Our Addis Kids

Tenaye's 1st day of school

2010-08-16T22:08:00.002-05:00

It is official. Tenaye is a school girl! She started Kindergarten today and loved it. She was a brave girl and didn't cry at all. This morning when she woke up she had a smile from ear to ear and helped me make her lunch and was so excited to go. When we got to school there were lots of people everywhere, so she got a little nervous, but was brave and had a fun day. I know it helps that we know her teacher from church, it has made the transition easier. (Isaac just wanted to have a backpack like his big sis, he isn't in school yet in case you were wondering!)

Tenaye Day

2010-07-19T20:53:00.004-05:00

I can't believe that is has already been a year since Tenaye officially joined our family. On one hand it has gone by so quickly and on the other it feels like she has always been with us.

Tenaye,

You are such a special little girl and I am so happy that God has choosen us to be your parents. You make us laugh with your silly sense of humor and your funny outlook on life. You amaze us everyday with your incredible memory and your ability to learn and adapt so quickly. I love to see you and Isaac play together. Nobody can make him laugh like you do! I can't imagine what was going on in your mind when two strangers walked in to the orphanage and you were told to leave with us. You are so brave and have been through and seen so much more than most kids your age. You are smart, funny, beautiful, and full of energy. I love you to the moon and back!

Mommy

Tenaye,

It's been a year to remember for sure. Lots of tears. Lots of laughs. From both you and me. But to watch you now, and to see how much you've grown over the last year makes it all worth it. I always wanted a daddy's little girl. And now I have her. I remember watching you, and holding you when we picked up Isaac. You were so scared and so quiet. I don't think I saw a smile or heard a word from you during our visits. No one would believe it today. You are a funny, brave, talkative little 5 year old girl that is an amazing big sister with a heart of gold. I love you and will always be there for you.

Daddy

Wordless Wednesday (Thursday edition)

2010-07-01T14:32:00.003-05:00

Happy 5th Birthday Tenaye!!!

2010-06-14T22:13:00.000-05:00

Summer has started!!

2010-06-02T10:43:00.004-05:00

One Year Ago Today

2010-05-18T22:32:00.002-05:00

One year ago today we passed court in Ethiopia and finally (11 months after referral) became Tenaye's parents. We love you sweet girl and can't imagine life without you. You are smart, funny, brave, loving, and simply fabulous :) Our family feels complete now that you are in it. We will forever thank God for you and are so excited to watch you grow into someone special. Love you to the moon and back!

A Blessed 2nd Birthday

2010-05-16T23:16:00.005-05:00

Today is Isaac's 2nd birthday, and we celebrated with a party at our house with some family and friends. It's late Sunday night and it's been a long day for both of us. No matter how busy we are though, and especially today, we remember two people who made the ultimate sacrifice. This little boy of ours is something special, and we thank God all the time for bringing him into our lives and allowing us to call him our son. Enjoy a few photos from the big day.

Check it out

2010-05-10T22:33:00.002-05:00

Jason uploaded a new video onto the right side of the blog. It is pretty stinkin' cute! Enjoy :)

Wordless Wednesday (ignore the mess in the background!)

2010-04-28T14:06:00.001-05:00

Friday Favorites

2010-04-16T08:15:00.002-05:00

Wow, we have had such a busy spring! Jason and I both enjoyed our spring breaks, unfortunately they were different weeks so we didn't get to travel. Oh well, not like we have the money to do that anyway! We had a great Easter with lots of family. The kids got into the egg hunt and had that all figured out by the 3rd time around! Tenaye is a bit skeptical of the whole Easter Bunny concept, who can blame her a gigantic rabbit dressed in clothes?! I don't know that I would want to get near him either.

The kids have been growing like weeds and they are keeping us busy! Tenaye was in the children's choir at church the last couple of months. She had fun and finally started to come out of her shell just as the session was wrapping up. She never made it on stage to the performances in front of the whole church, but that is ok. Hopefully one day she will get over her extreme shyness and get up there. She got to go to the zoo last week on a field trip with her preschool class. She had a good time there, but I think the highlight of the whole trip was riding on a bus! It was a dream come true for her :) We have noticed lately that her accent is completely gone. I miss it! She is truly amazing in how she has adjusted and adapted to life with our family.

Isaac is talking up a storm! He is so funny and will just go on and on talking with his hands and most of the time we have no idea what he is saying! It is too funny. He also loves brushing his teeth. He has graduated from the finger toothbrush to a "big kid" brush. We help him get started and then he rinses his mouth out. So, so cute. Our new favorite activities are playing outside and talking long walks around the neighborhood. I usually push Isaac in the stroller and Tenaye pushes her "mimi" in her little stroller. It is cute. We are looking forward to getting out and doing outdoor activities in the upcoming weeks-- lots of photo ops, hope I remember to bring the camera! Also, we have two birthdays that are just around the corner! Fun times!! Now for the pictures, Jason has been so busy lately that he hasn't had time to make a slide show and I haven't learned how to do that yet, so you will just have to scroll down, I will try and keep them to a managable number!

Wordless Wednesday

2010-03-10T05:50:00.003-06:00

Life with a Big Sister

2010-02-24T20:16:00.001-06:00

Going Retro

2010-02-19T10:01:00.004-06:00

Feeling nostalgic today, so my fav foto is from Isaac's first day in the US. It is so hard to imagine that he was ever this tiny. We look at this outfit every now and then and marvel at how small it is. He was 6 lbs when he came home at 4 months old and wearing preemie sized clothes that swallowed him! Last night at Bible Study I got to meet Peyton Jo, a new baby born to my friend Marci. She was 8 lbs. 7 oz. and looked so tiny. It is hard to imagine that Isaac was even smaller. Now he is walking, running, dancing, singing, talking, and as funny as can be. He is the happiest kid I know (especially when he is playing with big sis) and we can't imagine life without him!

2 for 1

2010-02-17T05:40:00.003-06:00

Fav Foto Friday

2010-02-12T08:00:00.002-06:00

This picture was taken at my parents house over Christmas. I love it because you can tell just by looking at the picture that Tenaye and Isaac love each other so much. She can make him laugh like no one else. Each morning, I wake up Tenaye first and then go into Isaac's room and bring him in to snuggle with Tenaye. That wakes them both up almost immediately. They smile and laugh and are just so happy together. Tenaye is so good for Isaac. He watches everything she does and tries to copy it all! Isaac has been really good for Tenaye too. She is a little mother to him and I really believe he has eased her transition into our family. Once again, God's timing has proven to be best. When we passed court with Isaac and then had to wait almost a year to bring Tenaye home we were constantly asking "why". Now we know. God knew Isaac needed to come home and be nutured and loved so he could grow and thrive. I truly believe if he had been in Ethiopia much longer he would not have survived. God knew Tenaye would be well taken care of at the orphanage and that would give her time to learn the language there (her 2nd) and understand what was happening when we picked her up. She was then able to attach to Isaac very quickly and have an easier time accepting Jason and I as her parents. God is good!

