Joy's First Week

Exactly one week and three hours ago we landed at Portland International Airport aboard Delta Flight #179. It was a beautiful sunny day and as we started descending from our 11-hour flight, I looked out the window in time to see the Seattle, WA skyline zip by 30,000 feet below. I knew the moment was near, the moment Joy's life would forever be changed, officially with the government that is. Twenty minutes later as the wheels made contact with the runway concrete it was official, Joy was no longer an Ethiopian national. Ethiopia doesn't recognize dual citizenship and as soon as we were on American soil, her status changed from Ethiopian to Resident Immigrant of the United States of America. It was a... no pun intended... joyous time for us, and hopefully for her.

The past week has gone by so fast. Fortunately we have been able to savor every moment since then. As you can tell by the previous two posts, Joy is adapting very well to this American life. We have come back to people wrapped up in health care "crisis" (is it really that bad people?) and still economic uncertainty, but we were calmed in knowing that we had each other.

Besides adapting unbelievably well, here's some highlights of week one:

- She goes to bed around 8:30pm and wakes at 8:00am (sometimes later) the next morning.
- Naptime, again like clockwork, is about 2:00pm where she catches about two hours of sleep.
- Any food is good food, albeit some better than others. She especially likes those carbs.
- Super-Mommy has somehow managed to potty train her. Seriously, she walks over to her "little potty" and starts taking off her pants when she has to go. I'm sure the reward of a chocolate chip helps. But really? Potty trained? Believe it or not she is getting there and has even #2'd a couple times in there. (Shawna says panties by baby time)
- Pediatrician says she is super healthy and is in the 45% for weight and 10% for height. Short and chubby.

Today we had her first check-up at the pediatrician. She had to get four shots, ugh. Luckily Super-Mommy was there while daddy was eating ice cream with the two older kiddos down the street at McDonalds. Shots and poopy diapers are Super-Mommy's specialty this week. Daddy's is "Goochy-goochy-goochy!" She weighed in at 25 pounds which is in the 45% for her age. Her height however was in the 10%. The pediatrician (like the one in Ethiopia) says the markings on her eyelids are most likely tribal (couldn't they just do a secret handshake or something?). It's something that we embrace well and she will carry from her culture.

Super-Mommy is starting to feel a little better, still feeling a little nauseous but hopefully that will pass soon. Daddy had a Malaria scare early in the week but the blood work came back ok, just something viral. Mataya is such a help and enjoys getting Joy into her booster seat at meal time and buckles her in her car seat during outings. Katie is also doing well, we have noticed a marked change in her personality (especially when she's upset) and we will work very hard to figure it out and help her during this time of transition. To go from the little girl of the house to the big girl over a two year old must be something I can't even imagine. She is so sweet nonetheless and all three have equal parts of our hearts.

So I guess that sums it up. I've been playing around with some of the Ethiopian coffee I brought back and found a way to make it almost identical to the way Ethiopians make it (with the help of an old coffee/espresso steamer) but quickly realized that it still tastes different over there... something about the surroundings and environment. Maybe I'll get to have some more if we go back to adopt a second someday...? :)

Here's a few more pictures from this week. It was a good week. Lots of adjustment, lots of laughs, lots of love. So far so good...