I am posting 2 videos. The first is the actual good-bye at Eastern. We have lots of footage leading up to this when we were spending time with Lily's foster parents, getting last minute feeding instructions and being given supplies for the trip home. They gave us the toy we had sent her in a care package, food, diapers, bottles, clothes, even a towel so she would recognize the scent from what would soon be her old home. They had her armed for travel with her own backpack too...so cute. I was so proud to see the foster mom wearing the bracelet we gave to her at the first meeting. It was difficult to absorb anything being said since my heart was just racing the entire time. Not nervous to get our baby, but because I kept imagining the feelings of her foster parents and hoping the pain of the good-bye wouldn't be too bad. From watching other family videos from Eastern, I knew what was coming and how it was going to happen. I can feel the anxiety even now.
As soon as our driver was ready, one of the directors enterred the room. She instructed us to pack up, placed a hand on Hye Won and delivered the famous prayer that has been used for years as babies go off to begin their new lives. I can see the foster mom's face change from cheerful to distraught as she held my new daughter tightly and calmed her fidgeting. When the prayer was done, we presented them with more gifts, this time wine and flowers with a letter to them we had translated into Korean. They had been so wonderful with our baby for 10 months of her life. We headed down the stairs to the back entrance and we were told to say our goodbyes. It was pretty awkward as we lingered there, not wanting to leave. I caught a glimpse of a young pregnant woman watching us from the top of the stairs, most likely envisioning her own babies journey. Even though the process is orchestrated in order to avoid a long drawn out ordeal, it was still so hard. I managed to snap the last photo of Hye Won with her foster mom (probably uncomfortable for her, but I actually love the shot). They even had to tell us where to sit in the car!! It was very quick after that. As soon as I sat down, the foster dad handed me the baby, they started waving, saying "good- bye" and just as we were about to pull away, the foster mom stuck her head in the car for one last kiss. Through my tears all I could say was "Thank-you." After watching this video, I wish I had given the foster mom a great big hug, (even though I had read that it wasn't customary to do that) but it all happened so fast. There was so much to take in and really I think she was just so focussed on Hye Won and not on us at that moment. We hope to see her again one day, and when the time does come, I will be sure to embrace her!
The second video is much more calm. We were preparred for Hye Won to freak out in the car but she ended up falling asleep in my arms and then napping at the hotel. I forgot to mention that usually the babies are given as families are on their way to the airport but they decided to give Hye Won to us the day before our flight. We didn't expect for it to go down that way and no we did not ask for her to be given to us earler. Our agency had advised us not to do that since it was considerred disrespectful. It just worked out that way with our early flight time and the fact that she was doing so well with us at the first meeting. Anyway, you'll see how it went from anxiety and emotion to happiness and calm. At least for a little while. What you won't see, however, is the way she kept us up half the night crying, clearly confused and sad not knowing who the heck we were. We thought for sure the flight home would be a nightmare. Thank heaven when she woke the next morning, she was actually fine, a joy the entire way home taking 3 naps and has been smiling ever since. What an unbelievable, unforgettable, don't know what I did to deserve it life experience! Happy Gotcha Day!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FP8aWmpwTa0
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