More firsts and ramblings

I just saw on another blog the other day that they were happy to have started a blog if anything its for the journaling. Just until recently I was sad that only certain people regularly leave comments while others just browse my blog and don't want to leave a comment either because they are bored with my blog or whatever they think. Who cares anyway. I sure don't.

Now I really don't care anymore because for myself and the children I have journaled so much it will be nice one day for them to look at everything and go back to see where there journey began. I would have never journaled over birthdays and anniversaries. Kinda cool now that I look at it.

Life has just become crazy busy but I guess that was forseable with me working again. About 2 weeks ago we went to the skating ring and it was hillarious. The kids had so much fun. Biruk refused to skate on the walk skates, he had to have real skates and pretty much was on the floor the whole time. Amira used walking skates and she was such a trooper.

Last Saturday we went for first haircuts. When I came home, I got chewed out pretty badly by my husband telling me not to ever have someone else cut his son's hair. I kind of did it behind his back because I didn't want Biruk to get a military haircut. But I respect his wishes and apologized. I wouldn't like if he takes my girls to the hairdresser.

Amira's oral surgery is scheduled for April 1. It looks like our insurance is covering the hospital and we have to pay about $2,000.00 out of pocket. I guess that beats $5,700.00.

Amira also still has her huge moluscum. That $700.00 cream is obviously worthless. It looks like we might have to cut it.

Biruk now is close to 40 pounds. Kevin calls him the garbage disposal. Every time I turn around he asks Kevin for more food knowing he is not getting anymore from me.

In other good news, Biruk's best friend Nesradine already got his visa so hopefully they arrive in the states pretty soon and we get to see them. If not I understand, because that long flight is so exhausting.

Lastly, my dear friend Lisa is coming to visit us next week with her precious girls Eden and Imani. Eden really does have a special place in my heart. I am so so happy. Lisa and I were supposed to travel to ET together but circumstances didn't let us. I saw her there in ET the day I left and she arrived.

At the skating ring

Biruk below starting up Kevin's truck. True boy. He loves the sound of his mufflers

First haircut

kids after their haircuts. Amira really just got a tiny bit of her ends trimmed but Candy did a wonder french braid

Pics

Just wanted to post some pics. The little ones are wonderful but lots of other stuff going on.

I know Kevin looks rough but he pulled a 24 hour no sleep thing because he had to study for exams.

Jessica is Danica's best friend. Have you ever, ever seen my son smile like that. I think his smile below is the best ever.

Biruk in the tub. I don't like full body pictures.

Visiting our AAI office in Port Angeles shortly before I went back to work. Michelle is to the left and Susan to the right. Susan is one of my favs there.

Kevin and Biruk trying to fix the dishwasher with no luck. Okay now I am starting to grow a little frustrated and impatient that the dishwasher has been broke since I returned from ET. But I will be humble, how can I complain about trivial things like that after just returning from Africa.

Danica visiting to get her fix from the little ones. She was only half dressed but I wanted to put the pics up anyway because the all looked so adorable.

Adoption Friends Forever

I have noticed, although its sad to say that I have lost a lot of friends over the past 2.5 years while I was trying to adopt. I think I was really out of it and focused on one thing only. Figure, that would be me. I know that's sad but my sole focus has been accomplished at last. But with that I have gained so many adoption friends, of course most of them are blogger or email buddies only; some I have met. Over the past two weeks I have met up with Lisa and Laci . They are both very dear to me. I have met Lisa at camp last year for the first time (all of her 11 children came, yeahhh) and I have known Laci since 2006. We were preparing to go on a mission trip together. The thing we all have in common is that we adopted from Ethiopia and also even used the same agency. We also have lots of things and feelings about our kids to be the same. Laci is really close to me like 30 min drive but Lisa is 6 hours away.

When we met up with Lisa this Wednesday at the ET restaurant Lalibela in Seattle, Kevin and I decided we are going to visit them out where they live and also go see one of her best friends, Signe who is on her way in a few days to pick up her Nesradine from ET, who is Biruk's best friend. Yeahh Signe, I am so looking forward to meeting you when you come back!

