We got up this morning and met Vladimir in the lobby of the hotel. He would drive us to the airport for our flight home. Sleep didn't come easy for either of us last night and neither did the grim realization that we were leaving our baby boy for an undetermined amount of time.
We arrived at the airport and made our way through security checkpoints and into "airport world". In our hands we carried our luggage and in our hearts we carried the memories of Alex that would get us through the next weeks until we could return to bring him home forever. Michael and I didn't talk much while waiting to board the plane that would drop us in Paris. Both of us have very different ways of expressing out emotions but today it was the same. My wonderful husband was doing his best to brighten my spirits. Whether it was just to reach out and take my hand or give me a smile, it helped. The flight to Paris would be 4 1/2 hours and then another 6 to Cincinnati. We both had a feeling it was going to be the longest day of our lives.
Paris was just as smelly and busy as it had been a week ago when we were here. We made our way through the airport and caught our connecting flight to Cincinnati where Mom and Dad would be waiting to pick us up. The inflight movies helped to pass the time because we both had our own little TV's in the back of the seat in front of us. That was everyone could watch or listen to whatever struck their fancy. When we arrived back in the US we had be pass through customs and go through all of the hoops to get out of the airport.
Finally we made our way through the airport and headed towards the baggage claim area. While coming down the escelator I caught site of Mom and Dad. Tears of joy for seeing them were shed along with tears of sadness because our hearts were still in Stavropol. I stood in the middle of the airport and drug out the video camera so that Mom could have the first glimpse of her grandson. As she watched the video I was overcome with emotion and just stood there sobbing with Mom doing her best to comfort me and tell me that everything would be all right.
During the ride back to the house the car was filled with chatter and more tears. Stories of what Russia was like and mostly about how wonderful Alex was. When we arrived home Michael and I were both exhausted, especially considering we lost 8 hours along the way. We unpacked and settled in on the couch to watch our home movies of our son. This will happen a lot over the next weeks I'm sure. Luckily we have a baby shower and other odds and ends and of course paperwork to get completed while we are waiting to help and pass the time.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment