WE'RE HOME!!!!!!!!!!!

"Hello!" from Minnesota!

We arrived home late Wednesday night and Maya is now a US citizen! I apologize for the delay in posting-we're sleep deprived and overwhelmed and struggling to compose sentences, but oh-so-happy!

Getting out of Haiti was difficult (shocker). We got the visa easily that day, rushed to the airport to be there 2 hours before our 455 flight. At around 6 they told us to head out to the tarmac. Thrilled, we got the bottom of the steps of the plane and were then told to go back to the gate. At 8 they cancelled the flight all together. We were put up in a hotel and tried not to cry. Fortunately we got pushed to the front of many lines due to the cute 37 lbs we were lugging with us.

On Wednesday we went back to the airport for our 10 am rescheduled flight. At 930 they announced that the crew had just left the hotel and we'd board in 1 hour. We boarded at around 11 I think (there are no clocks or screens in the unairconditioned airport). We were then told that we had no fuel. There was also no AC on the plane. When the fuel truck finally arrived it ran out of gas. We dripped with sweat as we waited for a new truck. I think we took off at around 1. Maya, used to the crazy heat, handled things very well, enjoying the view of airplanes out the window. When we finally took off, she clapped her hands and said, "bon travay!" (good work!) unprompted by us.

We went through immigration very quickly in Miami, at which point she became a citizen, and flew home on the 745 pm flight. At that point shock and delight set in and I could hardly contain my glee as we flew towards MN.

Sean's bro and sis in law, Adam and Amanda, were waiting to pick us up (photos and videos from them to come) and Maya woke up and was excited to see the people we'd been showing her pics of for the last month. She loved riding in her own car and was even more excited when we arrived home. Our house was bursting with love from so many friends I can't even comprehend it. Our sidewalk and steps were chalked with decorations and welcomes, there were flowers in a pot outside, a cooler of food on the steps. In the house the fridge was fully stocked, there were presents galore, all of our laundry had been washed and folded, a closet bar had been added to Maya's closet full of new outfits, artwork with her name hung on her wall, and my favorite thing: the bathtub had been recaulked! A team of friends and family, led by my wonderful friend Jenna, had made our home a wonderful place to return to. We don't even know who to thank because so much was done, so if you did something-THANK YOU!

Her first days here have been good. She's adjusting well and her favorite thing is that she has her own car that we can go in anytime. She also loves her little red trike and has made numerous laps around the block. We've gotten so many adorable outfits and everytime she sees a new one she takes off her current clothes and puts on new ones.

Poor Sean had to return to work today. I'm not sure how he's able to complete sentences as I know I'm not making much sense. Glad tomorrow's Saturday! I'm off for 8 more weeks. :)

We're having Maya baptized on August 2 and are thrilled about the family that will be descending upon us at that point.

I'll add pictures as time and energy allow. Thanks to all of you for your support through this process. We could NOT have done it without you!!!!! :)