I would love to meet many more of my blogger friends especially the ones that are closer to home. So if you are in the 6 hours vicinity and want to get together, let me know. I am not joking, we will make plans.


Lisa and Russ with their 4 girls and Kevin and I with our 3 kiddos. Sorry you can't barely see my Kevin, he is slightly dark. Also my 2 little ones are between Kevin and me but they are too short to see.

Laci and her daugther at her sister's wedding. Laci's sister Karly is actually one of my very dear friends I have left prior to starting my adoption journey.

AHOPE Special Edition T-Shirts are out

I don't know what it is about these AHOPE T-shirts but I love em to death. Its time for me to order new ones because the one I have is totally worn out. I just really love the AHOPE products. I have also the beautiful necklace and the sweatshirt. On my casual days that is all I wear. I just love the designs. I am not smooching but the AHOPE store has got to be my favorite store on line. Please go to Lisa's blog, last paragraph, and check out her post on these special edition shirts and the store.

Anyways they are only $10.00 per shirt. You just can't beat eat. Order a bunch. For your friends or whatever. These shirts will benefit AHOPE, our precious HIV orphans in Ethiopia. You can also check out AHOPE for Children which is to the right of my blog.

http://abushel-and-apeck.blogspot.com/2009/02/ahope-special-edition-t-shirt.html

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.

Going back to work

Today was a really hard day. Mainly I had to leave the kids behind and Amira was just crying so hard. The 2 of us have extremely bonded and it seems like Biruk has more bonded with Kevin which is totally fine with me. We don't mind sharing the wealth.

The funny thing is that when I had the kids Biruk always got in trouble but today Amira got in trouble all day and I almost wanted to tell Kari and Kevin, stay off my baby, she does good for me and is an angel. But I have to respect them because they have my blessings and we all have to work together. She just like to sass other people..... She is full of life and has so much spunk.

Today at work was really sweet. They all gave me a huge gift certificate for Target and I so needed it. There are still so many things I need and obviously no yard sales starting anytime soon. I really wanted to buy them some bikes but other things are more important.

Back to my work subject. In these days it is truly a blessing to still have a secure job and as much as I want to be a stay at home mom I am so blessed to be in the workplace that I am. Its just so secure, quiet and safe place to work and all the people are so respectful to each other. Just felt loved today in a worldly way, my workstation was beautifully decorated and everyone was happy to have me back. It was pretty overwhelming especially because I wanted to be with my kids and my heart was really not there. I am sure it will take a few days.

The only funny thing that happened is that people kept saying "wow, you got your hands full", because I have 2 four year olds and I keep thinking of my wonderful friends that have large familes. I am not even close to having my hands full but oh well. It also bothered me when they kept saying how blessed the kids are and when I kept saying no its opposite the kids have been such a blessing to me, they didn't get it even though I explained why. I am just in a place where more than 2 children are not normal. I think out of 30 people, there are just 2 other people, one has 5 kids and the other one 3 kids. Everyone else one and two. A professional stuffy place. But again, I don't mind the challenge and I don't mind setting an example that larger families are beautiful and it's okay to have more than 2 children and how much I just love it and I adore large families. Anyways, that was cute how people just look at adoption as being such a big thing.

Health updates and going back to work

It seems like we are moving forward some re: all the kids' health issues. It was never anything big but running and running to the dr's and all the distributing of meds is getting old.

I now am distributing meds to 4 children so I had to make myself a list because I started to get really confused. I figured what if something happens to me, Kevin wouldn't know where to start.

First off I am so thankful beyond my wildest dreams that I have health insurance and on top of that the military retired insurance from Kevin. That has helped so much because we didn't have to pay all the co-pays like some people. Having served 22 years in the military has finally paid off including all the many months I had to raise the children by myself because Kevin was overseas.

Biruk has to be on TB meds for one year. His TB is not active or contagious, x-rays were negative. In fact in most countries they don't even put people on meds if the TB comes back negative but the Dr. said in America they do anyway, just in case. It's just a precaution here.

They were both tested for Giardia/parasites and it came back negative. Yeahhh good for me. One less medication.

Amira got her medication called Aldara for her huge moluscum under her eye and that is $700.00 for 24 packets. Kevin didn't believe me, he had to call the pharmacy. Again, all covered because of military insurance.