Wordless Wednesday

2010-02-10T12:15:00.002-06:00

Fav Foto Friday

2010-02-05T08:04:00.002-06:00

Another blogging trend that I am going to give a try in hopes that I will post more often.

I have two fav fotos for this week. These were taken last fall by a friend of my sister's.

Wordless Wednesday

2010-02-03T05:36:00.003-06:00

or not....

So I have seen this on several other blogs I follow and thought I would join in the trend. Wordless Wednesday is just as it sounds. A favorite, funny, weird, strange, odd picture is posted and no caption is given. We will try it out. Maybe this will help me blog more since it is really just pictures everyone wants to see anyway!

Hello...anyone out there?!

2010-01-31T18:36:00.007-06:00

I can't believe it has been 2 months since our last blog post. Really, how pathetic is that? I am sure by now the only person reading is my mother-in-law, but in case I am wrong, I will give you a brief update. Tenaye has started preschool two days a week. She is loving it and learning so much. She is really picking up on her letter recognition and letter sounds. We have to make a decision on whether to send her to kindergarten in the fall or wait another year. She has a June birthday, so we can either start now when she turns 5 or wait until she is 6. I go back and forth, Jason says wait. Either way, she LOVES her school and teacher and has transitioned better than we ever expected. She has enjoyed playing in the snow this past weekend, but would much prefer to play in warm weather and go for walks with mommy and Isaac. I don't blame her, I have cabin fever too and look forward to warm afternoons at the park.

Isaac is doing his best to stay well. He had a nasty cold in early January, but is feeling better now. He is surprising us each day with more words. He was a late bloomer in that area, but says "momma","dada", 'mon (as in come on), "nigh nigh", "bye bye", "hello", "thank you", "all done", "mine" and much more. He can also identify his ears, nose, and tongue. He is a future drummer, he bangs on everything and is obsessed with cell phones and remote controls. He also is doing better with table foods, he works with a speech and occupational therapist once a week and is making great strides.

We had a wonderful Christmas (I know, pathetic that I didn't blog about it). Tenaye was so excited for Santa Claus to come until just a few days before the 25th. At that time she started to get a little freaked out and decided that she didn't want Santa looking at her while she was asleep. Even with reassurances that he would only stay downstairs where the Christmas tree and fireplace were, she wasn't too keen on the idea of him coming in the house. We told her that we would ask him to leave the presents outside and then mommy and daddy would bring them inside before she woke up. That seemed to be a good deal for her. She was all about presents though and they both got lots of nice toys and other things. I think Tenaye's favorites are the play doh burger maker and princess dress up clothes. Isaac loves his slide and play tent.

I will try to do better on the blogging. For now, I leave you with pictures.

Tenaye-isms

2009-12-01T20:27:00.002-06:00

Tenaye is just plain funny! Her language skills improve everyday and sadly she is starting to lose her accent. I think there are only about 5 Amharic sayings/words that she uses regularly, the rest is all English. That is bittersweet for us, I hate that she is losing that part of her heritage, but proud that she has picked up her 3rd language so quickly. She is one smart little girl. Here are some of the things she says regularly that make us double over with laughter.

1. Each night before going to sleep she always wants to know what will be happening the next morning so she asks "After wake up, and brush your teeth, and pee pee, and t-shirt on, where you going?"

2. When she wants to tell us something and Jason and I are having a conversation, she will put her hand up (like telling someone to stop) and say "hang on a second (or sometimes it will be hang on tight) I'm talking."

3. When she spots a question mark in a book she calls it Mystery Mouseka-tools. Can you tell she is a Mickey Mouse Clubhouse fan??

4. She says "I want Mommy's la-lap" when she wants to sit on my lap.

5. When we do something she doesn't like she says "Mommy, Daddy not good job"

6. She refers to McDonald's as "E-I-E-I-O"

7. On the way to KC a couple of weekends ago, she was tired of sitting in the car and informed us that her "booty was full, no more sit down."

8. One day when she passed gas she told us her "booty burped!"

Autumn Update

2009-11-09T18:44:00.004-06:00

It has been very busy around our house lately. The month of October came and went in a flash. We started the month out by moving. We stayed in the same city, but upgraded to a house with a full basement, huge backyard, and it is closer to Jason's work. We love the house (thanks Dad, the builder!) and can't imagine what we ever did before we had a basement! Tenaye is continuing to impress us every day. Her English is pretty much perfect. There are still a few words and phrases here and there that we have to ask for clarification, but for the most part, she is completely fluent. Her accent is still pretty thick, but it is slowly disappearing. I will miss it when it is completely gone. She has the sweetest voice. She is so loving and sweet. Words cannot express how much she loves Isaac and her family. She is full of hugs and kisses and is such a compassionate little thing. She does have her typical 4 year old moments and if she doesn't get her way at times she will pout and throw a fit, but nothing compared to four months ago. Isaac is walking/running everywhere. He has graduated from physical therapy (since he can walk, run, and climb stairs) and has moved on to speech/occupational therapy. The therapist is helping him with his eating issues and helping him develop his speech. He is at a really fun age right now, and makes us laugh all the time. He thinks his big sister is pretty special, and they are so cute together. Tenaye is always hugging and kissing him, and he returns the affection. Jason and I marvel each day at how lucky we are to have two terrific kids. I don't know what we did to deserve these cuties, but I thank God each day for placing them in our lives. We are truly blessed.

