Elliott Family

Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire

2011-05-07T08:33:00.002-05:00

So I told a lie a few days ago. A complete one. Not fudging the facts a bit, just an out and out lie. My intentions weren't evil or for harm or even to make myself look good. I did it out of... avoidance, I guess. I am conflict avoidant. And I will avoid conflict, unless not avoiding it absolutely has to serve its purpose. I am not scared of it, I just don't like it. And actually, it pisses me off. I had plenty of conflict in my childhood and youth and I've come to a point in my life where I feel that I don't have to have that crap in my life if I don't want to. And folks that impede on that belief just hack me off. Because they are entering into my existence and rocking my boat. And I know that there are tons of people who LOVE conflict, like conflict, search it out, make it up, and create it, but I don't need it. Not having it has served me well. Now, I'm not completely without it and I realize it's healthy to resolve conflict, blah, blah, blah, and I know how to go about it, blah, blah, blah. And this doesn't mean I won't stand up for myself or my loved ones. But I just don't want it, if I don't need it!

So anyways...I tell my lie (to an acquaintance, not a friend or anyone even on facebook, so you are all in the clear :) and I was SO unconvincing. I wasn't ready for it. And I told it to get out of a "thing" that I didn't want to do because I don't like the people having the "thing". And it was funny. I was so annoyed and disappointed with myself for not being a better liar. And then I got annoyed that I felt that way, because I should be proud that I am pretty out of practice and not so accomplished at it! I'm trying to live my life as Jesus would if he were Rachel Elliott and I'm pretty sure he'd have just said, "No." and not lied. I've gotten so much better about saying "no" and have learned from my husband that sometimes it's okay to say "no" and not give a reason. Just say "no." End of story. I always feel the need to come up with an explanation of some sorts. But in this case I didn't feel the need to say that she and the other lady bug and annoy me, so I lied. And then she probed and I had to cough up details and stumbled around and felt ridiculous. But whatdaya do? You can't tell the truth, but don't wanna lie... What did Dennis tell me? Oh, yeah. Just say NO and leave it at that!

So now I feel stupid and I'm still disappointed in my lie delivery and I'm disappointed that I'm disappointed in my lie delivery. Can you imagine what my poor husband lives with? Trying to be a generative adult (thanks, Sara)...work in progress!

Everyone should have a little Faith

2011-04-12T20:23:00.001-05:00

So my friend Faith is an incredible Foodie. She is way more than that of course, she's funny, she's a fashionista, singer, musician, she's a great mom, wife, knitter(like, as in makes her own yarn, for Pete's sake) and when I say foodie, I mean, she even makes her own bread. Like, she DOESN'T BUY bread! You know how you have friends that you admire for different things, kind of wish you could be more like, in some ways? I always learn something when I go to her house. Sometimes it's how to cook something, sometimes it's discovering a vegetable that I did not know existed. I'm still holding on to a couple of packets of active dry yeast that I'm trying to remember what I'm supposed to do with. Anyways, it's always an education and I'm always inspired to try something after.

So the other day, I saw a blog with a recipe for something called a Radish Tart. Sounds gross, 'cause I don't like radishes, but it LOOKED delicious!

So I bought the stuff to make it. Maybe the radishes will taste differently cooked, I don't know. It looked easy enough, too.

Well, folks, this is what MY version of the tart looked like prior to cooking.

And after....

IT LOOKS LIKE THE ORIGINAL PICTURE!!

I NEVER make anything that looks right! And do you know what??? It tasted DIVINE!! That's right, Suckas, I made something that looked AND tasted delicious. Mark it down!

Ooh...I better go get a lotto ticket, too. See ya.

My buddies, Faith and Jenny

They would want me to show you who they are.

I Did A Full Half!!!

2011-02-07T09:15:00.008-06:00

Me, my coach, JD, and my little cheer section!

I did it! I successfully finished my first half marathon. I do believe it is a little bit like giving birth. You kind of forget the pain after. You know there was suffering, but it's a little blurred, now.

My morning did not start out so swell. JD, my coach was doing the race, too and he came by and picked me up at zero thirty in the morning. The race was going to start at 6:45am in January! Not to worry, it was in the balmy mid 60s or so. That eliminated the whole, "I'm gonna freeze", "what am I going to do once I heat up?" kind of questions. We got out of the driveway and I realized I had my heartrate strap on and no Garmin. Turn around. Got the watch and we were on our way. We found a great parking space(wonderfully and crucially,right next to the bathrooms, swwwweeet!) and then I discovered my watch was dead. This was a big deal because now I couldn't watch my pace and time or heart rate or anything! I KNOW I charged it up and had made sure 2 days prior that it was, but maybe an elbow knocked it off the base, I don't know. Oh, well, I could still run and it wasn't as bad as when I had forgotten my helmet, which you have to have to compete, at a triathlon and found someone to let me borrow one at the last minute, bless that stranger!

So I found a spot in the 5500+ people and waited for take off. The first 4 miles went by relatively quickly and felt good. I heard one lady telling another that they were under 11 minute pace and I knew I had to slow down a bit or I would run out of gas at the end. My goal was a) don't walk and b) under 12 minutes. My "stretch" goal was an 11:30 pace for the 1/2 marathon. 5k pace is not the same as 1/2 marathon pace I have learned! I'm a turtle, I know, but I'm out there, at least! The next few miles were ok, too, until I got to Burnet Road. I'm guessing around miles 7-9. I started the mental game around this point. It's the point where you still have quite a ways to go, but boredom and fatigue are starting to set in. I was getting thirsty around here, too. I usually wear my water belt when I run, but I decided to use their water stops with the exception of a small 8 oz bottle of 1/2 gatorade, 1/2 water in my fanny pack. They seriously need a different name for that thing. Not wearing the water belt proved to be a major mistake later. NEVER CHANGE THE ROUTINE! I drank about 1/2 my back up and saved the rest in case. I knew if I could make it to mile 11, I'd see Dennis and Chrissy and the kids and that would get me from 11-12. And I knew that once I was at 12, I was on the last mile and close to the end and that would spur me on to the finish. I FINALLY got to mile 11 and saw everyone and when I did I threw my hands in the air and ran over and gave them high fives. I had a small hill after that and probably expended too much energy when I saw them, but it was such a bright spot after the last 2-3 miles prior. I finally got to mile 12, which was possibly measured wrong at two miles rather than one, I swear. I saw JD as I was closing in on the finish line and he ran with me for a short bit and congratulated me and told me to sprint it in, which I did. Well, it felt like a sprint, anyways. Looking at the video, it was more of a normal jog :).

And I did it! I saw my crew right at the finish line and went to get something to drink. About 5 minutes later, I started to feel woozy, so I sat down. And then, it never let up. I laid in the dirt. I sat by port a potties. I spent time in the port a potty. I laid in the dirt by the port a potty. Finally worked my way over to the Med Tent, which was a mile away. At least it felt like it. Everyone was saying, "It's just right there." It was an eternity away! I wanted to puke and sleep and I couldn't do either. My dear friends and family may have been backhanded if they shoved another bottle of Gatorade or water in my face, had I the energy to do so. The thought of drinking something made my stomach turn. I knew I had hit all the water stops, so I don't think it was dehydration, but maybe hyponatremia. I wasn't THAT thirsty. But I did only have 1 cup of power drink the entire race. And I had changed from my electrolyte chews to caffeine ones that had some sodium, but not much. With the heat that I hadn't been training in plus those changes, I think it just hit me.

Overall, the race itself was awesome. I felt good for most of the run and I didn't walk and I averaged an 11:34 mile! Only 4 sec/mi off my stretch goal! I was more bummed that I couldn't enjoy the fun part of the whole shebang, which is AFTER you are done! It was also embarrassing. I'm sooo glad that I didn't actually pass out or puke. I was close!

Wearing my medal and my 13.1 Miles and Still Smiling Tshirt(thanks, Chrissy!) in the med tent. Someone take this stupid banana. I don't want it!

Next stop: Zooma 1/2 Marathon April 16th

Lesson: NEVER CHANGE THE ROUTINE!
3M 1/2 Marathon: 2:31:28

Cultural Identification- spandex vs. the bun hugger

2011-01-29T19:44:00.000-06:00

AAAHHH! Tomorrow I run my first half marathon. I'm nervous, but glad as hell to get it behind me. Even though I have another tougher one in April. Running has been very interesting and has allowed me a lot of quiet time. I have time to think and pray, which probably accounts for the such fantastical state of mental health I regularly uphold. You gotta really work at sanity, people. It's like a healthy relationship (as I've learned at our current conversation series at Newchurch), they just don't accidentally happen. Now, I'm being sarcastic because I'm just as crazy as the next person. Obviously. I'm running 13.1 miles. And I'm no teeny thing and I'm slow so I'm running for 2 1/2+ hours straight. But I still don't feel like a "runner". I certainly don't look the part, but there is a whole culture here that I just don't think I fit the bill for. I like to run. But do I loooove it? Not sure. It's the same for cycling. I really like that. I plan to do a longer ride later this year and try that sport out, too. But will I fit that bill? I liked doing the sprint triathlons last year and I'll be doing those again this year. I like to run, I like to ride, although the swimming is for the fishes. I definitely am not a swimmer. Thankfully you get that out of the way, first. So triathlons...maybe that's where I belong. It's seems like a good sport for committers who can't commit. Does that make sense? I'll put in the time, but I don't have to technically pledge my loyalty to any one group and if I don't feel like doing my run training, I can ride my bike and technically I still did some tri training :) and vice versa. Love me loopholes, matey! But I short myself, blah, blah, blah, I know.

But I digress...running culture and ~~biking~~ cycling culture(sorry swimmers, a non issue here) are so...I don't know. But they definitely have one! Walk into a bike store and the men talk bike parts and have 10% body fat and don't mind walking around with their ding dongs showing in their spandex. I don't know if I can get onboard with that. And the women, well, I haven't seen a lot of them, but they wear spandex, too, and my butt is flat. And runners...well, I can bound and gag my chest, but there's no getting around my thighs eating runner shorts for a snack. But thankfully, the equation is not equal...bun huggers≠spandex. But running is a lot of time in your head. I can only be in there so long, you know?

So I guess triathlons is the best bet for me. I'll still try on the others for size once in awhile to mix it up, though. I gotta wear spandex but I can throw on some cover if I like. And I've seen all sizes tear it up there, too. It's inspiring because everyone starts in waves by ages(they publicize your age on the back of your calf for everyone's enjoyment) and you might be riding along and see a 72 on the back of a leg and think, "That's amazing! I wonder if I'll do this at age 72? Prolly only be 3 of us, so I'll prolly win my age group, too! I better beat this old lady or I really suck." In that order.

Word up

2011-01-24T19:22:00.000-06:00

On the KLOVE radio station they are talking about this thing that they are doing where they come up with one word to define the year. Call it your mantra, your personal motto, whatever, but in one word. For instance, Lisa, I believe was the DJ, said that she kept kinda hemming and hawing (I like that phrase) over her word and finally she decided to pray about it and ask God what His word for her should be. The word she heard in her heart was "clear". Didn't sound like a great one to me until she looked it up in the dictionary and read it.

Clear-
1.free from darkness, obscurity or cloudiness; light.
2.transparent
3.without discoloration, defect or blemish
4.pure

Wow...pretty good word after all.

So what is my word for 2011? What is your word? Maybe more importantly than the word is the thought process to come up with the thing. Because I find myself searching and maybe evaluating (necessary evil, for sure) myself to find it.

LOVE LETTERS

2011-01-24T18:56:00.002-06:00

"My heart is filled with joy to write you this letter to greet you in the name of Jesus.

I thank you so much for the support that you sent to me to go to school, I'm so sorry that I was not there when the church was here in October because I went to Port-Au-Prince to visit my brother he was sick.

I hope to see you next year. I'm in 7th grade this year.

Pray for me I'm praying for you. May God bless you.

I wish you Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2011.

Rita"

Love Letters

2011-01-22T17:44:00.000-06:00

I am the Hope for Kids coordinator for my church. We sponsor children for school in Haiti through an organization called Reciprocal Ministries Inc. We are also part of the sister church program that they coordinate. Our sister church, who we committed to pray for, visit, care for, and assist in any way we can, is in a small village called Les Abricots. It's a tiny village right on the beach, although it's not a beach that you and I could hop into without catching something and I don't mean fish!

Anyways, we sponsor 35+ kids for school and today I received some thank you letters from the kids. Some are uplifting and some are so sad. These kids have been through so much. Hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, hunger, cholera outbreaks, and this is just in the past year. There is no insurance, no medicaid, no grief counselors, no one to diagnose post traumatic stress disorder. In some cases, there is no longer a mommy or daddy. Or sister or brother. My heart breaks for this country. And I know it isn't the only one this way. But it's so close to us, so close to Jamaica with it's resorts. It's attached to the Dominican Republic for crying out loud! You look around Haiti and you just wonder WHY. It's natural landscape is something postcards are made of. So much wrong. And so much still so good. When I see their smiles it is something I can't explain. And even though when I go there, all I have to offer are some words and hugs, they act as though I have given them the world. In reality, I come back with so much more. I have gotten to see a lot wonderful places in my life that a lot of people will never see. I have had vodka out of a glass made of ice on an island in Sweden. I have walked the streets of Prague and London and been in castles and churches in Scotland. And I have visited orphanages in Ethiopia and and villages in Haiti. I have wondered often why I have been privy to see these places around the world. 10 years ago I had never been anywhere and wouldn't have thought in a million years that I would see these places. And I have to think that there must be a reason. I have seen ridiculous extravagance and poverty I never could have imagined. So I figure that there must be a purpose. I don't know what that purpose is. And I pray that God will show me whatever it is. I know that sometimes I think I know what that is or maybe what I hope it is or want it to be. But there is one thing that I am sure of. That is that my most treasured visit and the place where my answer probably lies is where the beauty was in the people and our relationship with them and in a church made out of cinderblocks and a dirt floor.

"Dear Sponsor,

Today is a great day for me to write this letter to you. How are you and your activities? I'm doing well praise be to God.

I think you for helping me go to school. My father is unable to do so for me and my mom has died.

I love you so much and I wish you Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2011.

Exanta"

What am I willing to do

2011-01-20T19:48:00.001-06:00

So, I haven't blogged in like, years. I used to be so good about it during the adoption process. But lately, I've been having thoughts that Facebook just can't contain or express. Must. Be. Heard. or maybe Must. Run. Mouth. :) I always had a problem with conduct grades as a kid.

Anyways, I just saw this quote and it spoke to me and it also jogged a memory.

