coming home forever

I think we were a little overwhelmed upon arriving into Houston. My little Kazakh cutie became a US citizen, and then we quietly collected our lugguge. Most of my family was out of town so we didn't expect much fanfare. As we walked through the arrival gates I heard someone yell...Aunt Lisa...look over here! It was my sweet niece Paige! I couldn't have been more surprised! Paige brought a sweet puppy and ballons fit for a princess, Paige helped us out with our luggage and we were met out in the arrivals area by my bestest friend Tina. How wonderful to have such great friends and family!

The following week is a blur. I brought home a stomach bug, ate something I shouldn't have or was just exhausted but sick! Tina stayed over and almost completely tended to the needs of my sweet Stella. A fast bond was created between the two of them. About a week later I woke up and was like....where have I been?? My little love forgave me and it has been a wonderful mix of family and friends meeting Stella and welcoming her to our family and our small town. I never thought that there would be so much love for this little sweet baby. I felt so alone at times in Kaz and am just so happy that everything has worked out so well. I will always tell Stella about her wonderful country of Kazakhstan. The people where so kind and they helped me bring her into a life of so much love. I love you Stella Bella....welcome home!

leaving Almaty

Our KLM flight was scheduled for 8:20 am, so I woke at 4 and quietly packed all of our belongings in the dark. Nothing more important to me then the sleeping beauty in the bed. She is my everything. We got to the airport and thankfully got two seats together, I took a big chance and booked staff travel tickets, so we were on stand by. As we waited in the boarding area I had a moment of shear joy and I cried. I was trying to be quiet about it but the hiccups kept escaping from my mouth. I was actually going to get on this plane with this sweet little girl. Simply surreal.Stella did so wonderful on the flight, I had oatmeal and apple juice and formula to get us through.

We arrived in AMS at about noon. I thought I had all my bases covered and a friend had booked the Sheraton for us, just off the airport through the transit area. I stopped at the customs area to get a temporary transit visa for Stella. DENIED!! Apparently they haven't given those in 4 years. Previously to the trip, I had called the Mercure which is a hotel in the transit area and tried to book a room there, just in case something like this happened, they said they were booked. Meanwhile...my luggage is going round and round along with my stroller. I called my friend Tina in the states and she immedietly got on the phone and called the Mercure....thank goodness they had a room available. BUT my luggage. I spoke with KLM and then had to walk all the way to the other side of the airport and have Continental work with KLM in locating my luggage. I couldn't check in with Continental until my luggage was found. After an hour or so, everything was located and we made our way mid airport to the Mercure. Stella and I fell into bed at 4 pm and both woke wide awake at midnight. At this point I am running out of food for my STella Bella. On the otherside of the transit area there is a wonderful grocery store called Albert Hein....not much for a baby on the side I was on. My formula had also turned mushy. I made an emergancy call to a dutch friend who called my wonderful flight attentdant friend who was laying over and she got Oatmeal and fruit puree to give to us inflight. We just had to make due with what we had for the time being. Stella being a trooper the whole time. so at about 3 in the morning in AMS...Stella and I walk the airport....even on this side there are fun shops and such.
Stella at the Mercure...ready for our next flight.....
I have to say that my 23 years with Continental paid off all in that day. We got to the gate pretty early and my concierge friend was there to greet us...she said there were only 4 or 5 seats available for that flight but they were trying to block us two of those seats together on the 11 hour flight. the gate agents who I have know for years of coming and going through AMS where so wonderful to us. They came to us first, tore my tickets and said that I could go on first. WOW....such treatment! Once on the plane of course the flight attentdants absolutely made a huge deal over Stella. My friend Sylvia made us so comfortable and we had such a nice flight. As familiar as I am with this flight...this was the longest 11 hour flight of my life. Stella was a dream. She didn't sleep much but she never cried and I always had a bottle of juice ready for take off and landing. She was a trooper! Here is Sylvia and Stella.
Sweet little landing outfit from Auntie Sylvia.

a few days in Almaty

Here are a couple of pix of Stella at our Luxury apartment in Almaty. You do what you have to do...right?? We started out on Monday the 18th, after we left the baby house we went straight to the SOS clinic where they poked and prodded my little sweet pea. They mentioned that she had rickets, vitamin D deficiency...first I heard of that. After that we went back to the apartment to settle in. Stella just took it all in stride. She loved the car ride and later we met up with Galina (interpreter) to walk to Tsum to get more Internet minutes. Seems my phone minutes expired on the same day the Internet expired.

