First Indications: Dillon called us Apr. 29, Sunday, to tell us that Sara would arrive on Tuesday at O'Hare Airport! We had no idea she would not be flown directly to Mpls. After quite a panic, we asked for an escort to pick her up in Chicago. Everything worked out fine.
Trip to the Airport: Jack met Mom and Helen and me at the airport. I was fairly calm while driving - Mom had helped with all the final preparations Monday and Tuesday.
We Named the Baby: Sara Ann Schwebach
Arrival Time: 4:45 pm on Tuesday, May 1, 1979
Weight: 6.8 lbs (6 lbs, 13 oz) Length: 20.8 in.
Color of Hair: Black Color of Eyes: Brown
The Homecoming:
Baby's first day at home was May 1, 1979
Grandma Lasho was there to help.
Description and Reaction: Things were pretty hectic that first night. We followed our child care instructor's advice and tried very diluted formula - until we realized, after several hours of Sara's crying, that she was really hungry for much more. Then things settled down and we all had a little sleep. She had her first bath that first evening too. Worried about her congestion.
Photos: No one even thought of photos that first evening. But Carol Lind did take some the next day when Sara came to the neighborhood shower with her dad.
My whole family was at the airport to greet me, as well as friends and the people who would eventually be my Godfather Don and Godmother Char. As I was reading my baby book several weeks ago, I got choked up at all the details that Mom wrote about my childhood. It would be something special to be able to share with my birth father.
If you started reading from the beginning of my blog, you would know that while in Korea, I was eating cooked rice gruel and half boiled yolk. Definitely, diluted formula would not be enough for this girl! And my love affair with food has continued to this day.
This year, I had plans to get together with several of the girls from the Korean Adoptee Discussion Group. The Tuesday before, we had discussed a shopping trip to the Albertville Outlet Mall. I needed to get some shopping done for gifts for my birth family and needed some help picking them out. When we planned the trip, I didn't realize it was my anniversary. We met at Arbor Lakes and I found some hiking shoes at Nordstrom Rack. At the outlet mall, I found gifts for my birth sisters and sister-in-law, niece and nephews, and one of my brother-in-laws. I might have also purchased a Coach bag for myself for the trip and a new pair of fuchsia pink patent peep toe pumps.
After the shopping trip, K and I went for a drink to talk some more. I had reached out to her originally when I first started searching for some information, but she and I had not been able to connect until the discussion group on Tuesday. She was an amazing person to talk to and we have a very similar story. Between her and H, I have really been blessed to find some additional Korean adoptees to talk to. I never felt a need to connect with my adoptive side in the past, but I have really enjoyed getting to know new adoptees and sharing stories, experiences, and dreams with them. I only hope it will continue even more.
I have heard the arrival day called several names, but I grew up calling it my Anniversary. Airplane Day, Homecoming Day, Anniversary. No matter the name, my whole life I have celebrated my anniversary, May Day, with dinner or something special with my family. This year was no different. We went to my parents' house for dinner of fajitas and rice that Julie made. From there, the entire family got together and went bowling. (Yes, it's a miracle we could all get together at once!) It was such a fun time and everyone got at least one strike. Mom and Dad brought their bowling balls and shoes from back in the day. It was a wonderful evening together with the whole family. Then, when we got home, Nate also gave me flowers!
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