Dr. Appointment Today

I was looking forward to see our beloved Dr. F today to start everything such as thorough exams and referrals.

The examination for Micah went smoothly. He of course has to get numerous stool samples for parasites and other things because of his humongous belly and diarrhea.

Misrak made me cry with her. She was so very upset getting examined it was unreal. It took her at least 30 min to calm down after that. And Dr. F is the most gentle Dr. I have ever met. She is a female too. Definitely some trauma there without getting into it on a public blog.

Than we went on to get the shots and blood draws done and of course the blood they are taking each time is just crazy. Huge amounts. To watch Micah taking all this blood from his tiny body made me sick. They both were extremely upset in there too. Plus they each got 3 immunizations in the legs and arm.

After that we went on to the Radiology department. Dr. F could still hear something in Micah's lungs or wherever something was so she made sure that he got a chest x-ray. It was fine. We also got the bone (wrist) x-ray done to determine his age. That one didn't go off to well on me but I am not going to discuss it until I talk to the endocrinologist about Micah's growth. Now that referral appointment can take some time it being a military hospital.

Misrak more likely will too start her medications soon due to her viral load but Dr. will let me know after she reads the results. Micah's viral load looked really good but he was already on meds anyway. Micah also has a raptured ear drum so he was put on more meds for that. Misrak has a huge mollescum by her neck and other places got infected; she is on antibiotics and got some fungus meds for her head.

Gosh, the kids are already so wonderful, I can't imagine what they will be like when they aren't hurting anymore. They are such troopers. We were at the hospital ALL day today but beyond the crying I was amazed how well they did. Amazing kiddos.

MISRAK

Misrak's adoption was totally meant to be. If any were ever meant to be, this one was. We were not planning to adopt so soon again, but because of Misrak and two special families, we did. Someone was already praying for her before we even signed the papers. Praying that Misrak would find a special family, and I think she did. Special just for us. To say that she was a perfect fit for us is an understatement.

Her soul is so sweet. You can tell by the way she is attaching that she is came to Kidane less than a year ago. She was raised by her dad and many aunts and uncles with several cousins by her side. I met her uncle when I was in ET (Misrak's daddy passed away just 3 months ago) Her Uncle was an amazing godly man, in fact AAI's social worker and her uncle are going to the same church. With that I found out Misrak was in the church choir and by her voice I know because she has such an angelic voice. I cannot wait to get her started on her singing. When we pray at night she prays the same Catholic prayer every night that she learned at Kidane, so cute. When we read our bible stories, I am amazed at how much she knows the stories of the bible and she is teaching me how to say the names in Amharic. That girl loves God so much and she knows for sure who is her Lord and Savior.

It has been so fun being with Misrak all day. She dotes on Micah like she is his mommy. I can just imagine how perfect homeschool material she would be once I start. Actually she follows me around just like Micah too. She is such a helper. After Amira leaves for school, she starts to clean up the room all over again just to make it to her perfection. I can tell that she was left with lots of chores before coming to Kidane just by the way she works. She ask me all day what she can do. Often times I tell her there is nothing else to do and now we MUST PLAY for the rest of the day. So we are playing house and acting like we are in school. Sometimes she is the teacher, sometimes I am. Her maturity blows me away compared to Amira and Biruk. That is why I know she is at least 7. The differences are day and night between them.

I have also noticed she dazes a lot. I am not sure what she is thinking about but I can only imagine she thinks about ET a lot. I had my worries in ET that she would be a horrible eater of the way she was there but since she has been home, she eats great, just like Biruk. So far she has turned down nothing.

In many ways she a lot like Amira but she can also act crazy once she is surrounded by everyone and that is good. She makes such wonderful sibling. She is definitely is a girly girl. She loves her dolls and pretty pink clothes.

She is also so ready for school but we have decided to keep her home since school is out in 3 weeks. In the fall she will start 1st grade with Amira and Biruk; they will be known as the triplets. I will keep them all in separate classes so no one has to shadow over one. Her English is still very limited but she understands pretty much everything. Whatever I teach her she remembers. Her brain just picks up super fast.

I am not looking forward to going back to work so soon because I am enjoying these children so very much. I guess I will have to s0ak in every minute that I can and be thankful for the full days we have together right now.

I am in awe every day how blessed I am. Blessed to be the mother of 6 amazing children. Simply unreal to believe. So blessed.

My brain is fried right now, but I am hoping to write much more about the new kiddos as it comes to mind.

First night home!!

