Well, Nick pulled another all-nighter! He decided to quit tossing and turning and took the computer downstairs to finish up his presentation for Saturday and chat with whoever was on line. He ran into his friend Benjamin in the bar and he made Nick 3 coffees by the time he came back to the room. The coffee here is good and very strong. Needless to say, Nick was buzzing and got his whole presentation done. He came back to the room at 3:30 am and unfortunately neither of us fell back to sleep. Yikealo decided to play “let’s kick mom all night long”. So much for hugging and snuggling. He is definitely sleeping in his own bed in his own room when we get home.
At 6:00 am Yikealo woke up and we all snuggled for 45 min. I got up and showered so we could go get some breakfast. As we walked out of the dining hall we were informed by the front desk that we needed to change rooms. Apparently they needed to spray our current room for cockroaches and the stuff would smell bad. I hadn’t seen any, but they must be there. They wanted to move us to a back, end room, but I refused and asked politely for a front room with better internet connection. They agreed and we were off to pack. I decided to organize our bags for tomorrow so we are basically packed to go now.
After getting rescheduled we decided to check with the front desk about getting a taxi to take a three hour tour of the city. I had gotten permission from the director of Hannah’s Hope on Monday to do this to allow us to show Yikealo a little of the city as he was old enough to appreciate it. We were not supposed to get out of the taxi was the only stipulation. A dear friend had suggested to get lots of pictures for Yikealo later on and we had not done a great job of this as of yet. This allowed us to get many pictures and see the wide variety of wealth and poverty within the city.
We got back in time for lunch. Yikealo ate the buffet and Nick and I ordered our usual, French fries and a large water. The ride and early rise or lack of sleep depending on who I am talking about, did us all in and we returned to our room for a nap. Yikealo and I woke up after an hour or so. Nick was still sleeping hard. I think he is trying to stay more on US time. I took Yikealo out to play to allow Nick to sleep some more.
Yikealo wanted to go find his friend one floor up. The boys had a great time with playdoo. Then they found a sticker book. Yikealo’s friend loves to put stickers all over his face. It was so cute and the bigger the sticker the better. In the end, there was not a part of his face not covered in airplane stickers. One of the best parts of the boys playing together is hearing them chatter with each other. Since Yikealo’s English is not really developed, he is pretty quiet with us. The boys are from the same region, so they speak the same dialect ( 1 of 80 in Ethiopia). It is so fun to hear them chatter with one another. I know that is something he will lose quickly once home as there is no one to talk with him. I tried video taping it to capture some of it. I only hope the volume comes across good. Nick would be the first to tell you I am not the best when it comes to computer/electronic issues so I had no idea how to turn the volume up.
The boys were getting pretty rowdy in the room so we took them outside to kick a ball around. The back alley has been great to get out and get some fresh air. It is also shaded by the surrounding buildings so it offers relief from our way-too-hot rooms. After 3 ½ hours, Nick finally woke up and joined our fun outside.
At 6 pm we went down for supper. The boys ate the buffet again and the adults (that weren’t puking or recovering from puking) had the usual French fries. One dad decided to cut his losses and not eat at all as he was concerned about getting sick before the flight tomorrow as so many in our group have taken their turns worshipping the porcelain god. Nick and I have been fortunate so far, so please pray that our luck keeps us in the clear for the next 24 hours here and 27 hours en route home.
We are relaxing in our room tonight, me working on this post and Nick and Yikealo watching a movie. I’m sure Yikealo does not understand much but he intently watches anyway. I wonder if he had much exposure to tv before entering Hannah’s hope last October. Hopefully we will get a good night sleep tonight.
Tomorrow we pick up final paperwork in the late morning and then hang out at the hotel until we fly out in the evening. We are all very much ready to leave. We have been since we picked the kids up Sunday. The week has been long, but has allowed much bonding time with our kids that would have been interrupted with the busyness of our lives back home. We are anxious to get home and start our new life as a family of 8! Please pray also for our flights over the next two days that we can get much rest and arrive home safely to our other kids. Thanks for sharing this journey with us!
