Bugs

Morgan and I have been drawing bugs this morning! Her lady bug is
going down a slide! Weeeeee!!!!

Big Boy!

Last week -- the day we got home -- I had to take Tyler to the doctor's office because of the diaper situation he had been having in Ethiopia (BMs that were nothing but water). It was determined that some cultures were needed and we were instructed to keep him hydrated and to call if he got worse. He got much better (still not 100% and still waiting on the cultures). A few days in to the week he started taking more and more of his formula...and fast forward to today and he's currently taking 7 bottles that are 7 ounces each. That's 49 ounces of formula in 24 hours!!

He had a well child visit today and we found out he gained ONE POUND in just ONE WEEK! I asked the pediatrician if she felt that was too much formula and she said "No way! He's catching up!!" so that's the final word! He can start solids once a day but she wants him to keep taking as much formula as possible. We are also starting his immunizations over again -- so today he had two injections (one in each leg) and we go back in 6 weeks for another weight check and more immunizations. In 3 months more bloodwork. She also looked at the tiny pimples he has on his face and scalp and wants us to leave them be for now. If they spread or get worse we are to call her.

So that's if for our littlest Wilhelm! I am SO READY for the weekend! We are taking it easy and just going to enjoy being a family of 5 ;) We most likely won't have any visitors -- we're still catching our breath over here!

Have a great weekend!

Tyler and Morgan

Home from Ethiopia almost 1 week. Cooing and smiling at bug sister Morgan! Also, no idea why it's sort of upside down!

Our Family Photos...Ethiopia Album

Photo Sharing by MyPhotoAlbum :: Our Family Photos... :Ethiopia Album

Here are all of my photos of Ethiopia! There are some of the orphanage that i cannot post online for privacy reasons but will be happy to show them to you when you visit!

Good Morning!

We are doing well! Tyler Is eating like a champ, finishing 6 oz in just a few minutes...sleeping well, playing with Jack and Morgan and we look forward to seeing his little personality come through more and more each day!

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Morgan's First Day of Preschool

Introducing...

Tyler Tamene Wilhelm :)

I am working on uploading pictures to our online photo album! I have
entered my journals on our blog!

www.specialmomma.com

We are doing well -- adjusting and jet lagged but so happy to finally
be home! Jack and Morgan love their baby brother. He is really happy
and smiley around them as well!

We are not having visitors quite yet -- so pictures and emails will
have to do for now!

Thanks for following our journey and for all of your support!

Love,

The Wilhelm Family :)

5/27 day 9 Good Bye Ethiopia!

5/27 day 9 Good Bye Ethiopia!

Today is our last day in Ethiopia! I cant believe it! I will miss the fantastic people i have met here. I cannot say enough good things about Jemimah and its staff. You know I commented on how much i liked the music in the lobby. I asked Jerusalem (the receptionist) who was singing and she took the tape out and showed me. I told her i was going to look for it when i went out to shop. Later that night she asked me if i was able to find it. I told her no, but it was okay, i would try to find it on the internet when i got home. She smiled and said it will always remind you of Ethiopia (i love the way Ethiopians say Ethiopia -- eetopia almost like utopia,but with an e sound like in eel.). This morning at breakfast we presented our gifts and tips (300 birr each) to Tigist and Asenagu. They have been so helpful by preparing our food, giving us the coffee ceremony and Asenagu always, always dropped anything she was doing to lend a hand, clean our rooms, cook for us, hold a baby or two. Then i wanted to give Jerusalem a purple scarf she had commented on earlier in the week. She thanked me and said she had something for me too! She ran to her desk and got out a CD. It was THE cd i had said i wanted to find. What a wonderful morning of exchanging thank you and small tokens of appreciation!

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5/26 Day 8 Farewell

5/26 Day 8 Farewell

Today we did a lot. We had a wonderful breakfast here at the guest house. We had pancakes, toast, oatmeal, and "juice" - which is more like Tang than real fruit juice which is why we all drink it! I love our meals here!

We then were picked up by Abel and taken to a few small markets to shop. I can't tell you how long, hot, and stressful this trip was! Poor baby Tyler wasn't feeling well and he had another diaper blow out on the bus! up and around his belly and neck all over the bjorn baby carrier....i had hot tears come to my eyes and just thought to myself "you have NO CHOICE, you HAVE to do it." and I did! I truly pray this doesn't happen on the plane. It most likely will, but i hope it is at least contained more than that.