Letters to Isaac

2009-09-17T05:50:00.006-05:00

Dear Isaac,

One year ago today, we brought you home to the United States to begin life as a family of three. Looking back these last two weeks at how far you have come is truly overwhelming. I can still remember walking into the hospital room in Ethiopia on Sept. 7, 2008 and seeing this tiny baby, hooked up to all kinds of tubes, laying in an adult sized hospital bed. You looked so frail and helpless. I just wanted to scoop you up right then and tell you that everything will be ok now because mommy is here. As the doctors and nurses kept reassuring us that you were looking good and everything would be alright, your daddy and I were scared out of our minds. I don't think we have ever prayed so hard in our lives for God to protect you and give you strength to get better. Our prayers were answered on Sept. 12, 2008, we expected to see the same feeding tubes, oxygen tubes, IV's, etc. when we walked into your room, instead you were laying there completely free! Breathing on your own, drinking only .5-1 oz. of formula at a time but eating on your own, and all IV's were out. You still looked so frail to us, but we were told we could take you back to the Addis Guest House with us. Your daddy and I were terrified! I think we slept a total of 7 minutes that night because we kept checking to see if you were still breathing. Four days later, we left Ethiopia to travel 24+ hours home. We couldn't wait to introduce you to Memaw, Boppa, Paw Paw, and Grandma along with your aunts, uncles, and cousins. You have and will always be our little miracle. Daddy and I are so lucky to call you our son and feel so blessed to have you in our lives.

Love,
Mommy

Dear Son,

The day we decided to adopt and start a family, I never imagined us traveling to Ethiopia and meeting you, laying in a hospital bed only days removed from almost losing your battle with pneumonia and a bacterial infection. The mere thought of you not being a part of this family makes me start to tear up and there is not a day that goes by that I don't thank God for the miracle that you are. You are the happiest, smiliest, most handsome boy that I have ever met. Just being around you brightens up my most miserable days. I can't believe that it has been one year since you landed in St. Louis and rode for the first time in a car seat (which you absolutely HATED for the first two weeks) to our home in Nixa. Your grandparents couldn't believe how tiny you were at 6 pounds, 20 inches and 4 months old. And now look at you. 20+ pounds, 30 inches, a full head of hair and a mouth full of teeth. Walking and almost running all over the place, babbling up a storm, and laughing and playing with your sister just as if you were always meant to be here. Most people said that you were so lucky to have survived and to be the newest member of our family. But it is mommy and daddy that are the lucky ones.

We love you! Daddy

September 2008

September 2009

*posted a day late...life is busy!

Melkam Addis Amet

2009-09-11T22:10:00.002-05:00

Today is New Year's Day in Addis Ababa. Here is just a little information about this holiday in Ethiopia. (I am lifting this from another blog I follow, if you click on the Family Without Borders blog you can follow Kristine's family and their journey to their 2 precious babes...it is a really good blog, one of my favs!)

Enkutatash or Ethiopian New Year is celebrated on September 11th according to the Western or Gregorian calendar. Ethiopia still follows the Orthodox Julian calendar which consists of 12 months of 30 days and a 13th month, Pagume, of five or six days, depending on whether or not it is a leap year. The Ethiopian calendar is seven years and eight months behind the Gregorian calendar, so September 2009 is Meskerem 2002 in Ethiopia.

Last year Jason and I were in Ethiopia picking up Isaac during this time. We actually got to celebrate the New Year at the orphanage on a day that we were visiting Tenaye. They had a special celebration for the kids. There was music and dancing and a festive atmosphere. All of the nannies were wearing beautiful traditional Ethiopian dresses and the cook had fixed a special bread, popcorn, and lots of traditional Ethiopian dishes. There was also a coffee ceremony. Something we noticed on this day was that the streets of Ethiopia which are normally bumper to bumper traffic and crowded with people were virtually bare. When we visited Isaac in the hospital the morning of New Years we were basically the only ones there. On previous days the waiting areas were full of people waiting to be seen by doctors or visiting patients. Also, the hundreds of goats and sheep that we had witnessed being herded through the streets earlier in the week were no longer there, just the hides. Sad, but a fact of life and at least the people got to eat a special meal. We will post much more next week on the official one year anniversary of Isaac becoming a member of the family. It is so hard to believe that it has been a year! It went so fast and he has changed so much!

Home One Month

2009-08-19T10:44:00.004-05:00

One month home and Tenaye is doing remarkably well. She is a great big sister to Isaac. One of her favorite things to do is try and make him laugh, and she is good at it too! Isaac enjoys having her around too. She is also a good helper around the house. She enjoys helping with putting laundry in the washer and dryer, rinsing off dishes, and feeding Isaac. They both started back at the babysitters last week as Jason and I are both back at work. Isaac fell right back into his routine pretty easily. He has gotten very attached to us over the summer so there was a brief period of adjustment for him. Tenaye took a little longer, but I am happy to say she is now eating and playing and no longer standing by the door the whole time she is there. She still hasn't spoken to any of the kids or really even to Miss Becki, but that is ok, she will when she is ready. When I pick her up in the afternoon she talks non-stop the whole ride home! She is learning more English with each day. She can now pretty much repeat anything we say and loves to sing! Going to the park is one of her favorite activities and she also likes swimming/splashing at the pool. We are really happy with the progress she has made in the last month and know it will just continue to get better and better! Here are lots of pictures from the last month. Notice Tenaye's new hair do! She loves it and so do I, it is so much easier and now we can grow it out and know that it will be healthy and well conditioned.

Tenaye loves to play with her baby (Mimi) and likes it when Isaac gets in on the action too. (No, we haven't pierced her ears. She takes the links that hook things on to Isaac's car seat and wears them like earrings. A diva in the making!)

New dress and new 'do.

She loves her brother and he loves her too!

Mommy's little helper!

Tenaye loves to help with feeding Isaac. It is so cute to watch them interact. She is a great big sister, Isaac is lucky to have her.

Our Son the Hermit Crab

2009-07-31T10:54:00.002-05:00

Week One

2009-07-27T19:53:00.003-05:00

We have been home just over a week and things are progressing very nicely. Tenaye is still hesitant with new things, but once she has done something one time she is more comfortable and confident and happily plays and interacts with people around her. We have been taking it easy this last week, but have ventured out to several places. We went to my parents house to play with the cousins, spent a couple of afternoons at the fountains, and spent some time at the park. It has been a lot of fun. She was unsure about the fountains at first, but once she got her feet wet (literally) she was a little water bug!

I was really amazed that she knew just what to do at the park. It is like she had been sliding and swinging for her entire life. I never saw anything like a park while we were in Ethiopia, but who knows they could have slides and swings there. If not, I guess it is just natural kid instinct! She is a good big sister to Isaac. I think he is enjoying having a play mate as well.

Tenaye went to the doctor last Friday. What an adventure! Since I didn't want the doctor's office to be a place of trauma and fear, we are holding off on blood work and vaccinations for a couple of weeks. She just had a once over by the doctor and everything looks great! She weighs 31 pounds and is 38 inches tall. That puts her in the 17th percentile for 4 year olds. Developmentally she seems right on track as well. All of that is good news. She has some scarring on her back that the doctor thinks is from the chicken pox and we know she also had the mumps earlier this year. But as of now she is healthy and well.

