Today is Leah and Leila's gotcha day. It's been one year since we brought the girls home (hence the name "gotcha"). I had a whole 6 weeks to comprehend that I had twins before I got to bring them home. I can't complain about that. I got 24 hours warning with Andrew! :)
I am so grateful that we got to bring them home when we did. Typically you can't bring children home until the Moroccan adoption is complete. That was June for us! I'm thankful that we lived in Morocco and could bring them home.
There were some complications (lost in translation?) with bringing them home. We were told it would be March 4th and then told by someone else that they had no idea why we were told that. We were devistated to go home empty handed that day. It seemed like as soon as we made progress, more steps were added. I began to wonder if we would ever bring the girls home. After a busy morning on March 6th with more steps being added, I went home, skipped lunch and crawled into bed. A little while later my Moroccan friend, Touria, called and said that she pulled some strings and the girls could come home RIGHT NOW! I jumped out of bed, pulled my hair up and within 5 minutes, Josh and I were on the way to Andrew's school to get him and hit the road. It was a 2 hour drive to the orphanage but I think we got there quicker! :)
I had ordered some cute dresses for the girls to wear when we brought them home but they had not arrived. I knew the ladies at the orphanage liked to layer lots of clothing on the babies (as many as 4 outfits!!!) so I brought a short sleeved onesie, a longed sleeved shirt, jeans, socks, sweater and shoes. The ladies added more clothing!!! :) I didn't care! We were bringing them home!!!
We had to borrow carseats and portacribs from embassy friends because our items had not arrived yet. Thanks Lori, Jan and Kate! :)
Andrew loves to hear his adoption story and how we stopped at McDonald's on the way home (Josh and I were too nervous to eat all day long and were starving by the time it all was done!) and I have a picture of Josh offering 10 day old Andrew a french fry. After picking up the girls, Andrew wanted to stop at McDonald's and do the same thing! :) So we did! :) Thank goodness there was a McDonald's in Meknes, Morocco!!! :)
I am so thankful that Leah and Leila have joined our family. It feels complete. They were the missing pieces that we were searching for.
Enjoy the pictures and excuse my bed hair! :)
Andrew talking to Leila while she waits to be changed into her going home clothes. :)
Leah and her Daddy :)
Leila getting dressed.
Andrew, Leila and Mommy outside the hospital.
Leah being held by her Daddy and Leila being held by her Mommy.
Andrew offers Leah a French Fry
Leila enjoys a bottle
FINALLY HOME!!!
One year later! :)
3 years ago
6 comments:
Congratulations!! What a big milestone to celebrate, and how beautifully your girls have grown. It's been amazing to see your year with the girls progress over this blog.
Wow I can not believe it has been a year. And WOW what a year it has been. I still remember that phone call. "But Cathy it is twins." Hey when it is right it is right but who would have thought you would have to go through so much :)
Happy gotcha day! I still remember you calling me to tell me that you were getting Andrew. Seems like a really long time ago!
Ali
Happy Gotcha Day! Can it be a year already. I remember many nights in prayer that the right strings would be pulled and the girls would be yours. They are sure beautiful. Look how far you've come this year!
Wow! What a year you all have had!!! It has been so fun to watch and live vicariously through blogging, your life over this past year! Congrats! They are so adorable! You should have gone to McD's again to celebrate the year mark too! ;-) I love that Andrew wanted to share that part with his sisters, and to make that a real family tradition!!!
I love the newest picture. They are so cute and so big. Man I want to meet them.
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