Today Squeeker turned 8 years old. I look back in amazement and wonder where did the time go. How did 8 years go by so fast???
He astonished me tonight. It was around 9:15, 20 minutes from the actual time of his birth (9:35pm -- right in the middle of Ally McBeal -- my favorite show at the time!). We were running late from Cub Scouts tonight because the Pack Meeting ran over. He came into the kitchen and said: "Mom, I just want to thank you for everything. We are all in this family because of you and I want you to know that I love you." How did this happen???? How did I raise such a sweet 8 year old boy???? God's abounding grace and mercy flooded me a few minutes ago and I knew it was not anything I did, except that moment in September of 2002 when I fully put my trust in God. I handed Him Squeeker and said: "Here God, he's yours, I can't protect him from getting hurt, You have to." From that moment on, I put my trust in God that he would help me to guide him, protect him, but most of all, to love him. I owe my wonderful son to my faith in God, because without him, I am nothing.
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Thursday, November 22, 2007
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!
Happy Thanksgiving!!! We have much to be thankful for this year -- I thought I'd just list them.
- My husband, David. Wow, what an amazing husband and Dad he is (shhhhh, don't tell anyone!).
- My children, Squeeker and Pickles. Although Squeeker is with his father this weekend, we really miss him. I am thankful for Squeeker's unbelievable kind heart and Pickle's beautiful eyes and smile! We are so very blessed by our children.
- My step-children, DJ, Debby and Shawn! I love you guys!
- Momma J & Poppa Dave -- who would have thought God would have provided me the perfect parents after 40! But He did. Wow, we continue to be blessed by their unconditional love for us and our children.
- Our Church -- Front Street Baptist Church -- we are still taken back by the wonderful response we received during the entire adoption process and especially when we returned home with Pickles. During Pickle's dedication last Sunday, we were speechless when our entire Sunday School class plus many others stood up as "our family."
- Our home - we are thankful to God for providing such a warm and loving home for us.
- Our wonderful friends, John & Shirlene -- we love you guys! Thank you for your ongoing love and support!
- My blog friends -- wow, I continue to be amazed at the outpouring of love and support from people I haven't even met in person! You all have been a wonderful inspiration to me. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your willingness to share your experiences -- it gave me the courage to share ours.
- Ethiopia -- I am so thankful that God led us to Ethiopia. This country has changed our lives forever and we are so very thankful for the wonderful opportunity we have to adopt one of their children. I hope we will honor Ethiopia in how we raise our little girl.
- Ok, don't laugh -- but I'm thankful for cloth diapers. Crazy as that sounds, I just love the way they feel. And I also love that I'm doing something to help the environment, not to mention by girl's tushie!
- I'm sure I forgot something, so if I did, please don't be offended!
H A P P Y T H A N K S G I V I N G ! ! ! !
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Day 3
I'm writing this post from memory, so I hope I can recap most of it. Some of the other posts I wrote on the laptop while we were in Addis, so they will reflect more details.
Today is Sunday, we went to church - - the same church Abby and Ryan go to. It is the International Evangelical Church. I was surprised how big it was! More than that, I started to cry during the second song as I looked around and truly saw representation from many nations. Wow, do we Americans have a lot to learn about living and worshipping together! It was refreshing, yet sad that we still don't "get it" in America.
Afterwards, Anbes drove us around Addis. We drove through Merkato, the open air market. It is not what you'd expect from seeing open air markets in movies. It was pretty much the slums, with people urinating on the side of the road. It really was an eye-opening experience to see up close and personal how most people in Addis live. The "store owners" have the opportunity to "shop" on Sunday, so although it was chaotic, Anbes said that it is really chaos during the week! I'm glad we experienced it on a Sunday!!! Later in the week, we spoke to Ryan about it and said that Merkato during the week was very stressful for the Gladney staff because although crime is very low in Ethiopia, Merkato is filled with pick-pockets. Apparantly, it is not a place to go where you can wonder away from the group.
Today is Sunday, we went to church - - the same church Abby and Ryan go to. It is the International Evangelical Church. I was surprised how big it was! More than that, I started to cry during the second song as I looked around and truly saw representation from many nations. Wow, do we Americans have a lot to learn about living and worshipping together! It was refreshing, yet sad that we still don't "get it" in America.
