Nov 21, 2007

Thank You Triplets, Happy One Year Anniversary

It was on Thanksgiving Day one year ago, Nov 23, when we first met our three sons in the flesh and kissed those sweet faces. We were coming to the care center early and on our own with no other families and even though we called a day ahead and told them in Minnesota that we were coming, nobody was expecting us. We were in the lobby of the Hilton waiting for a taxi and I was cold, clammy, and my stomach hurt. I felt sick and I couldn't stop shaking. Our taxi came, we arrived after our driver called to get directions, we met staff, & received paperwork. Oh, I have to mention, our file over there was labelled "Triplets", and not G___ or C___, our lasts names, which was funny. Finally they said, let's go meet your children. We came in the room and they point out the crib. These? is all I remember Jerry saying. They handed Jerry two of our babies and me one (Tsega). I pointed to each of the three babies and said their names. The nannies laughed and clapped as they were impressed I could identify each baby (I had studied the paperwork before going in and knew to look for the pierced hole on Sira's ear!).

Needless to say we moved slowly throughout the week with three great weights hanging from us. Many families who travel describe waiting around endless for drivers and being generally confused with worthless schedules. Not us. We were the ones being waited on (are you ready yet?) and I wasn't even aware of a schedule until I was scolded for not attending a morning meeting. The only difficult part of our travels was when Sira threw up in my dinner on the plane ride home and when he almost got thrown from the top of a luggage cart on our way in Bole Airport. Oh, and the stomach bugs, ohhhhhhh. . .

Naturally this holiday has taken on profound meaning in our family although injera and wot may substitute for rolls and turkey at our thanksgiving table; and maybe some teg to wash it down ;). We loved them before we touched them, but we were strangers to each other a short one year ago. It took several months before we felt like a bonded family, but everyday the love has grown and I can't remember any bad days (well, that one sleep-deprived weekend when Jerry was out of town. . . ). So much has changed, a lifetime in only one year. Thank you cosmic universe, thank you A, ours sons' first mother, thank you Jerry for being father of the year, and thank you Tsega, Bereket, and Sira for all your love and miracles. Happy Thanksgiving to all.

I put together a photo montage of our first week with the boys at the Addis Ababa care center. I'm also working on a summary of our Ethiopian travels and photos in honor of our family's anniversary, so stay tuned. . .

14 comments:

jayme said...

Happy one year anniversary of being a family! Thanks for the trip down memory lane.

I have to tell you how impressed I am with all the great pictures you've managed to take of all three boys. I can never seem to get a decent one of my two... argh!

lara said...

Congratulations on your first year together as a family.

Nikki said...

Beautiful video. Congratulations on one year as a family!
Nikki

Nancy said...

Happy Thanksgiving Cindy! What a great memory to visit every Thanksgiving.

I just realized as I read your post that last year Tesfaye was with you all in Ethiopia as you were meeting your triplets!

Enjoy and eat well :)

Nancy

Heather said...

Congrats! It is so much fun to see how the boys have grown. Thanks for sharing and for the hugs you gave Mitiku while in Ethiopia.

Heather

Unknown said...

I love following your blog. I love your sweet and encouraging attitude of thanksgiving. You always seem to be saying that you are so blessed by the boys and i so appreciate that!
We hope next thanksgiving we will have 2 more children in our home...or maybe we'll be in ethiopia next thanksgiving!? Anyway... thank you. And Happy Thanksgiving!

Stacy said...

What a great montage and what a lot to give thanks for!!! I remember last year waiting for news and photos from the family with the triplets ... referral referral referral !!!!! Amazing. They are just so beautiful.

SusanJohnson said...

Happy one year anniversary. It seems like so long ago that we met while we were in Ethiopia. Hooray for our little boys!!!!!

Sprout's House said...

Happy Anniversary! Your montage was so precious Cindy! Thanks for sharing!

Lori's Light Extemporanea said...

Absolutely lovely! Congratulations!

LISA said...

Cind, It's just so cute to watch them grow!

Stacie said...

Happy One Year! The montage is great - they were so little! And, you weren't kidding about Tsega's tongue hanging out from day one - very cute.

lmstephenson said...

Happy anniversary! What a blessed family you are.

Lynn (TTC adoption)

Sarah said...

Congrats on your first year! You survived! Best of luck and all the best for the future. I am really enjoying following your journey!

Momma to twins- yes ONLY 2!
Sarah.