Gotcha Day!

In the world of adoption, the day you first get to wrap your arms around your child is referred to as Gotcha Day!  Exactly one year ago I held Janissa for the very first time.  I remember it like it was yesterday.  The memories of traveling to Ethiopia with my sister-in-law Kathy are etched in my mind and on my heart forever.  June 24 will always be a special day for Janissa and I, one that we will celebrate every year.

Check back in a few days for a video - it's much too late for me to try and finish it on time for this post.

Thank You Christy!

My friend Christy, a very talented woman, made this photo of Janissa for me. It's on canvas covered with Ethiopian newspaper. She was able to capture this image of Janissa from a photograph taken the first time I held her in my arms nearly a year ago. I will treasure this most wonderful gift forever.

If you are interested in having a similar painting of your child, please feel free to get in touch with Christy at christyvk@yahoo.com. I highly recommend you do!

Bonga, Ethiopia

Janissa was born in Bonga, in the Kaffa Region of Ethiopia.  Bonga is located just southwest of Jimma in the Keficho Shekicho Zone of the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region (often abbreviated as SNNPR).  Bonga sits upon a hill in the upper Barta valley, with an elevation of 1714 meters above sea level.  Bonga is the administrative center of the Keficho Shekicho Zone with a population of approximately 20,000.  Its capital is Awassa.

The neighboring area is known for hot springs, caves and waterfalls. There are fourteenth century ruins associated with the former Kingdom of Kaffa.  The city is a center for the buying of honey and cardamom.

Another family and I hired someone to travel there for us and take photos of the orphanage where our girls first stayed, and to collect other information and photos for our daughters when they are older.  I wanted to share some of those photos so you get an idea of where my little girl might have grown up had her life taken another direction.  I hope you enjoy this slideshow.

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

May 25

One year ago today I got a call from my Agency.  "You Passed Court."  Those three words meant that I was legally Janissa's mommy.

Birthday Girl

What a week it has been!  When I picked up Janissa at daycare last Friday, I noticed her nose had started running again and she just didn't seem like her little self.  She didn't eat much for dinner and fell asleep early.  She woke up around 10:00 p.m. and her body felt like it was on fire.  I gave her some Tylenol and brought her to bed with me.  Shortly thereafter she got really sick.  I won't go into detail, but I will tell you I had to change the sheets and both of our pajamas.  The next morning she was still quite warm and not herself at all.  It was also my niece Lisa's graduation from Vanguard University.  Despite my better judgment, I dressed her up and off we went.  She slept through most of the ceremony.  Thanks to family members, there were plenty of arms to share the weight of a sleeping child.

 Lisa and Janissa

She slept through most of Lisa's graduation party (so did I) and refused to eat anything.  I made sure she drank plenty of fluids.  Janissa LOVES Lisa.  In fact, when her fever spiked Friday night, she insisted Lisa was in the room and kept looking for her under the pillows.  

Lisa and Janissa

 Not only was Sunday Mother's Day (my first as a Mom), it was also Janissa's 2nd Birthday!

Despite the fact that Janissa was still running a temperature, we went to my parents house anyways as we had family coming to celebrate the two events.  She napped for awhile, but mostly sat in my lap or asked to be held.  She refused to eat a thing, although she was drinking lots of water and juice.  She just stared at her cake when we lit the candles, so at that point I decided it was time to take her to the walk in clinic.  

 My Birthday Girl

 

 

 

 

 

We got to the walk in clinic around 5:30 p.m.  Janissa sat in my lap for two hours with her two fingers in her mouth humming Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.  I felt sorry for the other people waiting because she really did hum for 2 hours!  We were finally called in at 7:30 p.m.  The doctor took one listen to her chest and said, "take her to emergency now."  So off to CHOC we went.  After discovering she had an ear and throat infection on top of the cough and congestion, they gave her Tylenol and took chest x-rays.  They didn't think she had pneumonia, so they gave me a prescription and sent us on our way.  I found a 24 hour CVS and filled the prescription.  I woke her up when we got home at 11:00 p.m. to give her a dose.

She stayed with my parents Monday and literally slept all day.  By Tuesday she wasn't getting any better so I took her to our regular doctor who took one listen to her chest and said, "you have to go back to emergency".  So off to CHOC we went again.  We spent about 6 hours there while they tried to get her fever down.  They gave her three breathing treatments and monitored her oxygen levels (they were way down) and her heart rate (which was way up).  They finally sent us home with a new antibiotic and instructions to give her breathing treatments every four hours until her cough is gone. By the way, it was pneumonia.

