One Year Ago Today

Today, December 14, Sagan came home. I remember the day quite well. It was a Friday and it was going to be a very long day.

I had the day off from work and Ellie had preschool. It was the night of their holiday performance. We would try to get through the day, see her holiday play, and head off to the airport at about 9pm.

Sagan was due to land at 10:30pm. She would land first in San Francisco and then come to Orlando.

There were two children coming from Korea. A little boy and Sagan. Amazingly enough this little boy was being adopted by a family we knew! I met them a few years ago when I greeted another Korean adoption coming into Orlando. They were a lovely family and they were adopting a little boy (2) who had special needs.

The excitement began in the mid afternoon when our agency called and gave us an update. Sagan was in San Francisco playing in the terminal. The escort, the greeter and the children were being social and having fun stretching their legs. They said that people were ohhing and ahhing over the beautiful children. We were very excited.

What made it real, very very real for me was Fred putting in Sagan's car seat in the 4 Runner. We have had 2 car seats before but that was for Kylie or Tegan. This was for our daughter.

Ellie helped me pack Sagans brand new diaper bag and we headed off to her preschool. The performance was wonderful and so sweet. However, all of my friends (Parents from Ellie's class) were very excited for us. They knew that on Monday morning I would bring Ellie to preschool with Sagan in my arms. (We were running a few minutes late bringing Ellie to school on that Monday but all the mommies were waiting for us!!)

So at the airport we had four families joining us. The Grubbs', Hollyman's, and the Ellis'. I had an epifiny while at the airport. These families were our close friends and all had children that were in my classroom!

Sagan's flight arrived a few minutes late (10:45pm) and it took the escorts almost 30 minutes to bring the babies through. I remember it well. Sagan was in the front carrier pouch of the escort. She was wearing all pink and a bow in her hair. She wasn't crying ....yet.

Fred got Gotcha since I went to China and got Ellie. The escort handed Sagan to Fred and the crying started. Sagan was not happy. She screamed the airport down. The little boy that was being adopted also cried. There was no consoling her.

So after the tears (our tears) were dried and it was getting late we were ready to take our darling home. She stopped crying when Fred walked with her. Ellie was wonderful. She was fascinated by Sagan and kept trying to talk to her. The 15 minute car ride home was quiet. When we got her home Fred and Ellie went to sleep in our bedroom while Sagan and I were to "work it out" because she was still on Korea time. She cried and cried and cried. She would not take a bottle or eat anything. She was distraught. Poor bean.

I decided at 12:30am to put her in the crib and see if she would calm down. She did. She fell asleep and slept till 7am. She woke up happier and ate banana, cinn raisin toast, and milk for breakfast. We all got dressed and headed out to meet friends at Animal Kingd*m. Sagan slept and slept. She woke up once when music was being performed. She ate some apple sauce and then passed out again. Poor baby!

I took this video at about 3pm on that Saturday. We all just napped and were getting ready to take the girls to dinner in Celebration. She was still toddling, learning to walk. Enjoy!