Trip 3: Day 7 Saturday (September 1st, 2012) Home!!

Ok I now have time to sit and process my thoughts about our trip home.
That day started early for Caleb and I. We woke around 4 :( We managed to occupy time until 530 then got up and packed the rest of our loot. At 6 we woke James and headed to eat breakfast in the lounge one last time. The girls that work it are just the sweetest and they loved James. It was hard to say goodbye!
After breakfast we FaceTime'd, got James dressed and headed out at 7. We arrived at the airport a bit early, but that was ok. We loved our driver and walking away from him solidified that we were leaving Russia. He was too sweet to go get a cart or us, which was necessary with all our luggage. We said our goodbyes, then we were off!
We checked in and headed to the gate and waited.... Finally wheels were up at 10:40! Overall the flight was okay. I mean what 14 month old wants to sit in the same place for 12 hours??? He cried...first time since we got him on Monday...played...fussed...ate...played...etc. Yup slept very very little. Oh well. We made it.
Our plane arrived early and I was sure we had enough time to make our connection. We had barely any line at passport control, presented our sacred yellow packet, and I was ushered to another room with James, without Caleb... I was in there for just over 30 minutes. It was only after James had enough and started screaming that the agent decided to pick up our packet to process it.
Finally left to get our luggage, got through customs, hopped on the train to go to the connecting terminal. We stood in line at Americ*n Airl*nes FOREVER, knowing we will most likely miss our flight. We were about 5 people back, but they were only taking the first class line. :( I have NO sympathy for that company and have no doubt that it's their own fault for going bankrupt. They single handedly caused us to miss our flight. AND they couldn't guarantee us a seat on the next flight. Ok now I LOST IT. 'Devastated' doesn't even explain how upset I was. I was extremely sleep deprived, exhausted, emotional that my baby is now a US citizen, and also knowing that our family, friends, photographer, and videographer were going to be at the airport waiting on us. We missed out on James' important 'airport moment'. :(
I couldn't even talk when I called my mom. Caleb stepped up, of course, since he wasn't an emotional train wreck like me, and decided to get a rental car. So we booked it to the bus to the rental center. Hertz won our business since it had no line, then we were on the road. It's just about a 3-31/3 hour drive home. We stopped at sonic to get my diet cherry vanilla coke (!) And food and then had to stop at a gas station so I could get sick :(. But then James and I slept and I woke up in a much, much better place. James woke up mad, but we were almost home.
So our incredible family and friends moved the airport party to our house. And we were able to get our amazing photographer to join!! We pulled up to a driveway full of love and cheers. Banners and American flags everywhere!! THIS was so much better than the airport, seriously!!! We immediately learned that James actually really liked us and didn't want anyone else. :D Warmed and melted my heart to have seen that our attachment has formed in such a little time! (btw, it's only getting stronger :)). There was a ton of food, balloons, loved ones, it was just wonderful. We are so grateful to everyone!!! My SIL video'd the arrival and party and it's the sweetest thing! Hannah was so good with James and, although she fights over toys, will ask where he's at if he's not around. Shes a great big sis! We all FOUR of us crashed at about 10.
I think that sums up that day, it was long and exhausting, but ended better than I could have imagined! God is so amazing and we are so blessed to have James in our lives!!! He is also always reminding me to let go of my control and let Him do it. Always a struggle for me. His hands were all over this and I just know we were not meant to make that flight. We praise God everyday for leading us to our son!!

I can't wait share pics. I'll add some later.

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