While shopping I purchased 3 textiles, 1 traditional outfit for T, a traditional dress for Morgan, and a wooded Giraffe bowl for Jack. I bought 10 hand made keychains, two pieces of wall art, 10 lbs of hand roasted Ethiopian coffee, and 5 necklaces from Morning Coffee. Poor Abel he really had his work cut out for him bargaining for 7 families at several different stores! I don't think i ever want to shop like that again. It took forever! I think we all started to realize that our time in Ethiopia is almost finished and were afraid we would forget and wanted to try to take a part of it home with us via stuff we bought!

We then had lunch at a really nice restaurant. I ate a rice and vegetable dish. I will say i love Ethiopian food very much! I know we've eaten a lot of american style food as well, but the seasonings and ways are Ethiopian!

I wish all of you could have one day here. One day to see this incredible place. It breaks my heart and awe inspires me all at the same time. It's truly surreal. I so wish Jason could have experienced this too. I know that it was best for him to be at home. I have no idea how i would have coped knowing there is such little communication between here and home. One of us had to be at home!

We then had a farewell party at Mussie Orphanage. It was really , really emotional. The older children came in and sang some happy songs as we all held our babies in our laps. The nannies came and took the babies from us and said they had a surprise for us. when they came back they were dressed in a traditional ethiopian outfit, Tamene looked so handsome! Then they presented us with a gigantic cake and asked that we help our children cut the cake. Very nervously Tamene and I went first. It was so hard to say goodbye to Tyler Tamene's special nanny. She said goodbye to him last, it was very sweet. I am so thankful and grateful to have had this entire adoption experience. It has changed me very much.

Finally we came home and were able to have a great dinner with the Podolskis and the Nesbitts. We reflected on the day and how difficult and emotional it was to be at the orphanage today. Then we got silly and started laughing about how i didn't know how to cut the cake!! It felt good to laugh. Earlier in the week we had another really funny laugh over spaghetti at the embassy. Sometimes laughter is the best medicine! Dear Kari and Jeremy, THANK YOU for everything this week! I will never forget our time in Ethiopia together. Thank you for helping me stay strong when I didn't think i could do it! Also, thanks for the snacks and peanut butter lunches! Ill trade lipton soup for a PB Pita any day! Thanks for bringing my sink laundry inside when it looked like rain, and thanks for sending a picture to Jason for me! Thanks for sharing your darling son Abenet. He is my favorite 8 month old Ethiopian :) thanks for always serving my pizza upside down and for getting my toast from the toaster at breakfast. Thanks for helping me shop and always offering an extra hand. Thanks for opening my after dinner orange soda Mirinda!! I am so grateful to be here with you guys! I will miss you and your darling, darling, Evan!!! Go Bez!!! Mussie handshake from Tamene to Abenet!!

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5/25 Day 7 Long day

5/25 Day 7 Long day

It's funny when I start to say things like "hey, did you do your sink laundry yet?" and a bunch of people say nah, still have to get to that today or yes, did it this morning!

We were picked up by Abel and the big bus this morning and we got to see some of Addis that we had not seen before. This city is one big jumble but it works!! Cars everywhere, road construction, animals, peddlers, beggars, big business, small tin dwellings, it seems to have a pulse though...and only those who live here seem to truly be able to keep with the beat.

The embassy appointment went smoothly. They asked us to swear an oath to tell the truth and ask you a series of questions about the adoption. It's all over in a matter of minutes and you are handed a pile of important papers and told the rest of the documents can be picked up thurs.

Today was an incredibly long and stressful day. I love, love, love Ethiopia but I am worried about T's diarrhea. He was having an excellent day health and spirits wise and then this evening right before dinner a huge diaper blow out that went up to his neck. To. His. Neck. Oh, and of course we lost power as this happens, and we were also called to dinner at this very moment as well! Now he is sleeping and i worry about hydration and his health! I don't feel so alone though once i get to talking to the other families. They mostly all have the same issue. Poor babies! Please let them all be okay and do well on the plane ride home!

I can hardly keep my eyes open. I should sleep while Tyler Tamene does!

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5/25 Day 7 Embassy Day!

5/25 Day 7 Embassy Day!

Today is our interview at the Embassy in Addis Ababa. They say it's sort of a non-event and very much like visiting the DMV or Social Security Office in the states. Oh and that goes for the wait times and lines too! I have a backpack packed with lots of diapers, wipes, clothing, bottles, cereal, tissues (rumor has it there is no TP at the embassy!) and some granola bars and bottled water for me. We were advised to leave our electronics at the guest house or on the bus due to the restrictions at the embassy. I am leaving mine here at the guest house.

I am letting Tyler sleep until the last minute so hopefully he will be a happy baby on the bus ride through town!