As for Isaac, he is walking! We will try and upload of video soon. While crawling is still faster, he is choosing to walk more and more. He has also started making the funniest face. (As you can see in the picture below.)

Baby Doll in Addis Ababa

2009-07-23T22:33:00.003-05:00

Playing With Bubbles

2009-07-23T22:23:00.006-05:00

Getting Settled

2009-07-22T22:23:00.005-05:00

We have been home for a few days now and are getting settled in and learning how to be a family of four. Our house seems to be non-stop chaos from wake up to bed time. Tenaye just goes and goes without stopping! She is a good big sister to Isaac. Has only had a few minor bouts with jealousy (if I am holding him or singing to him she will usually try and distract me or get on my lap, but after a little attention thrown her way she is off and playing again). The language thing has been the biggest issue. We don't always know what she is asking for and that leads to frustration on her part and ours. Our Amaharic is improving though and I know she will pick up English quickly. We joke that she and Isaac will learn to talk at the same time! I can only imagine how overwhelming all of this must be for her. Her entire world has been turned upside down. Meeting new people is very scary for her. She tends to cling to me (mommy) and not look at, speak to, or interact with anyone. She just becomes a limp rag doll. We are hoping this changes once she understands the language and trusts us enough to know that not all new people are there to take her away from the world in which she is most comfortable. I tell you this as a warning to help you understand why we may not be very social over the next few weeks or months. Our focus must be on Tenaye and our family. When meeting her please don't take it personally if she doesn't interact with you, she will over time...hopefully.
Here are some pictures of our first few days together. She is a happy, energetic kid when it is just us at home believe it or not!

We're Outta Here!

2009-07-11T09:06:00.003-05:00

I am typing this from our hotel in KC. We fly out of here in about 4 hours to start our first leg of the journey to pick up Tenaye. It's hard to believe that in just a few short days we will be hugging and holding our sweet girl. It has been a long, roller coaster of a journey to get to this point. I don't know what kind of internet connection we will have in Addis, so we may not be able to update until we get back next weekend. Thanks to everyone for your thoughts and prayers!

One Year Ago Today

2009-06-29T16:29:00.005-05:00

It was on this day last year that we received "the call." Jason was out of town in Atlanta for an FBLA competition and I was home cleaning house (pick your jaws up off the ground, yes it does happen on occasion no matter how much I hate it!) When the phone rang I looked at caller ID and didn't recognize the number and it said private caller. I just let it go thinking it was a telemarketer or something. The answering machine picked up and the caller didn't leave a message. A couple of hours later, the phone rang again and it was the same number. Again, I didn't answer, but this time the caller left a message. It was our social worker saying that she had something she wanted to discuss with us and to call her back as soon as possible. She was out of town, and needed us to use the number she was calling from, not the office number. I started freaking out! I mean, come on it was a Sunday after all, what in the world could she possibly want. I immediately called Jason and asked what he thought. In his ever so practical manner, he said to call her back. (Oh yea, I hadn't thought of that!) I called her and she informed me that she had not one but two kiddos for us to consider!!! A 3 year old girl and a 20 day old baby boy. It was a no brainer really, that we would of course say yes to both, but I called Jason anyway to let him think he was in on the decision ;) A couple of days later we see these beautiful faces....
Our sweet Tenaye

Isaac (in his manly pink blanket) with his crib mate and BFF Diesel

The rest is history. Isaac came home in mid-September. We waited and waited for a court date to be scheduled for Tenaye as they continued to get paperwork in order. She FINALLY had a court date on May 18th and passed. Now we are anxiously awaiting our trip to bring her home forever. We were originally scheduled to leave Sat. July 4th, but were told today that our wait will continue and we will now be leaving on July 11th. Hopefully this is the last delay and we can finally become a family of four!

1 year checkup

2009-05-24T21:34:00.005-05:00

At Isaac's 1 year doctor's appointment he got his round of shots, cried for about 2 minutes then was fine. He's such a tough little guy! I think the worst thing for him is when you have to restrain him and hold his arms. Then he gets really upset. His nebulizer treatments have stopped for now which is good. We'll probably end up buying one since he'll probably need it off and on for a few years and hope that his lungs get big and strong and that he grows out of the asthma and colds.

Speaking of big and strong he now weighs 18 pounds and is 28 inches tall. At 4 months old when we brought him home he was 6 pounds and 20 inches so what great progress he's made over 8 months. In recent days he's been getting more and more mobile. Scooting backwards, turning circles while he's playing, going from his tummy laying all the way to sitting up. And tonight he waved back to Great-Great (Laura's grandpa)! It was a definite wave and he didn't do it again but his mimicking is really picking up. He can make baskets now when he plays with daddy, something that is VERY important in our household.

We did have a birthday barbecue with some friends on his big day and his buddy for life Diesel came over with Adam and Katy. Here are the fellas partying it up! Diesel will be the fullback and Isaac the wide receiver one of these years...

Introducing.....Tenaye Abigail Michel

2009-05-18T22:09:00.005-05:00

Tenaye passed court this morning! There were a dozen or so Hope agency families that were to have had cases heard today, but only three of them went to the judge before the power went out at the courthouse and in the city. The rest of the cases were postponed, but ours was one that went through. God is good. It is almost 11 months since her referral till her passage of court today and we are so excited that Isaac's big sister (not biological but they look alike we think) will hopefully be coming home this summer. Here is a slide show of pictures we've gotten from the Hope family website from other families who have been to the orphanage in recent months.

She will be four years old in mid-June and we speculate that travel to Ethiopia would be in mid-July. As we know more information we will be sure to post it. Thanks for all the prayers and thoughtful words from all of you!

Many Happenings...And a Birthday for Isaac!!

2009-05-17T21:45:00.005-05:00

The last 2 weeks have been extremely busy with lots of twists and turns. Isaac got yet another bad cold and Dr. Andrews did a breathing treatment that worked in her office so for the past 10 days or so this has been Isaac 3-4 times a day.

Thankfully they really do help his breathing and his lungs and hopefully will help stave off colds in the future. He'll be on these for a while and will probably have some asthma but at least we now know how to help him when he has a cough and is all stopped up! He also has learned to enjoy bath time and splashes around and plays and hates getting out of the tub after about 15 minutes of playing. These pictures are from right after he got sick this last time and as you can see, he wasn't liking the water too much then but since he loves it!!

