Monday, October 30, 2006
Video About Orphans in Ethiopia
This video has some footage of Haregewoin Teferra, founder and executive director of Atetegeb Worku Metasebiya Woleji Alba Hitsanet Merja Mahiber AWMWAHM (Atetegeb Worku Memorial Orphans Support Association). Haregewoin is the woman that the wonderful book, "There is No Me Without You" by Melissa Fay Greene is about.
How to Help
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
"Why snow all messy? Why snow all over road?"
Last week we had our first snowfall in Denver (which by the way has more sunny days than San Diego or Miami! and its not that cold here!) Anyway- it was Maren's first snowfall and he was amazed. He played in it for hours and came in and he was just freezing! It took forever for his hands and feet to warm up. He kept looking out the window and saying, "MOM!!!!! A-LOOK! (left over from "Ayo!" which means "look!" in Amharic) Why all messy- snow- all over car? Car ALL MESSYYYYYY! Why?" I tried to explain it was snow- which is like rain only colder..."But MOM! Why no snow ETHIOPIA!!!!????!!!" I explained that it’s not that cold where he lived. He kept asking over and over about the snow- he and his big brother made a very tall and very cool snow dude. And the way he rides a scooter we are pretty sure he will be an amazing snowboarder...I know Mark is so excited to take him skiing.
That same day we had a visit from a man named Behailu. (It was also HIS first time seeing snow- he thought it was "very Beautiful!") He worked for CWA, our adoption agency- in Addis. He was the man who took us to the embassy appt and we really enjoyed talking to him. He is on a 6 month Visa here and is doing some teaching and preaching and ministering. He left Denver last week for Utah and hopes to travel around a bit. It was interesting to see him and Maren interacting. He was so happy to see both boys and can't believe how much they have changed- but watching Maren- at first- regress and shout and wiggle- begin to talk to him, "Why Dagne not here? Want to go to Addis." Behailu would say, "Ok lets go- to Addis!" And Maren would smile- he knows we are not going back anytime soon- but its one of his favorite games and so the fact that this man he only knew in Addis was here in his house and was playing it with him made him so happy. He also loved showing off that he was allowed to eat with fancy plates and glasses...he wanted Behailu to notice that. And Behailu said, "You are privileged...do you know that?" Maren just smiled. On some level he knows what he has that is different- but he is also very defensive of his country and his culture- as he should be. Last night he did not want to finish super- which is unusual- and one of the big kids commented that in Ethiopia he might not have food. He emphatically stated, "Yes, in Ethiopia me have food. There is food in Ethiopia yes!" And its good that his recent memory would be that of having three meals a day at the CWA care center- that is the food he remembers most- though he does remember eating potatoes and Corn and chicken in Sodo where he came from. Below is a photo of Behailu and the kids (minus Cal who had just stepped on a tack!)
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Hi HO HI HO
Off to work I go.........
We celebrated Yabsera's first birthday the same week I was back to work full time. Everyone at my job was wonderful and sweet to me. But I was pretty miserable. Then today, I saw two of my favorite patients. It was a true blessing to see them- and also I have gotten phone calls from families who are so happy to have me back and that is so nice. But even though I am usually a huge cry baby (I am known as the person who always cries at goodbyes etc.) I am pretty good about not doing it in front of patients- and let me tell you that is not always easy- you try telling someone that their precious baby has HIV- NOT EASY!
Anyway- this darling girl I care for came in today- She was diagnosed when she was three. This was a huge blow to her adoptive mom and her family. You can imagine. It was heart breaking. Anyway- she is now 8...and she grew a lot while I was out...I drew her blood and she was so brave and it wasn't always that way- and then I had to give her this shot...she started to cry when it was over and I just looked at her and I started to cry too. Now this little girl is about as smart as they come- really- amazingly intelligent- and she just looked at me ...and I said, "I am crying sweet pea because I am so proud of you and how well you just did!" and she thought about that and then said, "Yeah, I only tried to pull away because a body doesn't like to be poked." I said, "Yeah, its a natural thing to pull away when you are going to get hurt." And she looked at me and smiled so big.