.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Embassy Date - Tuesday, February 22nd, 2011
Today started early again for Nick and I. After Nick’s big nap yesterday, he hardly slept a wink last night. I got up after midnight and tried skyping with the kids without any luck. I woke up at 5 ish and Y started rolling around 5:40 am when he came searching for his momma again and wrapped his arms around me and held my face next to his. I tried moving my face away a few times to get a little air, but he quickly pulled me close again. He sure knows how to get to me.
Breakfast would have been good, but the dining hall wasn’t opened yet so we snacked on granola bars, beef jerky, and chocolate. I know not really healthy, but what do you do. We eventually got ready and went down for breakfast. Yikealo looked so sharp in his dress shirt and dress pants. He would have preferred his jeans.
After breakfast, I went shopping with the other moms and the dads stayed at the hotel with the kids. A few in our travel group got sick en route. We all are so ready to just get on that plane and come home. It is so hard to run into all the street people begging for food and money. They tell they have no food and that they live in the streets. I am sure it is so true, but we can’t save everyone here. If we gave out money to one person, we would be mobbed. I had no food with me either, so I just had to tell them I was so sorry and keep walking. That is so hard to do.
We made it back in time to get a quick snack and change Yikealo and Nick out of their long sleeve shirts into t shirts. It was too hot to be so formal. Our agency was picking us up at noon and said we would be back by 5:30. We were hoping it wouldn’t really take that long. We did not get lunch as the dining hall doesn’t open til noon when we were scheduled to leave. We are so typical Americans. We sat and complained because we would not get lunch, yet here we are in a country where many may not get food all day many days.
We made it to the US Embassy and it was by far one of the nicer places in Addis. Even the benches inside were granite. Seemed like such a waste in such a poor country. We sat down and within 10 minutes they called our number. We had to approach the window and answer a few questions for the man behind the glass. He said we were all done. The adoption was final and Yikealo would enter the US as a US Citizen. We would not be able to come back and get his papers and passport until Thursday after 10 am. Nick was still trying to figure out how we could fly out Wednesday, but that statement confirmed we won’t be able to leave before Thursday evening.
Yikealo and Nick both fell asleep on the bus on the way back to the hotel. We went up to our room and both boys fell asleep in no time. I tried, but tossed more than anything as the room is so hot. If you are reading this and are still to come for Embassy, bring shorts or capris for in the hotel as you are here way too much. I tried skyping the kids before school, but was not successful. It will be so good to finally be home at the end of the week.
By 5:20 pm we were starving. Nick suggested we just go down anyway and see if they would allow us to eat. The dining hall was scheduled to open at 6 pm. They agreed to let us eat as long as we ordered off the menu as the buffet was not ready until 6 pm. That was ok with us. We had one of the ladies in the restaurant ask Yikealo what he wanted to eat as we are having a tough time figuring that part out. He ordered a traditional beef tibs with injera (the pancake like bread they eat the beef with). It came with onions, green peppers, and tomato slices. Yikealo actually ate the trimmings before he ate the meat. He won’t eat any fruit for me, but he ate peppers and onions. Go figure! A few others from our travel group joined us. Yikealo’s friend ordered the same as him and all the adults ordered French fries with ketchup. I can’t wait for the Producer’s Meeting on Saturday and some real great food. I will sneak Yikealo and I into the kitchen and back out that door if I have too!
We played a little more before retreating to our room for the evening. Nick had to work on his presentation for the meeting Saturday and Yikealo and I read an I Spy book before going to bed around 8:20 pm. Another day down and another day closer to America!!!!!!!!!!!
Breakfast would have been good, but the dining hall wasn’t opened yet so we snacked on granola bars, beef jerky, and chocolate. I know not really healthy, but what do you do. We eventually got ready and went down for breakfast. Yikealo looked so sharp in his dress shirt and dress pants. He would have preferred his jeans.
After breakfast, I went shopping with the other moms and the dads stayed at the hotel with the kids. A few in our travel group got sick en route. We all are so ready to just get on that plane and come home. It is so hard to run into all the street people begging for food and money. They tell they have no food and that they live in the streets. I am sure it is so true, but we can’t save everyone here. If we gave out money to one person, we would be mobbed. I had no food with me either, so I just had to tell them I was so sorry and keep walking. That is so hard to do.
