We are thrilled that this process has been so smooth for us. We are incredibly lucky. I've spent the last 4 days getting lots of advice on how to handle David's separation from his foster mother and on how to support him with the grief he will feel in leaving her. It is overwhelming to think about this at times. But, my network of adoptive parents and other professionals are helping refine our plan and to be emotionally prepared for a tough good-bye....a possible "honeymoon" when he first gets home, and then a period of intense grieving. I hear this sequence of events over and over with people adopting older children.
My heart breaks also knowing how Gladys will feel saying goodbye to David. On our visit trips she always said that she would miss him while he was with us. I would have thought she would feel that she was getting a two day vacation but it was clear in dozens and dozens of examples of how much she loves him. He is such a lovable boy and I hope and pray that we can ease him into his new life and that a year from now we are all in a good groove. I know it will be hard for a while. And the biggest uncertainty at the moment is how Ian will react to having David home and how David will treat Ian. Ian is at a funny age right now - -and is testing us constantly. We assume that we are going to magnify his struggles and that David will be confused by Ian's moodiness. But, I'm quite certain there will be lots of fun games, playground times and other ways that they will find some common ground. TBD!!!!
So -- unless something surprising happens, we expect to fly out on Monday, April 17th. David will join us on the 18th, Our Embassy appointment should be on the 19th (8am) and our Visa pick up appointment late on the 20th. We will fly home on the 21st. We will be VERY anxious to get home by Friday!!!
Spring is taking hold in New England and with Easter this Sunday, everything points to signs of LIFE and Re-birth. For us, it means a new beginning as a family of five. We are READY!!!!!