Sitting here watching Kayti sleep in her bed:) Priceless! So many times I have looked at it and longed to see her sleeping in it and now I am! She did absolutely fantastic on the plane rides home. Never fussed once. Slept three hours on the long one and about 45 minutes on the first one. She actually liked take off and giggled and laughed each time. The flights were all good. Very smooth. The plane ride from Dulles to Pittsburgh was delayed by about 20 minutes. Of all flights to be delayed! Landed in Pittsburgh at about 6:15 instead of 5:50. Had to wait and get our one check in bag off the plane as it had to be stowed. Then off to meet our waiting family! Such a sweet moment. I will post pics when I am done, but Kayti smiled at everyone. She particularly liked her Uncle Mike and rode on his lap!! She thought that was great! She did great all the way to Golden Corral where we stopped for supper. Then she started falling asleep. She didnt eat much but had ate fairly well all the way home. I forgot to mention she now knows what snack bags, ie chips, cheese puffs, teddy grahams, etc are and gets excited when you show her anything like that. She will take one snack for each hand and look at them for a while before eating them. Had a couple of nice surprises at home. There were balloons and a sign in front of the house. Also, there was a welcome home Kayti sign on the sign at our church! Have to get a picture of it tomorrow for her album! It was so nice to see so many of our family at the airport!  It meant a lot to see every one! Another surreal moment was handing the US officials her paperwork and having them look them over and say congratulations! We'll process her paperwork and she will get her citizenship papers in the mail. Sorry this post is kind of just rambling, but we are all very tired! So glad to be home!!!!!!!

Our final day in Sofia!

Cant believe this is our last day in Bulgaria. I have to say the week here flew. We were busy every day. Today she finished an entire yogurt for breakfast, as well as cheerios, eggs, bacon, and a few bites of some orange. She didnt seem to want to go for a walk today. She would walk a little and then want picked up. We have walked an awful lot this week, though. More than she every has I'm sure. We have been going to a little park near the hotel where she can swing and go down a slide. I see us getting a swingset in the VERY near future. She loves to swing. Bought the last few souvenier things I wanted and by this time it was lunch. Of course, it was KFC. She is eating a little more every day. I found out she would rather drink from a bottle or regular cup than to have a sippy cup. She drink a whole bottle of water today which is very good for her!  I'm guessing every one at home is probably bored with my blog as I have not had as many comments lately! LOL. That's ok. We were told by Nadia yesterday that Maggie would pick us up at the hotel lobby and walk with us to FNA as we did not know where it was for sure. After being there, I can say we probably would not have found it on our own! Got all our travel documents and all of Kayti's information, ie medical, birth certificate, adoption decree, etc. So nice to see it all in writing and have the actual paperwork in my hands that says she is ours! Very surreal moment looking at all of it! Got the pictures and video Maggie took on my computer. I am going to sent them a copy of the DVD of photos from the first visit. It will eventually maybe posted on their website. She played with a toy there and ate pretzels. She is learning to chew more all the time. Gave her cheese puffs today and oh boy did she love those. Wanted one in each hand! Had to buy another bag for a snack tonight. We had to sign some documents and she was facinated with the pen and I gave her a piece of paper and made some lines and held her the pen and she did the same. She was so happy with herself. Smiled and would not let go of that piece of paper! Carried it all the way back to the room with us! Then it was time to say goodbye to our FNA family! I was very sad to say goodbye to Maggie. She has been so kind to us. I am so glad we will be able to keep in touch! Ran into one of the families from the meeding yesterday on our way to supper. We are all very excited to be going home! Came back and packed everything we dont need in the morning. We are leaving for the airport at 6:30 AM which is 11:30 PM home time. Our flight from Sofia to Vienna leaves at 8:05. We arrive in Dulles around 2:30 pm and leave around 4:50 for Pittsburgh arriving at about 5:50.... It is now 9:30 and Kayti and Dale are asleep and I should be too. I will post today's pics first. Thank you everyone who has followed our journey and offered comments, support, etc. We appreciate it more than you will ever know. Overall, our adoption experience has been at times very trying, but in the end it has all been worth it and we can not wait to see everyone at home. We have enjoyed our time in Bulgaria very much both trips. Everyone has been so nice and helpful and we have many pictures and memories to share with her when she is older. Still, can not wait to get on the plane tomorrow! Love to all for the final time from Bulgaria. Next stop home sweet home!!!

A busy day!

