This is another night when I am mentally worn out, but I want to do my best to capture the day.
We went to the U.S. Embassy today for our 10:00 appointment. Ileana (what would we ever do without her??) met us at the hotel and got us to the Embassy right on time. We had to park across the street, and then hold hands with the kids and run across while dodging traffic. Ileana made it very clear to the boys that they had to hold on tight and do just what we said as those drivers would not stop. They were good! We were very happy when there was a gap in the traffic and we could make it across relatively easily. We had left all of our electronic gear at home to make the trip through security easier. Ileana had her cell phone, and we had heard from families at this point last year that you could leave your electronic devices at security and get them on the way out. But no, they wouldn't let them in at all. So she had to stay outside.
We went in and through security. It was much like the airport or in a federal building in the States. They didn't make us take our shoes off though, which was nice. We had heard that some people had to do that, but that might have had something to do with high heels. I was in flats, thank you very much! The boys walked through fine, even little mister Noah, so cute behind his older brothers! Jerry about lost his pants without his belt. All that exercising he's doing chasing after Noah and carrying him around!! The Honduran adoption weight loss plan!
After that, we were directed to the correct window and met the USCIS official who will review our case. We gave her the I-600 form (Petition to Classify Orphan as an Immediate Relative) and all the supporting paperwork. Everything was there, and in the correct order, and everything looked great! I think I even heard the word "perfect" once or twice. The official looked relieved, as did we. God bless you Marta and Ileana! Jerry has been calling these two ladies the dynamic duo. They have been incredible to work with. We were at the Embassy for twenty minutes total.
So now we wait. I am hoping and praying that they are able to have what they need to make a decision soon. The Embassy process works in a couple steps. First is the I-600 process. It is not the immigrant visa yet, but once we pass this step, then we can apply for the visa. Oh, and there is a medical exam too, likely with some shots. Youch!!
After we left the Embassy, we went for an early lunch at KFC. How could all three boys possibly be hungry? It was not even 11:00. Well, we pretty much had the playplace all to ourselves for most of our stay there. Course, it took a while for the chicken to be brought out to us. I'm sure they hadn't even harvested the birds by the time we walked in, or heated up the oil! The boys did have a great time playing. Noah was hysterical. He seriously thought he was a big time kid, running around, jumping on the mats of the playplace, going down the baby slide and doing a face plant on purpose each time. That laugh he has was music to my ears. I was remarking with Ileana how it has been less than two weeks now since we have been in country, and the first day he was crying his little eyes out and looking so so sad, and now he is loving us and laughing all the time. He and I can just look at each other funny and start giggling. We have come such a long way, he and I! And I am still not his favorite parent, so you can just imagine how much he loves Jerry. I thank God and praise Him for all these blessings He has showered on our family.
The boys were able to pick their toy that accompanied their meal. Mario picked an Alvin and the Chipmunks watch, Erik an Alvin and the Chipmunks earphone case, and Noah an Alvin and the Chipmunks notepad and carrying case that could also carry a CD. I only know that Erik's was an earphone case because it said so on the plastic wrapper. I had asked Erik what it was. "I don't know." he said. "But I want it." Oh boy. Noah carried his notepad and case around and around, again thinking he was big time. I personally was partial to Mario's watch. He told us what time it was every minute on the drive home. It took us fifteen minutes to get there. I am sure about that.
We did some more playing the rest of the day, some in our apartment, and some on the terrace, and did some reading too. It's funny: we can be having the best of times, and then suddenly it is, well not exactly the worst of times, but seriously rocky. The boys for the most part are loving each other and getting along very well. They can be so amazingly cute together. And then.....let's just say we are still adjusting to being a family of five. It can be rough when your new two-year-old brother knocks over your dinosaur creation you just made out of blocks, or wants to hold one of the stuffed animals that you really really really wanted to be playing with right at that exact moment, or kicks the ball that you really wanted to have a turn to kick and it's not fair because he just kicked it the last four times, etc. And these problems seem oh so big when you are just a kid yourself, away from home for nearly two weeks already, and having your life permanently changed by the addition of a sibling. And the two-year-old did come with a few bad habits of his own. We have been working on them, but they are not out of the picture yet. But in his defense, he has completely had his world rocked. It may take a while yet before he sheds those bad habits completely. He is two after all. So I get it, I really do. I continue to give them lots of love and pray for them all, and pray that we can all get home soon to at least what is a very familiar place to most of us, and can really start our regular life as a family of five.