Today was the 1st semi-good day in over a week, which is good because yesterday was the WORST day thus far, by a whole lot - wow! The fact that we all lived through it is really amazing. The major meltdowns didn't happen today until this evening and now both kids are mostly asleep, which means that I can soon follow. Yippee... :0) I will be trying to get our photo files moved to my computer so that I can post a few. That is my goal for this week, along with unpacking our suitcases! I know, lofty goals indeed as is has been an entire week since we have been home :0)
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Friday, February 12, 2010
We made it back!
(This is a repeat post from Face Book)
Hello all! Yes, we are back and we have our kids with us :0) We got home at midnight on Tuesday. The trip to Awassa to meet the children's uncle was amazing although we really missed the kids. We got back from Awassa Sunday afternoon and the kids started acting out a bit. Monday was THE WORST day ever!!! Our little girl would scream at the top of her lungs and kick and cry for hours on end. Then Mamush would act out because we would be trying to calm Kefelech down and he would feel left out.
The trip home was the longest day of my life - both figuratively and literally. With the 10 hour time change our day was 34 hours and more than 30 of those hours were spent getting home. Kefelech continued to have massive meltdowns, but never got to the screaming at the top of her lungs. It was such a hard day. Our first day home (Wednesday) the kids continued to act out and I began to worry that this was the true norm for them. I was so exhausted. Mom came over so I could at least shower and for support. I don't know who flipped the switch on the kids, but it wasn't fun at all.
Luckily yesterday (Thursday) we have began to see glimpses and longer periods of the awesome kids we first meet - I think that we all might make it through this transition. :0) They love all the food that we have given them here, so far, and are in absolute love with play-dough. They spent 2.5 hours playing with it yesterday morning and wanted to play with it for almost another 2 hours in the afternoon.
I don't have much time to post at the moment, as the kids still haven't fully adjusted to our time zone, but we are getting closer. We are doing so much better than the previous 3 days of "Oh my goodness, What have we done?" The kids were back to giggling and being cute!! Yippee -
I will be adding posts with more details about our trip as time allows and of course adding pictures. But for now, I am going to head off to bed!
Hello all! Yes, we are back and we have our kids with us :0) We got home at midnight on Tuesday. The trip to Awassa to meet the children's uncle was amazing although we really missed the kids. We got back from Awassa Sunday afternoon and the kids started acting out a bit. Monday was THE WORST day ever!!! Our little girl would scream at the top of her lungs and kick and cry for hours on end. Then Mamush would act out because we would be trying to calm Kefelech down and he would feel left out.
The trip home was the longest day of my life - both figuratively and literally. With the 10 hour time change our day was 34 hours and more than 30 of those hours were spent getting home. Kefelech continued to have massive meltdowns, but never got to the screaming at the top of her lungs. It was such a hard day. Our first day home (Wednesday) the kids continued to act out and I began to worry that this was the true norm for them. I was so exhausted. Mom came over so I could at least shower and for support. I don't know who flipped the switch on the kids, but it wasn't fun at all.
Luckily yesterday (Thursday) we have began to see glimpses and longer periods of the awesome kids we first meet - I think that we all might make it through this transition. :0) They love all the food that we have given them here, so far, and are in absolute love with play-dough. They spent 2.5 hours playing with it yesterday morning and wanted to play with it for almost another 2 hours in the afternoon.
I don't have much time to post at the moment, as the kids still haven't fully adjusted to our time zone, but we are getting closer. We are doing so much better than the previous 3 days of "Oh my goodness, What have we done?" The kids were back to giggling and being cute!! Yippee -
I will be adding posts with more details about our trip as time allows and of course adding pictures. But for now, I am going to head off to bed!
Monday, February 8, 2010
Monday's Text
"We have boarded our plane and so far we have had only small melt downs from Kafee and a little whining from Mamush, lame no water rule. Keep praying. Thanks."
Thier plane departed at about 2:00 a.m. Poor family... a first plane ride in the middle of the night!
Thier plane departed at about 2:00 a.m. Poor family... a first plane ride in the middle of the night!
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Sunday's Text
"Returned from Awasa today, all safe together. Get trans-visa tomorrow and finish packing. Very glad to be traveling home soon! Kids are still great!"
Saturday's Text
"Both met the kids' uncle today, he is a wonderful man, glad could meet him. Also saw lots of countriside on trip and Lake Awasa evening."
Friday's Text
"Traditional meal was good. Traveling to Awasa tomorrow."
For those of you who don't know Awasa is the city where Zach and Livy were first placed in the orphanage. If there is any chance of meeting any relatives of the kids, to get information and ask questions, this is the one and only chance.
For those of you who don't know Awasa is the city where Zach and Livy were first placed in the orphanage. If there is any chance of meeting any relatives of the kids, to get information and ask questions, this is the one and only chance.
Thursday's Text
(There was no text on Wednesday) "Sorry I fell aspleep last night. K (Olivia Kefelech) slept better and so did we. Starting to see more of thier personalities and talking. They are so good and such a joy always."