Got Kayti up a little earlier today, as when we went down at 9:30 yesterday breakfast was pretty well picked over. She ate an amazing breakfast of eggs, bacon, yogurt, strawberries, and a whole lot of cheerios. She really loved cheerios. I thought today was going to be a relatively short day, as our appointment with the US Embassy was not until 2:30. We came back to the room and the phone rang. It was Maggie saying our US Embassy apt had been moved till 1:30 and her collegue would pick us up in the lobby at 12:45. We took a walk and found a jewelry store and we bought Kayti a cross necklace to give her on her 16th or 18th birthday. By then it was 11:00 and we headed back for lunch. Dale had some pizza from the pizza shop next to the hotel. It had really thick crust. Kayti and I had, you guessed it, KFC. She ate almost 2 chicken strips and 3/4 of her potatoes. Plus a couple bites of Dales pizza. Then we relaxed till time to go the lobby. Not enough time for her to have a nap today...She did fine without one yesterday though. We met Nadia and took a taxi to the Embassy. It is an impressive place. There were many students waiting to get their visas so it was very crowded. Nadia took care of things until it was time for them to call us for our interview. It was very quick and informative. We met Andrew Baker who was very familiar with our case. He asked us if we would like to stay and meet with Patricia Hickey who is a US government official in charge of adoptions in Bulgaria. There were 5-6 other US families who are here picking up their children invited. My friend Connie was one of them, so we finally got to meet and give each other a hug. This was for us to give them feedback as to what could be done to make the process better. There were many stories told and many things talked about but the concensus of all of us moms was this; the process takes too long and the wait between trips is excuciating and can it be combined in one 2 week trip. Hoping and praying some good will come of this and they will take our suggestions to heart. It was so nice to be able to see the other families and their children and hear their stories. Nadia left after our initial interview when we said we would stay because by that time it was 2:45 and the meeting was at 3:30. We went to a little store and she had her first ice cream. We got cookies and cream and a plain chocolate. She loved cookies and cream, but would not eat the chocolate. Headed back to the Embassy and waited till they called us and then were taken to the meeting room. It lasted till 5 and probably could have kept going! Felt really bad for one poor family. I wont post any details of their journey here, but praying for them and what they have been through. We had to call for a taxi back to the hotel and it was rush hour, and there was some construction, so by the time we got back to the room it was 6:15. Dale went and got spagetti and pizza for supper and she ate a ton. Very happy with this. She did miss her nap today as she was tired from the time we got the Embassy on. While waiting for the interview she fell asleep in my lap for about 20 minutes. I dont think this helped. Think it only made her more tired. Watched Barney while she ate supper, then it was bathtime. No progress there! Cant wait to try it at home with some toys and a tub. She is now asleep and snoring. Really cant believe tomorrow is our last day here. It has gone very quickly. We now have to pick up her paperwork at FNA tomorrow at  3:30 and we are ready to travel. It has been a very long day for all of us and I am heading to bed soon too! Cant wait to see everyone in a couple days!! Love to all at home!

DAY 3 continued....

It is now 9:20 pm and Kayti has been asleep for about 15 minutes. She fell asleep tonight holding the bear Grammy sent her:). Took a picture of it! She ate Pizza Roma spagetti and pizza again for supper tonight plus a container of applesauce. I only brought 4 and we are now down to to. Tried to find some here, but have not been able to. Did find some Gerber Baby Stage 4 mashed apples which may work well. My Bulgarian adoptive friends who recommended Pizza Roma, you were right! It is delicious!! We watched another Barney episode tonight. She LOVES Barney and watches it intently and sings along when the kids sing, or at least her version! So cute! She also really loves the Baby Einstein DVD we brought.Talked to Grammy tonight while we were eating supper because she was chattering up a storm. Mom was able to hear her and I am sure she loved it. She said Daddy, Mamom, Kayti, and byebye, plus a whole lotta babble we cant understand! Bathtime was traumatic as ususal. Even though she played in the sink a little this afternoon. I thought it would help, but wrong! Dale and I usually work together so we can get it done fast. Stopped and got some Nivea chapstick for her lips as they seem to be dry and chapped a little. I really cant believe how well she seems to be doing. She seems to have bonded with us both very quickly and is completely happy most of the time (99%). The other 1% is bath time and when I change her. Not really sure about the changing. Any other adoptive moms have issues with changing diapers at first? Took some cute video tonight of her singing with the Barney DVD. Cant wait to share it! Tomorrow is a free morning up until 2:30 in the afternoon when we go the US Embassy with our attorney from FNA. Not sure of our exact schedule on Friday. I think it depends on how fast the US Embassy gets her visa done. We so sometime Friday morning to FNAs office to pick up all of her documents. These include her birth certificate, a doption decree,  passport, visa, and medical clearance to travel to the US. Then we get to head for home on Saturday morning. It seems to be going VERY quickly on this end, but I know it is not for those at home waiting! She loves having her lotion put on at night and when she is sleepy loves her hands and feet rubbed, especially her hands and fingers. Hoping to try and catch Connie and her family in the morning for a little bit. We explored the city today a lot more and know our way around a little now. Have to give her two types of medicines for her digestion. One is a probiotic. The other is for her lactose intolerance. She took them fairly well the first day, but every day after has been a struggle till we are all almost all 3 in tears. You cant fool her by putting it in her food either, as she is wise to that and just spits it all out. Any advice moms? Better get to bed as it is 9:42 and I want to try to wake her by 7 for breakfast. Trying to get her a little used to our early schedule. Of course there is a 7 hour time change to consider as well! Thanks for all of our comments and for following along!! Much love from Lori, Dale, and Kayti!

