Our trip home....

Our family feels so right! Our little girl is settling right in. She has no lack of attention or entertainment mostly thanks to her big sis! The day we arrived home Big sis kept saying," I can't believe it, I knew she would be this cute, I can't keep my eyes off of her" how sweet is that? She has taught her sister not to be afraid of the bath, attended her doctors appointment, asked to take her sister to school for show and tell and has taught her how to wave and say "hi". At night when I close my eyes I am so thankful and grateful for both of my girls! It's heartwarming to see them develop their relationship as sisters. One thing is for sure they fill my life full.

The day we first arrived home seems like ages ago! It has only been 2 1/2 weeks but it took about eight or nine days to recover from the jet lag and to feel human again. Traveling for over 48 hours straight is not such a pleasant experience especially when you add being sick on top of it. We left Delhi at 1145 pm and flew through the night about six hours to Hong Kong. Everyone slept except for myself. I was halfway terrified to move a muscle for the fear of waking our daughter but couldn't help it during the last part of the flight because I was having fever and chills. I remember feeling hot, cold, hot, cold, nauseated and exhausted. Then I would pleasantly remind myself that this flight was one of the shorter flights that we would endure.

When we arrived in Hong Kong I wanted to collapse. I was weak, dizzy, sweaty- my fever had finally broke and I was nauseated. I was so tired and my stomach was doing flips and cramping up. I could barely walk through the airport and push our luggage cart (Mike had to carry the baby because I physically couldn't). After what had seemed like we had walked for miles we checked in to our flight and then the most amazing miracle happened. I believe 100 percent that this was a true miracle. I had been having anxiety about the trip home for days because as it stood we were supposed to be the two middle seats in the row of four on our 12 hour flight from Hong Kong to San Francisco. Middle seat + 14 month old + 12 hour flight, need I say more. The flight was completely sold out, not a seat to be spared. Someone must have missed their connection because we were switched to an aisle seat, what a sigh of relief. What was even more amazing was that no one in the row of 4 claimed their seat- we had a whole row!!!! The power of prayer is amazing! The rest of the flight people were shoulder to shoulder and knee to knee, not an empty seat to be found! What a blessing it was to have an extra seat for our daughter. It was during this 12 hr flight that my husband realized that we were not returning on a Sunday but on a Saturday. We had told our family and friends Sunday was the day we were arriving. I was still feeling sick so all I wanted to do was to hit a bed and sleep.

Customs in San Francisco was easy and the man that welcomed our daughter to the US was very nice and helpful. Mike had been carrying this huge envelope that had to remain sealed until we arrived at immigration in the US. I was surprised by how efficient and quick this process took. I had gained a little bit of strength but I was still feeling like a zombie. We then learned that our connecting flight had been delayed. The one thing that kept me going was imagining myself hugging my daughter and introducing her to her sister. The last flight (the shortest of the three, only 90 min) seemed like it took an eternity. We were graciously welcomed at the airport by a huge crowd of family and friends. I had thought no one would be there because of my miscalculation but they all rallied and made it. I wished that I had at least put some lipstick on. The best feeling in the world was having my arms wrapped tightly around my daughter. She seemed like a giant to me, what in the world had our family been feeding her? Her bright smile and gleam in her eyes brought me to tears. Our wonderful family and friends were so loving and kind. They shared in our excitement and it was such a blessing to have them there.

 The trip was truly a trip of a life time and even now, 2 1/2 weeks later, I feel as though some of it is still sinking in. The sights, sounds, faces and places are vivid images with poignant meaning as I reflect back on this incredible journey. I can't wait for the day that I can return to India. I can't wait to hear the horns honking, maneuver my steps down the crowded streets and take in more essence of the beauty of life that unfolds in this amazing country. I feel a sense of peace with having returned to India. I feel like I have completed the circle.

When I was younger I had always wanted to volunteer as an escort to help bring babies from India to the US and I had never imagined that I would be bringing back my own daughter. I laugh as I write this because knowing what I know now, who would want to volunteer to sit with an infant for sooo many hours on an airplane! I would do it again in a heartbeat because those hours are nothing compared to the lifetime of love that I will give and receive from our precious daughter!