Day 1 of visits

Our day stared out great...getting our bags back relatively painlessly.
Then off to the orphanage. It is very close to our hotel, so the ride was very fast.
The place looked much like other orphanages, a large yard outside with ample, if outdated, play equipment. Outside we saw a few children, all seemed friendly, well fed, clean, and happy. The ratio of children to caregiver seemed to be about 2:1.

We went straight to the director's office, exchanged introductions, they asked for our passports to register us. The director was very warm and welcoming, a younger, very professional woman. We barely started to talk, when he was brought right into us. It really surprised us, me especially. Jim held his hands out and Derrik went immediately to him, but eye contact was non existent. They played the "clapping game", and over the next little bit, he really started looking at us.

They had us in a very nicely equipped, but smallish room, and Toni (our facilitator/translator) and the director sat in with us. We were oblivious. We didn't even try much with the toys they had in there, but he loved to play a clapping game, and with a little nubby, light up ball that I brought. He did not put that ball down.

As time went on (about an hour and a half visit total), he gave more and more eye contact. He can stand some, and walk with two handed support, but we held him the entire time. They asked if we wanted to take him outside. We figured that we should do that now, as this afternoon will probably be too hot. We had our choice of 3 stroller. The director helped us choose one, and out the door we went. He sat happily in the stroller, with his nubby ball, for our walk around the grounds. We did find some shade and played with him in the stroller, then all too soon, it was time to return him.

We asked a few questions, and obtained permission to bring food to him, and to feed him lunch tomorrow. We will be visiting twice a day from about 10ish to 11:30 ish---tomorrow a little longer so we can feed him---then about 4 to 5:30 ish. by 11:30, he was getting tired, but not fussy.

We went to the beach for the time between the visits, and besides the fact that I don't like sand, we had a great time.

Our afternoon visit was spent entirely in a special "sensory" room. There were mats on the floor, foam bolsters, mirrors on the wall, and a large ball pit/climber/slide.  Plus, it was air conditioned!

For an hour and a half, we played quietly in this room. The time FLEW by. We have adopted before, and usually the visit times CRAWL by. It is great visiting with our new children, but finding things to entertain them, finding things to DO always proved to be a challenge. Most visits we left very tired. NOT with Derrik. He is very mellow, content to sit on our lap, play with the nubby ball, and communicate with us as to what he likes and does not. He loved his feet rubbed and tickled. He likes his hands to be played with. He loved his legs gently rubbed, then his arms. He was calm, he gave great eye contact, and we even had some smiles and giggles. I can't wait to see more of them!

Derrik is very small for his age. He is 5 1/2 years old. He weighs just under 20 lbs. His arms and legs are VERY skinny, VERY, VERY skinny. His belly is large. I'm concerned. We asked the director if he does not like to eat, or if there is not enough money to feed him. She said he was vomiting a lot, but lately, he has not been, and has started gaining some weight.  I do know that I saw MANY other children, and NONE looked exceptionally small or skinny. Just Derrik. He really needs to be seen by US doctors, gastroenterology in particular.  He had a runny nose, and it sounds like his adenoids need to be removed. By the end of our afternoon visit, he was feeling kind of warm, and Toni asked the staff to please take his temperature. I really hope he is not getting sick.

I know you all want to see photos. We have taken a ton of pictures and a few videos. The cord that we thought would work for both Jim's cell phone and our camera only works for the cell phone. So, everything in the camera will stay in the camera for now. I'm lobbying for stopping at an electronics store and looking for another cord.  We also need another electrical adapter.

Jim did upload photos and a video, and they are posted on his blog.  Hopefully in the next couple of days we will be able to put some on this blog. Until then.........you will have to look at Jim's blog.

After our visit, we went back to the beach for another fantastic dinner with our facilitation team. We are so blessed to be associated with them. They are truly wonderful.

I am very much looking forward to tomorrow's visits. And to getting this little guy home with us.

Thanks for following along. Enjoy the photos. Until tomorrow....

Mary