As we settle in at home, I would be amiss if I did not post about our embassy trip. I was planning on doing this while there but the internet was so unpredictable and spotty that it was nearly impossible to do so. Instead, each night I wrote down in a notepad about our day and now I will share the highlights of our trip in my blog.
October 8, 2011: This was the day we arrived in Addis. A driver from the AAI met us at the airport and took us to the guest house. Despite being exhausted, Kelly and I decided to call a recommended driver and go down to Churchill Street to shop as we were told we could not bring Nathan down there once he was in my possession. I had wanted to get him some native goods for his upcoming birthdays. We called a driver, Dawit, who would become a good friend and a reliable driver. We used him to drive us everywhere on this trip. After shopping we went to lunch at a restaurant close by Layla House (the care center where Nathan was) called Caribou. Believe me, it was very difficult not to just run to the care center and snatch him away and I did feel gulity for not doing so, but I think I was somewhat nervous of his reaction to me and not in any hurry for a possible let down.
We walked to Layla from Caribou and when we got to his room there he sat---ON THE POTTY! Not exactly how I wanted our first meeting in five months to be but he looked great and was full of smiles. One of the nannies took him to the changing table and after changing him she stood him up and he reached his arms out for me, smiled, and wrapped his arms around my neck. My heart melted! This was however, the last time that day he acted this way toward me. Yes he would play with me and sit near me, but he always ran back to one of the nannies for reassurance. I even tried to take him outside but he screamed and struggled to return to the house. I left there that day struggling with the fact that this child was very attached to the nannies and I would most likely have to drag him out of there the next day while he screamed and cried. I cried that night at that thought and did not sleep a wink.
October 9, 2011: This was the day I would be taking Nathan back to the guest house with me. We returned to Layla in the morning and before going to see Nathan I gave Kelly a tour of the compound. When I did get to Nathan's room we played a little but once again he was a little stand-offish. He acted as though he did not feel well with some chest congestion and ear pulling. When it was time for the kids to eat lunch, Kelly and I walked to Kaldi's Coffee and ate lunch. We returned to Layla and found he was napping and the nannies were having a coffee ceremony. They asked us to partake in the coffee and we did. We had Dawit scheduled to pick us up at 2:00 as I did not want to walk back to the guest house carrying what I thought would be a screaming child. Nathan woke up at about 1:50, almost as if he knew he would be going somewhere soon. He again acted as if he did not feel well. Kelly and one of the nannies began changing his clothes into an outfit I brought while I stood there and began crying. I could not believe this was finally happening. Another nanny gave him a bottle and I picked him up. He seemed content as the nannies one by one kissed him goodbye and wished him luck. I was crying as were several of the nannies, for we had been told many times that he was a favorite of theirs. I walked out of the compound and never looked back. Nathan never fussed or cried---it was quite a miracle.
When we returned to the Ritmo, he would not leave my arms or let me out of his sight. In fact, at one point I attempted to leave him with Kelly while I used the restroom and the minute I left his line of sight he began crying and ran after me! He had his first bath which he did not like very well as well as had his hair washed. He cried at the latter. He fell asleep quickly that night in a pack-n-play that was in our room.
October 10, 2011: Nathan slept fairly well; about five hours then up and I gave him a bottle of water then he slept seven more hours. He definitely was sick so I began him on the antibiotic the pediatrician gave me for the trip. I figured it was better to treat a possible ear infection than have a horrible plane ride home. I had to go back to Layla that day to talk to the director about a few things but was apprehensive as I was worried if he saw the nannies he would become upset and want to return to them. As soon as we entered the compound we ran into one of his nannies. When she tried to get him to go to her, remarkably he gripped tighter onto my arms and turned his head away from her. I was shocked---and thrilled! This boy knew he was with his mother and he was NOT going back! For lunch that day we ate at an Italian restaurant called Arcobellano. It was very good and that is where we began to see how smart this child was.
After lunch we walked to AHope---the orphanage where Nathan was at before being referred to AAI and then subsequently to us. They had done so much work on his case that I wanted to go personally to thank those involved. We met the administrator of AHope and he was happy to meet the little boy who "caused so much trouble." He introduced us to many others involved in Nathan's case as well. I asked him if it were possible to meet the woman who brought him to the orphanage, as she too did a lot to help his case and I wanted to thank her for essentially bringing our son to us. He called her on her phone and just like that, scheduled a meeting with her the next day. We would meet her at AHope at 11:00. The administrator went on to tell me a little about Nathan's history and how he came to the orphanage; background on the woman I would meet the next day; and answered many of my questions. It was the most information I had yet to receive on my son.
