Since it has been so crazy I haven't written things down day by day - so those of you who are checking the blog to follow up? You are going to get some of the highlights, which are still long-winded, because they come from me, so no worries ;)
Day One - Court day!
Court was to be on the first day full day here (as we arrived Wednesday evening), we didn't even know until Thursday morning what time court was even scheduled. We met with our agency representative around 9am Thursday morning and found out that court would be at 2pm that afternoon, which was awesome because that meant that we could spend the morning visiting hours with Little Miss. At 10am we arrived at the transition home and they quickly brought Little Miss out and handed her to me - amazingly enough she seemed to not only remember me, but when the nanny held out her hands to take her back for a kiss, Little Miss leaned away and didn't want to go :) She went to Jason pretty easily, but was very wary of him (as she really hasn't seen many men in her almost 18 mo. life) - she wouldn't take a bottle from us that morning and fell asleep very quickly into the visit (almost time for her nap anyway, but since it was early it did seem like a purposeful escape, she was coping). Thankfully after her nap she was a little more receptive. Still no smiles, but she was not continually averting her eyes and would take super quick little peeks at Jason and then look away. We left before lunch and quickly after lunch left for our court appointment. Court was at 2pm......and for something that was supposed to take five minutes and be easy, things were stressful all the way to the end, as we didn't end up getting seen until 3:30ish. Honestly we were concerned something was wrong, as they could tell us all was fine, but the delay combined with our agency staff talking in Amharic in a non-conversational (more business(ish) like, but somewhat concerning) way.....we could not relax. However, after all that time waiting, all was well. We were called in before the judge, it took all of about 5 minutes and we were told that she is now officially our child. Yay!!!! I can't tell you the sigh of relief that took place....a sigh of relief that would have been much bigger if a certain someone had remembered to put on deodorant that morning and hadn't sat stressed out in a stuffy hot room for an hour and a half ;) Ha! Since court ran late, we were running late for our afternoon visit with Little Miss - so it wasn't as lengthy, but we saw improvement from the morning - as she would look at Jason for at least 5 second intervals, took a bottle from us and was interacting a bit more (although still no smiles at this point). It was good progress - especially knowing that we were planning on taking custody of her the next afternoon and only had two visits left before doing so....
Day Two - Gotcha day!
It is safe to say that Little Miss has not only warmed up by the end of the first visit today, she is realizing that daddy's are a whole lot of fun that she didn't know existed. She touched Jason's beard (ON PURPOSE), took a bottle, started smiling and learned lots of new baby games (handing the ball back and forth, high fives, etc.) - which was amazing because we one concern was taking custody of her before she was ready - it was apparent she was ready and we were too! Our friend Ephrim picked us up after the 2nd visit to the transition home that day, in the evening, as we were moving to his guest home. Little Miss did amazing on the 1/2 hour drive to Lafto (sub-city) and was transfixed looking out the windows! We got to the home just in time for dinner, but wanted to settle into our room, change a quick diaper and figure out what we were going to feed our girl for her 1st dinner with us (so far it appears she eats almost everything, helps that we had traditional food that first night!) As we stepped out of our room to head down to dinner there was a man that stepped out of another room on our floor at the same time, who was from the Congo. I honestly was speechless - this was the SAME Congolese pastor that I had sat next to on the flight home (with Rhonda and Joey) for 17 hours back in September.......I even mentioned it on my blog here. Not only that - he was leaving that evening - we only overlapped for 3 hours at the guest home. How amazing is that? He lives in the Congo. I live in the U.S., we are on the same flight, on the same day, in the same row, in seats next to one another 7 months ago in September - and then in April we see each other - he still living in the Congo, I still living in the U.S., both currently in a different country than our own, at the same guest home, on the same day, on the same floor for just that teeny tiny bit of time? I can't even imagine what the odds of that would be if someone were to try to figure that out.........feels orchestrated. For what purpose? I have no idea, other than for me to see yet again that God can put who He wants, where He wants, at the time He wants. My mind was blown. Absolutely blown.
Little Miss slept straight through the night that first night, even though we were told that they typically still get 3 bottles/night in her baby room. I was ready and waiting.....and not sleeping (boo to you jetlag and an overactive mind). So she slept great, we however, did not. Ironic.