Afterwards, Anbes drove us around Addis. We drove through Merkato, the open air market. It is not what you'd expect from seeing open air markets in movies. It was pretty much the slums, with people urinating on the side of the road. It really was an eye-opening experience to see up close and personal how most people in Addis live. The "store owners" have the opportunity to "shop" on Sunday, so although it was chaotic, Anbes said that it is really chaos during the week! I'm glad we experienced it on a Sunday!!! Later in the week, we spoke to Ryan about it and said that Merkato during the week was very stressful for the Gladney staff because although crime is very low in Ethiopia, Merkato is filled with pick-pockets. Apparantly, it is not a place to go where you can wonder away from the group.
Day 2
Day 2
Oh my gosh, we are total zombies. Jet lag, plus the 2am (Ethiopian time) feeding are about to do us in!!!! Both David and I didn’t sleep well the first four hours of the night because Pickles has a head cold and is having a difficult time breathing. We both woke up repeatedly just to check her breathing. When she finally woke up for her bottle, we were ALL up for at least two hours. We slept in late, and are going to go for coffee as soon as I wake up Squeeker.
Today is going to be a low-key, uneventful kind of day. We just came back from lunch at a Pizzeria and are going back to the Guest House for a long nap. We are very, very tired.
Pickles, on the other hand, is a trooper! She sleeps good when she has a full tummy and a fresh diaper!!!! She’s really adjusted well to us.
After lunch, we went to the Sheraton is a very plush hotel, to say the least. It is so out of place here in Addis -- it just does not look like it belongs. We visit the Sheraton because they have high speed internet access there and that is where I update the blog, send emails home. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to update the blog again today, but am working on finding a solution!!!
As we were on our way back down the stairs (the Sheraton is a minumum of $300/night in US$) and an Ethiopian woman dressed in formal wedding attire came up to me saying “you have your baby.” I didn’t recognize her as the woman who sat diagonally across from me in the plane. David didn’t recognize her either. Ethiopian woman are beautiful -- I am constantly overwhelmed with just how beautiful they are. I just love the Ethiopian people -- they are warm, sincere and love their children.
I am falling in love with this country…………..
Fast forward a few hours:
Our intention was to return to the Guest House and take a nap. The neighborhood we are in is in the outskirts of Addis and has gates surrounding each of the houses. The three bedroom, two bath house we are staying at is considered very upscale for Ethiopia. Upon our return, the landlord, Mekoten, who is an older gentleman (yes, older than us!!!) greeted us to unlock the gate. He had visitors, including a 9 year old girl. Squeeker and this girl played very well, in spite of the language barrier. What happened next humbled me beyond my years……
Mekoten speaks broken English, like most of Ethiopians. In the 7th grade, all children must begin speaking English in school. Many use both Amharic and English interspersed in one sentence. Although his English is difficult to understand, we were able to communicate. He showed us his beautiful yard, plush green grass, which is an anomaly here in Ethiopia, his pepper plants, etc. I was amazed at how graceful he was in showing us around his home. We found out he has a housekeeper who lives in one room in the building behind the Guest House. He lives in another, and they share a bathroom, which all have outside doors in the courthouse between the Guest House and the living quarters. They do use the refrigerator in the Guest House to store eggs, vegetables, etc, but do laundry and dishes in the outside tiled sink area. I’m still a little shocked that even in this upscale area of Addis, laundry is still done by hand. Mekoten told us his housekeeper would do laundry for us, but would appreciate it if we tipped her. After hearing and seeing a demonstration on how it was done, I was overwhelmed with guilt about asking her to wash the pair of jeans Edilawit got sick on last night. I think I can do without them for the week.
Mekoten asked me if I liked coffee. If you don’t like coffee, you learn to while you are here!!!!
Coffee in Ethiopia is a big deal. After every meal, locals congregate at the numerous coffee shops throughout the city as a means of socializing. Many coffee shops also have WiFi services, but the one we tried was having connection problems. Mekoten’s housekeeper graciously made us coffee, including roasting the green coffee beans, hand grinding in a mortar & pestle and steaming the coffee in a pottery coffee pot. To be asked, as a foreigner, to participate in a traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony was very humbling. The housekeeper makes less than $55.00 per month. I can’t even begin to explain her graciousness and how in awe I am of being able to share this amazing experience with one of the locals.
