Homeward Bound

Ok, I know that I just left everyone without an ending~wondering "so what happened next?" I will try to catch you up on the story. We arrived in Almaty on Sunday evening and was taken to another apartment. This apartment was very nice, it figures we are only staying for two days! Since we will only be here such a short time, there is no need to get to comfortable. Almaty is a great city.. it is much warmer and has a lot of trees. The best part of the city is the mountains.... they are so incredible. The two days there were a whirlwind~ embassy visit, clinic appointment and shopping. Just as we were starting to take a breath, it was time to start our long journey home. In the middle of the night on Tuesday, we packed up and left for home. It was very bittersweet to leave Kazakhstan. I will miss so much about being here. I know that I will be starting a new and creating a new journey, but this part of our story has it's roots here. This is where it all began and so many memories are wrapped around that. However, the time has come to go home. Unfortunately, Juliana is still pretty sick. She has a bad cough and congestion. I am still giving her the Russian mystery meds... but it is not making a difference. I just want to get her home. It makes me nervous to have her so sick and to be so far away from medical care. Finally, it was time to go...all of us and our luggage piled into a car that wasn't made for everything that was being jammed into it! One the way to the airport, our new coordinator's father was sitting next to Juliana and myself. He was a kindly older man who always had a smile. Juliana held onto his fingers the entire way to the airport. It was really amazing to see.... the energy and wisdom from the elder Kazakh to the infant~ it was a symbolic goodbye to her country as she starts her new life. Well, to make a long story short, after 26 hours of travel time, two airplanes, several time zones and to many hours in Frankfurt's airport....Juliana and I landed home safely. The feeling of touching down in Philadelphia was overwhelming. Not only were we safely home, but Juliana was officially a United States citizen! I have to say that I couldn't have done it without my BFF Trish. She was the best and I can't thank her enough. I am so lucky that she decided to visit us in Kaz. I am forever in her debt!

Even though we are home and one part of our story is told, there is so much more to come. I will always cherish my time in Kazakhstan. I have learned so much about their culture, their history and their people. It is a part of us and will remain close to my heart. I have so much to share with Juliana about her heritage and about our time there. I have come home a different person than when I left. I will miss the people I have come to call my friends, the babyhouse, the city of Astana and being part of the life there. I also will say a prayer for all the amazing children....

I also want to thank everyone for sharing my story with me. Your support meant everything to me. There were times when I didn't think I could do it and your words and encouragement kept me going. I will continue to update this blog.......from this side of the pond.... about Juliana's progress.

Good Bye for now