Tuesday, May 11, 2010

You've Come A LONG Way Babies!

Literally, these girls know what a flight from the East side of Africa feels like, a LONG time!

Day 11
The girls were great travelers and overall did really well.  Thanks to our many prayer warriors, we managed to get one bassinet each flight, a huge help.

We said our goodbyes.  We were so glad to be returning to our home, but sad to leave so many new friends...
The girls are ready to travel!

We didn't know if we were ready to travel.  It sounded crazy intimidating!

Brian, Mabel and Merette were on our flight to Frankfurt that was in the middle of the night. Again, God provided through them getting rescheduled and they helped us out immensely with our bags and then in the airport.
Adia lovd my carrier.  It holds the baby really tight and was so nice for when they were sleeping. Jada hated this carrier!  She needs to move more! We waited in the Addis airport.

Our first flight was 7+ hours and it was the middle of their night and they slept about 5 hours of it.  We always tried to be feeding during takeoff and landing and they didn't seem to have any ear issues.

We hadn't been impressed with Frankfurt in our way there.  It was very disjointed and we were left in a dirty terminal with not enough seats and had to go through security 4 times in the airport. 

God was so good to us, as soon as we stepped off the plane and said goodbye to Brian, Mabel and Merette, we started walking to the C terminal.  An Ethiopian man who works at the German airport driving one of those transit vehicles for people with disabilities, saw us, our girls, all our bags (we each had a backpack, plus Jon had our camera bag and I had the diaper bag, we had to look comical and desperate).  He invited us to come aboard and he proceeded to drive and drive, around checkpoints, up elevators and then back down.  We probably would have walked at least 45 minutes to get to our terminal.  He dropped us off at a very nice terminal with good food available and wished us well.

On our ride through the Frankfurt airport

The girls didn't fare as well on our next 9 1/2 hour flight.  Neither did we.  The last five hours, unless the seat belt sign was on, I was up and bouncing.

You can tell a lot about people when you watch their faces as you board with two infants...:)
Jada sleeping in the bassinet (The first part of the flight).
Adia plays in the bassinet.  They set it up in front of you, under the bulkhead seating, so we could prop the girls up, eye level.

When we arrived in Chicago (5 hour layover) and finally made it through customs, rechecked our bags, handed over the sealed envelope that was like gold to customs officials and were in our terminal, I don't know who was more relieved, Jon and I or the girls.
Even though they had missed a night of sleep and hadn't been sleeping, ignoring those around us who were appalled we would lay our babies on the floor, we took off their pants and they had a party, squealing, kicking, open-mouthed shrieking.  We let them kick awhile and then they fell into a DEEP sleep.  Jon and I took turns bathing in the sinks.  I think I had an extra 5 pounds of grease at this point...

Coming Soon...Our Arrival in Fort Wayne, IN

Speaking of coming a long way...
Last night, after the girls were in bed, Jon and I went back and looked at the girls' referral photos.

This is the first picture Jon and I saw of the girls...
Followed by these...


I remember my fears. I remember God's assurance that these little girls were chosen before the foundation of the world to be in our family...

(Jada on top)
(Adia on top)
...and I am completely humbled by a God who does exceedingly, abundantly beyond all we ask or think.
Ephesians 3:20-21

5 comments:

Jennifer said...

The difference is amazing! Purely amazing. They are such gorgeous, beautiful little girls. I absolutely adore the photo for your blog header right now. Wow!

Love the travel story too. I think there were many of us who have made the trip with one baby that were thinking of and praying for you that day/night! :-)

Anonymous said...

This is very helpful! I love the 'trick' about feeding them during the take-off, so their ears aren't in pain. Glad to hear that Frankfort wasn't horrible.

Are you able to tell the girls apart? They look so similar!

Tifani said...

hey...did you know that was the title of a talk at the True Woman conference this year? : ) only it was singular

Todd and Teresa said...

WOW! They have come a long, long way! It's amazing how much they've changed in about 6 months time.

Peggy said...

Hey guys,
I have sure enjoyed reading about your journey. It is such and incredible story of God's love and mercy. I can already tell that you both are amazing parents. I would have been fit to be tied with all that you went through, but you seem to have handled it with much grace. Your girls are stunning little beauties and I can't wait to meet them, but until then, give them hugs and kisses from me.
Love to all of you
Peggy