K
I really don't like remembering the morning of this day. It is not the best morning we have had during this experience. I woke up around 3 am and just laid in bed until about 5:30, this waking up early is becoming a habit. (It also didn't help that housekeeping tried delivering a fruit plate to us last night at 9:30 pm. We had already been in bed for 45 minutes.)
We began the day with breakfast on the first floor of the hotel. There wasn't any pancakes this morning, I hope there are some tomorrow. We ate french toast, sambusa with lentils, and were again brought some sausages. After coffee we headed back upstairs to re-brush our teeth and get ready for court.
Danny picked us and the C family up at 8:30 am and we stopped for gas on the way to meet Haile in Moscow Square before getting to court in the Bole subcity at about 9 am. Haile was our court advocate for the day.
After entering the building we climbed 3 or 4 flights of stairs and walked down a hall lined with people. Haile deposited us in a bright room and immediately left us standing in the middle of the room. The room was filled with other adoptive families as well as birth families. When we entered the room, it was full and people kept coming in. We stood pretty much in silence, watching others and talking only every once in a while. Haile would pop in every once in a while, but he talked with other court advocates.
Eventually a door opened, a lady asked for silence (there had been a gentle mummer in room) and called out, something. The door opened multiple times, birth families were called as well as adoptive families. The room slowly emptied, we got to sit. We noticed Haile go into the room, we noticed him come back out. We watched those around us, we noticed their mannerisms and their reactions as they came out of the room.
At about 10:20, the door opened again, Haile got up and signaled for us and the C family to go into the room. It was our turn to appear before the judge. Although I do not remember the exact wording she used, the judge asked us:
Numb. That is how I felt as I followed Haile out the door. I couldn't look at your Dad, if I did I knew I would cry. I couldn't cry there. Others were legally giving up their children and I was wanting to cry over missing documents. We crossed the waiting room and entered the darker hallway. People were still lined up in the hall, don't cry. Haile greeted someone on the stairs, don't cry. The tears welled as we walked down the flights of stairs. When we reached the landing of floor directly below, there was a group of women holding children, differently don't cry. We got outside, the tears spilled. I continued to follow Haile until we got to where the court sign was outside of the building. People were staring as the tears silently rolled down my face. Haile turned to us and started explaining.
MOWCYA hadn't sent all of the documents. He found this out when we first got to court, the documents were on their way, if they weren't already there. He stated we would pass, as soon as the documents were there, it would be this afternoon. I know we asked him to repeat this. I am sure we asked multiple times. I wouldn't feel okay until I had heard we passed.
Your Dad and I left the others for a moment and walked down the street for a bit. We didn't walk far.We walked back to the van and as we were getting in, Haile became my new best friend. He said he would wait at court until our documents got there. He wanted to be able to tell us when we officially passed.
Following court we went shopping. Even not passing court, shopping was able to put a smile on my face. Danny pulled up to a "shop" and told us we had an hour. We walked into the first shop with the C family and were overwhelmed. There were so many things to see, touch, and the different smells. In the back of the shop incense was burning as they prepared coffee. I went to work. The S family asked if we could get some items for them since they would not be going to market this time. I finished with their list and began our list. I asked how much items were. I stated what I didn't like about an item and a new one was placed before me. I said what I liked and didn't like, a new item appeared. We bought some items and went to the next shop.
We continued this, every once in a while being stopped by a worker from the first shop. He kept trying to sell us a ceramic nativity set. I wasn't a fan of it. One time he showed us the set, there were two Marys. The next time, 5 wise men. Kinda weird, especially when he told me I was wrong when I pointed it out.
We only went to the shops along the street where Danny parked the van. We had heard from other families prices were better if we followed the street to the "T" and went to those shops, it was more crowded up there. We were overwhelmed enough.
Your Dad and I like to give each other a hard time. We were in a shop and as I turned I saw your Dad didn't have our bags. Panic. I asked him what he did with them. He told me a guy answering to Danny took them. I was like, "What do you mean answering to Danny?!?!?!?" He said a guy came up to him, your Dad asked if he was Danny, and then he gave him the bags. Panic. Then your Dad started laughing at me. So not funny.
We went in with an idea of what we wanted, which is probably a good thing. Everything started to look alike after awhile. Literally. The carvings were the same from one stall to the next. There were differences on what you would find, one stall had silver crosses another didn't, but it was the same. Finally your Dad and I decided we were done.We walked to the van and got into it. We sat there waiting for the C family to finish their shopping. As we waited a group of boys tried selling us a toothbrush. It is a decorated stick you just rub against your teeth. The guy from the first store came up again, we sat there.
