Day 3: Family Day

10/29/12 Today Levi will arrive to our hotel. We woke up at 3am, again. Jet lag is crazy. We all got up and ready. After breakfast we went down to the lobby to wait. At 10:30 Levi arrived with Cora. He saw us and ran to me to be held. He let each of us hold him and he loved the backpack we brought him with some toys, snacks, and juice. He especially liked the photo album I made him with all his New Day family in it. It took about an hour to sign papers, then Cora said goodbye. The tears started. This is the hardest part. He cried for about 10 minutes and stopped due to some Pringles. However, he kept pointing to the door to leave. We went up to the room around 1130 where he was quite subdued for about an hour. He was still very cuddly but quiet. Mark took the 3 older kids to lunch so Samuel, Levi, and I hung out. He would not lay down for a nap so we all just snuggled. He kept pointing to the door to leave so we walked the halls quite a bit. Around 4 pm sleep won and he fell to sleep on my chest. After everyone returned he saw the others playing and became more animated and interacted more. Every so often though, his eyes well up with tears and roll down his sweet cheeks. No sound is made. It is heartbreaking. He would be playing then stop and go to the window, nose pressed to the glass, looking out, with tears rolling down his cheeks. It is so hard to try and explain to a three year old about family versus care givers. So we just cry with him, hold him, and tell him it will be okay. Tell him how much we love him. Pray over him. Overall, he is doing very well though. Lots of giggles in between the tears. His little personality is beginning to emerge as he feels more secure. And, boy, does this little guy love to eat! He has eaten nonstop! He has not wanted to take his shoes off nor his clothes. Our room is very hot and he is sweating up a storm, but all I'm good time. Around 6:30 he put his coat on from ND and pointed to the door. Daddy came to the rescue with an ice cream cone and all was forgotten. He loves his backpack so, I thought about putting his jammies in it. Sure enough he pulled them out and chose to wear the tiger jammies. However, the shoes stayed on! It is cute how he keeps putting all his belongings in that backpack. By 7:30 he was acting good. We put him to bed at 9 pm and, yes, the shoes were on. Lol. After he was completely out, I took off his shoes and set them beside him. We have a crib in the room but e choose to sleep with us. :). Levi is a very strong and brave boy!! We are proud of him and how he has done today. Thank you for all your prayers.