I'm awake at 3:30 a.m. to snag the computer. Two guest houses and a large office share one dial-up internet account, so it's hard to find a time when the computer is available. What do you know? 3:30 is free!
I wanted to tell you a bit about the rest of the "crew" adopting children this week. As happens in emotional, intense situations, the group has become good friends and enjoy each other's company. Just a quick rundown:
*We have two families who have grown boys (15 and up) and have come to Ethiopia to find a daughter to complete their family. Both were fortunate to bring their older sons with them so the young men are getting to experience these early moments of bonding as they rock, cuddle and play with their baby sisters. When they are not doing this, they watch a lot of sports TV. :) Great, great families. I admire their determination to "start over" with an infant and to engage their sons in the process.
*Several wonderful Easterners, one couple from Massachusetts who is adopting a baby girl and toddler boy, one from Pennsylvania are adopting a baby boy, and one from Florida who already have a biological son (age 5) who is here with us; they are adopting a 4 year old boy. Then a fun couple from Germany -- Americans who are working in the opera in Germany for a couple of years. They are colorful and entertaining -- as you might imagine with opera people. They are adopting two little girls, ages 2 and 4 I think.
This group is highly educated -- at least 4 PhDs and more Masters than I can count. Makes for great discussion. We have a fun time together and especially enjoy the light heartedness that the teenagers and kindergartner brings.
Today we will pick up our children after breakfast to come to the guest house for a morning of play and a lunch. This will be our first test without any nannies around to translate. That will be both freeing and terrifyiing. Suffice it to say my Ethiopian vocabulary cheat sheets are at the ready. For example: "Shumma?" That means: "need to go peepee?" These are survival skills, people!!
In the afternoon, we are going shopping with our Ethiopian friend, Gigi, touring the town a bit, and lastly having dinner again with the Patriarch (Pope) of the Ethiopian Orthodox church. Should be a full day. We are still quite tired from jetlag and long days, but the adrenaline returns each morning to get us through. So far no major stomach problems, although we don't feel at the top of our game.
I'm looking forward to some big hugs in a few hours here, when we'll see G and B again. They are very generous with hugs and kisses and always yell out "mommy!" "daddy!" when they see us! They keep us very close to their sides and make sure no other children get too much attention ("MY family!" they tell the intruder) -- well, actually that's mostly Bereket, who is a spitfire). Godebo is much more patient and gentle. They are quite a pair!