Mommy's Birthday!

Couldn't have asked for two more beautiful presents!

Dentist Update

Nebyat's doing fine this evening - just went to sleep after going to bed at 8PM! She's a bit nervous about the tooth fairy tonight for some reason. Luckily, I must have misunderstood and the doctor only removed two teeth and has no plans currently to remove the top two. It was rough, but she made it through and enjoyed her day of special treatment - 2 milkshakes and several movies to keep her somewhat calm and resting.

Please pray for Abby's family - click to see their blog, but three family members (including Abby's 17 yo brother) were just in a car accident and are critical at the hospital - very upsetting! This poor family's seeing more than what appears to be their fair share of trials and tribulations.

Prayer Request

Please pray for Nebyat as she is having 4 teeth extracted tomorrow morning. For whatever reason, her permanent teeth have been coming in without her baby teeth falling out and those babies are causing alignment issues for her new teeth. We did not address her teeth issues immediately as we expected that there might be some work necessary and wanted to build trust, etc. prior to subjecting her to something that could be traumatic. The time has now come! Also, I'm a bit concerned at what appears to be something like a pretty good-sized polyp on her tonsil; I'll ask the dentist about it tomorrow. We've all had anywhere from a touch to a full-blown attack of this nasty cold thing and she was telling me that her throat was bothering her a bit, so I took a peak and there's something rather noticeable there. Pray for a bearable experience tomorrow and for this throat thing to be a non-issue.

A Very Special Christmas

I wondered how this day would go. I so wanted for it to be sweet and special. And, despite procrastination (what were you doing at 2am last night?) and mommy's never-ending cold, now bronchitis/sinus infection, we got all the preparation done and had a glorious day rejoicing and celebrating the birth of our Savior. I'm not sure that's what the girls would say was the whole point, but for Mommy and Papa, we definitely felt blessed just to witness their joy. We really tried to keep it a bit low-key, but it was still full of excess from their point of view.

Nebyat woke up first, both girls had ended up in our room overnight. She said, "Momma? Presents?" I said, "I don't know." She said, "Nebyat look" I said okay - she could look down over the loft directly to the tree. The look on her face was priceless and she said, "Momma, come on, look, a big one..." She also quickly noted that Santa had finished off the cookies and milk she remembered late to leave out for him. I was so glad that we had 4 total cookies left in the house, not sure what we might have offered up in lieu. Nebyat suggested adding a piece of pizza, but I assured her the cookies would be sufficient. I said, "Hey, we moved that huge plant (poinsetta in front of the fireplace), how did that get back there?" She said, "Santa!" Jetu quickly woke and they were anxious to get downstairs, but obediently brushed their teeth and waited for momma and papa. Jetu, was precious going to get papa and the way she was saying, "Papa, come on, look!"

As for presents, the big gifts were a dollhouse and a play kitchen (the big one). The only thing Nebyat asked for was a white dress and white or Cinderella shoes. She was very pleased with Santa's choice for those. She also received her own digital camera so that Momma's might last longer than 3 months next time. Jetu got a doctor kit and a dolly that makes sucking noises when her bottle is placed at her mouth and then cries when it is removed. After opening the doll at about the half-way point, she just wanted to play. She even permitted Nebyat to open most of the rest of her gifts for her. They both received a couple new outfits with shoes for their Mimi's and that is always a big hit. Any clothes they personally received were discarded immediately without a second glance. Good thing Santa put them all in one big box instead of wrapping individually. Their excitement and joy was precious.

We had friends join us for dinner, Glenn and Carole, just back from a cruise and no heat in this cold wave at their house. They also brought their two little dogs, enjoyed much by the girls. It was a smaller than usual party, but very enjoyable nonetheless. The girls showed off their best manners and behavior for dinner and put on a dance extravaganza and fashion show for entertainment during the dessert hour.

No naps today, off to bed at 9PM and it's 10:44 - Jetu hit the bed and passed out; Nebyat, on the other hand, is too excited to sleep, I think. Momma's getting that nighttime, I don't feel very good feeling and would love her to drift off NOW! She just reported that she can't sleep. I've instructed her to try. She's recounting an entire Barbie and Pegasus movie she watched this afternoon while momma got dinner together and the girls rested before company arrived. Could it be that 8:30 chocolate Santa?

Christmas Eve

Wow, what a year! May your family be as blessed as ours has been! Mama and Papa received our Christmas presents early this year, praise God! We welcomed our beautiful daughters, Nebyat (6) and Jetu (3) to the family. The girls are very excited about the prospect of Santa's visit tonight and I think they understand the true meaning of the holiday. It's a constant battle to keep that message front and foremost in this country. I did get as far as picking up holiday photo cards this week to mail out and then had a problem with the quality and cancelled the order. So, I will try for a New Years Card and formal announcement of our adoption and I'll post the girls Santa photo here! Both of them were confused as to where to look and their eyes look weird if you see the picture close enough - double click for closer look.



Merry Christmas to all!

