What is up with the WiFi?????

We have been without the internet for 2 days now.  It has been a strange disconnect since our wifi is the only means of communication we have with our friends and families in the United States as well as business communications, lodging and travel planning and contact with our agency.   So, we have been in a definite state of limbo. 

Our hospital visits have been enjoyable, challenging and emotional.  Little One continues to progress both in bonding with us and physically.  Either Saturday evening or Sunday morning her oxygen was removed so she only has the IV remaining.  It was nice to see her without it.  We were originally told she would be released on Monday (today), but when I visited this morning I think they told me it would be Wednesday instead.  Communication there is always fun too J Today is a holiday in Colombia, Independence of Cartegena.  The ICBF offices are not open but we are hoping tomorrow to get more clarification on her hospital stay.  The plan is to have our official Encuentro date the day following her release.  We would obtain custody that day.  The following day our papers should be presented in court.  Our desire is to fly to Medellin on that day if the papers are processed quickly.  The problem we are facing is that Crystal, my sister, is arriving in Medellin on Saturday.  I am sure she would like us to actually be there to greet her!   

We have been taking a few small things up to the hospital to give Little One.  Nothing too big or extravagant.  The first thing I took was a balloon which she calls a bomba (which actually means bomb in Spanish, but I believe is the slang for balloon).  She loved it.  I also brought one for the 5 year old girl in the bed next to her.  We ended up getting in trouble with the nurses because it obviously makes the fluids not flow very well when you are smacking a balloon around with the hand your IV is in.  Little One also loves looking at pictures and videos on our cell phones.  She especially likes a video of Reese jumping on the trampoline at home. She says “brinca, brinca”. We started limiting the cell phone yesterday.  “No celular.” She doesn't quite know how to navigate gently or without deleting apps or photos.  Plus, she gets a bit angry when we take it away.   Yesterday, Brant took in a picture book we have read to all our children when they were young.  It has baby faces on it with words describing their expressions.  Brant wrote the Spanish words for the expressions on the pages so he could read it to her in both languages.  She really loves her libro.  She even let Brant hold her to read it.  During my visits, I am not allowed to touch the book.  I think Little One associates it as a special thing between her and her Papi.  She also loves wearing his sunglasses (gafas) and posing for pictures in them.  Today I took her a My Little Pony.  We braided and brushed and clipped its hair.  Then she fixed my hair for me too.  It was a very sweet moment. 

Yesterday was a harder day for the visits.  The air conditioner was not working in her room.  She was sweaty and so was everyone else in the room.  During one of my visits, she needed her IV moved.  They had already placed it in three different locations on her arms/hands.  They were trying for a fourth.  The nurse working with her was extremely impatient and went for the stick while Little One was moving around and protesting.  She ended up squirting blood everywhere.  She was visibly annoyed and stormed from the room.  Another nurse came in and ended up placing the IV in Little One’s foot.  It was terrible.  She screamed and moaned a lot.  There was a lot of blood.  I had to sit down because I felt so sick.  Not the high point of my visits!  Little One was a bit grouchy from that but improved in the evening after napping.

Occasionally, Little One will sit with us or give us a hug or kiss on the cheek. She calls us Mami and Papi some.  But she will not hug, kiss or speak when we are leaving.  You can tell she does not want us to leave.  She begins to pout and her eye contact stops and she will not tell us Ciao.   

Her foster family has continued to be so kind.  We have met the foster mother and father, their biological daughter who is 12 years old and the foster parent’s daughter-in-law.  They try to communicate as best they can.  They speak zero English so we get by on our limited Spanish and body language.  The foster parents are very curious.  They have asked how long we will be in Colombia, if we are staying close by, when we are travelling to Medellin, what denomination we are, all kinds of questions that I answer as best I can.  They love her so much. They have raised her since she was 6 months old so I know their hearts are hurting right now.  The foster father often fights back tears.  I have often patted his leg or shoulder to let him know I understand and I empathize.  It will not be an easy transition. They have 4 children.  Three are biological and one they adopted from foster care.  They currently have two other foster children in their home as well as a granddaughter who lives with them.  I just love their hearts for the fatherless.  I pray that the Lord bless their efforts to take care of these children. 

We decided yesterday to venture out a bit more with our eating and get some street food.  We did not give any to Reese and Jude yet until we see how it affects us all.  So far so good.  We have eaten what I believe they call chuzos.  They are steak and potato kabobs.  We also had beef and chicken empanadas.  These are the kid’s favorites along with a yellow Hit juice.  They want them every day now.  We also never pass the doughnut man without grabbing a few dulce de leche filled and covered powdered doughnuts.  We have considered asking him for a dozen.  We were getting tired of PB&J or cereal for lunch.  These options are just as cheap and far more appetizing.  We can get each of those kabobs or doughnuts for $0.50 in US dollars and the empanadas are around $0.75.  Hopefully it will not cost us in other ways!

Dulce de leche doughnuts!

Doughnuts make Jude happy :)

Cuddle time with Daddy

Dollar Store visit in honor of Hap

Me and my Monster

Day of Market Shopping

Gavin told me yesterday that he is homesick and Reese asked when we are going home.  Yeah.  We have at least 6 more weeks so please pray for them to be understanding and patient and become more comfortable with our current situation.  It really is exciting and fun but for the little ones nothing replaces the comfort of their own home.  Reese keeps telling me that everyone here talks like Jude.  I guess he means the words they say make no sense.  Jude’s speech has really taken off this past week.  He is saying all sorts of things.  Some of them are coming out in Spanish though instead of English.  He will not say balloon, but he is quick to say bombo.  It is cute.  Jude has also become quite the lady’s man.  There was some sort of huge convention or meeting or something in our hotel yesterday that brought in a huge crowd of young women.  They were all dressed up as the women here tend to be.  We were in the lobby while they streamed in.  Jude stood in the path, shaking all their hands and smiling at them.  He even got his first kiss complete with a lingering lipstick mark.  He mingled for over 45 minutes.  Brant was proud J

Jude's girlfriends

I am hoping the internet becomes more dependable in the next few days.  Please know, we will update you all as often as we can.  Ok, mom?  Love you all and miss you bunches!!!