Sunday, April 17, 2011
Saturday, March 12, 2011
It's Been Sooooooooo Long!
Hello my blogging friends. I know it's been since last Spring since I've posted, and this will likely be one of the few posts before I officially say goodbye to this blog. I've pretty much given up trying to keep this blog going while raising two young active kids. However, since I'm thinking about turning this blog into a keepsake book for my little ones, I wanted to make a few more post to share some of my favorite 2010 photos.
All is well with our family. Addison and Solomon are such a cute little pair. They love and argue with each other as if they have been together forever. It's hard to believe that Addison has been with our family for over four years now, while Solomon has been with us for a little over a year and a half. Addison is quite the big sister with sage advice, but Solomon certainly has his own opinions and ideas. Together, they make quite the team. When they're not bickering or telling on each other, they're taking up and looking out for the other. It's heart warming seeing the sweet connection between them and knowing they'll have each other throughout the years. As I write these words, I'm hoping that someone who is considering adopting will stumble across this blog, be led to other adoption blogs, and ultimately make a firm decision to build their family through adopting. I will forever be grateful for the courage, emotional energy, and support I sustained from adoption blogs during our journey to parenthood.
Enjoy the photos!
Summer 2010, Destin, FL / Solomon's first trip to the beach
Solomon's sweet smile when seeing the beach for the first time.
Addison was saying, "C'mon buddy, we won't let the waves get us!"
Following are some of my favorite Miss Addison picstures. Here are Addison and Ceci at an Ethiopian cultural dance class:
Addison's 4th birthday party. Nothing could hold this little princess on a mission back...not even while dressed in her royal attire. Solomon, on the other hand was slowed down at the party by a badly injured tongue which resulted in a trip to the ER. While Aaron handled that emergency, I served up pizza and cupcakes without Addison and her friends missing a beat. Fortunately, they didn't know Solomon had injured himself. Hours later, Solomon returned home with a deep gash in his tongue, in pain, and refusing to eat or take in liquids. The next morning, we took him to an ER specializing in children's medical services and were given different meds to ease his pain. It took about three days for him to resume eating and drinking normally. What a day!
Fall 2010 Favorite Photos
Don't overlook Solomon in the lower right corner offering up some of his water on this warm October day.
Aaron, the best father in the world, was determined to dress up as Woody since Solomon's favorite character is Buzz Lightyear. How cool is that?!!
Well that's it for now. I'll try to post more photos tomorrow in an attempt to catch you up on the growth and happenings of our little family.
Pat
All is well with our family. Addison and Solomon are such a cute little pair. They love and argue with each other as if they have been together forever. It's hard to believe that Addison has been with our family for over four years now, while Solomon has been with us for a little over a year and a half. Addison is quite the big sister with sage advice, but Solomon certainly has his own opinions and ideas. Together, they make quite the team. When they're not bickering or telling on each other, they're taking up and looking out for the other. It's heart warming seeing the sweet connection between them and knowing they'll have each other throughout the years. As I write these words, I'm hoping that someone who is considering adopting will stumble across this blog, be led to other adoption blogs, and ultimately make a firm decision to build their family through adopting. I will forever be grateful for the courage, emotional energy, and support I sustained from adoption blogs during our journey to parenthood.
Enjoy the photos!
Summer 2010, Destin, FL / Solomon's first trip to the beach
Solomon's sweet smile when seeing the beach for the first time.
Addison was saying, "C'mon buddy, we won't let the waves get us!"
Following are some of my favorite Miss Addison picstures. Here are Addison and Ceci at an Ethiopian cultural dance class:
Addison's 4th birthday party. Nothing could hold this little princess on a mission back...not even while dressed in her royal attire. Solomon, on the other hand was slowed down at the party by a badly injured tongue which resulted in a trip to the ER. While Aaron handled that emergency, I served up pizza and cupcakes without Addison and her friends missing a beat. Fortunately, they didn't know Solomon had injured himself. Hours later, Solomon returned home with a deep gash in his tongue, in pain, and refusing to eat or take in liquids. The next morning, we took him to an ER specializing in children's medical services and were given different meds to ease his pain. It took about three days for him to resume eating and drinking normally. What a day!
