Friday...Africa Trip

Friday morning we got up, ate breakfast and packed. I was very sad to be leaving although I really wanted to see my parents and sister and couldn't wait for them to meet Hannah. Our plane didn't leave until late Friday night so we had time to kill during the day. Robel took all of us to the Coffee Factory. I thought that would be a very boring part of the trip but it ended up being very interesting. He also took us to a sports store and the boys got Ethiopian soccer jerseys, which they love! After that we headed back to the Guest House to finish packing. And this is when our wonderful trip took a very negative turn. I didn't even post about this last year because our trip had been so great and I didn't want anything to be negative about it. While we were packing the last few things, my oldest son, Joey said he wasn't feeling well. In just a matter of minutes, he started throwing up very violently and could not stop. We were supposed to head to the airport in one hour and he was laying on the bathroom floor so sick. He was begging me to get another flight but I was so afraid to do this. I was scared that if he got dehydrated or worse we would be at an Ethiopian hospital, which is very different than hospitals in the U.S. I thought if we could at least get him on the plane, we could get to Chicago and get help there before coming home to Oklahoma. I had never seen Joey this sick. I will leave out the gross stuff but long story short, he had to carry a bag with him on the bus and at the airport. And the airport was horrible this time...long lines and it took FOREVER to get on the plane. My mother in law was also feeling bad and I wasn't sure if she was going to pass out or not. At one point, we were told we couldn't take any water thru the gate and Joey needed it desperately. Eddie nearly lost it. Thank goodness he didn't.
We finally got on the plane after several hours and we found out that Eddie and Andrew were on the other side of the plane and Andrew wasn't feeling well. I was devastated and didn't know how I was going to take care of Joey and Hannah all by myself. So I sat there on the runway and began to cry uncontrollably. I'm sure the people around me were wondering what was going on but I couldn't help it. And I could feel a panic attack coming quickly. I was sitting on a plane in Africa...it was about 10:00 at night...separated from Eddie and Andrew and my mother in law...and I had a baby and a sick boy to comfort. Also at that time my mind started to think of all the countries we were going to be flying over...not so friendly ones...and fear took over my body.
I had been praying all day for us to have a safe trip and for Joey to feel better but I started praying as hard as I could at that moment the plane was taking off. And as I desperately prayed, we were in the air. I told God how scared I was and how I didn't think I could handle this situation. I told God that I am not the type of person who needs to see signs from Him, but that at this time I needed a sign from Him that everything was going to be ok. And I needed it FAST! As soon as I said those words to Him, the plane turned in the air and then was straight again. I looked out my window and couldn't believe my eyes. There was a FULL MOON right outside my window and it looked as though I could touch it if I wanted to. I had never in my life seen a moon like this one and it was the most beautiful sight. It was so large that I couldn't see anything else. I could not stop staring at it and God reminded me that He created that moon...and that He created me and that He is SO powerful and there is nothing that He can't do. He told me right then that He would be taking care of us. The moon was the sign that I needed to see and I will never forget that moment the rest of my life. There was absolutely no doubt in my mind that we were going to be safe and that everything was going to be ok. I looked at my sweet Joey, who was all of a sudden feeling MUCH better. He said he didn't feel sick anymore and that he was going to sleep. My precious Hannah fell asleep and I was able to put her in the bassinet that was in front of my chair. Eddie came by to check on us and told me that Andrew was fine and about to go to sleep. All was well in my world and I knew that we were totally resting in God's hands. And I drifted off to sleep.
I will post about our homecoming in the next few days and I will post more pics of Ethiopia.

Kind Hearts School

I plan to continue writing about our Africa trip (since we just celebrated our 1 year Gotchaversary with Hannah) but wanted to share this with everyone. A few months ago, our family made some tshirts for the children attending Kind Hearts School in Addis Ababa. They were delivered last week and I received this wonderful pic yesterday. We absolutely LOVE seeing those precious kids wearing the tshirts. Hope we can do it again soon!


If you'd like to sponsor a child, please go to Karen Wistrom's blog HERE. Will post more pics of the kids in their shirts after I receive them in the next few weeks.

Africa Trip...Thursday

Our Africa Trip continued...
Thursday was a really fun day. After breakfast at the Guest House, we went shopping at a really cool place. The people were so friendly. I carried Hannah in a sling and women would come up to me to peek at her and most would say "Bless you" or "Thank you". The boys bought some t-shirts and I bought more scarves and purses. A girl can't have too many scarves and purses, right? We also bought a traditional outfit for Hannah. (The outfit is so close to fitting her finally...can't wait for her to wear it!!!) After shopping we headed to Metro Pizza for lunch. The pizza was really good!!! Best ever! We had a lot left over so we took it back to the Guest House to have for dinner too. After lunch, we headed back to the Guest House to rest and spend more time with Hannah. It was a great day and a very relaxing evening. I was not ready to head home the next day. I wanted to stay a few more days!

