The VPN is not working right now so our daughter Katie is blogging for us from Germany!! Thank you Kate!!
The wait to meet Mia was killing us- it was 3 more hours due to the fog and slow travels from the orphanage.
Sarah saw her from our 18th story window so we knew "the call" would be coming soon! 10 seconds later the phone rang and it was time to come down to the lobby!
We had so many pictures of her we recognized her right away- she is so adorable and so tiny! She seemed happy, excited and shy. She had a smile on her face and she immediately liked the backpack we gave her with the build a bear! She said- Mommy, Daddy, Jie Jie and Ge ge! Her voice is so cute and it is so nice to put that voice with her face!
We all went straight up to the room and chatted. I actually prefer the civil affairs office for gotcha day. It felt awkward and small in a hotel room. The poor dear child had everyone staring at her and there were no distractions, no other families to look at, no crying babies to feel sorry for- just our little girl and lots of bigger people looking at her...
She came with the clothes on her back, a bracelet from another family and some pictures. I asked about her photo album... and they said what photo album? I am so bummed- she NEVER got it. This dear child has heard from other visiting families that she had a family and yet she never received anything from us. How confusing for her and how very sad. We sent 2 gifts and all she got was the cake and nothing else...
After the director and the nannies left we ate lunch. She was so hungry and she ate everything in sight!
Then we shopped for gifts for the orphanage visit and snacks for the two girls. Once our guide left us Mia started to go down hill... she is shy and talked very little already... now she was left with us who did not speak her language. We returned to the room and she quietly cried. She tried to act brave and hide it. I sat next to her and offered comfort but she was not ready to accept it.
We decided we needed to get out of the room so we went for dinner. She refused to eat... she was not happy. She ended up taking a few sips of sprite but didn't touch anything else.
Once back in the room she allowed me to help her get on her PJ's and settle her in bed with a chinese cartoon!
Praying that the night goes well!
Praying for her as she makes the biggest adjustment of her life...