Her mom of course knew I was crying because I really care about her daughter. And she also knew it was because I was away from my boys. She said, "I know how hard this is for you. I remember..but now we have something in common...adoption." I had not thought of that. But the patient I saw yesterday has some really tough issues and I spoke with her mom about regression and she said, "That is the one thing that has made sense to me all day." I only knew to even mention it because of my kids and the adoption. Her daughter was adopted as an infant and is now 12 and is having a very hard time taking her HIV meds. I said that maybe she has regressed and really need her mom to do all the meds for awhile- take all of the pressure off of her for awhile...you be the mommy and act like she is little again when it comes to taking her HIV medications. They are going to try it. Pray that it works.
We went to a Family Fall Festival this weekend which was hosted by one of the families who adopted form Ethiopia this summer. So we got to see several of our Colorado Ethiopian Adoption friends. We had a great time! Here is Maren who loved the hay rides.
And Yabsera who enjoyed chewing on apples and watching his big brother and sisters try and win the three legged races and the pie eating contests...
So far so good...our nanny, who is from Ethiopia, is so sweet and patient. She loved the boys and Maren has broken her in and has had two great days in a row...she brings them Ethiopian food...and talks in sweet Amharic phrases...what’s not to love? (Except she is not mommy! :) )
We celebrated Yabsera's first birthday the same week I was back to work full time. Everyone at my job was wonderful and sweet to me. But I was pretty miserable. Then today, I saw two of my favorite patients. It was a true blessing to see them- and also I have gotten phone calls from families who are so happy to have me back and that is so nice. But even though I am usually a huge cry baby (I am known as the person who always cries at goodbyes etc.) I am pretty good about not doing it in front of patients- and let me tell you that is not always easy- you try telling someone that their precious baby has HIV- NOT EASY!
Anyway- this darling girl I care for came in today- She was diagnosed when she was three. This was a huge blow to her adoptive mom and her family. You can imagine. It was heart breaking. Anyway- she is now 8...and she grew a lot while I was out...I drew her blood and she was so brave and it wasn't always that way- and then I had to give her this shot...she started to cry when it was over and I just looked at her and I started to cry too. Now this little girl is about as smart as they come- really- amazingly intelligent- and she just looked at me ...and I said, "I am crying sweet pea because I am so proud of you and how well you just did!" and she thought about that and then said, "Yeah, I only tried to pull away because a body doesn't like to be poked." I said, "Yeah, its a natural thing to pull away when you are going to get hurt." And she looked at me and smiled so big.
Her mom of course knew I was crying because I really care about her daughter. And she also knew it was because I was away from my boys. She said, "I know how hard this is for you. I remember..but now we have something in common...adoption." I had not thought of that. But the patient I saw yesterday has some really tough issues and I spoke with her mom about regression and she said, "That is the one thing that has made sense to me all day." I only knew to even mention it because of my kids and the adoption. Her daughter was adopted as an infant and is now 12 and is having a very hard time taking her HIV meds. I said that maybe she has regressed and really need her mom to do all the meds for awhile- take all of the pressure off of her for awhile...you be the mommy and act like she is little again when it comes to taking her HIV medications. They are going to try it. Pray that it works.
We went to a Family Fall Festival this weekend which was hosted by one of the families who adopted form Ethiopia this summer. So we got to see several of our Colorado Ethiopian Adoption friends. We had a great time! Here is Maren who loved the hay rides.
And Yabsera who enjoyed chewing on apples and watching his big brother and sisters try and win the three legged races and the pie eating contests...
So far so good...our nanny, who is from Ethiopia, is so sweet and patient. She loved the boys and Maren has broken her in and has had two great days in a row...she brings them Ethiopian food...and talks in sweet Amharic phrases...what’s not to love? (Except she is not mommy! :) )
Monday, October 02, 2006
Melissa Fay Greene's Book
I was able to get my hands on Melissa Fay Greene's new book a few days ago and have loved reading it. Having just been in Ethiopia I can really picture everything- can hear the rain on the tin roof and see the faces that appear in the story. I have updated my blog list on Amazon.com list of books about Ethiopian Adoption to include this one right at the top of the list. And she is coming to Denver on November 29th. We hope to have our Ethiopian adoption group host her prior to the event! After hearing the original date was cancelled we kind of went crazy emailing the Tattered Cover in protest. We are so excited to meet her and celebrate her new book and latest adoption.
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