We arrived in Addis late Sunday night and got to our guest house about 10:30 pm. We waiting for over an hour in the visa "line" and another 30 minutes in the immigration line. A business man near us said he travels there a lot and this wan the longest wait he had ever had. We enjoyed talking to the people around us and it wasn't too bad. You do want to keep your place in line or the merging gets out of control :).
Our awesome driver, Akee (from the Ethiopia Guest Home), loaded up our luggage lifting it up on the the roof of the van and took us to the guest home. They had saved dinner for us (we didn't even ask them to) so we ate with another family who had just arrived and then headed to bed.
Monday morning, we had breakfast (mmmm fresh Mango juice) and waited to hear from our agency facilitator. We soon got a call at the guest house and we told to be ready in a minute - and we'd be going to the care center to meet Grace. This is when it dawned on me to pack a diaper bag :). Sorta forgot how to do that and while the wonderful assistant waited for us, we packed enough for a week. :) I was in a fog trying to grab donations, the list of photos to take for families back home, and stuff for Grace. I went back to our room at least 6 times for stuff. And I'm usually the organized one.
The Outmans, who already had their boys, came with us to video. It finally hit me in the van - we were going to get Grace! This was also the first moment that I opened my eyes to see what was all around. We passed fruit stands and busy roads, the goat heard crossing the 4 lane highway and the music store/internet cafe. Lots of corrugated tin and dirt. Lots more blue and white taxi vans. Driving is insane so I vowed just not to look out the front window. They are way better drivers than Americans. And although it consistently looks like a game of chicken to get where you are going, someone always relents and you get through.
We pulled up to the blue gate and they let us in. The first site we see is a blanket full of babies! I was frantically trying to match faces with families and figure out whose children were whose. I admit I was not thinking about getting straight to Grace. The site of these children smiling at the toys Michelle was breaking out was just too precious. I just wanted to sit down and tell each one all about their family coming soon.
Then Scotty hits my arm and says, "Hon, it's Grace." "Huh? Oh, Grace! Are you sure (what a silly question!" Yep - it was definitely her. Hair and all :). And then, the nurse just put her in my arms. Just like that. In som
eways, it was a bit unceremonious, and yet, she's is our child, there's very little left to do to get her home so a small handoff seemed appropriate too. And so I just held her and looked at her. Then Scotty held her and looked at her.
At this point, several other families arrived to meet their children. I ran around furiously snapping photos. Of course, I had forgotten the list of names and babies and the name cards I made to help remember the children. I also forgot all the questions parents had asked me to find out about their waiting children. I forgot all the questions I wanted to ask the nannies about Grace. I admit that the moment over came me. Not in an emotional way, per se, but there was just so much to take in- our child, the other children, the families meeting their children for the first time, the amazing nannies tearing up as they began to say goodbye to the children, the care center where Grace had been living, her bed, our new family!
After this surreal hour or so, we headed over to Sele Enat ("in place of mother") orphanage. This is where Grace lived from March until early June, before she was transfered our agency's care center. Someone told me to be the eyes and ears for Grace for when she is older and wants to know about her time in Ethiopia. I was trying so hard to memorize everything. We had a great afternoon meeting more of Grace's caregivers and hanging out with the children at Sele Enat. Again, I was caught up in it all. The children were so sweet and eager to speak the English they knew. The nannies were happy to meet us and show us around. They served us coffee and the children climbed in and out of our laps. I'll leave you with a picture of Grace and one of her amazing caregivers. Tomorrow: Our first moments with Grace and learning to parent a baby again.