Laura celebrated her first Mother's day and it was a very special day for all of us. Our thoughts turned to Isaac's birth mother and father during both the recent Mother's day and his birthday celebration. We feel so lucky to have Isaac as our son and hope that they are proud that we are raising such a wonderful little boy. He is so loved by his family and our friends and he had so much fun playing and hanging out with everyone during his parties.

Isaac also had his first real haircut today. When we first brought him home he got a haircut because his hair was so patchy from all the tubes he had in his nose in the hospital. But this was a full blown haircut and while we hated to cut all those wonderful curls off his head, his scalp was getting very dry and he's so hot natured that we knew this summer he'd be sweating profusely! So with mixed emotion we cut his hair and he looks like such a big boy!!

We can't wait for our school years to be over so we can spend even more time with our precious little boy!!

Weekend with family

2009-05-03T21:54:00.004-05:00

This past weekend Laura, Isaac and I drove to Olathe, KS to visit my sister and her family. It was a fun couple days catching up with their 3 1/2 year old twins Jacob & Audrey. We also got to see our niece Megan get all dressed for her senior prom and head out with her boyfriend Dijon.

All are doing just great. Isaac's cousins J & A LOVE to show him their toys, feed him his bottle, and be in his face whenever they can. They are really cute with him, and just want to be close to him. We visited Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead which was really fun. There were lots of animals to get up close and see, and even though it's for kids the adults really enjoyed it as well. Plus, it was FREE!!!

Today Isaac was supposed to have his first therapy session with Susan from First Steps but he is coming down with a bit of a cold and has a pretty good cough so we had to cancel that and he will probably spend Tuesday with grandma. May will no doubt be a very busy month as we finish up our school years, plus I am getting back into coaching next year as our varsity girl's coach.

This summer will likely be hectic as well with Laura teaching summer school, basketball camps, and a trip to Anaheim, CA with two of my students who are competing at FBLA nationals. Oh well, if we weren't going 90 miles per hour we would go insane!

Finally, it is just two weeks from Tenaye's court date! We are anxiously waiting for that but are realistic that there is a 50/50 chance that she will pass the first time.

Go Cardinals!

2009-04-26T20:48:00.003-05:00

Isaac had a great time at his first minor league baseball game. We are big Cardinals fans and enjoy watching them play each summer. The weather was perfect today and we had so much fun. Isaac enjoyed the game and spending time with his cousins, Aunt Melissa, Uncle Jim, and Meemaw and Boppa.

On a side note, Isaac rolled over from back to tummy today for the first time! Finally!! I guess he must of heard about his appointment with a physical therapist from the First Steps program this week. These appointments will help him catch up on his motor skills. (Not that we want to rush things, we just don't want him to fall too far behind in his physical development.)

Isaac Laughing (video)

2009-04-24T21:21:00.004-05:00

Recently Isaac has started to burst out laughing on his own and without the "tickle monster" to induce his laughter. If you click on the picture on the right just underneath the title "A Laugh And A Smile" you can watch a short video clip of Isaac sitting on the couch like a big boy, laughing at daddy being silly. He is just the sweetest little boy! We can't believe that he will be 1 year old on May 16.

Springtime for Isaac (slideshow)

2009-04-13T10:11:00.003-05:00

Happy Easter from Isaac

2009-04-11T23:19:00.002-05:00

Isaac was all smiles after meeting the Easter Bunny for the first time Friday night. A little ironic that a rabbit is at a hunting and sporting goods store, but that's a discussion for another time. What a CUTE picture of our little man who had a very good week and has really changed a lot in his personality and his development in recent days (both for the good). We will give a more detailed update this week on Isaac's 1st Easter and the other happenings in his world. Until them, we hope every enjoyed some time with family and that all is well wherever you are reading this.

In like a lion...

2009-03-08T21:31:00.006-05:00

March has roared in with a very busy week. I had FBLA district competition this past week (Spokane's team placed 5th out of 17 schools and 7 of my students will be competing at state), parent teacher conferences, and I took in some playoff basketball. I also had my first job interview for a principal for next year and it went well. I'm a bit out of practice since it's been 7 years since my last interview, so if nothing else it was good practice. I continue to look and have some more applications and resumes to send off soon for posted jos.

Also within the past week came word that we have an actual court date now for Tenaye!! May 18 we will be represented in Ethiopia along with 10 other families with Hope Adoption Agency. We are SO relieved that progress is being made and are thinking good thoughts as we wait another 2 months and PRAY that we pass court on the first try. This would mean travelling in late June or early July...right about the time Laura will be finishing summer school. Tenaye's room has been completely cleaned out and we bought a bed for it. How wonderful it will be to see her sleeping in her bed and hold her in our arms.

After another round of a cough and cold, Isaac is back to being his happy self once again. We hope this is the last one for the season, but with this crazy weather you never know. He is REALLY starting to enjoy eating his baby food and gets pretty cranky if he doesn't get a spoonful fast enough. He loves his food (just like his mom)! Favorites include applesauce, pears, sweet potatoes, and carrots.We can tell he's growing but aren't sure of his weight. He's 26 inches now and we're guessing he's skipped the 15's and is in the 16 pound range. He LOVES sitting now and can do so for quite some time and is starting to stand (with minimal support) while holding on to furniture and his exer-saucer. No crawling yet, but we're patient with this and other parts of his development that we know may be a little slow.

He took his first trip to the zoo with his cousins Kaleb and Kyle and sported a new STL Cardinals hat that he got from one of the teachers at Jason's school. He wore it well and had a good time looking at the animals.

Isaac's top two teeth should be popping through any day as his gums and bumpy and swollen and he's gnawing on everything in sight and drooling at an impressive rate. Also growing is his hair. Just look at the curly Q's on top of his head!

This last picture is Isaac with his serious face and pose. I'm fairly certain that he just spit the bib out of his mouth right before the picture was taken.

Finally!!

2009-02-13T21:45:00.003-06:00

We got a message from our agency that the paperwork that we have been waiting on for the last 6 months has finally been obtained and filed and we are now waiting to be assigned a court date for Tenaye! Yea!! It could take a while to get a date as the courts in Ethiopia are very back logged, but at least now we feel like we have taken a step forward.

Dedication and All Better!

2009-02-09T19:46:00.002-06:00

Over the weekend Isaac finally got rid of the nasty RSV that had taken him over recently. His breathing is completely normal, his cough is gone, and he is back to eating like it's his job. Now that he is back to good health, we decided it was time to start him on baby food. The meal of choice was squash, and he did really well with it and seemed to enjoy it much better than rice and oatmeal.

