Keeping up with two is much harder than one - especially when they gang up on you.  Things are going well.  She is starting to attach. 

I took her to the Cincinnati International Adoption Clinic for her first evaluation.  We are waiting for the results to find out what therapies will be required.  In the meantime, she had to get a flu and a pneumonia vaccine.  With her being a preemie, they don't want to take any chances. 

Here are a couple of new photos.

The girls love each other.

Priya is much happier now that she's home.

Photos from India.  This is the Lotus Temple.

This is the only time Jean was behind bars while in India, thankfully.

Entrance to Humayan's Tomb.  The entire complex is about 30 acres.  Jean and I walked all of it - most before we realized we were outside the tomb in an old walled city.

These were all parts of the old city and various tombs.

The entrance to the walled city

The well in the marketplace.

The old marketplace in the walled city.

Don't know what this was, but it was cool.

We finally realized that this was the tomb.  This was the precurser to the Taj Mahal.

Another view - this was amazing.

View from the deck of the tomb back towards the entrance gate.

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View of another tomb on the grounds.

Jean in front of a window.  The grill is all stone.





I will post more pictures later.

As for an update, we are slowly adjusting to being home.  Priya has decided that I'm not so bad - after all, I provide the food.  She will now come to me with a smile.  Will let you know how things go.

She's all mine.

We had a rough start when we left the baby home. She was screaming and the caretakers were crying. When we got to the hotel, the bellman took her and she stopped crying. He carried her and all the shopping bags all the way to the room and then stayed to calm her down. Needless to say he earned a good tip. He left her sitting on the bed. she started crying and wanted me to pick her up. Actually I'm pretty sure she didn't want me, but she settled for me. After a couple of melt downs, she fell asleep in my arms. She slept until I tried to put her down. She took a long nap while I sat on the couch holding her.

She woke up unhappy to see me. We took a little time as I explained that like it or not she was stuck with me. I know she didn't understand me, but I felt better. Eventually she decided we're not so bad. Right now she is happily crawling around the room playing peek-a-boo with me. I'm thrilled that she no longer screams at the sight of me.
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Even better was that we had the video conference with Grandma, Grandpa, and big sister Grace. They were a hit, especially Grandpa who made funny faces at her. Despite the screaming, she has a beautiful smile and laugh.

Tomorrow we hang around the hotel and pack. We'll leave for the airport around 9:00. Then there is a LONG flight home! I'm not looking forward to that. I am looking forward to getting home and sleeping without the ever present sound of horns.

Day 3

Went to the embassy. It was a long car ride as Priya cried the whole way. On the bright side, a screaming child will get you moved to the front of the line. We were in and out within 35 minutes. Fortunately she did stop crying after a while. She was content to glare at me instead. That bottom lip can really come out for a good pout. I did get a smile out of her though. Then we were done and they told me I could come back for the visa at 2:30 without my daughter. I think that was a hint. When we left she was content until she saw the car. Then it was back to crying until she fell asleep.
Back at the home she was very happy to see everyone. She once again wanted nothing to do with me. Every time they handed her to me she cried. She would stop for a little while I rocked her and sang to her, but then went back to crying. I did get a kiss from her before I left, though that might have been because I was leaving. Tomorrow she comes with me for good. I guess she'll just have to adjust.
Sorry no pictures yet. I'm technologically challenged and haven't been able to download them yet. That may have to wait until I'm home with my regular computer.

Day 2

Things are looking up here. Maintenance fixed our heat last night so we're no longer cold. Met Priya today. It is safe to say that she wants nothing to do with me. After being there 3 hours, she would at least look at me without crying. She knows that I'm her mama and is all smiles when they ask her about her mama. She will even point me out smile, and wave at me. But if I get too close without someone she knows being around she's all tears. We'll see how the embassy visit goes tomorrow. Right now the plan is to return her to the orphanage until Wednesday and just keep visiting to give here more time to adjust. The other kids loved us, especially when we blew up the beachballs we brought.

Otherwise we are taking it easy today and just relaxing. Off to the embassy with a terrified child tomorrow followed by an afternoon of shopping.

First Day

We survived the first day here. Very tired after long flight. I managed to get about 5 hours of sleep over 2 days. To try and adjust, we went sightseeing. I have now seen many very old temples. Will try to get pictures up soon. We meet Priya tomorrow so hoping to get a good night's sleep. Not easy because it is very cold here and no heat in room. We've seen a lot but no elephants or monkeys - sorry Grace. It is definitely different experiencing the culture than just reading about it-

Happy New Year!

