Today was a mix of emotions, a bit of exhaustion followed by a (much needed nap - only by Mom & Dad while Z watched Netflix) and then a wonderful evening. Z continues to be a champ! She is loving having other kiddos here to hang and play with. There are moments of stress, as she is going through enormous amounts of change; however, all in all, she is doing quite well! I think she really LOVES the slumber party atmosphere of sharing a room with us! Okay, so we like it too! She slept well last night and is passed out again tonight! This morning we woke up to fried eggs, toast, coffee and fresh fruit. We chatted with our new friends, played a bit in the backyard of our hotel / hostel (they have a bit of greenspace and a swingset) and then off we went to get a tour of the about 10 block radius of streets that we should frequent. When we first started to get ready for this trip, we went shopping and bought a bunch of new summer clothes for the girls and us, and then, with a bit of back tracking, we looked at the weather....yep, we are south of the equator, so we are going into their Fall season here I guess. That said, we shopped for a second time for more fall like apparel. 60s are normal here now. So today, while walking, we were a bit bundled up, and it got hot. Maybe it was the altitude that started to do us in? Maybe it was the unexpected sun? Maybe it was walking and not knowing where we were going or 'how much further' we had to go? But, we became exhausted. We did get to see lots of great things! This area is a great area in Bogota! Right in the mountains, surrounded by shops and parks and tons of people biking and roller blading! No worries at all. Very cosmopolitian. We found the bank, the grocery store, the baby goods store, local coffee shop, pizza place, indoor play places, etc. Very nice to get to know the area, but very tiring too! We came home, our new home at least, and zonked for a bit! Much needed!
Our hotel is a single family home of sorts tucked in amongst tall, very modern and lovely, condo buildings. An odd fit for the area. Our hotel / hostel is named El Refugio, and it has about 10 bedrooms, all with private baths, and a common living / dining and kitchen area. Quite home'y.' The staff is wonderful so far. Out back there is a nice size green space with patio table and swingset, all fenced so the kids can just play play play in safety. We are quite content here.
Currently there are several adopting families here, 3 of us that are adopting from FANA, 2 others from a different orphanage. I believe one of the families is from France, one Spain, one Portugal and 2 America.... or something like that. Kind of funny to watch us all try to communicate. :) I am sure we will learn more about each family as we are here longer. One family, who is also adopting a little girl, age 3, from FANA has been here 10 weeks now. Argh!
Anyhow, tonight, Erin, the mom of the other American family, had a babysitter coming to hang with her 2 older boys, ages 3 (Ben, adopted from Ethiopia) and Lucas, age 5 (adopted from Bogota / FANA.) The girl is a colege student here in Bogota and she works with Erin's husband Ted on his Medical Mission Trips here in Colombia. Pretty safe relationship. :) Her name is Daniella. Anyhow, Erin offered that Zahria could stay back at the hotel and hang with the boys and Daniella too if she wanted. Honestly, I didn't think this would fly, for us or for Z, but as we learned more, we felt better and so we gave Z the option, she was all in. The kids were staying here, in a secured building with secured staff with a college girl that works with Erin's husband, so all was safe. They had a grand time! The 3 of us, and Sam, Erin & Ted's youngest (that they are currently in the process of adopting through FANA) went out. We only went 3 blocks away to the BBC, Bogota Beer Company. YUMMY! Chris ordered a local beer, Erin a red wine and me, a yummy Asian fruit Martini. The local gentleman next to us recommended it! We also ordered super yummy Nachos! A great little trip, a celebration of our current life! Because tomorrow, we meet our littlest and,,,,well, who knows how much life is about to change for Team Fellerman! :)
What a day today has been! Chris and I are sitting here on our hotel bed, looking at our 2 girls sleep, in total awe! Feeling so blessed!
This morning we still didn't know what to expect of today. As of 9:30, we hadn't heard anything at all about if, and when, our presentation of Julieth would be happening. And then, we met Carmen, soon we learned that we needed to get ready because presentation would be at 10:30 and Maria Teresa was on her way to come get us! Yikes! On went the dress clothes, bags packed, paperwork gathered, and then off we went. It was about a 20 minute drive to FANA, which is located in a little city just outside Bogota. The ride was beautiful, minus all of the cars and congestion of the city. Bogota is bordered, on the East side, by Mountains making the drive so scenic.
When we arrived at FANA, we were escorted upstairs to the 'Presentation Room,' a room filled with 3 couches a chair and probably 100 photos of families created through adoption at FANA. It was a really nice room, probably 15x20' or so feet with views of the tree tops. FANA itself is a very nice building, very clean, no yucky smells, tons of natural light and stained glass. Art on the walls. Very welcoming! Not what you would expect from an orphanage. We were greeted by another family in the presentation room, they were there meeting with their 10 month old daughter, Isabella. The couple was living in France, he was French and she Colombian, and their daughter was just beautiful! After about 30 minutes of talking with the Director, giving updated paperwork, etc. they sent for Julieth. They took the clothes that we brought for her, which was an old dress of Zahria's :), and got Julieth all prettied up. Just for the record, her hair is done up SO cute, several itty bitty rubberbands create several itty bitty pony tails that come together at the top of her head to form a sweet pony tail crown of sorts. Yep, that is the only time you are going to see this creation in her hair. Love that they care for her so well! So, the ladies prettied her up, dressed her in Z's dress and escorted her into the Presentation Room. I think there were at least 8 women that walked with her to the room and stayed with us for a good 20 minutes. It was amazing! They brought Julieth's favorite toys, her blankie we had made and sent for her, her photo book of our family, stacking cups, and her little dolly complete with her make shift spoon. They even let us take her dolly with!!! So amazing! They do get this attachment / transition stuff! Slowly, they introduced us to her and her to us. Little by little her caregivers stepped back and let us interact with her, giving us cues as to interactions. Zahria did just beautifully with her sister! So gentle! So kind! After about half an hour of floor time, we loaded up and made the transition to leaving FANA. So brave! This is the only home that Julieth has ever known, ever since she was a day old she has been at FANA. Such mixed emotions. On the one hand, so thankful and happy to break her free of a life without a family and on the other hand, so sad to take her from all she has known, the ladies that have honestly so lovingly cared for her, her culture, her smells, her friends.....
Fewee, that was stressful. Here is J on our way home from FANA, sacked out in Momma's arms.