Back in the land of technology

I'm finally coming out of the techno-fog that enveloped me late last week, earlier this week. Let's see - I had to buy a new laptop because my screen had a short in it and I had to hold it with one hand and/or reposition it constantly to keep from having the dreaded black screen. I was due for an upgrade anyway, but I am not enjoying the change, still have programs to load and files to transfer. With the new computer came the need for a new mobile broadband device for internet access (no PCI slot on the new computer). I was able to upgrade that for free to a USB-type, however again, it's been an adjustment and more than an hour at the store and another on the phone to get it working properly. I managed to get to my office today for 2 1/2 hours and realized that my printer/copier/scanner/fax device is not compatible with the operating system on the new computer. I dropped my cell phone directly into the toilet where it was actually hard to extract, luckily the toilet was clean. I had hoped it would dry and work, but alas those dreams were dashed. Luckily a friend had just upgraded 2 phones and received them the day after my tragic accident; she was able to give me her old one and it didn't cost the minimum $170 for a new phone. Then, of course, there's my camera - the lens will not open and it says something about a lens error. I left the second of our two cameras at our Church office where the girls performed in the Christmas Jingle Jam last Sunday - it's there, but I have to go by and pick it up. Hmmmm, oh yeah, the cooktop in the kitchen started click, clicking and sparking while completely turned off - like it was trying to ignite the pilot light or something. With no explanation, it stopped. I'm beginning to feel like someone or something is out to get me...

Nebyat and I made the girls' favorite, chili, this afternoon and tonight Gigs and I took the girls to the Christmas light show on the Boardwalk - you drive your car and there are wonderful sights everywhere you look. Jetu gets more and more boisterous everyday-I know some of you who know her find that hard to believe, but she does not stop talking, especially in the car and we seem to have spent a lot of time in the car lately. It's interesting to hear all of her English vocabulary and strewn together in such unusual ways, but I have to say sometimes it's so peaceful when she drifts off to sleep. Right now she tells stories with An'en (contraction for "and then") between every segment. Jetu and Nebyat butterfly an'en fly an'en caca an'en Etiopia an'en boom an'en die. She is just a tad manipulative. At the slightest correction from mama or papa, she says Jetu wedetshu (love) mommy/papa, no! Yesterday, when she was mad at me, she told me that tomorrow, she and Nebyat were going to fly back home to Ethiopia. Nebyat quickly responded that she was not going back to Ethiopia. She pretty quickly and in her cutsiest voice rescinds her statement, says "Jetu love mommy, yes!" For some reason, she's regressed a bit on potty training. She didn't have one accident in like 90 days and then started peeing her pants (3 times in one week, I think), having to pee frequently with urgency and then barely going, that kind of thing. I was not too concerned and then I remembered the infection she had at Thanksgiving and the swelling and pain she had in that area and so I called the doctor. They said to bring her in - she had no infection and everything looks normal - suggested the trauma there may have an impact emotionally/mentally - not physically and that now that her giardia is cleared up she may have more pressure from her bowels on her bladder, or it could be regression, or a combo of all of the above. I tend to think it's mostly about being a baby, and so yes, regression, triggered perhaps by the trauma-hopefully it will resolve itself soon - the accidents have stopped, but she's still very focused on going (if she's bored or in the car).

We toured Nebyat's school this week and she will start full-day kindergarten after the new year. I was hoping for half-day and afternoons at that, but our public elementary school and the one across the street are both full-day programs. Say a prayer that she transitions well - I think it will all depend on the teacher. She's very sensitive and she's a bit insecure in her attachment sometimes, so she doesn't like to be separated for too long from Mommy; I really don't have the ability to communicate the lack of choice we have in this matter. I just pray it's a positive experience from the beginning - she's ready, now that we've assured her there will be no corporal punishment if she doesn't get the answers correct. She's liking karate, but she's only been to 2 sessions with the group and they focused on stranger danger last time. She wasn't too sure about one instructor and was hesitant about going, but she said that it was better the second time with her. Both girls had their first dentist appointment, which went wonderfully - they really do well with doctor visits, etc. I expected to hear that Neb had a mouth full of cavities and neither girl had any. Unfortunately, Nebyat does require 4 extractions of baby teeth where the permanent are already coming in behind them. This will take place on 12/28 with only local anesthesia - I'm not looking forward to that and hopefully it won't be too bad as their babies with shallow roots; I think the subsequent tooth fairy visit will be motivation enough to get us there.

Okay - peace out - I'm tired and my sinuses are killing me - I cannot breathe!

Emotional Week

Mommy's a bit emotional this week with so much to get done for the small project I'm working on and the preparations for the upcoming holiday. Yesterday, a good friend and I said farewell as she and her family move to Las Vegas to pursue ministry on the strip! She is such an inspiration to me (in her faith and with regard to adoption, etc.) and although we get to spend time together less than I'd like, I will miss those times. I know that we'll be in touch and that we'll likely even see eachother on rare occasion, but I will miss our visits including the kids (our two families have grown from zero to five children between us in just about a year's time).

Today, I heard that one of my four-legged friends passed on; even this made me cry. Fellow Peace Corps volunteer, Connie, sent me this today:

Feline RPCV Succumbs to CRF

Pani Paczki entered kitty heaven December 9, 2009 following a prolonged battle with chronic kidney failure (CRF). Born April 25, 1994 in Konin, Poland, Pani Paczki transitioned from backpack travel throughout Poland to riding shotgun on road trips from DC to: Corning, NY, Boston, MA, Palm Harbor, FL and Austin, TX – residing in Konin, Alexandria, VA, Palm Harbor, FL and finally Austin, TX. Predeceased by cousin Toonces, she is survived by Mom (Connie Beckski), sister (Laura Beck) and nieces Thea and Amelia. Pani Paczki provided pleasure and comfort to all her knew her. A celebration of her life will be held during the next Poland VIII gathering.

I couldn't get the photo to copy into the blog - I'm extremely techno-challenged this week. Perhaps, I can add it later today. She really was part of their family and part of our PC family!

We're off to karate - hopefully, the girls won't notice the tears - I think it's okay to cry in front of them, but two days in a row might be a little much and make them feel less than safe.

Goodbye, good friends!