Ecuador Day 30

Tuesday Jan. 3rd
We woke up to a very sunny and gorgeous day today! What a blessing as I was planning on spending a good majority of the morning outdoors! We got ourselves ready and headed out to grab a taxi to go to Parque Calderon- this is the major park by the New Catherdral that is Cuenca's landmark...big blue roof...traffic was crazy and there were so many people out and about. We technically could walk pretty much anywhere we need to go around town, but I just feel much safer just getting in the cab and having it take us to the place we need to go...

It was warm enough szs that I had on a tank top and jeans (whishing I handn't sent my capri's home with Zac!) We walked around a bit and I am feeling so much more comfortable here and Adriana does so well in the stroller. However, if she want out to look at something, you better be ready for a fit if you don't let her get out...so the shops that I could actually go into and look were limited due to so many stores having breakable stuff within her arms reach...oh well...Zac has given me stict orders to limit my spending...who me??? nah!

Adriana was pretty much done walking around a looking at things by noon so we headed home to have lunch and take a nap...I am trying to get out of the habit of taking naps with her as I don't plan on napping once we get back home...well occasionally maybe, but not daily. =)

Adriana just woke up from her nap and it is downpouring! I even heard thunder, which I haven't heard here! We are going to wait til the rain lets up and head out to a bakery.

I did talk to Priscila a bit a go and she is guessing the judge will sign the sentence Thursday or Friday which could means we'll be right on track for coming home on the 18th...guess we'll pray we can atleast be home by the 18th!

(wrote the above earlier today)

Just heard from Priscila! Our judge wrote the sentence today! What a tremendous blessing!! So we now wait three days..every written document in Ecuador it not "official" until 3 days later...so very wierd...but it is what it is, so we wait. Priscila said to plan on Monday going to get Adriana's new birth certificate, and passport and hopefully squeeze in her doctors appointment that day as well. Provided we can get all three things done that day, we should be able to fly to Guayaquil Wednesday to get her visa and do the exit interview and prayerfully be able to leave for the states Friday or Saturday!! Praise God from whom all blessings flow!!! Not having to stay for another weekend is amazing news! Obviously we really won't know until mid week next week to see if it all works out that way...but it is looking like it could very well happen! And this is also great news, as Zac wouldn't have to take any more time off work to come get us as we'd be coming home on a weekend so it would work out perfectly!

Now I just have to make it through the rest of this week and weekend...going to head out to try and get pictures of all the cathedrals, possibly going with the family from Ohio so that will be a good change up!

If we are able to fly to Guayaquil Wednesday that would mean Tuesday would be our last day in Cuenca as we'll fly from Cuenca to Guayaquil then Guayaquil to Quito and then leave from Quito...I really pray this all works so...but...if it doesn't, then I will be Ok with whatever God's plan for us is..all in His Precious Timing.

Ecuador Day 29

Monday Jan. 2nd
Today we woke up to cloudy skies and it looked like it would rain any minute...I knew we couldn't spend the entire day inside, but we hung out in our jammies for a good portion of the morning and just played and worked on more vocabulary for Adriana. She is getting so much better already!

I was hoping to be able to go back into my posts and start putting pictures in since the internet has been better..but for some reason blogger isn't giving me the upload from picasa...not sure what's up with that...I've posted pics on facebook...and will continue to as I'm able...will have to add pics to the blog once I'm home I guess. Sorry!

We had a wonderful lunch of PB & J...gormet I tell ya...and we both took a nice long nap..then it was time to get out of the house so we headed to the Mall Del Rio...I was hoping I could find a swim suit as they have a place called Banos with Hot Water natural springs...and I packed Adriana's suit, but didn't pack mine...not sure what I was thinking there...but anyways...turns out you have to be about a size 0 or be willing to show all your stuff if you're going to purchase a suit here...so I guess we're not going to Banos..oh well...

We continue to get to know the Ohio family...mostly because as soon as I open our apartment door, if their door is open, Adriana just goes right in and starts making herself comfortable. LOL...glad they don't mind! We were going to go out to dinner together, but they'd had a late lunch so their kids were'nt hungry...they have something planned for every day this week...so we might just have to tag along one of the days!

I think the "honeymoon" period has officially worn off as i'm seeing more and more tantrums and acting out...I'm sure it is a compilation of her just being confused, being taken from the only place she's every known, to her daddy leaving, etc...if I tell her no about something she will stomp her foot and tell me no right back....good times! I've been trying to do more reading as to when to really start enforcing discipline with an adopted child. I don't want to affect our bonding, but I do want to set up some boundaries..If she doesn't get what she wants, like getting to watch a movie, or getting to take another shower....she usually sits and pouts somewhere....I've been trying to just pick her up and hold her and love on her when that happens, but I'm not sure that is the correct answer...just learning as we go!