On Tuesday we had such a nice day, we decided to go to the grocery store near Tsum...the minute we walked in Stella started screaming...if you have ever been to a Kazakh grocery store you will notice people following you around, it's a very strange feeling. Do they think I am going to steal something or just trying to be helpful? I still don't know. So there is no baby food that I want there...what I do want is wine...here I am with Stella in the stroller and a hand basket with wine in it...I have to adjust everything to pick Stella up, then she stops crying..... BUT...I have to check out...so I put her back in the stroller and she screams away...we have become surrounded by every Kazakh young girl in the store!! They must think I am a very awful mama, they are touching her skin and saying something....I was trying to explain to them that we were just getting to know each other...they didn't understand a word I said. Oh well.

On the morning of the 20th, we had our "roommates" show up. The French lady adopting from Karakhstek. Stella and I had an appointment that day for the US embassy. We got home and took a nap. We woke to screaming...it was the French lady with her 2.5 year old boy that she just "got" from the Baby house. He was not having it. I guess the poor little guy had thrown up on the long trip home. Later on that night, one of the Mama's of the Taraz 10 showed up to spend a couple of nights also. Our roomy 2 bedroom turned into a very small one room for me and Stella....something I would not do again. Somehow it is NOT fun to make the mistakes with your first child on the first few days of your life together in front of strangers. What was I thinking!? It is also not fun to feel like you are staying in someone else's apartment because they stayed there many times before. However the two kids got along quite well for two babies just barely out of the Baby House.

I think that covers our stay (my 4th trip) in Almaty. Oh, we never got out again....we spent Wednesday and Thursday holed up and poor Galina had to bring us food. It was getting cold and rainy and just not easy to lug everything down the stairs to go out. At this point I have never wanted home so bad in my life!

back tract to October 15

Wow, time has just flown by...so I thought that I would just go back and post as I remember instead of all in one post. I arrived in Almaty on Friday, October 15. For some reason I can't even remember my flights. Oh wait....lets see on Continental I got lucky and used a pass to get me in business first..it was very nice. My friend Pam who worked the flight gave me and Stella two lovely gifts that she made. A bib with an airplane on it and a needle point pillow with her birthdate and foot prints on it. So so sweet! Oh now it's coming back to me. I was also upgraded to business first on KLM...there was hardly anyone up front and it was such a nice treat. I ate and slept in style. I think I've said before...Stella means star and she is my lucky star!

I had expected to take custody of Stella on Friday but my coordinator had different plans...thank goodness! I was exhausted and fell asleep at 7 pm. I did get to see Stella that day and she was just as sweet as ever, however in the first of our visit she seemed a little angry...is that possible? I saw her also on Saturday and we took back where we left off. So Monday was to be our "gothcha day"!

October 18, 2010. I had an outfit in mind for the day but it got a little chilly so I had to scramble to find something warm enough. We got the baby house around 10 after we shopped for cakes and candy. I also had my gifts I purchased for the chief doctor and the care givers. I was so nervous! I gave the visiting nurse, Batima, Stella's outfit and waited....a few minutes later they brought in the sweetest little girl in her "gotcha day" attire. What a sweetie...we all couldn't help but laugh. I topped it off by adding a nice set of pearls for the occasion.

We left the baby house and went straight to the SOS/International clinic. Stella cried huge tears as they poked and proded. What a trouper! After that we went the apartment and got to know each other a little.

That evening Stella would have nothing to do with the pac and play so in the bed she went. I can't even tell you how important that bonding time was for us. Several times she woke just to touch me or to smile and then slide right back to sleep. In the morning she layed there for about 20 minutes just smiling and looking at me and taking it all in. If I wasn't already in love with this little bit...well that was the icing on the cake!

Enjoy the pictures, they are a little out of order. Stella was in the same outfit, 4 months later that I met her in. So to Stella...I promise you, no more silly outfits or silly hats...more later.....