Monday, July 7, 2008
First day swimming
She was hesitant at first. When we finally got her in the water she was thrilled beyond belief. Neither I nor Gary had ever seen anything like her reaction. I can't describe it and I wish I had video taped it. It was hilarious. She would put her face in the water and come up out of breath shaking like crazy, flailing about then finally a giggle so loud it could be a laugh. She was so thrilled she couldn't breath, the whole experience took her breath away. I had never seen a child so tickled in all my life. You can tell the feeling of being in water was so totally new to her. It was amazing. Within a few minutes she was swimming back and forth to Gary and I. This child is adventurous. She likes to make us laugh and she loves to please us. I am always in awe at the things she does and I just love to watch her. She is a master at sign language and really is good at telling us what she needs. Yesterday she begged me for injera. Poor baby. We are leaving for San Diego today and we are going to get Ethiopian food there. The kids are very excited to get to San Diego, they have done very well with all the attention poured on our newest. Abby said that when I found her in Ethiopia she was so hungry and was working in a garden, then I brought her home. She makes me laugh with her imagination although it drives Mason crazy. Judah and Mason need to run free for a bit, you can tell these boys have been pent up much to long, prisoner to this heat. We are getting Netty a razor scooter today and heading out of town. Judah got a serious hair cut. He has sensory issues so brushing his hair is constantly a battle. Gary tried to just cut it but he didn't like the pulling feeling of the clippers so we just shaved it off completely. He looks older now and his smile is huge now that he doesn't have hair. So showering all four kids was easier as I only had to do three kids hair! Netty has very soft curls and so her hair won't be as high maintenance as Judah's. I plan to just let it grow and be free. She doesn't mind having her hair brushed and she loves to do my hair. She sings her native songs and puts rubber bands in my hair. She is a pro at the side pony tail.
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Just an update
While I am journaling my whole trip on the living love account I will also update this one as well but with current kid stuff.
I can't believe it has been 2 weeks since I left. Netty is home and is doing great, the adjustment is seamless. Thank God. She fits right in and it is if God made a spot for from the beginning of time.
There is no problems yet. She doesn't like it when I take a bite of her food, but she likes to feed me. She likes to do hair and she sings little songs when she does it. She loves clothes and dolls and all things girly. She is picking up on English fast, We have to learn some manners but she is smart and learns fast not requiring very much correction at all. She loves food and tries anything once, she even ate cabbage the other night. Gary thinks she is 5 , I don't know I think she is a smart 4 1/2 year old. She is tiny, smaller than Judah but fat. She didn't have much opportunity to exercise. She imitates wonderfully, and even lines the toilets seat with toilet paper cause she saw me do it in Ethiopia. She can count to 5 and say abc's, she understands what we are saying and doesn't fight with the kids, she loves to tease and joke. She sleeps good and is very adventurous and not fearful at all of new experiences. She communicates amazingly, using English Amharic and sign language. She can definitely get her point across without a problem which reduces the fits. She copies the kids so if they clean up so does she. She loves to dress up and talk on the phone, anything electronic or pink or purple. She was afraid of the small dog but okay with the bigger one. She got over that fear in 2 days. She didn't like her car seat but with in one day accepted it without too much drama. She is a dream child. What can I say. But don't feel like I live the charmed life, I think my other adoptive child has oppositional defiance disorder. Gary and I are at a loss with him currently. We are taking him to be evaluated in a month. So while netty is has had no problems and she has been with us for 2 weeks, our other son has been with us over 2 years and we still don't know what to do. It is hard now that I can see the other end of things. I know we have a problem. I think sometimes I was in denial but now that there is a definite comparison, now that we have adopted 2 times and had two different experiences I can see we need help.
I can't believe it has been 2 weeks since I left. Netty is home and is doing great, the adjustment is seamless. Thank God. She fits right in and it is if God made a spot for from the beginning of time.