So much for our nap!!! Yet the feelings and experience will stay with me forever. In just a few short days here in Ethiopia, I am forever changed.
Oh my gosh, we are total zombies. Jet lag, plus the 2am (Ethiopian time) feeding are about to do us in!!!! Both David and I didn’t sleep well the first four hours of the night because Pickles has a head cold and is having a difficult time breathing. We both woke up repeatedly just to check her breathing. When she finally woke up for her bottle, we were ALL up for at least two hours. We slept in late, and are going to go for coffee as soon as I wake up Squeeker.
Today is going to be a low-key, uneventful kind of day. We just came back from lunch at a Pizzeria and are going back to the Guest House for a long nap. We are very, very tired.
Pickles, on the other hand, is a trooper! She sleeps good when she has a full tummy and a fresh diaper!!!! She’s really adjusted well to us.
After lunch, we went to the Sheraton is a very plush hotel, to say the least. It is so out of place here in Addis -- it just does not look like it belongs. We visit the Sheraton because they have high speed internet access there and that is where I update the blog, send emails home. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to update the blog again today, but am working on finding a solution!!!
As we were on our way back down the stairs (the Sheraton is a minumum of $300/night in US$) and an Ethiopian woman dressed in formal wedding attire came up to me saying “you have your baby.” I didn’t recognize her as the woman who sat diagonally across from me in the plane. David didn’t recognize her either. Ethiopian woman are beautiful -- I am constantly overwhelmed with just how beautiful they are. I just love the Ethiopian people -- they are warm, sincere and love their children.
I am falling in love with this country…………..
Fast forward a few hours:
Our intention was to return to the Guest House and take a nap. The neighborhood we are in is in the outskirts of Addis and has gates surrounding each of the houses. The three bedroom, two bath house we are staying at is considered very upscale for Ethiopia. Upon our return, the landlord, Mekoten, who is an older gentleman (yes, older than us!!!) greeted us to unlock the gate. He had visitors, including a 9 year old girl. Squeeker and this girl played very well, in spite of the language barrier. What happened next humbled me beyond my years……
Mekoten speaks broken English, like most of Ethiopians. In the 7th grade, all children must begin speaking English in school. Many use both Amharic and English interspersed in one sentence. Although his English is difficult to understand, we were able to communicate. He showed us his beautiful yard, plush green grass, which is an anomaly here in Ethiopia, his pepper plants, etc. I was amazed at how graceful he was in showing us around his home. We found out he has a housekeeper who lives in one room in the building behind the Guest House. He lives in another, and they share a bathroom, which all have outside doors in the courthouse between the Guest House and the living quarters. They do use the refrigerator in the Guest House to store eggs, vegetables, etc, but do laundry and dishes in the outside tiled sink area. I’m still a little shocked that even in this upscale area of Addis, laundry is still done by hand. Mekoten told us his housekeeper would do laundry for us, but would appreciate it if we tipped her. After hearing and seeing a demonstration on how it was done, I was overwhelmed with guilt about asking her to wash the pair of jeans Edilawit got sick on last night. I think I can do without them for the week.
Mekoten asked me if I liked coffee. If you don’t like coffee, you learn to while you are here!!!!
Coffee in Ethiopia is a big deal. After every meal, locals congregate at the numerous coffee shops throughout the city as a means of socializing. Many coffee shops also have WiFi services, but the one we tried was having connection problems. Mekoten’s housekeeper graciously made us coffee, including roasting the green coffee beans, hand grinding in a mortar & pestle and steaming the coffee in a pottery coffee pot. To be asked, as a foreigner, to participate in a traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony was very humbling. The housekeeper makes less than $55.00 per month. I can’t even begin to explain her graciousness and how in awe I am of being able to share this amazing experience with one of the locals.
So much for our nap!!! Yet the feelings and experience will stay with me forever. In just a few short days here in Ethiopia, I am forever changed.
Day 1
Day One
I hope to write more about our plane ride in another post, but I just wanted to say that it was long, arduous and very, very difficult. But we arrived safely in Addis last night, made it through the VISA line and customs without a problem!! The time zone difference is a bit of adjustment. We should have taken to help us sleep because we woke up at 2:00 am Addis time and had a difficult time going back to sleep.
