The first time we met Georgia in Haiti, she would eat anything we placed in front of her. She was shy and wary of us, but when it came to food, she was all business. She would take any bite we offered with our forks, without hesitation. When she was eating, she didn't care what we were doing. It was a good time to take her photo or video her.

Between the first and second visit, Georgia was moved to Talley’s orphanage. We wanted them to be together, so that they would get used to each other’s presence.

When we went to Haiti for our second visit, we could see a noticeable change in Georgia. She looked a little heavier and was much more at ease with us. Another thing we noticed was that she refused food. We felt that this was a good sign. She was not as obsessed with food as she was on the first visit. She still ate almost anything (and lots of it), but she also refused some foods and would stop taking bites when she was full. This new behavior reassured us that she was doing well in her new orphanage. Her food needs were being better met.

We did not go on the third trip to Haiti with our agency’s parent group, but we received photos showing both Georgia and Talley with chubbier cheeks and legs than the last time we saw them.

When your child is in an orphanage in another country, you worry a lot. You worry that they are not happy. You wonder if they are safe. You hope that they are loved and that they are healthy. One of the main concerns is that they are eating enough food. Proper nutrition is key to many other factors that we worry about. If they are adequately fed, then most likely everything else is falling into place, as well.

We worry about food issues while our children are still in their birth countries, and it also becomes an issue when they finally arrive home. Food seems to be a hot topic for adoptive parents of internationally adopted children.

[Continued…]