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.

Life is good and tiring, but I wouldn't change a thing.

6 MONTHS HOME - JULY 14, 2009

To this day I am still on cloud 9. I am that serious. Every time when I sit and think I get overwhelmed with joy that my Lord and Savior has blessed me with 2 amazing kids like that. I am almost afraid to ever adopt again, I might get just the opposite:) I get really choked up. I truly feel like I birthed them and they really fit into the family so perfect. Amira is mine, Biruk is daddy's but we both love them equally like crazy. What I mean by that is Biruk likes doing boy stuff and Amira likes doing girl stuff. Also Biruk has just about every one of Kevin's personality traits and Amira just about has everyone of mine. Its really crazy.

My kids are now home a little over 6 months. Where did the time go. When I look back now, so much has happened. Biruk from the beginning was very healthy but Amira was pretty messed up. I have to report now that I think all is behind us. She had a giant, nasty fungus on her head, MERSA in her nose, surgery to her huge mollescum and oral surgery because most of her teeth were decayed. The only thing wrong with Biruk was that he tested positive for TB but chest-xrays revealed he was negative. He has to be on meds for 1 year. As to their HIV (+), Biruk was always fine. Still doesn't require any meds. Amira has been taking meds since she was at the orphanage (her viral loads used to be pretty bad) but after being home for about 2 months she became undetectable. They now only have to see the Dr. every 2 months to check in and have their blood drawn to make sure their viral loads are okay.

Here are some things about Biruk: Biruk is VERY outgoing and friendly. He will strike up a conversation with anyone (when he is with Kevin, when he is with me I am a bit overprotective because I don't think he should talk to every stranger there is so he is careful who he talk to) He is a neat/clean freak, talks ALL the time, loves true boy stuff, a pleaser (he wants everyone to think he is perfect until he comes home to momma). His English is amazing. Has crazy, crazy bonded with his daddy. I am just stunned how sneaky Kevin and Biruk are together behind my back, its hilarious. They even sneak out to ride Danica motorcycle (yeah really). The only think that I would have to complain about is that Biruk ALWAYS interrupts conversations and gets sassy with me when daddy is around, like doesn't want to listen at all but i know that is Kevin's and my fault and we need to work on that.

Here are a few things about Amira (almost everything what Biruk is, she is opposite): Amira is sooo messy but mainly in their room and it drives Biruk crazy. She doesn't care what people think of her and gets in trouble more often, she is a true momma's girl. Amira loves dolls and taking care of them. She is also an introvert. Although she is so sassy, I would say Amira is also very meek, sensitive, and shy. She is also very obedient. She loves, loves talking about ET and her mom in ET and she want to go back all the time but she wants me to come. Amira gets stuck a lot with her English but she is doing so well. I think the only think about Amira that bothers me is that she is still too friendly and wants to climb up on people like she is a little girl. She has gotten so much better though since she first came.

We had Dairy Queen ice cream (cookie dough), 6 candles for 6 months

Biruk has lost 4 teeth already, 2 on top and 2 on bottom, another one lose. The 2 bottom teeth are almost in. Amira unfortunately lost most of her teeth by force (surgery). The teeth she has in the front is all she has left and a few crowns. The rest was all pulled out.

Home 2 months

How do I wish that time could stand still. 4, what a precious age. The children at that age are so care free about anything. I continously feel so blessed that these two precious kiddos are finally in my arms. Sometimes I feel like I am dreaming. In the middle of the night I just sneak in their room and watch them sleep and listen to them breathe and pray over them.

I have probably already mentioned this but Biruk has taken a huge bond to Kevin since home and Amira to me. I am totally fine with that. Amira just hugs and cuddles me to death wanting to be by my side whereever I go while Biruk likes to talk to Kevin about cars all day and eat with him. I have heard now many times and also seen it with my own eyes that the minute I leave the house Amira gets so sassy and does not listen. I never see that when I am with her. Like slamming doors and throwing stuff. She doesn't do that when I am around. I think in time when she understands more she will get better with her attitude. I will have to explain to her that she needs to be respectful to anyone, not just mommy. I have to say, she is a smart girl because she has me all wrapped around her little finger.

Biruk started Pee Wee soccer last week and is really enjoying it. I am still trying to figure out with to do with Amira for fun. She easily gets distracted so we'll see.


The dress below is Amira's favorite dress. Every day she asks me if she can wear it but it is too cold right now but today I just let her wear it anyway. She also loves to wear her hair down and pose for me so here you go. Biruk gets annoyed when I take his pictures too much.

Happy Valentine's Day - Home one Month

Where does the time go? I now fully understand what people have told me over and over that once you have the children you forget about all the painful wait you had to go through and time just flies. That is so true. Just like giving birth. Once its done, a new life has began and time doesn't stand still anymore.

Things at home are really really good with Biruk and Amira. They have started their preschool program and just love it. They wished the could go every day but unfortunately its only every other day. They were so thrilled last Friday when the yellow bus picked them up for school. I think that is really the coolest thing when adopting international because its so much pleasure to watch the children finding out all these new things every single day.

They talk so much already. Really there is no problem understanding them at all. They speak many full sentences. They sleep through the night from 7:30 to 7:30. Amira occasionally pees in the bed but that is usually our fault for someone giving her something to drink too late. I don't have to punish her at all anymore. Amira is really good. In fact she is so sensitive with me that I have to be really careful because I can easily hurt her precious feelings. Everyone else calls her sassy but I think she has a wonderful personality that many people die for to have. I take her mostly everywhere with me and she is so good for me. She just sits in the cart and smiles at me the whole time.

Biruk is really awesome too. He really has bonded with Kevin which I wanted and dreamed of all along. Biruk is highly intelligent and picks up on things like its nothing. I have to watch Kevin though with his talking because sometimes he throws some slang in there and Biruk picks it right up. He is also really helpful and very neat with everything he does. He does an amazing job at cleaning up his room.

The kids are really polite and well behaved already. I know this sounds really conceded but I think this is all to the goodness of me. When I first got them they would eat with their hands, smack, talk with their mouth full, eat from each others' plates, interrupt constantly. They don't do anything of the above. I started training them up the minute I got custody of them so I had a good 7 weeks with them between ET and staying home. I just cannot stand kids who are disrespectful to adults or rude. It doesn't make any sense to me. After all we are suppose to raise them and they are not suppose to raise us. To some that might not make that much sense because they had a hard life but to me I feel kids need structure.

They also say "how are you", "I am fine; thank you", "excuse me" all the time.

With that all being said, it has been a pure joy to have them but I think Kevin and I never have it easy by having another child in our lives that is hard and gives us lots of problems.

When we raised Danica and Anastasia, Danica was an angel for us and while we were raising her we had a hardcore life with Anastasia because of her Autism and many other diagnosis that she received but I don't want to get into it on this blog. Few friends and our families only know to well about that and what we have been through.