November 30, 2006

Bandh, originally a Hindi word meaning 'closed', is a form of protest used by political activists in some countries in South Asia like India and Nepal. During a Bandh, a large chunk of a community declares a general strike, usually lasting one day. While often it means the closing down of a major marketplace of a city for the day, there have been instances of entire Metros coming to a standstill. Bandhs are powerful means for Civil disobedience. Because of the huge impact that a Bandh has on the local community, it is much feared as a tool of protest.

--from Wikipedia

November 30, 2006

Mr. Singh picked us up at 10am and we drove to Himmat's office at Hutch to drop off the house key. There is a small section of road around the corner of the Hutch building and it is quite bad. Pot holes and deep ruts line the street. We all bumped right along in the old Ambassador taxi. Afterward, we got dropped off at the airport for our 2pm flight back to Mumbai.

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Unfortunately, we learned earlier in the morning from Daddy that there was a bandh in Mumbai, which would affect our drive from the airport back to Thane. Someone in another state desecrated a statue and got some folks mad so they called for a bandh. (It seems like there is a bandh every time we visit India!) Typically, a bandh is over by 6pm, and then you can safely go out on the roads; shops re-open, etc. Today's bandh included rioting and train burning, some of which occurred along one of the direct routes to Thane.

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We arrived in Mumbai at 4pm and waited for about an hour for our driver to pick us up. Instantly, the cool Delhi weather was gone, and we were once again facing temps over 90 degrees. I had a chill that wouldn't go away, and thought I may be getting the flu. My left eye was also oozing and red, similar to Pink Eye. I believe the eye thing was due to pollution in Delhi and my wearing contacts lenses there. My throat was also sore which was likely from the pollution too.

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After some time and several phone calls, it was suggested that we spend the night at Jaggat's flat (he is a friend of the family, who also attended our wedding in GR back in 1995). Jaggat and his family live only 5 minutes from the Santa Cruz airport. His daughter and their driver picked us up and we went home to relax. Samedh didn't enjoy his stay there because it was another new place with new people. For dinner, they served us a creamed baked veggie dish, similar to chipped ham with cream that you serve on toast. Samedh loved it and ate all the cream portions that Pankaj fed him. He didn't eat any veggies, though, because they were too hard to chew with only his gums.

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Later that evening, my body hurt so bad and I was extremely exhausted. I took my temperature, which was 101.4. I took some ibuprofen and felt better much later. Looking back to last Sunday when I threw up in Delhi, I may have had a touch of the flu all along...

November 29, 2006

Our first meeting with Sanghamitra, Aloke, and Udbhav

November 29, 2006

We headed out for the day at 11:15am, and met Sanghamitra, Aloke and Udbhav around noon at their hotel. Sanghamitra and Aloke also live in Michigan, and visited Bal Vikas one week before we did to meet their son Udbhav for the first time. Udbhav (who will soon be renamed Anish) is only nine days older than Samedh. We ate lunch and visited and had a good time. The boys were very quiet at first, almost seeming to recognize each other from just two weeks ago.

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At lunch, Udbhav ate everything and still wanted more. (Samedh is just the opposite!) They shared some of Udbhav's mashed potatoes with Samedh and he actually ate them. It may have helped that he saw Udbhav eating so well. I also tried to give Samedh soem Gerber pears, but he refused. I ate them, which caused great distress to Udbhav. He eats Gerber foods all the time, and recognized the container. I think he seriously thought I was eating HIS food.

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After lunch, Sanghamitra and Aloke had to go to the Embassy to pick up Udbhav's passport and visa. Pankaj and I went sight-seeing with Samedh. Mr. Singh took us to India Gate and also drove us past the capitol. Our last stop was the Lotus Temple, which was beautiful. We got some really nice photos and video today.

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Later in the afternoon, my left eye began getting irritated, swollen and red. I wore contacts the past few days, and Delhi was quite polluted. Our taxi has no A/C, so exhaust and fumes came in through the windows that were cracked open for "fresh" air.

