almost at the 2 month mark

I have been a horrible blogger these past 8 weeks. Life has exploded all over me like cake in the face. Wonderful, delicious, messy cake in the face. We have had the ups and downs that I did and didn't expect. Our transition to a family of four has been scary, amazing, and ever changing. Cecily, our quiet and reserved little girl who used to whisper and just smile when spoken to has turned into the little diva we all knew she was! We went for several weeks begging her to speak. We even had to limit her most favorite activity, television, because she wouldn't respond when spoken to. We weren't sure if it was shyness or stubbornness but she stopped using even the words she initially said freely. So, after an evening of limited tv, the vocab usage improved. There is nothing like asking someone a series of yes/no questions and having them roll their eyes at you for 2 weeks straight!! In the past 3-4 weeks we have seen such changes that I can't even grasp until I think back on how things were in the first weeks. She can express most any thought in English as well as tell us MANY odd stories from her time in Ethiopia. You have to wonder how much is true and if all is true...yikes. She seems to understand nearly everything we say. We still have the occasional language barrier...mostly when you are asking her to go to bed or turn off the tv! Typical 9 year old I hear! She LOVES Hannah Montana, Jonas Brothers, The Suite Life of Zack and Cody! Anything Disney channel or black and white shows. We have to limit tv and that is our most difficult task. In the evening we play outside until nearly dark then she gets her tv time before/after bath. That usually results in an ultra short bathtime!!!!

School is going great. Her teacher said that she has made a few friends and does well socializing. Her ESL teacher raves about her determination and how quickly she is picking things up. We are very pleased with school and she loves going. It is so scary taking her there and just leaving her not knowing what she is dealing with all day. I know that is normal but I worried about if she would tell them that she needs to go to the bathroom or if she would understand what was expected. I guess she is doing just fine.

She does really well with Ian. She gets a little frustrated with him at times and we have to intervene in their sibling fights. We try to make her room hers and keep him out as much as possible. Ian wants whatever she has, wants to be where she is, and do whatever she does. It can grow tiresome on a 9 year old.

We are on our first vacation as a family this week. This is the vacation that I dreamed of for years while we were growing our family. Last year we didn't really have vacation since we were in limbo about her travel date. This year we decided on Cancun for our first getaway, but due to many issues including passports and swine flu we decided Florida may be the better option. It has been amazing. Watching their little faces when they saw the ocean for the first time and played in the sand. We went to Busch Gardens and my fearless little girl rode the most daunting of roller coasters without any hesitation! It is perfection...everything I had hoped.

Life is continuing to change for us in many ways. We will welcome a third child into our home sometime in July! Yep...one last little Clevinger!

the new normal is very busy

We are settling in here at the Clevinger house. Cecily aka Mekdes has decided she wants to be called Cecily now. That was a middle name that she liked but has since informed me that she is Cecily not Mekdes. We are trying it out for now. We won't do her official name change for a month or two so we have some time to decide which name will be first officially. We are so excited that she got an IR3 visa this time. I was complaining to our friends about filing for her citizenship certificate and they told me that it will just come in the mail!!! You mean I don't have to pay 500 dollars and agonize over the paperwork??? I thought we just got out of the re-adoption but this is excellent!
We have spent a good part of everyday at the doctors office getting bloodwork, checkups, skin tests, shots...the normal stuff. Our pediatrician is awsome and has been super cool with her not rushing into anything before he is fully informed. We have dentist and eye drs next week and throw in the rest of our appointments and she is soon going to be convinced that we go to the dr everyday!
She has really come out of her shell. Ian has made that happen almost all by himself. She loves on us and laughs with us but she really cuts loose with him and acts like the wild and crazy kid I know she is!!! He is the best little brother and she is the best big sister. They were meant to be together. Everyone is sleeping pretty well. I fall over usually after the last one goes to bed ;) They exhaust each other and me on most days. But everyone has been sleeping through the night for the past few days. Ian got back on his schedule 2 nights after we came home. He was an amazing traveler. For someone who asked, the only reason I wouldn't have taken him is if I hadn't had so much help. I had three women with me who helped tremendously as I transitioned with Mekdes. Also, the day I got sick they took over with both kids and let me lay in bed in a Phenergan induced stooper! Without them...having Ian wouldn't have been so easy.
So here we are...living a somewhat normal life with our two kids. No fits or anxieties to speak of yet. Overall everyone laughs more than they cry and loves more than they hit so we are considering week one a success.