We made it back in time to get a quick snack and change Yikealo and Nick out of their long sleeve shirts into t shirts. It was too hot to be so formal. Our agency was picking us up at noon and said we would be back by 5:30. We were hoping it wouldn’t really take that long. We did not get lunch as the dining hall doesn’t open til noon when we were scheduled to leave. We are so typical Americans. We sat and complained because we would not get lunch, yet here we are in a country where many may not get food all day many days.
We made it to the US Embassy and it was by far one of the nicer places in Addis. Even the benches inside were granite. Seemed like such a waste in such a poor country. We sat down and within 10 minutes they called our number. We had to approach the window and answer a few questions for the man behind the glass. He said we were all done. The adoption was final and Yikealo would enter the US as a US Citizen. We would not be able to come back and get his papers and passport until Thursday after 10 am. Nick was still trying to figure out how we could fly out Wednesday, but that statement confirmed we won’t be able to leave before Thursday evening.
Yikealo and Nick both fell asleep on the bus on the way back to the hotel. We went up to our room and both boys fell asleep in no time. I tried, but tossed more than anything as the room is so hot. If you are reading this and are still to come for Embassy, bring shorts or capris for in the hotel as you are here way too much. I tried skyping the kids before school, but was not successful. It will be so good to finally be home at the end of the week.
By 5:20 pm we were starving. Nick suggested we just go down anyway and see if they would allow us to eat. The dining hall was scheduled to open at 6 pm. They agreed to let us eat as long as we ordered off the menu as the buffet was not ready until 6 pm. That was ok with us. We had one of the ladies in the restaurant ask Yikealo what he wanted to eat as we are having a tough time figuring that part out. He ordered a traditional beef tibs with injera (the pancake like bread they eat the beef with). It came with onions, green peppers, and tomato slices. Yikealo actually ate the trimmings before he ate the meat. He won’t eat any fruit for me, but he ate peppers and onions. Go figure! A few others from our travel group joined us. Yikealo’s friend ordered the same as him and all the adults ordered French fries with ketchup. I can’t wait for the Producer’s Meeting on Saturday and some real great food. I will sneak Yikealo and I into the kitchen and back out that door if I have too!
We played a little more before retreating to our room for the evening. Nick had to work on his presentation for the meeting Saturday and Yikealo and I read an I Spy book before going to bed around 8:20 pm. Another day down and another day closer to America!!!!!!!!!!!
February 21st, 2011
Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday dear Nick! Happy birthday to you!
After typing yesterday’s events at midnight, we did not get much sleep. Unusual for Nick is that he was the one who didn’t sleep. He basically has not sleep 8 hours since Thursday morning. Y woke up at 5 am. Wow! It has been a long day. We went down for breakfast early and then waited around to go to Hannah’s Hope this morning to go over the details for tomorrow’s Embassy appointment. I made sure Y knew we were going to play with his friends and that he would return to the hotel with us. He seemed to understand and welcomed the opportunity to ride in the van again.
We have learned to go with the flow here as usually the drivers are 30 – 45 minutes late. They made up for it today and showed up 40 minutes early. Thank goodness we were ready to go. Y didn’t seem real interested in playing with the kids or visiting with the special mothers. He seems to understand that his time there is done and he has moved on.
I asked the director about his eye and she confirmed Y did in fact have pink eye. She gave me some drops to use. I am so glad to get started on cleaning it up. While putting those first drops in, Y told her that they had been putting drops in, but apparently no one gave me the meds when we left. Hopefully, we will have that cleared up soon.
We got back to the hotel at 11 am and were starved. Lunch, however, was not available til noon. We went up to the room where Nick immediately feel asleep. I put a Word World video in and snuggled up with Y on the bed. We snacked on a few nuts to satisfy our hunger. I sure hope he isn’t allergic to peanuts.
At noon, Y and I went down to eat and we left Nick sleeping. We brought Nick back our left over pasta. He got up and ate some and went back to sleep. Y and I played all day and eventually went outside where we were relieved to find a nice cool breeze in the back alley. Our room is literally roasting. Boy North Dakota is going to be a shock!
Nick eventually woke up at 5:30 pm and came outside with us for a bit before we went to supper. We ordered Y some fish and mashed potatoes. Nick and I shared an order of French fries. Boy I can’t wait to get some good American food. Y was tired after supper so we went to our room and watched a video again until turning the lights out at 9:15 pm.