Photos at India Gate & Lotus Temple

Photo with Rajiv Himmat, our host in Delhi

November 28, 2006

November 28, 2006

(Visa Interview Day)

We left for the US Embassy at 10am. Samedh's visa appointment was at 11am. We arrived 15 minutes early and got called up right away. By 11am, we were done and walking out the door. Our visa officer who conducted the interview was Eric Johnson. Pankaj and I took an oath to swear that everything we said and submitted was true and correct. Then we were asked a few questions like, "Who is your US adoption agency, and what do you think about them?" Also, "What orphanage did you work with, and what are your impressions of them?" We were expecting these types of questions, as Sujata had mentioned it to me on the phone one week before. After the interview, we were told to come back after 3:30pm to pick up Samedh's passport and visa.

Samedh behaved very well today at the Embassy. During his interview, he was a model child. He did so much better today than yesterday, partly because we weren't driving him all over Delhi all day for small things. Between the interview and pick up of the passport, we had lunch at a Cafe Coffee Day (I had another mango frappe'), and then went back to Himmat's place to rest. Samedh napped in the car, but was wide awake at home during his normal nap time.

We talked to Sanghamitra twice today and tried to make a plan to meet their family for dinner tonight. However, Samedh fell asleep at 7pm (and so did Udbhav, Sanghamitra's son), so we are planning to meet for lunch tomorrow at their hotel.

November 27, 2006

Monday, November 27, 2006

Filing I-600

Mr. Singh picked us up at Himmat's place at 8am. We got to the Embassy by 8:45am. We went to the head of the line and got right inside. Then we were taken to a waiting room by an escort. When Sujata called the other day, she mentioned that she and her family only had to wait there for 15 minutes for Manoj Mahay. During our wait, we learned from someone else that the office didn't open until 10am that morning, so we waited well over an hour before the escort came again. Samedh was miserable from time-to-time, and there was a sign in the waiting room that said, "Silence Please." He was not silent at all. When it was our turn for our I-600 appointment, we discovered that Mr. Mahay was not in today. We met with Terry DeMaegd instead, who appeared to be Mr. Mahay's boss. He said he doesn't do I-600's very often, so he was not exactly sure what to do after our meeting. (He explained that Mr. Mahay has been doing this for 15 years and is a pro.)

Afterward, we went to window #17 and inquired about the visa application. The man directed us to our medical appointment, so we went there first. However, we discovered that Dr. Chowla's office requires the visa photo to be taken first. They need a copy of the photo for their paperwork. So we went for Samedh's photo next, back in the direction of the Embassy. Samedh didn't cooperate at first. It took about 30 minutes to calm him down, but the photo turned out great! We got only three photos at the time, and Sujata suggested we get six. We took the three photos to Dr. Chowla's office, and had Samedh's medical appointment before they closed for lunch at 1pm. (Their evening hours are 4-6pm, so we were lucky to get in when we did.) Then we went back to the Embassy at 2pm and turned in our 1-864 papers, etc. for the visa. They set Samedh's visa appointment for Tuesday at 11am.

At 3pm, Mr. Singh dropped us for lunch at a local restaurant. We had two fresh lime sodas (my favorite!), butter chicken, a paneer dish (for Pankaj), and both garlic and plain naan. Samedh slept most of the lunch hour.

Sunday, November 26, 2006

November 26, 2006

Pankaj's aunt and uncle came to visit this morning. Samedh was a little unsure at first, then warmed up a little. He played with Saru Atya's watch and waved at her. She even got to hold him for some time. Before they left, Samedh went to Kaka and he held him for a little while. Samedh didn't want to let go of Kaka, and it was very cute. On the way out, Saru Atya gave Samedh a gift of Rs100. He held on to the note tightly and didn't drop it or even try to put it in his mouth. Just like his daddy, this little guy certainly understands the value of money.

Delhi Flight

We left for the airport at 11:30 am. Samedh enjoyed the ride to the airport. Santa Cruz Airport is very nice...very modern. We had a snack at Cafe Coffee Day and Samedh was very fussy. I had a mango frappe' drink and poured it in with Samedh's remaining vanilla Pediasure. (He drank it later on the plane.) We went through security just in time to board the plane. Samedh went through the men's line with Daddy. We had to take a shuttle to the plane and it was very crowded.

