A New Picture!

Today, I checked my email to see a sweet surprise from a new friend in Ethiopia, Julie Jorgensen.  :-)  She took a picture of our precious girl and it melted my heart. 

One of the most amazing parts of this journey has been meeting others along the way.  We have been able to share heartbreaks and hope, tears and joy, breathless anticipation and miracles.  Julie is staying with her little girl Zaidee, who is the same age as Elora, at the Transition House until she and her husband pass Embassy and can bring Zaidee home for good.  Her beautiful daughter, Zaidee, shared her awesome hat with Elora!  Check out pictures of Zaidee - one of the most beautiful little girls I have ever seen - and follow her Mama's story at http://adam-julie.blogspot.com/

I miss my little girl and want her to come HOME!!!

Glimpses

Since returning home from Ethiopia, I keep trying to gather up the whole trip in my thoughts...but I fail every time.  Already, it all seems a bit surreal.  But I want to remember everything that I can about the home country of my daughter. 

Like how the dusty streets of Addis are home to people to numerous to count.  I close my eyes and I can see the poverty...EVERYWHERE.  Row after row of tiny shacks held together by pieces of corrugated metal.  I can hear the constant horns beeping, the donkeys braying, the people begging for food.  I remember a young mother, curled up in a ball in front of a small shop, eyes unseeing, one hand held out for money, the other protectively wrapped around her toddler.  The people milling everywhere above her, almost running over her and her son...and how he never left her side.  I see the elderly, lying in the dust..and wondering if they are dead or alive.  The lame, the disfigured, the scarred, the sick, the street children...they crowd every shop, every dusty street corner.

 

The children..the people...they amaze you and break your heart all in the same breath.  Never have I met people with such dignity, respect, kindness and determination.  And yet, they have been dealt disease, famine and economic devastation.  We were told about  the street children.  Many are as young as 2 and 3 years of age.  Their parents have died and there aren't any other family members.  They band together in groups and live on the streets, begging for food.  They will not be placed in an orphanage unless a parent or living relative actually brings them to the orphanage and relinquishes them personally.  Picture your two-year-old and 3-year-old, being forced to take care of each other because there is no one else to do it for them.  

These sweet children, enveloped us in shy waves, warm smiles, and pleas to have their pictures taken.  They gave hugs as readily as the sun shines and giggled endlessly over their pictures.  

You leave Ethiopia, wanting to take every child that you meet home with you. And you leave...so thankful for the policemen, family members and parents who brought your sweet child to an orphanage...to the place where God intersected your life with their own and you get the incredible privilege of becoming a mother/father/family. 

God is Good-byes...

We are in our last few hours here in Ethiopia and once again, we are soaking in Grace.  As many of you know, our last couple have days have had a little of the drama of new parenthood.  On day two here, we were only able to spend about 5 minutes with Elora before leaving to go sight seeing and we noticed that she seemed quieter than normal and had a nasty cough.  We were hoping to check on her when we got back, but it was very late and the nannies had put the little ones to bed.  On day three, we could tell that Elora was really not feeling good.  She was coughing a deep, racking cough and  pus was coming out her eyes.  She began throwing up all her bottles.  There were no more little coos, just a very sick little one.  It got worse on Day 4 and though we tried to talk to the nannies about it, the language barrier made it difficult.  Finally, in the evening of Day 4, the agency's Ethiopian director's wife stopped by.  She took one look at Elora for us and told the nannies to take her to the hospital.  Day 5, we were not able to see her, but found out she was diagnosed with pneumonia and was receiving injections every twelve hours.  Today, she went back to the hospital for a check-up and more shots.  This afternoon, she is back home and here with us.  For the first time, we got some smiles and coos out of her again. We were worried that we would not get to see her again before we left.  Not only have we gotten to see her, we are able to see glimpses of light come back to her sweet eyes. 

Thank you for all the prayers over this trip.  We have seen God's grace in every step...from passing court and receiving our MOWA letter to Elora being able to get much needed treatment.

Elora!!

We arrived in Addis on Saturday morning after a straight 13 hour flight.  The city was bustling and full of people.  Cars careen in all directions, putting New York City taxi drivers to shame.  We could barely contain our excitement as we spotted the transition house where we would be staying.  We had been warned that we would want to have our camera ready as soon as we got in the door, on the off chance that Elora would be there, waiting for us.  She wasn't...but as we greeted the others adoptive parents staying at the guest house, a tiny bundle was brought in behind our backs.  Suddenly the bundle, wrapped in a blue striped blanket, was thrust into my unsuspecting arms.  Wide brown eyes immediately locked eyes with me..and a coo and a smile came out of a tiny pink mouth.  Elora is a little miracle and has us totally smitten.  She has reminded me how TINY babies are..and how fun they are to cuddle.  She is happy nearly all the time (the first for a baby of mine!) and loves to coo.  

We can't seem to get enough time with her.  Our agency is very smart.  We have free access to our little ones throughout the day, but they try to take us on a lot of long day trips so that the children don't become too bonded to us (or us to them) so that leaving isn't as traumatic for them.  Ethiopia is full of beautiful, dignified amazing people who have been subjected to extreme poverty.  The middle class and upper class make up only about 3% of the population of Ethiopia.  Spending time here has been eye opening for us.  We have eaten in some beautiful resorts and hotels, which are located right now to countless rows of tiny shanties.   I cannot get over their beautiful spirits and kindness and generosity to us.

Today was court day...and today we have officially become the parents of 4 beautiful children.  From now on out, no matter what happens with the US embassy and her VISA, Elora is officially ours and our responsibility.  We were given our MOWA letters right at court (thank you for the prayers!) and so we can show her picture off everywhere now. :-)  So, being brand new proud parents - here are some more pictures of our sweet new addition.