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5/24 Day 6 My Jason

5/24 Day 6 My Jason

I was so happy to talk to my jason tonight! He called at 4:30 on the dot! The Podolskis babysat T while i chatted on the phone downstairs. AHHHH I miss home so much! I actually am sad to think of leaving Ethiopia too!! There is so much to take in and I spent the first few days jet lagged and disoriented!

Poor neighbor! they were the ones who just arrived last night...they have no hot water so she is using my shower! I have been taking my showers in the early, early morning like at 5:30 am so that i definitely have hot water. I hope they get it fixed!

Abel said the elections were held with no problems on Sunday. He said they aren't expecting a huge change in the outcome so the announcement of the results tomorrow shouldn't cause any upset.

Tonight's dinner was yummy again! It was left over noodles and cheese as well as breaded, super thin chicken strips. Just something so simple and so good! We always get a chuckle at dinner. Whenever we walk in there are always two glass bottles of soda waiting for each of us. Soda is a treat here for us because mostly we just have access to bottled water, so the first time we saw two sodas we were like "YAY, two sodas!!!" and only the next day did i wonder maybe we were supposed to choose the one we wanted like coke or orange and NOT both?!? But since this happened we always take the extra soda to our rooms. So now the staff probably thinks this is what we do in America! lol

Another interesting tid bit is that English is the language used in Addis Ababa in every day business life. We noticed most of the billboards and signs had the Amharic words and just as big, printed right underneath is English. So its pretty neat to see and i hope i have some good pictures that represent this.

Abel was telling us that Addis is growing and there is a hi demand for housing where in some places right outside of the city cost maybe 300 birr to rent and in Addis the same house or apartment would cost 2500 birr!

There is also a large influx of Chinese workers coming to work in Addis Ababa mostly on telecommunications, electrical, and infrastructure. The city is growing and these things are in high demand.

Also there is such a stark difference between the poor and the wealthy and where they live in Addis Ababa. most large cities usually have sections or parts where more wealthy or more poor people live. In Addis it's very common for these neighborhood lines to not exist! It's the strangest, most unique thing about Addis ,i think!

I still cant believe i am sitting in a guest house, in Ethiopia, on another CONTINENT with our baby boy. I mean, WOW!

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5/24 Day 6 Sick boy

5/24 Day 6 Sick boy

I don't think tyler felt too well today. He was feverish and had some pretty bad stomach cramps and diarrhea. It didn't help that we had to be out most of the day either.

Abel picked us up this morning and we got to meet all of the other Bethany families! What a great group of people. It's so awesome to see so many new families being brought together. We went to meet the Bethany staff and finish our paperwork! It was great getting that I-600 and power of attorney out of my hands! Oh, yeah, and the $400 embassy fee too! Mekkonen and Sisay were really helpful. We got to meet with Sinait, Tamene's social worker and she went over his social and developmental reports. I also asked the nurse about his diarrhea and she said to keep him hydrated with electrolytes and to call the Bethany office if he gets worse. I really don't think he is worse, but i am really looking forward to getting him home. We went to Carnivore Addis for lunch. I ordered the Tibs with Injera but only ate a bite or two. It was delicious but i am so afraid of food poisoning after hearing about another traveling family who dealt with horrible food borne illness resulting in loss of consciousness and seizures! Luckily dinner is at 6 tonight at the guest house and smells amazing already!!

I love our guest house and staff more and more each day. They are truly wonderful hosts and hostesses! I can't wait for more people to see our pictures and videos and hope more families will come stay here at Jemimah (pronounced jeh-MEE-mah).

I will tell you getting here when we did was a life saver. I wouldn't change a thing about how travel was scheduled. We saw a family just arrive last night then in the middle of paperwork they got to pick up their child and then they had to head straight to lunch. I could not imagine! They are staying at our guest house and i hope they can take it easy tonight and relax with their little dear.

I would like to take pictures with the Jemimah staff and baby Tyler and also right down the names and how to spell them! I don't want to forget a thing about this trip!

Tyler had his second bath, a nice lotion rub down, some Tylenol, pedialyte and lots of cuddles. He actually belly laughed for me for the first time today!!!!! After his bath and lotion i couldn't resist that little tummy of his! I blew raspberries and out came this huge gulping laugh! He's napping now and i am relaxing on the bed journaling, and waiting on my 4:30/9:30 call from Jason!

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5/23 Day 5 a good night!

5/23 Day 5 a good night!

We had a great evening here too! We had another fabulous dinner of potatoes, and bits of egg, and a pasta, cheese and onion dish that is baked. There were calls from home from my mom and Jason and the kids. Tyler ate well and is sleeping now. Tomorrow is a big day out. I am a little nervous about Tyler's diaper situation but there is nothing I can do! I do look forward to seeing more of the city and meeting the Bethany staff.

