GOTCHA DAY!!!

I woke up at 1am this morning & have been up ever since!   I just can't seem to get on a regular sleeping schedule.  To say that today has been full of emotion is an under statement.  As we met Kelly, our guide, in the lobby at 2:00 both myself & David were excited , scared, anxious & tons of other emotions! The Civil affairs office (this is where we picked up Madison) is only 12 minutes from our hotel, but it felt like it took forever to get there.

Once we arrived, we saw several other families who were adoption, as well.  After about ten minutes Madison came in with her nanny.  When they first brought her to us she was smiling and happy!  But then as time went by and the nanny began to tell her she was leaving, Madison started to tear up and pull away from us.  We finally asked the nanny to leave so we could get the initial separation over with...and boy let me tell you, she kicked and screamed all the way out the door.  In fact, I had to hand her off to David because I couldn't control her at one point!  I can only imagine what was going through her little mind as she was taken away by two strangers.  On the van ride back to the hotel she kicked and screamed a bit and eventually went all the way back to the back row to sit by herself.  David went back and sat in the floor to be somewhat near her. Once back at the hotel she threw herself on the ground not wanting to go BUT...once we got to the room and our translator showed her around she settled down.  After about 30 minutes or so as we were doing more paperwork, she started coloring (in the lines I might add) and we slowly joined her.

Now, once the translator left the room were totally on our own! We had written down some words and phrases to help get us through the night.  We've been amazed at how she is now repeating some english words!  In watching her, several things came to light!  She likes to color with both hands--she is ambidextrous, or should I say, gifted!  ;-)  She likes all of the crayons to be in a row and facing the same way.  And she likes things to be organized!  Oh, by the way, this little kid can EAT!  Madison ate a handful full of fries, 3 chicken wings, 2 bowls of noodles and a cup of soup.  You talk about cleaning a chicken wing, too...she puts David to shame!  Chick-fil-a had better be ready!

While we didn't have much time or ability to listen at the Civil Affairs Office, the orphanage and nanny gave us several wonderful things:  photos of Madison as a baby when she was first taken to the orphanage; a photo album of her crib and orphanage building; some of her playthings; and even the disposable camera we mailed to her several months back!  We truly got more than we had hoped for, and words cannot express our gratitude.  Madison seems to have been taken care of very well and loved.  Answers to our prayers for sure!!!

So, after a few tense moments, or should I say hours, things have settled down for now and Madison is such a joy.  Not sure how bed time will go, but for now, what a little blessing!  It's amazing how all the doubts and fears we have had these last few day and hours went away in a matter of moments.

While the "delivery room" may have been different, all the emotions were the same as the day I had Morgan & McKinley...all the excitement and anxiety, the love I felt in that moment when they brought her out to me,  the feeling that I would do whatever it takes to protect her & love her for the rest of my life.  It was a moment that only my Father could have designed!

Please Pray for us...

1) that tonight goes well when bedtime comes
2) we have to go back to civil affairs office tomorrow at 10... pray that this does not set madison back & that she won't be scared that we are taking her back
3) that she will continue to attach to both of us
4) that the language barrier will get easier

I will leave you with some pictures now...