Day 3 ni

Kayti slept from 8:30 last night till about 9 this morning. Did not have the greatest start. She would not eat anything from the hotel breakfast. Not even a bite of scrambled egg. We ate and came back discouraged, but I had brought applesause from home and she ate a container of that and a few gerber apple cinnamon cereal type and a few cheerios. Then we went for a lonnnggg walk around town. Went to the park, but because of the big rain last night, I didnt take her on the swings again as it was very muddy. Trying to get together with my friend Connie and her husband who are here picking up their cute little boy Ethan. Kind of hard when we are not at the same hotel and dont know where things are. We are not giving up though. Exchanged some money and bought some souveniers and came back to the hotel and Dale went and brought KFC back to the room. She LOVES KFC chicken strips. Wants to feed them herself. I am afraid she will take too big a bite. I wasnt feeding her potatoes fast enough to suit her so she picked up her spoon and did it herself. You can see this in my new pics. Thought she was going to take a nap. But she layed there for about 15 minutes and babbled and laughed out loud and kept trying to find something to play with. I guess maybe a nap everyday is not going to be in her plans! She is so cute. She still loves teddy grahams and goldfish and is having a snack of those now. Then we are going for another walk. We have no appointments today, so we can relax and do whatever we want. We go to the US Embassy tomorrow at 2:30 for her exit interview and then to FNA's office on Friday to pick up all of her documents and we are ready to go home Saturday morning. Sure hope we see lots of smiling farmiliar faces at the airport! More tonight! Love from Bulgaria!

Day 2 evening!

Talked to my Grandpa tonight. He was glad to hear from us. I have forgot to mention she seems to love jewelry. She loves my rings and will hold her finger out for me to put it on hers. She also likes my necklace. We bought her some pants tonight. They all have adjustable waists and are the equivilant of 3T and 4Ts. Found a pair of Puma shoes for her. They are the equivilant of an american 7 1/2, and I brought 9 1/2s. Her feet are tiny. She watched an entire episode of Barney tonight and chattered and sang and loved it. Also really loved a baby einstiens old mcdonald dvd. Bathtime tonight was not much better. The only thing I can say is she didnt shiver and shake tonight. We ate supper at Pizza Roma and had pizza, spagetti with cheese sauce, and sauted potatoes with dill. She ate a lot. She loved the pasta and the pizza. While we were there an unexpected rain storm popped up. It poured and then it hailed. We stayed there until it was over. We have no appointments tomorrow so we can sleep in a little. We went to a small park after getting her clothes and shoes. There was a swing there and I swung with her in my lap. She loved it. Also loved going down the slide. We will go there again tomorrow. Hard to believe that it is almost Wednesday already. So excited to come home in a few days.  We had a great day today and hope for an even better day tomorrow.

Day 2 as a family of 3!

Kayti woke up very happy this morning and ate an amazing breakfast of scrambled eggs, sausage, half a banana and some strawberries. She especially loved the eggs and strawberries. Met Maggie at 8:30 in the lobby and we took a 10 minute taxi drive to a private hospital/dr office building. Met with an ear, nose, and throat doctor, an eye dr., who says she will have to see an eye dr after she gets home and settled a while because she could/would not do the necessary things to test her vision. Then we had a long wait for an apt with a pediatrician. She talked up a storm while we were waiting. Kept saying conche which is horse. We left Liannas horse at the hotel and I think this may have been what she wanted. She also started calling me mamom. Dale and I sometimes say mama and sometimes mommy so this may be her version of combing the two? The periatrician told us again about her third tonsil which is why she snores as loud as Dale or my dad! LOL. Will have to get this looked into at home too. Other than that, the pediatrician said she will make great strides gaining weight now with a family and not in the orphanage where they are fed and given 10 minutes to eat and what they dont is thrown out. She needs someone who is patient to feed her as she gets easily distracted. I am trying to have NO distractions around while feeding and not let her up til I feel she is comfortably full, as she likes to get up and walk away and come back. At least till we gain some weight. Her size four pants are a tad too long, but fall down around her waist the minute she stands up. Luckily I brought 2 pair from Pennys with adjustable waists that you can tighten the waist and she has worn those the past 2 days. We need to go shopping and get shoes and pants. We got back from the dr. appts at approximately 11:45 and Dale walked to KFC and brought lunch back to the room. She LOVED mashed potatoes with gravy. And KFC chicken strips. Also had brought some small things of applesauce with us and she at half of one of those as well as her bowl of mashed potatoes and an entire chicken strip. Now her and Daddy are napping and I am relaxing:)  We are going to Pizza Roma for supper tonight. We couldnt find it the first time we were here and I have heard so much about it, I cant wait to try it. We have a free day tomorrow. Yay! Oh, before lunch I took her in the bathroom and turned on the sink to wash her hands and the second I turned the water on, she started crying, so I am sure bathtime tonight will be no better. I want to thank everyone for your posts and following my boring rambling blog. Your messages have meant a lot while we are so far away! We are halfway through. 4 days down, 4 more to go! Hope you enjoyed some of the pictures. Maggie has more on her camera that I wont get till Friday. Love from Bulgaria!
Lori, Dale, and Kayti