Y fell asleep with his arm wrapped around my neck with his face in my face. It was not the most comfortable, but I didn’t care. It seems as if my little boy is attaching to me and that is all that mattered to this momma.
After typing yesterday’s events at midnight, we did not get much sleep. Unusual for Nick is that he was the one who didn’t sleep. He basically has not sleep 8 hours since Thursday morning. Y woke up at 5 am. Wow! It has been a long day. We went down for breakfast early and then waited around to go to Hannah’s Hope this morning to go over the details for tomorrow’s Embassy appointment. I made sure Y knew we were going to play with his friends and that he would return to the hotel with us. He seemed to understand and welcomed the opportunity to ride in the van again.
We have learned to go with the flow here as usually the drivers are 30 – 45 minutes late. They made up for it today and showed up 40 minutes early. Thank goodness we were ready to go. Y didn’t seem real interested in playing with the kids or visiting with the special mothers. He seems to understand that his time there is done and he has moved on.
I asked the director about his eye and she confirmed Y did in fact have pink eye. She gave me some drops to use. I am so glad to get started on cleaning it up. While putting those first drops in, Y told her that they had been putting drops in, but apparently no one gave me the meds when we left. Hopefully, we will have that cleared up soon.
We got back to the hotel at 11 am and were starved. Lunch, however, was not available til noon. We went up to the room where Nick immediately feel asleep. I put a Word World video in and snuggled up with Y on the bed. We snacked on a few nuts to satisfy our hunger. I sure hope he isn’t allergic to peanuts.
At noon, Y and I went down to eat and we left Nick sleeping. We brought Nick back our left over pasta. He got up and ate some and went back to sleep. Y and I played all day and eventually went outside where we were relieved to find a nice cool breeze in the back alley. Our room is literally roasting. Boy North Dakota is going to be a shock!
Nick eventually woke up at 5:30 pm and came outside with us for a bit before we went to supper. We ordered Y some fish and mashed potatoes. Nick and I shared an order of French fries. Boy I can’t wait to get some good American food. Y was tired after supper so we went to our room and watched a video again until turning the lights out at 9:15 pm.
Y fell asleep with his arm wrapped around my neck with his face in my face. It was not the most comfortable, but I didn’t care. It seems as if my little boy is attaching to me and that is all that mattered to this momma.
Gotcha Day - February 20th, 2011
After tossing and turning all night, we finally got up at 6:45 to shower and get ready for the day. Nick once again tried to get internet access which was sketchy at best. We went down for breakfast and ran into friends who arrived yesterday and had their sweet baby girl with them. It was around 8:30 am and 11 am was not coming fast enough. We ate and another family came with their 5 year old son. He and Y had come into Hannah’s Hope together. Seeing his smiling face made me even more anxious.
We finished up eating and went to sit in the lobby and attempt to get on the internet again. Not much luck! You need to have lots of patience in a third world country. We people watched, visited with other families, and greeted the remaining two families in our travel group when they arrived at 9:30 am. Wass the driver for HH showed up and I asked if we could go with him. He was there to pick up a family here on trip 1. We were told no. We have to stick to the schedule.
It was finally 11 and Wass came back for us and the two families that had arrived that morning. When the van pulled into the court yard, Y was there waiting. The kids all called his name. They must tell them who is coming. He came running over to the van all smiles. Nick and I were trapped in the back of the van and could not get out fast enough. I opened the window and stuck my hand out to grab his. Man I missed that sweet smile of his. I can’t wait to show you his great smile on Tuesday.
It was hugs all around for both of us. We told him how much we loved him and missed him. Nick asked if he was ready to go to America and he giggled and said yes! We hung out with him for about two hours. They must have kept a bunch of the other kids away as there were many familiar faces missing. It perhaps was nap time and they had already been put down. Y was fed lunch and we left shortly after.
Y seems to have gotten a cold since we were here last. His one eye is quite red too. I didn’t bring anything for pink eye. Can’t remember if it will go away on its own or if we need meds. Will have to play it by ear this week and maybe arrange to get some if we can as we won’t be back in Bismarck until after all is closed for the weekend. There doesn’t seem to be a lot of matter so maybe just related to the cold and his nose is running none stop. We have started him on a probiotic and I had airborne packs I am putting in water to try and boost his immunity.
