Sunday, June 5, 2011

We're Here!

Just a quick note to say that we've arrived intact, including our luggage.  We landed at the airport around 10 pm last night and were at our guesthouse shortly before midnight.  We were exhausted, but otherwise ok.  Matthew is such a little trouper, I can hardly believe it. He faithfully lugged his own little carry-on suitcase, was cheerful and helpful, and was simply resilient to everything happening around him.  He's worked through quite a lot of anxiety in the past couple of months since we passed court and I suppose I was expecting a different sort of reaction from him during our travels.

When we were finally ready to depart from Frankfurt on the last leg of our journey, the airport herded all of us passengers into a shuttle bus, to take us directly to the tarmac where the plane was waiting for us.  About halfway through our five-minute shuttle ride, Matthew suddenly said that his tummy wasn't feeling all that great.  No more than about five seconds later, he vomited...on himself, on me, on the floor in front of him.  And then again.  And again.  Great.  I knew I was a seasoned mom, though, when I didn't panic about it all, but just said that I guessed he really did have something going on his tummy, and then I asked Geoff to find the wipes.  I did the best I could to clean the two of us up, but I'm afraid we got onto the plane reeking of vomit.  We barely made it to our seats before he vomited again, this time into a vomit bag from the plane.  Our entire seven-hour ride to Addis could be characterized by two things for Matthew: sleeping; and vomiting.  We went through most of the vomit bags in our section of the aircraft, and people pretty much stayed away from us!  I robbed business class seats of their vomit bags as we exited the plane, not knowing how much more we were in for.

Well, turns out that he had only one more small vomit after leaving the plane and he made it through the visa and immigration line-ups, the baggage collection, the ride to the guesthouse, and getting settled in with only a stomach ache remaining.  Makes me wonder if he had a bit of food poisoning from somewhere.  The good news is that he seems to be 100% today.

Sadly, I woke this morning to a double case of pink eye.  I think it's fairly mild, so it's irritating more than anything.  But how annoying.  I'll probably make a trip to a pharmacy tomorrow to see if I can find something for it.

There are not many other adoptive families staying here right now (we're at the Weygoss Guesthouse), likely due to the slowdown in adoptions in recent months.  But there are a few, and one or two who it's great to finally meet and put faces to.

The best part of my day so far was the incredible double macchiato I had at lunch time.  It was every bit as incredible as I'd been remembering those little gems to be.  I could practically live on those things, and fear that I am again going to be a little obsessed by them.  I determine that I will have a minimum of one per day while we are here.

I confess that I'm already ready to go home.  Though I've been looking forward to being back for almost four months, since our first trip, I honestly just want to be home already.  Similar to the first day of our first trip, I find myself today just wishing I could stay in our room all day.  Unlike Matthew, I don't feel particularly resilient and I had a very hard time, internally, when we were walking back after lunch and were persistently followed and harassed by a group of four teens wanting money.  I just wanted to hibernate in our room until it's time to get the kids.  I'm sure I'll be ok by tomorrow, but today finds me a little homesick and longing for the comfort and familiarity of my own home.  I'll need to absorb some of Matthew's energy and enthusiasm, I think, 'cause he's ready to go!

Homesickness aside, I'm so thankful to be on this final phase of our journey to bring our kids home.  I can hardly wait to see them, and wonder continuously how it's going to be, to parent children that I don't know.  Today is Sunday, and we will meet them on Thursday, and take custody of them on Friday.  Tomorrow's agenda is visiting with the seven-year-old boy we sponsor through Compassion Canada (who has been awesome to deal with, by the way, in setting up this visit), and then meeting up in time for dinner with my Dad, who's been traveling in Northern Ethiopia since last weekend.  It'll be good to have his familiar face around.

OK, more to come soon!

17 comments:

  1. I can't wait to read more Ruth! The Weygoss is where I stayed when travelled to meet Gracie. Wishing we could make a trip back soon.... Such an amazing place.