There is no problems yet. She doesn't like it when I take a bite of her food, but she likes to feed me. She likes to do hair and she sings little songs when she does it. She loves clothes and dolls and all things girly. She is picking up on English fast, We have to learn some manners but she is smart and learns fast not requiring very much correction at all. She loves food and tries anything once, she even ate cabbage the other night. Gary thinks she is 5 , I don't know I think she is a smart 4 1/2 year old. She is tiny, smaller than Judah but fat. She didn't have much opportunity to exercise. She imitates wonderfully, and even lines the toilets seat with toilet paper cause she saw me do it in Ethiopia. She can count to 5 and say abc's, she understands what we are saying and doesn't fight with the kids, she loves to tease and joke. She sleeps good and is very adventurous and not fearful at all of new experiences. She communicates amazingly, using English Amharic and sign language. She can definitely get her point across without a problem which reduces the fits. She copies the kids so if they clean up so does she. She loves to dress up and talk on the phone, anything electronic or pink or purple. She was afraid of the small dog but okay with the bigger one. She got over that fear in 2 days. She didn't like her car seat but with in one day accepted it without too much drama. She is a dream child. What can I say. But don't feel like I live the charmed life, I think my other adoptive child has oppositional defiance disorder. Gary and I are at a loss with him currently. We are taking him to be evaluated in a month. So while netty is has had no problems and she has been with us for 2 weeks, our other son has been with us over 2 years and we still don't know what to do. It is hard now that I can see the other end of things. I know we have a problem. I think sometimes I was in denial but now that there is a definite comparison, now that we have adopted 2 times and had two different experiences I can see we need help.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Leaving on a jet plane
I am leaving. I am really going to do it.
Yikes.
For over 2 years I have waited for this moment. Now I think I have built it up so much in my mind it is unreal to the point of I can't imagine.
Gary will be blogging for me his side of the story, home with 3 kids for 10 days. That should be interesting and make for good reading. Gary usually finds a way to tease me and most the time it is relentless, he does this with the kids as well so that should be fun.
There are a million things to worry about but I can't even go there. The top ones on my list are:
The piece of metal from the cheap IKEA beds that is hanging under Abby's bed. Yes what if she crawls under it and pokes her eye out!
My bathroom door and the boys bedroom door. Gary must just remove the whole entire door locks because Judah has hung on them so many times they broke and now if you shut the door you will get locked in. I know because Judah locked me in my bathroom today and me and the kids all got locked in the boys bedroom the other day and I had to yell out the window for Gary to rescue me.
Snorkeling: Gary will take the kids to my mother in laws pool and let them snorkel. This just freaks me out but what can I do? There is all kinds of things to worry about with snorkeling I can't even go there.
The zoo: sounds innocent but there are a million things to worry about, the play area is not safe and it is hot and there is water in the form of fake lakes and three kids and well you know.
Those make my top list. If I had it my way they would lock themselves in the house and not leave for 10 days. But I have faith believe it or not. Well kind of .
Yikes.
For over 2 years I have waited for this moment. Now I think I have built it up so much in my mind it is unreal to the point of I can't imagine.
Gary will be blogging for me his side of the story, home with 3 kids for 10 days. That should be interesting and make for good reading. Gary usually finds a way to tease me and most the time it is relentless, he does this with the kids as well so that should be fun.
There are a million things to worry about but I can't even go there. The top ones on my list are:
The piece of metal from the cheap IKEA beds that is hanging under Abby's bed. Yes what if she crawls under it and pokes her eye out!
My bathroom door and the boys bedroom door. Gary must just remove the whole entire door locks because Judah has hung on them so many times they broke and now if you shut the door you will get locked in. I know because Judah locked me in my bathroom today and me and the kids all got locked in the boys bedroom the other day and I had to yell out the window for Gary to rescue me.
Snorkeling: Gary will take the kids to my mother in laws pool and let them snorkel. This just freaks me out but what can I do? There is all kinds of things to worry about with snorkeling I can't even go there.
The zoo: sounds innocent but there are a million things to worry about, the play area is not safe and it is hot and there is water in the form of fake lakes and three kids and well you know.
Those make my top list. If I had it my way they would lock themselves in the house and not leave for 10 days. But I have faith believe it or not. Well kind of .
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Very Dissapointing
You know we had a dissapointing night tonight. We went to dinner as a family to Chiles in Goodyear and that is something that we really don't do often. We spent 70 dollars and totally splurged, it was fun and a nice thing before I leave.
Dinner was ruined. There were people behind us, young and in their 20's with just the foulest mouths you have ever heard, talking about things that were so X rated I can't even begin to reapeat them. I didn't notice, Gary did and then of course I had to be subjected to their ill mannered and nasty behavoir, not only me but my kids. When our food arrived I prayed very loud so they could hear me but it didn't stop them.
I would have loved to say something or move or anything but we didn't. I just prayed. My kids didn't hear anything it was just more disturbing for Gary and I to have to listen to this and it more so because they were black.
