Srushti Report

Day One: We arrived at the airport at about 5am Tuesday morning.We were so anxious as each person came through arrivals. Finally we saw a tiny girl sleepily riding in a stroller. She's so tiny, you can hardly believe that she's two. She's been living in an orphanage and though they did what they could, it's not enough for healthy development. Don't worry, we'll feed her, hug her and love her into health! She looked very tired, but didn't cry or anything. She let me pick her up and she let Erik pick her up. Amazing. She went into the carseat with no problem and drove back to Oma's house (Erik's mother) with giggles of delight. She latched on to me right away, which gave me some relief that I am able to comfort her. Phew! When we got to Oma's the crying began. These were the sounds of a very tired, very confused and overwhelmed baby. I rocked her to sleep and we had a peaceful nap.

After the nap we played outside in the yard with her cousins. They brought her a red balloon and some bubbles. I love how blissed out she looked with those bubbles in her face! She and her daddy enjoyed playing with sticks. Don't you love how the simplest things are the most joyful to the young among us?
Day Two: Involved mostly a long drive back to our home. She slept most of the way. We didn't get to bed until late, late, late. Her poor little jet-lagged body is confused.

Day Three: She loves the blocks, especially when she can put them in the basket and take them out. Baby Stella has also been a big hit!

Later in the afternoon we had to go out for some boring grow-up stuff like insurance and getting driver's licences. She was such a gentle and easy-going little girl who waved to every one she met. She loves to ride in the kangababy carrier!

When we got home, Nana, Grandpa and Great-Granny Marge surprised her with a ton of pink balloons. The excitement was overwhelming! Post script: She's sound asleep right now, so I thought I could grab a moment to share what I've learned about her thus far! We're still struggling with jet lag and the 9.5 hour time adjustment, but she's a remarkably pleasant little girl even when she's way overdue for sleepy-time.

She comes from a place where all her caregivers are women, so she was a little stand-offish with Erik at first. His charm and extra silliness has won her over to him, though. They enjoy playing blocks, making silly faces and making up songs.

She's a trooper when it comes to all the essentials of life: sleeping, potty, and eating. She knows what she likes and is willing to try some new things. I hate to admit it, but my mini-van is already covered in Cheerios. She LOVES those! At first she screamed when I changed her, but now she goes pee-pee in the baby bjorn potty whenever mommy goes to the big potty- remarkable!

Sleeping usually requires some mommy snuggling and she's out.She doesn't like bath time one bit, but I'm hoping that will improve like the potty time did. Most of all, she loves HUGS! We can hug all day if it were up to her, and we hug most of the day. I'm a big time snuggler, so we're getting along well.

She doesn't know any English, though I'm pretty sure she said "dada" today while looking at Erik's photo. She always wants to know where he is when he leaves the room. She doesn't really speak much, but she babbles here and there. Believe me, I talk A LOT, and she'll pick it up in no time.All in all, we're adjusting quite well. Remarkably well, in my opinion. I was expecting lots of screaming and fussing, but she's been fantastic. I've been much less emotional than I expected as well. I think I worked all that out before hand and all the prayers of her huge fan base have been huge in keeping us sane and peaceful during this trying journey.

Anyhow, the Irani family is happy and doing well!

Adoption: Real News

What has been tentative has changed yet again, but this time is firm. Srushti will arrive this Tuesday, July 28th at Newark International Airport in New Jersey. Thankfully, Erik's mother lives nearby and we'll be able to stay with her before heading back across the great state of Pennsylvania. We have a lot to do between now and then.

Photographs will be forthcoming.

Tentative Due Date

We are making plans to pick Srushti up at the airport this SUNDAY, July 26th. Our plans are still somewhat tentative, but we are hopeful and positive!

Still Waiting

This is agonizing. It's Saturday and we're still waiting to know WHEN Srushti will arrive.

Labor Watch: Adoption Style

Srushti has returned to the ashram in Ahmedabad from New Delhi. The medical appointment went well and the visa interview went along fine. The embassy now mails the visa to the ashram, so we have to wait for that to arrive before we can make travel arrangements.

I'm doing all those things that mothers do right before labor starts: home repairs. I'm painting all those places that will be hard to paint with a toddler in the house, such as the kitchen cabinets. I'm scrubbing and cleaning and basically going crazy. Srushti's bags are already packed!

We're back to waiting. Waiting on this precious piece of mail. Never in my life has mail held so much value!

Adoption Upate: Closer to Home

It has been a bumpy week. We've been up late. We've cried. We've looked to God for guidance. We've begged Him to bring our daughter home soon. It's as though we've been in labor.

The last word from our adoption agency is that Srushti has an appointment at the Embassy on July 15th, which means she can fly home about five days later. Anything can happen in India, but we are holding fast that things will play out well and our daughter will be in our arms in two weeks.

When I close my eyes, I see her face. I wonder what she is like. Is she quiet or loud? Will she want to hug me or will she be too scared? Will she enjoy cookies and ice cream? Will I have to beg her to eat her vegetables? Which doll will she choose as her favorite? Does she like yellow? How will she react to Emma? I daydream about her. I imagine a little brown hand in mine as we cross the street. I imagine bath time and water everywhere. Will she enjoy running barefoot in the grass? What will winter be like for this girl who has only known hot and wet? I hope she enjoys riding in the kangababy pack that I had made for us. I hope she giggles at her daddy's silly faces that he makes!

