Today was really crazy. Lots of unexpected stuff but it all worked out to the children's benefit. Amira had a dentist appointment because she lost her crown and a possible abscess, her upper lip was so swollen. As we took her in the dentist fixed her crown but found that she indeed had an abscess on the same side. She said the tooth needed to be removed asap but needed to go to an oral surgeon.
In the mean time Micah had his ENT appointment. He has a hole in his ear. They don't want to prescribe anymore antibiotics and said they need to see how its doing without. If it is not getting any better they need to put tubes in his ears. Even though his hearing test wasn't scheduled until August, the Dr. demanded a hearing test today so we returned for that in the afternoon. He has hearing loss also. The only very terrible thing is that Micah cannot go in the water or like swimmig pool for a long time. That really choked me up. How can we do a summer without a pool, how can we explain to Micah he cannot go in the pool. He cannot even take a bath were he puts his head under the water. That is his favorite thing to do. I just don't know.
In the mean time Kevin checked back with the dentist at the military hospital and he also took in Amira without an appointment. Guess what, he pulled that tooth out for free. No more abscess, tooth going. My poor baby is looking like a grandma now. I really hope that her front teeth are growing in soon. Amira has now been front toothless for over one year and its starting to annoy her. It was interesting to hear the dentist say that the way the other dentist put in her crowns that they are coming in cricked so he wants to fix that too with some wires or something. We will also get both Misrak and Micah's teeth fixed for free and they even do Misrak all at once even though she is 7. So we have their surgery scheduled for Augsut 4. I just hope they both can hold out that long.
It was amazing to see all the children pray and thank God for his goodness and they were all so thankful, especially Amira, and my precious Misrak was just praying over the 2 little ones with her hands on their heads and my hands on their heads too and showed her thankfulness for making her siblings healthy it just made me cry. She told me tonight how much she loves us all and how happy she is. She says that often but tonight was special and she looked like an angel. I am getting choked up again.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Beautiful Day
This summer I am determined to keep up with my adoption friends that are near, like 30 min to 6 hours away. Today we met up with my sweet friend Courtney and her kiddos. We both adopted from Kidane and AHOPE. Our visit was long overdue, the last time we got together was in September when her boys just got home. Had a wonderful time Courtney:)
Even these three below had to warm up for a moment. They had already met each other. These are all the Kidane Kids. Misrak didn't know any of them, she was only at Kidane for less than 8 mo cuz I snatched her up quickly, lol:)
After warming up, the two set are running off to the park.
Saying good-bye
One last photo with the boys!
Brotherly Love
My little man having fun in the sand. He was actually showing out in public today with a tantrum over nothing, it was funny
Amira being herself, off on her own, in her little world
Sammy and Micah were good buddies at AHope. I can only imagine Sammy seriously protecting Micah there. He is such a sweet boy. Today they met again for the first time since both leaving AH and at first they were both pretty shy, it was cute.
Even these three below had to warm up for a moment. They had already met each other. These are all the Kidane Kids. Misrak didn't know any of them, she was only at Kidane for less than 8 mo cuz I snatched her up quickly, lol:)
After warming up, the two set are running off to the park.
Saying good-bye
One last photo with the boys!
Brotherly Love
My little man having fun in the sand. He was actually showing out in public today with a tantrum over nothing, it was funny
Amira being herself, off on her own, in her little world
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
More Health Updates
Thanks for checking in. I know there are some people here who are checking in on the health status of the kids, especially for Micah and his growth and some have even a deeper bond since they have known him at AHOPE. Thanks M and J and others and even the ones that I don’t know following Micah's journey home but I do appreciate you and ones loving on my boy while he was there. We will see what the future holds for us but I have nothing but good feelings even if my precious son is only 5 foot one day. I had a dear friend tell me that Micah is so amazing because I said “Yes” to God even though I was afraid.
Let's start out with Misrak’s health since it is so short. She is still super well. She doesn’t require any meds. Her viral loads look good. All she takes right now is fungus medication for her head. BTW, she passed on fungus to the other 3 so all 4 kids are on fungus meds, hehe. As for the dentist, they denied her surgery at the hospital. She will have to do it at the office over a minimum of 3 visits to fix her 11 cavities. Let’s hope she is strong enough and hangs in there. She is only 7 and that’s a lot on a 7 year old.