When we boarded the plane, we were greeted by friendly flight attendants. One came and introduced herself and then briefed me on the safety measures for flying with an infant. She even gave Samedh his own pillow. He enjoyed looking out the window. But before we took off, he got fussy again and cried for twenty minutes. He was calm at take off and quickly fell asleep. He slept until we were almost done with lunch, around 3:30 pm. We had a good meal of chicken curry, basmati rice, aloo gobi, and butterscotch ice cream for dessert. Raita was also served with lunch, and I mixed all of mine with the rice. It was delicious!

When the plane landed, Samedh was in good shape. No pressure seemed to bother his ears. He just enjoyed looking out the window. Then we took a shuttle to the airport (this time we had plenty of room to sit down) and got our bags. Rajiv Himmat ("Himmat") came to pick us up and took us home to his flat. The temperature in Delhi was pleasantly cool, and it was sunny. But after dark, it got cold quickly. Himmat has a nice apartment - - two bed & 2 bath. It has beautiful wood trim and built in cabinets throughout. He didn't add too many furnishings (except a TV) because he's not sure how long he'll stay here. We dressed Samedh in his dinosaur pj's and set up a quick bed with the Benji sleeping bag in the living room/hall. We ordered Domino's pizza and cheese bread and I had two pieces around 10pm. Then, all of a sudden, I got very warm; almost like a hotflash. I did not feel well at all and went into the other room. I threw up a few times (lost all my pizza and my Requip), but then felt better immediately. Maybe I was just exhausted from traveling.

At night, it was so cold for me that I had to wear my thick knit purple socks, green plaid pj's, one of Pankaj's shirts, and my heavy wool vest. I used my fleece Trendway coat as a pillow because I found the bed pillows were too hard. Samedh slept on the bed between me and Pankaj. We couldn't lay him on the sleeping bag on the marble floor because that was too cold. Both Pankaj and Samedh slept soundly all night, and the cold did not bother them. In fact, they kept kicking off their blankets!

November 25, 2006

Saturday, November 25, 2006

(written by Deb on Monday, 11/27)

I didn't make notes on Saturday's events and now it's hard to remember the day's details. Our routine was pretty much the same as any other day, however.

We didn't have enough time to go to the tailor's to pick up my new salwar kameez, so we'll have to do that later next week when we return from New Delhi.

Around 6:30pm, Pankaj, Samedh and I left for the hospital for a follow-up appointment with the pediatrician. He checked Samedh's ear and confirmed that he has a middle ear infection. The fluid from the chest congestion has made it's way to the ear through a perforation in the ear drum. If this is a chronic condition for Samedh, it can lead to hearing loss. If this is a one-time infection, he should be ok and the ear drum should repair itself. The doctor suggested we have Samedh's hearing tested once we return to the US. The doctor also instructed us to give Samedh 5ml of the baby Tylenol (one time dose) right before our flight to Delhi. It should make him comfortable and ease the pressure in his head. He also suggested that we put cotton in Samedh's ears for the flight.

November 24, 2006

November 24, 2006

(Samedh home Day Four)

At breakfast, Samedh ate some cream cheese spread off of toast. He really liked it. He also ate some mixed fruit jam off the toast. He liked the cheese better. Samedh even ate two bites of Daddy's omelette.

In the afternoon, we drove to McDonald's for lunch. Pankaj ordered the Shahi Paneer and McAloo Tikki, and I had my traditional Fish Fillet and a McAloo Tikki too. Samedh didn't want to taste any french fries or food, but enjoyed having his photo taken with Ronald outside the restaurant. After lunch, we went shopping next door at Big Bazaar. This department store is like one-stop shopping, similar to going to Meijer or WalMart. Samedh was excellent at Big Bazaar. He was well-behaved, and waved at all the sales ladies (the ones at the perfume counter waved back at him). On the way home, Samedh sat next to me in the back seat. Pankaj sat upfront with the driver because all the shopping bags took up the extra space in the back seat. Samedh enjoyed playing with all the shopping bags. He also really likes being out in public. He enjoys the sights and sounds and loves looking at all the people.

When we got home, the power was out and we had to walk up 7 flights of stairs with all the shopping bags and Samedh! This was the second time we arrived home when the lift was out of service and the power was out...