Day Three
Today was Little Miss's first bath and this mama's first time doing her hair - eek! How excited (and scared) I've been for this moment, but she was a champ and her little hairs were beautifully moisturized and puffed by the end of it all. One day down - a whole lot more to go ;) Little Miss is doing fabulously.....she is a busy girl and loves to take things out and put things away from one suitcase in particular. She is cruses like a champ and is taking a few steps at a time. I'm pretty sure she will be an independent walker by the time we arrive back in the States. She is a happy little girl around us, loves to talk (we continually wonder if it is babble OR if she is speaking some Amharic, probably a mix of both) and is super smiley - until we are around others when we are downstairs for meals, then she gets super clingy and avoidant with others. It is apparent she is sticking with mom and dad for now - which is good (since this wouldn't be the time to share her anyway!)
Things have been going so well, that we have been bracing ourselves that she still will go through a grieving period for what she has left behind, the nannies, her home for over 15 mo., etc. It is totally normal (and expected) for this to happen, but it hasn't happened yet. Last night she did wake up at 3am for a bottle, but then wouldn't take it and was crying, arching her back and upset. I thought to myself, here starts the grieving.....held her, rocked her, etc. but she wouldn't be comforted. It was dark, so I couldn't see her face (which makes it hard to gauge what is going on) so when Jason was holding her I turned on the bathroom light so that we hopefully get a better glimpse of what was going on. We did get a better glimpse - when I looked over at the night stand - and the bottle I had tried to feed her. It had no formula in it, just water. I had forgotten to rotate the formula dispenser thingy (that I had pre-measured what she needed into) and apparently had dumped air into the bottle with the water. Oh my! Rookie mistake ;) Thankfully, it was an easily correctable one - and she was soon fed, happy and asleep again before we knew it. Seriously though, it makes me laugh at what I thought was happening vs. what was really happening. Sorry baby girl!
We are also in a full on war with mosquitos.....and that enemy is super small - so it is a hard battle to win. Megan and I had a few issues with them in January, especially at night, buzzing in our ears - yuck. I often slept with a hoodie pulled up over my head and under a sheet just to keep them away (as Megan also did in her room). Although this war is not one to be laughed at (you folks living in the states with luxury's known as SCREENED WINDOWS ;) I did chuckle that first night as Jason and I had the sheets pulled up over our heads trying to avoid them together - last time I was a battle by myself - this time I have a co-warrior! We have killed quite a fair share - but have also gotten bit by quite a few (especially me and Little Miss). Please pray for our sanity as we try to defeat this small enemy!
Day Four
It is actually Easter Sunday today, as Ethiopians follow a different calendar than the rest of the world and although we didn't head to church (as we are trying to hunker down for a few days as a threesome before heading out and about) today was the first time I had a moment to just sit alone with the Lord. Honestly? I was overcome. Speechless. In prayer trying to give thanks, I was overcome to tears. There aren't words of thanks and praise that can adequately thank God for His faithfulness and what He has done. I've heard my mama say before that she was blessed beyond words - I'm borrowing her phrasing but adding to it - I am blessed beyond words and blessed to tears. Last Sunday I was at home struggling, weary and trying to fight off the lies that were being thrown at me, having a hard time seeing the end and this Sunday, just one week later, I sit in a room in a different country watching Little Miss nap as I type. God is good. God is good to me. People, I thought I cried a lot during this adoption process, I'm now starting to wonder if it will be more so after - as I see this sweet girls face, as she becomes part of our family, and as I think and tell of her/our testimony - wow. Just LOOK at what He has done. I realize it isn't over. We aren't home quite yet, but my God is faithful. That I know.
We don't have wifi at our guest home here and so my communication is limited. I am hopeful to post every few days or so to let our friends and family at home know how we are doing. So when are we coming home? That depends on how fast the last pieces of paperwork move for us. We need to obtain a new birth certificate for her, a passport and have a medical appointment before we can be submitted to embassy - once submitted? We most likely would be ready to go with in 2 days time? We are hopeful to be home in 3 weeks time, but have a contingency plan in place, if that doesn't happen.....please be praying for us as we move through this last bit of process. For favor, God's timing and peace. We are basking in the opportunity we have been given to parent Little Miss by herself for a few weeks time. Please keep our kiddos at home in your prayers as well, they are doing well and we are incredibly blessed to have not only family (& friend support) but AMAZING family support (Grammy J & Papa and Gram C & Papa) how incredible it is to be able to take this time here, and not have a moment's worry about our children at home needs being met and cared for in a loving way. What a gift. Again, we are blessed beyond words.
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