Day 10 & 11

Time for the EMBASSY!!!! Renee and Geert were meeting the kids today too!!! I got up early and got everyone ready. We found out that they would bring the kids to the Hilton to me their parents. We all went downstairs and started to wait for them to come in. Then Belay called and said that they would bring them up to the room!!! So…we all went up to the room and waited impatiently!!! They brought the children in and everything was wonderful!!! After a few pictures we all left to get ready for lunch! What a beautiful family!!! It is amazing how the parental instincts kick it! Renee and Geert were like old pros!!

We had lunch with all the families and Belay and Ryan! I got spinach lasagna that looked like one of Ian’s dirty diapers on top of it! The embassy appointment had me kind of freaked out! I mean someone would decide if they were going to grant him the ability to come into this country…a little disconcerting. Belay assured us that everything was fine, we would be okay. So after lunch we drive over to the embassy. Note to families who will be traveling…take as little as possible into the embassy!!! A diaper, wipes, one toy, a bottle, and your passports…that should be all you need! The security is nuts and you will have to leave all electronic devices at the desk and go back to retrieve them. It is best to travel light! Belay, with us the whole way, tells us about the grounds of the embassy and leads us into the waiting room. He laughed and said, “Full house today”! I am not kidding when I say that nearly every seat in quite a substantial waiting room was taken! People everywhere!!! All I could think was, oh boy…I need another bottle and more diapers!!! The other family with us didn’t know about the bag checks so they got caught up a little longer with security tasting creams and emptying out their pockets!!! When they got in the waiting room they sat down and Belay came over and said..”Let’s go”. I’m thinking…what???? So she went and had her appointment, it took about 5 minutes or less, then Belay came for us! I grabbed up my little bundle of baby and off we went upstairs to the interview window. The very nice man went through all of Ian’s paperwork, had us sign some things, swear to tell the truth, and answer some very easy questions. Belay told us what kinds of things they asked and we were prepared for the interview which consisted of maybe 3 questions!! Then they guy closed the file, and said, okay he is approved!! Approved!!!! Approved to come to the US!!! Approved to get a passport and visa!!! He told Belay he could pick everything up on Friday and we started back to the car!!! I was giddy! I don’t know why, he was ours already but knowing that part was over was soooo great!!!

After lunch we went to the Holy Trinity Church and took a tour. The grounds were amazing and the inside was even more amazing. We took a ton of pictures and Ian puked all over Tafesse!!! That was pretty funny! We got in the car and went back to the Hilton. That night we had dinner with Renee and Geert and the children!! It was sooo funny that little Maryn could talk to the waiters in Amharic and none of us had any idea what was going on!! She ordered a Coke and Geert picked up on what was going on and we all had a good laugh!!!

Day 11
We got up bright and early and went to the Alert Hospital to see the amazing work of some very talented people. The people here had been affected in some way by leprosy in their lives and many had been crippled by the disease. They could spin yarn out of cotton, make fabric, and sew the most intricate of designs on the fabric. Most of them had disabilities that we could not even imagine and they still used their crippled hands and feet to make these crafty wonders. We met Renee and Geert for lunch at The Cottage. That night for dinner we went to a traditional Ethiopian restaurant called Fasika. The agency gave us the opportunity to have a nanny come to the room and keep the baby while we went out for the night. Thank goodness we declined (like I would leave my little man anyways!!) because he LOVED the music and dancing. I was concerned when we got there because it was loud but then the band got going and the dancers came out and Ian’s rhythm started to show!!!! He patted his hands and danced up and down!! He LOVED it!! He cried when the dancers would stop! He loves action…my little socialite! He passed out around 9:30 and we went back to the hotel!
Did I mention I love this baby to pieces!!!!!