Micah the Toddler

Having been with Micah for nearly 2 weeks I can say without a shadow of my doubt that this little guy IS NOT almost 5, 5 this November. No doubt he is really smart and knows a lot but there are SO MANY things this guy does that are outrageous like a toddler, like a 3 y old. For instance he will play with the dog food, annoy the children and just break their stuff, he is constantly up to something, really mischief. It might have been because he has been with the babies a lot while at Ahope.

Regardless, I am just saying this because I am so super happy he has joined our family. Having a toddler sheds a whole different light on the family dynamics. I also have to lay down with him for naptime until he falls asleep and often times he wakes up at night, I lay with him again but usually after 5 he is up and I just bring him in my bed so we sort of co-sleeping.

He is most certainly feisty. He almost reminds me of evil knevil (sp). Sometimes I have to watch him not to jump of really high places so he doesn't brake his bones. He'll try to jump of whatever he can as long as he can climb it. Mainly he is so far a mama's boy and attached to my hip. Kevin thinks I am spoiling him but I don't want to deprive him from love. He just wants to be cuddled and loved so much and he is so easy to love. Micah and I actually have been spending a lot of time together while Kevin takes the 3 older ones for bike rides and stuff.

I wished I could video tape him. Just the one picture below cracks me up because Micah is also so independent. He washes his own hands but as you can see he almost calls into the sink. Same when he goes to the bathroom. His buttocks has fallen into the water many times but he is determined to go on a big people toilet. He is just such a joy and crack up!

Next time I write about Misrak.

He loves to take a bath. Not so the first night.

He always sits on the counters when I am cooking or preparing something.
Trying to wash his hands. Look how his feet dangling off the chair.

He just smacked the dog in the head. But the dog was nice to him.

Always climbing and climbing and jumping off!

Getting ready for Church:(

Today I realized that I totally underestimated my time when we got ready for church. We were like 30 minutes late. Although I was already the mother of 4, being the mother of 6 now and getting 5 ready for church was not joke. Every day I keep thinking of some of my dear friends with large families and I am in awe on how they do it. Frankly it was quiet stressful so the next time we have to get up an extra hour early. I have to get Anastasia ready too you know, she is just like one of the little kiddos... Anyways, this picture below was after church, they didn't look that cheerful before we all left. I asked them for forgiveness for being so pushy this morning and told them the next time we will be more prepared. Micah went with the preschoolers and did very well without his sibs. Misrak obviously was super comfortable because she had Amira and Biruk.

Dentist

First off Micah has a full blown ear infection so he was put on another dose of antibiotics. And whatever is coming out of his ear smells really bad. We are not seeing the main Dr. until 5/21.

Today we had the dentist appointment. Misrak for sure is at least 7 the dentist said and has several cavities but her teeth are still in much better shape than Micah. Many of her teeth are already her adult teeth.

Micah's teeth a in really bad shape. Just as bad as Amira's if not worse. Every single one of his teeth is rotten. The dentist will schedule surgery next month at the hospital just like she did with Amira. The bad thing is she cannot just jank Micah's teeth out because he has much longer to go than Amira does for his new teeth to come in. So extra money for crowns. Misrak will go too, the Dr thinks it will be less traumatic for her since she has a lot of cavities so we will do it all in one day.

Ughh I am dreading this dentist bill but oh well, that's life.

Otherwise, things are really really good. I just can't wait to get started on Micah and figure out what's wrong with his growth.

How Are Things?

Everything is great so far. The jet lag was not an issue since I have dealt with jet lag for many years even with Ana and Danica. I just keep them up all day until it is evening and they fall asleep dead tired. Micah wants me to Lay down with him during nap time and at night. He still wakes up at night but more just because he is looking for me.

We are definitely in the getting to know stages. I am amazed by how much Misrak knows school wise. I think that she is much older than her birth certificate says. More like 7+. She is very mature and a big thinker. She always wants to help and is very nurturing. Misrak can already count to 100, do her plus and minus and knows her letters and spelling. I need to see where she is with her reading. So for sure she will make it into 1st grade with Biruk and Amira this fall for sure. We have decided not to have her start school since its out in a little over a month.


Micah is always, always happy and makes everyone laugh. He is very attached to me. He is such a love bug. Just like Amira was, I think Micah is my sickly child. He, just like Amira is on 3 medications already. He has a stinky, pussy fluid running out of his ear all day long. Our Dr. appt is not until 5/21. This Thursday both kids will have their first dentist appt. Micah has really bad teeth.. Mouth full of cavities, Misrak's teeth look great. Both of their mouth seem to get really sore when they are eating.

