We crossed the “security line” that only passengers were allowed passed, and were mobbed. I got down on my knees and just hugged and kissed the kids as they came to us. In the first 30 second I was told about a lost tooth, a 100% on a reading test, an injured toe and a shopping trip! I just smiled and cried and hugged them and kissed them.

There is no better feeling for a mom then to have all of her kids together in one place.

Belane was very shy and shell-shocked, but I had warned them that she was timid and would take some time to warm up to everybody.

Josh was there with all of the kids, as were Josh’s mom, brother and sister, two friends and the women working on the documentary on HIV adoption. The camera and microphone were rolling the whole time…Have I ever mentioned how pretty I look when I cry?? (NOT). I have the worst Irish blotchy skin. :)

We worked our way over to look for the bags, which as predicted, did not come. As we waited, the kids did get some smiles and giggles out of Belane, and I could tell she was really starting to wake up (and to like the idea of being around other kids).

The kids all looked great…seeing them was a reminder of how much I had missed them. They all looked HUGE. My “baby” Marcus is a good “head” or more taller than Belane…after having just her for two weeks he looked (and felt) enormous!

We headed to our van and made plans to all go to dinner (camera crew included). I had been very worried about how Belane would do in a car seat…she had never seen one, and every time we went anywhere in Addis she sat in my lap in the car. Well, she watched all of the other kids get in and buckle up and didn’t protest at all when we buckled her into her seat. (I was really amazed!)

I sat in between her and Marcus just in case she got sad, but she did really well. She realized that Josh was sitting in front of her driving, and she wanted me to poke him so he could turn and look at her and she would giggle, giggle, giggle. She had just started to warm up to him the day he had to leave Addis (our third day with her) and we were worried she would be very shy/standoffish to him, but she never was. She was loving and playful and affectionate with him from that moment on (and she adores him!).

We got to dinner…table for 17 please…

The restaurant has a playground in the middle (it wasn’t a fast food place!) and Josh took the kids to play. Belane was off and running with the rest of them. I sat there just sort of shell shocked…I was so happy but SO tired… I couldn’t eat and my head was spinning…so I just sat there and took it all in, and reveled at the site of ALL of my kids playing together.

Belane ate spaghetti and fries and had a ton of fun playing with everyone. She laughed and ran and played and looked as happy as I felt. Josh was so happy to have us home that he grinned every time I looked at him. It all felt SO good.

My favorite moment of the night was when I went in to play with the kids after we had eaten, and Belane grabbed Marcus and started pulling him. He laughed and followed her, and the two of them ran in circles, holding hands and laughing. Heaven.

The camera crew got footage of the kids playing, all of them getting balloon creations from the “balloon man” and some (hopefully not much) of us eating. They are great ladies and the kids loved them, so it was not awkward or uncomfortable at all (except that I couldn’t stop thinking about how nasty my hair was). :)

We piled into the van for our three hour drive home, after saying good bye to Grandma, Auntie and Uncle. Belane and most of the rest of the kids slept the whole way home, where we finally arrived about 11 p.m.

We hurriedly got everyone into bed. Belane helped say goodnight to everybody, and she looked around the house cautiously (pointing at things from the safety of Josh or my arms). She was THRILLED to see her pictures on the refrigerator!! We got her changed into jammies, and I was so tired that I skipped the shower and went right to pj’s and my bed. Belane curled up between me and Josh, and we slept our first night together…home.

Continued…