A MUST READ

I posted this on Facebook but I MUST share this here too. Click here to read this awesome blog entry about adoption. So, so important.

By the way, I'm waiting for Brad to email me some photos from church this weekend. Miss Q was dressed to the 9s. As soon as I get the photos, I'll post them here.

Stay Tuned!

I expect to have new photos to post today. Here are a couple to tide you over! These were taken last Friday at a retirement potluck lunch for our department director.

Fun Times

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Sent from my iPhone

Sent from my iPhone

Amusing Stories

I know you want some photos. I'll get some soon. Here are some from our big arrival last week.



There have been several amusing things that have happened in connection with Quilla's homecoming. Here's a sampling:
*At the airport in Addis, a woman said my baby was so cute and then asked, "Is it a boy or a lady?" I said, "She's a girl." She said, "No. Boy or lady?" Polite smile..."Lady."
*Zeke has been concerned about Quilla's chicken pox. He calls them "chicken boo-boos." When we were at the doctor last Friday, Dr. Vo walked in the room, Zeke pointed to Quilla and said, "Fix it!"
*Zeke is so affectionate toward Quilla. He held her hand the whole way from the airport to home. So sweet!!!!
*Quilla does not like to be put down. She's getting better about hanging out in her high chair while I prepare her food. We bought her a cool bouncer to both entertain her while we do other essentials (ya know, like prepare her bottle!) and to build her leg muscles. She's getting used to it but is still not a big fan of it yet.
*Quilla LOVES to take a bath. At first, she wasn't into it but I could tell she wanted to like it because she was only half-crying. Well, now she totally digs it. Some days, she even gets two baths. One post breakfast to clean up for the day and an oatmeal bath before bed to help with her chicken boo-boos.

QUILLA IS HOME

For those who don't know, we were able to bring Quilla home from Ethiopia this week. When we got there and met her on July 6th, we discovered she was sick with pneumonia, coughing and gasping for air. This was the third or fourth time at least that she had developed pneumonia. The AWAA staff members in Ethiopia agreed to do what they could to get her home as soon as possible. After much prayer and fasting, many expedited steps, and miraculous events, we were granted her visa and we arrived in the states Thursday. A visit to our pediatrician yesterday and another x-ray confirms she has pneumonia...again. This is after just finishing 10 days of IV antibiotics. We are going to be seeing two specialists in the coming two weeks who will help us understand the underlying causes so we can treat those and take the appropriate steps to restoring her health. Despite having pneumonia, she is eating really, really well. At seven months, she weighs a smidge over 9 pounds. So, that is also a major concern. All of these health problems, including her low weight, are traceable to her laryngeal stridor. While it presents many concerns right now, she's expected to outgrow the condition and have no life long problems. In the meantime, we must do our best to prevent pneumonia and help her gain weight.

We appreciate your prayers as we begin our wonderful journey as a family of four and work toward making Quilla strong and healthy!!!

Q

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I Heart Ethiopia

I love Ethiopia! It's an amazing place. Here's a short list of what I love:

The people are kind, expressive, and have a great sense of humor.

The food is great, though I'm taking it very easy--mostly cheese
pizzas because they're "safe." I did have injera once last week.

The smells are mostly wonderful. I'm sure we're being kept in the
nice-smelling areas.

I've had a fabulous time here. I'm excited that some more of my buds
are arriving this weekend!!! Can't wait to see them in Africa!!

When I Get Home I Want to...

Love on Zeke and Brad!
Eat salad, chips, salsa, and sushil.
Take a long, hot shower.
Walk barefoot outside.
Rock Zeke to sleep while I sing to him.
Watch some fun TV like the Bachelorette.

Ethiopia is wonderful. I absolutely love it. It's a very complex
place but the people are fabulous. I can't say it enough. The people
have really impressed me. I mean, how could you not love a place
where you're driving down the street, looking at crowds of people, and
see a guy wearing a brand new Tennessee Vols shirt. Awesome!

Still here in Ethiopia!

Brad made it back to the US safely this weekend. I'm still here and I
get to see Quilla every day. I love it!! Ethiopia is amazing. The
people are so expressive and kind. The worst part about still being
here is missing Zeke. I miss him like crazy. He's doing well and I
know that he and Daddy are having some good bonding time so, I try not
to worry. Quilla is getting better, though she's still on
antibiotics. She was off the IV for a couple of days, switched to
injectibles. However, she has virtually no fat on her legs so they
put her back on IV. When she was off the IV, I put her on her back on
a mattress and put a toy just out of reach. She rolled over so she
could get her toy! It's so good to see her progress. Also, she's
"talking" so much more now than she did when we first got here. I
sing to her a lot, we look at touch and feel books everyday, and I've
even introduced her to a baby doll. She likes the doll's hair best.
I think she's going to be teething soon. She's increasingly drooly.
Pray that we will get to bring her home sooner than any of us thought
possible!!

One More Tip for adoptive families come to Ethiopia!

Scroll down for my longer list. Here's one more:

You'll probably eat lunch at a restaurant that starts with an M. It's
a restaurant and art gallery for Ethiopian artists. The art is
reasonably priced and the owner gives a discount to adoptive families.
We bought two paintings--one is a street scene in Addis and the other
is an impressionist-type painting of tall African women. (Mom--When I
saw this painting, the mountain saying from "A Tall Woman" came to
mind: A TALL WOMAN CASTS A LONG SHADOW!!). It's LOVELY! Definitely
take advantage of snagging a beautiful work of art from your child's
birth country!!

Brad headed out last night, just as I was going to bed. He emailed me
this morning from Frankfurt. Many from our court group left last
night. Thankfully, there are still families here so I'm not lonely.
We're going to an international worship service this morning in Addis.
Can't wait to be in God's house, sing praises, and thank God for
passing court.

