I am singing from the roof tops

WE ARE HOME, WE ARE HOME, WE ARE HOME. I think you will all understand that we are home FINALLY. Oh what a feeling it is, I keep walking around the house looking at rooms going wow then I look outside and go wow. It is hard to believe that we are here at last but it was not without a few bumps on the journey home so this is the continuation of our journey.

Tuesday morning we got up and did our usual thing turn the TV on to BBC world news to see the latest news, to our surprise airports in the Netherlands and across Europe were open. I phoned KLM and they said yes the flight was to go out, but we did not trust this, so Martin took off to the KLM office, he ran back to the apartment to tell me yes it was going, so we had to kick into high gear. I packed washed the kids up and got generally ready. Martin had to leave again to get nappies and food for Ethan as we were not sure if we would get stuck in Amsterdam. I had arranged for us to be picked up at 3:30 but they were a little late, and we left the apartment at 3:50. In true Kiev fashion the traffic was bumper to bumper and Martin and I were getting worried that we would not make it in time. Our driver was really good and took back streets as much as he could to get around the traffic. Once out of the city it was 130KM to the airport, and we made it on time. Oh ya, that’s the actual speed limit in the fast lane, the next lane is 120 then 90 then 70...it’s great. There were a couple more kicks to the teeth for us though. We got through to the check-in desk and thought ok we are good but then they informed us there were no ticket #'s on our paper, talk about our hearts sinking, they then said that Laura's ticket showed her going to Toronto, this would have been great if we all had been going. The time was ticking and after 30 mins they finally got the problem sorted and they sent us to security. For those of you who have not flown in a while, this means coats off, computer has to be taken out of the case, Martin has to remove his belt, stroller collapsed and everything put on the conveyer belt and at times shoes off and everything out of your pockets. Not an easy task with 2 kids and when you’re rushing. Then they decide to search Laura's hand luggage which is just full of her toys, Martin and I are now in a bigger panic. Finally we left there and then had to go through passport control, here they wanted to see Ethan's adoption papers so we dragged them out, by this time the girl from KLM had come to find us as they were now holding the plane for us. The customs officer took his sweet old time then said he would be right back, by this time Martin and I were both sweating thinking this is it, we are going to be stuck here again we truly thought we would miss the plane. Even the KLM woman asked them if there was a problem. Finally he let us go and it was a mad dash to the plane, it was like something out of a movie. Once on the plane the hostess and even the Captain told us to take our time. I was even given a drink of water. We were finally leaving Ukraine.

We arrived in Amsterdam and went straight to the hotel that is in the airport. We could not leave the airport as Ethan did not have a visa in his passport to do this. There were cots all over the place that they had set up for the stranded passengers, but by this time they had got a lot of the flights out. We found the hotel and were pleased to find out they had a room, what a relief. It was a good room, small and no windows but there were comfortable beds and we were part way home.

After a good night’s sleep we still had time to kill in the airport. (You book the hotel for a 12 hour period not 24) Laura enjoyed looking at the planes and watching the engines turn. All this time we kept checking the boards worried that it would suddenly say Cancelled. At 1:30 we made our way down to the gate, they took us to the front of the line and we got boarded first because of the kids. We could not believe that we were sitting on a plane bound for Canada. Now we still have to have one last worry and that was it was announced there was a problem with the toilets and they would have to try to fix it. So we sat for an hour while they tried to fix a toilet. Yep we were delayed by a toilet. In the end they taped it off and said not to use it.
As the plane taxied to the run way it all seemed so strange that it was going to happen. The flight was good and the KLM staff were wonderful, we had one struggle with Ethan, he was tired and did not want to go to sleep we got him off with 2 hours to go in the flight. When the plane touched down Laura and I cheered and yelled we are home we made it. People around us just smiled and laughed. We had a wonderful surprise as we walked out to see our friend from Montreal, Janet Martin, had come to greet us, this was very special as it would have felt so strange not having anyone there. Thanks so much Janet. We got some supper and marvelled at the fact we could read the menu and signs. Then it was on to the West Jet flight at 7:30 and Toronto bound we were. Laura spent the whole flight punching her arms in the air saying we are going home. Once landed we rushed to get our luggage and oh how the tears flowed once we saw the family. Thanks to Kim's Mum and Dad who made the trip down from Markham to greet us home also.
So we made it, and oh ya I did get down and kiss the ground in Toronto.
The trip home seemed so real, and I was so glad to see the house. Our neighbours had made a sign to greet us and Mum and Robert had balloons outside and in, this Laura really liked.
Well we have finally (I use that word a lot) finished our journey and achieved what we set out to do 10 and Half weeks ago. We have a son, seen many sights, experienced many emotions and had lots of ups and downs. Ethan is adjusting to his new life and so are we. This is something we will never forget and Ethan will be told when he is older, what a story he has to tell.
So to sum it all up there is another empty crib in Ukraine and a full one in Canada with a full life ahead of us all and for Ethan a life time of LOVE.

Love to you all for all the support you have given us it has meant so much to Martin and I knowing that people were interested in what was going on. Now please feel free to come visit us and meet the newest member of the Waterland Family.

Jenny, Martin, Laura and Ethan


P.S To all perspective parents looking to Ukraine to adopt that have been following this blog please feel free to contact us either by phone or email. There is much I could tell you and advice to give, and places you really need to go see. Jennifer.