Daddy has Arrived
Aug. 9th | Posted by Nicky
14 comments
Howdy to all our Canadian friends!! A big thanks to K and M&D who sent Jrock some pics, and K – I got your CD. Thanks so much! R in the Nth Ok – we dropped off your package and it got into he right hands 
So Jrock arrived 2 nights ago – and boy o boy was I glad to see him. I actually did better than I thought without Mom – of course the girls and I miss her – her help was so invaluable. Once I had to leave piles of toys etc in the hotel lobby for a few hours since my two rugrats were screaming and I had to take them upstairs. Thank goodness it is such a small hotel becauses I had left my wallet on the top, but it was all safe at the front desk when I came back down. A word about the hotel – the Weygoss is AWESOME. It’s so perfect for families and it has been our home away from home! The four ladies at the front are so awesome with the kids – they play behind the front desk and check people in. The guard outside is this wonderful grandfatherly like figure – he has the same name (male version) as one of our girls… He kicks the soccer ball around with them in the courtyard and if they fall he has this trick where he gets the girls to beat on the pavement (getting it back!) with the broom and then they feel all better. Hilarious. Anyway – I highly recommend it to anyone travelling with a family.
But I digress. Jrock arrived a bit late two nights ago… some things are different here, like you need your passport and have to pay to get into the airport. The girls were really really nervous there – partly meeting the infamous daddy and partly just all the people. It will be quite overwhelming travelling home, I think. I sure hope our visa is there so we can go home with Jrock!! It was awesome to see him – With little ones running about I forgot what a big, stable strength he is.
Our first night he had coffee ceremony at the hotel – small hotel.. they delayed the nightly ceremony 2 hours just for him! – and then put the girls to bed. Yesterday we walked to the bank – big event! :_-) and Spice actually let him carry her in the carrier – amazing. She never let Gramma. Sugar is much more wary of him. Then we relaxed until late afternoon when we went shopping with S, our Ethiopian friend.
We spent a good portion of the $1000 (plus our contribution) to Faya… We bought two cribs, (but mattresses and sheets yet to come), a bunk bed with a mattress, and a huge dresser. It was fun, and we are so glad that the kind people who donated to Imagine when it needed it (pre-Gold Compnay Bailout) decided to funnel the donations to Faya. I understand from Jrock that some ppeople wanted their money back, so J in Van is arranging that out of the other donated cash, and then she is donating the remainder online.
Anyway, we had fun, and will buy the rest of the stuff when we spend the weekend in Adama a week from now.
Today we went AGAIN to the Natural history Museum.. it’s badly stuffed animals from across Ethiopia, but the girls love love love it.. and the guide is so nice and answers all their questions. The bird life and animals are amazing here – especially the birds! and I can’t wait to see it in person.
Tomorrow we finally leave Addis - after almost four weeks! It will be awesome. We are going south (and downhill) to Lake Langano and staying at Bishangari Lodge – Ethiopia’s first (and I understand best!) ecolodge. It’ll be expensive but worth it, from all reports – birds, wildlife, swimming in the lake – FRESH AIR (the smog in Addis is BAD) and quiet. We will be there for five days. Then we are going back to Adama (aka Nazareth) for 3 days. We are dropping the cribs, etc off on our way down but will buy the teff and formula and other stuff in Adama on the return trip (for Faya) We will be staying at the Safari Lodge – kind of kitsch but cheap and nice and it has a pool. Plus S’s sister M who runs Faya said she would teach me to mix my own berbere and make shiro – awesome! So that will be fun. Then we will be back in addis for 2 days before we go on our next adventure.
So a little more about Jrock and the girls… I asked him what strikes him most about Ethiopia so far, and he said “the diversity of people” and “how friendly everyone is.”
I should have asked him what he thinks about his daughters! (lol) But he is upstairs cuddling them to sleep. Sugar hasn’t given him a kiss yet, and she cried once when I left them playing in the courtyard together (no mommy) but she loves playing with him… Spice is much more accepting (generally) and she’s quite taken. He’s been learning “our” language – a mix of English, Amharic and sign… and doing really well. At first he didn’t understand how you have to isolate words so they can pick them up – they would get lost with his sentences. But he is doing a lot better, they are understanding him more (and vice versa!) and he’s realizing how the whole second language thing works (my forte, not his.. but he’s a bright guy )
Sugar has been on pretty good behaviour, though – it’s a second honeymoon! yipee!! lol… no tantrums for two days. Just a mini-meltdown today.. Jrock was looking pretty worried at just that, but I said “you just wait!!” They are legendary for their screaming fits – the desk ladies downstairs can hear it when they have a tantrum , down in the lounge!
I shouldn’t make it sound like they are little monsters, though. I was reflecting on my past posts… they are actually completely lovely little girls. Everyone here just loves them, and I can see why they were teacher’s favorites back at the transition home. Spice has the most hilarious sense of humour – she keeps us in stitches with her faces and expressions.. she does sarcastic impressions of herself, Sugar, and me especially (Is sarcasm at 3 normal? )
Sugar is so athletic and Jrock was saying “she ran down the stairs full tilt by herself!” (although I recommended this wasn’t the best idea..) She has sticky fingers and delights in showing you what she’s pinched off you a minute ago. She’s forthright and honest – and sticks her tongue out in the cutest way when she is laughing / concentrating / having fun.