November 23, 2006

November 23, 2006

Thanksgiving Day

(Samedh home Day Three)

During his morning playtime, Samedh crawled over me a few times to get a toy, and he also stood up with my help and took a few steps. He also pulled the chair leg out from under the dining table and then pushed the chair back in. He is a very strong little guy as his name suggests.

After a 2.5 hour nap, I tried feeding Samedh Gerber sweet potatoes and some pears for his first Thanksgiving meal. He ate only a couple of spoons of each, and then got mad. He just screamed and cried. Very angy. After he calmed down, I took him to the back balcony off our bedroom and fed him formula. He really likes to eat out there. I've been calling it his "liquid lunch".

Samedh played hard in the evening. He pulled himself up to the couch several times and walked with support. He also started exploring the house by crawling around. He crawled to the front door (and really wants to play with Mummy's large terra cotta vase) and also crawled into our bedroom, where he pulled himself up to our bed. He is very comfortable exploring the house after only a few days. Samedh also enjoyed playing with the curtain that hangs between the living room and the hallway.

Around 6pm, we all went out for a drive except Mummy. We circled Thane and saw all the shops, etc. On the way home, we stopped at a roadside market stand for apples and mini bananas. Samedh was quietly resting and sucking his thumb while laying on Pankaj's shoulder. I think the ride soothed him and gave him some entertainment. We dressed Samedh in the 9 month size white onsie and navy overall shorts that Amy and Clive had given as a shower gift. Samedh also wore the matching socks, which are patterned like tennis shoes. At 9pm, he went to bed. He fell asleep in our bedroom and then we transferred him to the living room around 10pm. Even I slept the whole night...from 10pm-5am. Jet lag is finally wearing off for me!

Update on Samedh's Health

For those of you who have visited Samedh's blog recently, you know know he was diagosed with pneumonia and another ear infection. We visited his pediatrician this morning as a follow-up to our Emergency Room visit Sunday morning, and Samedh is doing better. His doctor now has him on another round of Augmentin, so he should be feeling better very soon. Other than a lack of appetite, Samedh continues to be himself. Sure, there is a little less masti going on, but I'm sure that won't last long...

Many thanks to friends and family who have called and emailed. We appreciate your prayers and support for Samedh.

And for those of you who have been reading my November journal entries, here is the latest:

November 22, 2006

Observations of Samedh, home Day Two

This morning, Pankaj noticed a colored discharge in Samedh's right ear. We cleaned it out a few times during the day, and Pankaj called the pediatrician at Hiranandani Hospital again. The doctor said this is the beginning of an ear infection, and he prescribed a medicine called Augmentin. Jay Chemist's shop will deliver the prescription after the power comes back on today at 4:30.

During the evening, Samedh and I played on the living room floor because Pankaj wasn't feeling well. Pankaj stayed in the bedroom to rest. Samedh clapped his hands a lot, played with the Learning Puppy, and played Peek-A-Boo from behind his photo album. When he peeked out, he would laugh and show his teeth. He has several dimples in his cheeks. It's great to see him laugh! But sometimes when he's laughing, it will quickly turn to a cry.

11/22/06
Samedh, Daddy, and Aji enjoying morning tea on the balcony

Celebrating Two Months with Samedh!

The following was taken from Deb's journal while in India:

November 21, 2006

At 1:15pm today, we left Bal Vikas with Samedh for the very last time. We had a good ride home, and Samedh slept in the car. We arrived home in Thane around 2:30pm, and discovered that the power was out. The lift (elevator) was not available, so we walked up seven flights of stairs to the top floor. Pankaj carried Samedh. Before entering the house, Mummy and Daddy performed an aarti for us, welcoming Samedh home for the first time. We each were blessed and then received some Indian sweets. Samedh just got a "taste" of sweets.

Around 6:00pm, Samedh was very angry; crying and screaming. We just held him to offer comfort and fed him Parle G biscuits mashed with milk in between. Pankaj had cookie mash all over him. Samedh was definitely going through some grieving (Rage?). But after he tired and got some of it out of his system, he quieted down on our shoulders and rested.

