Usually when I fly I introduce myself to the person next to me so it's not too awkward when you start talking in your sleep or need to get up to go to the bathroom for the 247th time. But on this trip I was not too keen on talking. What if they asked me where I was going and why, and I burst into tears? I finally broke down and met the girl next to me. She was heading to Dubai to teach and was sad about leaving her family and fiancé. I told her about our situation and so we decided we would cry together when the plane took off! I didn't cry when the plane took off but later that night I did cry myself to sleep and for the first time ever, fell good and asleep on a plane (thanks to the prayer warriors praying through the night for us!)
After a brief stop in Qatar, we were on the way to Ethiopia. My stomach was in knots! We were almost there...Once again hesitant to talk to my seat mates, I finally did. She was Ethiopian and he was from the States. They encouraged me about being in Ethiopia for the first time and affirmed us in our adoption journey. They even gave us their phone number just in case of emergency. So after all, it was good to talk to people--I left those flights more encouraged and thankful.
Once we finally landed, we entered the late night Ethiopian airport and the chaos that was getting a visa and gathering luggage. I have never seen so many bags everywhere. Thankfully all our bags made it! Out the door we went not really knowing who was going to pick us up. So we just looked out into the darkness of the cool night hoping to see a sign with our names on it. Sure enough, there was a man holding the sign and we got in a big van with him and another Ethiopian man neither of which could speak English except for the occasional conversational jabber and the words "Bob Marley" and "One Love" referring to a statue of Bob Marley in one of the round abouts. We, of course, had no clue on how to speak Amharic. We drove down the dark, barely lit streets of Addis Ababa to our hotel. Once checked in around 2:30am, we fell asleep wondering what the next day would hold.
The next morning we woke up and had breakfast and there was our guide, Semmey, waiting for us in the lobby. We introduced ourselves and then we were off to the hospital to see our son! We have traveled to third world countries and seen a lot of poverty, trash, dust, mud and animals literally laying in the middle of the road, but something seemed different. This was were our child was living and without us!
I was wondering how I would react when I first saw Harris. I imagined I would burst into tears and embarrass myself in front of a bunch of strangers thinking, Who is that white girl and what's her problem...
The moment came where we would find out what my reaction would be. As we walked up to the hospital, there were people everywhere. We made our way straight through the dark people-filled waiting room and down a hall then into a hospital room. In the room was about five beds lining the walls, four of them with children in them. And one of those kids was ours! At first, all we could see was the top of his sweet little head but as we came around to the other side we could see his face! Though very poorly, his eyes still seemed so bright--our little warrior fighting this disease. Overwhelmed with joy, I couldn't think of crying! After a couple minutes I couldn't wait any longer, I had to hold him! I asked the nanny if I could hold him and she gave him to me. He immediately started crying! But I was determined to work my baby magic and sure enough within a minute he was not crying. He laid there so helpless and somewhat stiff in my arms. I could tell he was tired and so very weak from cholera.
Doctors came back in to check on him along with the nanny who had been with him through all of this. As soon as he saw the nanny, he reached for her and cried so I gave him back. My heart was so full of joy I didn't even mind. I was thankful for that connection he had to her--it gave me hope that he could form a new connection with me and Jake. Later, I held him some more and as I swayed back and forth, Jake sang songs to him. It was a very special time indeed.
After he was released from the hospital, we were off to a pediatric facility where he would be monitored for a few more days. In the car, his new caretaker was holding him. I was anxious to hold him! After all, we did come all this way....so when we hit a bump and he woke up, I took the opportunity to ask if I could hold him. (Did I mention there was no carseat...) He slept in my arms until we reached the pediatric facility. Stepping over the rainy season's mud puddles outside and trying not to slip on the tile floor once we were inside, we took a seat in the waiting room while Semmey got Harris checked in. This wait time allowed for more snuggles. He laid down on Jake's chest just looking around. I could tell he knew we were safe people but he was still trying to figure out who we were.
Of course, we were the only white people in the waiting room. We got plenty of stares, especially from children. In fact, I could feel a little person touching my hair and another little person was touching Jake's arm.
Eventually it was our turn to see the doctor. We went into his office and he did a brief check up. Then he started asking us, "What sorts of concerns do you have?" We looked at each other and then back at the doctor and just went right into parent mode asking questions. Then the doctor said, "Wait, you've only known him for a few hours?!" We replied, "Yes." The doctor looked at Semmey and back to us and moved right along as if we had known him all his life. Then we made a plan for Harris' care.
We took him to an inpatient room where Trumar, his temporary nanny, would stay with him over the course of the next few days of being monitored. There was a nice big window and an old metal bed for him to sleep in. The doctors came in to take a blood sample and put in a port for an IV. He did not like either part! Once again, I just went into mommy mode and held his arms and legs down just like I have done so many times with Asher and Mary Clair at the doctor so they could do what they needed to do. He was so dehydrated that it took about 3 tries to find a vein that was big enough to get a port in. I was able to comfort him and love on him after it was all over.
We got him settled in for a nap. Everyone was clearly tired. Semmey told us we looked tired and needed to rest. Trumar would take good care of Yibekal (Harris) and we would go back the next morning.
So we headed back to the hotel.
I couldn't believe it! We had been able to hold, hug, kiss, help and love on our son! Finally!
Naps, tea, dinner and making new friends at our hotel from our agency were a great way to end our first day in Ethiopia. For the first time in days, we felt somewhat at ease and were so thankful we were able to come be present for Harris in such a crisis time.
*I've gotta go to bed...looks like you'll have to wait for Part III... ;) *
*Also, sorry, we can't post any pictures of Harris until the legal part of things are complete. I know, torture.*
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