Right before he got sick he had his infant dedication at River Bluff Fellowship Church in Springfield where we have been attending since last summer. It is the perfect church home for our family and the pastor there, Scott Watson, is an absolutely wonderful man. Isaac was a pretty handsome little man in his khaki pants and blue shirt; he didn't wear the hat to church.

Tomorrow it's off to daycare and Miss Becki's house, where Isaac hasn't been in two weeks because of the winter weather and his illness. I'm sure she has missed him and he has missed watching the big kids play. It looks like things are back to normal around here. We continue to pray that the adoption agency and orphanage are able to secure the proper paperwork for Tenaye, but we know everything is in God's hands and it is his timing as to when she comes home.

Snuggle Bug

2009-02-02T22:00:00.003-06:00

Unfortunately, the RSV bug has bitten Isaac. He has been really sick for the last week. Instead of enjoying our snow days we spent time at the doctor's office and hospital having chest x-rays, a breathing treatment, and a nasal swab. All signs point to RSV. Yuck! So he has spent a majority of the past few days snuggled up on mommy or daddy's lap. Poor little boy has no appetite (he has lost a pound in the last 7-10 days), has a terrible cough, and is really congested. Thankfully his fever is gone and he isn't struggling to breathe like he was last week. Hopefully he has turned a corner and is on the road to recovery.

Here are some pictures we have captured over the last few weeks. Our little guy is really changing! He can sit on his own for long stretches of time, has two bottom teeth, and is really starting to talk our ears off! He has the cutest, sweetest laugh I have ever heard. (We are trying to figure out how to put video on the blog, so stay tuned!)

Isaac enjoying the warm weather and fresh air over the weekend.

Reading at 8 months! He is a genius!

Ummm, oatmeal....

Playing Hungry, Hungry Hippos with Cousin Kyle

What a Difference...

2009-01-18T21:15:00.008-06:00

...a lot of love and nutrition makes.

Isaac was born May 16, 2008, and arrived in the US on September 17 as a 4 month old. This picture was taken after being in our home for less than a week.

Now fast forward another 4 months to January 17, 2009 and take a look at our 8 month old baby boy.

These two pictures say a thousand words. What a blessing he has been to all of us. Isaac has now been in our family for the same amount of time he was in Ethiopia and in the orphanage. Within the past 10 days he has gotten his first and second tooth...his hair is getting long and curly...he's getting pretty good at using a spoon for his rice cereal. He's just a little (not so little now) miracle.

Right now our friend Kristen from Michigan is spending time with her new daugher Buzunesh in Addis Ababa. Later this week our friends the Dunns from Joplin will be traveling to meet their daughter Tarikwa. We keep them in our thoughts and prayers for safe travels and for their new, wonderful lives together as a family.

Bigger Than Gizmo

2009-01-07T17:34:00.003-06:00

Isaac is now officially bigger than the cat! For those of you who know Gizmo, you know she isn't a petite cat by any means. Isaac got his flu shot booster today (just a little flinch, no tears for our brave boy) and now weighs 13.4 lbs. He completely skipped over the 11's and 12's! It is amazing what a lot of love and good nutrition will do. Here is a funny picture that we took the other day. Both Gizmo and Isaac are napping on my lap. Very cute!

Look at that huge belly and meaty thighs! Unfortunately, I think I am matching Isaac pound for pound on the weight gain. It is back to Jazzercise for me to try and get those jeans fitting like they should. We wish all of you a healthy, happy 2009!

Christmas Picture-Palooza

2008-12-29T08:29:00.004-06:00

Isaac had a great 1st Christmas. It started on Dec. 21st at my aunt and uncle's house and continued throughout the week, ending Dec. 27th at Jason's aunt and uncle's. I know that Isaac doesn't get the whole concept of presents, Santa, and all of that, but we had fun opening his presents for him! Santa brought Isaac an excer-saucer. He loves it! He is getting good a moving himself around the different toys. He also got lots of other toys and books that he will have fun with over the next several months.

He also had fun with all of his cousins. I love watching them interact with each other. It won't be long until they are running around creating chaos together.

Back to Blogging

2008-12-21T17:56:00.002-06:00

So it has been ages since we have updated the blog! Sorry about that. Right after Thanksgiving Isaac got sick with what we think was rotovirus...yuck! It was a long 12 days of a very bad tummy bug. He was nice enough to share with both Jason and I along with several extended family members, luckily our illnesses didn't last as long as his did. It took Isaac a good two weeks to finally get back to his normal self. This was the first time since coming home that he has really been sick and man was it a good one!
We have been busy getting ready for Isaac's first Christmas. Between his getting sick and us going out of town the last 2 weekends, the Christmas decorating has been slow going around here. We do have a tree up, but it only has one ornament on it! Oh well, there are presents that are wrapped and under the tree so I do feel like we have gotten something accomplished!
Isaac is doing great. He weighs over 11 pounds and is 23 inches long. He is now wearing sizes 0-3 month clothes. Last week he turned 7 months old so he still has some catching up to do! He is really close to rolling over from back to tummy and is getting really good with his upper body control. He is a chatter box these days too! He loves "talking" to all of his toys. He also has a good belly laugh, but only Daddy gets the really loud chuckles for now. I guess Mommy just isn't that funny!
Last weekend we went to KC to visit family. He got lots of lovin' from his cousins. It is so cute to see them all together. It won't be long before they are running and playing together.
Jason graduated with his Master's in Administration degree this past week. We are both glad that this semester if finally over. Between papers and projects, along with everything else going on, it has been VERY busy! Way to go Jason, Isaac and I are both so proud of you :)
We are looking forward to our first Christmas together as a family of three. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of you!

New Pictures

2008-12-20T12:45:00.004-06:00

A new slide show of pictures from the last month or so. Look how our boy has grown!!

Giving Thanks

2008-11-27T21:11:00.003-06:00

We have a lot to be thankful for this year. We are most thankful for Isaac and how he has blessed our lives. It is hard to imagine life without him, he has just fit so perfectly into our family. We are thankful for our extended family and the love and acceptance they have shown for Isaac. We are thankful that he is healthy and growing. And we are thankful for all of the love that he has brought to our lives.

Isaac's story was told on the local news today. For those of you who missed it (like we did!) here is a link to the story. They did an excellent job!

http://www.kspr.com/news/local/35197209.html

I will post pictures of Isaac's first Thanksgiving once we get them uploaded.

Reunited...(and it feels so good!)