Eventually we left the market and went to a restaurant and art gallery. We walked around looking at the art, we ordered food, we bought art. If we are ever at this restaurant again, your Dad won't order a burger.
One of the paintings we bought. This is a painting of shiro wat. We tried shiro for the first time this trip. We love it! The guy who is next to it is the painter.
Our other two paintings. The blue street scene will go in your room. K, I have a confession. We spent a lot at the art gallery. Luckily they took credit cards, but we did get a free carving out of our purchases.
After the restaurant/art gallery, we went back to the hotel. The security guards jumped up to be the ones to search us instead of the police. It was probably a good thing, especially since we had bought a knife at the market.
At 3:00 pm Wass picked us back up from the hotel. Wass even got searched while trying to enter the hotel. When we asked him about whether he normally got searched, he responded, "Now, yes. Usually no, they are like Wass!!!" It felt like a Cheers moment.
So I so wish I could share the pictures, but when we got to HH, we immediately went to your room. When we got there, I will admit I was confused. You weren't to be found. M smiled at me and said you were getting a bath. We walked into the bathroom and you were just sitting in the little tub splashing as your special mother tried to clean you. K, I got to help with your bath. I didn't get to help for long, only your back still needed to be rinsed, but I got to do that, pick you up, and wrap you in a towel.
Following your bath, I got to rub lotion into you, put a fresh diaper on you, and get you in your afternoon outfit. Hon, you don't like how I put lotion on you. You also were not a fan of my dressing you. Luckily M was there, picked you up, and calmed you. I am thinking she might need to come home with us.
Eventually you were back in my arms and it was time to eat. Okay, so I need some practice with this as well. I am totally saying it was super thin though. Multiple times your special mothers tried making it thicker, but it was not to be. Don't worry, I am thinking we will get a lot of chance to practice.
After your rice cereal, we took you outside. There we had a photo shoot with another bib, the tuxedo bib. It was a good thing we put it on you, we found out while we were in the courtyard we passed court! Almaz came over to talk to us and shared the good news. From there we followed her into her office to talk to her about you. You did so well in your Dad's arms as we sat in her office. Almaz has been worried about you and your development. We talked to her about what I do and the resources we have available to us due to where we live. We talked a long time, I am thinking she isn't as worried about you coming to live with us as she was. (I hope we were able to ease some of her concerns. Throughout our conversation you could so tell she loves and cares about all of the children who enter the doors of HH. She so wants great outcomes for all of them.)
While we talked to her, we learned about the orphanage we visited the day before. We learned how they do not feed the babies using a bottle. While you were there, you were not held by the care givers. You also didn't get any tummy time. This so explains some things we have observed. K, you have come so far in the two months since you were carried through HH's black gate.
We left Almaz's office to return to the courtyard. All too soon we were told once again, "Time to go." We carried you back the butterfly room, gave you kisses and left for the hotel. We ate dinner with everyone at the Riveria, including the newest official members of the S family, at least according to the US Embassy in Addis. From dinner we went upstairs to pack.
K, I so don't think you got the memo today, but according to the Ethiopian government, we are now your parents. You are now officially, in Ethiopia, K. Lucas P.
Love,
Mom
I really don't like remembering the morning of this day. It is not the best morning we have had during this experience. I woke up around 3 am and just laid in bed until about 5:30, this waking up early is becoming a habit. (It also didn't help that housekeeping tried delivering a fruit plate to us last night at 9:30 pm. We had already been in bed for 45 minutes.)
We began the day with breakfast on the first floor of the hotel. There wasn't any pancakes this morning, I hope there are some tomorrow. We ate french toast, sambusa with lentils, and were again brought some sausages. After coffee we headed back upstairs to re-brush our teeth and get ready for court.
Danny picked us and the C family up at 8:30 am and we stopped for gas on the way to meet Haile in Moscow Square before getting to court in the Bole subcity at about 9 am. Haile was our court advocate for the day.
Eventually a door opened, a lady asked for silence (there had been a gentle mummer in room) and called out, something. The door opened multiple times, birth families were called as well as adoptive families. The room slowly emptied, we got to sit. We noticed Haile go into the room, we noticed him come back out. We watched those around us, we noticed their mannerisms and their reactions as they came out of the room.
