We stop at the same little restaurant on our way back for lunch. Our van needed air in the tires so after lunch we pull into what appears to be an auto shop. A man comes out of the little house with an air hose. Adoptive families drive through these towns every two weeks so people recognize the white vans full of caucasians. The children congregate quickly. At this stop several children run out, one holding a baby who is without his pants.
John and I both commented that everyone we see, no matter their circumstances, seems so happy. They aren't just smiling at passersby. Most of them are deep in conversation with other people and they're laughing. The people are very free with their affection. People walk arm in arm down the street. Adults are hugging children and kissing them on the head. The pictures we saw and even ones we took, show people without any expression - almost blank stares. Their actual personalities and interactions are quite different.
We arrived in Addis Ababa mid-afternoon and head straight for The Care Center. This is the night we take custody of the boys full-time. The nannies brought them downstairs and we commenced our playing. We were scheduled to meet with the pediatrician who works with our agency to ask questions and get a final update on their health. We're first to go.
He mentioned Colin's low-iron count, which we knew about already. They gave us an iron supplement that we could take home (we didn't). It's a big glass bottle with a thin metal lid. There is no way that bottle would have made it home with us still intact. We took it to use for the last few days we're there.
He then mentions that he doesn't know Seth because he just met him this morning. Huh?!?! Apparently Seth had been housed at a different facility until the last week or so before we came? We don't really know and never got a good answer from anyone. The pediatrician said that he has some dental issues but otherwise seems healthy.
We asked about Colin's rattley cough and runny nose and the response was something like, "Yes - that can happen".
I was glad that they were going home with us. I have nothing but positive things to say about our agency and The Care Center staff. They are doing the very best they can do with the resources they have. The children were well cared for and loved and I will always be grateful for the way they provided for the boys.
But at that moment, I was glad we were the ones now responsible for them. It's much easier to devote time and attention to the needs of two children than it is to 70 of them.
After the pediatrician visit, we packed our things and walked out the front gate. Every residence in Addis Ababa has a streetside gate that has to be opened for cars and pedestrians. The Care Center gate is opened by a guard - all four of us walk along the street to the gate next door that's opened by another guard.
We headed up to our room and showed the boys where they'll be living for the next several days.
(If you couldn't hear, John narrates the monumentous occasion of their first night with us. He says "as you can see they are both anxious and disturbed by this change of events")
They handled it well.
I won't talk much about this, but it should be noted that this is about the time we were initiated into the dirty diaper club. Colin did not ease us into this process in any way. He struck quickly and forcefully...and wouldn't stop - well - until we got home...and then only slightly. Enough said.
It's soon time for dinner so we headed downstairs to the restuarant. The atmosphere in the hotel has changed drastically. For the last four days there has been around 60 adults (all Americans who are adopting). There were a lot of us but our interactions were peaceful. We'd sit down to dinner and talk about where we lived, where we worked, television shows we liked. Now the dining room was sprinkled with little brown faces - most of them infants. There were new outfits for everyone and new little toys to discover. John and I ordered what we thought the boys would eat. They did great.
After some playtime, we got the boys ready for bed and took a deep breath. I worried they'd be scared in a new place with strange people. I bundled Colin up in a blanket and rocked him back and forth. He fell asleep in less than 5 minutes. Seth was next. We tucked him into the twin bed (Yes - I gave up the comfy bed) and read a book (Thanks Becki for the book). We're all holding hands and John looks to me to say the bedtime prayer. I couldn't speak and started to cry. John quickly took over and thanked God for our children and that they were there with us. I was overwhelmed with gratitude - speechless. We both kissed Seth on the forehead and tucked him in. He watched us get ready for bed for awhile but before too long we heard the heavy sigh only sleep can bring.
Colin's bed was a basket (like Moses) on the floor.
According to the schedule, Colin would be awake at 10PM and 2AM for a bottle (Why you ask? So did we but we went with it.) I prepped the bottles before crawling into bed so we wouldn't be measuring formula in the middle of the night in the dark. Colin woke up exactly on schedule but only long enough to drink up. We all got a great night's sleep.
Coming up on Day 6 - Hotel Entertainment.
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