I am half-watching Oprah on the Arabian Satellite TV network. Will. I am is giving away mortgages. Who knew he was such a nice guy!?

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5/23 Day 5 Coffee Ceremony

5/23 Day 5 Coffee Ceremony

We were honored to be invited to share in a traditional Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony this afternoon. Tigist, the head cook and her helper prepared the scene beautifully for us! First they lit the charcoals to roast the coffee beans "buna" and the smell is smoky and fragrant! Next popcorn was offered as a light snack while the beans were roasting. Tigist said the women usually prepare the coffee on Sundays after church and it's a very social event. She joked and said its not for men, it would be too much work for them! When the beans were almost done roasting you could hear them pop and crack open. It was so relaxing and the smell was wonderful. Next, they ground the roasted beans and put a carafe of water on the coals. Then, they added the fresh roasted and ground coffee to the carafe. Tigist asked if we took sugar and we all said yes. We invited them to join in our coffee with us. We thanked them over and over for their hospitality. We told them how special it was for us to have been a part of a coffee ceremony. I think it was the best cup of coffee i have ever had. Both babies were taking in the scene getting a little fussy now and then. There was a gorgeous breeze and really nice Ethiopian music playing in the background. I am so glad I got to experience such a unique Ethiopian ceremony with our son. I keep wishing Jason was here to see everything. I only hope my journals and pictures will help tell the story!

Tyler is napping and I just finished sink laundry. He is doing better with the bottle and i hope by the time we have to get on the plane on Thursday that he will be taking the full thing!

I am loving our guest house. The food is outstanding, the place is so clean and spacious it really feels very much like a home and not a hotel. Today Kari, Jeremy, Evan, Tyler and I had lunch in the common room. The boys had their bottles and played on the floor while we had our Lipton soup from our Nalgene bottles! Even though it was circumstantial I am so glad we were "home bound" for the past two days. I. Think the children AND adults needed it! I think all of us are very much the same easy going type of people. They are very aware of cultural sensitivity and we do our best to mirror those around us. It's been an amazing experience here and i am so glad we chose Jemimah Guest House! (pronounced JEH-mee-mah).

Tomorrow we have some business to take care of at the Bethany office. I think Abel said he'd be here for us around 10:30 am but i will have to check with Kari. I know we will have breakfast at 7:30 so we will have plenty of time to get ready for Abel. I need to remember the money for the embassy fee, the paperwork, and i forget what else! I do have it written down.

I am excited to meet the other families and kids tomorrow too. There is another family coming to the Jemimah House tonight and I so know how they are going to feel!!

I look forward to Jason's call tonight! Also, going to check email in a bit too!

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5/23 Day 5 Flirty!

5/23 Day 5 Flirty!

Okay, we had an excellent night! Tyler slept a lot during the day so i was worried about him sleeping at night. He woke up for a 10 pm feeding which i did a big bowl of cereal mixed with formula. Then, he woke for a 5 am feeding which i started with the bottle of formula only and......drum roll please, HE DRANK 2 OZ!!!! I helped him by squeezing the nipple and he seemed so proud of himself! He was smiling and flirty with me. Very responsive this morning. Oohing and ahhhing and seeking me out. Followed me the entire time i made his bottle. I couldn't be more happy!

I didn't sleep well last night at all. Had a hard time falling and staying asleep. I did nap in the afternoon with Tyler yesterday and may end up doing that again seeing as i really didn't get much sleep.

I watched part of a movie The Upside of Anger. I turned the TV off and all I could hear were dogs barking. A lot of them! I also heard what i think were church services start at like 2 am and its still going at 5:30 am.

Tyler is cooing and smiling as i type this. We are listening to lullabies right now.

Also, i keep noticing things from our early intervention days with Jack. Tyler can bring a toy to midline and switch hands. He is side lying and also noticing his feet. He looks really good. He does have what i call a "defensive stance" where he retracts his shoulders and hands in order to not touch something when he's afraid. All i have been doing is gently guiding him out of the position and sort of hugging him from behind to give him more support physically and emotionally.

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Great Day!

Today was a great day for us! We had another "day in" and spent the
day with the other family and their baby boy Evan. Tyler's little
personality is coming through more and more. He's finishing his
bottles and eating his cereal like a champ!

We participated in a coffee ceremony this afternoon. What an amazing
experience. The staff here is so accommodating and very wonderful to
us. We chatted as Tigi roasted the beans and the smell was amazing!
We gave our heart felt thanks and left with such a wonderful feeling
afterwards.

