Gotcha Day Update

Patti is asleep right now (9:00 Pm)  Her last words were … you have to do the blog tonight and mumbled something about emotions and getting up at 3 am this morning.  I reminded her that the deal was,  I did all the paperwork to get Samuel here and she had to do the blog every night.   She was asleep before I finished my sentence.    So much for that deal!!!

 

So  we all woke up at 3 this morning… half due to Jet lag and half due to anticipation and anxiety.  Even though this is our 4^th adoption and 7^th child we still were nervous about the handoff.    We spent the morning getting ready to go to the civil affairs office for the handoff.  We met several other adopting parents from all over the US,  some going thru our agency and others  from several different agencies.  I knew that if all of us were at the civil affairs office at the same time … it would be chaos  and it was.  But it was very fun chaos with a very rewarding and wonderful purpose.    We went to the building and as we were going to the elevator we saw Samuel arrive with the orphanage director and care giver.  We actually rode up the elevator with him.  Obviously he didn’t know us but they did and we spoke for a few moments.  As soon as we got to the floor  they went to a waiting room and we join about 20 other adoption couples in a open room.  It was total chaos as expected with dozens of children meeting their forever families and parents for the first time.  A lot of crying and concerned looks from the babies and the parents.   They finally brought Samuel out and we joined in the chaos.    Interesting how little you are aware of what is going on around you… once they bring your child to you.    I looked up and realized we were the only group left in the room.  Samuel did great during the whole time.  He was very interested in what was going on and was looking all around while we had him.  He had one meltdown when the caregiver finally left us and he realized that he was alone with some strange people.  It took a while  (20 minutes or so) but we finally got him calmed down.  Abbie did a great job of getting him distracted and interested in eating and playing while we finished the paperwork.

She had him laughing by the time we were done.   He is a very alert and bright little boy.  He watches everything around him and seems to understand just about everything we tell him to do.  Even though he doesn’t understand any English and we do not understand any thing he says.   He seems to be bonding well with all 3 of us.   We returned to the hotel and have spent the rest of the evening getting to know him.   He is very small and light.  His legs and arms are very thin.  He appears to be in very good health otherwise.  No indication that his heart issue or missing Kidney have slowed him down other than his small size.  We will obviously feed him well for the rest of the trip and take him to the doctors as soon as we return  home.  He ate well and took a bath and went right to bed.  We prayed over him as we put him down and he laid there with eyes wide opened until we finished and then yawned and then went to sleep in about 3 minutes.  Picture perfect finish to  wonderful day. 

 

Thanks to all of you who prayed for this day and that it would go as well as it did.  We truly appreciate your friendship and prayers.  Eight more days in Guangzhou to finish all the paperwork and then home.

 

God Bless

 

Mark & Patti &  Abbie

P.S. Not sure about the haircut they gave him but we will take care of that when we get home also !!!

Wake up, Abbie!!!  You're getting a new brother today : )

Abbie's bear all tucked in

Abbie is mimicking the guy we saw with two cell phones at the same time!

At our hotel...waiting to get Samuel : )

Waterfall at our hotel.  Still waiting to get Samuel...We've been up since 3AM!!!

Beautiful!!! Behind our hotel. : ) Lovely waterfall!!!

So peaceful!!!

All of this is part of our hotel...very serene and beautiful!

Message for Samuel all ready for his Gotcha Day : )

Checking out the goldfish...Daddy and his sweet baby girl

Meeting our guide in the lobby...Waiting for the other families...So ready to go!!!

First picture of Samuel!!!  Interesting how the heart is in the background

Am I adorable or what???  Introducing Samuel Mark DiBlasi!!!

Yay!!! Samuel's Gotcha Day!!!  Welcome to our family sweet boy!!!  Thank you Jesus!!!

Abbie and Samuel : )  She loves him already : )

Mommy and Samuel : )  Happy Gotcha Day!!!  You are adorable!!!

Daddy and Samuel : )  Long day for this little boy!!!

Someone worked very hard to shape this heart!!!

Already playing a game with big sister...We can't believe that he is here!!!  Thank you, Lord!!!

Love this smile : )  Playing with Daddy!!!

What a great big sister already!!!  Welcome Samuel!!!

Daddy and Samuel!!!

Had to take this picture : )  So sweet!!!

Our sweet boy likes to have fun : )

Samuel put these on...So silly : )  So sweet!!!

Now I am a Clean Machine!!!