At 6:30pm, we left for Hiranandani Hospital, in the apartment community where Pankaj's cousin Advait lives with his family. Advait's wife Nina met us at the hospital (she had arranged an appointment for Samedh with the pediatrician their son Arnav used to visit). The doctor reviewed Samedh and said he is healthy overall. His weight will increase in a home environment. Samedh has nasal congestion and light chest congestion, and was prescribed strawberry flavor cough syrup and nasal drops by the doctor.

Around 8:30pm, Nina invited us back up to their apartment for a quick visit before we drove back to Thane. She offered Samedh some porridge, and he ate a little of it. He was fast asleep by 9:00pm, and slept soundly ALL night.

Exactly two months ago today...

NOVEMBER 20, 2006

I met my son Samedh for the very first time on November 20, 2006. The photos above were taken that day. The sunrise over the city of Thane represents a new beginning in a new chapter of our lives. The others were taken in the office at Bal Vikas, when we met Samedh for the first time as a family.

The following notes were taken from my journal from November 20:

Play Time Observations

Samedh played with Fisher Price plastic donuts along with the other kids. He would hold one and throw the second one. He crawled a little among the play mat. He seemed to like the plastic "popping train" toy we brought for him. Samedh sat among the kids and played alone. Pankaj sat next to him. Samedh was comfortable-looking in the company of other young children.

Social Observations

*Samedh sat on my lap while Dharmik, another little boy, sat nearby. Dharmik was trying to show Samedh the album we brought, but Samedh was not too interested.

*When we walked around the courtyard with Samedh, he was always looking back at the other kids playing to see what they were doing.

*Samedh cries whenever he is handed over to someone new, even if it's an ayah. After two minutes, he gets comfortable with who is holding him.

General Observations

*Every time he has to leave someone, he cries.

*Pankaj had Samedh standing with support. He has a firm grip on the floor with his bare feet.

*He has moderate chest congestion, which must be treated soon. You can feel the congestion when he breathes. He is not out of breath, however. He has a runny nose, which could be part of the cold. We will take him to the doctor this week.

*He has two top front teeth and two bottom front teeth. He drooled a little and sucked his thumb often. He may have even been chewing on his thumb.

*I put my finger in his mouth and he bit down lightly on it (like he was teething on it).

Notes from the Evening

When we got home after visiting Samedh, we learned that Mummy and Daddy had been quite busy while we were out. The workers came to finish the china cabinet on the balcony, and when Mummy passed through our bedroom, she encountered a horrible rotting smell from the air conditioning unit. She called the Watchman from the Garima B building and he and the carpenters opened the A/C and found a dead adult squirrel. They disposed of it and sanitized the rom to make the smell go away. The funny thing is, we couldn't get the A/C to work last night. It made a loud thumping noise and shook. That must have been the end of the squirrel...

Frustrated with my blog!

I have been trying to customize my blog since yesterday (in between Samedh's naps, of course), and things don't seem to be working out all that well. First of all, I managed to link Samedh's new blog with my own. We ended up sharing the same profile, so whenever I added Samedh's classic "masti" photo to his profile, it automatically showed the same photo for my blog's profile.

So today, I deleted Mr. Masti from my account, and tried to re-enter it under Pankaj's email address. Not sure if it worked yet, but I'll find out soon. Until then, please be patient if you are trying to access mymasti.blogspot.com.

I've also changed the color scheme of my blog, but I'm not sure if the changes were saved correctly or not. Time will tell. I chose the colors of purple, gold and green based on a beautiful sari I saw someone wearing at a relative's wedding several years ago. Someday I'd love to have a sari of the same colors (and bangles to match). Currently, the only silk (formal) sari I own is sky blue. But then again, how often do I need to wear a sari in the US? Especially in the winter!

Meet Mr. Masti

Just a quick note to let everyone know that Samedh (aka Mr. Masti) now has his own blog where he can share his life experiences and favorite photos. Either Pankaj or I will be writing the posts, but they will be written from Samedh's perspective. We are always trying to stay one step ahead of him, and he is always trying to out-smart us. It's a never ending cycle, but we're having lots of fun.