"Sometime in your life, hope that you might see one starved man, the look on his face when the bread finally arrives. Hope that you might have baked it or bought it or even kneaded it yourself. For that look on his face, for your meeting his eyes across a piece of bread, you might be willing to lose a lot, or suffer a lot, or die a little even.
~Daniel Berrigan

When Jeanene and I were in Ethiopia getting my little handful, Piper, we were driving, leaving, I think. We came up to a stoplight and there was a man laying against a tree. We had a small grocery bag with a bunch of fruit and crackers that we weren't going to be able to take with us, but felt guilty throwing away. Ordinarily, it would have been stuff that we would have done just that. We rolled down the window and motioned for the man to come to us. He could barely get up. People just sleep along the road and in the narrow medians, just a small swerve from death. Parapalegics are EVERYWHERE. There are no wheelchairs or crutches. They are just dragging themselves around. Can you imagine? But I digress...we handed him the crackers I think, first, and he took them eagerly and kind of waved and started to walk away and then we realized, he probably wasn't too picky an eater and gave him the whole bag. He kept waving and nodding his head and started to eat immediately. And then we drove off. I saw a starved man's face then.

Summer pics

2008-09-07T13:50:00.000-05:00

Summer pics!

2008-09-07T13:32:00.002-05:00

Gotcha Girl!

2008-07-08T07:58:00.005-05:00

Next week marks 1 year since we Gotcha, Piper! And we just happen to leave for Hawaii that day, so we are going to celebrate in a huge way with a fantastic trip! Dennis's company is participating in a conference-ish thing there and they pay for spouse's to go...how incredible is that? We decided to extend the 3 day work part into a week and are bringing the kids and my mom is coming, too. We may not have a cake to celebrate her Gotcha Day, but we will celebrate all week long.

The boys have been taking swimming lessons so that they are ready for our trip. Camden is swimming now and can do a few "tricks" and Bro isn't far behind. Peeps is not afraid of the water at all and if they did lessons for 2 yr olds w/o the mommy-and-me type of waste-of-money class, she would show them how it is done. It was really important that they learn to swim and well, because I can't take them all swimming by myself during the week because of the different stages they are in at their ages. And swimming is a must when it is a 100 degrees on a regular basis. It is too hot for them to do anything else outside and well, I am sorry, but the thought of us all cooped up inside for 3 months straight and for 14 hours a day makes me shake, shiver, and a little nauseous. Camden is reading up a storm and is ready for kindergarten to start. He can not wait. We even had to take a picture of his school so he can look at it. And Brodan, well, let's just say he doesn't have the interest in learning that his brother does and I was a little worried. The whole ABC thing was completely lost on him. I bought the Leap Frog Letter Factory DVD and after about a week of playing it on the TV, he has it down! I can not believe it. And do you know that Piper is telling me the sounds the letters make??? At 2 years old? I SWEAR by that video, even though I cry a little bit when I hear it now because it makes your ears bleed after the 150th time. It is her favorite video and she asks for it at least 10x a day. She is getting funnier by the day. The other day, I said something to her and she looked around both ways and said, "you talkin' to me?"(said WITH the accent and attitude, thank you!)

When school starts I will be teaching my own class at the parents day out, yay! I have been an aide in the past. I am so excited. I love the 4-5 age, so it will be fun. I have been exercising at the rec center for a couple of months now and I love it, however, I have lost a total of 3 stinking pounds. What is up with that? Granted, the eating has not changed at all, but I go for about an hour 4x a week and do cardio and weights. My clothes fit the same, too. It is a little discouraging. Anyone an expert on that stuff? I alternate upper and lower body, too. I guess you have incorporate the diet portion of it all. I have done diets before, or excuse me, lifestyle changes, but never the workout part. And I lost weight eating less and thought maybe that would be the case with just working out, too, but I guess that was just dumb wishing on my part. Whatever. I have to assume SOMETHING good is coming out of it, anyways.

Summer fun

2008-06-23T07:16:00.002-05:00

Happy PreK Graduation!

2008-05-20T07:31:00.002-05:00

Yes, I know it is silly that they do "graduation" for the kids at Parent's Day Out. I really thought so always, that is, until it is my kid's turn. It was something exciting for the kids to do and got them excited about going to kindergarten. What parent doesn't like watching their child in a program of any sort?

Anyways, my baby boy has grown into my little boy-goofy, goofy, goofy. He makes up silly words, laughs at anything poop and fart related, and has made his butt cheeks talk to me on more than one occasion. And now his brother, who is a year and a 1/2 younger, is just more up on the take on it all. I love little boys :)

And my little girl? She is quite the pistol and loves to announce her own bodily functions at the dinner table...gotta keep up with the bros! Not to worry though, she is ALL girl- she loves her shoes, necklaces, and purses. And she can flip through a small board book for an hour. There is NO WAY the boys could do that. She has a great sense of humor and LOVES to tease. In her future, I definitely see the words "strong woman" attached to her and for those who can't handle her, I am sure they will use another word. But I am so glad to see that my daughter will hold her own when she needs to! I would not have it any other way!

Work in progress.

2008-05-12T20:55:00.003-05:00

Some things I have noticed and I have wanted to blog about but find that I don't have the time to think it through and do:

1. I am incredibly suburban. I am pop culture, pop music, married with 3 kids, on my way to having some bumper stickers on the back of my SUV, blah, blah, blah. I can't help it. It is who I am. I have made peace with it. But I hope my kids are weird. And by weird, I mean not scared to be who they are. I think it was bred into me to be mainstream and and that the only reason you should stand out is because you do something better than others. Not different, better.

2. I am not above stealing quotes from other blogs. Matter of fact, every quote I use is off of another blog. Not because I read something profound in a book that I am reading to further myself and not scripture out of the Bible. Just good ole' stolen material. I do give credit, though.

3. I love Haiti. And because of Piper, I love Ethiopia. I think I love anyone that I see is suffering. It really tears at me. And I wonder what is next for me and my family. Hub unit is going on his first mission trip this year. I am stoked even though that means I can't go. This time. Next year is all mine!!!!

4. I am tired of being fat. I joined the gym and I am loving going even though I will spend $4 in gas every time I go. I think I have just gotten so desperate for alone time (hello! can I go to the bathroom w/o an audience telling me good job when I'm done???) that if it means 30 min. on a treadmill is the way I'm going to get it, then so be it!

That is all my self revelation for now. Dennis needs the computer.

That Jesus Guy

2008-05-07T08:29:00.007-05:00

ETHIOPIA

HAITI

If you want your problems, your fears, your dreams, passions, and hobbies to feel incredibly SMALL…visit Haiti. Caring for orphans, widows, the broken and oppressed is surely the most valuable and holy thing we can do. And must do. That Jesus-guy was really on to something.

-Aaron Ivey (adoptive father of Amos, in Haiti)

You can insert many places into this quote. I love the end of it! You don't have to peer down from the pulpit quoting scripture to sound like you know exactly what is up!

Quote of the Day

2008-05-02T08:51:00.001-05:00

Some wish to live within the sound of a chapel bell, I want to run a rescue shop within a yard of Hell."
- C.T. Studd

I'm not there yet, but that is my aim.

Like Summer

2008-05-01T08:49:00.005-05:00

Having fun cleaning our wheels and each other!

Have you ever made Gak or Oobleck? It is wild! You take water and cornstarch and mix it together. It is so weird. It looks soupy, but when you squeeze it, it becomes a solid. After you squeeze it just open your hand and it becomes a liquid again. The kids loved it.

Little Boys and the ER

2008-04-09T21:15:00.001-05:00

So Tuesday I made a dumb comment and said that we have only made one trip to the ER for pneumonia and that we have been lucky. Time to update. Last night Cam was in the shower, slipped on Diego, and cracked the back of his head wide open to the point that we have now seen our son's skull. It was so bad that it actually cut his hair. The doctor thought we had tried to cut his hair around the laceration. Yeah, no time for that really. Dennis was the one who walked in and saw what looked like a murder scene (one in which I will be bleaching floors to get rid of the evidence...doesn't that always work, ha-ha). Apparently head wounds bleed like a stuck pig. So we called my mom, who lives close, thankfully, to come watch Brodan and Piper and headed on down to the hospital on the longest, most red-light ridden ride of our lives. I have to give props to Georgetown hospital, which you most certainly don't hear of very much, because they got us in and out in about an hour and a half and they were great with us and Camden. He has 4 stitches inside his head and 8 staples on the outside. He will forever have a scar in his hair. I am so proud of him, too. He was very brave. So I need to change my statement from Tuesday to say that little boys make me laugh AND cry.

2008-04-08T20:12:00.002-05:00

These pictures are just a day in the life of little boys. How either one didn't end up with a complete black eye, I don't know. So far we haven't had any ER runs, with the exception of pneumonia (of course it had to be a Saturday), so I guess we are lucky. Although, they are still pretty little. Little boys just make me laugh. It is either a mile a minute or a snail's pace for these two.

For Camden's 5th birthday, instead of having a big party, Dennis and I took just him to SeaWorld for the day. It was the first time that he had ever done anything with just him and mom and dad. That made me sad. Now, he has done lots of stuff with just me or just dad, but never together. It was such a great experience that we decided that that is the 5th birthday-deal from here on out. I will make it a point, though, that Dennis and I do something with each child, on a smaller, less expensive scale, every year. Why is this such a difficult thing to do? When I write it down, it sounds terrible of us. And I really think that we are a very family oriented family, especially at this point with everyone so young, but to do that seems like a huge ordeal to undertake. It will be so worth it, though. Cam had the best day and so did we!

2008-04-02T16:12:00.008-05:00

HAPPY 5TH BIRTHDAY, CAMDEN! WE ALL LOVE YOU!

The Mek Tribe

2008-03-31T15:50:00.002-05:00

I am so sad. Last week, I discovered "Living With The Mek Tribe" on the travel channel and watched 3/4 of the day's marathon. Yesterday, I finished watching it and the season finale. And now, I have nothing. It was the most interesting show. I would be dead in 2 days, or at least dropped like a hot potato and ditched quickly because I would never make it and would be such a detriment to anyone who had to deal with me. What a hard life. Watching the show made my mission trips to Haiti seem like a vacation, although, I don't quite "live" completely the way the Haitians do when I go. However, it is still roughing it! Tribal life was such an amazing thing to watch and it is funny, even though we have "advanced" over centuries, our relationships are just as messed up and/or wonderful as an indigenous tribe of people's in the middle of absolutely nowhere. I hope they do a "reunion" show. Just joking. What a great show.

Camden turns 5 this week. I.can.not.believe.it.

The Elliott team

2008-03-26T17:00:00.003-05:00

Camden has begun T-ball. For those who have seen 4-6 year olds play T-Ball, you know that it is a complete joke. Well, at least for those parents who don't think that their child's career is at stake anyway. Cam has had a few games, and he absolutely LOVES it! That said, poor baby is not a natural. He has the batting thing, running the bases thing down, but playing out in the field? Uh. No. It doesn't matter where he is playing, he chases the ball while it is in motion. Or, if he is playing a base, and there happens to be a coach standing close to tell him to stay by the bag, he stands on it and puts his hand out like he is directing traffic to tell the runner to stop. His birthday is next week and we are seriously getting him a video game thingy(that is daddy territory) with a baseball game, so that he can see and learn the rules better. The boy is freaky about rules, so hopefully this will help. We try and explain at home, but there isn't enough people for him to get the gist of it all, so we just practice catching, fielding grounders, batting, and that type of thing. Now, I say that we aren't parents who think that our kids will live,eat, sleep the sport at 5 years old, but it is hard to watch your kid shooting imaginary spider webs and having imaginary conversations with his glove without yelling out his name to pay attention once in awhile. And can we pee while we are in the dugout waiting to bat or does it have to be out on the field, where EVERYONE gets to hear about it? Of course, he isn't the only one, but definitely one that you can count on for entertainment EVERY TIME. Just like I am sure his violin teacher refers to him as the kid who farts every lesson when she talks about her day. It is only 30 minutes for crying out loud, can you hold it please?! Does anyone know what age children begin to be embarrassed about everything, 'cause I'm waiting! I am learning, though. I don't cringe as much as I used to.

And a Brodan story? About a month ago we passed a lady coming out of the restroom at HEB(because we always have to go check out every bathroom) who smiled at the kids. Unfortunately, she was missing a couple of teeth. So Brodan, in his very loud bellowy voice, screams, while pointing, "hers don't have her teef, Mama!" and again, "hers don't have her teef!" She stopped smiling.

Piper hasn't done anything embarrassing yet, except pitch fits, and give go to hell looks to strangers who try to smile and talk to her. She can't help it, she's 2 and her face is either hot or cold, smiling or eat my shorts.

Ahh, kids. I am so glad that we are ripping the band-aid off, so to speak. It is a very challenging time right now with everyone home and these ages, but definitely entertaining. People who homeschool are saints.

2008-03-22T10:34:00.000-05:00

2008-03-14T20:55:00.000-05:00

2008-03-06T19:35:00.000-06:00

Sleeping Angels and zoo animals

2008-02-26T10:27:00.005-06:00

We went to the zoo in Waco yesterday because it was 91 DEGREES HERE!!!In the middle of February! What is up with that? And do you know that today, the high will be 66 degrees. You can't rotate winter and summer clothes here because every day, you have no idea. And since the boys share a closet, this can be an issue. I don't know what we'll do when they get bigger. Jeez.

Pretty in pink

Overtaking our bed

At the Zoo

BIG GIRL!

2008-02-15T09:01:00.005-06:00

We are in big girl panties and in a big girl bed! The panties are still iffy(we aren't public-pantying just yet), but we are going #2 in the potty now and have an accident with #1 only here and there, so we have made great strides! We converted her crib last week and she has done wonderfully in it. All 3 made the switch very easily and I have to give myself some credit. I was kind of the sleep nazi. Once you were put into your bed, I don't come back, no matter what. Dr Weissbluth of Healthy Sleep Habits, Healthy Child(might be the other way around) was my go-to guy. That book really works, but you gotta be tough. It takes about 3 days of crying it out(yes, it's that method), but after that, it was over. Now, Piper took about a week, but that is certainly understandable with all the upheaveal when she got here. And so, when they all transferred into the big bed, they didn't expect anything otherwise. And just so you know, they all still loved me the next morning after the 3 rough days. Sleep training really works!

Piper and I have made some HUGE strides. There is an occasional defiance, but she has seemed to finally figured out that I am Mom, and Mom makes the rules. We are working on her walking into a place on her own, right now. She wants to be carried into places that aren't familiar, and sometimes I can't do that, so she does the limp-noodle thing, which makes me see red, but it is a work in progress. I have figured out that we get through it eventually. It was pooping in the potty, it has been yelling "No!" at me when she doesn't get her way, it has been swatting with her hand, and so forth. And we have gotten pretty much past them all, with only occasional slips now and then. SO. That means I need to relax, and be persistent and consistent and know that this, too, shall pass. I still need to remind myself of that but I am getting there, and so is she.

