Welcome Home!

More Abenezer!

A snack, some soccer, then a ride in the car makes for a good nap. No car seats in Ethiopia but a ride in the car will do it everytime.

Daddy and Abenezer!

Embassy Day!

Since the internet is still working, I am going to continue to update everyone reading the blog.

Wednesday, July 7th: Embassy Date

6:00 am Abenezer woke up, right on TH schedule

7:45 Breakfast at Yebsabi

8:35- 11:45 US Embassy with the Hemmingsens, Poseys and Steffenhagens

12:15 Returned to the Guest House

12:45- 1:15 Attempted a restaurant lunch unsuccessfully, Abenezer wasn;t interested

2:30 Visited Kid's Care to deliver donations

3:30 Returned to the Transition Home to see the Doctor

4:30- bedtime Yebsabi Guest House

Our date at the US Embassy was smooth and uneventful. We waited for over 2 hours for a 4 minute interview with a woman behind the glass, teller style. I am so thankful to God that it was a simple and successful trip. Abenezer fell asleep in my arms while we waited to be called. It made the wait easier. Keith and I and the other couples should receive our US visas for our children on Friday before returning to the States.

Please pray for Abenezer. He is wheezing a lot, especially at night. Keith is concerned because he doesn't have the tools and medicine to properly diagnose him and medicate him. It sounds like asthma mixed with a viral infection. Abenezer is sleeping well through the nights and for naps, but he sounds awful which keeps his parents up. We are tired.

We are scehduled to travel to Abenezer's home town and meet with his birth father. This has been a hard decision to make because it is so far. Pray that we make the right decision. Abenezer will stay at the Guest House with a nanny while we are gone.

Gotcha Day!

Tuesday, July 6th
8:30 Breakfast at Yebsabi Guest House
10:3o-12:30 Shopping at the square
12:30-1:30 Lunch @ Lucy's restaurant
2:00-4:00 Gotcha Day... Photos and care packages for other families, Donations, Goodbyes to Nannies, Brought Abenezer with us (at last)
4:30 Supermarket trip
5:00 Back to the Guest House
6:25 First Pharmacy Visit
6:45 First dinner with Abenezer at the Guest House
7:45 First bath time and bedtime routine
8:30 Betime for Abenezer, his first night away from the Transition Hom in over ten months.

Gotcha Day!
I have been dreaming about this day for a long time. On the other hand, Chaltu, one of Abenezer's nannies, has been putting this day from her mind. Keith and I finally stepped onto the van with Abenezer and left the Transition Home for good. It was terrible hard to say goodbye especially for Chaltu and Abenezer. Our little on has been loved on as if he were family to Chaltu, the other nannies, and the gate guard. "Mesgana!, "they all call him. His smile can light up a room. He loves everyone and engages them.
His sweet nanny, one assigned to the toddler room and not just "Mesgana," gave him a gift as they parted. This is not common, and I don't want to get her in trouble. However, I would like to document it. We took her photo with Abenezer followed by a photo of all four of us. This is a woman to be remembered and praised. I want Abenezer to know about her as he grows older. She loves him so dearly. He began to cry when we walked by his toddler room window and get in the car. I think he caught sight of her standing near the window. She stepped back into the room, but stayed close enough to capture his every breath goodbye. He cried. She cried. I cried. I think he understood that he was leaving.
Ultimately, he will be better off in our home. Loved individually with a forever family. He will have opportunities not possible as an orphan, an education, more medical attention. God did not intend for children to live apart from families.
I am so excited to return home and begin the transition period with Joshua. Anxious, but excited.

Metcha Day!

Monday, July 5th
8:30: Breakfast at the Yebsabi Guest House with the Hemmingsens, Boddies and Steffenhagens
9:30- 1:00: Meeting at the Addis Ababa Hilton for embassy paperwork and lunch
1:30- 4:00: "Metcha Day" @ AWAA Transition Home
4:30- 7:00: Boston Spa: Massage and Pedicure, yes, really
7:45-10:00: Dinner and Entertainment: traditional Ethiopian music, singing and dancing
10:30: Back at Yebsabi Guest House to separate donations, prepare nanny gifts, and get ready for Abenezer

Metcha Day
Incredible! This day went much better than I had prepared myself for.The first picture is of Keith's first meeting. The nanny is Chaltu. Abenezer still didn't want to leave his nanny's arms, but he didn't cling to her as badly this time. He did cry again when we first held him. Unlike last time, he quickly calmed down and settled into my arms. Within about five minutes, he fell asleep and slept through most of our visit. Keith wasn't able to see much of his personality, but he was able to see that Abenezer is so loved at the Transition Home.

Washington Dulles IAD

Our excitement is growing as we wait at the Ethiopian airlines gate, D23. This gate feels like an old friend, very familiar. Unlike other flights, this one always leaves from the same place. It reminds me of the adventures that God has taken me on over the past year. I sat at this gate a little over one month ago and met the Johnsons, my traveling buddies, when I traveled to meet Abenezer for the first time. Last summer in June, Lisa Walls, the other members of the VO team and I sat and sat and sat at this gate for the flight that never left (until the next day). We eventually flew out and didn't slow down until we flew back. I know this gate. This time I led Keith to this gate. I am so glad to make the trip with him and introduce him to Ethiopia and our son.

It was hard to leave Joshua this morning as he asked if he was going to Ethiopia. Thankfully, his grandparents have saved the day. They are loving on him all week. I wonder how many times he'll convince them to take him to the "train store."

Next stop: Addis Ababa
Danielle