At about 10:20, the door opened again, Haile got up and signaled for us and the C family to go into the room. It was our turn to appear before the judge. Although I do not remember the exact wording she used, the judge asked us:
- Do you have children at home?
- Have you learned about Ethiopia?
- Do you plan on teaching your child about Ethiopia?
- You know this is final and cannot be reversed?
Numb. That is how I felt as I followed Haile out the door. I couldn't look at your Dad, if I did I knew I would cry. I couldn't cry there. Others were legally giving up their children and I was wanting to cry over missing documents. We crossed the waiting room and entered the darker hallway. People were still lined up in the hall, don't cry. Haile greeted someone on the stairs, don't cry. The tears welled as we walked down the flights of stairs. When we reached the landing of floor directly below, there was a group of women holding children, differently don't cry. We got outside, the tears spilled. I continued to follow Haile until we got to where the court sign was outside of the building. People were staring as the tears silently rolled down my face. Haile turned to us and started explaining.
MOWCYA hadn't sent all of the documents. He found this out when we first got to court, the documents were on their way, if they weren't already there. He stated we would pass, as soon as the documents were there, it would be this afternoon. I know we asked him to repeat this. I am sure we asked multiple times. I wouldn't feel okay until I had heard we passed.
We continued this, every once in a while being stopped by a worker from the first shop. He kept trying to sell us a ceramic nativity set. I wasn't a fan of it. One time he showed us the set, there were two Marys. The next time, 5 wise men. Kinda weird, especially when he told me I was wrong when I pointed it out.
Your Dad and I like to give each other a hard time. We were in a shop and as I turned I saw your Dad didn't have our bags. Panic. I asked him what he did with them. He told me a guy answering to Danny took them. I was like, "What do you mean answering to Danny?!?!?!?" He said a guy came up to him, your Dad asked if he was Danny, and then he gave him the bags. Panic. Then your Dad started laughing at me. So not funny.
We went in with an idea of what we wanted, which is probably a good thing. Everything started to look alike after awhile. Literally. The carvings were the same from one stall to the next. There were differences on what you would find, one stall had silver crosses another didn't, but it was the same. Finally your Dad and I decided we were done.We walked to the van and got into it. We sat there waiting for the C family to finish their shopping. As we waited a group of boys tried selling us a toothbrush. It is a decorated stick you just rub against your teeth. The guy from the first store came up again, we sat there.
Eventually we left the market and went to a restaurant and art gallery. We walked around looking at the art, we ordered food, we bought art. If we are ever at this restaurant again, your Dad won't order a burger.
After the restaurant/art gallery, we went back to the hotel. The security guards jumped up to be the ones to search us instead of the police. It was probably a good thing, especially since we had bought a knife at the market.
At 3:00 pm Wass picked us back up from the hotel. Wass even got searched while trying to enter the hotel. When we asked him about whether he normally got searched, he responded, "Now, yes. Usually no, they are like Wass!!!" It felt like a Cheers moment.
So I so wish I could share the pictures, but when we got to HH, we immediately went to your room. When we got there, I will admit I was confused. You weren't to be found. M smiled at me and said you were getting a bath. We walked into the bathroom and you were just sitting in the little tub splashing as your special mother tried to clean you. K, I got to help with your bath. I didn't get to help for long, only your back still needed to be rinsed, but I got to do that, pick you up, and wrap you in a towel.
Following your bath, I got to rub lotion into you, put a fresh diaper on you, and get you in your afternoon outfit. Hon, you don't like how I put lotion on you. You also were not a fan of my dressing you. Luckily M was there, picked you up, and calmed you. I am thinking she might need to come home with us.
While we talked to her, we learned about the orphanage we visited the day before. We learned how they do not feed the babies using a bottle. While you were there, you were not held by the care givers. You also didn't get any tummy time. This so explains some things we have observed. K, you have come so far in the two months since you were carried through HH's black gate.
We left Almaz's office to return to the courtyard. All too soon we were told once again, "Time to go." We carried you back the butterfly room, gave you kisses and left for the hotel. We ate dinner with everyone at the Riveria, including the newest official members of the S family, at least according to the US Embassy in Addis. From dinner we went upstairs to pack.
K, I so don't think you got the memo today, but according to the Ethiopian government, we are now your parents. You are now officially, in Ethiopia, K. Lucas P.
Love,
Mom
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