And both of the girls are really considerate to each other… they hold each other’s stuff and get worried if the other isn’t happy. They are their own best friends… I think because they are so different they get along really really well…
Anyway, I’d better go upstairs. I’ll tell ya – this parenting thing is WAY easier with a partner!!! I don’t know how you single moms do it… honestly. But life is easier when Jrock is here, and I find myself enjoying the girls more and more, since he is helping with more of the hard stuff.
More news in a week!
Nicky
It is so good to read your updates and hear how things are going… I am thrilled for you that J is there now and after so, so long, you are a complete family. I am definitely keeping my fingers crossed that you will all be able to travel home together! A
I just love reading your updates!!! Thank you so much! Your girls sound like a lot of fun! Were they in the baby home or with the older children? (just wondering if our girls would know them).
Anyway, i’m so happy to hear you are all together now! Have a great “holiday!”
Ena here, Karen. The girls were in with the older kids – I think they were the smallest there. How old are your girls?
I love the “you just wait” comment about tantrums! lol….he’ll be desensitized in no time! (well…not shocked at least) I love to read about your parenting experiences, how you and your daughters are learning each other, bonding, communicating. It will make such a difference when you are home and able to settle into the routines of daily life. Autumn always seems to me to be a good time to settle in and cozy up. (for us to this year as we are moving to Naramata at the end of this month!! woohoo!)
I am so glad for you that JRock is there now! It really does make all the difference in the world…even just having them there to share the “energy”…ya know what I mean?
Enjoy your time outside of Addis! Can’t wait to see pic’s!
xo
Jenn
Yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Enjoy your adventures in such a beautiful country, as a new family of four!
Hey you. Thanks for the updates – I’m checking out your blog all the time to see what you’re up to and how the girls are doing. I love hearing about Ethiopia and your continuing adventures there. I miss you guys – it seems like a lifetime ago that I was there with you. Glad you received the cd – hope the girls liked the stickers too.
I’m so glad your hubby is there with you now and can start to bond with the girls too. I’m glad they didn’t “freak out” when they met him. I’m sure the hesitancy was expected and it’s totally normal. Your mom must be happy to be home but for sure missing you and the girls. Say “hi” to her for me when you get a chance. It was really neat getting to know her too.
Anyway, enjoy your travels around Ethiopia – looking forward to hearing all about it.
(((hugs)))
Karen
Good to hear that the whole family is finally together! I hope the visas do come through in the next couple of weeks so you can all head home together, too.
We loved the Natural History Museum – only went once, and yes some of the animals are rather badly stuffed, but others are pretty good and some of the displays are interesting and like you say the guides are great.
The Museum of Civilizations and Cultures (not sure if that’s the real name, but it’s along those lines) is also very interesting, though perhaps not so great for 3-year-olds. My (then) 4.5 and 7.5-yr old did pretty good at it, and the grownups found it very very interesting. It’s located on the campus of Addis Ababa University.
Have fun travelling south! (Have you got malaria meds? If going south, and to lower elevations, they are recommended… And use the mosquito netting at night, and bug spray during the day…)
I am so happy to hear you are all together..finally!
Thanks for keeping us up to date..I enjoy checking in to see how things are going. Enjoy!
I’m hanging on your every word and have been following your blog like a hawk! Congrats and here’s to smooth travel around Ethiopia. I’ve heard people who found there kids got much more anxious with travel as opposed to staying at the Weygoss, cause they seemed worried they were going to be left behind somewhere.
Cheers!
Heather
Ena… Thank you for answering my question. Our girls are 4 & 5 (as per birthdates anyway). So Sugar & Spice will know them! Neat!
Karen (in SK)
I am so happy your family is finally whole. I love reading your posts.
Thanks again to all of you for the positive comments and advice. Heather, Nicky had heard the same thing about traveling with the girls- the original plan was to do most of the travel before picking up the girls, but… I think they plan on providing some stability to the girls by a) staying at the ecolodge for a full week, rather than traveling around a lot, and b) returning to the same room at the Weygoss in between stays in Nazareth and Lake Langano. We’ll see whether that helps or not!
Thanks to Platypus for the advice about the malaria meds – I’m pretty sure Nicky was on top of that before they went, but hopefully it all worked out with the sudden departure.(Jrock had to spear Nicky himself for her to have her shots in time…hee hee)
Ena
Great update! Thanks for sharing so much. And yes, the Weygoss is a wonderful place to stay with amazing staff. I look forward to hearing about your trips outside the city.
Hey guys! I am so glad you are with the girls and it sounds like you are having a very wonderful but busy time bonding!
A little update on the funds situation. $2000 is sitting in a bank account in the safe care of Alison.
We are waiting to see what is going to happen to the staff at Kids Link once the funding stops after the kids all get home.
Christy from the board has been in contact with the BDO to see if a fund can be set up for them. The general consensous on the chat board is that the people that donated want to make sure the staff and caregivers are taken care of for at least a few months after they are “let go” before donating to other causes.(if Imagine can’t be saved.)
So at this point we are waiting for word…If we are find out that the caregivers will not be left in the dark, we will donate the money to Faya.
I am so glad that you were able to shop for them! Thank you, we really appreciate it!!
Have an amazing time, you both really deserve it!
Jenny