Now to Micah: His iron stores are actually fine now so we can stop the iron. He is still some anemic, but that could be due to a combination of the meds and low thyroid. Which is the big news-- his thyroid levels on repeat are definitely low. The Dr. wants him to take thyroid replacement pills and re-check the thyroid in November. Growth hormone test is abnormally low also, but Dr N explained that this can be falsely low as long as the thyroid level is low. Low thyroid also on its own causes short stature. We are really making great progress at what we are finding out.
Micah is still detectable which worries me that maybe he has some resistance. We might have to change up his meds but having to deal with the meds and viral loads now with all the 4 kids, even though not all are on meds I am pretty mellow about it when they are out of whack. I still remember the beginning times with Amira, it was pretty stressful, every time they went crazy I thought she was going to die:)
Micah is also on his fourth antibiotic for his ear. Still draining with wax. We have an appointment for the ENT doctor mid July; and an appointment with the cardiologist for his heart murmur. Yeah he has a heart murmur too but the doctor says not to worry that they can be false. I have truly learned not to stress anymore until I know more.
His dental surgery is scheduled for July 7 but we might not do it just yet because the Army
Hospital might do it for free but that just a hope right now. They will have to do a lot of work; putting 6 porcelain crowns on the front and 8 silver crowns in the back and much much more. Some of this teeth are so badly rottened that there isn't even a tooth left anymore. I think his teeth are out of ALL kids are the worst. Poor guy. Glad he is so happy go lucky all the time. Can you imagine what he will be like when he is in perfect health already being such a happy kid? I think Jennifer commented that once on my blog and I totally agree with her.
Let's start out with Misrak’s health since it is so short. She is still super well. She doesn’t require any meds. Her viral loads look good. All she takes right now is fungus medication for her head. BTW, she passed on fungus to the other 3 so all 4 kids are on fungus meds, hehe. As for the dentist, they denied her surgery at the hospital. She will have to do it at the office over a minimum of 3 visits to fix her 11 cavities. Let’s hope she is strong enough and hangs in there. She is only 7 and that’s a lot on a 7 year old.
Now to Micah: His iron stores are actually fine now so we can stop the iron. He is still some anemic, but that could be due to a combination of the meds and low thyroid. Which is the big news-- his thyroid levels on repeat are definitely low. The Dr. wants him to take thyroid replacement pills and re-check the thyroid in November. Growth hormone test is abnormally low also, but Dr N explained that this can be falsely low as long as the thyroid level is low. Low thyroid also on its own causes short stature. We are really making great progress at what we are finding out.
Micah is still detectable which worries me that maybe he has some resistance. We might have to change up his meds but having to deal with the meds and viral loads now with all the 4 kids, even though not all are on meds I am pretty mellow about it when they are out of whack. I still remember the beginning times with Amira, it was pretty stressful, every time they went crazy I thought she was going to die:)
Micah is also on his fourth antibiotic for his ear. Still draining with wax. We have an appointment for the ENT doctor mid July; and an appointment with the cardiologist for his heart murmur. Yeah he has a heart murmur too but the doctor says not to worry that they can be false. I have truly learned not to stress anymore until I know more.
His dental surgery is scheduled for July 7 but we might not do it just yet because the Army
Hospital might do it for free but that just a hope right now. They will have to do a lot of work; putting 6 porcelain crowns on the front and 8 silver crowns in the back and much much more. Some of this teeth are so badly rottened that there isn't even a tooth left anymore. I think his teeth are out of ALL kids are the worst. Poor guy. Glad he is so happy go lucky all the time. Can you imagine what he will be like when he is in perfect health already being such a happy kid? I think Jennifer commented that once on my blog and I totally agree with her.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Happy Father's Day
The kids are assembled in the girls' room to take their presents to dad! Micah always cracks up laughing when I line them up but this is what I started to do when we go places so they don't get lost. I just added the picture because it was so stinkin cute.
