September 8 Adoption Day

Family of Four
a smile at last
Feeling better after lunch
Adoption Day
View from our hotel


Today, we met as a group of 3 families at 0845, to finalize the adoption at the civil affairs office. Kira and Susan stayed behind in the hotel. We were there until about 11:00. Lots more paper-signing, and getting Aurora’s foot stamped, and it was soon official! She was ours!

The only thing was that Aurora was not doing that great all morning. She woke up and started off by guzzling a bottle of water. Then took more at the hotel breakfast buffet, but that was it; a bite of egg, and melon, and then threw up all over me. She was very lethargic the whole morning at the office, and threw up on me again. I’m sure it was her body reacting to the whole stress, and not uncommon. We got back to the hotel, and she fell asleep right away, for an hour. When she woke up, she ate some food, and soup, and perked up in our room. She walked around although she’s quite weak tone, and unsteady. Still not smiling at this point, or talking.

Later in the afternoon, we went in search of a pool with one of the other families; which turned out to be quite an adventure. Kira was really excited to go swimming, so Tom was going in with her, and Susan, me and Aurora would watch. We had to take a taxi, and finally found the entrance to this public pool. There was some confusion trying to get admission and get the rules straight. We were not allowed to go in and watch, not sure why. Then after about 15 minutes, they all came back out from the pool; as none of us had any bathing caps on, they all had to exit the pool. They also did not allow photos, it seems. However, in the meantime, Aurora was happy to walk and walk around the lobby, and I even captured her first smile, even if it was to herself!

That night was an early one, with Kira melting down after no nap. All of us were exhausted; Aurora had a melt down over something she couldn’t have; then she decided she only wanted to go to Tom…..here we go again was all I could think!! This triggered me to have a bit of an emotional meltdown, knowing what that’s like again…

Tom, ever the strong one, made me remember again, that the most important thing is that Aurora is settling in with us, attaching to one of us in the beginning, and not to take it personally. What works for her is what’s best, and we can support her in that.

We attempted a bath with the girls, but Aurora was too afraid to go near the water, even with Kira already in, having her usual fun.So off to bed we went, and I didn’t get a post done. Way too exhausted…

Hope you enjoy some photos….
Cheers,
Norma