When we got back to the hotel, we gave him a bath and changed his clothes. I had sweatpants picked out and he said no. He was looking for jeans. I hadn’t seen him in jeans in any pictures or the whole trip 1 so maybe he was finally ready to wear some. He is a skinny little bugger. The 5T slims I bought are definitely the right length, but they are very cinched. Good thing for adjustable waist bands.
Y checked out the room and pushed the button for the tv. He will fit right in. Nick turned to a car building show and we all relaxed. I think Nick was secretly hoping for a nap, but that never happened. At the end of the show, we decided to take his little remote control car and go out back to the alley (the only place outside the hotel we are allowed to take the kids). Other families were already there including his little buddy. They played with their cars and had a great time. They were talking nonstop. The both probably felt like “finally someone I can talk to that understands what I am saying”.
As good as the fries were last time, a whole week of them was too much to think about. The men decided to take a taxi to the Italian Restaurant we ate at last trip and get some food. Y and I went up to the room and watched a couple of videos we had brought. His friend eventually joined us. They got bored with the movies after a bit and so I took out a bag of blocks I had packed. I had to show them how to build towers with them. Some of the blocks were alphabet blocks and Y knew most all of them. He seems to have his colors down too.
The guys finally made it back with food. We were all starving. Since Y ate at HH before we took him, Nick and I skipped lunch so as to not have him think he needed to eat twice and overeat. Nick brought back 4 pizzas for us. He wanted extra for the fridge for the rest of the week. Good thing too because it is 11:50 pm as I am typing this and we are starved – pizza snack and I hear Nick getting into the chocolates as well. I am typing in the dark as Y is sound asleep. Y wasn’t quite sure about pizza. He only ate 1 piece.
After dinner we relaxed some more and anxiously awaited the time we could find the kids and skype with them. We found Nick’s sister Sadie on line and chatted with her a few minutes. She was sweet enough to drive from Fargo to Casselton where the kids are with Grandpa and Grandma to bring them her laptop so we could skype. Got to love family. In the meantime, we found Grandma Marly online and introduced her to Y. We eventually found Kaitlyn at our friend’s house. She is so lonely for her brother that it brought her to tears to see him again and hear him call her name. Their camera wasn’t working for us to see her but you could hear the tears in her voice. Sweet Kaitlyn. We finally connected with the three little girls. They were all so very excited to see him and hear his voice.
We had a short visit and then had to call it a night. Y was ready for bed at 7. We got to bed by 8pm and he was out like a light. I think we were too for an hour or so. Then we woke up and to our shock only two hours had passed. We are unable to sleep so here I am typing in a word document which I will post in the morning when we go downstairs.
If you are still reading, sorry this is so lengthy. I want to document this for Y someday so probably more details then you wanted. Probably better get some sleep before Y wakes up and is ready to play. Thanks for taking this journey with us and including us in your prayers. Friday can’t come quick enough for us. We just want to be home and have the whole family under one roof. We miss our other kids so much. Thank you to all those standing in the gap for us with our other kids while we are gone. You are all the best!
We finished up eating and went to sit in the lobby and attempt to get on the internet again. Not much luck! You need to have lots of patience in a third world country. We people watched, visited with other families, and greeted the remaining two families in our travel group when they arrived at 9:30 am. Wass the driver for HH showed up and I asked if we could go with him. He was there to pick up a family here on trip 1. We were told no. We have to stick to the schedule.
It was finally 11 and Wass came back for us and the two families that had arrived that morning. When the van pulled into the court yard, Y was there waiting. The kids all called his name. They must tell them who is coming. He came running over to the van all smiles. Nick and I were trapped in the back of the van and could not get out fast enough. I opened the window and stuck my hand out to grab his. Man I missed that sweet smile of his. I can’t wait to show you his great smile on Tuesday.
It was hugs all around for both of us. We told him how much we loved him and missed him. Nick asked if he was ready to go to America and he giggled and said yes! We hung out with him for about two hours. They must have kept a bunch of the other kids away as there were many familiar faces missing. It perhaps was nap time and they had already been put down. Y was fed lunch and we left shortly after.
