Sunday Snapshot: First Week Home

I thought I had somewhat prepared myself for being back home & all the transitional things that people warn you about.

I prepared myself for jet lag (especially since I do not do well with a messed up sleep pattern...ask Joe). I have yet to experience anything significant (hope I didn't just set myself up to hit a wall with that).

I prepared myself for meltdowns, temper tantrums, sleep issues, adjustment issues of every variety with K'Tyo. Notta. Nothing. He acts like he's been here his whole life & Joe & I keep waiting for the bottom to fall out. I know that sounds like me being a negative Nelly, but it is really kind of crazy. Yes, he's acted like a 4-yr-old when he doesn't much care for a directive or if the answer is "no", but I would expect nothing less. But otherwise, he seems to thoroughly enjoy every new experience with ease.

I prepared myself for Kaya to be clingy since Mommy has never been away from her. Well, here's where I got sucker-punched. She's not been clingy. I almost wish that's what I was dealing with. She's been a stinker. A naughty, rebellious stinker. At the beginning of the week, I actually felt grief b/c I felt like I lost my baby. Things have gotten better as the week has gone on, but that has been the hardest part of all of this. The good news is that she & K'Tyo are getting along really well, & he is actually very protective of her. It's quite sweet, actually. My hope for the coming week is to share some things from my journal about our time in Ethiopia (with pictures, of course!!). I can't believe we've been home a week!

Ok, so I'm sure you've heard enough of the update...here's what you really want:














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Happy to Be Home!

As much as we loved our time in Ethiopia, it is such a blessing to be home! K'Tyo was amazing on that long flight (we got stuck on the runway in Amsterdam for over 3 hours b/c of the ash cloud) & is enjoying getting to know Daddy & his other brothers & sisters.

We spent much of yesterday with doctor visits. The good news is they took off that yucky cast & he did not have to have another one put on b/c he's healing up so well. He just has to wear a brace for playtime. The bad news is he has a stress fracture in his lower right leg, which is what has been causing his limp. It should heal on its own, so no cast for that.

I have many pictures & experiences from our trip that I would like to share (I journaled while I was there since Blogger was not cooperating), but for now, here's a couple pics from his first evening at home. You can also view a few more pictures here. Our friend, Tim, is a local photographer that gave us a most precious gift by coming to the airport & then to our home to take pictures of our first moments together.

From Ethiopia

Not sure if this will work, but we'll give emailing a post a try.  I can see blogger here, but I can't do anything with it.  Internet is spotty, too.

 

Anyway, this week has been one of the most remarkable of my life.  I have been journaling a lot to help me remember things as well as process them.  Things are so extreme here.  There are cars everywhere just making up their own traffic patterns & rules.  They share the road with many pedestrians, dogs, donkeys, goats, etc.  There is also poverty unimaginable everywhere; things torn apart, falling apart...It's not very pretty, & yet it is beautiful.

 

There is so much I want to share...so much on my heart.  But the beauty is like none other.  The reason it is so spectacular is b/c it really has nothing to do with the outward appearance of things.  It has to do with an attitude...people are loving, friendly, & they genuinely value each other here, especially children.   For example, when we had to go to our embassy appointment, we pulled up & got out of our van.  A street beggar in rags with obvious signs of a disease came running so excited up to K'Tyo.  He kissed him on both cheeks with such delight.  Sounds somewhat horrific, right? Actually, it was humbling.  In that moment I was stunned b/c he did not ask for money...he saw a treasure greater than money.

 

Yes, I have a lot to share and a lot to learn.

Sunday Snapshot: K'Tyo's Coming Home

Hey bloggers, this is Kaelee. I am the oldest of now seven children and I offered to blog for mom while she was gone. Kaya is doing very well for mommy being gone. She even waved at mommy until she was out of sight and yelled, "BYE MOM!!" Mom and Kam made it to Africa okay and... well, let me just show you some pictures instead of talking :)












HI BROTHER! We'll see you in one week!!

PS The teacher in me wants to know how they're communicating. :)

On Our Way

I am sitting here in the airport with Kam. It is pretty surreal. You make the decision, do paperwork, wait, do more paperwork, wait, wait, hope, plan, get frustrated, wait, get excited, wait, get nervous, did I mention you do a lot of waiting?

And then, BAM, here we are. At the front end of our long trip many miles away to bring our little boy home.

I am excited, nervous, a little tired at the moment from packing & rearranging luggage to use up every one of our allowed pounds. I'm a bit emotional, too...It's hard to realize you are going to be away from those that you love the most for 10 days. But I continue to pray & trust that God will have His hand on all of us.

Since I am unsure of internet connections while I'm gone, Kaelee has offered to do a couple of updates on what's happening. Who knows, Joe may even pop in if he needs a place to "process".

So, friends, here we go!!

Being Brave...Being Blessed

I have a confession: I like being comfortable & knowing what to expect.

The problem with that? I had kids.

Comfort: Over.

Knowing What to Expect: Definitely over.

And how thankful I am!!

The reason this has come up is that there have been a lot of people asking me how I am feeling about traveling to Africa to bring home our son. Honestly, I have not allowed myself to think about it too much for fear of my mind paralyzing me. I've kind of gone into "mommy auto pilot".

However, last night I decided it was time to think about it a little bit as the reality has hit: I'm leaving in less than a week. So, I prayed. And you know what came along? The realization that without my husband & children, there are a whole lot of things I would have avoided just to remain comfortable.

Which translates to: I would have missed out on a whole lot of living!

Because of my family, I have stepped out of comfort zones to experience the things that bring them joy or the things that they want to experience.

Each of my children has opened my world to new things, but for now I'll just share a few that have to do with Kearsten. She has been the one that has had me WAY out of my comfort zones. From wanting desperately to try the Hulk roller coaster to dropping 12 stories on a water slide (which ended with the biggest wedgie of my life) to parasailing wayyyy up high....What an adventure being this girl's mother has been!!

So, yes, there may be a bit of apprehension as I get ready to travel over 8,000 miles away to a different country, but I will do it for the sake of my son. And because of him & the rest of my family, I will continue to experience this life as an adventure instead of a comfy, boring existence.

And I'm cool with that.

One Week

I just heard "the word". Our embassy appointment has been confirmed for May 4th. We are leaving in one week to go pick up our son!!

One.Week.

Holy smokes.

I need to quit buying toys & start making a dent in "the list". Seriously, my cart at T*rget yesterday looked more like I was Christmas shopping than getting ready for a trip. I had a list. I just chose not to use it.

For now, I will go to bed in denial & dream about bringing home my son (and, of course, in this dream, everything is neatly packed & ready to go).

Tomorrow, look out...I will be a woman with lists a-plenty on a mission!

Mommy's coming, Little Man....................