There I said it. You know whatever but they were using the F word and N word like it was everyday to them. I never even hear that word let alone use it!! It was sad to me because our waiter was also black. He was kind and gentle and knows our friends from church, but because of these ignorant fools wearing their gang bangin clothes and looking and talking the part of ignorance they perpetuate a stereo type that I have to protect my son from. That makes me mad, because people around are not going to remember the Waiter and his kind heart and sincere words, or my darling son from Ethiopia. They will remember and classify black people with these sad and troubled souls. This is what I have to protect my son from, not just people like them but people who stereotype because of people like them. It makes me so mad.
I prayed, I asked God to forgive them for their crude, violent filthy talk. I felt sad for them. I told Gary we just don't know how they grew up and what they saw. He couldn't understand why in a family restaurant would someone use such ill mannered speech. I just told him not everyone knows manners or cares, maybe they were not brought up to care. Or maybe they are just so selfish and young they don't care. I told Gary it was wrong yes, but we don't know what their lives will be like in 10 years. I really don't want to judge them as humans today, all we could do was pray.
Dinner was ruined. There were people behind us, young and in their 20's with just the foulest mouths you have ever heard, talking about things that were so X rated I can't even begin to reapeat them. I didn't notice, Gary did and then of course I had to be subjected to their ill mannered and nasty behavoir, not only me but my kids. When our food arrived I prayed very loud so they could hear me but it didn't stop them.
I would have loved to say something or move or anything but we didn't. I just prayed. My kids didn't hear anything it was just more disturbing for Gary and I to have to listen to this and it more so because they were black.
There I said it. You know whatever but they were using the F word and N word like it was everyday to them. I never even hear that word let alone use it!! It was sad to me because our waiter was also black. He was kind and gentle and knows our friends from church, but because of these ignorant fools wearing their gang bangin clothes and looking and talking the part of ignorance they perpetuate a stereo type that I have to protect my son from. That makes me mad, because people around are not going to remember the Waiter and his kind heart and sincere words, or my darling son from Ethiopia. They will remember and classify black people with these sad and troubled souls. This is what I have to protect my son from, not just people like them but people who stereotype because of people like them. It makes me so mad.
I prayed, I asked God to forgive them for their crude, violent filthy talk. I felt sad for them. I told Gary we just don't know how they grew up and what they saw. He couldn't understand why in a family restaurant would someone use such ill mannered speech. I just told him not everyone knows manners or cares, maybe they were not brought up to care. Or maybe they are just so selfish and young they don't care. I told Gary it was wrong yes, but we don't know what their lives will be like in 10 years. I really don't want to judge them as humans today, all we could do was pray.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
okay Okay
Alright, I have had my moment of lolly gagging. I am nearly packed and have let some of my little things go that I was thinking should be done. It is sad the only time the house or car is clean is when I am expecting something big to happen. It is sad when your husband says "Wow our bathroom is clean, we should adopt all the time" So that is when you know you have a problem. So with that being said I am giving up on the idea of loosing weight, learning another language, becoming mother Theresa, cleaning my house, painting the walls, and cleaning the blinds. Now it is just enough to get Netsanet on our travel benefits and to by stand by tickets for us. So I am going to show up at the airport and not really know if I am leaving. That is so hard for me. I can't even think about leaving Ethiopia, I don't even know if I am getting there. So I am just about ready, the list plays out in my head like a broken record of all the things I need to do, it screams at me at night, wakes me up in the morning, nags me all day. But each day I get a bit more done so at least I feel like I am moving ahead. Currently I am on the phone with the Visa processing center to make sure that her visa has been processed. I got her birth certificate the other day so that is really really good. So far so good. Well I am on the phone currently on the phone with USCIS, they have not received any information on my visa being sent over, well did I expect anything less? They are being very nice to me so that is good but I am concerned, better to head these things off sooner while I am here in the USA and have some control. I don't think they are used to people calling about these things. Okay well I shall update when I know something. Okay well I contacted my local USCIS office we will see, just something else.
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Friday, June 6, 2008
You know you are mixed up when.....
You find yourself at 34 almost 35 years old buying blemish control products with line reduction ones. I was at Sprouts and purchased some new stuff by Burts Bees, they have an anti aging lotion called ageless, and blemish control oil with tea tree and other natural ingrediants. It was just a bummer because I never had pimples when I was a teen ager, in fact this is the first time I have ever purchased such a thing!! I have like 5 pimples currently and that is a first for sure.
