Finally back home after a two day long travel from Minneapolis to Sømna. Both Sanna and Emil are great travelers and made it very easy for us as parents. We have been a bit tired after we came home and thats why we have been slow on posting.
Its very nice to be able to show Emil to our family and friends. He seems to adjust fine to Norwegian life. Here is a few pics of his first meetings.
We do miss our American family, so here is a big MISS YOU HUG to the Formans!
The Norwegian team brought a new member on board this time. Grandpa Peder Sverre from Sømna has been so kind to join us on this second miracle journey to the US. He came a week after us and right on time to welcome his new grandson. Its been amazing to share this miracle and also let someone else from home meet the Foreman family, and experience how wonderful they are, not only listen to us telling them.
Grandpa and Sanna have been a great team - when mom and dad are busy with new baby, its so nice and handy to have grandpa here. We are very grateful for all his help and cannot see how we could have done this without him. Thanks a lot!
I found this baby body when shopping for Emil: "Team Grandpa" it says. Just had to buy it :)
Two great things happened today. Emils passport arrived for one! He is now officially an American citizen and we can fly home on Monday as planned. JP was so helpful to drop by the passport office this morning and pick it up - though not without difficulties. Luckily it all turned out fine in the end and we are all so very happy for that :-)
We had an appointment at Partners in Pediatrics (helsestasjonen) today to check if Emil has gained weight since our last visit on Monday. He did! A little more chubby he is with a gain of 4 onces. His weight is now the same as when we left the hospital. In other words, he is all set for the long flight home. Emil is a healthy and happy little boy. We can relax :-)
We also got to experience Minnesotas weather in March. It was almost spring, then suddenly a snow storm made the scenery all white again. We had a nice walk outside in the beautiful sunshine today -a family of 4. Grandpa behind the camera :-)
Love and hugs from the Norwegian team Emil, Sanna, Hanne, Tommy and granda Peder Sverre :-)
Spring is here! Okay, well, Minnesota's version of that... which consists of rain, sleet and snow in the forecast ahead. It's a good thing those Norwegians aren't shy to be out in the elements.
Today's field trip was for Emil's passport. The caravan started in Maple Grove, swinging by the house on Aquila, where we switched drivers to get to the downtown Minneapolis location of passport services. Yesterday we were able to secure Emil's certified birth certificate so today was about getting an "instant" passport. Yeah, well, we should have known better. However, it all worked out in the end.
The office was a tad full of men in security uniforms bearing guns in their hip holster. A tad bit of over-cautiousness? Really. So we arrived 30 minutes early and get in line at Window #1. Gave our confirmation number and began filling out the passport application. Back in line and given our next part of waiting for A014 to be called. I let the parents go to the window and waited. Sensing things might be taking a turn, I stepped up and heard them questioning the validity (or who knows what) of the surrogacy and reason for passport. We discovered that we needed to provide the Certified Order for all things legal in this transaction. At one point she asked if I could provide my medical records as proof. Um, no. I think not.
We now have two people helping us at the window, a supervisor and the first guy. She explains that they can get the ball rolling but will need to see the Certified Order (of parentage). Then fine then. The easiest and fastest way to get this done is to drive a couple of blocks and pay for another copy (remember, raining cats and dogs and puddles that could swallow up a small car). Another 30 minutes later and Tommy is back in line to provide the proof. Somewhere in the morning's discussion we hear that this is "new and setting precedent" as of yesterday. Just our luck.
Oh, and this "instant" passport thing downtown... not so much. Now we are to come back another day to pick it up. Thankfully we didn't wait to go downtown and start the process. JP will provide this service on Thursday during his drive back from work. We are happy that they were pleasant and accommodating at the window and will also allow someone else to pick it up this week!
Emil... he slept through it all. There were also signs everywhere that cell phones and cameras weren't allowed (maybe that's why the armed guards?)... but I don't listen well to rules such as that. We needed some proof of our application for Emil's citizenship after all.
Part Two of our morning consisted of refueling by driving through the drive-thru of Golden Arches (mmm, burgers, chips & cokes)... and coming back for a bit to eat at the kitchen table.
A quick visit with the neighbors, Nancy & Lily, rounded out our visit for the day. It was nice to reconnect and enjoy some time together.
Lily was quite smitten with Tommy... check out the video for proof!
Meeting at Calvary for church and then back to Aquila for breakfast... afterward Team Norway heads back to Staybridge for a "nap" and Team Minnesota finishes chores and homework.
We are getting to know our new family member better every hour. We adore him!!! He sleeps and eats and seem very happy!! NORSK: Det går kjempefint med oss. Emil sover og spiser og er ellers en fornøyd og lykkelig liten gutt. Vet ikke om jeg tørr si det, men det kan virke som vi har fått en like "lett-å-ha-med-å-gjøre-baby" som Sanna (er) og har vært. Fingrene er krysset for det :-) Legger ut noen nye bilder av gullklumpen vår.
What a week we have behind us... Our little baby boy is finally here in our arms and everything have went above all expectations. We are so lucky and blessed, to huge for words. We came home from the hospital at Wednesday and have now settled in Emil in his first new temporarily home here at Staybridge Suites. He seems to be OK, he eats, sleeps and looks up a bit now and then. Yesterday he go a bit fuzzy, but guess thats just a normal thing :) Emil is just an adorable little prince, here is a few pics of the new fellow.
Big sister finally got to meet her little brother. They seem to like each other, even if Sanna seem to think Emil should cry a little less and play some more... What a joy to be able to have siblings, magic moments...
All of the official paperwork and swearing of parentage is complete! It was a very simple process and we all felt that we made the Referee's day a little brighter with such a loving & happy occasion to be in Family Court. Now we wait for the certified birth certificate to arrive in the mail so that the Kleivens can apply for Emil's passport. Hopefully we can get it all finalized in the coming week so that they can depart Minnesota on the 28th to fly home to family and friends in Norway!
