Medical Appointment and Krispy Kreme

We've made it to New Dehli!  AJ did fine on the flight until the very end.  I think he would much rather watch planes than fly on them.  This flight kind of made me homesick because getting on a plane should equal going home.  Regardless of how my heart is ready for home and Brody, we shall trudge on thru this week.

AJ had his medical appointment this morning.  I think we had the same doctor we saw on the show Little Couple.  He noticed AJ's delay in speech first thing.  It wasn't until the past year that AJ started progressing in life so we expect delays.  He has very little foundation of his language, but he seems to be picking up English quickly with us.  AJ is 38 1/4 inches tall and 29 pounds (he will be five years old in May).  That's a pound more than when he was weighed in February- Whoo hoo!!! He has a great appetite, and I see no problem with him gaining weight in the future. They gave him a TB test which he was not happy about.  We will go back in 48 hours, Wednesday, to have it read.

We went to the mall by our hotel for lunch.  I ate Chinese, and my guys ate Indian.  After lunch we spotted a Krispy Kreme and could not resist.  Oh sweet joy!  It was delicious.  It was a piece of home I was longing for.  AJ thought it was grand because it is.  He thought the hat was great too!

This hotel is ok, but we miss our last hotel.  We miss the people of our last hotel.  At least we have two huge malls connected to each other that we can walk to to cheer us up! Haha. There are many food options to choose from there. We eat, go back to the hotel and wait until it's mealtime again.  One more week...

Day 6 with AJ

Am I rubbing off on AJ yet?!?!

AJ has been a hoot today.  Oh how he makes us smile!  He has liked playing copycat.  We have been able to teach him several new words since he was so eager to play copycat.  He learned to name body parts and to say different greetings to people.  Even Brody got him to say a few names by showing him pictures on the wall during FaceTime.

We worked on potty training all afternoon.  He was only partially trained.  After five days, we figured out his bodily functions schedule.  This afternoon was a complete success thanks to Oreos.  I'm thankful this was just an activity he was curious about and wanted to do.

We went to an instant photo shop to get his visa pictures made.  I got tickled after the photo was made and the man said it would be 30 thirty minutes.  Ryan asked, "isn't it supposed to be instant?"  The man replied, "30 minutes is instant in India."  Best line of the day!  Glad there was a wait because it gave us some time to talk.  Like most people he asked questions about Anirudha because obliviously he is Indian and we are not.  We shared about his adoption, and the man was very pleased to hear the story. The man asked Ryan what he does, and Ryan explained he is a pastor.  For better or worse, we answer questions openly and honestly here.  We know our answers might not be taken well, but we also know that opportunities to share the gospel will be missed if we don't.  Surprisingly this man excitingly says, "You believe in Jesus?  Me too!"  It was a nice conversation we had thanks to the not so instant photos.

Our adoption here really has been well received.  I think a lot of that has to do with Anirudha being older and not a baby.  When we first got to the hotel a week ago, we were open about the reason we came to Pune was to adopt our son.  We got puzzled looks of why would you want to adopt. Then on Monday after meeting Anirudha we showed pictures of him and the hotel people smiled. By Tuesday they were asking questions and wondering when he would come to the hotel.  Wednesday excitement began to build.  Thursday many of the staff was waiting at the door when we walked in to meet him.  They gave a present to him in the lobby and had cake waiting in our room.  The chefs made a special treat for him. Everyone at the hotel has been very curious and kind to our precious boy.  Today Anirudha was going around shaking hands, saying hello, saying Namaste with a bow, and just being plain cute. I can see how the idea of adoption changed this week with several people.   Like with the reason I write this blog, I hope we plant a seed in someone's heart to adopt or to get involved in orphan care.  Millions of orphans all over the world who are just waiting for someone to love them.  

Putting It Into Practice

AJ got a cricket bat!  He loves it!!!

It's been four years of reading books on adoption, learning about attaching and bonding, going to adoption/foster care support group, reading adoption blogs, listening to adoption conferences, and listening to my friends stories of their experiences.  Today we finally put it into practice.  We were pleasantly surprised at the good day we had.  AJ will try to rock himself and self soothe, and it is a joy to pull him close to me and rock.  He doesn't understand yet, but he has parents who are now going to be there for him and comfort him.  At breakfast he was singing a song, and I realized it was Happy Birthday.  So we sang happy birthday to carrot cake.  Then Ryan figured out his other two songs are Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and Jingle Bells.  Needless to say we have sung a lot today because it's something familiar to him.  We went to a mall to get him some smaller clothes, and we had the best time watching him look at everything.  He never picked anything up or ask for anything.  Then at the market he pointed and smiled at the bat so of course we brought it.  We got a few foods AJ is familiar eating.  We've tried keeping his routine some what the same so his meal times and sleep are the same as the orphanage. AJ has enjoyed eating at the hotel's restaurant, and they have loved cooking for him.  They are so kind to come to our table to talk to him.  Shower time was fun.  I put on a swimsuit and got in with him to make him more comfortable.  He likes the warm water running down his back.

We are trying to have Brody and AJ bond a little through FaceTime.  Brody is just precious talking to his brother.  AJ will say, "Hellooooo!"  I can't wait until they are together.  Brody will like teaching AJ things.

It's now bedtime, and I pray we get another full night's rest. Here are cute pj pics.

We got him!!!

Today we got Anirudha James Brice!

Our little prince was delighted to strut around in his new clothes.  Of course he picked the crocs as his shoes to wear, but we figured it was his day and he can wear whatever he wants to wear.  Normaly everyone at the orphanage does not wear shoes, but to Anirudha shoes means bye bye and he was not being left behind.