My dear husband is the daddy that I always wanted badly and dreamed of when I was a little girl. The day I got married, God blessed me with that kind of a husband. I am so thankful that he is the father of my children. I often say to Kevin that he is doing a way better job at parenting than I could ever imagine. He is such a kid with the kids and his parenting just comes so easy to him. He gets into their heads and knows how they think. He doesn't take life so serious the way I do and that is why it comes so easy to him. He is just the "bestest":) daddy.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Last Day of School
Today was such a wonderful day. Both, Amira and Biruk had their last of Kindergarten. Amira had a beautiful graduation ceremony, so please watch the videos below they are to die for. Both of the kids did outstanding. I clearly remember last September, I thought all hell broke lose which you can read here when Amira started Kindergarten. This teacher she had was truly an answer to my prayers. She was so strict but yet so nurturing that Amira totally bloomed and became an amazing academic student. Biruk did really well too but he never has a hard time learning nor fitting in so school is much easier. Amira will always be in introvert so it takes a special teacher to brake her or make her. Sorry I don't have anything of Biruk; his teacher didn't do anything.
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Adoption Ignorance!
I had two things on my mind that I can't get off my chest, one that just happened, and one that's been bugging me ever since my first adoption.
The first one just happened last Friday at work. A female co-worker of mine that I have not much in common with, but we tolerate each other looked at my new family pictures I had just proudly displayed in a frame. She keeps saying, wow that's a lot of people to feed and on and on and I proudly told her we are doing fine. Than she finally said, "well the state is helping you with the food, right"? She was talking about the foster care system. Huh, say what, the state, I thought I just adopted a child from ET I said to myself. Than I got so frustrated I wanted to make her mouth drop so I told her how much we paid for our adoptions and she flat out called me a liar. She thought we get our children for free. Now this just came from a very educated woman.
The second one is not so much killing me but it hurts more than anything. I really don't have many friends but enough I think (which includes work people) that could have thrown me a shower. In fact we JUST had a baby shower at the office a week ago for my boss who is due soon. Again I am not trying to sound greedy or worldly to want things at all. Its not even about that. It just hurts so much because when people have a baby, everyone is up and running mailing out presents, congratulation cards and throwing showers. As for me, nothing, not even a congratulation card and that includes family. Just like nothing. I just don't get it that my beautiful children that I have adopted don't get recognized like a newborn. What's the difference..? These children belong to my family just like my bio kids. Ugh the ignorance of this world. Thank God for my adoption friends who I know understand me.
The first one just happened last Friday at work. A female co-worker of mine that I have not much in common with, but we tolerate each other looked at my new family pictures I had just proudly displayed in a frame. She keeps saying, wow that's a lot of people to feed and on and on and I proudly told her we are doing fine. Than she finally said, "well the state is helping you with the food, right"? She was talking about the foster care system. Huh, say what, the state, I thought I just adopted a child from ET I said to myself. Than I got so frustrated I wanted to make her mouth drop so I told her how much we paid for our adoptions and she flat out called me a liar. She thought we get our children for free. Now this just came from a very educated woman.
The second one is not so much killing me but it hurts more than anything. I really don't have many friends but enough I think (which includes work people) that could have thrown me a shower. In fact we JUST had a baby shower at the office a week ago for my boss who is due soon. Again I am not trying to sound greedy or worldly to want things at all. Its not even about that. It just hurts so much because when people have a baby, everyone is up and running mailing out presents, congratulation cards and throwing showers. As for me, nothing, not even a congratulation card and that includes family. Just like nothing. I just don't get it that my beautiful children that I have adopted don't get recognized like a newborn. What's the difference..? These children belong to my family just like my bio kids. Ugh the ignorance of this world. Thank God for my adoption friends who I know understand me.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Health Updates
All the tests have come back negative for both kids. Not even parasites in either of the kids. Micah still has a horrible ear. I don't know what is going on. He is on his 3rd antibiotic and its still the same. Next week we will get to do the blood test to check his thyroid. So that means we don't know what is wrong with his giant belly but hopefully with nutrition it will go down in time. Amira had a big belly too but nothing like Micah. His is just outrageous. I have to take a picture sometimes.
They both had some molloscums here and there and even they seem to all fade away. Most of them they scratch open but luckily they didn't come back or get infected.