October 11, 2011: This was THE day! EMBASSY!! THE END of this long and often times heartbreaking journey! We would start the day off however, with meeting Tekuamwork---the woman who brought Nathan to the orphanage. We met her at AHope and she was already there when we got there. AHope's administrator translated for us. To say it was an emotional meeting would be an understatement. She told me of how she came to find Nathan and his mother and how she helped his mother. She gave dates of his birth and baptism and how SHE named him. She shared details with me and answered questions that I never thought I would ever have answered. She was tearful during most of the meeting and kept touching Nathan, wanting to hold him but he would not go to her. I tearfully told her that she did a wonderful thing and thanked her for bringing our son to us. When we parted ways we hugged and she kissed Nathan with tears in her eyes. Kelly videotaped the meeting so that if Nathan wants to see it someday it will be available to him. I even got to see a picture of his mother and would later get one in the newspaper ad they ran looking for her. This was unexpected but definitely a welcome bonus.
Immediately after the meeting we were whisked away to the Embassy. After standing in a line outside we were ushered throught security and taken to a large room with 15 windows reminiscent of a BMV. They called people one by one up to the various windows and when it was our turn, Nathan and I went up with Gail and were asked several questions. The woman behind the window looked through his file and said everything was there and we were approved for the visa. That was it! Very anticlimactic. After we walked away and were heading out Gail proceeded to tell us the woman behind the window was the one responsible for holding us up for the two and a half months. Good thing she told me after the fact because I might have said something not so nice to her otherwise :)
We went back to Layla so I could speak to the doctor about his health conditions, mainly his legs. We ran into several of his nannies and they wanted to hold him. This was again a test. A test to me whether or not this child really liked me. He did the same thing he had done earlier. HE DID NOT WANT TO GO BACK! What a relief and reassurance to me. It was the best feeling in the world!
Later that day we returned to Churchill Street with Nathan and picked up some last minute gifts and then ate at a restaurant called Metro Pizza.
October 12, 2011: Since it took two days to process his visa we had to stay until the 13th. This day we decided to go to Entoto Mountain. We had worked out with Dawit the day earlier to drive us there and he picked us up promptly at 10:00. It was a wonderful half day trip and Kelly was able to see more of Ethiopia than just the city. We took a museum tour as well as saw some old palaces. Before going back to the Ritmo we ate lunch at a wonderful place called Sishu. I think we had the best burgers and fries we had ever had! Nathan was as good as gold during the trip as well.
October 13, 2011: We were leaving this evening and of course had some creative packing to do and some last minute shopping. We had Dawit take us to a local grocery store where we bought Ethiopian coffee. We ate lunch at Kaldi's coffee and bought more coffee there. Our intention was to return to Layla House that afternoon to say our good-byes and get some final pictures. This however, did not happen. Gail stopped by the guest house with his visa (YEA!!) and luckily I found out we were to have gone to the Sheraton and checked in for our flight and bought Nathan's ticket. I thought you could do it at the airport but Gail said no. Crisis averted! We called Dawit who thank God was available. He picked us up and took us to the Sheraton where we were able to check in and buy Nathan's ticket---all about three hours before we were to be picked up for the airport! Needless to say, when we got back to the Ritmo there was no time for anything other than zipping up the suitcases and walking out the door.
The plane ride home was LONG---17-1/2 hours long. Nathan only slept about four hours total and I slept about ZERO! He decided that was the day to have bowel issues and proceeded to have eight blowouts on the plane. Believe me, no fun changing those in an airplane bathroom! Despite the long journey, he did quite well. It also helped that he was supposed to be a lap child but the airlines was able to seat us with an empty seat between Kelly and I. That was a Godsend! Kudos to Ethiopian Airlines!
Once off the plane, my sheer exhaustion kicked in. We dragged our bags and our sorry selves through the airport. I carried him (he was dead weight as he was sleeping), an eight pound backpack, and a camera bag from one end of the airport to the other; while Kelly pulled our luggage. My back was absolutely killing me but I knew this was the END of a LONG journey---with my girls and husband waiting for us at the end. When I saw my girls smiling and running toward us the flood gates opened and the tears came. We were home. HOME with our son!