The past 2 weeks have been really good and we seem to have gotten over the wall we had hit that had me doubting so many things and in so many ways that I couldn't even bring myself to post about them, because sometimes they weren't nice or could have discouraged those who are in the process. But let me tell you, thank God for my friend Becky who has been dealing with the same stuff. I don't know what I would have done if I didn't have someone else to vent to or who could understand. My husband understood, but I needed to know that it wasn't just us, that we were out of whack. While a lot of us, once we get our children home, may drift off and out of blogland, doing it before and during can be very vital. You can make some really great friends. Some of which may be vital to your mental health :) ! So if you have your older kids home and struggle, keep the faith, keep praying, and stay consistent and persistent...they get it eventually!

GOOD MORNING HAIR

Let's get a great ending to this great story

2008-01-29T10:06:00.000-06:00

An email I sent to people:

Hi, everyone!

I have recently learned of some wonderful events that I feel the responsibility to pass on, because you never know how it pans out.

Here's the story. Sorry, it's long. Last year, I met a woman in my adoption blogworld that lives in Granbury, Texas. She and her husband adopted a little girl, just a year older than Piper and they were in the same orphanage. While they were in Ethiopia picking up their daughter, Gladney(the adoption agency) was about to begin the Bright Futures Camp, here in Texas where they bring older children to stay for a week in hopes of finding them families to adopt them. A sibling group of 2 girls, one tween, one teen, and their brother, age 17 were not finding a host family, and ran the risk of not being able to come. Becky (my friend) and her husband, since they had done the homestudy for their adoption and were obviously approved, being as they were there to pick up their child, said that the Kinfe kids(the 3 siblings and who are separated in diff. orphanages) could come stay with them during the Camp. That was pretty big, considering that they were bringing home a 3 year old girl who is just as strong willed as Piper is! Anyways, the kids had a fantastic time, but unfortunately, were unable to find a family.

This is still the case, but some recent events have come to light. David Nasser, who is a new name to me and author of Glory Revealed and runs David Nasser Outreach(and whom I will be learning much more about) was set to speak at Liberty University for Spiritual Emphasis Week. He prompted students to do a 'jeans' campaign to help the Kinfe kids in getting adopted. Basically, he challenged them to donate the cost of a pair of their jeans. Being as this was to about 4000 students, the results were more astounding than you can imagine. He asked on Wednesday, and by Friday, they had $85,000. Not only would this cover adoption, but aid in college, as well. That just brought me to tears. You can read more about it at Liberty Journal

I met the kids last year at an Ethiopian American Soccer tournament, while they were here visiting for the camp. I saw them again when I went to get Piper. Let me tell you what I know about these guys.
The oldest boy, Aschalo, bought a chemistry book when he was here for fun! He was gracious and studious, and did well with the Becky's (age 3 and 4)kids. He will age out at 18 in December, I believe this year. This means that he will not be adoptable if it doesn't happen soon and if the girls do get adopted, they will be separated over an ocean. Genet(I think 16) is shy and studios and wants to be a pilot when she grows up. And Yesalemush (at 15) is the artist and all girly girl. These are just unjust short bios. These precious kids need a family. You are welcome to read more about them in Becky's blog ....just look at her June-July entries last year. Aschalo speaks pretty good English and the girls know some, too. They are learning it at the orphanage.

Here is an excerpt of their recent letter to Becky:

'We are so busy, we spend our time by study. Many children are finish their process and goes to U.S.A. we are very sad. Every day we pray to God to help us to get a family from Texas. We ask you again don't forget us to find a family to adopt us.'

Pass it on!

Sugar and spice...uh, are we sure about that???

2008-01-23T16:38:00.000-06:00

Today has been one of those days. At school, after chapel, Piper refused to walk on her own, and she plopped down on the floor and wouldn't budge. I caught her sweet teacher picking her up to bring her back to class, so I made Piper walk and gave her time out for her 'tude and refusing to do what she was told. Since we have been home (3pm), she has been in time out 5 times. It is 4:42. I am truly fearful of the teenage years!! She reminds me of the velociraptors (sp?) in Jurassic Park, looking for the weakness in the fence. She knows her sweet teacher will give in, so she pushes. And she pushes her brothers, too, until I catch her. They cave on her for anything she wants, whether they have a right to it or not, bless their hearts. I am glad it is that way rather than the other way around!

Well, she just helped herself out of time out, so she's back in again.

It's so funny. Everyone I hear of who has girls first say they are easy and their boys(if they come later) are harder. I am sooo the other way around! While I am glad my girl is spunky(yeah, that's P.C. for a stinker), and that no one will get past her, she is a handful! I think I am probably having a hard time with the fact that there is someone else who needs to be parented differently and that is hard to do with all three kids at the same time, at the ages that they are. I struggle with the fact that a lot of things don't seem fair to her and I worry it will affect the way she thinks she is treated. Factors are things like her age (she can't do as much as big bros) or her behavior(she truly thinks she has been wronged sometimes, when it is just part of learning the rules). We aren't big spankers (the boys next to never get one), but at this age, until they are older and able to understand the rules and punishment is more along the lines of privilege removal, swats and time outs are it. I don't believe that you can reason much with a 2 year old, so this is our approach. Please don't get into the whole spank/not to spank debate, that's not what this is about. But I am open to other options since while these do work, I worry about the fact that she doesn't see it happening to the boys and may have issues with that that could present themselves later.

Anyone with their strong willed kids have any other methods? Her infractions aren't huge, but have to be addressed. They tend to be refusal to cooperate or take "no" as an answer.

That said, here are some pictures of my cutie pie in her (RED) jammies and being little Mama to her big brother, wiping the snot from his nose. I love it!

What's Your Thang?

2008-01-17T13:34:00.000-06:00

"The need is the call"

Pretty much speaks for itself. Just in case anyone was wondering what their "thing" or "calling" or "cause" should be, like I used to wonder. Saw that today and just thought it was good.

2008-01-11T08:39:00.000-06:00

We have a camera again. Yay! Here are a couple of updated pictures of Piper, who obviously knows how to work the camera when she wants to!

I just read Same Kind Of Different As Me. What a moving book. It's a nice reminder not to judge and remember that your work is never done. After a minuscule reflection, I realized how dumb I was in my last post. There is nothing unselfish about me. I am just as selfish as I always have been. I just happen to do what I'm supposed to sometimes.One of the things I am supposed to do and actually did was go to Haiti for our church mission trip. I have gone twice, and this year, we decided that Dennis will go. I wouldn't miss Haiti for anyone else, let me tell you. There may be no privacy(uh, you just think you are alone on the side of that mountain on a pit stop), no cool air reprieve, and a language barrier, but I LOVE going there! The reasons why would take days to write. I would love for Dennis to go and be able to share that same sentiment that I have when I talk about Haiti. I am very confident that once he goes and plays with the kids(Ethiopia and Haiti are very similar in many ways), he will be a sunk ship! We actually stay in a village called Les Abricots at the Pastor's home. Our trip is guided by Reciprocal Ministries Inc. (RMI). We have partnered with them in their sister church program. We go once a year and commit to praying for our sister church. We have wired the church for power, sent a generator, and built pews as some of our projects. We do a women's bible study and try to do something special for them, since we are truly honored guests while we are there and they work sun up to sun down to make sure we are taken care of. We also sponsor children for school through the Hope for Kids program. My dream is to someday go for a couple of big trips a year and volunteer at places like God's Littlest Angels(a wonderful orphanage) or at places like Real Hope for Haiti. That would be awesome. Now, I know that it's isn't Piper's country, but it is the place that planted the seed for her adoption in the first place. Once you teach the Macarena to about 50 kids who don't speak English, you are done for!

Merry Christmas!

2007-12-29T11:54:00.000-06:00

It is time to say goodbye to the blog, not that I am so regular(no poop jokes, please). I have never been a journaler(is that a word?). It is hard for me right now, anyways. These kiddos are wiping me out. It seems that 3 is our final number. I never say never, but I give it a firm "probably not"! Ok, I will probably come to post every month or two, because I can't completely let this go and I definitely will keep reading everyone elses! I had to add these last 2 sentences after writing this thing b/c I can't do it!

This has been such a fantastic journey. God never lets me down. Every time He says to do something, and I actually listen, I have the time of my life! Mission trips, children's ministries, working at the pregnancy help center, adoption. Every adventure turned out more rewarding than the next and I can't imagine what the next one is. I am always attempting to help someone else out or do what I think I should be doing, and it seems that I am the one who most benefits. Is it possible to want to help others unselfishly knowing full well that YOU are the one who scores?! Am I selfishly unselfish or the other way around? I seem to have over thought this...what a conundrum.

In true Elliott fashion, our camera broke a couple of weeks before Christmas, so everything is on video, but no pictures. We hoped it was a battery issue, but no such luck.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. Piper thought opening presents was a blast and I think next year, she will truly "get" it all. The boys "got" it this year and are finally coming down off their Christmas high.

The other day we saw a panhandler on the side of the road with several funny signs he was trying. He had a full beard and long hair, and Brodan said, "Look Mom, it's Jesus" By the time I got a dollar together, he had passed us and the light changed. Now my kids think Mom didn't give Jesus any money. Not only that, but I didn't recognize him, and they did. Food for thought.

Funny email

2007-12-08T18:34:00.000-06:00

YOU KNOW YOU ARE LIVING IN 2007 when...

1. You accidentally enter your password on the microwave.

2. You haven't played solitaire with real cards in years.

3. You have a list of 15 phone numbers to reach your family of 3.

4. You e-mail the person who works at the desk next to you.

5. Your reason for not staying in touch with friends and family is that they don't have e-mail addresses.

6. You pull up in your own driveway and use your cell phone to see if anyone is home to help you carry in the groceries.

7 Every commercial on television has a web site at the bottom of the screen.

8. Leaving the house without your cell phone, which you didn't have the first 20 or 30 (or 60) years of your life, is now a cause for panic and you turn around to go and get it.

10. You get up in the morning and go on line before getting your coffee.

11. You start tilting your head sideways to smile.
: )

12 You're reading this and nodding and laughing.

13. Even worse, you know exactly to whom you are going to forward this message.

14. You are too busy to notice there was no #9 on this list.

15. You actually scrolled back up to check that there wasn't a #9 on this list

AND NOW YOU ARE LAUGHING at yourself.

Deep thoughts, by Rachel Elliott

2007-12-04T09:40:00.000-06:00

I have been thinking a lot about Bushe, Piper's very young mother. I have read with envy several birthmother meetings where the families have felt a connection with the birthmom. Or even had meaningful conversations. Ours was very quiet, with only a couple of questions answered. Maybe it is because of her young age, or what I am sure is a lack of self esteem or even the fact that she may have never been allowed to form her own opinion that she was unable to answer some questions. Questions like her dreams for the future, if she could choose it. Or the question about what she would like Piper to know about her. Communication was rough, to say the least, since we had to translate what I said to Amharic, and then that had to be translated into Oromo. I guess the possibility of the meaning of what was said could be really lost that way. I am just sad for Piper because I know that she will have many questions some day. Of course, we hope to travel back and visit when she older, maybe 10 or so, and see her mom again, if we can still find her.

Just thinking about it all, and this is just one of those things. I should be grateful that we were able to meet her at all. Piper has pictures and the video so that is good.

2007-11-30T08:39:00.000-06:00

I have decided to write today a little bit of the challenges of adopting a toddler. It is hard to plop someone down in your house, personality formed and intact and just gel. Especially when it is a personality that you haven't had before. The dynamics really change and everyone needs to adjust. That is pretty hard to do.

When you are being screamed at with the word "no" about 5000 times a day with a hateful look in the eye and a swatting arm, or a one shoulder shrug that seems to tell me to go you-know-where, it is hard not to take it personally. It took a good 3 months for me not to take it personally and to realize that maybe it is just something part cultural(the look and shrug), but mostly just the only way she knows how to communicate. She still does it, but at least catches herself and corrects herself when she yells "NO!" at me, so I guess that is a good sign. A lot of it is her frustration at me not knowing what she wants. Another good bit is the fact that she doesn't understand the "why" of the word "No" to her. She goes off in a tizzy when she is told no. She absolutely thinks that everything that everyone else has, she should have. And not in your typical 2-year-old-doesn't-know-how-to-share kind of way, either. If one of the boys wants to sit in a chair, then she sits in a chair. Food, toys, and even a shower are sources of this issue. It's wild. And she ain't silent about it. Can anyone with boys and girls tell me that little girl voices are way more shrill?? Jeez. Now, I say all of this running the risk that someone will slam me and say the whole "How dare you", bit, but it is the reality of adopting an older child. I didn't really consider her an older child, but I do now. I read the books, but until you're in it, you can't quite grasp the scope of it all.

I still have MANY times where I get angry about her "attitude", but it's so hard to tell what is "attitude" and what is normal girl drama. I imagine that if I had had a daughter already or no boys yet, nothing to compare her behavior to, this would be less of a struggle. The fact that I do have something to compare her to, which is a natural thing to do when you have other kids, probably makes it more difficult, because it is hard not to do so. She is all drama, man. I am not used to that. Boys are really just go-go-go, get hurt, tears, go-go-go-go, and repeat. It's funny, because people who have their daughters first, and then a boy, talk about how their boys are their tough ones. Maybe it just depends on what your experience is. Maybe it is just Mars versus Venus.

Anyway, it would be crummy of me to post about challenges without posting about the beauty of Peeps. She is sooooo content to love and be held and sit in your lap(unless the boys have something she wants, of course). And, man, is that girl smart. She is talking up a storm and is quick to figure things out. She is obedient when corrected (except for her initial responses with the no and swatting thing). And she's getting more and more independent every day. She wants to walk like her big brothers in stores and do whatever big kid thing they do. And do I need to say that the girl is adorable?

I am kind of bummed that there really are no more babies in the house. But not too bummed. I need a break. They are 4, 3, and 2 and wearing me out. Cam will go to kindergarten next year, which he will love. That will give the younger ones some more one on one, which I look forward to. They both have early September birthdays, so Bro will still be home for another 3 years and Piper another 4. Both will turn 6 the first and second week of Kinder. That seems like a long time away.

This whole journey has been fantastic, difficult, easy, quick, long, and every other set of opposites you can think of. I'd do it all over again and again and again.

AREN'T FAMILY PICTURES ALWAYS EASY?

2007-11-22T10:18:00.001-06:00

If you wanted to remind yourself of why you should be thankful, visit the blog No, I'm Not a Nurse regularly.

Happy Thanksgiving

2007-11-21T13:29:00.000-06:00

Here are a couple of our court date pictures.
Hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving!

Everybody Rise!

2007-11-16T09:35:00.000-06:00

TA-DA!!

