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http://herecomeskatrina.blogspot.com/

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Love, Katrina

LEAVING & ARRIVING HOME

Katrina & Ramone

Alicia, Katrina, Ramone & Dustin at airport

Alicia tears up as the plane takes off from Manila and Katrina is leaving her homeland.

Katrinas first plane ride

The airport welcoming committee - Tracy & Cheryl Ide's first granddaughter comes home welcomed by Aunt Rebekah, Uncle Peter and Aunt Diana

(1) Aunt Diana (2) Uncle Kent, Uncle Brad, Aunt Kate & cousin Elle (3) Uncle Peter - the sign maker - & Aunt Rebekah

KATRINA COMES HOME

Arrived home about 7 hours ago.  The trip was long, but our little Katrina probably did the best ever.  She truly did better than all three of the adults combined.  

We are so happy to be home.  Katrina - imagine sleeping through a homecoming that made you feel like a rock star.  It was so cute to come down the tarmac and see all of Dustin's family (Grandmother Cheryl, Grandfather Tracy, Aunt Diana, Aunt Rebecca and Uncle Peter) standing there with balloons - smiles and arms that could hardly wait to hold the first grandchild and niece.  How lucky is she to have all of them?  Each time I would look at them they were beaming - beaming.  Grampa Bob, Uncle Kent, Uncle Brad, Auntie Kate and little cousin Elle tried to hold back - guess that's what happens when you've held those babies and know that there will be time enough to get to know their new family member.  What a special support group you were to your sister and aunt.  Then there were all the people that added to our homecoming by just smiling and offering congratulations to the new family and sharing their adoption stories.

Then it was off home - as the Ides loaded up, mama and Katrina in her first ride in a carseat (not required in the Philippines), daddy sitting next to a passenger's seat full of balloons and a hold filled with their suitcases and stroller, I sent off a special prayer of thanks for our fantastic trip and the safe journey we were afforded.  

Now it is time for breathing room and the days to come of firsts - I can just see her exploring her new environment and meeting her family of dogs.  Today we are suppose to have snow.  I am hoping mommy and daddy will take her out and take a photo of her in the snow so we can send it back to the Hospicio and Ramone.

I talked nonstop to Bob about all I did and saw - he was probably happy when I finally passed out - truly, my eyes were not under my control as I passed out earlier this evening.

Thank you to all of you that accompanied us on this journey.  Alicia's cousin, Jeanine, is encouraging her to keep up the blog.  I am thinking Alicia should start a book series - and the first book, KATRINA MEETS THE HOUNDS.  We surely had fun journaling knowing that you would love to see our insights and  comment.  The pictures will be endless and I will make sure you that will get the link to the complete album.  Right now, I am so happy to be home, to be in my own bed and to get unpacked.

ICAB and CCS Visit

Where have we been? Well, parenthood came like a freight train and finding time to sit and have the energy to write is few and far between! Being a mother is such a rewarding job--I watch her every move and just love to see her learning and doing new things. Things she's learned so far? Sign language for "more," how to take off and put on her shoes, the hand movement for the itsy bitsy spider, how to jump, she points to her nose when I say, "nose--and eyes, ears, and mouth," in her favorite book, she has learned how to tickle the baby's stomach...Today was the first day she uttered "muh-muh-muh to me" it was so cool. Most amazing--how to take off and put the cap back onto a water bottle. She worked on that one for a long time. She is proud when she is able to manuever her hands to do it...

Today, Ramon drove us to ICAB (Inter Country Adoption Board) Gemma, our social worker was there to meet us. We received all of Katrina's paperwork, her passport/Visa. We got a tour of the place as well. Katrina received a Filipina Doll, a book about her homeland, and a flag. She will cherish these wonderful gifts I know. Next, on to CCS (Concordia Children's Services), a beautiful home for children in Quezon City. We met Beth, the director--what a wonderful woman--very devoted to those children I could tell--very loving and caring of her to give us a tour of her home. This orphanage now has 20 children ranging from infant to school age. Not only does she care for the children within the orphanage, she also provides for street children who come to get meals or schooling in the day. Very different from Hospicio, much smaller and more like a home environment for the children. It was very interesting, hearing the stories of some of the children within her home...We are very thankful to both Beth and Gemma for all of their work. Gemma spoke on our behalf for Katrina--she was our "lawyer" in a way--putting up a case of why we were to be matched with Katrina. She was also responsible for preparing all of Katrina's paperwork, bringing her to her medical and visa interviews...much, much, more...Dustin and I wish we would have known about how much Gemma has done--we had no clue that she was responsible for this match...Thank you so very much Gemma.