Now, to what all of you are waiting for…………………………
Wow, there are no words to describe the actual moment we saw our daughter. I cried, David cried. And oh my goodness, she is beautiful. Absolutely beautiful.
And she’s such a good baby!!! She’s mellow, calm. Ok, now I know those of you that really know us are asking “how did they match up her with us??” Those exact thoughts have crossed are minds today too!!!
This morning, after going to the Gladney Foster Care home, (we got LOTS of pictures!!!))) we went to the Starbucks knockoff for breakfast and some Ethiopian coffee. The hair on the back of David’s neck is still standing up -- whew, it his caffeine high octain for sure!
Then we went to the dreaded Embassy appointment where they draw blood. Admittedly I gave David the dirty job of holding Pickles while they drew blood for her final blood test. It was horrible!!! 12 tries right arm before they went to the left arm!!! I wish I was kidding. Afterwards, Pickles fell asleep in my arms, whimpering for about a half hour in the car.
We just had lunch with Abby, Ryan, Belay, two caregivers from the Foster Care home, Ryan’s dad, Belay’s best friend, the only pediatric surgeon in Ethiopia, and a few other Gladney people from Texas. We ate at the Eastern Dragon Chinese restaurant -- the very best Chinese food I ever had. We chatted a lot with Ryan and Abby; found out they spent 2 years on Chinese teaching the English language, then 8 months in Russia. Very well traveled for such young people -- I was so impressed with their maturity and commitment to helping others.
Right now we are sitting in the Swiss Café drinking Maccaito, which is a coffee drink which is much better than the Starbucks knock-off from this morning. Our wonder driver, Enbes, is holding Pickles whileI’m typing and David is drinking his Maccaito (this is a site to see!!!). They have free WiFI here, but it is down today.
We’ve also driven around Addis, seen Sicilian pack donkeys carrying all sorts of stuff, but mainly concrete and dirt to the construction sites. We’ve also seen sheep herders, and goats for sale for slaughter (yes, we are definitely in a third-world country!!!)
The most difficult part of the day, besides the Embassy appointment, was we were approached outside the US Embassy while waiting for Belay. A young girl, not more than 14 or 15, telling Enbes in Amharic that our little girl was very lucky to being going to America. And this part really got to me: she asked Enbes if we could take her little baby home with us. Of course, he said no, but it really does make you look at things differently when a mother would voluntarily ask someone on the street to take her baby. This is definitely to be a life changing experiencing.
Day 1, Part 2
Later in the afternoon, we went to visit two of the government run orphanages. Of course, we forgot to bring the bags of candy with us, but we plan on going back Monday night. The children are absolutely wonderful! The older girls ages 10-14 were absolutely precious -- I could have taken a few of them home with me, but fortunately, most of the older girls we already referred to other families in the states.
For dinner, we ate take-out pizza. Ok, now don’t laugh, but we were pretty tired, jet lag setting in, plus the lack of sleep was starting to show.
Pickles was amazing throughout the entire day. She is an very easy baby, already a daddy’s girl. We learned a few things about her just in the first day:
(1) She loves to eat (like we couldn’t already tell??)
(2) She does not like to be wet!!!
(3) She’s a projectile vomited. We are officially her parents because she got both of us!
(4) She already loves her big brother, Squeeker!
I hope to write more about our plane ride in another post, but I just wanted to say that it was long, arduous and very, very difficult. But we arrived safely in Addis last night, made it through the VISA line and customs without a problem!! The time zone difference is a bit of adjustment. We should have taken to help us sleep because we woke up at 2:00 am Addis time and had a difficult time going back to sleep.
Now, to what all of you are waiting for…………………………
Wow, there are no words to describe the actual moment we saw our daughter. I cried, David cried. And oh my goodness, she is beautiful. Absolutely beautiful.
And she’s such a good baby!!! She’s mellow, calm. Ok, now I know those of you that really know us are asking “how did they match up her with us??” Those exact thoughts have crossed are minds today too!!!
This morning, after going to the Gladney Foster Care home, (we got LOTS of pictures!!!))) we went to the Starbucks knockoff for breakfast and some Ethiopian coffee. The hair on the back of David’s neck is still standing up -- whew, it his caffeine high octain for sure!