Piper Chaltu Elliott is officially Piper Chaltu Elliott! What a breeze the court date was. We had all of us there and my mom, too and it went really well. We were in and out within an hour. Only about 15-20 minutes were in actual court. We got some pictures with the judge and even more fun was getting to meet big boy Deacon Faulkner, who can now be found at the Faulkner's new blog. He was good lookin' boy. Poor Piper, he(at 13mos) may have even been taller than she (at 2) was. It was great to meet him and his family.

I just printed out this entire blog. It was 70 pages long without pictures. Unfortunately, if you copy and paste each month, the dates go backwards, most recent first, like on the blog. And there are no page numbers, so we don't want to drop the stack and play 70 Page Pick Up! It is not a pretty scrapbooky-stampy thing, but the sentiment is there in black and white.

Our camera is no good, so I have to wait for my mom's pictures to post them of our court date.

Court date-in the U.S.

2007-11-09T08:45:00.000-06:00

Our court date to make things "official" again is this coming Thursday, November 15th. We will go up to Ft.Worth on Wednesday night and we are to be there at 7:45, the next morning. Apparently it is an open docket and that way we can get in and out(in as much as you can, I imagine). My understanding is that this is where Piper's name change and citizenship will become official and she can get her social security card, American passport(she has an Ethiopian one), and an American birth cert(we have the Ethiopian one), afterwards, as well.

It really seems that this is never ending when you are ready to just to "be"! But we are coming into the light at the end of the tunnel, so it's all good.

We are starting to think about the adoption credit. Is it really just a full blown credit? Like, you may owe $3000, but with the $10000 credit you get $7000 back? Surely this is too good to be true. Can anyone shed any light on this for us? That is a huge credit and sounds great, but are we understanding this right?

Our camera fried, so I will put some other pictures from our recent trip to Sweet Berry Farms in Marble Falls. Granny Elliott went with us.

What a treat!

2007-11-02T17:11:00.000-05:00

I was so excited this year because it was going to be our real "first" Halloween with trick or treating and the works. Cam used to be terrified of Halloween. And by terrified, I mean, refusing to get out of the car, wear a costume or anything like that. He was a wreck at his Parent's Day Out last year for the whole week with the decorating of pumpkins and scarecrows and stuff. But for some reason this year, he was stoked. And we all went. It was really so much fun. Of course, we should have brought the stroller for Piper, who is starting to weigh a lot. She was so funny. She would get all bent out of shape whenever we would skip a house. It didn't take her long at all to figure out what was going on. It was weird watching our little boys walk up by themselves and do it all without needing us. They are growing up!

CAN YOU TELL OUR LITTLE ANGEL HAS 2 BIG BROTHERS? DIDN'T KNOW THAT THERE WERE NINJA ANGELS, DID YOU?

Whoever smelled it, dealt it!

2007-10-26T08:57:00.000-05:00

For cryin' out loud. We were hit by lightning almost 3 weeks ago and yesterday was the first time I had my internet back. DO YOU KNOW HOW HORRIBLE IT WAS????? One morning I sat down and it was like someone shot a gun in my ear. BOOM! No internet, no phone, no cable, and unknowingly until this past weekend, no septic system. Replaced the phone 3 days later. Check. Ordered new receiver for cable (it was just out in our room and that really wasn't too bad) and had that within a week. But no internet? Stinko-madinko. Verizon decided they wanted to argue whether or not it was a computer, DSL-people kind of problem or a phone problem. No one wanted to come out. And then when they finally did, and it was decided that we had to replace the stupid modem(which we could have done weeks ago), they didn't order it like they said they would. After much turmoil I have my internet...yay! Now, the septic system? Our catch phrase is "The smell is the only way to tell!" Thankfully, our neighbors aren't right next to us, because we smell like we just poop in the yard with the dogs. The guy told me yesterday that the smell will go away in a few days. Fantastic (read with sarcasm).

On the Piper end of things, she is doing great. Words are finally starting to be used on her own and that is good. She can even say "I love you" and it is so cute! Her feet have grown about 2 sizes and I hope that that means she will have a growth spurt soon, even if it isn't much. She eats like a horse and even her veggies.

On a discouraging front, Camden said something horrible the other day. He said that he was ready to take Sissy back to Ethiopia because he was done with her. It broke my heart. I don't really think that he meant it or even understood what he was saying, but it told me that he was discouraged with her. She is very close to Bro and seems to be taken with him, but swats Cam away a lot. He is like a little parent, correcting her and directing her, but not unkindly, so that may be part of the problem. The boy is a stickler for rules, that is just how he is wired. I wondered if he noticed how she pushes him away a lot, and I am guessing he did, now. Other than that comment, things are the same. He still says he loves her out of the blue and tries to kiss her and love on her (even though she pushes him away). I have tried to involve him when she and I are hugging and stuff and she seems to be more open to him then. It's one of those hurdles and things to watch. Anyone else have this stuff?

Some great news, we are working on the readoption and should find out this next week about our court date to make this thing "official"! How many times has this whole adoption thing been "official"? But it will REALLY be official then.

I am going put in some pictures and then catch up on everyone, now.

Guatemala children and families in crisis

2007-10-03T16:04:00.000-05:00

This was sent to me in an email from Gladney. I'd be lying if I didn't have a "whew" in the back of my head. What a tragedy for these children and their families. I can't imagine the heartbreak. Whether or not we adopted or are doing so and irregardless of the country, we can all make a difference. Please read and act....October 9th,10th and 11th...let's make it busy days:

If your e-mail program can't display this e-newsletter, view it online at: http://www.adoptionsbygladney.com/html/enews/guatemala_5000.html
Gladney Center for Adoption

Gladney Center for Adoption
Call to Action
Guatemala 5000
A Service of Gladney Center for Adoption

Dear Dennis and Rachel, the Gladney Center for Adoption is writing in support of an initiative led by the Joint Council on International Children's Services (JCICS), an umbrella organization of leading international adoption agencies. The request that follows comes from JCICS. We hope the Gladney community can lend their support.

***

Guatemalan President Oscar Berger has announced plans to suspend all intercountry adoption with American families on January 1 2008. The Joint Council on International Children's Services strongly opposes such a suspension and asks for your support in their efforts to ensure that all children retain the right to permanency through Intercountry Adoption.

President Berger's plans also call for the suspension of adoptions currently in-process. Such a suspension would be extremely detrimental to the children referred to adoptive parents. If President Berger's plan is actually implemented, up to 5,000 will unnecessarily remain in foster care or orphanages indefinitely.

This situation represents a pending crisis for the adoptive families who have lovingly chosen to provide permanency, safety and love to a child in need and most importantly a crisis for 5,000 children of Guatemala.

What can you do? Make five simple phone calls and send one email.

1. Call your U.S. Senator
>>You can find your Senators' phone numbers at www.senate.gov
>>Ask to speak with the Legislative Director or Chief of Staff

2. Call your second U.S. Senator

3. Call your representative to the U.S. House of Representative
>>You can find your representative at www.house.gov
>> Ask to speak with the Legislative Director or Chief of Staff

4. Call or fax UNICEF Headquarters
>>Ask to speak with Ann Veneman, Executive Director
>>Telephone: 212-326-7000
>>Fax: 212-326-7758

5. Call or fax UNICEF Guatemala
>>Ask to speak with Manuel Manrique
>>Telephone: 011-502-2327-6373
>>Fax: 011-502-2327.6366
Please note that calls and faxes to Guatemala are international calls.

6. Send an email supporting Intercountry Adoption to guatemala5000@jcics.org
>>Write briefly or at length
>>Joint Council will use the cumulative email petition in our advocacy for Intercountry Adoption

When should you call? Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday (October 9th, 10th 11th). For maximum effect, we are asking you to make these calls within a 72-hour window!

What should you say or write to member of the U.S. Congress? Speak from your heart and give them the following information.
>>Inform them that you are calling regarding Guatemala 5000
>>Ask them to sign the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI) sponsored letter to President Oscar Berger
>> Ask them to sign the Joint Council on International Children's Services sponsored letter to UNICEF
>>Inform them that the Guatemalan government has announced that all intercountry adoptions with the U.S. will be suspended on January 1 2008.
>>Inform them that President Berger's announcement also indicated that there will be no 'grandfathering' of adoptions already in process.
> >Inform them that if children referred to families are not allowed to be adopted, they will languish in institutions or foster care.
>>Ask that their office get involved and sign the sponsored letters to the President of Guatemala and UNICEF. These letters ask that all adoptions in-process as of January 1 2008 be allowed to process to completion under the existing notorial laws.

>>SAMPLE STATEMENT<<

Hello,

We are calling/writing on behalf of the Guatemala 5000 Initiative. We, as your constituents, are asking that the Senator/Congressperson add their signature to two letters. First, the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute sponsored letter to Guatemalan President Oscar Berger. Second, the Joint Council on International Children's Services sponsored letter to UNICEF.

As you may be aware, the Guatemalan government has announced that all intercountry adoptions with the U.S. will be suspended on January 1 2008. Their announcement also indicated that there will be no 'grandfathering' of adoptions already in process. If children referred to families are not allowed to be adopted, they will languish in institutions or foster care. Your office must get involved and sign the sponsored letters to the President of Guatemala and UNICEF. These letters ask that all adoptions in-process as of January 1 2008 be allowed to process to completion under the existing notorial laws.

Sincerely,

[your name and contact information]

What should you say or write to UNICEF? Speak from your heart and give them the following information.
>>Inform them that you are calling regarding the Guatemala 5000
>>Ask them to support the right's of children and lend their considerable influence to ensuring that intercountry adoptions currently in-process be allowed to process to completion under the existing notorial laws.
>>Inform them that the Guatemalan government has announced that all adoptions with the U.S. will be suspended on January 1 2008.
>>Inform them that President Berger's announcement also indicated that there will be no 'grandfathering' of adoptions already in process.
>> Inform them that if children referred to families are not allowed to be adopted, they will languish in institutions or foster care.
>>Ask them again for their support of the Guatemala 5000 Initiative.

>>SAMPLE STATEMENT<<

Hello,

We are calling/writing on behalf of the Guatemala 5000 Initiative. As financial supporters of UNICEF (through our tax dollars), we are asking that UNICEF lends its support and considerable influence to the Guatemala 5000 initiative.

As you may be know, the Guatemalan government has announced that all intercountry adoptions with the U.S. will be suspended on January 1 2008. Their announcement also indicated that there will be no 'grandfathering' of adoptions already in process. If children referred to families are not allowed to be adopted, they will languish in institutions or foster care. UNICEF must get involved and help ensure that all intercountry adoptions in-process as of January 1 2008 be allowed to process to completion under the existing notorial laws.

Sincerely,

[your name and contact information]

Can you explain the problem behind the pending crisis? Here is some additional information…
>>Guatemalan President Oscar Berger has announced plans to effectively stop all adoptions into the United States including those children who have already been referred to adoptive parents
>>Over 5,000 children have been referred
> >The birthparents for these children have already relinquished their parental rights. As a result, they currently have no family and the Berger suspension will result in these children having no prospect for a permanent, safe and loving family
>>The government of Guatemala currently does not have the finances or facilities to even provide housing for these 5,000 children
>> The Berger plan is a crisis waiting to happen

What else can you do? In addition to your primary calls to U.S. Congress and UNICEF, you can call the following.

SOSEP (Guatemala)
>>Director Teresa Echeverría de Bastarrechea
Office Phone- 011-502-2383-8400
>>Assistant Director- Edin Palma- Same office phone
Office Phone- 011-502-2383-8400
>>Jaime Tecu
Office Phone - 011-502-2239-0000 ext 2766
Please note that calls and faxes to Guatemala are international calls

Guatemala Ministry of Foreign Affairs
>>Minister Gerth Rosenthal
Office Phone 011-502-2410-0000, 2410-0010
>>Vice Minister- Marta Altoaguirre
Office Phone 011-502-2410-0020
Please note that calls and faxes to Guatemala are international calls

PGN (Guatemala)
>>Carlos Victor Hugo Barrios Barahona
Office Phone 011-502-2248-3200 Ext. 207/208
Please note that calls and faxes to Guatemala are international calls

Procuraduria of Human Rights
>>Dr. Sergio Morales
Office Phone 011-502-2424-1717
Please note that calls and faxes to Guatemala are international calls

Embassy of Guatemala in the U.S.
2220 R Street N.W.
Washington, DC 20008
Office Phone 1-202-745-4952
Office Fax 1-202-745-1908
Website: http://guatemalaembassy.com/

This is a load alright....

2007-10-02T15:48:00.000-05:00

I am sorry, but 2X concentrated detergent is rocking my world. Yes, there are much larger problems(anyone seen my rear?), but now I have to keep up with the times and learn how to use this new measurement, which only comes in level 1 and 2 now, rather than 3. Which one is for a small load? The one? What about medium? Two? What about Large Load (keep in mind my pants are in there)? Now what do I do? Who on earth invented concentrated detergent???? Probably the same person who invented the Swiffer. You know, because now I have to sweep, swiffer, and THEN mop. I didn't ask for the extra step! Yeah, those Swiffer people. Now I also have to Swiffer my walls with their "wand", too. BEFORE, I didn't have to do anything to my walls because there was nothing out there that told me I needed to. It's all part of the conspiracy. Which one I don't know, but it is.

2007-09-28T13:50:00.000-05:00

Yesterday we had our 1st post placement visit with Connie from Texas Adoption Homestudies. She is so cool. She is now working with Gladney, so if anyone ever wants a very nice social worker that you can be at ease with, I strongly endorse Connie. We talked about how the family was adjusting and how Piper was doing. She really is doing well, now. She is getting along at school and church so well. Everyone talks about how easy she is and really she is. There is a little fight still in her, but that's ok...I want my girl to have that! She still has a small vocabulary that she regularly uses, but she will repeat anything you say easily. I imagine after your third language by the age of 2, you'd be able to say anything, but still not sure which is the right word for something. Now if we could just lose "caca".....

I have started to somewhat potty train. I have learned by the 3rd kid, that this does not happen overnight or a 2-3 day period. I should also say that I am not hardcore on it either. When they are 3 I start sweating it more. Cam did it right when he turned 3 and Brodan about 2 months before 3. And neither of them are perfect at it still...night time eludes us, but we have GoodNites for that. We are using the potty for #2 and I am getting better at reading the signals. She will tug and say that pretty word most of the time, so we are getting better at that. I wouldn't have started already except that she seems ready to begin. It's funny...the boys at this age, it would have been laughable to even think of it. Girls are so smart. Mine especially :)

Here are some recent pictures:

And what was your name, again?