After CCS, we went on to purchase some keepsakes for Katrina. Ramon took us to a special handicrafts store where we dropped over 500 US dollars for our little one( a special thank you to Ramon for being Lolo and keeping Katrina occupied while mommy and daddy shopped). We purchased a pearl necklace, bracelet and earrings...we also purchased a beautiful dress--wait until you see it! A purse made out of banana fabric, a shell jewelry box, some dolls, and some other wooden carved crafts.

We went to stop for lunch--I tried chicken adobo for the very first time and loved it--I will need to get the recipe and try it. Katrina could not sit still--so Lolo Ramone, once again came to the rescue. We found out she loves rice with mushroom soup in it. After lunch, we came out to see Ramon and Kat-Kat jamming in the car to top 40 music! The day was wonderful--now to pack and bring our little one home--we'll see how this plane ride goes. We will be up around 3 to get to the airport in time for our 7am flight...We arrive back in Milwaukee on Friday night, around 4:00pm! See you there if you will be greeting us--just wait until you meet this little one, she will steal your heart time and time again! Alicia Rae

AYALA MUSEUM & MEETING PAMELA

The Ayala Museum was fabulous. Getting there via walking was another matter - thank goodness for the kind Filipinos that look at me and know that I am so darn confused.
The museum was 3 floors of exhibits. You start on the top and move your way down. First thing I saw was pottery (reminded me of my mother's love for it),a collection of Filipino costumes and a beautiful exhibit of historic gold jewelry. It was preceded by a great narrated film of the Filipino craftsmen creating their gold bowls, tiaras, necklaces, etc. Then you go in the VAULT and view all the pieces. The coolest thing was the drawers beneath some of the cases - you would pull it out, items were displayed and then they had a magnifying glass that was attached to a grid that you could move around and inspect the pieces. Amazing workmanship.
The next floor was filled with artwork by Filipinos - Robin - remember when we would play that game that and you would always select the topic, Filipino poets??? Well, truly there are poets and artists here. The final floor was a diarama of the history of the Philippines. Well worth the time it took to look and read.
I came back to the hotel to meet Bob's nephews wives sister, Pamela. She drove in to have lunch with me. She is adorable - works for the Wrigley gum corporation here in the Philippines. We had fun talking and laughing about things. Karen, Patti & Dick - she is a treasure.
Today it is the coolest it has been in Manila. The wind is blowing and it is wonderful.
Kids still aren't back from ICAB - they must have gone shopping for pearls and native dress. Good for them.....pictures will be up as soon as they return.
Mareta

TAGAYTAY

The kids were in to bonding time so I heard that little voice in my head, Bob, telling me not to waste a moment and take the time to do some trips. Manila is not the real Philippines, like Honolulu is not the real Hawaii, so I took off with Ramone to visit Tagaytay. It is about an hours drive south of Manila and is the site of the smallest active volcano in the world. The Taal Volcano is located in Taal Lake which sits in another volcano. Romone took me to the ridge and we visited with his friend, Henry, who manages a small zoo/restaurant/hotel. We had a personal tour of the zoo - I saw a white lion, camel, beautiful birds and lots of fish and snakes. Cal - I saw this fruit bat - huge - I also saw little hamster babies - so cute. Kyle - you would have cringed at all the snakes - I even saw snake eggs (I've never seen those) and a cobra.
We had lunch overlooking Taal Volcano. We had St. Peter's fish which is local to the area, chicken/pork adobe (not as sour as Pa use to make), pancit and mangos and pineapples. You would have been proud of me Bob - they kept putting stuff on my plate and I kept smiling and trying to eat.
The best part of the day was the drive where I was able to go through the various barangays - small units. They each had a different speciality - furniture making, plants/flowers, pineapples/mangos/coconuts. There were rice paddy's, pineapple fields. All very close to the street and very simple. I also took a picture with a tiger cub - strong - about bowled me over.
We finished by going up to Peoples Park - at the very top was a residence that was built by Imelda Marcos that they found after Ferdinand was deposed and Imelda exiled. They are now refurbishing it and making it a tourist attraction. You can see the whole valley - the beautiful new vacation homes and the golf courses that they are erecting. Definitely for the wealthy and foreigners.
The kids just left to go to ICAB with Katrina to receive the official papers from the Philippines that will enable them to take Katrina home. I am going to meet with our nephews sister, Pamela Reyes for lunch and then go on to the Ayala Museum.
The days here have flown. I definitely would love to come back here. Right now I have two people working on hunting down information on my father. Maybe we will have something before I leave.
We are good - can't wait to get home and have all of you meet Katrina. Bob, she is like our little Ava.
PS - Jeanine - shoes galore, prices are great. Elle - you would love seeing all the activities that they cram into the malls - they are a destination. Robin & Smitty - I see lots of people that look like you guys so I am feeling right at home.
Love to all of you - Lola Mareta
Pictures as soon as I can get them up.