So everything seems good for the moment.

Meeting the Children

I have been extremely blessed this time to not have received the kids in a drive by. In fact it was picture perfect. We first went to AHope to get Micah, than we went over to Layla to pick up the children for another family and than we went back to the guesthouse. I had a chance to wash Micah up and get him all clean. Than about 2 hours later we went to Kidane and picked up Misrak. Micah was really cracking me up because he was super possessive over me from the moment I met him. At Ahope and Kidane. When I met Misrak, he gave me the oompi shoulder shrug and wasn't talking to me for about an hour:)

HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just got home yesterday at noon. Will post more later.... Trying to breathe in every moment I have with my family!!!!!!

ALMOST THERE

Two more nights of sleep by myself and I will see my kids and hold them forever and ever. I am super happy I don't have to go through the East Coast again. I just have to change planes once, that's it. Using the East cost connection is grueling because it adds an additional 6 hours to your travel. You would think that being born and raised in Germany but having lived here for 25 years I would have flown Lufthansa just ones visiting my family .. Nope never in my whole life. This will be my first time. I am so excited I get to speak German with the flight attendants. Unfortunately I won't be able to meet my mom and sisters at the airport in Frankfurt since I had to be in ET Saturday night.

My plane leaves tomorrow at 2:00pm and returns May 8 at 11:25am. I just have one layover with the kids that will be super easy. After I am posting this I doubt I'll post anything until I return but who knows maybe there will be a little electricity at the guesthouse... We will see.

I have pre-cooked and baked for my family so they can feel my love when I am away. Amira and Biruk are pretty sad but they are kids and I bet they get over before I return. Kevin is such a good daddy and he keeps them laughing. I think they would be much more depressed without their daddy:) My special needs Anastasia has been following me around the house non stop for a week now so I know she is taking this really hard. She loves her mama.

Thanks to the special ladies praying over my flight and time in ET. I really so much appreciate it. Who would have ever thought in a million that I would return to ET so soon; because of one special family that made this adoption possible.

Butterflies and Anxiety

First off would you think I be packed by now?? Nope. All I can think about is getting on that plane to get my kids. I have been so disorganized. Instead of packing here I am at the computer. Okay my babies are already sleeping. I have had the kids packed for weeks but I keep re-packing the other suitcase. I have a feeling I am going to forget a lot. But as I told a friend, as long as I have all the embassy papers and my money, I should be good to go:) I have the biggest butterflies right now. I felt the same when I picked up Biruk and Amira and when I was reunited with Kevin after he came back from his war in Saudi Arabia.

Then I start to get anxiety and dreams because I sort of know what to expect this time around. Luckily I don't think the new kids are going to be buck wild like Biruk and Amira were. #1 one because I am not bringing home 2 x 4 y/olds and #2 because they don't know each other.

I sort of feel sad for Misrak and Micah that they don't know each other. When Sister Lutgerda from Kidane found out I was adopting B and A, she immediately told them they are brother and sister so 5 months before I got there, they knew they would go home together, even though they were not related by blood. When they found out they were going together, they were inseparable from that day forward. Every picture I gotten of them one was always near in the picture.

I also am worried when they come home they came single and therefore they have so much grieving going on.

Okay Andrea, everything will be fine.. I really hope I can post from there to keep you all updated.

Lastly my biggest concern is that I don't get my kids in a drive by like I did A and B.

This is the only time they met. How awkward.

Biruk turns 6

Happy Birthday Biruk. My first son turned 6 today. Just yesterday Kevin and I decided to change birthday traditions starting with Biruk, starting now. When Danica was growing up we always had huge parties, sort of competing with the Jones. I convinced Kevin that this was a waste of money and effort. We will have 4 little kids' birthday parties per year, plus Xmas, too much. I explained to him how big families often celebrate their kids' birthdays even though we are not considered big, yet:) I also felt that this would be a good time for bonding with one parent.

Biruk got to have breakfast away from home with mom or dad. He chose his daddy of course. Afterwards they went to the store and he chose his birthday gift. He got a remote control truck. Then he got to chose his favorite dinner. I made him chicken enchiladas and noodle salad. We had cake and ice cream and just a special day. Biruk felt very special today especially for having a special date with his daddy.

Next birthday is right around the corner, Misrak, June 6.

Thank you

Thank you Laci and Sergio for pics of my beloved Misrak. You have no idea how much I appreciate this. This adoption has been really weird when it comes to pics because I have been flooded with pics of Micah (totally appreciate those too) but I had just so few of Misrak. She looks amazing and so happy. Her eyes are glowing and mesmerizing. Sergio told Misrak that I would be on my way really soon but also that we are all friends and live close together. Micah of course is his perky, happy self my little stinker.