2007-09-23T21:19:00.000-05:00

It is definitely getting harder to post. The ages 2,3, and 4 are tough, man. I have been working on getting a schedule set, since we are finally starting to gel a little better. The dynamic has changed some, but we are really starting to feel "real" and more natural. Looking back, I would wake up in the morning and think about this new child from Ethiopia that was going to wake up soon, and how that would change our day. What would we do, or learn, or what were we going to be up against, that day. Now, I wake up and think, do I have time to get in the shower before someone else wakes up or what can I get done real quick, or who has to bring the snack to school today? You know, "normal" day to day thoughts. I think of my kids collectively, not the boys and my new daughter. Now it's, "the kids". I absolutely love it.

But it does take it's toll. I think my husband and I need a date night soon. Because we have really just been roommates for the past 2 months and that does not a happy marriage make! The good thing is, we are both completely aware of that, and knew going into it, that there would be some times like that. We talked the other day about how we are going into that area of marriage where a lot fall apart, or grow away from each other, and how aware of that we need to be. We have to tell the kids that Mom and Dad are talking and need to be left alone for a bit, or we have to go out without them(on those rare occasions). How else can we teach the kids what marriage should be like?

How do you families out there with several kids do it? And still maintain contact with your spouse even when you really just want to sleep or sit in the bathroom with the door locked for 15 minutes?

Striking new blog

2007-09-18T11:42:00.001-05:00

I found a new blog. It is Haiti-related, not Ethiopia-related. Or maybe I should just say it is human-related. This is another this-could-be-anywhere post. This family works for Real Hope for Haiti, from what I understand. On this blog from one of the family members, you see cute old men, surgeries that take place, life and the deaths. In memoriam, she does post pictures of the children who die. It is the hardest thing to do, going to her blog every day, but I have to. I know what I might see, but I feel like that child deserves the tears and for someone to feel the loss of their life. I am sure that I am not the only one, as I know that Licia, the not-a-nurse, nurse, does feel the impact. And the others who read her blog. This blog has the sad reality. Please see the blog No, I'm Not a Nurse. But be prepared to cry. You may not want to do it at work or in front of anyone.

People like Licia and her family give hope.

Still asking for their family

2007-09-15T15:58:00.000-05:00

PAGE FAMILY BLOG
Remember the 3 siblings that I mentioned from Bright Futures Camp awhile back? They still don't have a family, yet. This is what Becky has as an update:

Remember them? Oh how I wish I had good news to report. Sadly, our joy in having Kali as part of our lives is often overshadowed by the heartbreak that these children still do not have a forever family. We received letters today from Genet and Yesalemush. This is the second set of letters that we have received from them since their return to Ethiopia in mid July. These new letters are even more heartwrenching than the first set. The girls are so sweet and mention everyone by name, even remembering that Kali was going to have a birthday and wishing her a Happy Birthday. But their sadness at not having a family is so painful to read. Yesalemush writes, "Please try and be fast the paper and try to be fast to pick me out from Ethiopia to USA."

We thought the children knew that we were not adopting them, that we were truly just a host family for them for their stay here in Texas. But then, at the end of their time here, we found out that ALL the children were told that their "families" were only host families, even those whose families were already committed to adopting them. And then they also saw that most of the kids from last year's camp were indeed adopted. So what are they supposed to think? Of course they think that we are adopting them! How are we now supposed to tell them that we are not in a position to adopt them?

Even if there is a family out there who is meant to have these children, we know that the process takes time. But we can't help but feel that we've done nothing but give them false hope by bringing them here in the first place.

The oldest boy, Aschalo, bought a chemistry book when he was here for fun! He was gracious and studious, and did well with the kids. He will age out, I believe this next year. Genet is shy and studios and wants to be a pilot when she grows up. And Yesalemush is the artist and all girly girl. These are just unjust short bios. These precious kids need a family.

Sara Groves,

2007-09-13T20:15:00.001-05:00

This is in Rwanda. It could have been in Haiti or Ethiopia. Sadly, it could be way too many places.

McFun

2007-09-13T08:19:00.000-05:00

Last Sunday we had the fine and fun pleasure of meeting the Page family in town at our local Mickey D's whose stinkin' playground was closed!! We had lots of loud fun anyway! Kali was a sweet and very smart little girl who seems to have really grown since the last time I saw her at the Ethiopian soccer tournament in Garland back in July. You wouldn't know that she didn't speak English only a few months ago! While they didn't seem to really recognize each other, they did check each other out :)

And decided that they were OK :)

Looks like the boys thought each other were pretty ok, too

Since Piper and Kali were in the same orphanage, Becky and I (and the Dads) think it is important that we maintain contact. We are close and they are almost a year apart exactly, so we think it would be great for them to know each other and have one another to talk to during those years when they need someone who truly understands what they are dealing with. While we can offer comfort, empathy, advice, and backup, we can not truly understand what they will go through as adopted African Americans in a white family. So this is one way we can maintain a connection with Ethiopia, and foster a relationship that they can identify with. It was great to see you guys, Page family!!

Well, Dennis has been out of town since Saturday. I have decided some things. Namely, I would make a crummy single parent of 3. Maybe if they were older, I had a maid, and a yard guy, then it wouldn't be so bad;) But that was hard! You spend all your time trying to maintain the status quo with cleaning and normal responsibilities and things you are responsible for outside of home, that it leaves you tired, cranky, snappish, and "too busy" to enjoy and just "be" with your kids. I am sure some people are better equipped to handle it or maybe there is a learning curve just like anything else, you get a system or schedule, but it scared me. And left me frazzled. I am sure their ages, 4,3,and 2, are largely a part of this. And when it is kids, kids, kids, from 6:30am to 8:30pm all day every day with absolutely no reprieve, that is tough, too. It is a complete privilege to be able to do this, but is it in my children's best interest when I feel that way? Is it in their best interest to take them to day care and I go to work? What we have now works wonderfully. I work at their Parent's Day Out on Mondays and Wednesdays. While I am with kids there, they aren't mine, and we get a little away time from each other. But I still consider myself a stay at home mom. I prefer it, but I don't at all think that that is always best for everyone. Some have no choice. Some people aren't wired to stay home. I get that completely. Now this is all just "what if" thinking anyway. What if something happened to Dennis. What if something happened to me? But I guess that is our responsibility as parents. We have to think "what if" and cover our bases. Anyways, it left me a lot of thinking to do, once I get time to think!

Happy Birthday, Piper!!

2007-09-11T11:58:00.000-05:00

Today my little girl is 2! While we reserve this day as a day of rememberance of the tragedy that is 9/11, the Ethiopians are celebrating their millenium this year. It is the year 2000 there, now, and it is also Peep's birthday.

Piper is growing leaps and bounds physically, socially, and mentally. She made it on the growth chart today at 3% in weight...yay! I hesitate for her gain more though or her little Budda belly is going to pop! Now if we can get vertical to grow with horizontal, we'd be set! Unfortunately, I have the same problem :(

Piper is repeating everything, so speech is no problem. She probably has about 10 english words that she uses on her own without prompting. She can feed herself better than her now 3 year old brother, put on her own socks, and diaper. My plan is to begin the potty training next month, now that we are settled and have more of a schedule, since she was semi-trained before (although in all honesty, she only peed once or twice a day then, she was so dehydrated). She goes to Parent's Day Out and is doing great there. Everywhere we go, people just have to smile at her and a lot just touch her. That part is funny to me. It is awesome having a daughter that can hold her own with her brothers, too. Those boys(including Dad) are the biggest suckers. And so they should be.

Happy birthday, big little girl!

Happy Birthday, Brodan!!

2007-09-09T07:56:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday to my little big boy. I thought he was little and my baby until I brought little Piper home and saw that my baby was really a big boy! Brodan is the most loveable boy. He is laid back, affectionate, and ALL boy. He could lay and dig in the dirt forever. He could lay on the floor and push a car back and forth while singing to himself forever, too. Brodan is also starting to talk a lot more and use phrases like, "I can believe it" or "I don't think so", which are so cute with his little lisp. He has really surprised me with his sister and is willing to share toys and food with her with no problem, mostly of his own volition!

Happy birthday, Brodan. And just like your Great-Granddaddy always said to me, you will always be my baby.

Gray areas of life

2007-09-06T22:22:00.000-05:00

Brodan told me that I have white hair. I said no I don't. He said, "Yes you do and it.is.right.there!", pointing at my head all serious. Thank God we weren't in public.

Time to get my roots done.

2007-09-06T13:31:00.000-05:00

Strike a pose, there's nothin' to it...

Good news to report!

We are parasite free! Cross one off the list! Yee-double-haw!

We had a little scare earlier this week. When Piper's blood was retested, her levels were almost normal. However, she tested positive for Hep C. They checked her again for Hep C in a different way than she had been tested before. You can, though, have a false negative AND positive. Since they had enough blood, they tested it again and it came back negative! So 2 out of 3 of these special tests are negative. And all her regular Hep tests were negative. That is very reassuring and they will test again in the next couple of months or so. We still go to the GI doctor later this month and will know more then.

Piper had her first day of "school" yesterday. It is at the Parent's Day Out I work at. She is such a champ. She cried for about 30 seconds when I dropped her off and that was it. I peered in at her all day and she was laughing and playing. I think it was like being at the orphanage for her...kind of her comfort zone, you know? She is used to lots of kids and that was probably more like home for her than anything else so far! It made me very happy, but I am sure Monday will be the real test, now that she knows what to expect. We'll see!

Happy Labor Day

2007-09-03T18:29:00.002-05:00

Did you know that Piper's official name is Chaltu Dennis Elliott? Poor thing. They gave her her Dad's name as her middle name. He doesn't like the name for himself, much less his daughter. I am going to call the lawyer this week to get that readoption ball rolling. Anyone know a ballpark figure on that? I'm skeered!

This weekend we went to Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch in San Antonio (or at least outside of S.A.). It was really neat. The kids loved seeing the animals up close and got to feed them. The ostriches were a scary bunch and pushy, too, so we had to roll up the window quick on them.

This past month has been such a whirlwind. Piper has done amazingly well and it's getting better every day. She has learned some limits and responds well to time out. The swatting is getting less and less and now when she does it, she catches herself and sometimes, just sometimes, will stop herself. I consider that a success! We have been one sick family the entire month. Just this morning I woke up with double pink eye. Thankfully it is just me. I will wash my hands and not smear eye gunk on anyone. Please, please, please, don't let anyone else get it...I HATE pink eye. It is so hard to deal with at their young, gross-touch-and-share-everything ages. Brodan had the puke and poop twice, Cam had it once. Piper with her parasites and fungus. Busy busy busy...

I saw on Tami's blog the other day the question on how I will incorporate Piper's heritage as an Ethiopian and her future self as an African American into her life. How will I teach her or learn with her about the cultures she represents. That is a lot to chew on and there are so many answers that I don't have time to write them all down. I have many in mind, but I am sure there will be more ways than I can think of now, as she grows and I learn. When I read the book "In their own voices", I learned one thing. It is that it is vital that I extend us into the African American community so that she has a sense of belonging no matter where she is, but especially amongst other African Americans. No parent wants their child to be looking from the outside,in. Hopefully, we can do our part to instill in her the confidence she needs to participate whenever, wherever, and with whomever.

Piper's been up-sizing, again

2007-08-30T10:31:00.000-05:00

Piper, this is not that kind of a picture...

Peeps has a fatty liver. Now, I know for a fact that she didn't eat at Burger Queen in Ethiopia and ordered all of her lattes nonfat at Kaldi's. Apparently, a fatty liver can develop in malnourished children, even though the body should distribute the fat elsewhere. I am not sure what this means, yet. Online, I read that a good diet could reverse this, so let's hope so. We are supposed to get a blood draw today(to check her levels and check another way for Hep((she's been clear 3 times, now)), but Brodan is sick, so we may have to do it tomorrow. I also get to do another "fun pack" on Piper's stools to make sure we have rid ourselves of the evil. TMI, but it smells gone, thank you very much! I really hope everything comes back ok with her blood, because she really needs the oral fungal stuff. I can keep it at bay, but it sure is a boil on my butt.

PLEASE, PLEASE, WILL ANYONE GIVE THEIR QUEEN A BURGER?????

2007-08-27T20:30:00.000-05:00

We are still waiting on the ultrasound results...I have no idea when we get those back. She has her GI doctor's appt. on the 17th...I hope we get them before that! She is on meds for the parasites. Things are changing for the better on poop duty, so I think it might be working, thank goodness. We go on Thursday for a new blood draw. I reeeally hope that everything will be back to normal. We'll see.

Sorry if the first picture really scared you senseless. Thanks to Junie B. Jones for her fantastic idea on how to deal with monsters at night. We were listening to the kids' audio book in the car and she used her horrible school pictures to scare away monsters under her bed. We borrowed this idea and made our own pictures which are taped throughout the boys' room and inside the closet. Are we scary or what?!

<

Pics

2007-08-23T21:25:00.000-05:00

Piper's got a great big brother!

Riding the "horse"....Go Bro! Go Peeps!

Goofy girl...thanks big brothers for teaching her things...

Sweet face...

Medical stuff

2007-08-23T12:05:00.000-05:00

Well, Piper does have parasites. She has a double whammy, giardia, and some other one I can't remember. And now the boys are being checked because they have had major bathroom issues for a few days now. The only way these can be transferred to them, is a fecal-oral thing. Well, I wash my hands after changing her diaper, and I don't have it, so it came down to one culprit...the Diaper Champ. Someone is always flipping it back and forth or leaning on it or something disgusting like that. So it is gone. All dirty diapers go outside to the trash there. It is a headache, but this parasite thing and stool-sampling fun is waaaayy more of a headache. I have one boy done, and another sample to go...it never ends!

On a scarier note, they ordered an ultrasound on Piper's liver for first thing tomorrow morning at Dell's new children's hospital in Austin. The words "childrens' hospital" scares me to death. Not one good picture comes to mind. She also has been scheduled an appointment with a GI doctor in a few weeks, too. I think they specialize in liver stuff. She also has to have more blood drawn next week. I really hope that her blood levels are all parasite related. Any other option is not good. It is really frustrating that everything takes so much time. Waiting on results, labwork, appointments that seem so far out. Patience is a virtue that I have never really achieved.

Birth order

2007-08-22T07:24:00.000-05:00

Cam is officially signed up for violin. It is the cutest little thing I have ever seen! And it is so cool because it comes in a case that he carries like a backpack. I hope this all goes okay, because 1) it's expensive as all get out, and 2) it involves my involvement on a huge scale. I hope that I have the discipline to keep him on task. We'll see. We rented the violin. Thank goodness you can do that, because who knows.
Brodan was very upset because he didn't get a violin. He didn't understand when I told him that he can when he's 4, but not yet. I felt bad for him. I tried to sign him up for soccer instead (because he loves that stuff), but it's too late. There is only one place we could have done it, because he is too young.