So now the only huge bill that is awaiting us is the dentist. I still haven't figured what to do about it but it has to be done, SOON. We are talking close to $5,000.00 out of our pocket for both kids. We finally got a pre surgery bill for Misrak . She seems to be in much more pain than Micah. In fact we had to take her in today to see if she had an abscess in her mouth but the dentist said there was nothing but a cavity. But sometimes its hard to tell with Misrak because she like to exaggerate her pain but I have to take her serious until our English communication is getting better. She often complains of pain when she doesn't get her way. They also said she needs 11 teeth fixed, not 6.
Otherwise things are just wonderful and wonderful and so awesome. I just love my family of 8:)
They both had some molloscums here and there and even they seem to all fade away. Most of them they scratch open but luckily they didn't come back or get infected.
So now the only huge bill that is awaiting us is the dentist. I still haven't figured what to do about it but it has to be done, SOON. We are talking close to $5,000.00 out of our pocket for both kids. We finally got a pre surgery bill for Misrak . She seems to be in much more pain than Micah. In fact we had to take her in today to see if she had an abscess in her mouth but the dentist said there was nothing but a cavity. But sometimes its hard to tell with Misrak because she like to exaggerate her pain but I have to take her serious until our English communication is getting better. She often complains of pain when she doesn't get her way. They also said she needs 11 teeth fixed, not 6.
Otherwise things are just wonderful and wonderful and so awesome. I just love my family of 8:)
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Happy Birthday Misrak!
Our Misrak turned 7 today. After much thought we knew she is 7, although on her ET birth certifcate she turned 6 today. Prior to her coming home, we always wanted Biruk to be the oldest but the truth be the truth. Even Kevin can't deny it that Misrak is 7 and should be the oldest out of the 4 of them. Even when I ask her this morning how old she turned, she said 7.
We started out with a breakfast at IHOP. Just Misrak, Micah and myself. Misrak chose Micah to come but later she told me she really wanted Amira to come but she didn't want Micah to cry and make him sad. That is just her huge heart of not wanting to hurt people.
She picked a big white baby doll with blonde hair and bangs. I asked her why and she said she looks like mommy. Funny girl. Her name is Katie. Luckily yesterday I found an amzazing white bed at a garage sale for so outrageously cheap so we gave that to her too. But really it just so happen that I found it right around her birthday. Yeah can you believe she still didn't have a frame for her bed:(
Than for dinner she chose pizza rolls (we still had normal dinner, those pizza rolls were just for Misrak). Okay that was gross but I let her have them anyway. I think Kevin feeds her that stuff when I am at work. I don't even ask anymore what he feeds the during the daytime, lol. I think she only chose pizza rolls because she has been here for only a month. I am sure her dinner choice next year will be way different. We just really had a fun day and Misrak's eyes lid up all day long, non stop just like in the picture. She lid up my heart to watch her all day. She was a princess surely for the whole day and everyone treated her nicely including Mr. Micah:)
Big stinker Biruk just snuck in the picture but I love that smirk on his face.
We started out with a breakfast at IHOP. Just Misrak, Micah and myself. Misrak chose Micah to come but later she told me she really wanted Amira to come but she didn't want Micah to cry and make him sad. That is just her huge heart of not wanting to hurt people.
She picked a big white baby doll with blonde hair and bangs. I asked her why and she said she looks like mommy. Funny girl. Her name is Katie. Luckily yesterday I found an amzazing white bed at a garage sale for so outrageously cheap so we gave that to her too. But really it just so happen that I found it right around her birthday. Yeah can you believe she still didn't have a frame for her bed:(
Than for dinner she chose pizza rolls (we still had normal dinner, those pizza rolls were just for Misrak). Okay that was gross but I let her have them anyway. I think Kevin feeds her that stuff when I am at work. I don't even ask anymore what he feeds the during the daytime, lol. I think she only chose pizza rolls because she has been here for only a month. I am sure her dinner choice next year will be way different. We just really had a fun day and Misrak's eyes lid up all day long, non stop just like in the picture. She lid up my heart to watch her all day. She was a princess surely for the whole day and everyone treated her nicely including Mr. Micah:)
Big stinker Biruk just snuck in the picture but I love that smirk on his face.
Saturday, June 5, 2010
One Month
Where does the time go? It’s funny when your first kids are home for over a year you don’t remember the things that they all do when they first come home.
