They Made It

Mama and Bo are here. We're working on a detailed account of the journey but wanted you all to know they are here. They look great. We're all together.

Bo Knows Mama

Sorry for the delay in completing the mother and child reunion but I wanted to make certain everything went as smoothly as possible before sharing.

Laura and Boeden and together and doing great. He recognized her right away. After getting him she went to the Embassy to meet with a US Doctor and together they reviewed his translated medical history and file. The doctor gave him a GLOWING report and said he is cute, has a great smile and is a very lucky boy (we're all pretty lucky).

That was exhilarating for all of us and, there is still more to do as the trip home and another trip to the embassy lay ahead.

I have spoken to Laura twice a day (that would be one day's worth) and each time got to talk to my boy. He sounds GREAT. They will be home shortly.

More updates to come.

The picture above is Boeden with his caregivers; the group of women that have cared for him for the last several months. There are no words to thank and appreciate them for all that they have done. It's really quite staggering when you stop to think what these women do. Family by family they are contributing to the planet. They are helping to build the future and expand thriving, loving communities. Perhaps if we saw more people like them on the evening news the planet would look different.

Today is the day

It's 6:25 am in Kazakhstan and Boeden is about 45 minutes from Laura. The scheduled time is 7/11 at 7:00 am.

One of the doctors from his baby house is travelling, by train, across the country and personally escorting him. This is the standard practice so we knew during the first trip to get clothes, food, diapers, etc, for him to make the trek. I'm filled with excitment, anticipation, overwhelm, perspective and joy. It's very surreal; it being the eveing on the 10th here and the morning of the 11th there.

Round Two

If I were to pick a cliche it would most likely be in the Sam Spade, smoky office................."it was a day no different than the couple hundred that came before..........then she walked in", genre.

How it looks; me sitting in my studio, sipping starbucks coffee, my wife on the other side of the planet, less than 2 days from being united with Boeden (no smoke, my desk is a mess, and I'm not sure if he's walking yet).

Laura is safe and our friend Liz (our dear friend) is with her. About a year ago when we were talking about the travel my going on the 2nd leg, it seemed like it would be too much to take away from my business. I still think that, but it's hard not being together. Laura is in Kazakhstan; stroller, car seat, clothes, some food and toys. Without me. I'm here. Car seats, height chair, rocker, crib, freshly painted and carpeted room for Boeden. Without them. The closer we get, the closer our emotions are to the surface and, it's hard not to walk through the house without crying; anticipating mother and son coming home. Laura is having the same experience over there.

I know the updates have been ebbing but now we're gearing up for some action so they will be more consistent.

Good Morning

We're Gearing Up

It's hard to believe that it's only been 2 WEEKS since we got home. Kazakhstan seems likes so long ago and if we didn't have all of our pictures and a bit of video Boeden would seem even further away than he is.

Today is day 15.............we made it. Now the legal stuff can resume and we can start making travel plans. Laura has been on the phone with our agency and travel agents, trying to gauge the timing of it all. Since I am not making this trip she has actually been working on it for over 6 weeks. That is to say, she has been looking for a travel partner that is willing and able. We are blessed to have two such people ready to go and depending on the actual dates of travel, one will make the journey.

It looks like they will go around July 8th (arriving July 10th) and stay in country 4 days. At dinner tonight Laura was wondering how she would keep Boeden busy and not wear down. He'll be bigger and beginning the adventure of a lifetime. I don't have the answer but my intuition tells me she will be fine.

Before we left for Kazakhstan some of Laura's friends from work started raising the volume on getting ready for a baby. They started giving us things we would need, had her register and started planning a baby shower. It was last Friday and I must say it was really unbelievable. Now, if the Flyers were in the Stanley Cup Finals my willingness to go may have been diminished. Leaving the Flyers aside, I am grateful that I went and got to be a part of such an outpouring of love, much of which was aimed at me.

Laura's mother came down and I picked her up at the train station. She came with Laura and me. My sister flew in and went with my mom. Those of you that know Laura personally know that she has an almost unshakable commitment to her job. Given the hours, training, travel, phone calls and meetings, that is really saying something. But, anyone that works at GAP or knows someone that works at GAP knows that they take care of their own.

Being there on Friday was a real gift. To witness all of the acknowledgement, the affection, the joy and love that these people have for us; it felt sacred. The gifts were amazing and SO generous, AND, in some way, icing on the cake.

I found myself, again, in a room of women who have been standing for us; standing for Boeden, for a long time. I have the experience of witnessing this global miracle, the climax of which will be us tucking Boeden into his crib, in his new room, sometime in late July.

We are so lucky. We are blessed.

Hello There

Now that we have been home for just over a week the miracle of getting Boeden along with the exhliration of the journey have faded a bit and we feeling lonesome; missing him. Has he taken his first step (he's close)? Are any new teeth cutting through? Does he look for us at 10:00 when other adopting parents come in the baby room to pick up there little ones? It's hard.

The thing that has been great is the outpouring of love from our friends and family. So many have you have been reading our Blog daily. I love it when we get a phone call or email that says, "thanks for sharing about Kazakhstan but can we see more pictures of Boeden"? Thank you all. Hearing how excitied and happy you are for us makes such a HUGE difference.