Finally getting a chance to continue with our Africa trip!
Wednesday was the day we had our Embassy appointment...the day Hannah OFFICIALLY was ours to take home! I had been dreading this day...not sure why...not that I was nervous about it, but I just wanted this part overwith so we could enjoy the rest of our trip. It wasn't bad at all. We were just asked a few questions and our part was over in about 10 minutes. It probably would have been even faster but Eddie and the lady at the window ended up talking about stuff that had nothing to do with our adoption. :)
After our appointment, we headed back to the Guest House and then decided to go with the Heinrichs and Roths to the Zebra Grill. It was just a couple of blocks from the Guest House so we walked. The Zebra Grill was pretty interesting. Eddie got a hamburger and loved it. Andrew got one too but it was way too spicy for him. Joey got ribs. (While we waited for the food, we saw the cook head out the front door of the restaurant and in a few minutes he came back with a tub...of Joey's fresh ribs that he got at the butcher shop across the street. Then he grilled them right there in front of us.) I played it safe and got a bean burrito. It was really good. :)
On the walk back to the Guest House, we did a little shopping. Then we just chilled for the night.
Will try to post about Thursday later tonight...

Gotcha Day!

Well, I got busy yesterday and didn't get a chance to post about Gotcha Day. We woke up that morning and headed to the Hilton to do lots of final paperwork. I actually chilled for a while in the shade while Eddie did the paperwork. We did find out that Hannah's birth certificate had a different date as her birthday than the day we were told. :)
When paperwork was finished we got back on the bus and headed to the transitional home to get Hannah! As she was handed to me, it was so wonderful knowing that she was with us forever! The nannies were so sweet and they told me her schedule and showed me the formula she was taking. (Eddie bought a few cans later that evening so we could slowly switch her to American formula). The nannies held Hannah and kissed her and we could tell it was very hard for them to say goodbye to her. As we loaded on the bus, they stood on the porch and cried. It really broke our hearts to see this. But at the same time, we knew that Hannah and the other children were very loved and taken care of by these sweet ladies. When we got back to the Guest House, we took Hannah upstairs and bathed her and did lots of cuddling. We didn't have anything on our schedule that night and we were glad because we got to do a lot of family bonding. What a great day!!!

Meetcha Day!!!

One year ago today, we met our sweet little Hannah for the first time. I will never forget any moment of that special day. I remember waking up at our guest house and looking out on the balcony at the city of Addis Ababa, knowing she was out there somewhere and that soon I would have my hands on her! I knew that all those years of waiting, paperwork, more paperwork, more waiting was finally coming to an end. That light at the end of the tunnel was finally shining very brightly!!!
We nervously ate breakfast with our group and found out that instead of going to do paperwork, we were going shopping and that the paperwork would be done the next day. Seriously? Shopping? All I wanted to do was get to Hannah. But there was a schedule of course, so we went shopping. And shopping I did. I bought way too many scarves but they were so beautiful and cheap! We ate lunch with our group and then got on the bus to head to the transitional home, where Hannah was waiting.
The bus ride to the transitional home was pretty quiet, even with 4 other families. I think we were taking it all in...the people...the sounds...the smells of Addis Ababa. But when the bus turned on to a very bumpy road, Robel, our wonderful guide, said something about being almost there and I felt like I couldn't breathe. The tears were starting to form in my eyes but I did my best to stop them. I didn't want to be bawling when Hannah saw me for the first time. So I fought them back. The bus pulled through the big gate and we were there...and Hannah was inside somewhere. I turned to Eddie and our boys and said "This is it". We waited in the courtyard and watched as a couple of families got their babies. Then it was our turn. A sweet lady walked out the door holding our little Hannah and I could not believe how tiny she was! Just like a newborn baby! I kissed her and held her tight and everything was perfect. She never cried with all of us holding her and loving on her. We only had a few hours to spend with her before leaving her for one more night. The next day would be Gotcha Day and then she would be with us forever! More to come!

Next week we will be celebrating our Gotcha Day with Hannah. It just amazes me to think back to how little she was when we got her...8 lbs at 4 months! Now she's a whopping 20 lbs and running all over the place! She was this quiet little baby and now I hear "Momma" and "Daddy" about 100 times a day. She absolutely LOVES to dance. It doesn't matter if music is on tv, or in our car, or our ringtones or alarm clock...if she hears music, she automatically starts dancing. (We have it on video and I'll post it soon. :)) Before we went to Ethiopia, I had heard that Ethiopians were quiet, mild mannered people...and when we got there I found it to be completely true. Well, not the Ethiopian who lives at our house! She is quite vocal and can throw a fit when she doesn't get her way. And I'm talking about a throw-herself-on-the-floor fit with arms waving and legs kicking. (Ok...as I'm writing this some music started on the tv and she is dancing in the kitchen...love it!) Anyway, neither of my boys did this tantrum throwing so this is new to me! If anybody has any good ideas, send them my way!
We are so crazy about this little girl and we really can't believe that we will be celebrating Gotcha Day next week. I will probably post some pics and talk about our trip again in some posts in the next few days since our trip will be on my mind. More to come!