Ecuador Day 41

One more note on the topic from earlier today before we lay it to rest. I can honestly say that I never knew that the term "Gotcha Day" was offensive. My last post basically described how my feelings differ from the thoughts on the blog that the anonymous commenter directed me to since she did not say (nor did the blog) just what is so offensive about the term. So, I did a little research this afternoon and found THIS website very helpful. There are a few comments there that help me understand a little bit better why some people don't love the term. However, I am still not offended in the least by it and I actually think it is rather endearing, so we are sticking with it. To me, "Gotcha Day" is a fun way to describe a very important and monumental event in our lives. It means that after a lot of hard work, prayers, time, money, and hardships, we can finally celebrate having Flor as an official part of our family. We don't have to use more serious or heavy-toned language...after all, something can be fun, can't it? So, please, let's just move on and agree to disagree (speaking to all who find it offensive.)

Alright, on to today. Thank you for all the well-wishes for my illness. I feel much better today, especially after the large and delicious dinner that we had, but we will get to that.

This morning we hung out around the house before making a trip to the Mega. We are going to try to use up whatever food we have left in the house instead of doing more grocery shopping since Devin, Hals, and Jace leave a week from Monday (sad day). However, we are having a bit of an issue in the eating department in that four out of five family members refuse to eat rice anymore (I will let you guess who is still agreeable to rice). We have a lot of rice on hand...so, we might be getting creative in what we eat this week. Honestly, the food situation is getting rather dismal here. I can't wait to get home and eat to my heart's content (wow, don't I sound gluttonous?) Oh well. The flavors of things here are just not the same, so though we can usually find similar items in the grocery stores to what we buy at home, everything just has a weird taste. As mentioned before, dairy products are particularly bad...which is rough because I love me some cheese, cream cheese, sour cream, etc. Oh well, I'll live, right?

After our trip to the Mega, we spent about an hour at home before heading out again about 4:30 to go to dinner. We decided to celebrate Flor's Gotcha Day today as we did not have a chance yesterday since I wasn't feeling too swell. We went to TGI Friday's for dinner as we were fairly sure we could find some good old comfort food there. It didn't disappoint. Hallie's hot dog was the only thing that was a little iffy, but I don't eat hotdogs anyway, so it was no loss to me. Devin tried it and said it tasted more like sausage. Oh well, Hallie still ate it and that's what counts!

After dinner, we took a walk down the road to an ice cream shop that the Schinnerers had told us about. They told us that they sell diabetic ice cream--which means no sugar--which means Flor can have it! What a treat! Well, we all enjoyed our ice cream immensely....all except for Flor. She hated it. Too bad. Now we know that we shouldn't feel bad eating ice cream in front of her; she wouldn't eat it anyway!

Well, that about sums up the day. Nothing too exciting going on. A few people have asked what the process from here entails since I won't be coming home for a few more weeks. Well, here is the process:

1) We wait for the Adoption Decree from the Judge. She promised she would get it done as soon as possible...so we will see.
2) After we have the decree, there is a three day mandated waiting period before we can do anything else. Who knows why...we just comply. So three days of waiting, which will certainly put us into the next week.
3) I will go with MJ and Flor to the Civil Service Registry for an all day affair. Please wish us luck on this one as Flor has a really hard time sitting still and needs naps like no one I know. So, we will be there all day until we come to the front of the line in order to acquire Flor's passport, ID card, and birth certificate.
4) Flor will have a doctor's appointment to verify that she is healthy enough to leave the country.
5) INFA writes one more report, summarizing everything. Again, who knows how long this will take...
6) Flor and I will fly to Guayaquil to go to the US embassy. We have an exit interview and obtain Flor's visa.
7) The judge must sign our "Salida", basically signing off on everything.
8) We are free to leave the country and fly to the US! Flor becomes a US citizen as soon as we land on US soil. She also retains her Ecuadorian citizenship.

So...as you can see, how fast things go will depend a lot on the judge and on INFA and how quickly they get things done. Please pray with me that it will be a week past when Devin goes home, versus two. The thought of a week here alone is much more handle-able than two, for some reason.

 And a few pictures from today:

While I was sitting on the couch writing the post this morning, Devin was busy getting the kids ready, hair and all. Check out that amazing hair-do! He does hair like no man I know, minus my Uncle Brad.

Nothing special here, just three kids enthralled with Barney. Devin was already discussing today how we are going to wean the kids from Barney when we get home. I agree-- a necessary step. I don't even know why Hallie and Jace like it so much; it's in Spanish.

Our delicious ice cream. Mmmmm.

Flor not enjoying her ice cream. Little stink!

Jace on the other hand was loving it. He "uhhhh uhhhh uhhhh"ed every few seconds until we fed his need.

And...another soccer game is going on outside the window, so that ought to be entertaining for tonight. Until tomorrow!