Meetcha Day!

Wowzer, where do I begin?  Today has been so emotional as we have shed tears of joy and sorrow.  My morning began at 5:00 a.m. as I just couldn't sleep any longer.  Every morning at this time, the Muslims start praying, so you can hear them all over the city - even through closed windows.  I don't find it annoying at all and usually open the windows just so I can hear them.  This morning I opened the window wide and recorded the sounds of early morning in Africa. 

I also had a hard time this morning because I was thinking about my Mom - oh, how she longed for this day.  I know that if she weren't already in Heaven, she would have been blog stalking all day for pics.  My hope is that she was able to watch from Heaven today while holding our precious Julianna Ashure. 

We began the day with a "paper party" - this is anything but a party!  We all met in the lobby and then headed to the Hilton to prepare our paperwork for the US Embassy.  Our appointment is on Wednesday but we have to complete the paperwork in advance.  After the paperwork, we had a wonderful lunch and then loaded up to go meet our children!

Paperwork Party at Hilton Hotel

When we pulled up to the Transition Home, they opened the gates and we drove through.  It was so surreal seeing the America World sign posted outside the big grey gates that I have seen so many pictures of over the last years.  Last night, we worked-out a schedule for picture taking and videoing to make sure everyone received footage of the big moment. 

When it came our time, they brought Rohama out as we waited at the foot of the stairs.  She didn't smile but she didn't cry either - she just looked at us like we were crazy.  I was already crying before it was ever our time, so I was an emotional wreck by the time the African coordinator, Duni, called our names.  She was wearing one of the very first dresses that I ever bought her and sent in a care package!  Yeah, no pink and white striped hooded outfit! 

As they placed her in my arms, my heart overfilled with joy.  Jason and I were both crying and kissing her little head and face.  She was a trooper and let us kiss and cry over her.  It was so amazing to finally be able to pray over our little girl!  As the day progressed, she started smiling and even babbled some. We got to feed her a bottle and she even fell asleep in Jason's arms.  Our hearts are so full tonight! 

I know this is what you really want, so here are pics before I describe our day any further:

One thing that we learned this morning is that Maura Ruhama hasn't been feeling too well since Nov. 19.  She has been throwing-up and having diarrhea.  Fortunately, according to the nurse and doctor, she is doing better but they are giving us special formula, electrolyte supplement, and diarrhea suppositories to last us until we get home.  Please pray that God will touch and heal her little body so that she will feel better quickly! 

We were quite alarmed when we got to the paperwork party and were told about her illness, so immediately Jason and I bowed our heads and prayed for her.  I can't even begin to explain to you the panic that I felt.  Fortunately, she was doing better than we had been told to expect, so that did help our meeting go a little better as our fears were aleviated at least to some extent.  We are still praying very hard that God will heal her and that she won't have any trouble with the transition from the orphanage to our home.  Tomorrow, we bring her with us forever!  We are hoping to be able to talk with Ashton tonight as we miss him so much - we can't wait for him to meet his sissy!

One thing that we found out today was that one of the nurses/nannies caring for Rohama also cared for Ashure.  Through tears, she told us how much she loved Ashure and that she was devastated when she passed away.  She was with her to the very end, and that makes my heartache a little lighter as her love for our daughter is still so evident today.  I have prayed and prayed that God would surround my babies with loving nannies and He just keeps showing me how He has answered my prayers.  Our God is so good! 

The nanny kept a close eye on us with Rohama - especially when we were feeding her - and was so helpful in telling us how she likes to be held, fed, cuddled, etc.  She said that once Ashure passed, she clung to Rohama as her heart was broken and Rohama helped her heal - just as she is helping us heal too.  I have a very special gift for this nanny tomorrow and I can't wait to give it to her.  I know that it will be very difficult for her to say goodbye to Rohama.  Frankly, I think it will be very difficult for the other nannies in her room as they too closely watched us today and kept calling out her name and making her smile...they truly love her. 

Here are some more pics of our big Meetcha Day!

She kept playing with the rattle from Counsins Hannah and Hailey

Mommy couldn't wait to put a headband on her, and she didn't fuss a bit about it!

She's already got her Daddy wrapped around her finger.

Bye bye pink and white hooded outfit!