Last day in Jomtien

Tomorrow we leave the coast to go back to Bangkok for 2 days, sorting out the final paperwork at the Danish Embassy (immigration permit for Olivia) and the Department of Social Development and Welfare, where we attend an interview before the authorities officially hand over Olivia to us. We have been firmly instructed to wear formal clothing (suit and tie for Aaron, knee-long dress for Rikke, dress and shoes for Olivia). So Aaron also bought some shiny new shoes for Olivia.

Reflecting back on what has happened in the last 10 days since the dramatic exit from Pattaya Orphanage, where we drove away with Olivia kicking and screaming in Aaron's arms, we almost can't believe how far we have already come in such a short time. It has been ideal to just hang out in slow-mode with nothing else to do than to be together, and it is fun to discover more and more about each other as the days pass. All the comments we have received here and on Facebook have been heart warming - thank you so much!

Today, Olivia has been watching Dad sweep the floor after meal times (yes, the rice sometimes goes everywhere!), so little miss orderly spent quite some time making sure the place is neat and tidy, while Mum and Dad made sure that encouraging acknowledgements kept coming her way.

On Olivia's initiative, we came up with a good game for building our relation with loving cuddles. She seems to enjoy waving "bye-bye", which she now does to almost everyone that looks her way when we are out. This morning, she then packed up her blocks in a bucket, and waved bye-bye to me, as I sat on the floor. She went around the corner into the kitchen (out of my sight), only to return a moment later to a happy and surprised Mum. Soon after, Dad entered the game, and Olivia and Dad did the "bye-bye" routine together. Upon returning, Dad showed Olivia how nice it was to cuddle Mum when they came back to me. And sure enough, not long after, Olivia came running back throwing herself into my arms at each return from the kitchen.

We have been doing similar "emotional practice runs" for giving comfort when she falls, even if she barely hurts herself and we may even be up for the Oscar for "Best Actor in a Foreign Film" if wwe put these videos our YouTube channel. It is not unusual for kids that have grown up in an orphanage to not cry or seek comfort when they hurt themselves. I guess, when they don't get the comforted, they eventually stop asking for it. We have repeatedly watched Olivia knock her head on the furniture, followed only by a minor cringe and not seeking us at all, so she is no exception to this. Today, she fell and really hurt herself (banged her chin on the coffee table - the parents got a big fright too!). Although tears were flowing and she was crying her heart out, she did not want to be cuddled and pushed us away. So - inspired by our friends-in-adoption Henrik and Dorthe's way of coming in contact newly-adopted Janus - I took her to the bedroom and sat close to her on the until she eventually calmed down and accepted to be held by me. Poor thing. Fortunately she was OK and back to her cheerful self after a nap.

Olivia has also been displaying more positive sign of bonding with Aaron. Today she reached out to touch him on the arm a couple of times and once on the face. While we were out for a walk Aaron was squatting near the stroller and they were on the lookout for dogs (a favourite game) and Olivia reached out and was playing with his knee. Big steps for their closeness. 

Another step closer again tonight at bed-time. After the usual routine of milk in a bottle followed by 20 min fidgeting in the bed, she eventually turned to me again and layed for probaby 5 min face to face with me, looking calmly at me, and occasionally putting her hand out to feel my face, then her own face, and then my face again. Amazing. The final finale was cuddling my head into her chest before falling asleep. Really - I am not making this up...