Then we went to the dreaded Embassy appointment where they draw blood. Admittedly I gave David the dirty job of holding Pickles while they drew blood for her final blood test. It was horrible!!! 12 tries right arm before they went to the left arm!!! I wish I was kidding. Afterwards, Pickles fell asleep in my arms, whimpering for about a half hour in the car.
We just had lunch with Abby, Ryan, Belay, two caregivers from the Foster Care home, Ryan’s dad, Belay’s best friend, the only pediatric surgeon in Ethiopia, and a few other Gladney people from Texas. We ate at the Eastern Dragon Chinese restaurant -- the very best Chinese food I ever had. We chatted a lot with Ryan and Abby; found out they spent 2 years on Chinese teaching the English language, then 8 months in Russia. Very well traveled for such young people -- I was so impressed with their maturity and commitment to helping others.
Right now we are sitting in the Swiss Café drinking Maccaito, which is a coffee drink which is much better than the Starbucks knock-off from this morning. Our wonder driver, Enbes, is holding Pickles whileI’m typing and David is drinking his Maccaito (this is a site to see!!!). They have free WiFI here, but it is down today.
We’ve also driven around Addis, seen Sicilian pack donkeys carrying all sorts of stuff, but mainly concrete and dirt to the construction sites. We’ve also seen sheep herders, and goats for sale for slaughter (yes, we are definitely in a third-world country!!!)
The most difficult part of the day, besides the Embassy appointment, was we were approached outside the US Embassy while waiting for Belay. A young girl, not more than 14 or 15, telling Enbes in Amharic that our little girl was very lucky to being going to America. And this part really got to me: she asked Enbes if we could take her little baby home with us. Of course, he said no, but it really does make you look at things differently when a mother would voluntarily ask someone on the street to take her baby. This is definitely to be a life changing experiencing.
Day 1, Part 2
Later in the afternoon, we went to visit two of the government run orphanages. Of course, we forgot to bring the bags of candy with us, but we plan on going back Monday night. The children are absolutely wonderful! The older girls ages 10-14 were absolutely precious -- I could have taken a few of them home with me, but fortunately, most of the older girls we already referred to other families in the states.
For dinner, we ate take-out pizza. Ok, now don’t laugh, but we were pretty tired, jet lag setting in, plus the lack of sleep was starting to show.
Pickles was amazing throughout the entire day. She is an very easy baby, already a daddy’s girl. We learned a few things about her just in the first day:
(1) She loves to eat (like we couldn’t already tell??)
(2) She does not like to be wet!!!
(3) She’s a projectile vomited. We are officially her parents because she got both of us!
(4) She already loves her big brother, Squeeker!
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Workenesh - aka Momma Caregiver
I can't even begin to describe to you the love the Gladney caregivers have for the children. Pickle's was at the Gladney Foster Care Center for 5 months, long enough to form attachments to some of the caregivers. We are so very grateful for these courageous young woman who truly love these children. Most of us know how important the bonding process is to a child's normal development. These young girls selflessly love these children as their own. This hour long meeting with Workenesh was probably more emotional than meeting with Pickle's birth mom -- she has spent more time with her than anyone else since her birth.
I think this picture speaks more than I could ever write in words.........
To Workenesh --- you are so beautiful and David and I are so very grateful for the love you've poured out on our daughter these last five months. She is a wonderful little girl, and to you we owe that. Thank you for you giving unselfishly to her --- we love you!
Forever,
David and Robin
More Pics
Uncle Anbes, our wonderful driver, and his beautiful wife, Mytin!!! Love you guys!!!! Toward the middle of the week, Squeeker and Anbes really bonded. One night we were out looking for a converter because we fried ours the first day we were there (hence, the bad hair days the rest of the trip!!!). We were crossing a street and told Squeeker he had to hold someone's hand. He chose Anbes' hand!! It was sooooo sweet! We actually started calling him Uncle Anby -- you know how we American's do that to people's names!!! Mytin works at the Sheratin -- she is awesome and so beautiful!!! We even got Anbes hooked on Allison Kraus (southern Bluegrass) if you can believe it!!!!For you Gladney families out there, Anbes knows the best restaurants, and the best place to convert US$ to Birr!!! Don't go to the Hilton or the Sheraton -- they charge you a higher exchange rate!
