We're home. All three of us. We met with Jonah and his foster mom and sister at 11:00 AM on Friday (6:00 PM Thursday in LA). It was a tearful exchange for his foster mom, Lucia & I. Jonah was busy playing with his foster sister. Jonah's foster mom said good-bye to him and then walked out while his back was to her. It was very sad. I'm still crying as I write this. We could not have asked for a better foster mom. When Jonah realized she was gone he cried. For 45 minutes straight. He was so sad. We were expecting that he wouldn't want anything to do with us, but that just wasn't the case. He wanted to be held. He cried himself to sleep and then woke up and drank a bottle. That was the last of his crying for a long time. We spent the afternoon in our room at the agency before driving to the airport. He was the perfect angel almost all the way home. He didn't fuss or cry as we lined up for tickets or boarding. He slept a lot on the plane but when he was awake he was content to play with a few toys and be held. The airline had a basinet that attached to the bulkhead. He just about took up the entire thing.
The crying didn't start again until we got in the car and put him in his car seat. He didn't like it at all. He cried for about 30 minutes until he fell asleep. We got home at 5:00 PM and were exhausted. We were in bed by 8:00 and up at 1:00 this morning. It's going to take some time for Jonah (and us) to get adjusted to the time change. He has cried more in the last 4 1/2 hours than he did all of yesterday. He misses his foster mom and sometimes calls for her when he is crying. It is sad to see and hear, but we're glad he misses her. She is worthy of being missed.
It's now 5:30 AM Saturday and we're going to bed.
(I had to revise a sentence in my previous comment, which I deleted.)
ReplyDeleteWelcome Home. We can only imagine what that departure must have been like. But you are home safe and today is the first day of the rest of your lives. Praise God for being so faithful in your lives and Jonah's. Just one thing coming from a social worker who has been part of the disruption of so many chidren's lives. The fact that he misses his foster mother is a good thing because it shows that he was able to attach. I'm always worried about the kids that have no reaction, which is a sign that they had no constant care. His ability to attach to her s so incredibly healthy and will serve him well in this transition. He now has new figures to attach to. I can only imagine the attention and love he will receive in his new home. You will see soon that his crying will change from loss to adjusting to new things to the obnoxious crying of normal growing up. Was the carseat a new experience for him too? Food, routine, Irvine, you guys - its all new. Enough of Mr. Social Work, all of which you already know I'm sure.
We are beyond words for your joy! Be strong! Be joyful. We look forward to seeing him in 6 months.