Bringing Nathan Home

So - the journey is complete.  And Nathan is now home.  Actually, now we really begin the journey of living life with Nathan.   I love to whisper to him all the time - "You belong to us and we belong to you and we will NEVER LEAVE YOU". 

 

Guangzhou to Shanghai:   We started the trip home by packing all day Wednesday (that would be Tuesday night USA time) and then got up bright and early Thursday morning to catch our first flight into Shanghai.  I wish that we could have gone into that city and located the Shanghai Children's Home where Nathan lived almost all of his 15 months.  We didn't even know it existed until after we had received Nathan and the discovery of this clean, warm and loving environment that not only housed our little boy but also cared for his medical needs is indeed overwhelming to comprehend.  But our layover was too brief to venture into the city and so we just hung out at the airport for 6 hours before getting on our Chicago flight.  The picture above is a little outing that Keith took Nathan on while in the airport.  He would be our most precious piece of luggage!

 

Shanghai to Chicago:  The looong airplane ride was surprisingly uneventful.  Nathan did wonderfully and was able to sleep on the floor on the bassinet cushion.  He slept 7 hours that "night", which was a major answer to prayer.  Above is Nathan discovering the earphones.  When I let him listen to music on them his eyes just got really wide and he started swaying to the music.  So sweet.    It was exciting to feel the wheels touch down in Chicago and to have a little celebration of Nathan becoming an American officially. 

Chicago to Orlando:  Then, we had a small layover and enjoyed our first American meal of pizza (as well as a cup of Starbuck's hot chocolate) before boarding the plane for the last part of the trip.  Nathan napped for about an hour and then played with us.  As we drew nearer to Orlando, my stomach was filled with knots of anticipation.  I was aching to hold our kids and to have us all together.

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All together at last:  So, at 11:35 p.m. on Thursday night after more than 30 hours of traveling, we exited the terminal .  Then we saw them.  We all ran towards each other.  Then there was much hugging and kissing and oohing and aahing over Nathan.  He was overwhelmed and you know what, I was too.  Even writing about it now makes my eyes tear up.  What a precious reunion and introduction it was.  Drew, Lauren and Emily are such amazing siblings for Nathan and they have quickly warmed up to each other.  There's just lots of love in the Johnson home these days, as well as some jet lag and tiredness (I feel like a new parent with my droopy eyes and tired body).  Please keep praying for us as we transition to one another.