More Pictures
Pickle's birth mom. Mommy and Pickles -- our last afternoon in Addis.
Meeting Pickle's birth mom, 7 year old brother, Eyob, and Aunt was extremely emotional. I was a nervous wreck while we were waiting. The meeting was translated by one of Gladney's social workers. I can't even begin to describe to you how difficult this meeting was. As a mom who loves her children more than life itself, I cannot imagine a birth mom having to make the decision to give her child away. Pickle's mom said, through the translator, "I want her to know that I didn't give her up because I hate her, I gave her up because I wanted her to have life." I broke down because I knew how sick Pickle's was when Gladney got her three days after her birth mom relinquished her to a government orphanage. Even Belay said she was not a pretty baby because she was so very sick. If her birth mom kept her, both David and I believe in our hearts that Pickles would be in heaven today. Although this sacrifice is great, it truly is the most selfless act a mom can do for her child. We are deeply honored and grateful that God chose us to be her parents. A honor we feel unworthy of.............
As promised....PICTURES!!!
We are finally all recovering from the "crud," jet lag and sleep deprivation!!! Things are starting to settle into a normal routine for us! Pickles is absolutely amazing!!! She's such an easy baby, except when she's hungry!!! Just like her mommy! She likes to be held, which does make it challenging to get things done, like posting pictures on my blog!! Wink, wink!! David is in the kitchen entertaining her so I have a few minutes to post some pics.
I'd first like to start with a conversation we had earlier in our week with Abby. Squeeker fell in love with a 16 year old girl named Kelab from the Kechene orphanage. He begged us for two days to adopt her. After repeated attempts trying to explain to him that she was too old for us to adopt, I promised him I'd talk to Abby or Ryan about her. It's so funny how things work! To make a long story short, Abby confirmed that Kelab could not be adopted because although she has a younger sibling, she had not been relinquished and was not eligible for adoption in the US - 16 is the age limit without a younger sibling. I then asked about helping her in some way and "sponsorship" came up. At the time, I had no clue what "sponsorship" meant!!! Basically, it's when someone helps them pay for their education to hopefully break the poverty cycle. When children in the orphanages age out at 18, they are given the equivalent of $500 USD and let go. Most, unfortunately, cannot make it and the girls usually turn to a life of prostitution, which we know eventually ends up with an unwanted pregnancy, and potentially an HIV positive diagnosis. The one way to break the cycle of poverty is education. So, for all of you out there that say "adoption is just not for me," there is a way for you to help a child through sponsorship. All monies donated go directly to the individual child to help her/him with education and educational expenses, i.e. taxi fares to/from school, etc. Kelab was already being sponsored so we asked about sponsoring another child.
At lunch the next day with Belay (who is the most amazing person you will ever meet --- he loves these kids so much!!! And yes Belay, we'll be there for your 25th anniversary!!!!) I asked him about sponsoring a child. He looked a little stunned for a moment and then told us that he doesn't believe in coincidences. He received a letter that morning from one of the older girls at the Kechene orphanage. At 16, she did not pass the test to get into University, which most that attend government schools do not, so went to school for 3 years to be a teacher and was currently teaching English to 3-5th graders. She went on to say in her letter that she realized education was the key to her success and her way out of poverty. I held my hand up and said "stop, I've heard enough, we'll do it, we'll do it." Poor David never knew what happened but just smiled knowing God and I had another one of our moments. I never asked how much, what was involved, nothing! I just knew this was a divine moment!!!
Later that day, we went back to Kechene to meet her, her name is Meseret ( I don't think I spelled that right.) She is beautiful!!! I would have taken her home with us if could. Maybe one day we can bring her here to the states, but in the meantime, we consider her part of our family.
Introducing Meseret..................
Friday, November 16, 2007
Making Progress
WOOOEEEEEEEEEEEE, Pickles slept through the night last night!!! I almost fell out of bed when I saw it was 5am instead on 1am!!!!!
Squeeker also lost another tooth this week! It was dangling by a root. He could turn the tooth horizontally with his tongue, much to his delight. He totally grossed out the girls at school -- I think that was his plan all along!!
I'll post pics soon!
Robin
Squeeker also lost another tooth this week! It was dangling by a root. He could turn the tooth horizontally with his tongue, much to his delight. He totally grossed out the girls at school -- I think that was his plan all along!!
