The power of prayer...a miraculous story

Now that you have all met Sofie, I can tell the incredible story of how she and I became a family. After I was picked up at the airport and told that we were going directly to the orphanage, I asked Natalia (our interpreter) to tell me about the children I will see. She told me that there are not many children up for adoption at this time. Only 3 boys and 1 girl were available for adoption and that the other two families arrived the day before and they chose a boy and the girl. I was devastated. This is when all of our prayers took action. Not 5 minutes later she received a phone call and spoke in Russian for another 10 minutes. When she hung up, she turned around to say the woman who chose the girl left. She just packed up and left without a word that morning. I felt a little relieved, but was still upset that I wouldn't have much of a choice. Within one minute of arriving at the orphanage they started bringing in the babies. First, Ramazon, a little boy who is sweet and healthy, but seemed a bit delayed. Then came Yershan, another boy who was obviously disabled, last came Meruert. I gasped. She looked so beautiful to me. They put her in my lap and 5 minutes later the Russian doctor came in to read her medical history. Natalia translated. Yes mom, I took notes.

That first day I noticed that she is very alert. She can't quite sit up. Her upper body is very strong. She has a tight grip. But her legs are very weak. The caretakers are awesome. They work so hard and try to give as much time and love to each child, but when you have 10 or 12 to care for, there's no time to play and lift her to her feet. In fact, I don't think she ever touched the ground with her bare feet because she always has 3 pairs of socks on. (Until yesterday when I took the socks off and stood her up!) So we have begun a baby exercise routine. Sit ups, leg lifts, upside down bicycle, and standing up. After just two sessions, she already is supporting herself for a second more than before. This morning we had our first session and we left so she could take her nap, I'm told she is a very good sleeper. Today at nap time she was so happy and energized that she did not sleep, she just talked the whole time in her crib!!

They say that for every 3 months spent in an orphanage, a child is delayed 1 month. So Sofie is physically like a 41/2-5 month old. Intellectually she has to be at about a year. She is very bright!!!

Since she has made so much progress in just one day, I am not worried at all about her catching up.

So anyway, I have the baby that is so right for me. Thank God. And the power of prayer.