With Two Feet

That’s right I jumped in with two feet from my first day here. I never knew how exhausting it could be. The first day we spent 5 hours at a hospital getting the three new boys (Kenisha, Melkamu and Matthew) and the new baby (Lily) looked at to see if they were healthy. They were not. They are extremely mal-nourished so bad in fact that their body is eating their muscles. The baby who we thought was only 6 days old is more like 2 weeks old. This hospital has a really good pediatric wing but they don’t have any toys for the kids to play with so 5 hours was a really long time for them. We didn’t think it would take that long so we only brought snacks and not anything for lunch. Luckily Phillipa lives close and got some really good bread for them. That was a long day – I went to bed at 5pm.

There are three nannies and one cook/cleaning lady. Tesfanish is the head nanny and she takes care of three babies (Muna – almost 3 months, Absarah – 3 weeks old and Lily who is a premi and weights only 1.5 kg – Phillipa the Australian nurse and I named her) and eight kids (Mastewal – 6 years old, Eyob – 4 years old, Eyob – 3 years old, Kenisha – 3 years old, Matthew – 2 ½ years old, Daratu – 2 ½ years old, Melkamu – 2 years old and Helina – 18 months old). She is a very busy lady who rarely eats or sleeps. She loves the kids like they were her own. She loves the 3 year old Eyob like her own son. He sleeps with her and calls her Mama. I think it would break her heart if he was adopted. I have been helping her a lot with the older kids when she is here and when she goes to the doctor with one of the kids I am in charge of the babies. They are so tiny and precious.

Hewitt is in charge of three babies as well (Ruth – 3 months old, Equtatash – 3 months old and Meskerem – 6-7 months old) Meskerem is the happiest baby I have ever seen. She is always smiling and laughing even if no one is around her. Hewitt is potty training her. I was impressed that she didn’t go in her diaper all day. I started helping Hewitt in the morning with the three girls, but after I realized Tesfanish needed way more help with the big kids I now help get them dressed and outside.

Zowdie has her hands full with two babies (Domino – 8 months and Henok – 5 months). Domino is the most active baby I have ever been around. She does not like to sit still for one minute. Henok on the other hand is very laid back. He can’t sit up or hold his own head up yet...he is a big guy. Domino keeps Zowdie very very busy.

My days so far are really busy. I get up around 7am and get the big kids dressed and outside or entertained some other way until breakfast. After breakfast we play more until lunch then it is naptime - all while watching at least one baby. After nap we play more until dinner. Then it is bedtime, which is usually around 7:30pm. It is a process getting everyone to bed. I find that I am too tired to even eat dinner. Last night I made myself stay up until 9pm other than that I have been falling asleep around 8pm. The bad thing about that is that I usually wake up at 3am and don’t fall back asleep until 5am when the Muslim call to prayer is over.

Things I hate:
Constantly taking someone to the bathroom.
They don’t use toilet paper here so the kids smell like poop sometimes.
Cloth diapers…they are so nasty. I haven’t gotten the hang of it yet either.
Not having running water all the time.
Having a real mattress but it being hard as rock…seriously.
Constantly telling them not to hit or take other’s toys.
Not having the internet when I need it.

Things I Love:

Melkamu’s smile…he was very shy at first but now he is engaging with everyone. He has a problem with his feet so he either crawls or you have to carry him and he loves to snuggle.

Daratu. I know I’m not supposed to have favorites but she is mine. She is such a sweet girl who smiles with her mouth closed, shoulders scrunched and hands next to her mouth. She sings softly to herself and cries silently when she has to go to the bathroom.

Eyob (3 year old) when he comes over and kisses me randomly. Other than that he is a stinker.

Helina when she runs and gives me a hug which is rare. I am usually telling her to stop hitting everyone else.

Eyob (4 year old) when he tries to help take care of the babies. He is a stinker too who is always taking someone else’s toy.

Matthew when I tickle him he has a very contagious laugh.

Mastewal loves to help. She folds the laundry, helps the kids make their beds and helps Tesfanish or Hewitt with whatever they need.

Kenisha when he looks after his little brother Melkamu. It is so sweet how he plays with him if no one else is. He was the most shy out of the three new boys but finally he has come out of his shell.

I love having my own room.

I love rocking the little babies to sleep or feeding them.

I have been crazy busy but it has been a good busy.

Love,
Emily

Oh what a day and by day I mean the last couple days...

It has been crazy to say the least. Monday was an awesome day. I went to the Wild Animal Park with a very special family - the Jung's (pronounced Young's). He was one of my Bible professors that I ended up babysitting for my freshman year. Ever since I have babysat for them for entire weekends...I just love their children. After a long day of walking my friend Jeff picked me up on his way home from work and dropped me off in Mission Valley. Autumn had told me to keep monday night open because my dad wanted to make a really special dinner for me. This is very normal for Monday nights...it's his day off and he usually 'creates' something spectacular. So Autumn and I went to Target to waste time before we needed to be home for my surprise dinner. When I walk inside my front door there were way more than 8 people...there were 38 people. Autumn and Brian were the masterminds behind the best going away party ever. Thank you so much for putting it together. And thank you dad for cleaning the house before everyone came over...I know Mom really appreciated it too. Oh and thank you Brian for picking out the red, yellow and green M&M's from the rest so that we could have Ethiopian flag colored M&M's. 

Yesterday was a crazy day...if you have read my blog before you know that I am a procrastinator. I started packing in the morning and finished shopping last night. I didn't just have to pack for a year long trip but I had to pack up the room I was staying in so that my mom can get it ready for my two new brothers. So, thank you Mom, Autumn and Dad for helping me pack everything up. I didn't get done with writing 'Thank You' cards until mid-night. I got everything that I will need for a while into two army canvas bags and one plastic tub (which U.S. Airway cracked). They all weight 50lbs...which is heavy!

This morning I had to get up at 4am! That is too early for anyone. I flew to

 Phoenix and switched planes there. Guess who was on my flight from Phoenix to D.C.? Go ahead guess...

John McCain. That's right. He was sitting in first class and as I was walking back to my seat I looked over and there he was reading the newspaper. So of course I called my mom right away. Most people didn't recognize him but a few of us did...and boy he looks old without all the stage makeup on. Anyways, I am in D.C. right now waiting for my flight to Addis Ababa which leaves in a little less than 2 hours.

Thank you everyone who has supported me whether it be financially or through prayer...I truly appreciate it. And thank you once again to my family...they are keepers and I wouldn't trade them for anything...even for Jake Peavey & Khalil Greene. I love you all so much and I miss you already. 

This is my family at my graduation this summer.

Silky & Fuzzy

I talked my mom into helping me make little blankets for the children at the transition house. I ordered seven different colored minky fabrics online and boy are they soft. I also went to Joann's and got some silky satins that matched the fuzzy. My mom, best friend Lisa and I put together 14 little blankies...Lisa would help me cut the fabric, I would pin it and my mom would sew it. Lisa would also sew the corners down. Here are some pictures of the finished products. 

And yes I am no longer a blonde...sad day.

I want a cute diaper bag too...

Autumn and I have been looking and looking for a cute diaper bag for her and since she is very particular about what style of bag and color she wants it has been kind of difficult finding a modestly priced one that she actually likes.

Today I got my first assignment. I get to make a 12 hour journey to go pick up a baby boy at a hospital and bring him back to Addis. I also will get to go to another orphanage and take video footage of two little boys so that they can hopefully be adopted. I was talking with my mom about what it will be like traveling for 12 hours with a newborn and a thought popped into my head...I need a diaper bag now. And not just any diaper bag - I want a cute diaper bag too. So the search begins for a cute diaper bag.