Fall 2010 Favorite Photos
Don't overlook Solomon in the lower right corner offering up some of his water on this warm October day.
Aaron, the best father in the world, was determined to dress up as Woody since Solomon's favorite character is Buzz Lightyear. How cool is that?!!
Well that's it for now. I'll try to post more photos tomorrow in an attempt to catch you up on the growth and happenings of our little family.
Pat
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Easter 2010
Last Saturday, Solomon enjoyed his first Easter Egg Hunt. Miss Addison racked up many eggs as usual. These two are such a sweet pair most of the time, but of course like all siblings they sometimes annoy each other. Here are a few pics to hold you over until I post again... months from now :-)
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Overdue Update!
O. K. I know it's been a minute since my last post. Needless to say, parenting two toddlers is both joyous and demanding. Addison and her little brother Solomon are true siblings. One minute, they're loving up on each other big time, and the next minute they're fighting over a toy, book, or our attention. Solomon and Addison now attend the same child development center and their rooms are located on the same hall. During Solomon's first few weeks, Addison would run up to him, give him a hug, and reassure him that everything would be alright. Yes, she takes her big sister role seriously! Solomon is such a sweetie! He's crazy about Miss Addison. If he sees her water bottle empty, he fills it up, takes it to her, and says, "Here you go Addison". I've even caught him washing Addison's back during bath time. His frequent nurturing of Addison is going to make her believe she really is a princess!!! Solomon's good receptive language skills have always surprised me, and his expressive language skills are really starting to kick in. I think the next big hurdle is potty training. He has shown signs of interest, so we'll probably start that in the next month or so. We are feeling quite like the settled family of four. It takes longer to get out the house with two kids and we stay home and eat in more so now than in the past. It's just easier. On the other hand, Addison and Solomon often entertain each other which gives mom and dad a break. It's so rewarding hearing them laugh and play with each other.
What else is happening? Addison had her first dance recital at school. She was so excited and adorable. During her performance, she yelled out several times, "Mommy, my hat's coming off!" I just yelled back, "That's O.K. baby, keep dancing!" And that she did. She danced, tripped, laughed it off and got back up immediately. I love that girl! Aaron took Solomon to get his first American haircut. Aaron said he was a perfect toddler during that process. He sat in that huge barber chair like a champ and didn't shed one tear. That's my boy. I love my Soli!
For Addison's school Fall Festival, she dressed as Princess Tiana, Disney's first African American princess. Solomon just couldn't get with the whole dress up thing. He frowned and quickly removed his fireman jacket. During the festival, Solomon decided he'd be happier on the school's playground. As a person who just doesn't get the who Halloween craze, that was fine with me! On Halloween, Addison lookes very pretty dressed as a "generic" princess. Solomon stayed home with his Daddy and watched Diego. Maybe next year!
On a sad note, my brother died suddenly October 20. He was 48, very physically fit (an avid cyclist), and had the biggest smile and engaging personality. As we continue to wrap out heads around our sudden loss, we find comfort in knowing that Lonnie was loved by so many people. His home going service was unbelievably inspiring, uplifting, and representative of the kind of person he was. We are still amazed at the number of people that showed up to support us and pay their last respects. Although we already miss him. I'm very happy that he got a chance to share his huge heart and smile with Addison and Solomon.
At last, here are some recent photos. Enjoy.
What else is happening? Addison had her first dance recital at school. She was so excited and adorable. During her performance, she yelled out several times, "Mommy, my hat's coming off!" I just yelled back, "That's O.K. baby, keep dancing!" And that she did. She danced, tripped, laughed it off and got back up immediately. I love that girl! Aaron took Solomon to get his first American haircut. Aaron said he was a perfect toddler during that process. He sat in that huge barber chair like a champ and didn't shed one tear. That's my boy. I love my Soli!
