Random

Random pics of the cuteness.

Getting Better

Doctor's prognosis is a double ear infection and a little wheeze in the lungs. Miserable for the toddler (and us - believe me), but I think she'll pull through. They sent us home with a nebulizer machine, which she sat through wonderfully for the first full day of treatment:

Then, she woke up the next morning and decided she was never going to do it again. Nevermind that it obviously helped her breathe better. Nevermind it only took 10 minutes at a time out of her day. Nevermind that I let her watch cartoons while we did it. Nope. She was definetely NEVER DOING IT AGAIN - and made that fact abundantly clear. She would tense up if we even walked near the machine. Brad had to call the doctor this morning to get the medicine in liquid form instead, even though it is not as effective, but 'less effective' medicine is better than 'no medicine'. By the way, I just noticed my pants in the above picture is the exact same shade as the couch cover. Good to know - it may come in useful as camaflouge in the future when I need to (momentarily) hide from a certain sticky fingered toddler.

Peace.

Sick Sick Sick

As if traversing the Atlantic to live with these two strange white folks who don't even speak her language wasn't enough, my little toddler is sick. Fever, cough, pulling on ears, wheezing, crying and sleeping all the time sick. We have a doctor appointment tomorrow, thank goodness, otherwise it would be off to urgent care tonight for us. It is very hard for Brad and I to see her so upset, all I can do is hold her until she falls asleep and give her the yummy grape Tylenol every four hours when her fever comes back. My poor baby. She did have a good time splashing around in the bath at about 6 am, and had a little fun playing with mega-blocks after breakfast, but otherwise it has been a lot of this all day:

At least she has a sleeping buddy on the bed next to her. We hope the doctor will be able to help us tomorrow - I don't care how much medicine we need to come home with!

Home Sweet Home

Our whirl-wind tour of Ethiopia is over, we landed on American soil yesterday night. No trip details today - Tesfu's 'care center cough' as I like to call it has turned into a full blown fever, and I need to obsessively hover over her sleeping in her bed like any new mother would. But, here are some pictures of my beautiful little girl, and her amazing country. It is nice to be home, but I miss Ethiopia already.

Spot in sky is not a UFO - we took this picture through a car window and it is a reflection.

Classic Tesfanesh pouty face. We get this one a lot.

Sleepy toddler.

Seriously. Can I get off the plane yet?
Who can resist the bath-time shot?

Tomorrow... Tomorrow... I Love You, Tomorrow!

So, just how much stuff can you possibly pack to travel to Africa? The answer - lots. More than you think you can even navigate through the airports.

Photo Evidence:

In our defence, two of those suitcases are donations to CHS and AHOPE, plus some packages we picked up from CHS to deliver to the children from their waiting families in the states. One of those said packages keeps singing at us... I tried to find the culprit and turn whatever it was off so it would still have some battery power left by the time we landed in Addis - but no such luck. The envelope is tightly sealed. Hope it makes it before the battery dies on us!

We also received the most wonderful update on Tesfanesh yesterday - 18 pages long. It gave a sample of the toddlers' daily schedule, and Tes' temperament, adjustment, and a few likes and dislikes. Oh - and did I mention the pictures?! Cutest darn pictures I have ever, ever seen. That's right, TWO evers. That is just how adorable my daughter is. I tried to figure out how to post a few, but they are saved in some sort of funky format and couldn't convert them. But I assure you she is an absolute little spit-fire. It appears she has spunk and personality to spare, and the nannies there love her. She loves to sing, socialize, and be in ten places at once - never sitting still. There was a little part about how she will 'beat the other children' when someone takes her toy... Uhhh... we think that may be more of a 'lost in translation' sort of thing, and not necessarily a 'bring out the brass knuckles' sort of thing. We hope? I mean, come on, what 2.5 year old likes to have her toys snatched? I am sure 'beats' is too strong of a word... it does say her sharing has improved! So there is a start.

Man I love you, little Tesfanesh. I can't wait to meet you, even if you do try to lay the smack down on your dad and I.

One more day and we are off. We will make our best efforts to update everyone (or a least a few, who can than update others) while we are away, but it will be spotty at best. Blogger is banned in Ethiopia, so no updating the page. I promise after we are home and our jet-lag has worn off, we will post about our trip and our (surely amazing) daughter. Until then, thank you for making it this far with us.

All our love- Beth, Brad, and Tesfanesh (and Fischer, too!)

Making a List - Checking it Twice

With only eight days (EIGHT DAYS!) before we leave, I am starting to hit full-on freak out mode. We aren’t just trying to prepare for an overseas trip; we are trying to plan for parenthood! Talk about pressure…

I’ve been pretty good so far about plowing through my to-do list (thank goodness for lunch breaks), but I’m starting to wear out. I’ve already been to the bank twice this week and it is only Tuesday; plus I’m pretty sure the team-members at the local store with a red bulls-eye know me by name. Yes, I was here yesterday. Yes, I’ve thought of something else I need. I may start to wear a disguise.

My list is creased, scribbled on, highlighted, and a little torn, but it is getting there. A small sampling of what I’ve accomplished:

* I’ve made two separate Dr. appointments for the poor little pumpkin when she gets home, and the pediatrician’s visit is only three days post arrival. Welcome to America - Land of lotsa’ shots and immunizations! Sorry, Little One.

* The drop off date for the car seat has been coordinated, because it dawned on me the other night that the ride that picks us up from the airport will need the proper surely-flailing-child-who-has-never-been-buckled-up-before restraining device. Looking forward to that experience, should be a blast. Are you sure you still want to pick us up, Dad?

* Two calls from yours truly and one call by hubby and we think we have Tesfanesh’s medical insurance figured out. Not that we can apply yet, apparently, but we at least now have confirmed what we need to do when we get home, jetlagged or not.

* Numerous shopping lists have been created and bought, only to be followed by another new one. It is like they are sprouting – who the heck needs all this stuff?! Oh, yes, that would be me… It is only I who decided I couldn’t possibly travel with out a new shower curtain and a mesh bag for the bath toys waiting for me at home. I mean, who wants to arrive home to a dirty shower curtain? Hello?

* There is still a tad-bit of toddler-proofing I need to do, mostly in the office. Brad was so kind to put up my shelves for me umm… four weeks ago? Five? But I have yet to fill them with my “so I don’t have to constantly say ‘don’t touch!’ items”. Kefelen has already been kind enough to do a little pre-Tes proofing for us – yes, the remote control cat toy would have obviously been a problem, thanks Kefelen for taking care of that :)

There is more that has been done, and more to be accomplished, but my brain is fried and it is time to go fill our prescriptions. Ah yes, another trip to Target. Yes, we were just there last night. Yes, they love us.

Ready? Set? GO!

We've got our orders - We'll be leaving April 16th, arriving in Addis on the 17th. Two weeks! Two weeks and we get to meet our daughter...

Hmm... Only two weeks to get ready?!
I've gotta' run!