The first day of a new life together!

Thank you all so very much for your prayers as we went through the day today!  They were felt through and through!  We left the hotel at 7am and arrived right on time at the social workers office at 9:30am.  After about 5 minutes, Sadie, Baba, and her birth mom arrived, along with the 4 social workers that we met when we came in December.  The next 30 minutes were a whirlwind, filled with introductions, paperwork, gifts, and tears.  The birth mom was incredibly sweet and seemed to have worked through her grief already.  I can only imagine how much she's been through and she seemed at peace with her decision.  I'm thankful that she has that peace.  Baba had a much harder time, and understandably so.  She has cared for her for a long time now and it is completely obvious how much she loves Sadie.  I will forever be grateful for the love that she has poured into our child!

First glimpse after way too long!

We said our good byes, got in the car and drove away.  It seems so odd to me that just like that we are responsible for another human being...for the rest of her life.  It's terrifying, exciting, and amazing all at the same time.  Sadie did so well in the car, playing with toys, talking a ton and eventually falling asleep.

The next stop was the medical clinic for a TB test and a once over from the pediatrician.  Y'all.  It was traumatic!  They had to stick her in the arm and draw blood and I had to restrain her while they did it.  What a first thing to have to do as her new mom!!  She was then terrified to let the pediatrician touch her.  I did lots of holding, soothing, and singing to calm her and then escaped with her from that place as soon as I could while I let Andrew pay the bill.  Whew!  Bless her sweet heart.  

Finally, around 1:15pm, we made it back to the hotel.  Sadie was exhausted, upset, and completely overstimulated.  We decided to order room service and headed upstairs.  I changed her diaper and got her out of her sweaty clothes (screaming at the top of your lungs at the doctor will do that to a girl) and started to show her all of her toys while Andrew ordered food.  

Suddenly, she started getting really upset, crying, squirming, and fighting me when I tried to comfort her in my lap.  Then she threw up - a lot.  All over me, her new clothes, the floor - everything.  We got her cleaned up and bathed and decided that we were going to stay in for the day, that the morning had just been too much for her.  From the good-byes she didn't understand, to the 2 hour car ride, to the doctor...her little body just couldn't handle it.  So, I wrapped her sweet body in a towel and held her for a while.  She cuddled in and rested.  It was sweet and sad all at the same time.  I feel so for her, I really do.  

As the rain drizzled outside, we put on jammies and took the afternoon to play, to get to know one another, to eat soup, and to be a family.  It was a sweet and restful time.

After several hours, we decided to head downstairs to dinner.  This hotel is wonderful in that there is a restaurant on the bottom floor that is never busy, is quiet (until we arrive) and is yummy.  

All girlified and ready for supper!!

Can't wait to eat!!!

Dinner was so. much. fun.  Sadie loved sitting in a highchair (thank you, Baba, for training her on that one!) and ate so well!  She hammed it up for us, too, making us laugh a ton at her antics.  Andrew commented that he could see her true personality coming out.  It was a sweet, sweet time.  

After dinner we did a quick bath (she's not a fan, but endures it like a champ!) and played a bit until it was time to Skype with the boys.  It was so good to see their faces and to hear about the great time they are having with Grammy and Grandpa!  Luke even beat his brothers in fishing - he caught 2 while they each caught only one fish.  Go, little man!  

Sadie meeting her brothers for the first time!

Then, it was off to bed!  We truly had no idea how this moment would go.  We knew she was tired, but didn't know if she'd give in to it.  We dimmed the room and I tried to hold her and sing to her.  No go...she fought her way out of my lap.  Then, I gave her her doll and put her in her crib.  And...she climbed out.  So, we put her in our bed, patted the pillow, laid down beside her and said, "Night, night" over and over.  We closed our eyes and waited.  She talked and moaned and, after about 20 minutes, fell asleep with her leg slung across her Daddy's arm.  Sweet, sweet girl.

All in all, it was a nerve wracking, hard, sad, happy, wonderful, and joyful day.  Please pray for her as I'm sure she's going to realize, eventually, that Baba is gone and we are here to stay.  Pray that she would be able to mourn and we would know how to help her through it.  And, pray for us.  As fun and exciting as it is to have a new daughter, I'd be lying if I said I'm not terrified.  I don't know this child at all.  I don't know yet how to be her mother.  We are learning and growing every day...and each day, we are walking through mountains of fear.  Pray for God's peace to abound and for us all grow and learn to love - together.