For Addison's school Fall Festival, she dressed as Princess Tiana, Disney's first African American princess. Solomon just couldn't get with the whole dress up thing. He frowned and quickly removed his fireman jacket. During the festival, Solomon decided he'd be happier on the school's playground. As a person who just doesn't get the who Halloween craze, that was fine with me! On Halloween, Addison lookes very pretty dressed as a "generic" princess. Solomon stayed home with his Daddy and watched Diego. Maybe next year!
On a sad note, my brother died suddenly October 20. He was 48, very physically fit (an avid cyclist), and had the biggest smile and engaging personality. As we continue to wrap out heads around our sudden loss, we find comfort in knowing that Lonnie was loved by so many people. His home going service was unbelievably inspiring, uplifting, and representative of the kind of person he was. We are still amazed at the number of people that showed up to support us and pay their last respects. Although we already miss him. I'm very happy that he got a chance to share his huge heart and smile with Addison and Solomon.
At last, here are some recent photos. Enjoy.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Everything is Official! Re-adoption in Georgia is done!
We have reached yet another milestone in the international adoption process. I think we must have broken a re-adoption record. We've been home a little over a month and have already taken the huge step of re-adopting Solomon in the state of Georgia. Although the Ethiopian courts recognized our adoption of Solomon as final mid June, the law required us to readopt him here in the states in order for him to have full citizenship. This final step involved more detailed paperwork, which is why many people choose to pay big bucks to adoption attorneys to complete the confusing forms. Most families put this off for months or even years, but not my hubby. Once again, Aaron was so on top of this final procedure. I also need to give thanks and a huge hug to my friend Laura who has assisted us and other GA families by providing an online file with the required paperwork for this procedure. XOXO Laura!
Solomon was well behaved at the court house even though we had to wait an additional 30 minutes until the judge could hear our case. Once we were called to his chambers and our paperwork was looked over, the process was over in about four minutes. We were congratulated, a picture was taken, and we were on our way with our new son. Immediately after our court appointment, we applied for Solomon's social security card. So let's see...Solomon has his Green card, full citizenship, a social security card on the way, and tomorrow we'll take his American passport photo. Soli baby, Welcome to America!
Solomon was well behaved at the court house even though we had to wait an additional 30 minutes until the judge could hear our case. Once we were called to his chambers and our paperwork was looked over, the process was over in about four minutes. We were congratulated, a picture was taken, and we were on our way with our new son. Immediately after our court appointment, we applied for Solomon's social security card. So let's see...Solomon has his Green card, full citizenship, a social security card on the way, and tomorrow we'll take his American passport photo. Soli baby, Welcome to America!
Our Time in Ethiopia
After a year of paperwork, interviews, and more paperwork, my niece Ashli and I traveled to meet our Solomon, while Aaron remained home with Addison. We thought long and hard about our travel plans and decided it was the best decision for our family for Aaron to care for Addison while I traveled to bring home our son. Ashli was so thrilled to visit the continent of Africa and to experience everything Ethiopian. I felt elated to be going back to Ethiopia again to bring home our second child. Here's an overview of our time in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Days 1 & 2 - Saturday/Sunday
Saturday and Sunday were travel days. It was difficult leaving Aaron and Addison to travel to Ethiopia. I knew they would both be fine, but being away from your loved ones for an entire week is tough. The flight from Atlanta to DC (Dulles)was BUMPY! We flew United Airlines and had to be on the smallest plane I've ever flown. Not fun at all. The flight from DC to Ethiopia on Ethiopia Airlines (EA) was sooooo smooth. Lately, I've read many negative postings on blogs about EA, but I've had great experiences both times I've flown them. Our luggage arrived with us and the overall service was good. We arrived at the Bejoe Guest House around 8:30 PM and met the awesome ladies who work there. These ladies are incredibly kind, helpful and were great company during our stay there.
Ashli and I headed to bed in anticipation of meeting Solomon early the next morning.