2008-11-25T19:40:00.007-06:00

In Ethiopia it is common for several babies to share one bed. This picture is one of the first taken of Isaac (in the manly pink blanket). Next to Isaac is Diesel, a little boy that now lives just a few miles away from us! Last weekend Isaac and Diesel were reunited at a welcome home party hosted by our agency. It was so cute to see them together again. I know they will be best buddies for life!

Here are the two little guys meeting again for the first time in two months. As you can see they both look like they haven't missed a meal since coming home! It will be so much fun to watch them grow up together. I am glad that Isaac will have a friend that shares such an important part of his history.

We are looking forward to our first Thanksgiving together as a family of three. Isaac will get to meet some of his relatives over the weekend that haven't been able to come for a visit since we have been home. If you are staying in town for the holiday, you may want to tune into KSPR 33 evening news on Thanksgiving Day. Isaac's story will be told during that newscast. It is kind of funny that we have gotten so much attention since Isaac has been home. Jason and I are both shy by nature, but we love talking about Isaac and our adoption so these interviews haven't been too painful.

Roly Poly

2008-11-16T17:59:00.002-06:00

He finally did it!! Isaac rolled over yesterday...three times in a row! He is getting to be such a big boy. He is 6 months old today (tomorrow we will have been home exactly 2 months) and growing like a weed. He is over 10 lbs. now! (Notice in the picture how meaty his arms and fingers are!) It is hard to believe just how much he has changed in the last 2 months. He smiles all the time, coos almost nonstop, rolls over, grasps for his toys, and has such a strong grip and head control. Our miracle baby! He also appears to be cutting his bottom teeth. Whew, it is painful for all of us!

Isaac and Meemaw

We have been busy this week. We went to speak at a meeting for people thinking about adopting, just to give a first hand account of our experience. Isaac was a hit, even though he slept through most of it. It is crazy to think that just last year, we were at the same meeting. It has been one year exactly since we made the decision to adopt from Ethiopia. Today we got a visit from a local TV station, KSPR. They interviewed us about our adoption and plan to air it on Thanksgiving day. I will keep you posted on times so you can all make sure to tune in!

Isaac (making a funny face) and Mommy

Isaac went to see Santa Claus last week at Silver Dollar City. We forgot our camera..ugh. We did buy the picture they took there, but it isn't one I can post here. Just trust me it is cute. I think he asked Santa for a johnny jump up! (I hope so because that is what Santa is planning on getting him!)

Isaac's First Halloween

2008-11-01T21:50:00.003-05:00

Isaac enjoyed his first Halloween. I think the pictures will say it all! He is just so darn cute :)

Life at our house is busy, but we are enjoying every minute of it. I am not sure what we ever did before we had Isaac in our lives! We are still waiting on a court date for Tenaye. Things have gotten backed up in the courts in Ethiopia. They are requiring some extra paperwork which in the long run will make sure that all adoptions are ethical and in the best interest of the child. While we understand that these changes are necessary the waiting game is difficult. Hopefully we will hear of a court date soon. Once the date is set it will be about six weeks from that date that we travel (assuming that everything goes well and we get approved). So keep her in your prayers along with all of the other little ones who are waiting to find their forever families.

Isaac the Tank!

2008-10-19T17:05:00.004-05:00

Isaac has gained 1 1/2 pounds in 17 days!! We went to the Dr. office for a weight check on Friday and Isaac weighs 8 lbs. 5 oz. That is up from 6 lbs. 13 oz. from September 30th! He is also 21 inches long (almost a whole inch longer). He loves his formula :) We were trying to get him pumped up all week for the weight check. Singing the Rocky theme song while he was drinking his bottle and lots of pep talks when he was eating. I guess it worked!

Isaac is improving every day. He is very alert and will look for mommy and daddy in a room and can recognize our voices and follow us with his eyes in a room of people. It is so cool! He is getting better at the bumbo seat. Below are pictures of the very first time in the Bumbo and then when tried again the next day, he realized it wasn't so bad after all.

He is tolerating "tummy time" a little better too. He still can't roll over, but we are working on it. His neck is getting stronger too and he has good head control. He can hold his head on his own now. He also smiles and talks to us a lot, he is very social. It is amazing how much he has changed in the month since we have been home.

The last few weeks have been very busy. Isaac has had several welcome home showers. We are very lucky to have such generous friends and family. My cousin from Alaska even came down for a short weekend visit just to meet him! I started back to work last Monday. It was a busy week with parent/teacher conferences, but we all survived. Jason took a lot of time off last week and plans to do the same this week. He will have to go into school a few days and then will use some of his time "off" to finish up his Master's classes. Luckily we have two grandma's near by that love to help out!

Christian County Headliner article

2008-10-08T09:44:00.007-05:00

You can find the article about Isaac and his story by following the link below, and find the article entitled "From Africa With Love" Amelia did a good job writing it and really thought Isaac was something when she came to our house. The only factual error was the month of our referral (June, not April). The print version has several more pictures in it and will make a great keepsake of this journey.

http://www.ccheadliner.com

Slide Show!!

2008-10-06T19:18:00.000-05:00

Meet the Press

2008-10-01T19:14:00.005-05:00

Today Isaac, Jason and I were photographed and interviewed for the Christian Co. Headliner newspaper. The pictures turned out great! I made Amelia, the reporter, show us a preview of the pictures so I could check my hair and make sure I didn't have a double chin! They were all good. Isaac got hungry during the photo shoot so we had to stop for a milk snack, but other than that he did a great job. We were interviewed about the adoption process and our reactions to becoming new parents. The article should run next Wednesday. It was lots of fun!

After the interview, we whisked Isaac off to the hospital for his newborn screening. Even though he isn't technically a newborn, his doctor thought it would be a good idea to run the normal tests that would be run on any infant born in the United States. We thought that sounded like a good idea too. Isaac did a good job. Jason held him and I looked away as they were collecting the blood so that I didn't faint. What kind of example would that be setting for my son?! Then it was back home for a quick nap and a bottle before my friend Lori came over to meet Isaac for the first time. They were instant friends! He is sleeping now, I guess he will miss Project Runway. Oh well, I will catch him up on all the details when he wakes up!

2008-09-30T22:00:00.006-05:00

Isaac and Daddy

This is my favorite picture of Isaac.

Isaac and his sweet smile!

The cousins are checking each other out!

Update: Long time coming!

2008-09-30T21:25:00.010-05:00

Ok, Jason is overwhelmed with teaching high school, his online class, and finishing his Master's Degree, so I am taking over the updates on the blog.