I invite you to check out his new site at: mymasti.blogspot.com, and let us know what you think. I am also in the process of re-designing my own blog, so please check back often to see my new improvements.

Looking for fun family address labels?

We recently ordered our first set of family address labels, proudly shown here. If you are looking for fun address labels, I suggest mandysmoon.com, where we ordered ours from. It's easy to order and they send you a preview via email before the order is printed. They print and ship the same day you confirm your order, and the product is received within a few days. The best part is you can add pets to your family, so even Cosmo is represented here!

Another visit to the doctor

Well, we just returned from Samedh's first complete physical with his pediatrician, and have great news to report! Not only did Samedh grow one inch (he is now 29" tall), he also gained several ounces. He now weighs 15lbs, 11oz. His doctor is very pleased, and we'll go back in one month for another weight check with the nurse.

Samedh's growth spurt must be a result of all the table food and cheese we're feeding him! He loves cheese, and has tried several different kinds including Havarti, Provolone, Muenster, string cheese, and the good old Kraft American singles. He also enjoys chicken enchiladas (especially the ones our neighbor made for us), mashed potatoes, mac-n-cheese, peas and carrots, chunks of apple, and small pieces of navel oranges. Lately, though, his appetite comes and goes...It must be because he's teething. At least when it comes to his teeth, we have made some progress recently: He now lets us brush his teeth...as long as he gets to brush them himself when we're finished!

Consent for Adoption Hearing

Pankaj, Samedh, and I went to the county probate court this morning for our Consent for Adoption Hearing. We basically signed papers that terminate our Guardianship of Samedh, which was weird because we waited so long to become his guardians. So, he is now a "ward of the court" for the next few months, until the adoption is finalized in MI. Samedh was very well behaved for 8:30 in the morning, and even waved at the judge and said hi once. ("Hi" is Samedh's official 'first word', by the way.) The court gave us 2 copies of our signed documents, and I plan to keep one set for Samedh's lifebook.

Our next step in the post-placement process is to meet with our caseworker in our home. She will write a report detailing how Samedh is doing in his new home, and include about nine photos with the report. This report will be mailed directly to our placing agency, Special Additions, Inc. and a copy will go to the local court as well. After our caseworker completes three post-placement reports within six months time, we will be able to finalize Samedh's adoption!

Soja Baby Soja

Sharing some of our favorite sleep photos...

Two Very Special Children

Two very special children, Ragini and Prasad, both from Bal Vikas orphanage in Mumbai, finally met their forever families on Friday. I did not have the opportunity to meet these children when we were at Bal Vikas in November, but I did see them hop on the school bus the afternoon we took Samedh home. (Pankaj, however, was able to meet Ragini during his visit with Samedh at BV in July.)

Over the past several months, I have gotten to know Ragini's mother Kristi and Prasad's mother Christine very well through a wonderful on-line support group for Bal Vikas families. Both Ragini and Prasad grew up at Bal Vikas, and have waited a lifetime for their forever families. And while they are nearly 6 years older than Samedh, and probably never came into contact with him at the orphanage, I still feel a special bond with them and their families. It has been a blessing to connect with other families who have adopted children from the same orphanage, and I look forward to a Bal Vikas family reunion next spring.

Remembering Gerald R. Ford

Samedh and I watched President Ford's funeral live on television today. It was very moving. It would have been nice to have been part of the crowd during the motorcade, but it would not have been easy with Samedh. Maybe if he was a little older. We watched the entire News 8 coverage all afternoon, and it was very touching when Samedh clapped his hands when the band played "Hail to the Chief."

One of my favorite photos (pictured above) is of the billboard on US131 North that says, "Gerald Our Ford". I saw this billboard Tuesday evening as Pankaj, Samedh, my mom and I were on our way to a family funeral visitation in Grand Rapids. When we drove across the Grand River, you could see thousands of people lining the bridge and winding their way around DeVos Place, preparing to view Ford's casket at the museum. You could also catch a glimpse of all the news crews lining the streets. It was quite an awesome sight.

A Special Christmas

I just wanted to share a few photos from our first Christmas season together as a family. This was truly a special Christmas for us, and one I've waited for personally for a long time.

Happy Holidays!