Nov 14th- Gotcha Day!

After a fitful night of sleep at the Ghion, we woke up early and called Asnake the director of CHSFS's in country program. We ask if there was still room for us to stay at the care center and to enquire again about the avalibility of a frig. We learned that not only was there still room for us to stay at the care center but that each room had its own mini frig! ACHHHH!!!! Wish someone had known that in the US!
After packing up some of our things we headed to breakfast and then at 9 AM Tesfaye, the driver, arrived and we were off to the care center. Once at the care center we were shown to a room in the bedroom in the basement. It was very nice (and CLEAN!) with a double bed and a crib for the baby. There was a large bathroom attached to this room with a tub/shower (no curtain). There was closet space to put our clothes and the promised frig stocked with pops and bottled water. It didn't feel like a basement as there was a large window to the outside where sunlight and air came in... this was due to the fact that the building was on a hill side of sorts and a walkway had been created right out side the room opening up that side.

After leaving our things in the room we where shown to the Director's office on the first floor where we met his wife who took us right up stairs to meet Miriam. The babyroom are on the second floor. There are 4 rooms total, 2 have 6 cribs, one has 4 cribs and the last room has only 2 cribs. There is also a room for the nurse and doctor with medical things in it, and a room with a bed were families can sleep with sick babies.

Miriam was in babyroom A with 5 other little ones. There were at least 2 nannies in the room all the time and they did a wonderful job careing for the little ones. All the babies where held while feed and a often while they were awake. The nannies would fuss over all the babies... kissing them, calling their names, and interacting with them. It was obvious that the nanies really loved the babies in their care.

Miriam was just waking up from a nap when we entered the room. They handed her right to me. She gave a few little whimper cries but was easily calmed. She was alert and quickly begin stairing at the two strange pale people who where talking to her, crying and taking pictures.

We had been told that once we arrived we would receive Miriam and begin caring for her. However, we where now informed that we would have to "prove" our ability to care for the baby before we were allowed to take her to our room sometime the next day. We where then shown to chairs in the little hall and our "education" began. I was given a bowl of tropical fruit juices and instructed on how to food it to her with a spoon. Once a day they had been giving her around 1/3 of a cup of orange, banana, or other tropical fruit juice. As if that wasn't bad enough they were also adding sugar to it! Brian was so proud of me... I managed to feed her the required amount of this junk without having a "fit"!

The whole morning was sureal and upsetting to me. On one hand I had my daughter... but at the same time I didn't have her! I had to ask to be able to feed her, change her diaper, or even walk in the hall with her. If she fell asleep I was told I had to put her down in the crib at once, and I was even scolded for how I burped her! The nurse, who everyone called "Sister" was ever present watching and correcting actions. We were not allowed to leave the floor with her so had to leave her while we went to lunch.

When we returned from lunch, Miriam was still sleeping so Brian went to use the computer. While in the office, Brian spoke with the director's wife and mentioned that I was planning to try to breastfeed her. She was very conserned about this at first, but Brian found a number of websites which supported adoptive mothers breastfeeding. The director's wife still wanted us to meet with the pediatrician to be sure about this. Once we met with the ped, he was fine with the breastfeeding. When he learned that I am a newborn nursery nurse it was decided that I knew what I was doing and so was allowed to take Miriam! Praise God!

We took Miram to our room and changed her into our clothes. We were able to play with her and spend time taking pictures and just getting a good look at this beautiful baby who was now our daughter. That evening, we were instructed ton how to give Miriam her bath. The babies are bathed twice a day! Miriam loved her bath... she smiled and kicked. I started to call her "ducky" as a result. :-) She went to sleep around 8:30 and so ended our first day with our daughter!