Ecuador Day 28

Sunday Jan. 1st Feliz Anos!
Happy New Year! Despite Adriana being awake until almost 10pm, she was up bright and early at 6:30...I let her watch Toy Story in bed while I attempted to gear myself up for the day.  Once we got up and around I let Adriana take her baby in the shower with her..you'd think she'd won the lottery1 I got to see more independent play out of her as she dried her baby, dressed her, and then asked for a cup and a spoon for her baby and proceeded to sit on the couch and feed her baby..so cute.  Can't wait for all the hours of playing with babies with Adriana and Addie once we get home!

John picked us up at 10 and we went to his house quick to start a load of laundry and then John took us up into Paute to the Sunday market there.  It was similar to the market we go to on Thursdays here in Cuenca, but much bigger, and everything is locally grown. (some things at the Cuenca market are brought in from other places in Ecuador) I purchased about a pound of new potatoes, 5 papayas, 3 green and 2 red peppers, a pineapple, 4 mandarines, 8 large carrots (the carrots here are seriously on steroids! LOL), 3 apples,  3 avocados, and 3 onions....and all for less than $5....we wouldn't have such an obesity issue in America if fresh fruits and veggies were so affordable...and all the stuff here is locally grown and organic! 

After going to the market we went on up the road and purchased some more maize (corn) patties like we had the first time came to Paute.  Adriana loves these things..might have to look up how to make them...they seem very similar to a cornbread mixture..but just made into a pancake form.

We were getting hungry for lunch and John wanted to take us to a place where they roast the whole pig out front by the street..and by whole I mean head, ears, tail...its all there...This place was also roasting whole chickens as well..I was concerned about sanitary, getting sick, etc...but John said this is the place he stops when he wants this kind of meal...and he'd never been sick...so I guess that eased my mind a bit. LOL...they served coke in the glass bottles as well...pretty neat.  That took me back to my Great Grandpa Thurman (my dad's grandpa) he always had glass bottles of coke for us kids whenever we came to do chores at his house..I'm looking forward to the day I get to see my Great Grandpa and Grandma Thurman again in Heaven...I wonder if Grandpa will even have a coke for me. =) ANyways..this ended up being one of the more expensive meals of our journey at $5/plate..but we did get a ton of food...tons of pork, a salad, and potatoes...it was decent but I'm not sure I'd eat it again...I'm not one to have to eat around/scrape off the fat from the meat and you had to do that with the pork..so yeah...not a fan. Zac would have loved it!

We had about a45 minute drive home and Adriana was getting very tired as it was nearing 2:00..Adriana has this love of coins..and she loves to hold several coins in her hands for a long time.  I had given her coins at the the lunch place, but we needed a few of the coins to pay a toll...all of $.50, but she wasn't happy about it and wanted some coins that were in John's cup holder..I told her no and that caused a major fit...she stiffened up her body so it was hard for me to keep her on my lap and then proceeded to try and pinch me very hard...I think John was unsure what to do as she'd always been so good around him..he'd say..only about 20 minutes...only about 10  minutes...I can laugh about it now...Adriana had not cried until today...and she cried....not a lot and she stopped as soon as I snuggled her into me and held her close...poor kiddo has got to be just so confused...but I'd say we can mark it down as her first temper tantrum! LOL Since Adri was so ready to get out of the car and be home we decided I'd call John after Adri woke up and we'd come over to finish the laundry...good times!

When we got home I called my mom and she let me know Zac had arrived and he and Addie had went over to visit his mom and step dad.  She showed me the video she took of when Zac arrived there and I was a bawling baby! Compiled with the stress and emotion of Adriana acting up and just being happy Zac was home with Addie...it was kinda nice to have a good cry. =)

We had a gourmet dinner of mac n cheese (thanks Shalane!) and a papaya and Adriana and I enjoyed some more time down in the common areas talking to the other people staying here...Adriana has become quite the favorite and is usually being given candy and cookies from people here...pretty cute..unfortunately if the apartment dog, Tormenta, is around, she won't give anyone the time of day as all she wants to do is pet and look at Tormenta "Enta" as she calls her.

Ecuador Day 27

Saturday Dec. 31st

Why is my daughter up at 6am after a night of poor sleep? Good question! Guessing she is misskng her normal wake up with daddy time...We had a good morning as I am starting to see glimpses of more independent play with Adri...such a blessing!  Today a norwex cloth was her play choice and she went around the apartment cleaning everything, including her babies...so cute.

John picked us up at 10 to get groceries. ( I later found out he told Zac he'd keep us busy the first couple days so Zac wouldn't worry)  It was just  quick trip out, but enough to get us up and out of the apartment and pick up some necessities at the store...you know....mac n cheese....these yogurt drink things that Adri loves...

On our way home we ran into another New Years tradition...there have been these dummy dolls all over that you can buy and pick out a mask...well the men dress up as women, and then have a dummy doll look like their man that has died and they stop traffic and make you put money in their bag as they are crying over their dead husband...in this instance, they used a rope to hold across the street so we couldn't pass until we paid...so weird...
Each scenario is different..this man was dressed in a very short black skirt and top...other times the outfits can be very revealing....

