Orphanage visit

Yesterday was a big day!  We went down for an early breakfast where Sophie demonstrated the use of her hollow leg...again!  She ate about 3 hard boiled eggs plus ham, etc.  She sat in a high chair for the first time also.  It was great!

 

After breakfast we came up to the room to gather our belongings for the adventure of a lifetime.  We knew we would need snacks, maybe a blanket, water, and more snacks!  It is two to two and a half hours away depending on traffic.  Sophie grabbed her little lady bug bag I packed and happily wheeled i down the hallway.  We loaded in up the van and she was asleep in seconds. 

 

We had to stop about 15 minutes into the ride for the driver to get gas.  That was interesting.  First thought, I don't think the have enough gas stations.  Second though, they all lift their hoods to get gas even though they have a gas flap.  Third though, I guess it's okay to pee wherever you want because there was a man relieving himself in the corner of the parking lot without nothing blocking his view.  We were told to get out while the vehicle was getting gas.  Sophie was not too cranky about this. 

 

After getting gas we took off down the highway.  It was only moments before we saw all of the beautiful mountain ranges.  We followed the mountains the whole car ride.  Sophie of course went back to sleep.  There are no car seats here so Jason and I sat in the middle seat of the van with Sophie laying across our laps. 

 

As we traveled I was filled with so many emotions.  First I was angry.  Angry that as I looked at this sweet little baby sleeping on my lap someone could have left her abandoned.  Then I felt sad.  I was sad that her birth mom could not afford to keep her or care for her needs.  Then came happiness.  I was so happy that I could be the one to offer her health and happiness and all of the love in the world.  It just seemed meant to be for Jason and I to be her parents.  Soon we'd find out that she felt that too.

 

We arrived to orphanage and pulled right up to the gate that Sophie was left at, at only six days old.  Immediately inside the gate were the director, other office staff, and a family who is also adopting.  We took pictures with everyone and the staff showed Sophie a small picture album.  They were pointing to one picture and saying "Pan Shu."  That is a little boy being adopting later this month to Puerto Rico.  I recognized the name and felt so happy about that.

 

After taking more pictures I showed the director a list of names of children who I knew were being adopted.  I was wondering if I'd be able to take pictures or if Sophie playing with any of the children.  I was not able to take pictures but they did say that Sierra, being adopted to San Francisco, is one of Sophie's good friends.  It seems that many of her besties are younger than her. 

 

We went into the orphanage and first stopped at the cafeteria.  It was not the same large room I'd seen in previous pictures.  It was much smaller and was filled with a ton of hungry little people.  The children looked to be older and sadly, looked to have very severe needs.  My heart broke a little as one little guy kept happily waving to us and I realized he'd likely never be adopted.

 

After the lunch room we were able to take pictures of the play room since no kids were using it.  It was very clean but left a little to be desired.  Next door was the crib room that Sophie used.  Each crib was filled with a sleeping bath.  This is where we got to see baby Sierra.  She looked so relaxed, almost like she knew her ma ma and ba ba were on the way.  I asked where Sophie slept and they pointed out a crib.  There  was a little boy sound asleep.

 

We then went right across the hall to the potty room.  There were two small O2B sized western potties and several baby potties.  One of the nannies took Sophie in and sat her on a baby potty but she didn't go.  She's using the big girl potty...she doesn't want that stinky baby potty!

 

We walked down the hallway and saw the playground from the window.  All the while nannies were coming up and asking to hold Sophie.  She willingly obliged but was very quick to reach back for ma ma.  This was exactly the way I wished it.  Happy and at peace.  Willing to say her good-byes but pleased to leave with ma ma and ba ba.  It was a huge change from gotcha day when she screamed out ma ma but was talking about the nanny.

 

At one point I heard a nanny refer to herself as ma ma and another nanny quickly correcting her and pointed and me and said "ma ma."  Another nanny picked her up and walked to the window, pointed to the apartments across the yard, and suggested she stay with her.  She probably didn't think I understood...but my motherly instincts are in full effect.  It kind of ticked me off but then I realized that was an indication of how well loved and nurtured she'd been here.  It was a good sign.

 

Sarah, our guide, was taking pictures of some of the children in the lunch room as hopes to maybe get them into the Journey of Hope Project.  Maybe there will hope for them after all.  Meanwhile, Sophie was grabbing her lady bug bag and wheeling it towards the stairs.  She was ready to go...with us. 

 

We walked downstairs to go visit the playground but by then Sophie was done. She saw the exit and she wanted to use it.  The director invited us to have lunch with them but I had to regretfully decline.  It would have been wonderful but I don't think it was best for Sophie.

 

With that, we walked back out the door, down the long walkway, and out through the gate for the last time.

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Stacy Shine
O2b Kids - Preschool Director
(352)371-4202
stacy@o2bkids.com