Coming Home

Dan and I are so ready to come home. We were up early and started getting organized. We were leaving for the airport at 10:00 but we were down in the lobby waiting at 9. We ate breakfast again for one last time. Rocky said good-bye to his friends at the orphanage. 



Here is a pic of Rocky ready to come to Wisconsin

Look how big his smile is

So we get in a truck with a man that is taking us to the airport. He does not speak any English and this is so intimidating. We drove a long ways and as we were driving Dan made a little comment about this lady standing on the side of the road and how scary she looked and all of a sudden the driver pulled over and picked her up. Dan and I kind of looked at each other like what the heck. we have no idea what is going on. We didn't care just get us to the airport. 

Cameras are illegal down there so we are not allowed to take any pictures in public. I guess in the past too many westerners came and took pics of all the street children and poverty and posted pis on the the news so they outlawed cameras. well I felt I had to get some pics so I took some as we were driving through the window. I had to have some pics for Rocky to see where he came from. I did get some to have as a keepsake for him.

We get to the airport and it was filthy. Nothing like any airport you can imagine. All Dan and I wanted was out of there. OUT OUT OUT. So we get on the plane and we were off. My heart was happy and sad at the same time. We are leaving all these people that need our help behind. What about all the kids that need our help. But then I am now thinking of my family. I know that is so selfish but I miss Hunter and Sommer. I miss my sister and brother and their kids and my in-laws and my dad and his wife. I miss having a warm shower. I miss being able to walk freely in our neighborhood. Going to the store without armed guards watching you. So good-bye Kinshasa hello America. 

The plane ride was long very long. Rocky did as good as to be expected. He hates using a seat belt. He doesn't know what it is. All he knows it is locking him in and he doesn't like it. He screamed every time that seat belt was on. We get to Dulles and had a Wendys hamburger and chix sandwich. it was so good. The soda was great. We are so glad to be in America. Rocky was sick on the way home. He kept holding his stomach and had bathroom issues the entire time. I kept thinking what is going through his head. He probably thinks if this is America being hostage on an airplane he wants to go back to the orphanage. But eventually we made it to Madison and then I had the 2 most beautiful children waiting for me. It was the best feeling to see them. I never realized how much I loved them. I missed them terribly. Not being able to call them and just chat on-line was worse than worse. I guess I am lucky we could do that. I hugged and kissed my kids. I never want to go without them again. They may be 17 and 18 but they will always be my babies. I am still hugging them. I grabbed Sommer from behind today just to hold her. 

So Rocky went to Hunter and Sommer right away. He was tired but you could see he was happy to see them. He saw so many pics of them when we were there. We skyped a couple of times but the connection was bad. But he knew that they are his siblings.

We drove home and told the children all about the Congo and then we said how much we loved them. We can't say it enough.

We walk in our house and our big lab greets Rocky. He was so scared and also scared of our little 9 pound dog. He got over that pretty quick. He is now laying on our lab and going after him. He also loves feeding him. Throwing food on the floor and watch him gobble it up.

We gave Rocky his first bath with warm water. He was so funny. He had no idea how to react. He was tippy toeing in the tub. He kept laughing. He finally sat down and enjoyed every bit of it. he got out when asked and then went to bed. He slept for 10 hours again.