Long Night

(Brady) Last night was our first night together as a family, and there were plenty sleepless hours with a fair amount of tears. Not from Manny…. Manny slept a solid 10 hours without a peep. He did great! It was the new parents that tossed and turned and cried. Finally the emotions kicked in! I cried. I’m not proud of it, but it happened…please don’t tell anyone. I can’t say I’ve ever experienced a day like yesterday. We were excited, nervous, thrilled, elated, scared, broken hearted (for the other kids) and exhausted at the same time. Apparently, the combination doesn’t lend well to sleep.

There were so many things on our mind, staring with the kids we left at the orphanage. There are so many examples, but here is one - we met a 12 year old that has nothing, and pulled me aside towards the end of the day and asked us to bring her some story books so she could read them to the younger children. How amazing! She didn’t ask for us to bring her clothes for herself, or iPod, or even a blanket she could sleep under (even though I know she doesn’t have one). Instead, she asked for a book she could read to the younger kids! How selfless. What an example she is. All the children were like that! So many of the children just wanted to be held, and picked up. They were so loving and generous. Several children offered us there lunch! (I hope you are tearing up right now, because you should be)

On a different note, Manny is so much fun. We went swimming before lunch today and had a blast. He doesn’t know how to swim, but that didn’t stop him from jumping right in (with floaties and a raft). Thankfully, there is another family here with 3 kids that he can play with from the same orphanage. We have decided that we better wait until the court hearing Tuesday before posting pictures publically.

One day down. I don't want to brag, but so far we are on track to be the best parents ever!