Long Day - Perfect End

Before I tell you about today I wanted to share how cute Hailee looked while traveling yesterday... and have to mention what a great help she was. Times like this make me realize how much she's growing up -- was very proud of her!Yesterday while flying on our last flight Hailee started complaining of a stomachache, shakiness and dry mouth -- I cradled her head as best I could and she dozed in and out. Once we landed the feelings stopped -- we chalked it up to being overtired and maybe a little airsickness ....

This morning we were up at 5:30, showered, ate breakfast and waited on the sidewalk for Kileem and Rossi to arrive. No complaints -- we talked about how excited we were and wondered what Gabi would be feeling once she got up this morning. About 1/2 hour into the drive the shakiness, stomachache and dry mouth started again ... when we stopped for a break she said she couldn't eat or drink anything .... she was afraid to get sick. At first I was very worried .... then I started thinking about the things that Hailee has done that she's been most excited/nervous about .... like the Kenny Rogers & Keith Urban concerts .... she hasn't been able to eat and always says she's not feeling very good, etc. This would definitely qualify as an exciting event..... and guess what .... since meeting Gabi she hasn't complained again!

We arrived in Razgrad at 11:30 (I think that's because although the speed limit was 70 km we were cruising at about 130 and passing anything in our way! - no exaggeration here!!!). The meeting was at the Social Worker Ladys office -- Gabriela, Ganka and Dori were there waiting for us, we entered the room and Gabi came up with open arms and the biggest smile -- HUGS all-around and then we settled in for paper signing and questions. This should have been a fairly quick meeting but Gabriela's immunizations were missing so Kileem and the Social Worker Lady had to go to the orphanages and collect the information. It's needed for our exit interview at the American Embassy.

During our wait we gave Ganka and Dori their presents ... Dori didn't want to put the doll down and Ganka loved the book we had made with pictures of our last visit -- many tears. It's going to be a hard time for Ganka; she has loved Gabi for 4 years. She told Gabriela that if she had the chance that Gabi does right now she would have taken it .... Gabriela should not look back with sadness, only forward with excitement.

Shortly after Ganka's talk with her Gabriela came over to sit by Hailee and I; Hailee couldn't take her eyes off Gabi, she watched her every move. She picked up Gabi's hand and compared it to hers, touched her hair and rubbed Gabi's back. The entire time Gabi just looked at Hailee, eventually she reached up and touched Hailee's hair and told Rossi that she wanted hair like Hailee's. Hailee took her hair out of the pony tail and Gabi offered to give her a new hairdo -- Hailee sat there and eventually ended up with pigtails which she wore for the rest of the day. The bonding has begun!!!

Eventually the immunizations arrived and we went for a celebration lunch with Ganka and Dori to the pizzeria. After lunch we took Ganka home -- I thought that the goodbyes would be very difficult but they went well. Ganka is a strong woman and she knows that Gabi deserves this chance and she trusts that we will do what's best for Gabriela. She let go gracefully .... we promised to call from America once we get home.

The long car ride home was bearable -- Hailee taught Gabriela a couple DS games and they shared earphones on the i-pod. The rain made the travel a bit longer but we still managed to make it back to Sofia by 7:30 ....

Hailee and Gabi on the porch at the apartment .....

We also tried on clothes -- Gabriela is definitely MUCH smaller than we guessed. She's drowning in the 10-12 shirts -- they are like mini-dresses on her. We did bring one pair of slim size 10 jeans that have an adjustable waist ... those are a little long but they fit. We'll make due with what we have and do some shopping when we get home. We did guess right on the shoes though -- size 2 -- yay!!!

More to say, but thinking I've talked enough for one night -- don't want to bore you guys!

Meeting Rossi at 9 a.m. tomorrow to go for passport picture, filing passport paperwork and some shopping ..... hoping the rain stops .......