Day 3- Monday
I woke with such excitement Monday morning. Travis, who is an in- country representative for Gladney had told me that he would be our "stork" and to expect delivery of Solomon very early that morning. So I was up by 7, ate breakfast at 8:30, and grabbed my camera every time I heard the compound's gate open. Despite Travis' happy warning the night before to expect an early delivery, there was no Solomon to be seen or heard. Travis had told me to call him if I hadn't heard from him by 9:30. When I phoned him I was informed that the other couple scheduled to receive their child would be arriving a few hours later because of flight delays. Therefore, in order to make only one long trip from the Gladney Foster Center to our guest house, I had to wait an additional five hours before meeting our son. On top of that, there was a terrible traffic backup which further delayed Solomon's arrival. Of course I was disappointed, but when I put things in perspective, I had started this process a year earlier, so waiting a few more hours would not put a damper on meeting Solomon.
Here's our stork!
Even though this was our second adoption, I still don't have the words to describe the feeling an adoptive parent has when the child you have loved for months through pictures and descriptions is finally placed in your arms. When Travis drove through those gates and I saw our son sitting calmly in the front seat, my first thought was wishing Aaron was there. My second thought centered around preparing myself not to be disappointed if Solomon became upset when handed to me. I was relieved that although he was quite reserved, Solomon did not cry when I took him in my arms, but was obviously trying to wrap his brain around yet another huge transition in his short life. He carefully checked out his surroundings while accepting my bear hugs and cheek kisses.
No matter how many blogs, books or conversations you have with other adoptive parents, nothing can fully prepare you for the flood of emotions that run through you when you and your child first meet. It's not always a storybook meeting and sometimes it's awkward. For me, meeting Solomon fell somewhere in the middle. Not magical, not awkward, just right. I'm sure I'm not doing a good job explaining our initial moments together, but perhaps some things don't need to be explained. Those emotions and Solomon are in my heart and that's what counts. We spent the remainder of the day checking each other out. A few hours later, Solomon and I were running around and playing in the front court yard. I didn't sleep well our first evening together because I was mentally on alert for Solomon to display some sign of distress. It didn't happen. Solomon slept very peacefully throughout the night.
Day 4 - Tuesday
Solomon and I woke early and spent the day getting to know each other. I could tell early on that the foundation for a close bond between us was certainly there. I also felt that he and Aaron would also develop a special bond. Later that day, Solomon began to call me mama and appeared very comfortable with me. The feeling was mutual. Solomon's active behaviors that I had been told about began to surface and I spent much of my days running after him. It was Day 3 that I realized that we had been matched with a very sweet, intelligent, and athletic child. Solomon's other passion is cars. He loved sitting in the drivers' cars and pushes every botton he can get his hands on. Now I know all parents think their kids are "all that", but other Bejoe house guests and his cousin Ashli often commented on his sharp skills. Solomon quickly struck me as one of those children who possess charm, intelligence, AND athletic skills. It doesn't hurt that he's also a cutie pie! Now the flip side of my wonderful son is the evidence that he certainly likes control. I was reminded of this whenever I tried to remove his shoes, change his diaper, or stop him from doing something before he was ready to stop. Solomon can let out the loudest scream and cry I think I've ever heard. His tantrums are short lived, but they are loud! I know that much of his control issues and possessiveness are typical orphanage type behaviors, but it's tough when he's in the middle of an emotional outburst. I deal with these outbursts by reminding myself what this little soul has been through in 30 months. This sweet boy has lost loved ones, familiar environments and faces, and has moved clear across the globe to join a world he knows nothing about. With that in mind, the least I can do is try to remain patient and empathetic as I allow him to grieve for his loses.
Our driver Tafese
I'm so happy Ashli traveled with me. She was a huge help throughout our time in Ethiopia.
Day 5 Wednesday
This was a loooooooong day for Solomon and me. We started off the morning with the daily yummy breakfast prepared by Marta at the Bejoe House, and headed over to participate in the celebratory events at the Gladney Foster Care Center. Our children's special caregivers dressed our babes in traditional Ethiopian attire,
we visited all of the baby and toddler rooms, had the opportunity to take photos for waiting families, and participated in a traditional coffee ceremony. Solomon's special caregiver (sometimes known as Special Moms) appeared very kind but quiet until she non verbally scolded me for giving Solomon a bite of cake! These caregivers really love on and care for these children as their own, so it's understanding that they may feel the urge to tell you how to care for the little person they've watched over the last few months or longer. I must admit that I discretely gave him another bite of cake when she wasn't looking.
