henry for about 15 hours. He came to the hotel last night at 6:30 with the foster mother and our attorney. We met them in the lobby then beat a path back to our room. Henry was all covered up for the weather so it was hard to even see him! Once we got back to the room he looked around and we looked into his eyes for the first time. Quite a moment! He is even more beautiful and handsome then the pictures that we have seen, although we are pretty biased! The foster mother gave Henry for us to hold, but it was clear that she was having trouble with the situation. It was so obvious that she is really attached to Henry and loves him very much. She stated that she never considered herself a foster mom, but a real mom (the attorney was translating for us). Kind of makes the eyes moist to think about it now. There was not a dry eye in the room.
We eventually did get to cover the paperwork that we need to bring to our U.S. Embassy appointment tomorrow. We are to be ready to go in the hotel lobby by 6:20am! Yes, a.m.! Once we did that, Erin asked some questions of the foster mom about Henry. How often does he eat, how does he like to be held, what is his temperment, etc. This was a great time to find out some information on the little guy, who was taking a bottle at that moment. We found out that he sleeps in a crib unless he fusses too much, then he goes into bed. He also likes to play with "foamy" toys, and he needs to be covered up most of the time. Once we got done with this there were more tears then we handed over some presents for the foster family. Then, another tough moment as the foster mother said her final goodbye, in private, to Josue. We will be sending many pictures of Josue's growth to her and may even telephone her in the future. We were blessed to have her taking care of our son.
Andy walked our guests to the door and then it was go time. Remember when your parents dropped you off at college for the first time and then left you? Take that times 100 and that's what it felt like last night. Life is definitely not all about us anymore! It already seems like a blur, but Henry drank a little of a bottle and went to sleep. He had received an immunization that very day in his arm so he was a little groggy. He slept in the crib for half the night and then came over to our bed for the other half. He woke up a couple times as well, then was up for good at 6:30 this morning. I think this morning he was finally realizing that his foster mom wasn't around and he was having a bit of trouble with that. Andy took him for a walk outside and surprisingly has acquired the ability to get him to go to sleep (2 for 2 thus far). Erin is very busy with diaper changes, clothing changes, and feeding. I don't even think we will leave the hotel today, too tired!
Let me digress for a moment about yesterday, which probably was the longest day in my life. We just assumed that we would get Henry around noon or so, since we had flown in the night before. We got antsy around noon and called our attorney's office, and was told the meeting would probably be at 4. Because we had some time, we took a taxi to a nearby mall and bought a few things, as well as groceries (imagine traveling to the Guatemalan equivalent of Target in the few hours before you meet your son...very weird). The mall was in a suburb of GC called Santa Catarina Pinula, which is actually where Henry was born. I didn't realize it was that close.
I have to head back now. More to come later!!
posted by A. Pratt @ 9:43 AM
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