Meeting and Our First 24 Hours Together

We were prepared for the worst in the amount of information we would receive about Anna as well as her transitioning to us.  We never imagined the best case scenario, but I think we have it.  Yesterday when we picked her up we received a two page translation of her daily eat and sleep routine, what she eats and how she eats it (HUGE for us on account of the cleft), what she likes and is afraid of, what her personality is like, etc.  We also had the opportunity to ask every possible question to the orphanage's foster care contact person.  And it gets better. One of the questions we asked was when she came from foster care to the orphanage.  That morning they picked her up from her foster home and she came immediately to the meeting place.  The foster care contact person is obviously a seasoned and caring woman.  She provided us then with a diary written by Anna's foster mother.  Today she provided us with over 60 pictures of Anna growing up and her foster family and their home along with mementos and gifts from her foster mother.  Most of these items were given to us when the orphanage director was not in the room and we were shushed from talking about them when he returned.  Thank you just doesn't cut it but that was all we had.  

And Anna.  Instead of appearing institutionalized she almost seems spoiled!  She clearly makes us aware of her wants and dislikes and has us laughing with her imitations.  If she doesn't want something she throws it.  Hard.  If we weren't so impressed with her strength and aim we might be a little annoyed.  Something to deal with later though.  She was making eye contact with us from the start.  I was so not prepared for that I almost don't know how to interact with her!  She wasn't scared at all when we met.  They said she stared at our picture for much of the ride there.  I was so glad we knew to wear the same clothing as in the picture after hearing that.  She had the toys and books that we sent to her.  She LOVES the music toy Elias picked out for her!  Her eating yesterday was very much trial and error unfortunately resulting on the error side.  Today she ate very well and loved the American stuff.  It is all very soft and you have to get it in just right or it comes back out.  Mouth and not nose thankfully!  (Food tends to come out the nose of cleft babies.)  She is not talking at all (probably due to the cleft) but is always babbling and "chirping."  Her hair is very thin and we were told that it fell out due to a calcium and zinc deficiency.  Thus she has a bit of a mohawk look going right now.  She loves her hair.  She is always touching it and smoothing it down.  She sticks her four fingers in her mouth and then wipes it in her hair.  Today she even spit in her hand and smoothed her hair down with the spit!  We are assuming this is what her foster mother did.  Anna was obviously very well cared for and loved immensely so we can't get too disgusted by it.  Going to sleep was a lot better tonight.  There was a lot of energy last night and today for nap there was pure rage which is an indicator that she was grieving her foster mom.  I have no doubt her foster mom is grieving as well so please, please, please say a prayer her too. 

Tomorrow we have a free day so I will upload photos and videos!

Thank you for all of your words of encouragement and sustaining prayers!  We deeply appreciate each and every one!