Day 5 - Arrived in Region and Met "Grady"

Thursday, December 23, 2010

We arrived in region at 10:00 am. I could not believe we were in the same region as our son and only a day away from meeting him!!!

Little did I know we would actually be meeting him is about an hour. Our facilitator took us straight to the social worker’s office. There his file was pulled and we found out more info about his family. I would rather not share that information at this time. The social worker was very sweet and you could tell that she really cares for the kids in the orphanage. We showed her our photo album, and then we went to the orphanage.

My heart was pounding, but I was trying to appear cool. When we arrived at the orphanage, they were doing some renovations through the building. It is going t look great when it is all done. They have a great area to walk around, a play area, and a garden. Little ones were walking with their caregiver. One of the little girls turned to us as if to say, “Are you here for me?” We went into the first building and met the director. She was beautiful both inside and out. She really cares for the kids under her care. We shared our album and talked about our family and how happy we would be to have “Grady” be part of it. She shared “Grady’s” medical condition which arthrogryposis of the lower limbs and it is affecting his knees and feet (they are not clubbed but turned in at the ankle joint). They were planning on sending him to have surgery in December, but decided to wait when they found out we were coming. I am so glad that they did.

Our facilitator told us that “Grady” is one of the favorites and that he is actually one of the older kids in the baby house. He should have been transferred at 3 years old from the baby house, but the director postponed the transfer. She sees in him a great desire to thrive. When he first came to the orphanage at 2 months, they were not sure if he would speak or be mobile. He is a very bright little boy and is working hard to be mobile. His upper body is very strong. He is crawling and pulling himself up.

THEN…”Grady” was brought in. We could not believe it. There he was…our son! He is beautiful…from his cute little lips, blond hair, gorgeous blue eyes, big hands (like daddy) with calices from crawling, to his sweet little feet. He was told that we were his mama and papa. I think he was very surprised. We gave him a teddy bear and then showed him our photo album. He sat on my lap and looked at our pictures and said mama and papa. I did not want to cry, but I could not help it. I am tearing up now thinking about that moment. Then Randell started tearing up. They told him that we were crying because we were so happy. We have looked at a little picture for months, hoping and dreaming of what this moment would be like. It excided every expectation. At that moment the world faded away, and all the paperwork, all the waiting, the long exhausting hours of travel, and the long days ahead no longer mattered. It is all worth it! He is God’s precious gift and we are so blessed that he will be part of our family.

We then played in a small room where the psychologist shared that he knows his colors, shapes, can draw, match items, can count 1-5, and is potty trained. It did not take him long to warm up to us. He moves around so fast and he is very independent. He can remove his clothes by himself. He loves music and any toy that makes sounds. His caregivers have done an amazing job caring for him and providing him with every opportunity to thrive. He is a happy little boy who is very loving and also has a strong will to thrive. The therapist believes that with therapy and surgery he will be able to walk. She says that he has the developed the schema in his brain of how to walk. This is why he is pulling himself up and trying so hard to “walk”.

When we were ready to leave, he said goodbye to all his caregivers and other friends (he blew kisses at them) and said he was going with mama and papa. He was sad to find that he was not leaving today, but we reassured him we would be back. He gave us each a kiss. We have already began the in country paperwork.  We hope that court can be before the end of the year.  Please pray that everything can be completed quickly.  We can’t wait to get him home!

Sorry no pictures today.  In the excitement, I left my camera in my bag.  I will post pictures in the next few days of "Grady", our apartment, and the region which is very different from the capital.  I am going to bed...exhaustion has set in.