Solomon's Special Caregiver
I enjoyed being able to see Solomon's crib and was surprised to find the photo album we had sent shortly after being matched with him still placed in the crib.
The highlight of my visit to the Care Centers occurred when I walked into one of the baby rooms and a familiar face smiled and shouted out, "Biftu! Biftu's mom!" One of Addison's former care givers immediately recognized me as the woman who adopted their sweet baby known as Biftu two years earlier. I was so touched that not only did she remember me, she was obviously thrilled to see me again and to hear that I was there to adopt a brother for one of the babies she had cared for. This caregiver assisted me in tracking down the whereabouts of Addison's Special Caregiver, who just happened to be scheduled to baby sit at the Bejoe house later that evening.
Addison's Special Caregiver
We then left for the Top View Restaurant. This is known as one of the best restaurants in Addis Ababa with awesome views of the city. After Solomon threw filled up on a delicious spicy appetizer, all he wanted next was the freedom to run around and play. I took the advice of another parent and allowed a couple of the drivers to entertain Solomon while I enjoyed my lunch and adult conversations.
The third and most important activity of the day was the Embassy Appointment. The Embassy appointment is an important step in the adoption process that must be completed prior to the Ethiopian government issuing a visa for an adopted child. Solomon waited for a couple of hours before it was our turn. By this time, Solomon was running out of stream and patience and just wanted to get out of the building. To add a huge dose of stress to our waiting, Belay (our adoption agency in-country representative) warned me that an important and necessary document might be missing from our file. Since Aaron did not travel with me, a power of attorney form had to be notarized stating that he had authorized me to transport Solomon from Ethiopia to America. As organized as Aaron and I were with these forms, I'm still trying to understand how this particular document was missing. I was still able to go through the 5 second interview once called up to the window, but Aaron had to fax the missing document later that evening. It all turned out well, but for a few minutes there, my head felt like it was spinning. Just another example of how adoption is far from being the easy route to parenthood.
Day 6 - Thursday
What a relaxing day! A little gift shopping, good food, and lots of play and bonding time with Solomon. The bonding between Solomon and me continued to solidify. By this day, I was certain that Solomon and I would have that special mother-son connection my friends had told me about. I kept looking at him and thinking, "There's just something about this little boy that touches my heart." That evening, the parents went out for the traditional Ethiopian dinner and entertainment, while the children remained home with baby sitters. I had thought about passing on this event since I had gone there with Aaron and Addison two years earlier. However, I decided that I wanted to see Ashli experience Ethiopian culture so I got my tired body up and ready for an evening of good food and entertainment. I'm so happy I went because had I remained home, I would have missed Ashli's stellar 1st attempt at Ethiopian dancing. She was fantastic!
Day 7 - Friday
I knew that this last day in Ethiopia would be very emotional. Gladney had arranged for all of the Gladney families to meet their child's birth family. I was honored to be able to meet with Solomon's grandfather. Solomon's grandfather had cared for him prior to making the painful decision to place him for adoption. As with details surrounding how/why Addison became available for adoption, we will withhold specific details about how/why Solomon become available for us to adopt. His history is not shameful, but it is his personal story to share when he is able and with whom he wants. It would take me a year to adequately describe my meeting with Solomon's grandfather, so I won't attempt to. I can however state that if Solomon inherits just a fraction of his grandfather's dignity and grace, he will become an exceptional man. I left our meeting feeling full of joy and relief knowing that my son's life prior to meeting me was filled with much love, nurturance and guidance. Perhaps more importantly, Solomon's grandfather left our meeting knowing that his grandson would always be safe and cherished. How do I know this? Through translations and with raised hands, Solomon's grandfather told the interpreter, " I feel like this is a miracle...this is a perfect match. I'm very happy". Just when I thought our meeting could not have gone any better, he pulls out a photo album filled with pictures of Solomon's birth family! What a wonderful surprise and treasure for our little Soli! Needless to say, this meeting could not have gone any better.