The children have super well adjusted. The best part always is getting to know them. And what I love about children is no matter how many you have, they are all so different.
I have noticed that Misrak and Biruk are spending a lot of time together. Don’t get me wrong, the two girls still like to play house and dolls but all in all. I think mainly because they are the two who are mature. Amira follows Micah around a lot but more than anything I think she just finds him cute as a doll. Now that his hair is growing she always wants to comb his hair. I think Amira feels more secure around Micah because she doesn’t have to compete with him like she does with Biruk and Misrak. Ha, and Micah knows how to play Amira well. She does everything for him. Sometimes I have to pull her aside and tell her he is not a baby.
Misrak is adjusting well. I just now started to think about this but she smacked Micah in the mouth hard 2x because he was rude to her or hit her. I think the KM kids went for survial of the fittest; because Biruk and Amira did the same when they first came home.
She is starting to get sad when everyone leaves in the morning so we ask the school if she can come in a few days before school is out and they said yes. She is still very doting and helpful. She loves to pout, pout a lot. Usually over something simple of not getting a specific color of something. She can pout for a very lonnnnnnnnnnnng time, like hours. Misrak loves, loves to look pretty. She always wants to make sure her hair looks nice, she wears her little head bands and every day she has to put a necklace and bracelet on. So cute.
I have noticed about Micah after getting to know him that he is super SPOILDED ROTTEN AND SUPER PICKY. The nannies and volunteers at AHope made him rotten. And how could they not, he is so darn cute. Not that its bothering me at all, frankly I think its funny because I don’t play into his ways. Obviously I am not a first time mommy so none of them can play me nor do I feel sorry for them. I have to say though that Micah is super forgiven and he forgets quickly. He picks everything out of his food with his fingers, like peppers, onions, anything weird looking. When he doesn’t like something, he gags it up on his plate. He is also left handed.
His character is one of a kind and although I said many times that Biruk is just like Kevin, well Micah is even more so like Kevin when it comes to his character. Biruk just copies Kevin with everything he does, but Micah just has Kevin’s natural sense of humor. He just makes people laugh all day with his funny laughs, noises, the way he walks, well the people that have met him know what I mean. He can jus t look at you and you start laughing. We have never laughed so much at the dinner table until our newest additions.
The children have super well adjusted. The best part always is getting to know them. And what I love about children is no matter how many you have, they are all so different.
I have noticed that Misrak and Biruk are spending a lot of time together. Don’t get me wrong, the two girls still like to play house and dolls but all in all. I think mainly because they are the two who are mature. Amira follows Micah around a lot but more than anything I think she just finds him cute as a doll. Now that his hair is growing she always wants to comb his hair. I think Amira feels more secure around Micah because she doesn’t have to compete with him like she does with Biruk and Misrak. Ha, and Micah knows how to play Amira well. She does everything for him. Sometimes I have to pull her aside and tell her he is not a baby.
Misrak is adjusting well. I just now started to think about this but she smacked Micah in the mouth hard 2x because he was rude to her or hit her. I think the KM kids went for survial of the fittest; because Biruk and Amira did the same when they first came home.
She is starting to get sad when everyone leaves in the morning so we ask the school if she can come in a few days before school is out and they said yes. She is still very doting and helpful. She loves to pout, pout a lot. Usually over something simple of not getting a specific color of something. She can pout for a very lonnnnnnnnnnnng time, like hours. Misrak loves, loves to look pretty. She always wants to make sure her hair looks nice, she wears her little head bands and every day she has to put a necklace and bracelet on. So cute.
I have noticed about Micah after getting to know him that he is super SPOILDED ROTTEN AND SUPER PICKY. The nannies and volunteers at AHope made him rotten. And how could they not, he is so darn cute. Not that its bothering me at all, frankly I think its funny because I don’t play into his ways. Obviously I am not a first time mommy so none of them can play me nor do I feel sorry for them. I have to say though that Micah is super forgiven and he forgets quickly. He picks everything out of his food with his fingers, like peppers, onions, anything weird looking. When he doesn’t like something, he gags it up on his plate. He is also left handed.