Piper went to the doctor yesterday. She still has a fungus in her hair follicles causing a slight balding patch. The problem is that to treat it, you have to take oral fungal medication. Her bloodwork showed that some of her liver levels were high, and the medication would affect that further. The doctor was going to talk to a gastro-something-something-ologist to check on her levels and what that means. There were 2 that were high, while 2 others that involve liver function were fine. She was unsure what that meant. We are still waiting on her stool sample (ick) results, so maybe there is a parasite we don't know about. Hopefully we get that soon.

Piper is really is ready for potty training, but I just am not yet. We are still adjusting, although well, and I am just not up for dealing with the potty thing yet. Brodan is doing much better now, but it takes a lot of mental stuff and tons of patience to potty train and I'm just not up to adding to the already mental stuff and patience I need to deal with the 3 kids and a language barrier that we already have. Maybe once we get a schedule going with "school" and stuff, I will attempt it.

I have been thinking a lot about birth order. You know, oldest, middle, youngest type of stuff. What does the blogworld think about that? Are they labels they peg us with, in regards to our place in the birth order, right? Are the youngest spoiled? What about oldest? I am the oldest, and they say they are more driven and responsible. I am responsible, but not so driven. I worry about the kiddos and their place. Piper is a pistol and that scares me if she is the youngest and they turn out to be the handful. Is anyone NOT like what "they" say you are in your birth order? Just interesting to me.

Just some pics

2007-08-15T20:53:00.000-05:00

Summer afternoons watching ants on the sidewalk...from the air conditioned house...it's Texas and it's hot!

She has Cam wrapped around her little finger!

2007-08-14T12:55:00.000-05:00

We are signing Camden up for Suzuki violin lessons. Much to his father's chagrin, Cam really doesn't seem much into sports, with the exception of swimming(which he can't really do yet) and liking golf the short time that he tried it. That is fine with me, and Dad is really ok, too. He always swore that it would be ok if they weren't into sports, but I think he has to make an effort. I think what really gets him is that Cam is very quick to say something is too hard for him and gives up easily. It is not that he isn't competitive, just not an overachiever, physically, that is. And Dennis is very driven (I am not, on the other hand, but I do have a good work ethic). Cam is very smart and that will take him way farther than any sport will, anyways. And he says that he wants to learn violin, which makes me happy. My sister is a band director and I have always been jealous of the fact that she has that creative outlet and she's good at it. Any creative muscle I may have had has withered away and atrophied because it was never discovered, developed, or even explored.

Even if the kids don't play an instrument or a sport or become writers, or anything else, we of course just want them to be happy. I can see the ease of which parents can get trapped in trying to live through their kids or have them not make the same mistakes. I will have to make a conscious effort to not do that and fight the urge to feel like we have to keep up with what everyone else's kid is involved in.

Things to remember:

1.Let him be him.
2.He's only 4, for crying out loud!

P.S. We aren't those pushy,screaming from the sidelines parents by the way. I have very little patience for people like that.

Observations from the poop deck

2007-08-13T12:39:00.000-05:00

A few observations.

Piper is somewhat of a novelty, I've noticed. I can not wait until we walk in somewhere and it is not such a big deal. The upside is that she is getting lots of attention and that is good. She has to feel very special and welcome. And we all know our kids deserve that, especially the orphaned ones. But at the same time, I struggle with the fact that she could get very spoiled (she is smart at playing "the role"). And mostly, the fact that it will change on her eventually, and how will she handle that? That's hard. I guess it does happen to all kids, especially little boys. They are cute little babies and then one day, BOOM, they are a little goofy boy. I guess that it is a fine line that we walk as parents where you want the best for your children, you want everyone to like them, you want them to be successful, but you also want them to learn some life lessons along the way. That means somewhere, at sometime, they have to be disappointed, or last, or hurt, or not liked. I think they call it "character".

Another thing I have noticed is the pleasant "look how sweet" smile that we get from people. White ones in particular. I can't really put my finger on it, but it's there. You know, you go to the store with your bio kids and some older folks may smile at them, but most other people, if you get a look, just give the tight-lipped smile out of politeness and move on. With Piper, you get a distinctively different, "awww" smile at her. I am not going to obsess or anything, but I wonder how many different meanings that it has. "How sweet" or "how nice that you did such a thing" or maybe something else? Has anyone else gotten the looks? I have only heard one comment that I overheard when I was behind them at the store and they were between me and the kids in the grocery basket and it was "Well, you don't see that very often!". It was an older Sun City couple, and I just rolled my eyes. Other than that, it is has been positive responses.

On the health front, fungus control is very successful, I am happy to report! She has had 6 of her shots and her TB tests, now. We are currently working on the stool sample thing, to check on parasites. Let me tell you, I am soooo over this poop stuff. It is disgusting. For this test, I need 3 days worth of samples! And there is no easy, clean way of doing it either. One funny part, though, is that I had to Saran Wrap the toilet to "catch" one of our samples, but Brodan used the toilet before I could tell him about it. I guess this point in my life, with all of their ages, I should just make peace with poop. Otherwise, it could just be a crappy time. Ha.Ha.

What a stinkin' trip

2007-08-09T22:02:00.000-05:00

Warning: This post contains graphic poop talk.

So we went to the doctor's office today. Piper has gained a full pound in one week! That is great! She still doesn't register on the percentile charts, but her head does at 25% which is great, too. The doctor said that with malnutrition a lot of times what happens is weight drops, then height, then head size, which of course, means brain size. The fact that her head is on the charts is a good sign as far as that goes. I knew she was smart already :)

We have scheduled our first post placement visit at the end of September for our 3 month follow up with the wonderful Connie Conrad, at Texas Adoption Homestudy, our social worker. Yeah, she reads my blog, but I swear I'd say it anyway, Connie! We also need to get started on re-adoption, the whole lawyer-court stuff. The word "lawyer" makes our wallets shudder...

This week we found ourselves in a few more outbursts, fits or whatever. I think it is sinking in that this is the new deal. There is no going back. It kind of comes out of nowhere, but seems to go away just as fast. I can't imagine getting dropped off in a new country forever with a smiling nice woman who says things you can't understand. And then she brings in all these boys who keep trying to get in your face and take your toys, only you don't know they will give them back. Poor baby.

Good story, but graphic-kid-poop story, so reader beware. So the other day, we go to visit my grandmother in Houston. Dennis gives me the whole, "Don't go by yourself, blah-blah" story. I go,"I'm a big girl-don't need no stinkin' man, blah-blah". We get there at noon, nice visit, and leave at 3:10pm. No sweat. At 3:45 we are stuck in the middle of stop and go Houston traffic and Cam starts screaming that he has to go poop. Yeah, not gonna happen. We're stuck. "Can you hold it a minute?" He says he can. And then 3 minutes later he screams that it's too late. He had diarrhea. I was gagging and Brodan's yelling that it stinks and it takes me 10 minutes to get off the road! Only to find us in a warehouse district-y type of area. Luckily, I brought a change of clothes for everyone. Well, I wasn't prepared in the wipes-department. I used them all trying to clean him up, meanwhile it is everywhere, in all forms, I'm grossed out to say. Now, I am hot and sweaty, it stinks like a sewer, and I am worried we are going to get murdered in the isolated parking lot where no one can find us. Maybe my kid's stink will scare them off. Ok, now we need to find a store where I can buy some ziplocs to put his clothes in, some wipes to replace the others and finish cleaning him up, and anti-bacterial wipes to clean the car. And a drink, 'cause Mama is dying of thirst. 20 long minutes later, we get to a stinkin' HEB. 20 MINUTES! There is a pile of poop on my floorboard! Arrrgh.

So we are that stinkin' family where the kids have no shoes on and we walk into the bathroom because now Brodan says he has to go. "Hey, Britney, how'z Sean Preston and Jayden?" I make Cam wash his shoes in the sink (barefoot) and set Piper down (barefoot) and deal with Brodan having the same issues as his brother for another 20 minutes! WHAT IS HAPPENING???

Fine, we get done, and we buy all the stuff we need and go back to the car where a pile of poop has been baking in the 104 degree heat. Is this never going to end? No. Because I leave HEB and drive 20 minutes BACK THE WRONG WAY INTO HOUSTON. How dumb can I be? Well, I am losing it now, and am holding back tears, trying to tell Dennis what a nightmare the ride home is and I am THISCLOSE to checking us into a hotel. And what does Dennis say after "Do you want me to come get you", he says, "I told you not to go by yourself!" Don't even make me go there!

It took us 6 hours and 28 minutes to get home. It is a 3 to 3 and a half hour drive w/ stops. Dennis had to take the car to the car wash at 10pm at night to detail the thing.

Road trips and plane trips are over for awhile.

Hairy situation

2007-08-06T17:37:00.000-05:00

Piper has learned a new trick. If she says "Caca" and tugs at her pants, she can prolong going to sleep. Smart like a fox, this one!

Helpful hint: This is rather embarrassing. As a mother of an Ethiopian American, I have products in my house that I have never tested before. You know, regarding hair. I happen to have pretty wavy and curly hair (although I was in my late 20s when I all of the sudden got it) and I am a (please excuse me) product whore. Sooooo, I decided to try some Carol's Daughter Hair Milk in my hair. Well, what works for one, doesn't necessarily work for another. I looked (esp. the next morning) like I did the time I read in Seventeen magazine that mayonnaise was good for your hair. Pretty ridiculous. I am Caucasian, hear my hair fall flat.

Who you callin' little?

2007-08-05T20:03:00.000-05:00

Our little tomboy wrestling w/Grandpa, Dad, and the boys:

And playing John Madden's video game (I think that's his name), with big cousin, Michael:

But she can be a real girl, here with Granny:

I am so amazed at how well Piper is adjusting. She has what is really just typical tantrums for her age...probably most stemming from the frustration of communication. Her understanding of what is being said or implied is pretty remarkable to me, though. She seems to understand so much. Today she signed and said the word cup(thank you Baby Wordsworth...why couldn't I have thought up that Baby Einstein stuff?) So now she says Mama, Dada, cup, hello, bye-bye, all gone, and she signs cup,milk, and more. Good stuff coming from someone who has had to change languages 3 times(Oromo up to 17 mos, Amharic for 5 mos, and now English).

She had a huge breakdown this morning so I am not sure what that is about. For about 45 minutes everything was just wrong and she cried and cried. I wonder about grieving.

Ok...this is the 3rd time in 2 days that I have sat down to try and blog...a little different around here!

Piper stayed in her Sunday school class this Sunday, but Granny was her teacher and the 2 girls who helped gladly carried her everywhere she wanted. Gonna have to watch that girl...she will have everyone working for her if we don't watch it! She loves to just point and when we make her get whatever it is, she gets so mad! She did ok, but next week will be the real test...no family in there this time! I honestly think she'll be fine. She has no problem as long as she is entertained!

Camden is doing wonderfully with her and Brodan is too. Bro was having a little regression this past week ("hold me-hold me", wetting his pants, etc), but was still kind and playful with her. Dad went back to work today, and it is already better! I think as close to normalcy is what is best. I think Dad secretly was excited to get out of here and go back to work...dealing with kids all day every day is not his thing. Don't get me wrong, he is a wonderful father and husband. He is very affectionate and plays with the kids, but he's just not wired for full time kid duty! No stay at home dad for him! Plus, he screws up my schedule! We got a system that can't take too much variance or it all falls apart!! BTW...Thank you Dennis for doing multiple loads of laundry for me yesterday...you rock!

We still have a couple of souvenirs that need placement, and I need to buy Piper a life book or baby book and a neat box for the clothes and necklace that she wore on Gotcha Day, and then things will be back to status quo, thank goodness.

We also need to get crackin' on her post placement and readoption. I guess that will be this week's big project to start on....at some point. Maybe.

Little things!

2007-08-03T16:15:00.001-05:00

I am so excited! Piper just signed "milk" to me...and more than once! Yay!

At least I have succeeded with one of my kids!

2007-08-02T16:32:00.000-05:00

KEEP IN MIND WE ARE IN TEXAS...

Maybe I should put all winter things away in a box, huh?

My sister, Sara, came to meet her newest niece. She is the musical talent in our family. Maybe Piper and the boys can catch it from her...wish it was as easy as this fungus. We went to the Mayborn museum in Waco, which is the coolest kid museum, no matter what the ages!

Here are the boys having fun

Souvenirs...

2007-07-30T05:20:00.000-05:00

Here are a few souvenir pictures...

And some other souvenirs we brought back...

Peeps had a brief dr. appt. yesterday to check out her skin issues. It looks like maybe she has a fungus, and maybe infantigo, so we are on creams and antiobiotics. Luckily, it isn't anything that can't be treated. And now I have her fungus. On my neck and jaw of all places. I'm real cute. I think maybe I'll ask Dennis to give me a hickey on my neck, too, just for fun. And then go to the mall or something with my hair up and just watch people's reactions. That would be funny. I love thinking up stuff to do like that...maybe someday I'll actually be brave enough to pull a stunt like that. I remember one time, when I was working at Enterprise Rent a Car, we had a guy who was waiting to get picked up by us and for some reason, we couldn't get there soon enough. The guy was real hacked, son our employee who had to pick him up stuck a piece of tape on his cheek and pretended that he didn't know it was there. How can you yell at a poor sap with tape stuck to his face, like an idiot? The guy never said anything but did stare at him. He was probably wondering why we were all so oblivious to it and didn't say anything. But I digress....she has a full well check on the 9th, so after then, we should know more.

Anyway, Piper is sleeping like a champ once she finally gives up screaming. She is not liking the bedtime thing, but I am a follower of Dr Weissbluth's "Healthy Sleep Habits, Healthy Child", so I stick to it. It worked miracles with both of my boys.

Today, I have to buy my daughter some shoes that fit. She owns 5 pairs of shoes, none of which fit. Size 4 is too big. My boys wore that before they were 1! Hopefully there are still some summer sandals out there.

Introducing.....

2007-07-30T04:59:00.001-05:00

We went to church yesterday and Piper made her debut. She gave everyone The Look and didn't make a sound. And then, bless her heart, she fell asleep for service. Thank goodness. I was worried about that! Before it started, we took her to the nursery and she played happily for a few minutes, so that was good. Maybe next week we'll let her stay back there for the hour and kind of give it a run and see how she'll do. When school starts, I am a teacher's aide at the kids' Parent's Day Out, so she will be in class 2 days a week from 9-2 and I hope she takes that well. She is very independent and I think once she realizes that I am coming back she'll be fine.

I think that since Dennis is off this week, we'll do some fun family stuff like going to the kids museum, swimming and stuff like that. My sister is coming this week also, to meet Peeps. It will be a fun week. In a couple of weeks, Dennis's work is putting everyone up for the weekend at a nice hotel with lots of fun stuff to do and while I am excited, the prospects of sharing one room in a hotel with all 3 young 'uns doesn't bode well with me. Maybe it is too soon to think about that!

