By: Kelly Krause
Hello Ladies. Back again this month to continue the story about my #2 son in Romania. This particular installment is about our adventure together for the first time as mother and son. The time I spent with Mitch had ups, downs, laughter and a whole lot of love.
I left the airport in Bucharest with his hand in mine forcing myself to believe he was actually beside me.
I am sure that angel wings carried me across the parking lot to the van. Paul, Mitch’s caregiver, informed me that we were scheduled a stop at McDonald’s before we got on the road. He had promised Mitch a Happy Meal. Yes, my first eating experience in Romania was a McDonalds and the entire ministry team joined us. I have never been happier to buy a Happy Meal in my life before or since.
I think the team was amused to watch me as I fell in love with my 2nd son. He was timid. I was sleep deprived. Interesting combination. It gets better.
I was invited to travel in a smaller passenger van with Mitch and Paul. Our beloved Bonika Susie was leading the team so she could not travel in the vehicle with us. Jan, another adopting mom, volunteered to stay at my side and grabbed the “shotgun†seat and her camera. At some strange prompting I had packed a kid pocket in my backpack. Thank goodness. I had no idea we would be traveling for 2 to 3 hours and a language barrier to boot. We bonded over magnetic Mr. Potato Head and a mini Etch-a-Sketch. Jan snapped pictures of my very sleep deprived smiling green face. The road was so curving and hilly. I do not even read in car on a straight road much less try to draw.
I love Mitch with all my heart, but that was one of the longest drives I have ever taken. I desperately prayed that one of the first memories that my son had of me would not be puking my McDonald’s out the window.
We safely arrived in the Carpathian mountains for our first night stay. Paul tried to convince Mitch to stay with me, but he was shy and I did not want him to feel forced. Besides I needed to wind down and clean up. With a hug we agreed to meet for dinner.
Jan and I crashed into our room and I commiserated with her that her daughter Andika had not been able to make the trip to Bucharest. Andika had been hospitalized with the mumps and Jan was anxious to get to her. Before this visit was over there would be much encouraging and commiserating between us.
Both of us feel very blessed to have had the other with her.
Dinner was more true Romania fare and I enjoyed just looking at my son. He continued to sneak side glances at me and little grins would escape his face. It was precious. We walked hand and hand to the elevator after dinner and said good night. I gave it my best to try and not squeeze him too tight. I could not believe I could let him out of my sight. I did. And then I slept.
As I have begun to write this portion of Marathon Adoption I have come to realize that there is a lot more to say than what I had thought there would be. I know this post is not got a whole lot of point to it, but in that I can say that neither has the fact the Romanian Government won’t allow my child to come home to me. It was only a visit. But a most needed visit for mother and son. It began our life long bond and no government can change that. Next month The Visit will continue.