PICS

Ok, this is a test. Can someone email me and let me know if you can see these or open the file. I'm not sure how it will post, if at all. I've been able to check email so feel free.

We went to the Embassy today and everything is done. We're doing great. Mason slept through the night no problems. We're looking forward to being home.........

We have Mason!

It is Monday night here in ET. They let us take the babies today rather than wait till tomorrow. We still have our embassy appt tomorrow and after that, it's official. We picked him up from the care center around 5pm, fed him, and he is asleep now. He is doing great. He is equally comfortable with both of us which is a nice treat for Matt since the girls preferred me in the beginning. He mimicks us in sound and gesture. He'll blow on us when we blow on him and he just has the cutest smile. He took a bottle just fine much to my excitement and fell asleep before finishing it. He was easy at least for tonight. He is stretched out between us on the bed in his cute little jammies. Tomorrow we go to the embassy and will spend the rest of the day in the hotel.

I keep forgetting to tell you about something he did just before meeting him. As we entered the care center and they brought the babies down, they sat them on a step. We of course,were looking at him and Matt waved to him.....and he waved right back. It took my breath away. It is a moment we won't forget.

Earlier today, we hired a guide to take us to the Merkato. We went with another couple in our group. Our guide, Saywa, is the head of security for the Canadian Embassy here. The Merkato is the largest outdoor market in Africa. Thank goodness we had him with us. It was crazy. We got some good stuff and will do more shopping on Wednesday. I was asking him about the culture and wages and such. When I asked him how much the average Ethiopian makes, he said 10 birr per day which equals about $1 US. If you have a Master's degree, you can make as much as $10 US per day. I don't know how people survive here. I asked him what Ethiopians think of Americans and he said that we are loved here in ET. He also told me that everyone loves Barack Obama (which I already knew from a previous conversation with someone else here). He said, "he is not America's President, he is the world's President". I'm glad we went to the Merkato but what a nuthouse, total chaos, very crowded.

So far, we have seen chickens, oxen, donkeys, and goats. It is very common to see these crossing the road or walking along the road with all the people and the traffic.

Better run. Internet has been easier than I expected but I still don't know about pictures. We'll see.

We are missing our girls terribly and can't wait to be reunited with them..........

Ethiopian food.......

It is Sunday evening here. Last night we went to a traditional dinner ceremony complete with Ethiopian food, dancing, and a coffee ceremony. The food was really although some pot had chicken feet and boiled eggs in it......we passed on that one. During dinner, they danced several traditional dances specific to the 16 nations here in ET. We saw about 5 or 6 different ones before leaving. Our guide requested they do the dance for our childrens' nation, Kenbatta and they complied. It was great. At one point Matt was up dancing. I don't know, you'll have to ask him! It was a great experience and quite a beautiful display of the culture.

Today, the care center is closed so we didn't get to see Mason. However, a few minutes ago, I was overlooking the care center out the window and saw one of the nannies. I told her I wanted to see my baby. She brought him to the window and he waved and smiled at us. An unexpected treat to see him even for a moment. They took us to a resort/spa about an hour and a half away today. It was upscale even for American standards. Like a resort you would see in the carribbean. We had lunch and you could swim or kayack if you wanted. On all the tables were these beautiful rose centerpieces, similar to what we would see at weddings.......very expensive. Here in ET, a single rose is about 20 cents. Our guide Dawit, could not believe it when we told him what we would pay in the states.

Some other things about ET.......there is rarely toilet paper in any bathroom so you have carry your own. And the toilet paper cannot pass through the system so there are trash baskets next to all toilets for you to dispose of your paper. Also, there is rarely soap and if there is, it is bar soap.....and NEVER any paper towels. Driving here is nuts. There are no stop lights and the whole city is made up of round abouts for you to turn around. The thing I miss the most about home at this point is clean air. Rock on EPA! The diesel fumes and dust are overwhelming. Some of us in the travel group have befriended a little boy, Daniel, who lives right across from the hotel in a yellow painted tin shack. He has joined us for lunch and we have given him food and money, against recommendation of the hotel staff. There are 6 people living in his space which is extremely small and has dirt floors. He is very bright though and knows English fairly well. We get a lot of stares mostly out of curiosity. Similar to China.

Well, tomorrow we may get to take Mason for the night but I'm unclear about the schedule. We are planning a trip to the Merkato, the largest market in Africa, to do some shopping. We are anxious to spend some real time with him outside of the care center. Oh, any one of the best parts about this trip has been playing with the other children in the care center. They are all delilghtful and so eager for your attention. Some will just come sit down on your lap for a little loving. Matt brought a few hot wheels and they have been a huge hit with a couple of the kids, particularly one little 4 or 5 year old boy. And I'm partial to this one little girl who is about 2 and a half and she walks around carrying a baby doll all day. She loves to wrap it up in this bandana and give it a bottle. She reminds me of Kenz.

Well I need to share the computer while the connection is good. Love to all.........

Going well

Day two with Mason. He is much more comfortable with us even after a day. He sat with us for most of our time today. He's interactive,playful and quite the ham. For those wondering, he's in 18 months. Gotta run........off for traditional dinner.

We've met Mason!!

I know you all are dying to hear news. It is Saturday morning here in Ethiopia and we spent several hours with him yesterday. He is beautiful!! We are so impressed with the care center and the nannies just love the babies. We walked in with the 6 other families in our travel group and they introduced us to our kids one by one. We recognized Mason as soon as they brought him down the stairs. He has a little hair and eyes that are captivating. He went back and forth between wanting to sit with us and wanting to return to the nanny. But he is smiley and playful and became more comfortable with us as the day went on. You'll see pics hopefully in a couple of days if I can post them. Internet is sketchy at best.
Our flight was fine and uneventful. We met up with some of our travel group in Amsterdam so that was fun. Today, we will see Mason again and then go to the museum to see "Lucy" and on to a traditional Ethiopian dinner. The people are kind and curious. The level of poverty and homelessness here is profound and heartbreaking. You really can't comprehend it without seeing it. It is very difficult to say no the children begging or anyone begging for that matter. I better go, you never know when the power will go out or internet will drop. I'll post again when I can. Love to all of you..........

We're off........

Bags are packed and we’re ready to go.  It’s been a crazy couple of days but it all gets done in the end.  You’d think it would get easier the third time around but this is a new country for us and certainly a new baby.  We are travelling with 6 others couples and most of meet up in Amsterdam and then fly into Addis Ababa (the capital of Ethiopia) together.  We leave today at 1:20 from Orlando and arrive in Addis at 10:00pm Thursday night.  So let’s see, with the 8 hour time difference, that’s about 25 hours of travel time.  I’m glad we showered.  It actually isn’t a bad flight plan.  Our longest layover is just 3 hours in Amsterdam. 

 

We dropped the girls off at Brad and Becky’s last night, had dinner together and tucked them into bed.  It went well and they are very excited for their “10 day sleepover” as they’re calling it.  But boy, will I miss them.  Ten days is a long time.

 

Well hopefully the next post will be news of us being with Mason Israel.  Thanks for all your support and interest in our journey to bring him home.  Stay tuned and much love………

Test post

This is a test to see if I can post via email….