Still haven't heard back from the oral surgeon but Amira is starting to get cranky with some of her teeth, rightfully so. They need to get taken care of asap.

Amira's huge fungus on her head is almost gone thanks to my wonderful husband for cleaning it 2x week and the meds of course.

They have been enrolled in pre-school 3x week for 3 hours each session. And guess what.... Its free. I guess they have a program her where the kids can go for free just because they are disadvantaged for just coming here... language etc...

This was really an answer to prayer for me because I didn't want Kari (Anastasia's provider) and Kevin to carry all the burdens of babysitting Amira and Biruk. So now they are split up between Kevin, Kari and pre-school.

This is good for me because I have to go back to work this Thursday. I was home with the kids 4 weeks exact. I can't believe time flew like this. I have never imagined and hoped there would be a way that I wouldn't have to go back to work but there is just no way right now. Wishful thinking on my part. I was horribly burdened by this babysitting situation. There was no way I could afford daycare so at least now all I have to pay is Kari and Kevin doesn't have the kids every single afternoon. God is so good and he always makes ways, even the very last minute.

A day at the Zoo and all these Firsts

The one thing I have always enjoyed about reading blogs is when the children come home and they do and say all the firsts. Today was one of those. All day long. And it is especially cute when they are older because you can see it in their expressions. At the zoo they saw so many animals that they had only seen in books before. Also they went on a merry-go-round and feeding little goats which I could tell they had never done. I was a little surprised about Biruk because for the first time he did something before Amira and that was feed the goat. In many of his expressions you can see he is still afraid but surely trying it out and that is what's important. He is hilarious to watch because when he gets nervous he gets this spastic walk like he pooped in his pants. This is usually how I can see he is really nervous and I back off. I am not forcing the issue than.

I am still like so in love with these little guys. Don't get me wrong, we have our temper tantrums and sassyness but 4 year olds are just something to me. I have always been obsessed with 4 year olds. They say the funniest things and if together they really have a way of entertaining each other. They are so mischief too. I often wonder what they talk behind my back because they get that look at me and just start to crack up. But nothing gives me more pleasure to hear their voices all day calling me mommy and I love you at least 100 times. They are just never quiet, ever, unless they sleep. I also love when I came back from a short errand how excited they get to see me. Or when I call the phone when out, it seems like they know its mommy calling and they scream in the background "MOMMMMMMY".

An Absolute Must Read Book

Having just returned from Ethiopia less than a month ago this book was so good for my soul. I haven't been able to find time to read but I made it a point to get the kids all down on time and used the nights while Kevin was at college to read. Its a small book and only has about 178pages. If you are a fast reader you can probably finish it in one night. I did it in 2 nights.

I loved the comments from Melissa Faye Greene and Tom Davis, 2 writers I absolutely adore and loved to read their books There is no me without you and Fields of the Fatherless.

Josh and Amy's book is about infertility/barrenness, the struggles of their marriage the beginning years and in the end adopting their little Silas from Ethiopia. I think every reader can relate to a little/or a lot something in this book. I also loved how they just put it out there. There is no talking around the bush, there is no holding back. Many times I was just cracking up about Josh's sense of humor and Amy with her sassy self (I don't even know Amy but I love her personality). You watch. These people are not stuffy at all and to me the true Christ Followers that people want to come running to if they look for God. God is all in the book and that of course was the icing on the cake for me since I am not at all into fiction books but book that surround God in every way. Also the passion so many of us share about Africa/Ethiopia and orphans/HIV orphans, poverty, missions and so much more. I could also relate because my adoptions were never just adoptions to rescue a child from a third world country but so much more as I just mentioned above. Ha, you know me and my writing, its not all that great so just click below on the links and you can see what it is all about. Just going off in lalaland again.

Here is the link to the book: http://www.fromashestoafrica.com/ and here is Amy's blog

Our first Basketball Game

Yesterday we had a really nice day with the children. We went to Danica's college to see both, boys and girls basketball homecoming games. The girls' team won, the boys lost. The boys are usually pretty good. They went to Nationals last year. I was trying to get a picture of Biruk. He was so funny. Instead of watching the game, he watched Danica's cheer team the whole time trying to do cheer moves. Hm? He screamed out Danica's name over and over, getting her a little embarrassed at last. I finally had to shut him down. The two little ones did really well being out at the games for nearly 4 hours.