Tuesday's Text
"Day 2- Mamush: can tie his shoes, trace most of the alphabet correctly, get dressed, say the alphabet, fold his clothes, match sets for go-fish, smiles a lot. Kefelech: helpful, made the bed, get dressed, loves to draw and copy brother, 1st real laugh, tiny and talks, can write about half the alphabet correctly, cute. They called us Mommy and Daddy today, looked for us when time to go, are restless wiggling sleepers, eat well, talking more, and are absolutely wonderful! LOVE"
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Monday's Text
"Today was amazing and so tiring. The kids are absolutely wonderful! K (Olivia Kefelech) doesn't like onions and is so smart. M (Zachariah Mamush) is ticklish and got car sick."
Monday, February 1, 2010
1 day down, only about 4745 days till they are 18 years old
I am just kidding, right now we are really enjoying this time with Mamush and Kefelech. It was the most exciting day in my life next to our wedding day! Just FYI, Internet connection will be intermittent so we may or may not be able to post regularly.
So Children's Hope International (CHI) picked us up at Melkham House around 9:30 am local time and it was about 15min driving to reach House of Hope (HOH) and then we were shown into a room on the second floor with couches, chairs and what not, basically the equivalent of the torturous hospital waiting room, 10 min later one of the nannies walked in with the kids. Neither one of them knew who to look for ( we found out later the photo book, stuffed animal, and toy caddies made for them never arrived so they have never seen us until today. ), once they were pointed in the right direction it was hugs and picture taking city. I wish I could write more however time is limited. Overall it was the awesomest day ever, life is good when you are thirty years old and it is OK to play with the big wheels!
P.S. Ethiopia is 3+hrs ahead of greenwitch time, 10+hrs ahead of Utah.
So Children's Hope International (CHI) picked us up at Melkham House around 9:30 am local time and it was about 15min driving to reach House of Hope (HOH) and then we were shown into a room on the second floor with couches, chairs and what not, basically the equivalent of the torturous hospital waiting room, 10 min later one of the nannies walked in with the kids. Neither one of them knew who to look for ( we found out later the photo book, stuffed animal, and toy caddies made for them never arrived so they have never seen us until today. ), once they were pointed in the right direction it was hugs and picture taking city. I wish I could write more however time is limited. Overall it was the awesomest day ever, life is good when you are thirty years old and it is OK to play with the big wheels!
P.S. Ethiopia is 3+hrs ahead of greenwitch time, 10+hrs ahead of Utah.
The latest from Raylene and Patrick
Hey everyone... This is Shiloa (Raylene's sister) The happy parents asked me to post the texts and emails they send to us here on their blog so that everyone can enjoy this week with them. Just so you all know, Ethiopia is 10 hours ahead.
On Saturday morning (Saturday at 9:00 p.m. for them) we received an email that they were at the guest house (where they will be staying). The trip was long but they arrived with no problems. I also got this text from Raylene, "We are 10 hours ahead. All is great. Can't wait to see it in daylight. We should get a bit of sleep. I sent a message to Mom. Saw a fruit stand. Love it so far."
Yesterday (Sunday) we received a text as well... "Today we were just lazy. Slept well, ate pizza at Green View. Loved hot shower. Nervous & excited about tomorrow, seems surreal. Patrick's phone not working. Love"
Then later that evening my mother got this email... "We just got the Internet to work! I wanted to write a quick note to say hello. Everything is going well and we will see the kids in less than 12 hours! This is so exciting and wonderful and completely nerve racking at the same time. Hope that the cats aren't giving you too much trouble - thanks so much for all that everyone has done to help and support us in getting here. This is truly amazing. I will try to write again tomorrow when I hope to have so much more to tell. Take care, I am going to bed now!
~ Raylene Miller, mommy to 2 :0)"
By now they are with their children... Hooray!!!!
I'll try to keep their blog updated. ~Shiloa
On Saturday morning (Saturday at 9:00 p.m. for them) we received an email that they were at the guest house (where they will be staying). The trip was long but they arrived with no problems. I also got this text from Raylene, "We are 10 hours ahead. All is great. Can't wait to see it in daylight. We should get a bit of sleep. I sent a message to Mom. Saw a fruit stand. Love it so far."
Yesterday (Sunday) we received a text as well... "Today we were just lazy. Slept well, ate pizza at Green View. Loved hot shower. Nervous & excited about tomorrow, seems surreal. Patrick's phone not working. Love"
Then later that evening my mother got this email... "We just got the Internet to work! I wanted to write a quick note to say hello. Everything is going well and we will see the kids in less than 12 hours! This is so exciting and wonderful and completely nerve racking at the same time. Hope that the cats aren't giving you too much trouble - thanks so much for all that everyone has done to help and support us in getting here. This is truly amazing. I will try to write again tomorrow when I hope to have so much more to tell. Take care, I am going to bed now!
~ Raylene Miller, mommy to 2 :0)"
By now they are with their children... Hooray!!!!
I'll try to keep their blog updated. ~Shiloa
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