I'll post pics soon!
Robin
Monday, November 12, 2007
Picking Up Pickles
Yes, we are home!!! I'm so sorry about not posting from Ethiopia -- we had a horrible time getting access to the blogs in Ethiopia. We also pushed ourselves pretty hard while we were there to see everything we wanted to see.
Pickles is amazing. She's beautiful, she's sweet, and she has such an amazing personality. She truly is an easy, easy baby! She gets fussy when she's hungry and when she's wet. Other than that, she just laughs and giggles. God truly has blessed us with this little girl.
I've been journalling on the laptop while we were in Addis, but can't upload any of that now. I was in the ER this morning with dehydration. I got sick on the way home from DC and have spent the last 40+ hours in bed (and in the bathroom). We are officially callling it the "Crud." And let me tell you, it's pretty bad. David had it while we were in Addis -- I don't know how he made it to the Embassy appointment on Tuesday because I could barely get out of bed the past two days.
The time zone change is pretty tough, coupled with sleep deprivation because Pickles was getting up every 4 hours the first 4 or 5 days. After that, we got her down to one feeding during the night, sleeping almost 6 1/2 hours!!! We almost have her on a schedule now, but it's been pretty hard with me being so sick. David has had to do EVERYTHING the past few days, and I mean everything. He's taken care of Pickles, Squeeker, taken Pickles to her first official Pediatric appointment this afternoon, all the laundry, etc. He truly is a wonderful dad and husband!!!
Ethiopia is an amazing country, a country of extremes. The wealth is extreme and rare, and the poverty is great and extreme. You have to see it with you own eyes to truly believe it. I don't think it all sinks in at once; your eyes go into overload but the sensory processing still absorbs and it comes back when you least expect it. I'll write more about how Ethiopia has changes us later.
To those Gladney families: If you thought the US Staff was amazing, wow, you are in for a surprise!!! The Ethiopian staff is absolutely amazing. Never in my life have I seen such a staff devoted so deeply to these children! You will love Belay (The Big Guy) and Abby and Ryan!!! The caregivers are amazing! They so love our children! So if any of you have any concerns about how the children are being cared for, let me set you at ease: they truly, truly, love our children! I have a story to tell about our last hour in Ethiopia before departing for the airport that will just break your heart.
More later,
Robin
Pickles is amazing. She's beautiful, she's sweet, and she has such an amazing personality. She truly is an easy, easy baby! She gets fussy when she's hungry and when she's wet. Other than that, she just laughs and giggles. God truly has blessed us with this little girl.
I've been journalling on the laptop while we were in Addis, but can't upload any of that now. I was in the ER this morning with dehydration. I got sick on the way home from DC and have spent the last 40+ hours in bed (and in the bathroom). We are officially callling it the "Crud." And let me tell you, it's pretty bad. David had it while we were in Addis -- I don't know how he made it to the Embassy appointment on Tuesday because I could barely get out of bed the past two days.
The time zone change is pretty tough, coupled with sleep deprivation because Pickles was getting up every 4 hours the first 4 or 5 days. After that, we got her down to one feeding during the night, sleeping almost 6 1/2 hours!!! We almost have her on a schedule now, but it's been pretty hard with me being so sick. David has had to do EVERYTHING the past few days, and I mean everything. He's taken care of Pickles, Squeeker, taken Pickles to her first official Pediatric appointment this afternoon, all the laundry, etc. He truly is a wonderful dad and husband!!!
Ethiopia is an amazing country, a country of extremes. The wealth is extreme and rare, and the poverty is great and extreme. You have to see it with you own eyes to truly believe it. I don't think it all sinks in at once; your eyes go into overload but the sensory processing still absorbs and it comes back when you least expect it. I'll write more about how Ethiopia has changes us later.
To those Gladney families: If you thought the US Staff was amazing, wow, you are in for a surprise!!! The Ethiopian staff is absolutely amazing. Never in my life have I seen such a staff devoted so deeply to these children! You will love Belay (The Big Guy) and Abby and Ryan!!! The caregivers are amazing! They so love our children! So if any of you have any concerns about how the children are being cared for, let me set you at ease: they truly, truly, love our children! I have a story to tell about our last hour in Ethiopia before departing for the airport that will just break your heart.
More later,
Robin
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