Y seems to have gotten a cold since we were here last. His one eye is quite red too. I didn’t bring anything for pink eye. Can’t remember if it will go away on its own or if we need meds. Will have to play it by ear this week and maybe arrange to get some if we can as we won’t be back in Bismarck until after all is closed for the weekend. There doesn’t seem to be a lot of matter so maybe just related to the cold and his nose is running none stop. We have started him on a probiotic and I had airborne packs I am putting in water to try and boost his immunity.
When we got back to the hotel, we gave him a bath and changed his clothes. I had sweatpants picked out and he said no. He was looking for jeans. I hadn’t seen him in jeans in any pictures or the whole trip 1 so maybe he was finally ready to wear some. He is a skinny little bugger. The 5T slims I bought are definitely the right length, but they are very cinched. Good thing for adjustable waist bands.
Y checked out the room and pushed the button for the tv. He will fit right in. Nick turned to a car building show and we all relaxed. I think Nick was secretly hoping for a nap, but that never happened. At the end of the show, we decided to take his little remote control car and go out back to the alley (the only place outside the hotel we are allowed to take the kids). Other families were already there including his little buddy. They played with their cars and had a great time. They were talking nonstop. The both probably felt like “finally someone I can talk to that understands what I am saying”.
As good as the fries were last time, a whole week of them was too much to think about. The men decided to take a taxi to the Italian Restaurant we ate at last trip and get some food. Y and I went up to the room and watched a couple of videos we had brought. His friend eventually joined us. They got bored with the movies after a bit and so I took out a bag of blocks I had packed. I had to show them how to build towers with them. Some of the blocks were alphabet blocks and Y knew most all of them. He seems to have his colors down too.
The guys finally made it back with food. We were all starving. Since Y ate at HH before we took him, Nick and I skipped lunch so as to not have him think he needed to eat twice and overeat. Nick brought back 4 pizzas for us. He wanted extra for the fridge for the rest of the week. Good thing too because it is 11:50 pm as I am typing this and we are starved – pizza snack and I hear Nick getting into the chocolates as well. I am typing in the dark as Y is sound asleep. Y wasn’t quite sure about pizza. He only ate 1 piece.
After dinner we relaxed some more and anxiously awaited the time we could find the kids and skype with them. We found Nick’s sister Sadie on line and chatted with her a few minutes. She was sweet enough to drive from Fargo to Casselton where the kids are with Grandpa and Grandma to bring them her laptop so we could skype. Got to love family. In the meantime, we found Grandma Marly online and introduced her to Y. We eventually found Kaitlyn at our friend’s house. She is so lonely for her brother that it brought her to tears to see him again and hear him call her name. Their camera wasn’t working for us to see her but you could hear the tears in her voice. Sweet Kaitlyn. We finally connected with the three little girls. They were all so very excited to see him and hear his voice.
We had a short visit and then had to call it a night. Y was ready for bed at 7. We got to bed by 8pm and he was out like a light. I think we were too for an hour or so. Then we woke up and to our shock only two hours had passed. We are unable to sleep so here I am typing in a word document which I will post in the morning when we go downstairs.
If you are still reading, sorry this is so lengthy. I want to document this for Y someday so probably more details then you wanted. Probably better get some sleep before Y wakes up and is ready to play. Thanks for taking this journey with us and including us in your prayers. Friday can’t come quick enough for us. We just want to be home and have the whole family under one roof. We miss our other kids so much. Thank you to all those standing in the gap for us with our other kids while we are gone. You are all the best!
Travel Days - Friday and Saturday Feb 18th and 19th
Travel Days – Friday and Saturday
Friday, February 18, we were off once again to Ethiopia and this time to bring our son home! With only four days between booking tickets and flying out, our options were very limited this time. I think we got the last two tickets out of Bismarck on our flight. Spring break is not a good time to try and get tickets at the last minute.
We traveled alone this time. Kaitlyn begged up until the time we left to take her back. She so badly missed her little brother and the people from Africa that she had grown to love on our last trip. Our other traveling companions from trip one could not get on our flight, so they ended up on a different airline a day earlier.
