Izzie McBusy

Hi all,

We are still catching our breath, but Jaimie and I are SO enjoying being in our own home with our beautiful daughter. So, enjoy some new pics of Izzie McBusy (nickname coined by Brian, our neighbor in Guatemala)!

Enjoy the rest of the week!
Kathy

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Christmas in March! Yesterday, Izzie finally opened the rest of her Christmas presents from Nana and Papa:
She got a stroller for her Bitty Baby...

...and matching "mother/daughter" pj's and slippers!!

Footage from the park!

Update from HOME and Picture Catch-Up

Hi everybody,

We are finally settling in here at HOME in Texas! Izzie has been having a lot of fun. She already knows her way around the house, mostly due to the fact that she has been obsessively following Mischa into every corner of it. Mischa likes the attention, but the poor girl is wondering what is up with this really energetic admirer she suddenly has!

Yesterday, we took Izzie out for some much-needed shopping for clothes and supplies, and today we even went to church. We have gone to our neighborhood park, where Izzie quickly learned the ins and outs of all the playground equipment.

It is so unbelievable to finally see Izzie in our own house on American soil. There were times when we really couldn't envision this happy ending. I have to say that my predominant emotion right now is simply RELIEF!

So, without further ado, here are some photos of our fast and furious journey home over the past few days. Thanks to everyone for all the prayers and support along the way. We could not have made it without you, and without a few special favors from God sprinkled in along the way!

Much love,
Kathy, Jaimie, and Izzie

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It's 5 a.m. Wednesday, as Izzie and Jaimie wait for the taxi bound for our Embassy appointment:

Izzie in the taxi...

No photos are allowed inside the Embassy, so here's a family shot after we get back to Antigua:

Izzie doesn't know she's saying good-bye to one of her beloved nannies, Deniz:

Izzie and Jaimie are happy to pack up and move!

Later, we have lunch at the home of our dear friends and prayer warriors, Paul and Ruth:

On Thursday, before leaving Antigua for the last time, Izzie says "good-bye" and "get a move on" to her boyfriend, Lorenzo:

It was so hard to say good-bye to our beloved nanny and friend, Aura:

Thursday night, Izzie and I relax during a dinner with Jaimie, Bernardo, and Lissette at the Westin in Guatemala City:

A proud Bernardo and Lissette with their LIBERATED client:

Izzie relaxes in the bath after dinner:

Friday: another early morning.  The sun comes up as Izzie and Jaimie survey the plane we are about to board:

Izzie has an impromptu game of tic-tac-toe with Maria Alejandra, another adoptee who is going home to Texas:

We are on the plane and in the air!  Praise be to God!

We clear immigrations and customs, and emerge from the airport with the newest U.S. citizen. (Thanks for the pic, Ann!)

Our welcoming committee!

It's lunchtime, so we stop for lunch at Buffalo Wild Wings (a Morrison family favorite):

We arrive home to see that Lesli, Paige, and Bailey have decorated the house!

Izzie has been having fun opening and shutting all the doors in the place.  Don't ask me why. :)

Hello, Mischa!  Mommy's home!

Izzie immediately gets to work filling Mischa's water bowl:

We knew they would become fast friends!

Izzie unwinds before bed and admires the balloons someone sent us.  Whoever sent the balloons: thank you, and feel free to identify yourself!

This morning (Sunday), Izzie and I are ready for church:

After church, Izzie learns to make Mischa do tricks for treats:

A nice bath and a streak through the house with some strategically-placed balloons.  Ah, to be home!

Home at Last

More details and pictures to follow....but Kathy, Izzie and I all made it back to Texas yesterday!

(Happy) Panic!

I don't have much time to give details, but our embassy appointment has been super-expedited, and we will be coming home as a family this coming Friday! Praise God!

Cuteness!

Hello!

Izzie is feeling a lot better today. We have been hanging around the house while she recuperates. Here are some cute photos from today.

Hope you enjoy!
Kathy

Guatemala, home to the cutest babies and apparently, the biggest juice boxes in the world:

Craziness!

Hi everybody,

It has been a crazy week since Tuesday, when Izzie was liberated from the orphanage. First, we spent a couple of days resting at home and "lunching" in Antigua. Then, unfortunately, Izzie got really sick again yesterday with adenovirus manifested as massive amounts of diarrhea. Fortunately, she is starting to feel a lot better today. The doctor did scare me yesterday, though, when he said that her symptoms could last for two weeks. All I keep thinking about is the airplane ride home!

Our DNA results (which we already found out are positive) will arrive to the Embassy on Monday. We are shooting for a visa appointment on Monday, March 23 and a trip home on Tuesday the 24th.

Meanwhile, here are some pictures from this week.

Here is Izzie with me and her Oma (Audra) at Semillas after we learned the news of our freedom. (Thanks for the picture, Gary!)

The next day, we had lunch at Epicure in Antigua to celebrate. Here Izzie samples her ice cream:

And then, she tells us how cold it is:

Here, Izzie poses with our lifesaver Oma before she goes home:

Since arriving back at the apartment, Izzie finds shoes and socks to be wholly unnecessary:

She is back to doing her favorite things, like coloring, in a comfy setting:

Izzie plays with Cula, the DeCarlo Cooper's dog. Izzie is obsessed with dogs, and so far in life, Cula is her favorite:

And why wouldn't she be?

Please say a prayer for Izzie to recover soon so that we can enjoy our last few days in Guatemala without worry!

As always, thanks for your support!

Love,

Kathy