We started out the day finishing up our packing and cleaning our condo in Antigua. I must admit, it was quite bittersweet, as I have fallen in love with Antigua, and have such awesome memories of our time spent here! However, I am excited to get home and begin a "normal" life! As we were packing, one of the dogs came by to say good-bye!
Dylan and one of our favorite "guys at the gate!" There were 2 sets that worked 24 hour shifts, every other day. This guy and his partner were the best. They would hear us coming (I wonder
why?):) and they would have the gate open, and ready to help with the stroller. Both sets were super nice, always giving the boys high 5's or picking them up! We sure slept easy knowing we were being kept safe by these guys!!
Here we are driving out of Antigua! I will surely miss this awesome place!
We went to Hannah's Hope, and met with the lawyer to go over all our paperwork, and see Dr. Castro. That was very interesting! We found out that Anaya was hospitalized, and had numerous sicknesses that we were never made aware of, including, hand, foot, and mouth disease~when we picked her up!! Which would explain her sores on her thumbs, and in her mouth!! I figured that she just sucked it too hard since she was nervous, so I feel a little better! But the Dr. said he told them to tell me, so the boys wouldn't get it as well, we never got the memo!! Oh well, all's well that ends well, I am just thankful she is doing well now! He said when we picked her up she was 14lbs. but when he weighed her yesterday she weighed 16lbs., and had grown quite a bit lengthwise too! On a funny note, he showed us a picture of his kids, and then he proceeded to show us all a picture of his wife "giving the breast," (as he put it,) to his son from 20 some years ago! The boys were not phased by it at all, however Ryan and I were like "wow, okay"!! 
This is why Anaya is such an outside girl! She used to be sitting in one of these over stuffed strollers!! Isn't it so cute, the kids love it! It is so amazing to see all of these beautiful children, and know that they have a family out there waiting for them! I pray they all make it home soon!
Then we left the orphanage, and went to our hotel. Ryan and the boys went to McDonalds, as our room was not ready, and Abel took Anaya and I to her visa Dr. appointment! 2 Dr. appointments in one day! Both said she looks great, and other than being on the small side, can see her growing and catching up just fine!
Then later that afternoon, we went back to Hannah's Hope, and bought the older kids Happy meals! There were 12 kids ranging in age from 2 to 10, and they were so very cute! I was brought to tears as we watched them sing their songs, and pray before dinner, thanking God for their food, and their families! Some of them have families who they are going home to, some do not!! I just couldn't thank God enough that we were able to get Anaya as a "baby" so she will always know what it is like to grow up in a family~not an orphanage. But, praise God for All Gods Children, and Hannah's Hope, that these children can grow up in a loving environment, and the special mothers that take such great care of them. This place is amazing, and if you are interested in helping them out, I will put their website on here somewhere. Right now with no new adoptions going on, they can use all the help they can get! Now the boys want us to adopt an older girl too!! God has given us the heart, but not the wallet for that~just yet!!
Here is just a small clip of the children singing their song!
Anaya and I just hung out in our hotel after we said good-bye to the guys! Tomorrow we plan on doing some shopping, if I can find the mall!! This town is not quite as nicely laid out as Antigua, but I am sure I will figure it out! Love to you all!
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