It is so nice to be writing my first post with our little guy sleeping in the next room!
We had such a different kind of “gotcha day” having him handed over after spending several days with him already. It was a much calmer experience, and I wish everyone had the opportunity to get to know their child in their own environment before their whole world comes crashing down as they are handed over.
There were still tears, as I knew there would be. Kai obviously loved Maria, and Maria loved him, so they both struggled parting from each other. As Maria left and it dawned on Kai that he was now alone with us, he cried for about half an hour on and off. Then we got in the car and Jeff started playing with him and said, “hooba booba.” Well, that is what turned the corner for us. 🙂 Kai thought that word was HILARIOUS! Every time we said it he would laugh and laugh, and then repeat it.
We got back to the hotel and he cautiously checked everything out. Then he started playing cars with his brothers, and was doing great.
Every now and then throughout the day it was as if something would remind him, and he would suddenly burst out into fresh tears. We know that the grieving is a normal process, but wow it is painful to watch.
He got to meet his big sisters last night through Skype. I can’t wait until they can meet in person!
His foster family told us that he is not a good sleeper. They said that he has to have 3 bottles to go to sleep, 1 with milk, 1 with juice, and 1 with water, and that he then needs another bottle of milk in the middle of the night or he will cry and cry. Well, we thought this might not be the best plan for a 2 1/2 year old, so we just didn’t. He actually went right to sleep no problem, and slept all night! Hooray for that!
Today we go back to the Civil Affairs office. They give us 24 hours to “see if you get along with your child” as our guide said. Then we sign the REAL papers. I would like to say that then we are done with the paperwork, but we are not quite there yet. But he will be officially forever ours in the eyes of the Chinese government. Finally.