We met with orphanage director before our blessing.  She gave us all the paperwork and passport. She had his mother years ago make her handprints and give a lock of her hair. There was also a letter from the orphanage to give to him when he is older.  It is a precious letter of how he came there and his early days, but it also gives details of his mother.  It is one of the most thoughtful things I have ever seen.  I got teary eyed several times today, but I won't go into details because today this blog is all about celebration!  

Celebration happened during his blessing from the orphanage.  Caregivers and other workers said their hopes for Anirudha, they said their goodbyes to him, and they wished him luck and happiness.  This is not a custom we do or had even seen until this week, but we understood the importance it is to the wonderful people who have been taking care of Anirudha for four years.  We also knew our son needed to say his goodbyes too, and this blessing was his opportunity.  It was a joy to see how much the caregivers like him, and we know Anirudha will miss them.

We took lots of pictures to remember this special day.  I would love to write about how the hotel continued to treat our AJ like the little prince he is once we arrived with him, but I will have to save that for another time as I am physically and emotionally exhausted.

AJ at the hotel finally being able to lookout over his city!

Letting Down Guards

Today was a really good day.  AJ seemed more relaxed with us.  We were greeted with great big hugs this morning with the expression of "they came back for me."  Oh his heart is so tender!  We heard lots of laughs today, and he smiled a lot more.  He enjoyed playing ball with his papa.  Poor Ryan, papa is not his choice of names, but I must admit it's too cute hearing AJ call out for his papa.  AJ enjoys playing outside so we spent quite a bit of our time on the playground.  I loved, LOVED holding him while we were on the swings.  Feeling his body relax while I'm holding him is such a joy.  It's a blessing he is letting down his guard!  And while his guard is being let down with us, some of the other children get jealous at times.  He has been hit a few times. It bothers me greatly to see this and we do stop it, but I also understand why they are mad.  They hit because it's the only way some of these children know how to deal with that emotion.  I can just hear Karen Purvis talk about children from the hard places.  Orphanages are hard places.  We are at the best of the best places to be.  These 80 children get amazing care, but there is not the nonstop quality time of a parent. Children crave the unconditional love of parents.  They crawl into your lap practically screaming "love me."  They put your hand on their back or head or arm for you to rub.  The little blind girl who stays in the isolation room with a baby gate at the door did not want to let go of my hand this morning because that's her way of saying "sit by me and love me."  So yes I understand why some are jealous of AJ getting parents and so much attention.  The good news is many will have their special days of meeting their parents soon.  The questioning of "will somebody love me" will be answered, and the anger and sadness will slowly fade away.  But my heart can't forget the ones who will remain and eventually be sent to older children orphanages or be put into institutions. It's crazy how such a good and joyous week is also heartbreaking.  I'm happy, truly I am.  I have waited a long time for this week.  It's just hard seeing real orphan faces. It's even more difficult once I know their names. It changes everything.  Everything!  It breaks the guard I have around my little American Dream.  I don't want a big house or a nice car or dare I even say fancy educations for my children. I just want to be a mother.  A mother who shows and tells my children of the love of God because love changes everything.

Mr. Big Personality

It's been a fun day getting to know AJ.  It's also been long and tiring but a good tired.  We don't just have one child wanting us to pick him up and play, we have about 30 kids always wanting to play. We've lost count how many children we've held, and it is an honor to hold and hug each one.  They all deserve mommies and papas to love on them each day.  They are beautiful and precious and I want to have them all!  Really I do want to be a mother to all of them.  Well maybe not that one child who wiped a booger on me today, but I could teach him to use a tissue.  Seriously, I see all their beautiful faces and personalities and cannot understand why they are still at the orphanage.  They are wonderful, and I silently pray with each hug that someone will see their value.

Our AJ is very wonderful. Oh how we love him greatly!  He makes me smile.  He also makes me sad when I see him struggle emotionally. I would like to say adoption is all rainbows and kittens, but it also has heartache and grief. We've got a long road ahead of us, but we are not afraid of it one bit. It's going to be hard.  There will be many tears shed by all of our family because this is not easy.  But love conquers all!  Love changes everything!

You're probably wondering what AJ's personality is like so I'll tell you what we've learned so far.

- He is a big ball of energy.

- He's everywhere! I'm shocked at how swiftly he smooths.
- He's everywhere!! There is no lock or gate that he cannot open.
- And in case you didn't understand, he's everywhere!!!  I love this kid!
    Example- when asking which bed is AJ's this was the reply, "well....well this is Anirudh's room.  Everyone has a spot, but he sleeps in any bed he likes." Keep in mind there are 30 kids in that one room.

- He loves cars.  He enjoys watching out the window at the cars. AJ is very fascinated by cars, and the poor little guy is going to be disappointed when he gets home because he is banking on seeing my silver SUV that was in the pictures we submitted four years ago. Anyone got a translation for that?
- He likes to spin. He also likes knowing when you are going to move...no surprises.
- He likes sunglasses (thanks Amelia for the little blue pair in the bags of clothes).
    We've played our own version of peek a boo with sunglasses-great for making eye contact.
- He is determined and doesn't change his mind easily. It's kind of like the three year old stage of 'I do it."
- He likes cameras.  Maybe he'll grow up to be like his mama who always has a camera. AJ does not care to stand still to have his picture made.
- He likes letting the other children know "my mommy" and "my papa."
- He shares very well.
- He loves the toy cricket bat.  It's cute watching him lug it everywhere.
- He likes to eat sweet things.
- He is calmer outside.
- He is very curious.  He likes to know what everyone is doing.
- He has a cute little giggle.
- He has a BIG personality. Mr. Helper likes being in charge!  :)

Well, that's all I got today so I'll get to what you're really wanting- pictures!

You will see this tree in other pictures.  It's all one tree.  It's very unique how it grows roots into the ground from the upper limbs.  I will have to research it to find out what kind of tree it is.