Ok...I can't get on the Yahoo Group but I hope someone will see this
and share it with the group. These are things I wish we had known:

*Expect to spend two hours in the airport at Addis. First, you buy
your visas. Then, you go through immigration. Then, you get your
bags and they have to be scanned before you can leave the airport.
Each step involves long lines. Bring something to read. *smile*

*If you get car sick, bring something. The roads here are SUPER
BUMPY. My stomach is usually ok but it's been trying for me at times.

*Your in-country fees do not include transportation on the weekend.
You can get a driver but expect to share the cost with the others in
your group.

*The food at the guest house IS as good as everyone says. Breakfast is
sweet breads, some covered in yummy syrup. There are also eggs
prepared the way you want. If none of these sound good, bring your
own breakfast foods.

*Bring plenty o' snacks. I don't sit around and eat bars of chocolate
at home but here, it's been nice to have a few KitKat snack-sized
bars. It's just nice to have a familiar taste.

*Put something over the sink so you don't accidentally use the tap
water for teethbrushing or anything else. My friend suggested duct
tape...great idea!

*Laundry service at the guest house is great. So, you can pack fewer items.

*The Ethiopians think it's cold here now. I think it's perfect. I've
worn short sleeves every day with jeans or capris.

*Bring PLENTY of hand sanitizer.

*Bring stuff to watch on your computer...movies,TV shows, whatever.
The internet here is TOO SLOW to download anything once you're here.
So, come prepared!

That's it for now. I'm sure I'll think of more tips.

Thanks for your continued prayers for our safe travels and for
Quilla's health. Can't wait to see her this afternoon!!

When we arrived for our Quilla visit this afternoon, we discovered
that she's being kept in the clinic because she's on IV antibiotics.
She sounded better today, less coughing and not as junkie. WE NEED TO
GET HER HOME! I'm joining mom and TT in praying that God will move in
supernatural ways to let me bring her home with me. She'll do so much
better when she's out of an environment where babies just pass around
illnesses. Please pray with us!!! Nothing's too big for God!!!

--
*A joyous AP to Zeke
*Waiting to hug Quilla Rose in Ethiopia
*Saw Quilla Rose's sweet face for the first time on May 6, 2010
*DTE August 20, 2009
*Waiting to hug Lily Ruth in China
*April 23, 2007 LID for China

WE PASSED!!!

Court Tomorrow!

Court will happen tomorrow morning around 10AM.  That's 2AM central time Thursday, if you're wondering!  Q was good today but sounded like she still has an upper respiratory infection (again? or the other one never went away).  Poor baby!!!  Please pray for her. Of course, please prayers that we pass court tomorrow.  That will be HUGE!

 

We're so happy that Zeke is doing well. TT's reports are all great!

 

Also, say a little prayer for Pierre Clovis. Kitty Boy had two teeth removed and is recovering.  He's one of the kids for us and we hope he recovered quickly!

We arrived Monday evening after a long trip. Met Quilla today. She's
beautiful. Court on Thursday. Efforting pictures.

This photo was taken moments before Quilla came out!

Where to begin? First, God truly went before us and prepared the way
when we were coming into Addis. There were storms all around and the
flight attendents asked us to make sure our seat belts were pulled
tight. I began to pray intently for our safety and for the pilots to
have wisdom as they navigated the clouds. We had a very, very smooth
descent and landing around 7:45PM local time. Thank you, Lord!
At the airport, it took 2 hours to get visas, go through immigration,
and get our bags (which also required getting in a long line so your
bags could be scanned on the way out).
Very weary at this point, we finally arrived at the hotel, which is
very,very nice. We both slept like logs, had a delicious breakfast at
the guest house and then rode over to the Hilton for
lunch/orientation. THEN, it was timeto head to theTransition Homes
to meet the kids!!!
They bring the kids out in alphabetical order by the family's last
name,so we were first!!!!!!!! Quilla is as tiny as we imagined but
she is a tough cookie in that she is engaged, interested,and is trying
with all her might to be strong. We held her, sang to her, fed her,
put her on her stomach, read a touch and feel book to her, made silly
faces, and kissed her. We got out the photo album we sent her a while
ago and showed her the photos. We signed Mommy,Daddy, milk,and eat. We
also showed her nanny how to do the sign language. We got her to eat
some organic baby food we brought and left the rest with her nanny.
We got her to finish her bottle but we had to work on it on and off
for an hour or more. At the first sitting,she gulped about half of
it. But, then it was evident she needed a break. So, we would do
something for a while and then go back to the bottle. She's clearly
developing the self-care habits that we saw with Zeke when he first
came home—trying to hold her own bottle. She can definitely do it but
we gently insisted that WE hold her bottle for her.
What else can I say? She reaches for toys, hold toys, made a couple of
verbal noises while we were there. Smiled for us a couple of times
when the nannies got her going.
As good as all this sounds, it's very evident to us that we have a
long road ahead. She can almost roll over but not quite all the way.
When on her tummy, she's trying to make the motions with her legs as
though she wants to crawl but clearly doesn't have the muscle or
strength yet. Her leg muscles are practically non-existent. I've
never held a baby with zero muscle tone. Yet, when she does try to
kick or push against my hand with her foot, you can tell she's trying
really hard.
The bottom line? We need to get her home as soon as humanly possible.
The next step is passing court Thursday. Five big pieces to pray over
with all your heart:
1. For the MOWA letter to be there.
2. For the birthmom to be there.
3. For all other details to be in order.
4. For us as we give our testimony.
5. That the judge will pass us right then and there.

PLEASE PRAY WE PASS COURT THIS THURSDAY!