The Day We Met

One year ago today we met Caleb.  We were able to pick up his file early that day from the SDA and we travelled 2+ hours west out of Kiev to Berdychiv.  We met with the Social Services Director and she was so nice.  She really didn't ask us any questions, just looked at our passports.  She commented to our facilitator that we were so quiet, not typical for Americans.  She pegged us right on as we are both so shy.  After we got the paperwork, we headed to the orphanage which is in the country outside of Berdychiv. I was so excited to finally get to meet him and we were both just a little nervous.  We had no idea what he would look like as we had only seen a baby picture and he was now 5.  We met with the orphanage director and the orphanage doctor who went over his file with us.  Nothing we didn't already expect but the orphanage doctor and our facilitator exchanged words as she thought we already had too many children at home why would we want more. When they got to Peyton's file there was nothing to tell.  They knew nothing about her before age 9 and could only say she was moderately mentally delayed.  Then they told us Peyton was in a mental hospital getting evaluated, just routine.  She would be there until the end of August.  Caleb was in the hospital for Bronchitis but they would go and get him as he was to be released the next day anyway.  So we waited for what seemed like an eternity to meet our new son. Then in he walked and sat right between us.  The social worker, two nannies and our facilitator were all watching.  He played with the toys we brought, ate some candy and leaned in to both of us.  It was like he knew he belonged. The social worker, our facilitator and one of the nannies left the room and we got to play with him for about 10 minutes.  Then they whisked him away and told us we could come back to visit two times a day for two hours each time.  Our facilitator talked with the director and social worker at length about us visiting Peyton at the mental hospital.  They had to call and do some talking as outsiders are not allowed to visit.  They were able to schedule a visit for the following Monday as they had to get her written consent if we were to proceed. 

I will leave you with a picture of us and Caleb from that first meeting.

~Tina