Home Finally =)

Home finally with our sweet girl! I am so excited to be blogging from Mekdes' bedroom while she plays a matching game on the other computer! It is early and we are all a bit jet lagged but slept pretty well last night. We were greeted at the airport by many excited family members and she was a bit overwhelmed. She came home, showered, and was ready for bed. I have tons of pictures that I haven't uploaded all of our pictures yet but I will very soon. If I had to sum up our week with two words they would be humbling and hilarious! I was in awe of my daughter who moved through the week graciously accepting me and Ian and my friends into her life forever. I was amazed at her strength and courage, her beautiful spirit, and her diva-ish style! Staying in a guest house with Laura, Andrea, Amy, Jamie, Mekdes and Ian....hilarious! We loved Ayat house very much. It is the true Ethiopian experience..yes indeedy (LOL for the crew). We have so many ridiculous stories to tell that would have you in stitches. Many involve asking someone to move so that someone could vomit or being asked to not vomit in that spot! Either way, we had so much fun and I wouldn't have changed a thing. As far as Ian goes... knowing what I know now...I would never have not taken him! He was a joy on the flight. He made the layovers seems short and slept a ton on the flights. It was love at first sight when he met Mekdes. I will post the video sometime. It was like he had waited his whole life to meet her and he wanted her undivided attention. He spent the whole week making sure she never got out of his sight and she cared for him and kissed on him as a big sister from the beginning. It was so nice to have both of my children with me, starting their bonding process as well. He made it easier for her to act like a child with all of us. He ran around like a little crazy man and so she followed playing too. It was perfect (except for the travelers sickness).
I have so much more to tell, so many more people to thank and a ton of pictures to post. I love my family and friends and thank the Bakers for keeping Cortney sane during the week.
I leave you with a few pictures...

T-24

We are just 24 hours away from lift off here in KY. My group is thrilled and we have been gathering the last minute things and stuffing them into luggage! My niece's Girl Scout troop made bracelets for all of the older children at Gladney's foster center and are sending boxes of Girl Scout Cookies! I am excited to take pictures of the kids reciveing the gifts! It was a very kind gesture and I am so proud of her troop! I also have to give a little shout out to Mekdes' three very excited cousins! They are parting with their mommy this week so that I may be privy to her child whispering abilities!

I am so excited that Ian is going. I am thrilled to have this time with my children, together. Some have questioned this decision oddly enough but at this point it is the right one for us.

This will be my last post until you see the long awaited picture of us all united at last.

Signing off...

Speechless

Last week is a blur. We got a new court date and passed court all in the same week. How does that happen? Now what you ask? We leave for Ethiopia in just 9 short days! I can't believe our travel is so soon. I have been packing and gathering things like a mad woman. So here are the plans. I am going to Ethiopia without Cortney. He is sitting this one out and staying here because of some health issues that came up after our last trip to Ethiopia. Nothing bad, just need him on his game when we return and not out of commission for a month like last time. Who is going in his place??? It is a lengthy list. Ian of course is going with me. We debated about this..it was short...I am taking him. I just cannot be without him for a week. Cortney feels the same way but I am persuasive and I won. He will be grumpy during the plane rides I am certain but a delight during the trip I am hoping :) My sister, Jamie, my best friend, Andrea, and none other than THE Amy Breedlove. Oh did I mention that we are sharing the guest house with Lara Byars and little Mercy too? It is going to be one giant sized slumber party at Ayat house!!!

Not much longer now and I will get to look at those beautiful brown eyes in person!!!

At Last

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

More to come later...

new look and a little hope

I hope the next post you see on this blog has my little girl's face as the first thing you see!!! And that could be as early as THURSDAY!)!*#!*_)#(!)*$



Fingers crossed...praying it's official on Thursday.

Helping out...(this was recycle trash so not too heavy--don't call social services just yet!!)

Happy Birthday Dustin!!!! PS. That isn't Dustin's hair in the background!

Ian and Sophia hanging out in their pajamas.