Next, we visited the orphanage occupied by teen boys. These young men do not have the greatest future, but they have such a winning spirit about their circumstances. Ashli and I really enjoyed talking with these young men. I left thinking if only some of the young males I work with could visit with these guys, perhaps they gain a new perspective on life.
Later that day, we visited the orphanage where Addison lived for a short time before she was moved to the Gladney Care Center. I surprised myself by becoming an emotional wreck when I recognized one of Addison's former nannies at the orphanage where she had a short stay. She remembered Addison and beamed when I showed her a recent photo. Belay told me that Addison's Ethiopian name, Biftu, was so uncommon that many remembered her. In addition to that explanation, I'm sure I was remembered because Aaron and I were the first African American family using Gladney to complete an adoption from Ethiopia. We stood out and therefore we were remembered. There have been at least a dozen or more African American families who have since used Gladney to adopt from Ethiopia.
After we visited several orphanages, we grabbed dinner and headed back to the guest house to finish packing. Before I knew it, we were headed to the airport. After a five hour wait at the airport, we were boarding a plane and headed home. Solomon was such a champ during our long journey home. He slept, ate, and played during that 17 hour flight, all while tightening his grip around my heart. Our journey continues.
Days 1 & 2 - Saturday/Sunday
Saturday and Sunday were travel days. It was difficult leaving Aaron and Addison to travel to Ethiopia. I knew they would both be fine, but being away from your loved ones for an entire week is tough. The flight from Atlanta to DC (Dulles)was BUMPY! We flew United Airlines and had to be on the smallest plane I've ever flown. Not fun at all. The flight from DC to Ethiopia on Ethiopia Airlines (EA) was sooooo smooth. Lately, I've read many negative postings on blogs about EA, but I've had great experiences both times I've flown them. Our luggage arrived with us and the overall service was good. We arrived at the Bejoe Guest House around 8:30 PM and met the awesome ladies who work there. These ladies are incredibly kind, helpful and were great company during our stay there.
Ashli and I headed to bed in anticipation of meeting Solomon early the next morning.
Day 3- Monday
I woke with such excitement Monday morning. Travis, who is an in- country representative for Gladney had told me that he would be our "stork" and to expect delivery of Solomon very early that morning. So I was up by 7, ate breakfast at 8:30, and grabbed my camera every time I heard the compound's gate open. Despite Travis' happy warning the night before to expect an early delivery, there was no Solomon to be seen or heard. Travis had told me to call him if I hadn't heard from him by 9:30. When I phoned him I was informed that the other couple scheduled to receive their child would be arriving a few hours later because of flight delays. Therefore, in order to make only one long trip from the Gladney Foster Center to our guest house, I had to wait an additional five hours before meeting our son. On top of that, there was a terrible traffic backup which further delayed Solomon's arrival. Of course I was disappointed, but when I put things in perspective, I had started this process a year earlier, so waiting a few more hours would not put a damper on meeting Solomon.
Here's our stork!
Even though this was our second adoption, I still don't have the words to describe the feeling an adoptive parent has when the child you have loved for months through pictures and descriptions is finally placed in your arms. When Travis drove through those gates and I saw our son sitting calmly in the front seat, my first thought was wishing Aaron was there. My second thought centered around preparing myself not to be disappointed if Solomon became upset when handed to me. I was relieved that although he was quite reserved, Solomon did not cry when I took him in my arms, but was obviously trying to wrap his brain around yet another huge transition in his short life. He carefully checked out his surroundings while accepting my bear hugs and cheek kisses.
