Our Growing Family: Day Four

We were up early this morning. Today was the morning we were meeting with Eyob's birthmother so we were a little on edge. We had breakfast at the hotel and then headed to Hannah's Hope at 10:15(our meeting was at 10:30). When we walked into Hannah's Hope, I immediatley saw Eyob's birthmother. Almaz was still in with another family but another staff member introduced us. She walked over to us, shook my hand and said "thank you". We were surprised that she was able to speak English and were able to show her our picture album and take some pictures before Almaz came out. After that Almaz translated for us since she was more comfortable speaking in Amharic. This meeting was the hardest thing I've ever done but was well worth it. We learned so much that we will be able to share with Eyob when he's older and Eyob got his chance to say goodby although he was very unemotional. After the meeting was over we went back to the hotel and got ready for lunch. At about 1:00 we headed for the Addis Golf Club for lunch, I felt so much more relaxed and Eyob seemed happier and more comfortable with us too. Lunch was very good and the grounds were beautiful. There was even a little playground but that proved be a little too much for our kids. It was obvious they had a lot to learn about taking turns.

Eyob being silly at the Golf Club

Eyob and his friend at the Golf Club. This young man is such a special kid. Eyob really looked up to him and I believe he helped Eyob transition well in Ethiopia.

After lunch we headed back to the hotel to meet with Almaz to tour the Fistula Hospital. This incredible place treats woman from all over Ethipoia with child birth injuries. Most of these very young women had lost their babies and the difficult births had resulted in permanant injuries. The hospital was clean and the grounds were beautiful but the most amazing part was the patients. They weren't much more than children themselves but they smiled and shook our hands so sweetly. It made me realizeze again how much we take for granted in the United States. Due to good prenatal care and modern hospitals this type of childbirth injury is non exsistent in the western world. After the tour we headed back to the hotel to get ready for dinner. That night we met at Hannah's Hope were we were given the paperwork which would allow our children to enter the US.

This is me receiving the paperwork that allowed Eyob to enter the US

Then we headed to one of the highlights of the trip, a traditional Ethiopian Restaurant. It had music and traditional dancing and good food. I was very tired so I didn't enjoy it as much as I liked but the kids did great despite the late hour (we didn't get home until after 10:00). In fact Abraham, one of the babies was much more awake than I was, he dance the entire night. It was adorable. We arrived back at the Union Hotel and went right to bed ready to return home the following day.