Vladik went "home" today

As he hugged me and we cried in the atrium of the Atlanta airport, Vladik says "no Ukraine!" With every part of our being, Keith and I just wanted to say OK and take him back to his real home, our home. For his own protection, we have not told Vladik we are adopting him. But we have told him that we definitely want to see him again. We told him that today was not a goodbye but a see you later. His understanding of that is that we will host him again this summer. He will get the surprise of his lifetime in less than one month when we show up in Ukraine to bring him HOME. It was very emotional for him today with quite a bit of tears just before he left and we were sad for him but not sad for the same reasons. I hate that he has to deal with such a variety and complexity of emotions at such a young age. I just want to wrap him up in our arms and protect him but you can't do that for any child, adopted or not. But hopefully it will be enough that one day soon we will be able to say goodnight and I love you to Vladik EVERY night.