Here are some more pictures of the trip and at home.

When Love Takes You In - Steven Curtis Chapman

2007-07-29T12:44:00.001-05:00

I have to steal Stephen Curtis Chapman's love letter.

To my baby girl.

Home is where we are staying for a long time...

2007-07-28T14:28:00.000-05:00

We are home...yeehaw!

Somehow we managed to get ourselves so off in sleep during travel, that we ended up sleeping with the right time zone, so we went to bed at 8pm-ish last night and got up at 7 this morning. Sweet.

She woke 3x last night and only the one a 5am was a cry-for-thirty-minutes-get-me-out-of-bed kind of thing. And then fell asleep until 7.
The boys love her to death and were so cute when they met us at the airport. I can tell Brodan has been a little whiny, but they both are handling it really well and playing with her. She is freaked by the dogs, but seems to be warming up to the one who is the sweetest...it's like she knows!

The flight home was horrendous. Piper did not like the seat belt and made sure that everyone knew. The first half of our long flight really stunk, but she did do better the second half. We were so exhausted. My friend Jeanene is the most awesome trooper. I would have been lost without her. She carried everything. The girl wore a backpack on her front, her back, and carried one! She was also my "heavy". She made all the calls I didn't want to make(since I hate the phone) and wasn't afraid to speak up when I should have. She was awesome with Piper, most of all. Thanks Nene!

It was funny as I was reading my blog this morning and I spoke to my sister, that I noticed the effects of fatigue, travel, and everything else in my blogging. There was that one day that was bad and Piper pushing the boundaries really had me worried. Some people have mentioned that thought that you feel horrible for where you think, "what have I done?", and most seem to get it after they came home. I had that one week into it! But since coming back and getting a night's normal sleep, I feel SOOOO much better. She is playing with the boys, loves her Daddy, and is learning the limits. She had her first time out this morning (ooh, she hated that), but I think it, like with all kids, will just take a little time. The only thing that she has a problem with, is hitting or swatting at you when she doesn't get her way. While it is cute on a child the size of a 9 month old, it won't be later, and I won't put up with it. I am sure communication plays a huge part in it since she can't express herself or even really understand me. Most kids this age, can understand you, but not speak well and we don't even have that. So I know she is frustrated, but we'll get it all figured out. Wow. What a much better place I am in now. Literally and figuratively.

Thank you to everyone who commented and all your prayers and well wishes. It was a real pain in the tookas to blog there, esp. posting pictures, but I remember what a lifeline it was while I was waiting. You can almost feel connected to your child while someone is there. Especially once the paperwork is over and you have nothing more to work on and you are just waiting and waiting.

I will be posting pictures over the next couple of days of the trip, too. Now I need to catch up on everyone else's blogs and see where everyone is...I feel like I have been gone forever!

Looks like we are on vacation, huh?

Thursday

2007-07-26T00:08:00.000-05:00

Today we are leaving. although not until 10:15 at night. But we are coming home, yay!!!

We are here for sure until 1pm, although we are trying for a late checkout, which we are on hold for since the hotel has been packed. There have been a lot of Ethiopian bigwigs here. All those people from the restaurant the other night are here, as well as a few aid conferences like the Islam HIV conference.

So today we will take it easy and maybe get Piper out and running so that she will sleep well tonight on the plane. We hope.

But we are coming home, jet lagged and happy!

It may be a couple of days but I will post when we get back and let you know how she adusts and what she thinks about all the great looking guys in her house! This has been an incredible experience!

Wednesday

2007-07-25T10:34:00.000-05:00

Wednesday was a big day. We began at the Gladney Toddler House which is kind of like a transition home for the babies that are referred. Really it should be called the Baby House because it only houses babies, almost all under 1 year. It was very nice in comparison to the orphanages. If your child comes from there, your child is in great care. There were 18 babies, almost all were referred. There were a couple who have been referred but not accepted and they are still there. It is an awesome place and very clean. Belay said they are working on opening another one for the older kids to transition to, as well, but single story so they don't worry about the toddlers. Ethiopia makes some really good looking babies, I tell ya.

We also participated in the coffee ceremony which is a traditional ceremony where they roast and brew the coffee beans and popcorn is served with the coffee. During this time, Piper's mom came. I held it together until she began to cry. One of the other couple's birthmom came too, but wasn't very emotional. Piper's mom was. She was SOOO young and tiny. If she is 5 foot tall, I would be surprised. Piper really didn't act much different with her. I have a feeling that someone older, maybe a relative really was who took care of her, rather than her mom. Especially since she was so young. We brought her a photo album with all the pictures I had of Piper at the time and pictures of the family. We also got her a locket that I put two pictures of her in and wrote her a letter. I am so glad that we did that. I had questions, but you can tell that she is not used to being able to answer for herself or maybe even think for herself. She even had a hard time getting out of work to get to come see us. What kind of &##@!* gives a young girl a hard time about meeting her little girl and parents? She is a housemaid somewhere. What kind of life does she have? Anyways, it was brutal. I told her, through tears, of course, that I am proud to share the position of mom with her. She is not a birthmom, she is mom. She made the most "Mom" decision anyone could make when she put herself aside and placed her for adoption so that Piper may have a life with more opportunity and an education. And that is an incredible legacy for her to leave with Piper. Many times over people have oohed and aahhed over the fact that she will have an education while we have been here, so I know how important it is. They also hope, as did her mom, that she will come back someday and help Ethiopia. I couldn't be more proud of her if she did.

After that, we went to the Top View Restaurant with a great view and not so great food. All the kids decided to poop at the restaurant, so that ain't easy when they don't have changing tables.

Helpful hint: Bring a folding changing pad or something like the ones you have seen in those nice diaper bags because you change diapers on bathroom floors(yeah, disgusting, but you have no other option)! Pack ziplocs and something to put smelly diapers in so your hotel room doesn't stink. And plenty of travel size hand sanitizer!

After that, we went to our embassy appointment, where it became official that Piper is coming home with me!

And then it was home to the hotel, thankfully. We went to bed early at 8 something...a pretty draining day.

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Tuesday

2007-07-25T10:03:00.000-05:00

Sorry..the days kind of run together, so I can't remember the last time I blogged.

I will start with yesterday(Tuesday). We went church at an International Nondenominational church. It was in English and they also do French and Italian services, too, I think. We actually had a Korean pastor there. That's kind of funny...Korean pastor doing an English service in Ethiopia. It was nice, but Peeps in not one for sitting anymore. She wants to go!

That evening we went to the traditional Ethiopian restaurant, Fasikas. Our reservation somehow wasn't held, so they set us up outside and it was awesome. Then after it cleared a little, we went inside and watched the dancing, which of course, involves audience participation. I really lucked out and wasn't chosen. But my friend Jeanene was!

The most remarkable thing about it all, was that the restaurant was filled with a VIP
party. If you are familiar with the current events in Ethiopia, several years ago, an election was held in which a certain party was elected(I am not sure what their name is). There was some opposition and they were sentenced to death! And then this past year, the sentence was commuted to life, and this week they were set free, thanks to some Elders in Ethiopia who came together to negotiate their release. It was a huge celebration and a historic night that we were able to see. It is my understanding that most Ethiopians support this group and hopefully there will be positive changes coming.

2007-07-23T13:43:00.000-05:00

Piper is a spitfire. Drama. I am scared of the teenage years! She has already learned that in public, she can get away with more. The minute she starts to holler and cry, we get The Look. And then someone tries to take her away! Or they try to feed her instead of me! Today I was not in the mood. It has been a long week and and now it is the start of a new long one. We lay low today because I was not feeling people friendly. Plus, the poor baby has not had a nap in a bed since I got here, and that is pretty much the only thing I am pretty hard core on. I am big on keeping a sleep schedule and we are getting none of that here. So she got one today. Me? I am cranky. Tired, messed up stomach, no Diet Coke, tight quarters in a hotel with a toddler who has no idea what I am saying...it all adds up! I will be more social tomorrow.

Piper has such a personality. She is definitely flirtatious, already! She seems pretty quick and has learned a few words. She will turn around when I say her name. She can say no, Piper, Bro-Bro(that is her brother, Brodan), DaDa, and Mama. We are working on Cam's name now, but it seems hard to say. And I think we got a thank you earlier, but not completely sure on that one, yet. She is walking tons now, which is great. She'll also play peekaboo. Unfortunately, she has a small stripping problem that apparently offends some Ethiopian men, so we are working on that.

Today as we were walking into a restaurant, a man sitting by the front door said "Hey, Angelina, where's Brad?" Ha.Ha.Ha. Wrong day, mister. I do think he may have been American, as I don't recall an accent. It was also the same place that apparently I wasn't feeding her mashed potatoes properly, so the spoon was taken from me and the waitress/hostess did it. AND THEN ANOTHER ONE DID IT LATER!! For crying out loud. Then we went to Kaldi's(the Starbucks equivalent here) and things were much better.

Tomorrow we are going out for breakfast with everyone and then in the evening we will go to the traditional Ethiopian restaurant at which it is being suggested that I dance. They are going to have to liquor me up or something, because otherwise, AIN'T HAPPENIN'! Can we say laughing stock? Maybe I'll stand up and shout "Diarrea!" and take off.

Thank you to those who responded to the "potty" sign. She is apparently confused and just to make it easier, we are going with diapers until we get home. All of this running around does not make for easy potty training!

Random thoughts

2007-07-21T11:51:00.000-05:00

Tidbits:

We were driving thru town and a van pulled out into our lane (the outside lane) and almost smacked us. The name of the company van? The Careful Movers. Kinda funny.

There was an accident on the road and we thought that we'd be there awhile. Turns out, you can drive around the lightpost onto the sidewalk and people clear the way for you!

When you are cooped up in a hotel because you a cranky kid and an upset stomach, you play with the bidet and then look it up on Wikipedia...for a 20 minute lesson.

My daughter doesn't like dirty. So it's "caca". She doesn't like gross. So it's "caca". She doesn't like her food? "Caca". I think I am going to have fun with that when we go back home!

Helpful hints: Bring Clorox wipes and/or Lysol...not at the grocery store here. And toys for the orphanages. Lightweight toys, like frisbees and hackey sacks and beach balls are what we brought, but should've brought more. One little boy was playing with the decapitated head of a doll, so it doesn't take much.

She is saying Mama and Piper, and caca, of course. But it's a start! And today she barely fussed at all when I put her in the crib! It's the little things!

Kechene orphanage

2007-07-21T01:35:00.000-05:00

Yesterday we went to the big government orphanage(Kechene). While it was in better condition, there are about 170 kids there. One couple was leaving that day and was taking home 2 daughters, one of which was turning 18 in 2 days! Talk about close call! There were a few girls crying because their friend was leaving. It was so sad. One girl came up to Belay and was crying and cried the whole time because she went to Bright Futures camp, but was not adopted and was sad. Another one I went up to and hugged and she never left my side. She was 10, and she had a brother who was 9. Her brother is called Eveready, because he has so much energy. She didn't get to go to Bright Futures because the social worker said she was depressed and the brother was too hyper. She thinks she didn't get to go because of her brother. The saddest about her is that she thought that she was ugly, her head was shaved, and she did have kind of boyish features, and when we left, she wouldn't look at us and walked away. Belay said it really is true that the pretty ones and ones that smile that get adopted. These kids honestly have no reason to smile and some obviously have lost hope. We were not allowed to take pictures at this orphanage.

The good thing is that they are working on programs to help them, but it takes time and money. They offer schooling and incentives. Did you know that it only costs about $200 a year to send a child to college? How many people can do that? Maybe we don't all have to adopt, but there are certainly other ways to help. You can donate items and sponsor children for college. Another need is meat and milk. A man comes once a month and brings meat for the kids. They call him the Meat Man. It is a special treat. You can host a child or siblings for Bright Futures camp which is once a year in the summer, I think in the Dallas area and New York. I would be happy to find out what we can do and the steps if anyone is interested in helping.

Last night we all went out to a traditional Ethiopian restaurant, not the one everyone goes to, but we will. They did the dancing and stuff and it was real good. Piper ate like a pro and knew exactly what she was doing. Here are some pictures.

Today

2007-07-19T11:43:00.000-05:00

Today we started at the museum so that we could see Lucy who is a real old old lady.
It was an interesting museum, but a little long for me...I am more the breeze thru kind of person, stopping at things I am interested in.

We met the 2 other families that picked up their little boys. It was nice meeting some other people.

And then, came a hard one...going to the orphanages. We went to one, which had me in tears. It was heartwrenching. So many children, and they are just tiny tiny portion of the sadness. There are so many and definitely not enough to take care of them all, especially the babies. There really are no words to describe the sadness you feel when you know that you may be the only person who smiles or hugs that child that day.

After the first one, we went to Piper's, which is the private orphanage. It had a better ratio of caregivers, but it is still so hard. She was obviously loved there and she grinned the whole time! I didn't get to hold her at all while we were there, because all of the little mamas in the place! She ate it up. We brought the kids some frisbees, beach balls, and hackey sacks to play with and played with them all. It really reminded me of playing with the kids in Haiti. That was my favorite. I could do that all day, hitting a beach ball back and forth counting in English with the kids.

Now it is getting later and we are exhausted. Piper is definitely testing with some things, but is sweet most of the time. It is such a hard time with the fact that she can't speak much yet, so she can't say what she needs, even in Amharic. It'll come, I know.

Tomorrow we go up north somewhere to overlook the city and then to the third orphanage to visit. I hope we get a day to rest soon, because all of this running around is wearing me out...Piper's a lightweight, but even that can get heavy after awhile! Jeanene and I get winded pretty easy because of the altitude. I know it's not because I'm fat, it's the air. :) Helpful hint: bring vitamins for yourselves. No sleep, thin air, running around, and hanging out in orphanages can run your system down. Also, bring fungal cream for your kids...seems like they all have some form of it or another...and cortisone cream. And tylenol. Ok, maybe that will do it.

Sorry I am all over the place, but with a toddler, there isn't much sit down time and I have to do it fast.

It is really an amazing place.

What day is it?

2007-07-18T08:13:00.000-05:00

Well, today we went to the clinic (if you happen to go, bring hand sanitizer) where Piper got a very brief physical. And then we were off to the embassy where they gave her another HIV test. It is for her visa and I guess that the US wants their own doctors to verify (since she has already been tested twice) and then we go back next Wednesday to get the actual visa, so that she can come home. Then we went out to eat where she was a good girl, again, so long as she has food!