Adoption Upate: Test of Faith

Our hearts were dashed when we first called India and thought we had to wait another month to get a visa appointment at the embassy in New Delhi. I felt like I had been punched in the stomach and all the air was thrust out of me. I have to be honest, that I was pretty angry with God. This experience has exposed the pagan within me and shed light on the lies I believe about Him. I was angry because I saw him like Zeus, dangling the prize in front of my eyes and then pulling it away at the last minute just for shits and giggles. What a cruel god! Then, I imagined that I had more power over the universe than I do. My child is being withheld from me because I haven't finished my thesis paper and once I'm done, she'll arrive. Or I even thought that if I finish the painting I started of Srushti, she would materialize. If I knew a rain dance or had a Golden Calf nearby...

I have tasted the sweetness of God and yet I continue to doubt His best intentions for me. Yet, He continues to pursue me and to bless me, even though I am an idolater and unfaithful. Read the Old Testament, that's His style. He has pursued the Isrealites even though they were whining in freedom, erecting Golden Calves, worshipping other gods, living in slavery, and even when they enjoyed prosperity. Hehas been constantly after them.

The very next day (in the wee hours this morning) I got an e-mail from the US Embassy with an appointment for this Friday. Two children from the ashram were also going to New Delhi that day, so it would work out perfectly! We were dancing throughout the house at two in the morning. We were in utter disbelief.

After sleeping only a few hours, we got another note saying that the ashram wasn't able to open the email with the document that they needed at the visa center. What's more, the escort who usually brings the children to the embassy was grieving the loss of her sister in Mumbai (bring her comfort, oh God.) We are back in a place of not knowing, but we are in a place of trusting God more. We know that He can change things on a dime. He can move the hearts of government officials. We don't know what will happen now, but we do know that God is in charge of it all.

Adoption Update: Endless Bureaucracy

Every bit of paperwork that comes through we think is the lynch pin. "Once we have this, she'll be here." Right? Not the case. We stayed up late calling the US Embassy in India last night. The visa processing center is only only from 10am until noon, India time. That's 12:30am - 2:30am our time. After several frustrating attempts to get though. "Oh yes, the visa was sent electronically from the NVC on June 19th." Nice of them to tell us. "We're sending a letter to confirm the receipt. It usually takes a month and a half to arrive in the US." You've got to fucking be kidding me.

Oh, and the cherry on top? The visa center is closed the rest of the month.

Beautiful.

Please, don't ask me about the adoption process. It's infuriating, frustrating, and endless. Just when we think we're done, there is another inefficient hurdle to jump through. Srushti will be here eventually and asking every day for a status report isn't going to make her come here any faster. Believe me, everyone will know when she arrives. Everyone.

Extreme Home Makeover, Part VII

Finishing Touches
The contractors have finished the job and now it is our turn to dig into the garden and re-arrange plantings! We had a wonderful day in the garden today moving hostas and ferns to the area once occupied by overgrown bushes.

Making Yogurt, Part II

I cannot believe it actually worked. I have achieved yogurt. I am so excited, I'm jumping around the kitchen yelling, "I DID IT! MY CREATION LIVES! IT'S ALIVE!" I also finally found a use for alll that cheesecloth.

Making Yogurt

I started with a half gallon jug of fresh, raw milk from Dean Farms in nearby New Castle. I got the yogurt cultures from Natural Options, the health and wellness center in Grove City. After scooping off a dollup of cream for my coffee, I gently shook the jug to mix the cream with the rest of the milk. I followed the instructions on the back of the packette, but since I didn't have a thermometer, I had to guess. I brought the milk to about 180 degrees by putting it on a low heat and slightly increasing the temperature. Once there were bubbles forming around the perimeter, I transferred the pot to a smaller burner and put it on low to bring it down to 110 degrees. The woman at Natural options as well as several websites said that you can tell by putting your finger in and holding it for a count of ten. If it doesn't burn you, then you are pretty good to go. I have a sore finger and think next time I'll get a thermometer.

Then I mixed the bacteria in with a room temperature bit of milk, dissolved it and stirred it in with the rest. I turned off the burner and wrapped the pot in a million towels and a tea cozy.

For further information, here is a good article to read! I'll let you know how it turns out at the end of the day.

Extreme Home Makeover, Part VI

Rained Out

Ironically enough, many of the members on our crew are actually working on the television show, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, which is filming in Erie right now. We've lost some crew members to that as well as to the rain. They are inches from being done. Nonetheless, the house looks fantastic and we are feeling really good about it.

Bureaucracy Rant: Tracking the Visa

[argh] We received approval from the Department of Homeland Security and got a form that allows our child to be claimed as an immediate relative. This enables her to get a visa, come to the US and become a citizen. Approval date: June 8, 2009.

We were instructed to call the Visa Center in New Hampshire every day until we had confirmation that they have the paperwork. Seriously? We called over the course of two weeks, gave up, only to be told three or four different things about our case. For some, we didn't even exist. Erik had a feeling one evening and tried one last time, "Oh yes, your paperwork has been here for over a week and we sent it on to India, but you have a new case number. That's why no one could find you." A new case number? Who thought that was a good idea?

So we now were supposed to e-mail New Delhi to see if they have our visa. I sent a note to three different people last week. No word. Erik tried to call, but it seems that they are only open from 10am-noon. Oh, did I forget to mention they are only open Monday-Thursday? With the enormous time change, this means we'll be calling India in the wee hours on Sunday night.

I don't understand how I can got to FedEx, ship a package and go on line and see exactly where it is and where it has been at any given time. YET, I cannot see where my child's visa is, except by calling someone in New Delhi during two hour increments, which for me is in the middle of the night!?!?!

Seriously, people. It takes a month just to find out whether or not your visa is sitting in some office. A MONTH!!?! Can't you develop some sort of notification system. An email? A text message? For crying out loud, we live in the most electronically connected society OF ALL TIME!

It's a bureaucracy because it's large, inefficient, and no one cares. [/argh]