A year later...We Celebrate Gotcha Day!

This day will be forever etched in my mind, just as I remember the birth of my other children.  I could imagine what the birth of my children would be like and how I would feel when they arrived.  With Mahaela's adoption, I couldn't really wrap my mind around it.  I didn't know how full I would feel or how instant the love would be or how satisfying it would be.  Each of those things came at different times and in different measures...but it happened.  I couldn't have hoped, dreamed, or prayed for this adoption, transition, or first year to have gone any better than it has.  This blog has been a year of mostly writing about our adoption process and Mahaela.  I do have 4 other children that are no less special or loved by me.  I could write about any of them...but I would probably lose the 12 followers that I have!  I think I have felt most led to blog so that I may savor this process and experience, as it is unlike any other.  I also feel in some way that it will be a very preserved memory for Mahaela as she grows up.  And so for now, I keep trying to update occasionally.
Below are two segments of the same video of Mahaela leaving her orphanage.  Poor little thing...she didn't even know.  She was so ready and willing to leave all that she knew and no one was stopping her.  I am sure that by the time we tucked her into bed that night, she was done with us and ready for her ride back to her "home."  That first night was "worrisome."  She just kept repeating something over and over as she sat in bed crying, screaming.  It didn't sound like "eskum dow" but that is what she was saying..."I want down!"  We weren't holding her in bed, she sat there pretty easily, but she would not lay down and didn't for several days.  We would just watch her fall over asleep.  That first night she cried hard.  She started wheezing quite a bit and she was a sweaty, hot mess.  We were concerned about how much of a workout her sick little heart was getting by all of the stress and crying.  God showed us much mercy, because we got through those early days and weeks...without it being quite as bad as we imagined it could have been. 
Now a year later...she is one of us and has been from the beginning.  She has brothers and sisters that really love her.  There is still a bit of rivalry/jealousy between Lindsey and Mahaela, but it is better and they have become play buddies.  Mahaela has much more attention and ability to sit, even since the summer.  She now can watch TV, movies, and sit for books.  She really does love to be read to.  She is learning at preschool...I'm sure she will get "most improved" this school year.  She is learning shapes, colors, numbers, animals very quickly.
A highlight of the year for me was her recovery from her surgery.  We dreaded putting her through something so awful when she didn't "appear" sick.  We just knew it needed to be done and pushed through.  She had a bit of a rough recovery...she had days of pain and it was so hard to watch.  My heart just crumbled when she grabbed her chest screaming from the pain of the chest tube and nothing seemed to give her immediate or complete relief.  But so many people were praying for her...with time, recovery came.  She was riding her bike in the hospital halls for days before she was even discharged.  Her doctors think she looks fantastic...and we couldn't agree more.
She is a beautiful blessing in our lives and a reminder of the good that our Heavenly Father wants to shower on us all.  He gave us more than the desire of our hearts. 

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights..." James 1:17



I think the last words that you can hear one of the caregivers say is Ciao and Dovizhdane...both goodbye in Bulgarian.  There were many tears, mostly my own.  I had such gratitude for the care she had received and knew that it was a difficult day for them to see her go.  But they were so strong and truly happy for "Misha."

I just found this video that Bill must have made when he was playing around with video making...I don't think I have posted this exact one, but maybe something similar.  It contains photos from our Gotcha day and time in Bulgaria...such a special time.



Blessed beyond measure...To God be all the Glory.



Celebrating Mahaela's 4th Birthday!!!

That was then...

This is now!

Mahaela is 4 years old today!  This is our first birthday to celebrate with her.  We have been celebrating for a few days now.  She loved getting presents and had priceless reactions to each gift. 

I just received an e-card from her orphanage, the head nurse specifically.  They are thinking of her and I know they must be missing her terribly.  We sent them 2 coats recently as a gift for her birthday and also for her Gotcha day.  They were so kind to send her with 2 coats when we left the orphanage--they said both were hers and they wanted her to have them.  We didn't really need them, but I took everything they offered--from her toothbrush to her tights.  I intend to save everything, because it is all that Mahaela has to remember those first 3 years by.  I hope to send them two coats every year to celebrate her birthday.  I also sent them some recent photos.  I wish they could really see her now!

We know how unbelievable blessed we have been by having Mahaela in our family.  She is really a joy for all of us.  There is something magical about 4 year olds.  We look forward to this next year with her.  I know we have only had her for a  year...but she really is growing up too fast! 

I do wonder what her birthmom thinks of this day.  I pray she just dreams of how well she might be doing and that she believes that she did what was best for Mahaela.  Her birth parents were just part of story.  I thank God that we can be part of her story from here on out. 

Here is a video of us explaining to her that we were beginning to celebrate her birthday a couple days early...

(ya, lately she is doing something very strange with her tongue when she is embarrassed or nervous or very excited in this case!)

I know I have been quiet and I have a little blogging to fill in the gaps, but it will have to wait for another time still.