Also to all the mamas that were loving on Micah, I love you!

Thanks Sergio

look at those eyes

Thanks Amy

Thanks Bonnie

Thanks Andrea

Thank you Bonnie's husband

And thank you Signe for running to both orphanages to get pics for me when you picked up Marta.

YEAHHHHHHHHHH

I am sure by seeing my subject you can imagine what's going on. We were told today that our papers got in just for the 5/3 embassy date. I didn't know but the embassy extended the agency an additonal 2 days to get papers in because normally we are being heard on Wednesdays but this time the embassy appt is Monday because that Wednesday is a holiday in ET. So look to the right and as you can see by my ticker, I will leave in 1 week and 3 days. I will leave here on Friday, 4/30 and return on May 8, Saturday, one day before Mother's Day. Wow, I am soooooooooooooooooooooooooooo Happy Today.... I am counting down the days.

Oh and talking about being under the gun now, yes. But that's fine, I work better under stress rather be it at work or at home so that right in my aisle. I will get everything done before I leave and if I don't that's okay too.

On a side note, Amira is already super sad, she is really attached to me so I hope she will be okay. Off to finishing cooking my dinner. Just wanted to let you all know right away.

Nothing today

Well for those of you who are anxiously waiting with me, I have nothing to tell you.. I did not get an email or a call today. All I know is that today would have been the last day they needed to turn in all the papers to the American embassy since the embassy date moved up to 5/3 and not 5/5 (5/5 is an Ethiopian holiday).

Anyways, the weekend wasn't very eventful, my mind was in ET and now its even more in ET. My patience is running thinner by the minute. Thanks for checking in.

Why Adoption? Because its better than Childbirth:)

Unice Imani (Liberia)

Juan Antonio (Guatemala)

Benson (Zambia)

Our adoption journey started just about 4 years ago. Adoption has changed me from a worldly, selfish, nagging, over the head in debt person to a nothing but humble humane being that wants to bring home more and more kids or do more for these precious children every day and encourage the world to adopt. When people say: The kids are blessed! No: We are blessed!

Today I am glad my journey has passed so many children but they all left something in my heart and also finally brought me to Amira and Biruk.

I started out in 2006 when I went on my mission trip to Guatemala. I met an amazing boy named Juan Antonio who was 8 years old. This adoption never worked out because when I started the process for 3 month his mom came back after having him left for over 3 years at the orphanage and never visited.

In 2007 we were lead to domestic adoption through the foster system but soon were shut down because of Anastasia's Autism and her past. So can't say I never tried domestic (their loss)

That same year I went to Zambia. There I met Benson, a 10 year old boy who lived with me for 3 week at a hotel I was with 3 other families and than UNICEF and the Zambian government decided that adoption is not legal in Zambia and came and ripped all the children from us saying we were trafficking and adoption was never allowed. I think this one was the most painful thing in my adoption journey. I returned home empty handed. Today I still miss Benson deeply and if I have to be honest, he will probably be the one I see in our home one day, even if he is 18.

Than finally 2008 was pretty crazy:

In January I signed up with a Liberia adoption agency and shortly after I received my referral for a 5 year old girl. But that happiness quickly vanished when I found out adoptions were on hold and might not ever happen again in a long time. Haha they still on hold today.

Then I received a infant referral from my homestudy guy. The girl (14 y/o) was due in a month. She was expecting a baby boy. After meeting her and lots of prayer and Kevin feeling just not right about it we declined just weeks before the baby was born because we felt she would not give us her baby and keep it.

Finally in May of 2008 we signed up for Amira and Biruk. By that time, everyone had told me I lost my mind and need to go in the crazy house. My dear husband couldn't take anymore and said "baby how much more money are we giving away, I can't take it anymore"!? I begged him and begged him and said "Honey, I promise this is the last time". I didn't feel that God told me to stop yet. Many people asked me if I was so desperate to have a child that I needed to adopt HIV children. Let me tell you, God orchestrated it so ridiculously clearly it wasn't even funny. Every little detail that this was the way we needed to go. Now we are blessed to have 2 more positive kids coming home very soon.

If I had to do it all over again I would. Losing massive amounts of money and many many many sleepless nights but it was all worth it. I'd rather have a tiny house, a little food to eat and lots of adopted children than all the riches in the world, because today adoption has changed me to the person God wanted me to be. I am finally home:)