Haitian orphans acclimate to West Mich.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - Grady is one of more than 100,000 orphans who lived in Haiti before the massive earthquake hit more than two weeks ago.

The Augustyn family is one of more than 12 West Michigan families that adopted a child from Haiti. They started the process to adopt Grady more than three years ago, and said after seeing the devastation in their adopted son's country, they are grateful Grady is safe at home with them.

"In our hearts, we've had him a long time," said Julie Augustyn, while holding Grady in her lap.

He has been with his new family for about 10 days, but the Augustyns feel like it has been much longer.

"It's getting harder to think about when he wasn't here," Julie Augustyn said.

Her family first was introduced to Grady through photos two years ago. They met the little boy in person during a visit to his Haitian orphanage in October 2009.

The Augustyns thought they might have to wait another six to nine months after their first visit to bring Grady to Grand Rapids, but then the earthquake hit and his adoption was expedited.

Those first few moments after the disaster hit -- before the Augustyn family knew Grady was safe -- were tense.

"It was very personal and graphic, not knowing when we would get him ... if we would get him," Mark Augustyn said. "[It] made it very difficult to watch the first few days of coverage."

Grady now has a new name, a new family and a new life. He will call Grand Rapids home.

"It is surreal the first couple days to have him in our house," Julie Augustyn said. "And not just a picture of him in our house -- (it) has been very strange, it just seems like it can't possibly be that he's here."

But Grady is home with them, and he is quickly getting used to new things -- and learning everything he can.

"He calls me mommy, so he's already caught on to that," Julie Augustyn said.

And although Grady doesn't speak much English yet, he is picking up more words every day.

It will take the Augustyns a while to go through the official process of adopting Grady and they do not know how long it will take.

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The Augustyns' adoption agency, Bethany Christian Services