Last Month: We arrived in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia late Saturday September 6th. We weren't able to see Isaac right away, we had to wait until the next morning. Sunday morning we traveled by taxi (what an adventure!) to the Myungsung Korean Children's Missonary Hopsital. We were able to meet Isaac at that time. He looked soooo small lying in a regular hospital bed. He was all hooked up to an IV for anitbiotics, oxygen, and a feeding tube.

He looked like such a sick little boy. Everyone kept telling us how good he looked and that he would be fine. What we didn't know at the time was that he almost didn't make it. A few days before we arrived his condition worsened and they had lost hope for him. A doctor from Tampa FL was in Ethiopia adopting his own child and made a trip to the hopsital to check on Isaac. He properly diagnosed his condition (pneumonia and a bacterial infection) and ordered a different set of antibiotics. Jason and I firmly believe that God sent this person to save our son. Many people that we spoke to at the hopsital had limited English skills, but one lady said it best when she said "God saved your baby." We know that God loves Isaac and that we are blessed to be able to call him our son.

Over the next week Isaac's condition continued to improve. On Friday September 12, he was completely unhooked from all tubes and we were able to take him back to the Guest House. I think we slept a total of 7 minutes that night because we both couldn't stop looking at him! He did great and continues to thrive today. We have adjusted very quickly as a family. Jason has really impressed me as a dad. He is a natural! For someone who never changed a diaper in his entire life, he is a very quick learner. We have done a good job of splitting the night time feedings so neither one of us are feeling overly tired these days.

We left Addis for home on Tuesday September 16. It was a long 24 hours of travel, but we made it back to St. Louis on Wednesday the 17th. We were greeted at the airport by both of our parents and it was so good to be back. We were tired, but happy to be home and get started on being a family of three.

Move ahead 2 weeks: Isaac had his doctor's appointment today and was such a trooper. We were very impressed with his pediatrician, she seems very nice and personable and was great with a screaming baby. He weighed in a 6 lbs. 13 oz. We were hoping for 7 lbs. by now, but maybe by the weekend. We go back in a few weeks for a weight check. Other than being a small 4 month old, he is doing great. His heart and lungs sound good and he has no visible signs of illness. Which after all he has been through in his short life, that is fantastic! He got a shot in each leg and we go tomorrow to get a heel prick done at the hospital. The dr. has ordered a newborn screening that would have been done automatically if he had been born in the USA. We are going to wait until the 6 month appointment to run blood work to make sure that all of his birth mother's antibodies are out of his system so that we get a more accurate reading.

In the two weeks since we have been home Isaac has really changed. He is more alert now and is tracking with his eyes. Jason and I think he can recognize our voices and he is full of smiles (we are hoping they are genuine and not just gas!) He is getting more control of his head and neck and has found his fists. We are still working on his grip and trying to get him to reach for objects. He was a preemie baby so it will take him awhile to catch up with other kids his age. For now, the main focus is on his gaining weight. He has a Buddha belly! We can't see ribs anymore so we think we are making progress!

I have two more weeks to enjoy this little boy before I have to go back to work. Jason will then take about two weeks off to be home with Isaac and then our boy is off to the babysitter! We are lucky to have found a great one and we know he will be in good hands while we are at work.

That is it for now! This is kind of fun...I might have to post more often! :)

Since our referral...

2008-09-04T17:27:00.006-05:00

Our court date for approval of adoption for Tatiso (which since then we've found it is Takiso) and Tenaye was scheduled for August 1. Takiso passed court with no problem, but Tenaye had some paperwork issues and did not pass court. Since that time her paperwork has been refiled but we don't have a new court date for her as of yet. We were glad that one passed, but that meant we'd have to travel twice to bring home our children. Over the last month we've realized that this is all in God's plan to bring him home first, and then her.

Typically a family will travel 6 weeks after they pass court. We had planned to leave towards the end of September to get Takiso, but our little guy (who was born a preemie at 4lb. 8 oz.) lost a little weight and wound up in the hospital. After one round of antibiotics the doctor figured out that he had pneumonia. They switched the medicine the IV antibiotic and they think it will do the trick. We were able to obtain a medical visa to bring him home 3 weeks early, which meant we had about a week to make travel arrangements, figure out lesson plans for three weeks, and get everything ready at home. Talk about stress!

As I finish these first two blog entries, Laura and I are in a hotel room in St. Louis, waiting to fly out early Friday afternoon. If Takiso is healthy enough to travel, we will have an embassy date on Wednesday, September 10 and be back home on the 14th. If not, then we may be in Addis Ababa another week or so. We truly feel that this is the reason that one child is coming home now, and the other later this year. Takiso is needing a lot of love and care, and it'll be easier to give him that with only one around the house.

A Leap of Faith...

2008-09-04T17:26:00.000-05:00

Last November we saw a notice in a church bulletin about an informational meeting by Adoption for Families, an agency located in Springfield. It was being held at another church on a weeknight for anyone interested in getting more information on domestic and international adoption. I'm not really sure what struck both of us about that notice, but we both read it and brought up the topic of adoption one evening. We had always talked about adopting a child one of these years, but only after we had a biological child or two of our own.

We went to this meeting and met some very nice people from the adoption agency and a few couples that were interested in adoption. We also met a family who had just brought a little girl home from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Her name was Jayden. And she was beautiful. Laura and I looked into domestic adoption as well as international adoption. Over the next week we discussed all the pros and cons about adopting from the US, Russia, China, and Ethiopia. Something about that little girl and the Hope's Place orphanage she came from stole our heart.

We proceeded through the adoption process starting in December, 2007. Over the next few months we filled out a lot of paperwork and had several meetings with Crystal from the agency. In April, 2008 our paperwork arrived in Ethiopia and we were officially waiting for a referral. From the beginning we requested an infant girl, although we were open to a boy and were even open to adopting a boy AND a girl. We never really figured we'd be given two children, and were planning to bring home our first child and then eventually go back and adopt a second.

That thought process changed on June 30 of this year. Jason was in Atlanta for a national FBLA conference, while Laura was at home. On a Sunday morning, Crystal called and said she had a referral for us. A little girl who had just turned 3 had arrived at Hope's Place and they wanted to find a home for her as soon as possible. The courts in Addis Ababa would be closing in early August and to get a court date, we would have to say OK to her within 48 hours. But that wasn't all. A baby boy had been born June 10, and shortly thereafter was at the orphanage. Crystal wanted to know if we'd be interested in adopting both. After many phone conversations we both realized that we were destined to welcome both these children into our homes and lives and said yes. A family of 2 was about to become a family of 4!