My new gang of 5

My gang and Danica's really good friends at college
Couldn't capture better throws. I recorded but don't know how to download videos. I was surprised at how high they were throwing the girls compared to when Danica was in High School.

Danica's cheer team

FIREPROOF

This amazing movie above just came out this Tuesday on DVD. I been meaning to post it on my blog but I forgot. Who do you think was one of the first people to buy it? Me. I usually don't watch TV but I am so looking forward to see this movie again over and over.

Please to all the ladies, if you haven't watched the movie you have to buy it. ACtually you have to watch it with your husband and he will love it too. Trust me. My hubby is quiet the macho guy but really loved this movie.

Kirk Cameron, who is the main actor, and a serious Christ Follower, has six children of his own, actually plays in the movie and has the main role. He takes his role as a godly man so serious that he was not willing to kiss the woman that played his wife in the movie. They actually did some tricks to where he kisses his own wife but you will think its his actress wife.

In case if you haven't seen the movie here is what the movie is about:

At work, inside burning buildings, Capt. Caleb Holt lives by the old firefighter's adage: Never leave your partner behind. At home, in the cooling embers of his marriage, he lives by his own rules.Growing up, Catherine Holt always dreamed of marrying a loving, brave firefighter...just like her daddy. Now, after seven years of marriage, Catherine wonders when she stopped being "good enough" for her husband. Regular arguments over jobs, finances, housework, and outside interests have readied them both to move on to something with more sparks. As the couple prepares to enter divorce proceedings, Caleb's father challenges his son to commit to a 40-day experiment: "The Love Dare." Wondering if it's even worth the effort, Caleb agrees-for his father's sake more than for his marriage. When Caleb discovers the book's daily challenges are tied into his parents' newfound faith, his already limited interest is further dampened.While trying to stay true to his promise, Caleb becomes frustrated time and again. He finally asks his father, "How am I supposed to show love to somebody who constantly rejects me?"When his father explains that this is the love Christ shows to us, Caleb makes a life-changing commitment to love God. Andówith God's helpóhe begins to understand what it means to truly love his wife. But is it too late to fireproof his marriage? His job is to rescue others. Now Caleb Holt is ready to face his toughest job ever...rescuing his wife's heart.

How are things?

Today I just wanted to get out a few pics with Kevin and the kids. I have written some more below. Really I have to say, in the beginning Kevin was never to fond of adopting 4 year olds. He likes older kids. 10 and up. But I always knew that once they got here, things would change. I just know my husband. The kids got Kevin wrapped around their fingers and I think he is good therapy for them because he is a wild man and all kids need that!!!!!!

Getting the dog food ready. They both love the dog now and absolutely enjoy feeding him.

Below they are all playing crazy in the kids' tent in their room.

Everything is still wonderful. The kids are talking up a storm. They still love all the foods I give them and Biruk LOVES milk. Amira doesn't. But I still give her a cup each day and she will drink it for me anyway. That's my girl. They already know several words and sentences. It never ceases to amaze me how quickly kids learn. Oh and I am told they talk with a German accent. Huh, where do you think that is from. I bet my girlies I met at REACH camp can just imagine what my kids sound like in a mixture of my accent, an ET accent and trying to speak English. Amira just sounds adorable but she is speech impaired. I am still waiting for several appointments to come through, including the developmental peds who suppose to evaluate her.

They love their daddy because he plays crazy with them. They also act really mischief around him. Totally different with me. Biruk got in trouble with Kevin for the first time yesterday because when he picked them up from my dentist appointment, Biruk insisted on sitting in the front seat without a seat belt. Duhhh, would you think that get him in trouble. While Biruk was in ET, his wonderful driver Abraham always let him set in the front seat while driving him to Dr. appointment and I think Biruk thought it was the manly thing to do that he would sit in the front seat with "daddy", who knows. Kevin said he just got hysterical on him for a minimum of 30 min and he was about fed up.