I am typing more in my offline journal and hope to share it on our
blog when I get home. The Internet and technology here is like going
back in time for us. I am grateful to be able to send these little
updates!

Tomorrow is a busy day for us as we meet the Bethany staff and fill
out paperwork for Tuesday's Embassy appointment.

We are about to have dinner at the guest house. Have a great night everyone!

Ang

Happy Baby

Hello and good morning! We had a great night last night. Tyler slept
from 10 pm until 5 am which was a nice stretch. He woke up wanting to
eat and I always start with a bottle. Well, guess what he drank more
than half from the bottle! YAY! It was such a moment for us. After
his bottle this morning he is being downright flirty :) Lots of
cooing and babbling and smiling! Right now he's in the bjorn carrier
just happily chattering as I type. It's good to see him happy!

It's about 7:10 am and we're ready for breakfast! I'll be in touch when I can!

Angela

5/22 day 4 Phone Home!

5/22 day 4 Phone Home!
I admit it now, but i was pretty down this afternoon. tamene had a major, major diaper blowout and threw up a bit and i wasn't feeling the best either. I was doubting dinner because of my stomach and very sad that i hadn't been able to be in contact with home. I knew that no matter what Tyler and I HAD to make it to dinner. It's our social time with Kari, Jeremy and Evan. It also brakes up the day from afternoon, to night time.

The Podolskis came down right as i was finishing up getting us ready for dinner. I expressed my doubts and concern over our kids loose poopies and they said giving a little Tylenol to Evan helped so I gave some to Tamene. I gave him 1 dropper full which is 0.8 ml. He perked up and was quite vocal at dinner. I still wasn't sure about my stomach but i remember reading that you should continue to eat and drink to keep your energy up. The cook made Pizza which was quite delicious! It's spices were Ethiopian and the sauce was awesome!

It is a little awkward having a "staff" at first because guest houses are so much more personal than hotels...so it feels weird requesting things or being served. I think it feels strange too because in all 11 rooms we are only 2 families here right now! I think one more is coming, but thought they'd be here by now. I was feeling better after eating and having two sodas! One coke, and one orange...

I came upstairs to check T's diaper while the Podloskis went to bathe mister Evan. I decided to go to the lobby to check my email. I had a few messages from home and was able to send a longer update tonight. I had another email from Jason that asked if i could call home this weekend to talk to the kids. And it brought tears to my eyes. We have not been out in order to purchase phone cards since the day we picked up our little ones. I felt sooooo disconnected and far away. I began to have tears. Then, a little light bulb went off! I thought perhaps jason could somehow call HERE?!? No, it couldn't work...nothing is ever that easy phone/communication wise here! I gave him the number i saw sitting on the desk, hit send on the email and came upstairs to feed baby Tyler. Just as we were finishing dinner for T, i heard a loud phone ringing downstairs that i hadn't heard before! I immediately ran downstairs and there was a staff member motioning for me to come over. I grabbed the phone and just started sobbing! It was my Jason!!!!!!!!!! He said the number i gave him was a cell phone number (most likely the receptionist) and she was so so helpful instructing him to dial a different number. I got to say hi to Morgan and Jack...and as a bonus, even my mom! It was so good to hear their voices. I truly needed it and i know they did too. If i haven't mentioned, this is so hard...but I wouldn't change a thing. I am taking a lot of pictures and videos and keeping a record of the events of the day.

I heard what sounded like a small parade this evening. I heard some fireworks and chanting it sounded like it was someone rooting for a particular candidate/part In tomorrows election. I know the vote it tomorrow but I remember reading that the results would not be in until June 21st. I want to double check on that.

Sometimes i look around and think i am in Ethiopia! i am in Africa! I have never been this far away from home before. Well, i am going to go rest now that Tyler is sleeping. Good night! I hope!

Ps- edited to add that my stomach Is fine! I plan on taking the cippro as planned and hope that was the only day my stomach goes on the defense!

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5/22 sleep

5/22 sleep

Tamene js sleeping again. I am going to keep him comfortable and in a loose schedule of sleeping when he needs to, and eating every 4 hours. Starting with 2 oz formula mixed with rice cereal. Then the remainder of the two ounces of formula through the oral syringe or bottle. When his stress level is down, i can see his little personality come through. Earlier he napped and ate and we played on the floor very gently. I tried to get him to make eye contact with mr during both feeding and playing. During spoon feeding i prop him up on pillows and I put my face close to his and he looks for the spoon and catches my eyes too. Also he loved playing with my fingers but didn't like to look at me. So I just catch his gaze every so often and am not pushing him. He has made more eye contact and vocalization for me this afternoon.

I hope both of us have an easy night!

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