Private Blog

Here is the Addy to my now private blog
www.nathanielmisganaw.blogspot.com/
I will update this one from time to time and continue to finish my trip blogging as time permits.
Louise

How to keep busy with a one year old

Well how does one keep busy with a one year old who has been since 5 am and apparently only wanted to nap for 45 mins...well I don't reccomend this. Little boys don't really appreciate it! HAHA

Day Six

Well so here we go trying to update again while Nathaniel is sleeping.
Monday
Today was a quiet day at the guesthouse minus a trip out to the grocery store. We pretty much stayed close to the guesthouse today. Nathaniel had fun playing outside in the courtyard..and enjoyed the guard that was there. The guards and all of the staff are certainly wonderful with the children. Meseret was one of the front desk staff...she would always offer to play with Nathaniel so that we could have a chance to eat our dinner. At first Nathaniel would stay with her..but closer to the end of the trip...he would only stay with them for a few minutes and then wanted back with me. Nice to see the bonding happening.
Monday evening we went out for Chinese food..the best Chinese I am pretty sure I have ever had. It was sooooo good!!! One of the things Lisa G warned me of was that the staff at restaurants in Ethiopia will take the children to play with them and let you eat. Its something that took a bit to get used to...certainly doesn't happen to often in Canada. I joked before we left Ethiopia with Selamneh that I would have to get used to being back in Canada. I would have to open my car door myself and eat at restaurants with Nathaniel on my lap (well in a highchair). He had a great time here..there was a large floor to ceiling fish tank. He and another little girl in our group Meseret enjoyed it alot.

Praying Medicals/Court Dates/Visas for Maritime Families

Now that Nathaniel is home safe and sound...its easy for me to get caught up in day to day life with him. But there are several families who have referrals but will spend this Christmas without their Children home with them. It is heartbreaking to think of them having to miss their Children over Christmas. They should be home..but they aren't. I am sending positive vibes and prayers your way. I hope in a short time you will be on that 24 hr plane ride to meet your kids for the first time. I hope you don't mind me posting your names but I am praying for you Julie and Trevor (and Mulu), Nora and Andrew (and Bereket & Elsa),Andre and Isabelle (and Lexie), Danielle and Nick (and Zia), Rhonda and Ed (Jeremiah). I hope that all your travel dates come super quick!
In a few months, our gatherings are going to be sooo much fun (and maybe a little loud too).
Louise

Day Four and Five

So Nathaniel is sleeping in...so trying to update about trip :)
Saturday
As in the previous post...Hillary was sick Early Saturday morning..and basically was in bed for the whole day. She was very exhausted but started to retain liquids by 11 am. Nathaniel and I hung around the guesthouse that day,..so not really much to say. Other than it was a very emotional day for me. I was very worried about Hillary, very sleep deprived (Exhausted might be appropriate word), all the emotions I think hit me. They say that new moms who have delivered get the blues on about day 3 or 4 after delivery...well that would be right! Even for adoptions. I had a few good cries and felt better by the afternoon. IT was just everything all rolled up. But moving into the new room made the biggest difference!

Sunday (day 5)
Wow what a difference a night of some sleep can do for a person. Nathaniel was only up once during the night (which was a big difference from every 3 hrs.
So today was a new day. Some of the families went to Soderie...which had Hillary not been recuperating we might have done as well...but we decided to stick close to home instead.
Hillary went to get her hair braided and I went with Cheryl, Randy and Hennock, and Jacyln, Craig and Judah and we all went to the Sheraton for swimming, For those who have not travelled yet. I think this hotel is probably one of the most majestic fancy hotels I have ever seen even in pictures. It is obscenly gorgeous considering the surroundings that it has. You don't really even feel you are in Ethiopia when you are there. BUT swimming was a nice break and I am really glad I did it. Since we were there on a weekend it was quite pricey 140 birr (14 dollars basically). But it was worth every penny.
After swimming we went to a Italian restaurant that had an outdoor patio (really on the grass) but it was a beautiful place to have lunch. I have garlic cheese bread (which was like a grilled cheese with oil and fresh mozzarella cheese and I also ordered a pizza which I shared with Hillary when she arrived.
That night we just relaxed at the guesthouse..once again Nathaniel was in bed by 7pm.

Louise

Now This is SNOW

Well Nathaniel had his first experience of New Brunswick winter...25 cm + overnight...and we had a great time playing in it this morning. He enjoyed the sled and didn't seem to mind the cold.
Above are some pics of our time outside.

Going Private

As expected, now that Nathaniel is home...I will be going to a private blog. If you would like to continue to follow our journey please email me at Weezyreid@yahoo.ca
Thanks....will probably go private sometime next week.
Louise

Attempt at Christmas Tree FAILED!!!

Well what can I say...the best laid plans right! We got this new tree this year from Canadian tire. We were also excited because it was pre lit...so it would save sooooo much time stringing those lights (not to mention checking the lights, untangling them, connecting them, etc.). Well after an hour of assembling the tree and getting it in the right spot.,...I went to plug it in and only the bottom half lit up !!! Can you believe it!
So no amount of wiggling and playing with the cords helped and apparently even if it was a light bulb burnt out..the rest of the lights would stay lit.....so it has to be a wiring issue. So back to the store with this tree...but not tonight because of the snow storm. Oh Well ....Nathaniel will have to wait a few days more for his first (second) Christmas Tree. I am about ready to go out and get a real one...except last year when we did that the tree ended up being like 4 feet wide in branches!!! Huge Huge Tree......
Louise