The girl has got some lungs. She is obviously very content with us, but frustrated with the lack of communication. She can't talk, but a few words here and there, and then we don't speak the same language. Sesame Street, however, speaks a universal language because she loved watching an ABC video and points and talks to Big Bird and Cookie Monster. Not sure if she has seen it before, but maybe.

Today when we got back to the room, she was crying and crying. I knew she had eaten and wasn't thirsty, but she tugged at her diaper, so I took her to the toilet, where she obviously needed to go. She cried when I tried to put a diaper on her, but was happy to wear underwear. Unfortunately, there is no way other than wailing to tell me anything at this point. So we have been going thru several steps to figure out. First change toy, then drink, then food, then bathroom, until we figure it out. I am trying to teach her some sign language for the basics. Anyone know potty? Please email me it because I can't see the blog, just only post to it. It's rach4040@hotmail.com.

I think we are going to the awesome playground they have here at the Sheraton(might as well take advantage of the perks), once I wake her up in a minute. She has taken a big nap this afternoon(and I got a little one, too).

We ate at an awesome pizza place for lunch. We have chosen to live carboliciously for the next week. Meat has scared us (stay away from hamburger) and vegetables seem to only come with meat, so it is lots of spaghetti and buttered noodles. But pizza with veggies was good. Ethiopians may or may not like the fact that Italians occupied them for awhile, but I sure don't mind!

Here, finally, is that beautiful smile!

Big Day

2007-07-17T12:35:00.000-05:00

Well, she is beautiful. Of course!

Today we have managed to go out to eat and to the grocery store...both things that I ordinarily would have waited on. She is happy to eat for sure and has already in a few hours learned to work me! At first she just looked at food with her HUGE eyes and then looked at me. Now we are up to grunting or kind of a whimper.

She had one big meltdown today, but she did not have her nap, so that probably contributed, as well as the new surroundings. But I can tell that we are on our way...she will cry when I leave the room and always makes sure I am nearby. I am eating that up. May become troublesome later, but were bonding right now, right? Going to the bathroom is a problem, though! When she first cried, she did it with her mouth closed, like she may have been scolded for that or something. We are past that now :)

She is a snuggler. She is not potty trained(which is completely fine...I don't freak over that). She LOVES any food and HATES when you take it away. I guess it will take awhile before she learns that she won't go without.

They fixed her hair(NOT SHAVED!)with colorful rubberbands all over her head, but it was bothering her, and Jeanene and I needed to play anyways! It is beautiful hair! We gave her a bath, which she was timid of at first, but loved it by the end and let me know how unhappy she was to be out of it. She loves to have her head massaged and I love to do it. You should see the look of bliss on her face when you do it.

Helpful hint: the lights go out once in awhile for a very short period, so if you go, bring a small flashlight.

Tafesse is our driver and he is awesome. He speaks excellent English and needs a new girlfriend, b/c his last one wasn't a very nice person, so we're keeping our eye out for him :)

We got the internet for a 24 hour period today, so I probably won't post tomorrow, but I will the next day...it gets expensive in this joint...we went to the grocery store and bought lots of crackers, some milk for her, and pb &j, so we can do our own thing once in awhile.

Got more thank yous again today from some older women. They said we will be blessed and that she is lucky. It is sooo the other way around.

Hello from Addis!

2007-07-17T02:50:00.000-05:00

Sorry it took so long! We have had computer issues, but I think we've got it now.

Jeanene and I are here safe and sound after a very smooth travel experience. We are embarrassed to say that we are at the Sheraton, when you look out of our balcony and see the reality of Ethiopia. It was not our first choice of hotel, but it still works out nicely :) We still don't have a hotel for the last 2 days, though.

Everyone has been very kind and polite here. One Ethiopian woman on the plane even told me "Thank you" when I told her that I was adopting. She said everyone should give back somehow. That made me feel better. I have never heard that they feel otherwise, but it is nice to hear for yourself that they "endorse" what you are doing.

We are hoping to meet Piper today, but we aren't sure yet...it could be tomorrow(Wednesday). Belay is with the Bright Futures kids and they should be getting in today, so maybe he needs to adjust and get some sleep. We are so off on our sleep, I can barely tell what day it is!

I will keep you posted! (no pun intended :)

Update:

She's coming!She's coming! At 4am Georgetown time, she is coming! Jeanene is cleaning obssesively...And I just took some Pepto Bismol.

I'm coming, Baby

2007-07-13T20:25:00.001-05:00

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

I Would Die For That

2007-07-13T19:13:00.001-05:00

Saw this on a few blogs...There is a story for almost everyone here.

HOME CAN BE HERE

2007-07-13T08:50:00.000-05:00

Please help find a home for these three children. They are precious.

Page Family Blog

This is my surreality

2007-07-12T22:07:00.000-05:00

I can't even think straight enough to blog right now! I am so excited. I am a little stressed right now, because we are having hotel problems, but I am sure it will all work itself out.

I am doing all of those last minute things that I have read every other person that is fixin' to leave has done, i.e. laundry, cleaning, errands.

This is very surreal.

It's cool there!

2007-07-09T09:57:00.000-05:00

Guess what? Had to take my car into the shop because I had a HUGE leak in my tire. Wonder how that happened?

I leave on Saturday. I saw on the Waals blog that it hasn't been over 70 degrees since they've been there. Mainly 50s and 60s! I am bringing a jacket and poncho because rainy season is definitely on there. I have to dig up a windbreaker for Piper, too, because everything I have for her is summer stuff. But I found the cutest leg warmers from Babylegs. They are too cute!

I was going to bring one of my mom's OLD OLD suitcases(in bright orange, no less) and leave it there, but I am thinking that I really need something that rolls since it is going to be 2 chicks with tons of luggage, so I guess I have to buy ANOTHER suitcase. I already bought one huge one, but I'd rather make things as easy as possible, so I guess I will fork over the dough and get another one.

I am going to see my daughter next week.

Anyone got any tape?

2007-07-07T12:14:00.000-05:00

So Friday we drove to Garland, Texas to watch the soccer tournament that was put on by the Ethiopian Soccer Federation of North America. We were able to meet Ryan and Abby and Belay, although briefly. We also got to meet the Page family...yay! Kali is beautiful and seems to be adjusting well and is certainly aware of who her family is! She loves her Mama! It really helped me feel at peace about Piper and her adjustment because that is a big concern of mine.

We got there about 4pm and stayed until just after 8. It was PACKED! Unfortunately, the show didn't start until we were leaving, but the kids were exhausted(and Mom and Dad) and we still had a 3 hour ride home.

And speaking of the ride home....

We stopped to get something to eat, which went well considering it was almost 9 and the kids hadn't taken a nap that day. We leave and it's about 9:15 or so and get going. We are trying to find a way back on the highway and end up on the wrong one, but only after we have gone over a median. It felt about as silly as we looked. The kids were like, "Whoa!" Like a bucking bull.

Brodan has finally potty trained with the exception of nighttime, which is fine by me. However, he errs on the side of caution now, and wants to go ALL THE TIME. So he decides to cry wolf once we are in the middle of nowhere on I35 somewhere between Dallas and Waco. Fine. We exit. There road is pitch black and there isn't even a gravel driveway to pull over into. But, wait, there is the entrance ramp back on the highway. Nooo, Dennis says, let's try up .....HHHEEEERRREEE!!!! The access road abruptly ends and we go sailing in the air after the drop off. Everyone ok? Rattled, but yes. Air still in the tires? Yes. Ok. Brodan, go the bathroom. He forces out next to nothing. Ugh. We back up oh-so-carefully and get back on the road.

AND THEN...

Not 5 minutes later, someone's lawn chair flies off of their car and into us, knocking our sideview mirror off. Well, really it dangled and flopped for the next 2 hours and whenever we used the blinker, it blinked to the sky since it was hanging upside down.

Now? I am driving my car with duct tape on it. Sideview works great, electronics and all, it is just attached with DUCT TAPE. Yeah, I'm cool.

We were like the Griswolds by the time it was all said and done, without the graffiti on the car and the dead Grandma.

Need a Family!!!!

2007-07-06T04:20:00.000-05:00

These kids MUST find a family!!!!

Go to the Page Family blog.

Muddin' on the 4th

2007-07-05T12:15:00.000-05:00

Since all it does is rain here lately, we had some fun in the mud in our driveway...

Happy Cam...what boy doesn't love mud?

Brodan and his You Bettah Bring It Girls

Ethiopian Adoption

2007-07-03T18:16:00.001-05:00

Try not to cry during this. The beginning is a little slow, but worth the wait.

FYI

2007-07-03T13:37:00.000-05:00

Hey!

Just wanted to let fellow adopters out there know about the Amharic version of Sesame Street that can be purchased online or at one of the many retailers throughout the U.S.and Canada.

You can see more at the website. It seems that an Ethiopian and American couple came up with the idea. It is not Sesame Street, but seems to have the same format. I am getting Piper a copy...it may make her happy to hear a familiar sound when she gets here!

Just FYI!

Shower pictures

2007-07-03T08:54:00.000-05:00

Here is my beautiful cake courtesy of Lonestar Bakery in Round Rock!

Here is me and the cake....

And these are Piper's princess dress up heels! How funny!

MMMmmmmm....chocolate

2007-07-02T11:16:00.001-05:00

Well, yesterday I had a wonderful shower for Piper. It was thrown by a lady whose son was in my class at Parent's Day Out. She has quickly become a friend and she hosted an awesome time! We played only one game, to everyone's pleasure :) and had and delicious cake, but let us not forget....the chocolate fountain. MMMmmmmm. Piper got lots of stuff and it just got me all excited all over again about having a girl. Even girl gift bags are so much more fun than boy stuff! A big fat thanks to everyone there for sending me off more prepared for her now!

I will post pictures later...for some reason, I can't get it to work, now.

Piper is so loved and it makes me feel so good.

Here's a tip.

2007-06-29T21:13:00.000-05:00

Annoying:

1.

Pass the mustard.

It's MUSTER...the word was used in the military and referred to assembling troops for inspection and such. Look it up. That is what my dad made me do long ago and why I know this. And now I am tortured until I die with people saying it wrong.

2.

Is Dennis babysitting?

This is a new one. My friend Jeanene pointed out to me that no one calls it babysitting when we watch the kids, so why is it when Dad is? No, he's parenting, not babysitting. And since she pointed that out, that bothers me.

3. Emails sent without verifying with Snopes.com. Please check with them if it sounds too good to be true, someone is going make money, get something for free, or is gathering info for a science class.

4. People who don't tip well and send food back.

Not a whole lot going on right now, obviously.

Haiti

2007-06-27T19:54:00.000-05:00

So while I am not loving the wait, I am loving the security of knowing that we are through the courts and that part is done. When I have the wait of that uncertainty that we had to compare to this one, this is a breeze.

I have lots to do with the kids and still getting our Sunday School classrooms ready for our big move to a permanent facility on the 8th, so that really helps.

Did anyone see Oprah today? Sometimes I forget that I don't have to watch cartoons during the day, and today was one of those days where, since we had been inside all day, I kicked the boys out on the porch to play (since our yard is like a jungle right now w/all this rain) and turned the station to Oprah. It was a good one about people who saw injustice and instead of wishing they could do something about it, they did something about it. I especially loved the story about the man from Haiti, Jean-Robert Cadet, who was a child slave, moved to the US as a slave for the same people, and ended up getting a college degree in International Business (I think). They are called Restavecs. They are sold by their families into slavery, with the intent to return them to their families when the "masters" no longer need their services. I love Haiti and I am so glad to see it mentioned. I love Africa, too(especially now!), but Haiti never gets mentioned, while it is the poorest country in the western hemisphere. I loved the whole show anyways, because it highlighted the fact that one person can make a difference. Lots of people don't get that. They think that they have to have Oprah money or be one of those weirdo missionary women who don't shave their legs, or wear skirts with black socks and Birkenstocks, ya know? Really hope I didn't step on any toes, there. Anyways, I forgot where I was going with this....it was just a good show.

UPDATE: I would also just like to say that I am a weirdo missionary woman, myself. Without the black socks and birkenstocks. Sometimes I shave my legs.

No Tartar this time

2007-06-24T07:44:00.001-05:00

Last night I went to Aster's Ethiopian restaurant with my mom and my sister, who is in town visiting. She likes the food, but we can cross it off my mom's list. Not her thing. I tried a couple of other things this time (it was definitely a smarter order), and it was good. As long as I stick to the milder dishes, then I am fine. I'm not much of a spicy foods eater. I can't wait to take Piper there so she can eat something familiar. It is definitely a different food from what we are used to. The coolest thing was that we saw that they have Sesame Street videos in Amharic! How cool! I will definitely get her one from there, if I don't find it in Addis.

I have started daydreaming again, since now I know she is ours. I hardly went into her room or even looked at her picture when we were waiting between court dates, because I was so scared. I was scared not only because rainy season was coming, and if it didn't go right, we were going to have to wait until later this year to get it cleared up, but also because, what if it was an issue that couldn't be cleared up? Thankfully, it's all good, now, but that was a horrible feeling!

I really wish that I could have videotaped Cam when I told him that she was coming home soon. He started jumping up and down and started laughing and saying over and over, "Sissy's coming home!" Then he ran into the kitchen to tell Dad (like he didn't know :)
It was awesome.

By the way, there is a funny blog on the Rooney blog. It is about the non-cuss words we use, especially around kids, when we really feel like letting one out. There are some pretty creative folks out there. It had me laughing. Go visit them and add to the list!

Mineminemineminemine....

2007-06-22T14:59:00.000-05:00

After a day of incredible stress and nervousness, we celebrate Piper Chaltu Elliott coming to Texas in mid July!! We just found out....she is OURS!!!

The sound of crickets....

2007-06-22T06:50:00.000-05:00

I am so nervous...Court Date day is almost over there in Ethiopia....tick tock....tick tock...tick tock

Chancin' this post

2007-06-21T14:47:00.000-05:00

My brother says that I am probably a Christian Democrat. I had never heard of such a thing, the term, I mean. I honestly don't think I am. But I'm not sure that I am completely Republican. I certainly lean very far in the conservative direction. However, I am not pleased with either side of the line at all. When it comes to most issues, I am very conservative. Can I be a bleeding heart Conservative or Republican? Honestly, I am not political at all. But these times kind of force you to choose somewhat, or you are just one of those fence straddlers who don't care enough to choose. But it seems we only have 2 choices. I am NOT anti-Bush. But maybe I am not 100% pro Bush either. And if I only get 2 choices, then I go conservative. And I have nothing to back myself up, since I don't know much about politics or care to get into it all, either. I just realized that I don't think that I have a proper representation out there.

Can we do something to stop the spread of teenage affluenza?

2007-06-19T19:45:00.001-05:00

So I wrote my poo blog and then found this. Way to pout, Rachel. Real proud of myself.

I don't think enough eyes could see this....