No matter how many blogs, books or conversations you have with other adoptive parents, nothing can fully prepare you for the flood of emotions that run through you when you and your child first meet. It's not always a storybook meeting and sometimes it's awkward. For me, meeting Solomon fell somewhere in the middle. Not magical, not awkward, just right. I'm sure I'm not doing a good job explaining our initial moments together, but perhaps some things don't need to be explained. Those emotions and Solomon are in my heart and that's what counts. We spent the remainder of the day checking each other out. A few hours later, Solomon and I were running around and playing in the front court yard. I didn't sleep well our first evening together because I was mentally on alert for Solomon to display some sign of distress. It didn't happen. Solomon slept very peacefully throughout the night.
Day 4 - Tuesday
Solomon and I woke early and spent the day getting to know each other. I could tell early on that the foundation for a close bond between us was certainly there. I also felt that he and Aaron would also develop a special bond. Later that day, Solomon began to call me mama and appeared very comfortable with me. The feeling was mutual. Solomon's active behaviors that I had been told about began to surface and I spent much of my days running after him. It was Day 3 that I realized that we had been matched with a very sweet, intelligent, and athletic child. Solomon's other passion is cars. He loved sitting in the drivers' cars and pushes every botton he can get his hands on. Now I know all parents think their kids are "all that", but other Bejoe house guests and his cousin Ashli often commented on his sharp skills. Solomon quickly struck me as one of those children who possess charm, intelligence, AND athletic skills. It doesn't hurt that he's also a cutie pie! Now the flip side of my wonderful son is the evidence that he certainly likes control. I was reminded of this whenever I tried to remove his shoes, change his diaper, or stop him from doing something before he was ready to stop. Solomon can let out the loudest scream and cry I think I've ever heard. His tantrums are short lived, but they are loud! I know that much of his control issues and possessiveness are typical orphanage type behaviors, but it's tough when he's in the middle of an emotional outburst. I deal with these outbursts by reminding myself what this little soul has been through in 30 months. This sweet boy has lost loved ones, familiar environments and faces, and has moved clear across the globe to join a world he knows nothing about. With that in mind, the least I can do is try to remain patient and empathetic as I allow him to grieve for his loses.
Our driver Tafese
I'm so happy Ashli traveled with me. She was a huge help throughout our time in Ethiopia.
Day 5 Wednesday
This was a loooooooong day for Solomon and me. We started off the morning with the daily yummy breakfast prepared by Marta at the Bejoe House, and headed over to participate in the celebratory events at the Gladney Foster Care Center. Our children's special caregivers dressed our babes in traditional Ethiopian attire,
we visited all of the baby and toddler rooms, had the opportunity to take photos for waiting families, and participated in a traditional coffee ceremony. Solomon's special caregiver (sometimes known as Special Moms) appeared very kind but quiet until she non verbally scolded me for giving Solomon a bite of cake! These caregivers really love on and care for these children as their own, so it's understanding that they may feel the urge to tell you how to care for the little person they've watched over the last few months or longer. I must admit that I discretely gave him another bite of cake when she wasn't looking.
Solomon's Special Caregiver
I enjoyed being able to see Solomon's crib and was surprised to find the photo album we had sent shortly after being matched with him still placed in the crib.
The highlight of my visit to the Care Centers occurred when I walked into one of the baby rooms and a familiar face smiled and shouted out, "Biftu! Biftu's mom!" One of Addison's former care givers immediately recognized me as the woman who adopted their sweet baby known as Biftu two years earlier. I was so touched that not only did she remember me, she was obviously thrilled to see me again and to hear that I was there to adopt a brother for one of the babies she had cared for. This caregiver assisted me in tracking down the whereabouts of Addison's Special Caregiver, who just happened to be scheduled to baby sit at the Bejoe house later that evening.
Addison's Special Caregiver
We then left for the Top View Restaurant. This is known as one of the best restaurants in Addis Ababa with awesome views of the city. After Solomon threw filled up on a delicious spicy appetizer, all he wanted next was the freedom to run around and play. I took the advice of another parent and allowed a couple of the drivers to entertain Solomon while I enjoyed my lunch and adult conversations.
