Independance Day

We are back in America!!!!

Robel was very excited to go to the airport in Addis Ababa and get on the plane to come home. Then on the plane, he watched the plane tracker on the monitor. When it showed that we were over the North America he started exclaiming "America! America!" It has been very fun and relieving to see his excitement.

Then the excitement wore off quickly as we waited to get through immigration, to get our baggage and go through customs. Each step was a long wait and America didn't seem that exciting to him any more. However, once we finally got through, our Aunt Kitty was waiting on the other side with an American Flag for each of us. Robel was very happy with that, gave Kitty a kiss, and waved it the flag in the air. We then traveled to Grandma's house to spend the night (Friday) and prepare to fly the rest of the way home (on Saturday).

The next several hours were difficult for him emotionally as he realized that all of the friends that were at the guest house and on the plane were not going to be with him anymore. There was nobody that spoke amharic. He had a rough time emotionally and became withdrawn for quite a while.

Then cousin Karen, who had stopped by to say hi, brought a chiwawa and a chiwawa puppy for him to play with. Although Robel was pretty timid at first with the animals, he warmed up to them. He started having fun and talking to them. It became a turning point for him emotionally and he has been doing great ever since. Nothing like a little bit of pet therapy to help him get through the troubled times.

We go back to the airport this afternoon and board a plane to travel the rest of the way home. We are very anxious to be with the rest of our babies and be together as a whole family. Deonna, Michael, and Angelia are are very happy for their big brother to be coming home.