"Talking" to my kids for the first time!!!!

I got one of the greatest gifts ever today.

My son and daughter got to see me and Abe signing and talking on a pre-recorded video, telling them how much we love them and how proud we are of them. And WE got to see a video of THEM watching us, seeing us for the first time in "real" life, and not just pictures.

I cried my eyes out.

Levi was wearing one of our adoption bracelets that we did as a fundraiser. My friends Brandy and Logan gave them their care packages, and a doll for Zahria (THANK YOU BRANDY!!!!!!!) and then asked them if they wanted to see us. Levi and Zahria sat down on a chair together, looking excited and possibly a little overwhelmed. Logan started the video and they both immediately leaned closer to the computer, smiling BIG. When we started talking and signing, Levi's eyes LIT up and his face split into a HUGE grin. He looked SO. HAPPY. As if all his fears were relieved. I am going home. My parents can sign with me. I will have a way to communicate. .

I started bawling like a baby.

Zahria was grinning too, and watching intently. Someone who works for our agency translated what we were saying to her, and she kept looking up, eyes shining, to listen, and then back at the video. I bawled some more. THIS is why we went through over two and a half years of complete hell, fighting tooth and nail to be able to get these kids. To see their precious faces, and to be able to tell them that we LOVE them and we are coming for them. To see their excitement and for them to know someone CARES and that they get a mommy and a daddy forever. Every minute of heartache and suffering, all the frustration, the insanity--it was all worth it. I did more than I would have ever thought possible for these kids and I would do it again in a heartbeat. THESE are the light of my life, and they make our family whole.