Nick was at peace this trip, while I was a bit more anxious. It was the mother in me kicking in and I so badly just wanted to pick my little boy up in my arms and never have to leave him again. OK maybe not until he becomes a teenager. Our flights went off smoothly and I even managed to sleep about half of the third leg which made the trip faster.
We got into Addis Ababa around 9:30 pm local time on Saturday February 19th. It felt good to be back in familiar surroundings, in the same town as little Y. We once again found our driver from the Riviera holding our sign. We got back to our hotel and were warmly greeted with big smiles from the bell boy. The people here are so friendly. We settled into our room 407 and were breathing heavily after walking 4 flights. We might take the elevator on occasion this time. By the second floor we are already breathing heavy due to the elevation (not lack of shape mind you. Ok maybe a little of both) and by the fourth we practically needing an inhaler.
I unpacked while Nick tried to log on to the internet. I think the internet was down all together, but we have found that unlike last time when we had great reception, we do not this time. The extra two floors are bad for connection. We find ourselves sitting in the hallway outside the elevator on first floor to skype and post these entries. At midnight we decided we better get some sleep. The itinerary we received at check in had us scheduled to go get Y at 11 am. The other families that arrived Saturday morning already had their kids at the hotel and I so wanted our son too.
Friday, February 18, we were off once again to Ethiopia and this time to bring our son home! With only four days between booking tickets and flying out, our options were very limited this time. I think we got the last two tickets out of Bismarck on our flight. Spring break is not a good time to try and get tickets at the last minute.
We traveled alone this time. Kaitlyn begged up until the time we left to take her back. She so badly missed her little brother and the people from Africa that she had grown to love on our last trip. Our other traveling companions from trip one could not get on our flight, so they ended up on a different airline a day earlier.
Nick was at peace this trip, while I was a bit more anxious. It was the mother in me kicking in and I so badly just wanted to pick my little boy up in my arms and never have to leave him again. OK maybe not until he becomes a teenager. Our flights went off smoothly and I even managed to sleep about half of the third leg which made the trip faster.
We got into Addis Ababa around 9:30 pm local time on Saturday February 19th. It felt good to be back in familiar surroundings, in the same town as little Y. We once again found our driver from the Riviera holding our sign. We got back to our hotel and were warmly greeted with big smiles from the bell boy. The people here are so friendly. We settled into our room 407 and were breathing heavily after walking 4 flights. We might take the elevator on occasion this time. By the second floor we are already breathing heavy due to the elevation (not lack of shape mind you. Ok maybe a little of both) and by the fourth we practically needing an inhaler.
I unpacked while Nick tried to log on to the internet. I think the internet was down all together, but we have found that unlike last time when we had great reception, we do not this time. The extra two floors are bad for connection. We find ourselves sitting in the hallway outside the elevator on first floor to skype and post these entries. At midnight we decided we better get some sleep. The itinerary we received at check in had us scheduled to go get Y at 11 am. The other families that arrived Saturday morning already had their kids at the hotel and I so wanted our son too.
Friday, February 18, 2011
We are leaving again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nick and I are anxiously waiting to fly out this morning to begin our second trip to Ethiopia to bring our son home!!!!!!!!!!!! We are all so excited around here!!!!!! Please keep us and the rest of our kids in prayer this week. We will be back on American soil next Friday.
Kelly
Kelly
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
We are heading back
What a sweet Valentine's Day it was yesterday. We got the call we had been waiting for since we arrived home January 28th. Our case had been cleared with the US Embassy and little Y will soon be home. Nick and I will travel back to Ethiopia this Friday February 18th!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We are all very excited!!!!
Our Embassy appointment will either take place Monday February 21st (Nick's Birthday) or Tuesday February 22nd. There is a little confusion over whether the Embassy is open Monday as it is a US holiday (President's Day). We will leave Ethiopia Thursday just before midnight and be back in Bismarck at the end of the work day Friday.
It will be so good to be done with this phase of our journey and just be a family of 8!
Our Embassy appointment will either take place Monday February 21st (Nick's Birthday) or Tuesday February 22nd. There is a little confusion over whether the Embassy is open Monday as it is a US holiday (President's Day). We will leave Ethiopia Thursday just before midnight and be back in Bismarck at the end of the work day Friday.
It will be so good to be done with this phase of our journey and just be a family of 8!
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