Once I go back to work and Kevin has the kids every afternoon things will change because than he has to be more of a disciplinarian and just doesn't see them a few hours each day like he is now. It will be a good learning experience for him. All the things the kids do to him they never do to me. They even sneak outside without their jackets to jump on the trampoline.

I am still very frustrated about the whole dentist thing. The real figures come in and it will cost me $5,700 out of pocket to get Amira's teeth done. Well, they can kiss me because I am going to have to keep shopping. Hopefully I will run into a dentist who has mercy on me and understands that I am not growing money on trees.

Would you please pray for Melinda!

My dear friend Melinda has her fourth court date tomorrow. She has been an incredible inspiration to me during the times of waiting because her first court date was right before court closure in ET (July 2008) and tomorrow her beautiful daughter A. will have her fourth court date. Instead of being wimpy and a crybaby like I was at times when my son didn't make court, she stuck like glue to our Lord and said "yes, I am your faithful servant, I will wait until its in your timing". I love you Melinda and I so pray that this court date tomorrow will be in God's favor. HIS timing is so perfect!

GREAT NEWS. Today (Thursday) Adanech has officially become Melinda's daughter. HUGE CONGRATS. God is soooo good. Please click on Melinda and you can see her announcement. Its just beautiful.

Dr. Update from last Friday

Last Friday we went to the childrens' Dr. for their first appointment. The doctor has known of the children since July 2008 and was pretty updated on their health because I would update her as I got updated info from the agency. We must have been at the hospital almost all day. She is just so thorough I am amazed. Being that she is a military Dr. is even more amazing being so thorough. I just love her so much and am so blessed to have her as the childrens' Dr.

Anyways, here is what is going on. For a moment I am going to fast forward to today since I know people get tired of reading long posts so I will put the most important info out first. The kids had their TB tests last Friday and today Biruk tested positive for TB. Amira was fine. We went and Biruk had his chest x-rays but I don't know the results yet. Honestly I am not too concerned that he has TB but I will update as soon as I find out. Even if he does, no biggy. There are bigger things in this world. Update: This just came in as of today. The x-rays are fine and the Dr. said that he is okay. They will give him some meds just in case but he is okay. Yeahh.

They are both pretty healthy except a few spots of ringworm on Biruk. Amira got all kinds of medication especially for her snotty nose. I used to have to wipe her nose at least 4-5 times a day and a thick yellow crust would just sit in there that I would have to literally scrape out. I know Joy can attest to that when she saw her. Now since she has had the meds her nose is already clearing up. She also got some cream for her nose.

The fungus on her head was pretty gross and huge and that hasn't changed much. I just got some lotion for that. It's still pretty fat but not as crusty anymore. I hadn't touched it since I got her but the doctor said it would be okay to scrape the crust of. My dear husband did it for me. He usually does the gross stuff (including cleaning up vomit) and I love him dearly for that. I too easily get grossed out.

They also got all their updated shots and the nurse sucked so much blood out of them it wasn't funny. Amira was lying there for 20 min to get all the blood they needed and Biruk only took 5 min but he screamed the whole time. Maybe it was the excitement that the blood was just streaming out. They said it very normal to take so much blood when kids come home from 3rd world countries just to make sure they test for anything and everything.

My poor Biruk is already so sensitive but since last Friday with all the needles poking and stuff he is even more sensitive. He has been crying so much. He has been needing lots of TLC. I am glad I am still home with them. I try to take care of all the running around with the doctors but pretty much ALL of my time is devoted to bonding with the kids.

They also got a bunch of referrals I need to schedule for the developmental peds, dermatology for Amira huge moloscum under her eye, and a hearing test for her speech.

I hope this post was not too gross.

Pictures

Lisa and I at Kidane. Unfortunately we only spent a few hours together. We were supposed to travel together. I miss her much. She is still in ET. Hopefully she will return next week.

Eden and Amira. This is one of my most favorite pics. I had a chance to love on Eden for Lisa quiet a bit while Lisa was waiting to come to ET. Eden is such a sweatheart. I have grown very fond of her.
Biruk meeting his bed for the first time

Biruk's first night at home sleeping

Amira meeting her bed for the first time

Amira first night sleeping at home