She started feeling better sometime Thursday and for the first time since Friday, ate something.  Friday I took her back to our doctor for a re-check.  She said even though she is still coughing and congested, she is a million times better than she was on Tuesday.  This time she was able to hear a little air getting into her lungs.  She prescribed an anti-inflamatory to open her airways and reaffirmed the use of the nebulizer.  Today (Saturday) she is almost her old self again and is eating regularly.

Speaking of eating, her new favorite food is avocado.  It doesn't matter if it is just sliced, or in the form of guacamole, she loves it!

So that is Janissa's birthday week in a nutshell.

So now she is 2 years old.  She moves up to the next level at daycare and I hope that goes well.  She is very attached to her classmates.  One little boy moves up with her, but he's the one she talks about the least (he bit her once).  Janissa is the joy of my life.  She entertains me constantly.  She makes me laugh every day.  She hugs me and kisses me and says "I lub ooo".  I don't know what I would do without this little girl in my life!

Legally Janissa

Today, April 7, was Janissa's readoption day.  My Mom and older sister accompanied us to the courthouse and we waited 2 hours until we were finally called in.  Janissa was great the entire time and made friends with everyone else who was waiting.  She is now legally Janissa Miriam and an official U.S. Citizen!

Home 9 Months

What a busy 3 months it's been.  Janissa has been in and out of the doctors office.  She's been to Urgent Care once and the Emergency Room twice.  She's had two x-rays, a steroid shot, and been on so many medications that I've lost track.  The latest diagnosis is Chronic Asthma; however, I'm not convinced.  I plan on taking her to an International Adoption Specialist who I've heard does a very thorough examination.  She came home with this congestion and has only been free of it a few weeks last Summer.  She has an inhaler and a nebulizer and neither seems to give her any relief.  Fortunately, she doesn't let any of this get her down.  Her spirits are always high.  She is very happy and very active.

She started daycare the first of the year.  The first week was really hard on me.  I cried every time I left her.  The second week was hard on her.  She cried every time I left her.  The third week she got really sick (see above) running a temperature of 103.5.  My parents watched her for me for 4 days.  When I brought her back to daycare on Friday she realized she had missed all her little friends and was so happy to be back there with them.  She's loved it ever since.  They recently separated the toddlers from the infants (too many infants), so now Janissa and 5 little boys are in a class all to themselves.  She loves it because she gets to play in the big yard with the 2 and 3 year olds.  When she turns 2 in May she will be moved to yet another classroom, but I think she will like it. 

By the time we get home in the evenings there is only enough time to feed her and clean her up before she falls asleep.  I now find myself really looking forward to our weekends when I get to spend some quality time with her.  We usually visit family and friends.  We have a couple of Easter Egg Hunts coming up with the Adoptive Mom's Group and Church.  She will love that.  Her re-adoption hearing is coming up as well.

She is really into her "babies" lately.  We have one in the car, a few downstairs and several upstairs.  She can't do anything without her baby.  She loves to take their clothes off, wrap them in blankets, and give them their medicine and breathing treatments.  I got her a little stroller to push them in and it is now her favorite thing to do.

Her favorite song is "The Wheels on the Bus".  I'm a little tired of it - I might have to accidentally lose the CD for awhile.  That won't be the first time something has gotten "lost".  :-)  She has an unlimited vocabulary and she's not even 2 yet.  I am constantly amazed at what she says and does.  I can actually have a conversation with her!  I could go on and on about the cute things she says, but I know you are all just dying to see pictures, so . . .  

Here is a video of my 33" tall, 27 lb. bundle of joy!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

January 31

One year ago today I opened my email and saw this photo 

and my life was forever changed

Janissa Update

Janissa with some of her cousins

 

She gets into everything

She got so many gifts!!

 She's climbing now

She loves her red wagon, a special gift from Uncle Joe, Uncle Tom, Aunt Kathy and her cousins Christopher and Stephen

Not only is she eating with a spoon, she's eating vegetables with spoon!

She's still getting into everything

Aunt Kathy took her to Build-a-Bear

She made a little dog that we named "Bonga"

Taking Bonga for a run

Building a dog is tough work

Did I mention she climbs on things?

The wagon has become permanent living room decor

 

It's not easy being a toddler

Time Flies When You're Having Fun

Christmas Eve marks the 6th month since Janissa was placed in my arms.  I can't believe it - the time has just flown by.  She brings me such joy; and she makes me laugh everyday - whether she is sticking Velcro hair rollers on her head or dancing to Handel's Messiah.  She loves to sing and dance, especially in church and while we're shopping.  If she hears music she joins in!  She can now run - fast.  She has also started climbing - in the television cabinet, in the refrigerator, on the furniture, etc.  She keeps me busy.  I am so blessed to have her and I thank God every day for giving her to me.    I can't imagine living my life without my Janissa.