Naturally Ageless Line Diminishing Day Lotion
Don't let fine lines see the light of day.
How it Works
Diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles for soft, smooth, naturally ageless skin. This luxurious lotion is packed with antioxidant-rich pomegranate to fight skin-damaging free radicals and para cress to help diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Mexican wild yam extract in the formula helps increase skin's firmness.
How to Use It
Use in the morning after cleansing. Gently smooth over your face and neck.
Featured Ingredient
Pomegranate Extract — Pomegranate fruit extract, from the tree Punica granatum, contains several polyphenols and anthocyanidins which are highly antioxidant, protecting hair and skin.
Read more
Ingredients: Water, helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil, glycerin, stearic acid, sucrose distearate, alcohol denat., sucrose stearate, punica granatum (pomegranate) extract, dioscorea villosa (wild yam) root extract, acmella oleracea (para cress) extract, chondrus crispus (carrageenan) extract, lecithin, glucose, fragrance, xanthan gum, sodium chloride, glucose
Don't let fine lines see the light of day.
How it Works
Diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles for soft, smooth, naturally ageless skin. This luxurious lotion is packed with antioxidant-rich pomegranate to fight skin-damaging free radicals and para cress to help diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Mexican wild yam extract in the formula helps increase skin's firmness.
How to Use It
Use in the morning after cleansing. Gently smooth over your face and neck.
Featured Ingredient
Pomegranate Extract — Pomegranate fruit extract, from the tree Punica granatum, contains several polyphenols and anthocyanidins which are highly antioxidant, protecting hair and skin.
Read more
Ingredients: Water, helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil, glycerin, stearic acid, sucrose distearate, alcohol denat., sucrose stearate, punica granatum (pomegranate) extract, dioscorea villosa (wild yam) root extract, acmella oleracea (para cress) extract, chondrus crispus (carrageenan) extract, lecithin, glucose, fragrance, xanthan gum, sodium chloride, glucose
oxidase, lactoperoxidase
Herbal Blemish Stick
Banish blemishes, naturally.
How it Works
This blemish stick contains 10 effective natural herbal ingredients including willowbark, nature's version of salicylic acid, which clarifies and gently exfoliates skin to clear pores and help prevent breakouts. Combined with tea tree and juniper oils, known for their antiseptic and astringent qualities, and calendula to reduce inflammation and redness, this concentrated formula keeps your skin clear, naturally.
How to Use It
For best results, apply blemish stick directly to the affected areas 2 to 3 times daily. Additional applications may irritate your skin because of the formula's potent botanical ingredients.
Featured Ingredient
Tea Tree Oil — The aboriginal people of Australia have long used Tea tree oil as an antiseptic. The oil is best known for its antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal properties.
Read more
Ingredients: alcohol denat., calendula officinalis flower oil, borago officinalis (borage) seed oil, achillea millefolium (yarrow) oil, carum petroselinum (parsley) seed oil, salix nigra (willow) bark extract, citrus medica limonum (lemon) peel oil, foeniculum vulgare (fennel) oil, water, melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) leaf oil, juniperus communis (juniper) fruit oil, eucalyptus globulus (eucalyptus
Banish blemishes, naturally.
How it Works
This blemish stick contains 10 effective natural herbal ingredients including willowbark, nature's version of salicylic acid, which clarifies and gently exfoliates skin to clear pores and help prevent breakouts. Combined with tea tree and juniper oils, known for their antiseptic and astringent qualities, and calendula to reduce inflammation and redness, this concentrated formula keeps your skin clear, naturally.
How to Use It
For best results, apply blemish stick directly to the affected areas 2 to 3 times daily. Additional applications may irritate your skin because of the formula's potent botanical ingredients.
Featured Ingredient
Tea Tree Oil — The aboriginal people of Australia have long used Tea tree oil as an antiseptic. The oil is best known for its antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal properties.
Read more
Ingredients: alcohol denat., calendula officinalis flower oil, borago officinalis (borage) seed oil, achillea millefolium (yarrow) oil, carum petroselinum (parsley) seed oil, salix nigra (willow) bark extract, citrus medica limonum (lemon) peel oil, foeniculum vulgare (fennel) oil, water, melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) leaf oil, juniperus communis (juniper) fruit oil, eucalyptus globulus (eucalyptus
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