Daddy's thoughts

What can I say about my little angel that has not already been said by her mother or grandma? I am certain my writing will not be as poetic as theirs, but I wanted to take a moment to share some of my thoughts from these amazing last few days. The flight over was definitely long to say the least, but it went by as quickly as possible with our anticipation on finally meeting our daughter. When Alicia, in one of her first posts, said the flight on the 747 from Minneapolis to Tokyo and from Tokyo to Manila was a "cattle car" in coach, she meant it. The airport in Manila was pretty chaotic, about what you picture or expect if you have ever flow into a major airport in a developing country. The city itself is beautiful as you can see from some of the pictures. It reminds me a lot of the Santo Domingo. They drive a lot like the D.R. as well, there is not even a posted speed limit in the city limits! However, with traffic at most times they don't really need one because you can't go too fast in gridlock. My favorite sites are looking down the side roads, from the main roads we are driving on, and into the neighborhoods and seeing the people on the narrow streets. The city offers everything you would expect from a metro area of over 18 million. Areas like where our hotel is located, Makati City - the center of their financial district, are a bustle with business people and shoppers. It is not uncommon to see BMW's Mercedes, Land Rovers, etc. Then there is the other side, ranging from shanty town like dwellings along one of the rivers not to far from Katrina's hometown of Cavite, to the high rise low income housing projects lining the city streets and railroad tracks in some areas. Seeing "street children" barely clothed breaks your heart.
Now to my little girl... I really didn't feel that nervous on our way to meet her. I guess 25+ months of preparation will do that. We had to wait in this little office for like 10 minutes, although it seemed a lot longer as you can imagine, for them to go get "Kat Kat." When they brought her in she looked just like the first pictures we got of her, only a few months older. I didn't want to scare her, but after a moment of looking at her in awe I grabbed her and sat her on my leg, the first picture posted with her on my leg was taken by Alicia's mother within a minute of us meeting our angel. After a few moments she recognized Alicia's face and put her arms out for her mother to grab her and hold her. It was truly amazing. For the first few minutes she was pretty calm, but then her personality slowly came out more and more. She is a very active little girl and will squirm and squiggle if she is not comfortable or doesn't want to be held. She loves to look at herself in the mirror. She also likes to be tickled and she laughs as she runs back in forth between mommy and daddy in the room and grabs onto our legs. I was worried when she woke up this morning, her first night away from the Hospicio, that she would be scared and not remember where she was. However, as I heard her wake up, at 4:17am for good, she sat up in her crib and just gazed at her mother and I with a peaceful grin on her face. She was a bit of a handful during parts of the ceremony today as she would have rather climbed a jungle gym then sat in a pew, but we managed. She is just so beautiful with her curly hair, long eye lashes, and full lips. We both feel just so lucky that god chose us to be her parents. It has been a whirlwind and a tiring couple days, no doubt due to the 13 hour time difference and the 21 1/2 hours of flying, but we are looking forward to enjoying the next couple of days and then bringing our beautiful daughter home to meet all of you, her new family and friends!