He is darling!

Well we are both a little overwhelmed!!!! We got up today and needed to be at breakfast by 8:00. We met the other families staying this past week. They are all leaving tonight. They had all of their children with them and it was very chaotic. Several of the older children were really grieving the loss they were feeling. It is really a tragic situation that this country is in. Most of the children had birth parents that could no longer take care of them and therefore left them with our care center. Most of the adoptive parents were able to meet them and said it was very emotional for both sets of parents.

After breakfast we met with the social worker and then had to sign paperwork allowing them to video tape our trip. We are not allowed any pictures inside the childrens care center for privacy issues. I am so sad about that because it is really a great photo op to give you a better understanding of how fortunate we all are to have our families.

Fortunatly CHSFS sends a videoperson around with you during your first visit to meet your children. The nannies had little Girum dressed so cute and he had been bathed and was the only baby in his room with a diaper on. the rest of the babies just lay on a pad and they clean the pad up after they go to the bathroom. Diapers are a real luxury item. We walked into the room and the nannies picked him up and gave him to Shawn and I and said in broken English.... Girum, mommy daddy. They just stood to the side and watched. It was so obvious that they really love all of the babies. Girum has seven babies in his room. Two to three to a crib. Although, Girum had his own. I am not sure if that is because we were there to see him. During our first visit the nanny came to find me to say he needed a diaper change. I offered but she insited she do it. I was not going to argue. They feed him while we were there. Quite a site. They poured milk in a cup kind of like the kind you see on the top of the tylenol bottle. Then he GULPED that down within a minute or two. She filled it up three times and then he was done. After that we had to return for lunch. The drivers are very busy and you must conform to their schedule.

After that we went back to the guest house for a tradittional Ethiopian meal. Since it was all of the other families last meal they cooked injera and all of the fixings. I was so hungry as I have not felt 100% and have not eaten since I arrived. The meal was great. Shawn kept saying .... Your dad would hate this. Too spicy and toooooo much garlic.

The cooks are wonderful and so apt to please. The Guest house we are staying at is beautiful. Massi the all around do everything man told me that this is the area where rich people live. I can tell. We have a beautiful room. The nicest of the guest house because we got there first.

We are sending this email before we are off to see Girum again. He is beautiful. Bigger than expected. soft skin many of the children have scabies and ring worm but he is perfect. Lots of flowing hair. I think he likes Shawn best. He snuggled right into Shawn's chest and just set their content for 30 minutes. He follows us and sound and seems to be following some developmental milestones. He will stay at the care center probably till next week with us just visiting.

We will meet with the Doctor soon. Massi told me that Doctors for the center are well paid; twice what a government doctors are paid. $500 US a month. WOW!