2012 is off to a busy start!  Only 3 days until I'm on my way to India.  By this time next week, I will have Priya with me and be waiting to return home.  There is a 10 1/2 hour time difference, so posts will probably come during the day.  I'm now just hoping that they are getting her prepared for her new family.

I'm also hoping that I can get all the Christmas decorations put away, the house passable, supplies bought (need to have pet food stocked before I go), and everything packed before Friday.  Why am I at work today?  I'm glad that I took Thursday off, but I'm definitely beginning to feel a little overwhelmed.

Time is flying by.  Only 3 days until Christmas.  On January 6, I'll be boarding the long (very long) flight to India.  By the time you all get up Monday morning, I will have met Miss Priya and hopefully won her over.  We head for home very early in the morning (1:45 am) Friday, the 13th.  There is a 10 1/2 hour time difference from New Delhi and Ohio.  Say some prayers for good travel weather.  My plan is to post pictures and updates to this blog while gone.

TRAVEL!

I leave January 6 and return January 13 with Priya!

Guardianship

It is official!  I am now legally Priya's guardian.  I now just wait for the written court documents and the passport before I can travel.  It may be the first week of January.  I'll let everyone know.

Court

Just found out that I have already passed scrutiny committee and that I have already had my first 2 hearings in court.  I'm not sure if there are 3 or 4 hearings (depends on court), but I'm on my way.  The agency believes that I will have oral guardianship by the end of the year.  Then it will just be written guardianship, the passport and I am off to India to bring home Priya.  It's really happening.  Keep those prayers coming.

NOC is HERE!

We have NOC!  Don't know when exactly it came, but the case has been filed in court, so I am now waiting on that ruling.  One step closer.  Will be posting updated pictures soon.

Maybe soon?

 Latest news from India is that they have a backlog - you think?  To deal with this backlog, they are extending the moratorium on new dossiers until the end of the year to try and process all the waiting dossiers.  Lisa, the director of the India program for the agency I'm using, has a meeting with the head of CARA on October 19.  Say a few prayers that she walks away with my NOC along with some others.  Once I have the NOC, I can move on to waiting for the courts to review the case.  The process is not looking good for having Priya home by Christmas.

Still Waiting

Four months and counting since the Article 5 letter.  More than a month since I was told I would have NOC.  Why is time so unimportant to people processing adoptions?

No News

Three weeks since I was "supposed" to have NOC - nothing.  No explanation for the delay.  Don't need anything else, just haven't done it yet.  I'm not sure when it will come.  I'm beginning to get VERY frustrated at the slowness of this process.

Possibly good news!

Got the call from the agency yesterday.  Committee only had one issue with my paperwork - they want a letter verifying that I won't change my mind about caring for and raising my children if I get married and guaranteeing that I won't marry anyone that does not like my girls.  I didn't realize that it was an option to just quit raising your kids, but evidently it is over there.  Besides, I'm pretty sure that Grace is more than capable of scaring off anyone she doesn't like.  We all know that she's not afraid to make her opinions known.  I've dumped guys for suggesting I should dump my cat - I'm certainly not going to keep one around who suggests I get rid of my kids!  Okay, there are those moments when the idea has some merit - though usually my thoughts go to can I run away from home rather than send them away.  :D  Anyway, the letter is written, notarized, and sent to the agency.  A copy was also sent via email to be sent on to India. 

Now for the good part - the director of the orphanage has the follow-up meeting concerning my file set with the NOC committee for next week.  She's pretty sure that they will act on the copy as long as they are assured that the original is on its way.  She believes that NOC should come through by the end of next week.  Cross you fingers, say prayers, send good thoughts, wish on a star, or whatever else you can think of, but hopefully by next Friday we will be on to the next step - court.  Yes, it is still a hurry up and wait situation, but at least we may be one step closer.

I don't know who the girl is, but Priya evidently likes her.

Same Old Story

"We'll hear something any day now."  I remember those words so well while waiting for news about Grace.  Different country now, but same story.  No news yet on how the case is progressing.  On the bright side, I did get new measurements.  She is now up to 21 lbs. (16 lbs. one year ago) and about 34".  At 40 months, this is still tiny, but at least she is growing.  Now, if only we can get her home.  I already have Grace to teach me patience, I don't think I need any additional lessons.  Anyway, I'll add a couple of new photos.

Still waiting.

We're starting to get anxious here waiting for the NOC.  I know everything slows down in the summer in India, due to the monsoons, but I'm still hoping for news before Grace's birthday.  On the bright side, I haven't heard that they want any additional papers, so maybe that means they are satisfied with what I've submitted.  Keep the prayers/positive thoughts coming.