I decided Adri needed a new movie...And they unfortunately don't have "real" DVD's here...only copied ones in lots of different stores all over town..not sur how they get away with it...but whatever,  so we walked down to one that is close to our apartment and purchased three DVD's...Toy Story, Dora,and Shrek...and each one has about four different movies on it...so it was worth the $4. =) Of course Adriana wanted to watch them right away, but I made her wait until her nap time...I'm slowly trying to set boundaries as I don't think she every really had boundaries...as it just wasn't needed when you are confined to a certain area all day.....anyways..she wasn't very happy with me but obliged after stomping her foot.  LOL

We had some chicken soup with bread and took a nice long nap.  We headed out to the common area and met a new family here that is considering moving here from Ohio and has two adopted children, ages, 7 and 8..from Guatemala and China...Adriana enjoyed interacting with the children and I enjoyed talking with the mom and dad about adoption.  

Adriana and I were planning on ordering pizza for dinner and the Ohio family was thinking the same thing...so we ended up all have Pizza Hut for our New Years Eve dinner...not the greatest pizza, but it was the only place open...

Adriana was starting to get a little bit squirley...I can always tell when she gets tired as she really starts to get disobedient and testing me a lot...

We heard from Zac and he made it safely to Chicago. He is spending the night with my little sis and brother in law before heading to Monmouth Sunday morning. He said he feels like he has traveled 20 years into the future...said it was similar to when he returned from traveling on a mission trip to Kenya, Africa...wondering how it will feel for Adriana..

Cuenca, Ecuador New Years at 11:50pm....the sounds begin....fireworks, bands, car alarms, dogs barking, people yelling, dummy doll burnings..this only lasted until about 12:45AM so it really wasn't as bad as  I thought it would be...Adriana slept through most of it just stirring when a really loud firework would go off.. I actually thought it would be much worse, but it didn't last all night long...there was still some firworks that went off throughout the night..but nothing that kept us up all night...thankful for that!

Gotcha Day Part 2

We finished up court and paid our translator. We asked Priscila about the $200 as Maria Jose had said and she asked that we take $60 out to pay the translator and then she would take the rest...and said that she was just doing it to make Maria Jose happy. LOL. Have I mentioned our lawyer is the best...if only all lawyers were like her.

Priscila's husband was waiting for her and we asked them if we could take them to lunch as well as her brother and sister in law. Their whole family was getting ready to leave for the coast (many families go to the coast to the beach for New Years weekend)...so it ended up just being Priscila, her husband, Santiago, and their 3 year old son, Santi. Andriana was head over heals for Santi and just kept watching him the entire time and saying hiee..she is so ready for some playmates! Poor kiddo....We went to this Italian Ice Cream place that also had good lasagna...and it was very good! We of course had to try the ice cream, which was also very good! $.75 for a cone with a large scoop of ice cream! Santiago bought some bubble gum ice cream for Sati and shared it with Adriana..she liked it, but didn't really love it...took some bites and was done...still don't know if this kid likes ice cream...

Priscila and her family had to get going to pack for their weekend trip, so we let them know we'd get a cab home....we got the bill only to realize they didn't take debit cards and we gave the cash we had with us to Priscilla and the translator...oops! There was a ATM machine across the street...so we tried it several times, but found out it doesn't do international transactions...so we called John and he came and rescued us, paid the bill, and took us home....have we mentioned how much we love John and he has totally taken us under his wing and been like a grandfather to us. So cool...we know we'll keep in touch with him long after we're home.

By the time we got that whole ordeal taken care of it was almost 3:00 and John was going to be back at 5:00 to pick us up to get a light snack prior to taking Zac to the airport. We tried to get Adri down for a nap, but she wasn't having it, which was fine so Zac could spend more time with her before leaving.

John took us to this cute litte coffee shop that had great smoothies and brownies. I am still in awe of how peaceful I have been on Friday leading up to Zac leaving and yesterday while he was traveling. Amazing what happens when you fill yourself with the Truth.

We got to the airport with plenty of time and got Zac's bags checked. We said goodbye (yes, I cried, but I was totally at peace with it). Adri kept pointing to herself and saying me...she was trying to tell us she wanted to go on the plane..she just loves planes...but I still wonder if she knows the planes = America and her sister...as that is what they told her at the orphanage...and that's why she gets so excited for planes...who knows! Zac was going to spend the night in Quito with the Broaddus family before leaving for Miami then Chicago in the morning.

John took Adri and I by a bakery on the way home as Adri was wanting some more "pan" (bread)...He dropped us off at the apartment and I got Adri to bed..after she had a roll from the bakery of course. LOL..I was able to facebook with Stephanie and she let me know Zac was there (my minutes on our cell phone had ran out..need to make sure I get more tomorrow!)

I startd reading I Will Carry You by Angie Smith....totally got lost in the book and stayed up way to late...its a great book!

John let us know he had to go to the store tomorrow and would pick us up at 10 to get us out of the house for the morning...so blessed.