Home Sweet Home

I will never forget the day we headed home to America with Big Brother in our arms. That was almost five years ago now. And it is hard to believe that five years has gone so quickly. But even though it has been so many years I can still remember very clearly getting on the airplane, going through customs, getting off at home. Walking through our front door. I remember it all well.

We had a very early morning flight leaving Guatemala on Friday morning (at that time you got your visa the day after your embassy appointment - not two days later). So, we said goodbye to our travel group - the rather large group from our agency who was there picking up or visiting their children - the night before. We all had dinner together. It was a lovely evening. And we were sad to say goodbye to those people. We had been through such an amazing experience with them but still we were very much ready to come home.

We arrive at the airport and there is a window where you have to go to pay the $3 per person airport tax. The airport was busy and hectic and crazy. We were jostled around and it was a little nerve wracking. But we made it through. We went to the gate and waited. What I remember most about the airport in Guatemala is that when they announced that families with young children could board first (do they do that anymore? I feel like I never hear that announcement anymore) I was so excited because we were one of them. We were a family with a young child. A baby! Our baby and he was coming home!!

We got on the plane and Big Brother was a champ. He was very small but he just lied there. He let me cuddle him and snuggle him. He took a bottle and a pacifier. But it was unnecessary because as soon as they closed teh cabin doors he fell asleep. And he slept soundly until we arrived in Houston.

In Houston we had exactly an hour to get from the plane we were deboarding to when the next one was taking off. I remember telling Hubby that I was NOT running with the baby. If we did not make that flight I was going to call the travel agent and I would expect them to fix it! So, we go and get our luggage and go through customs. Then we have to go through the special section of customs because at that point Big Brother was still a Guatemalan citizen with a US visa. We get through and it is fat and easy. We are relieved. We were not expecting problems but that was it the last thing we had to do. Now it was done. We were on our way home and everything was smooth sailing.

So, we head on down to the gate for our next flight. Big Brother is in the snuggli. He is comfy and hanging out. He is watching everything around him. When we arrive at the gate we find taht our flight has been delayed about half an hour. Which is fine because we now have enough time to grad something to eat. Which we do and then we get on the plane and head for Detroit. Once again Big Brother sleeps from the second they close the cabin doors. The only difference being this time he does not wake up.

When we get to Detroit we are tired. We head over to the gate for our last flight of the day. We head home. Big Brother sleeps the whole way. The only issue we have is this flight atttendant tells me I cannot have him in the snuggli during the flight. She says that it is unsafe in case there is an emergency de-planing. To this day that makes no sense to me. If there is an emergency de-planing I would think having my hands free would make things easier. But, anyway. As we are getting ready to land the flight attendant comes over and says, "Now I think that is waht they call doting." She and the man sitting next to us discuss how quiet Big Brother has been. And so begins the days of people telling us what a good baby Big Brother is.

When we land there is a problem with the cabin doors and the jetway. We have to get off the back of the plane. And, of course, the winter coat I had brought with us for Big Brother is in the suitcase and not with me. But he did not mind. He laughed at the snow. He opened his eyes wide and his mouth even wider. He was so happy. We all were so happy. We were home. We were a family.