The third and most important activity of the day was the Embassy Appointment. The Embassy appointment is an important step in the adoption process that must be completed prior to the Ethiopian government issuing a visa for an adopted child. Solomon waited for a couple of hours before it was our turn. By this time, Solomon was running out of stream and patience and just wanted to get out of the building. To add a huge dose of stress to our waiting, Belay (our adoption agency in-country representative) warned me that an important and necessary document might be missing from our file. Since Aaron did not travel with me, a power of attorney form had to be notarized stating that he had authorized me to transport Solomon from Ethiopia to America. As organized as Aaron and I were with these forms, I'm still trying to understand how this particular document was missing. I was still able to go through the 5 second interview once called up to the window, but Aaron had to fax the missing document later that evening. It all turned out well, but for a few minutes there, my head felt like it was spinning. Just another example of how adoption is far from being the easy route to parenthood.
Day 6 - Thursday
What a relaxing day! A little gift shopping, good food, and lots of play and bonding time with Solomon. The bonding between Solomon and me continued to solidify. By this day, I was certain that Solomon and I would have that special mother-son connection my friends had told me about. I kept looking at him and thinking, "There's just something about this little boy that touches my heart." That evening, the parents went out for the traditional Ethiopian dinner and entertainment, while the children remained home with baby sitters. I had thought about passing on this event since I had gone there with Aaron and Addison two years earlier. However, I decided that I wanted to see Ashli experience Ethiopian culture so I got my tired body up and ready for an evening of good food and entertainment. I'm so happy I went because had I remained home, I would have missed Ashli's stellar 1st attempt at Ethiopian dancing. She was fantastic!
Day 7 - Friday
I knew that this last day in Ethiopia would be very emotional. Gladney had arranged for all of the Gladney families to meet their child's birth family. I was honored to be able to meet with Solomon's grandfather. Solomon's grandfather had cared for him prior to making the painful decision to place him for adoption. As with details surrounding how/why Addison became available for adoption, we will withhold specific details about how/why Solomon become available for us to adopt. His history is not shameful, but it is his personal story to share when he is able and with whom he wants. It would take me a year to adequately describe my meeting with Solomon's grandfather, so I won't attempt to. I can however state that if Solomon inherits just a fraction of his grandfather's dignity and grace, he will become an exceptional man. I left our meeting feeling full of joy and relief knowing that my son's life prior to meeting me was filled with much love, nurturance and guidance. Perhaps more importantly, Solomon's grandfather left our meeting knowing that his grandson would always be safe and cherished. How do I know this? Through translations and with raised hands, Solomon's grandfather told the interpreter, " I feel like this is a miracle...this is a perfect match. I'm very happy". Just when I thought our meeting could not have gone any better, he pulls out a photo album filled with pictures of Solomon's birth family! What a wonderful surprise and treasure for our little Soli! Needless to say, this meeting could not have gone any better.
Next, we visited the orphanage occupied by teen boys. These young men do not have the greatest future, but they have such a winning spirit about their circumstances. Ashli and I really enjoyed talking with these young men. I left thinking if only some of the young males I work with could visit with these guys, perhaps they gain a new perspective on life.
Later that day, we visited the orphanage where Addison lived for a short time before she was moved to the Gladney Care Center. I surprised myself by becoming an emotional wreck when I recognized one of Addison's former nannies at the orphanage where she had a short stay. She remembered Addison and beamed when I showed her a recent photo. Belay told me that Addison's Ethiopian name, Biftu, was so uncommon that many remembered her. In addition to that explanation, I'm sure I was remembered because Aaron and I were the first African American family using Gladney to complete an adoption from Ethiopia. We stood out and therefore we were remembered. There have been at least a dozen or more African American families who have since used Gladney to adopt from Ethiopia.
After we visited several orphanages, we grabbed dinner and headed back to the guest house to finish packing. Before I knew it, we were headed to the airport. After a five hour wait at the airport, we were boarding a plane and headed home. Solomon was such a champ during our long journey home. He slept, ate, and played during that 17 hour flight, all while tightening his grip around my heart. Our journey continues.
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