Gotcha Day!!!!

Today is Monday and it is our Gotcha Day!!!! Chris and I were both awake at 3:00 this morning and we discussed that it would not be long before we would be a family of 3!!!! We then slept a little while longer and went to breakfast. I guess the lady who sat us knew that I was going to have an emotional moment during breakfast...because she sat us in an area where there was one other family and they just adopted a little boy.(who does not like Chris's mustache--he screams every time he sees him!) I got to thinking over breakfast--what if I do not know what to do with her, what if I am unable to feed her, what if she like the caretakers better than us....and many, many, many more what ifs!!! The family that was sitting there with us the husband asked were we adopting and we explained to him yes and it is today!!!! He got up and came over and gave me a hug and said it is going to be alright. We will all have to learn each other and that is the way with any family addition. The mother said to call her if any problems and gave us their room number. This is their third adoption.

We came upstairs to finish our list of questions and get the last of the gift tissue paper put in the bags. So once that once done I think I asked Chris what time is it a hundred times. We got ready---there are many emotions that we were feeling while the day progressed and got closer to our Gotcha Time. I was thinking that God sure better be in control, because I do not know what I am doing(LOL). Today I wore a blouse that was my grandmother's in honor of her. This particular blouse I always thought looked pretty on mema and I think mother bought it for her. I know that she is looking down from heaven and thinking of us today. We also are thinking of Mr. Hurschel(Chris's dad) and knowing we all wish he was here to see Ella Grace also. I also thought about my family....and I wore some earrings that mother bought for me that were dragonflys. So all in all that part was very emotional and then oh YES---we are becoming parents!!!!

Well---I will cut the rest of the mushy stuff out and get to the event of the day---- At 2:00 we left the hotel and us and 2 other families road to the civil affairs office. While we were waiting to get on the elevator from the opposite side of the hallway the orphanage director and a caretaker walks up with Ella Grace...I about died!!!! They got on the elevator and went on up and then we got on the elevator went to the 3rd floor I believe. When we got off the elevator there was the center for adoption registry. Rebecca had us go over all the names, dobs, passport numbers and then Ella Grace's information also. We did that and we had to sign the bottom of the paper. Then Rebecca says ok I need all 3 families to come over here. Chris got the camera's out and by that time the Poma families 6yro little girl came out. Then after that somewhere around 2:45 the orphanage director came out with the caretaker and they were holding Ella Grace. WOW!!!! The director then handed her over to me and walked away. I was crying and trying to soak up every little detail I could possibly remember for future recollection. Then we had to do additional paperwork and we got to ask the orphanage director questions. She answered all of my questions and I hugged her and told her Thanks for taking care of Ella Grace. (Rebecca did the translating for us) We gave them the gifts and we had pictures made. After that we waited till all the other families in our group were done with their paperwork and we left at around 3:30pm.

When they handed Ella Grace to us she never whimpered or even made a sound...she just had that look as to what are you doing and why am I with you. ALTHOUGH---She loved the stacking cups and she would hit them together and then want me to do it. So I even think that I saw a slight smile from her. She had on a new white one piece sky suit that was lined and insulated, pretty new pink and white shoes, and a flower shirt that looked to be 2 sizes too big. We went to take off the suit,because she was sweating, while we were there and she had no pants on so we waited till we got back to the hotel to shed the suit.

We left from there and went to a store to get some clothes for one of the families because the clothes they brought would not fit their daughter. So Rebecca helped us to get formula, 3 other bottles, rice cereal, and a new pair of pink tennis shoes. The place we bought all of this stuff was a department store that was over 7 stories tall and the grocery store was on the 7th floor. They also have people in the isles where the baby formula is watching over and handing you the formula. It evidently is highly watched and some places pr Rebecca they keep it under lock and key. While we were in the store Ella Grace kept looking around and up and down at everything and listening to all the noises. When we got back to the car at around 5:00 we left to come back to the hotel which was a 25 minute drive. By the time we were almost to the hotel Ella Grace fell asleep. Rebecca said to let her sleep today and worry about a routine tomorrow, because she has had a very traumatic day and stressful.

So as I am writing this she is alseep in the crib and I have already checked on her 4-5 times from 6:30 till now.

Please keep us in your prayers still. Tomorrow we go for the notary interview and the adoption registry interview.

Love to you all!!!!

Burbank's Family of 3 (wow that sounds funny)LOL