His character is one of a kind and although I said many times that Biruk is just like Kevin, well Micah is even more so like Kevin when it comes to his character. Biruk just copies Kevin with everything he does, but Micah just has Kevin’s natural sense of humor. He just makes people laugh all day with his funny laughs, noises, the way he walks, well the people that have met him know what I mean. He can jus t look at you and you start laughing. We have never laughed so much at the dinner table until our newest additions.
Life is good and tiring, but I wouldn't change a thing.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Back to Work
It was really, really, really hard to go back. Both kids were very hysterical even a long time after I had left. Micah was worse though. But than I was driving down the road and when things hurt so bad than I find the good in things that seem to look bad at the moment. I have always fought myself through life like that. I was telling myself to be thankful that my kids didn't have to go to daycare and still had the ability to stay home with the other parent. And don't get me wrong, if I was a single parent than I guess I wouldn't have a choice but the daycare. I am thankful I have a job where I was able to take off 4 weeks paid, and had I not used up so many other days for the other adoption and other stuff, I could have had 3 months paid. I am blessed. Blessed beyond measure.
I am asking God for forgiveness every single day during my quiet time. Asking him to forgive me for having such a prideful heart to go to work. Everyone that knows me knows this is truly my bitterness. Its not even the people I work with, the hours I work, .... if I had to work the rest of my life, I would certainly stay right there. Its a good place. I just want to be with my children. I have never felt stronger in my heart than I do now that my place is home. The woman that I once was trying to prove myself in the workforce to show people how I can do it all and go with the feminist generation has long left my soul. It left my soul when I started to go on my very first mission trip back in 2006. I have the utmost confidence that it will happen one day, I just don't know when.
We have cut back so much. Kevin and I used to live super worldly, trying to compete with the Jones' every single day, from cars, to clothing, to lavish things, you name it. Now we are living on one income and feeding a family of eight and taking one through college. I am saying this too because I know that if Kevin hadn't been laid off a long time when he was, we had never learned how to live humble like we do now. I am also happy to say that Kevin and I finally see eye to eye when it comes to me being home. He totally respects my choice and wants to support this badly. Before he always felt that 2 incomes are a must:) I know he too has learned from me that money isn't everything. So one day, all we have to do is switch roles, because we have learned how to do everything else.
It will happen. Really, I just need to stick it out and hopefully God will have mercy on me and bring me home soon.
I am asking God for forgiveness every single day during my quiet time. Asking him to forgive me for having such a prideful heart to go to work. Everyone that knows me knows this is truly my bitterness. Its not even the people I work with, the hours I work, .... if I had to work the rest of my life, I would certainly stay right there. Its a good place. I just want to be with my children. I have never felt stronger in my heart than I do now that my place is home. The woman that I once was trying to prove myself in the workforce to show people how I can do it all and go with the feminist generation has long left my soul. It left my soul when I started to go on my very first mission trip back in 2006. I have the utmost confidence that it will happen one day, I just don't know when.
We have cut back so much. Kevin and I used to live super worldly, trying to compete with the Jones' every single day, from cars, to clothing, to lavish things, you name it. Now we are living on one income and feeding a family of eight and taking one through college. I am saying this too because I know that if Kevin hadn't been laid off a long time when he was, we had never learned how to live humble like we do now. I am also happy to say that Kevin and I finally see eye to eye when it comes to me being home. He totally respects my choice and wants to support this badly. Before he always felt that 2 incomes are a must:) I know he too has learned from me that money isn't everything. So one day, all we have to do is switch roles, because we have learned how to do everything else.
It will happen. Really, I just need to stick it out and hopefully God will have mercy on me and bring me home soon.
The strangest thing
Someone gave me this plant at work 4 years ago as a birthday present. Strangely this plant never has had any flowers until I went to Ethiopia the first time to pick up Amira and Biruk; it started blooming while I was there. I came back this time and had 2 new flowers, and I just came home with Misrak and Micah. I thought I was nuts but luckily the lady who gave me the plant waters them while I am going and she pointed it out to me even though I already noticed. The first time it only had 2 flowers on it also only they were more on the top. I know its a dumb story but its sort of really special to me. To me it sort of says that these 4 children I have at home they were hand picked by God and it reminds me anytime I look at that plant.
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