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  2. glad you've made it safely! Hope that Matthew is feeling properly WELL again soon. I totally understand about that wanting-to-hibernate feeling - personally, I found it really difficult to combine the intense experience of meeting / newly parenting our children with the equally intense experience of international travel. I'm glad we did it, but.... it's tough! Will be praying for you this week.

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  3. That sounds like quite the flight. I'm glad Matthew is feeling better. Blessings on the rest of your trip and enjoy yourself.

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  4. Glad you're there! Matthew sounds like a trouper - being sick on the plane is not fun.
    Thinking about you all! You're in our prayers,
    Michelle Q

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  5. Green with envy!!!!! I too, could live on double machiatoes!!!!

    Poor Matthew!!!!! Hope today provides much rest and healing of his little body.

    Praying the rest of journey is smooth.

    Looking forward to seeing your new family picture!!!!!

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  6. I am glad to hear that you've arrived, but sorry to hear about what the last leg of your journey there was like. I can understand completely that feeling of homesickness. I know that once your dad is there, that will alleviate some of those feelings. It's okay to let yourself rest and just get your bearings.

    Thank you for the update!

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  7. hello dear Ruth..poor little Matthew..again, sounds lke my sammy! sick as a dog..yet cheerful and resilient :) praying for him to be ALL better. And for you..so, hibernate for a day, nothing wrong with that! praying for these next days for you, in every way. darci

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  8. Hey Ruth!

    Soo glad you made it safely to Addis! Glad to hear Matthew is on the mend too! What an adventure this must be for him. So sorry we didn`t get a chance to meet.

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  9. Hey Ruth - disregard my last comment. It got sent before I was finished - will type another one separately
    Tracey

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  10. Hey Ruth!

    So glad you made it to Addis safely! Matthew sounds like a real trooper! What an adventure this must be for him! I know what you mean....two weeks ago when I arrived at the hotel, I put down my bags and thought...I just want to go home! Perfectly normal! But just a few days and those beautiful children will be in your arms! Praying for a great week for you and your family of 5 in Ethiopia!
    Tracey

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  11. Glad you made it safe to Ethiopia!!!! Sorry that poor Matthew was so sick. Glad he is feeling better though. What a trouper!!! Cannot wait to hear more!!

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  12. Poor Matthew! But I'm so glad you are there safe and sound. I hope the rest of your trip goes smoothly! Lots of love, Terri.

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  13. Ah Ruth! Of course, it makes sense that after your super-human efforts to get ready in these last months and especially weeks, that you'd feel a 'crash' once the anticipation is done and the actual long-awaited experience is underway. Please be gentle with yourself. If I was there I would be gentle to/with you, but I fear given that Matthew is a child and needn't think of your needs, and Geoff is likely anxious, and your dad may feel compassion but likely not show it too much...you will need to be gentle to yourself!! Sending you gentleness and tenderness,
    Joanne

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  14. My goodness....that's quite the vomitous story! Poor Matthew and poor Mama having to worry about him. Glad he's on the mend today.

    I'll be thinking of you all on Thursday and Friday! Can't wait to hear more details, Ruth! You have such a way of writing that I can nearly see all of the 'scenes' in my head, vomit included LOL!!!

    Take care,

    Claire

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  15. HI Ruth,

    WOW this has to go down as one of the craziest flight posts I have ever read, I do hope the memories and smell of vomit are far behind you.
    It sure makes sense to me that you are ready to come home as fun as travel can be this journey really is about getting home !!!!!!!
    Thinking of you all through my days sending you all tons of love.
    Shannon

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  16. it's all been said... and so well...i just wanted to let you know that we have all 6 of you (including dad) on the brain and heart and are praying fervently. go ahead and have a second macchiato for me! (you know you want to!)

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  17. HI Ruth ,
    Good morning
    I had to stop by and let you know how much you are in my thoughts. I am sending you lots of love and courage for all the range of emotions you must be feeling.
    Thinking of you
    XOXO
    Shannon

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