Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Two boys snug in bed
Tonight I'm solo as the boys are sleeping. We fed, bathed and then slathered Kai with cream. Then it was bed time. It took about 2 seconds. Four minutes later it was the big boy (no slathering for him).
Some observations of Motherhood and South Africa
I can dress Kai better than daddy (Daddy put the sleeper on backwards).
Kai can hmm pass gas like Daddy.
Nothing is better than when your baby smiles at you and then daddy does the same thing and only you get the smile. Since this also happens the other way I feel no guilt about saying I like it!
Motherhood is amazing but wow do you worry.
Travelling with a child is very different. TRAVEL NOW single peeps!
South Africa is beautiful (REALLY).
It is better to be white here than black. Aparthied may be over but the descrepency between how whites and blacks are treated is visable. You go to stores all the people shopping are white all the people working there are white. We were told if a black person has a car it is because they are driving a taxis, or very. very rich. There is a third reason but I'm not repeating it. It is shocking. This is the situation I've seen in Durban atleast.
All the white people have pools and locked gates and "maids".
When you adopt a black child people stare.
People can also be very nice and friendly.
South Africans say shame instead of that's to bad.
They call zebras (zeebras) ZEHbras (really say the alphabet and say our Z phonietically correct and you've got it.
It is hard to take an 8 month on a safari but I'm gonna try (hopefully).
Words are not enough to say thank you to the caregivers who loved your child before you.
There are alot of children who need love. I wish all the children throughout the world who don't have a mama or daddy could find one person to love them.
Motherhood is exhausting and I'll be happy to be home with all of you!
p.s.Paige he loves the lion rattle!
p.p.s. Granny M I'll try to post more pictures
Some observations of Motherhood and South Africa
I can dress Kai better than daddy (Daddy put the sleeper on backwards).
Kai can hmm pass gas like Daddy.
Nothing is better than when your baby smiles at you and then daddy does the same thing and only you get the smile. Since this also happens the other way I feel no guilt about saying I like it!
Motherhood is amazing but wow do you worry.
Travelling with a child is very different. TRAVEL NOW single peeps!
South Africa is beautiful (REALLY).
It is better to be white here than black. Aparthied may be over but the descrepency between how whites and blacks are treated is visable. You go to stores all the people shopping are white all the people working there are white. We were told if a black person has a car it is because they are driving a taxis, or very. very rich. There is a third reason but I'm not repeating it. It is shocking. This is the situation I've seen in Durban atleast.
All the white people have pools and locked gates and "maids".
When you adopt a black child people stare.
People can also be very nice and friendly.
South Africans say shame instead of that's to bad.
They call zebras (zeebras) ZEHbras (really say the alphabet and say our Z phonietically correct and you've got it.
It is hard to take an 8 month on a safari but I'm gonna try (hopefully).
Words are not enough to say thank you to the caregivers who loved your child before you.
There are alot of children who need love. I wish all the children throughout the world who don't have a mama or daddy could find one person to love them.
Motherhood is exhausting and I'll be happy to be home with all of you!
p.s.Paige he loves the lion rattle!
p.p.s. Granny M I'll try to post more pictures
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Visiting Esimphiwe House
Today we travelled back to where Kai spent the first 8 months of his life at the Esimphiwe House (esimphiwe.co.za) This time during our trip, we received a tour of the facilities by Daphane who operates the orphanage. The stories she told of some of the babies were real tear jerkers and we saw the love the workers put into their jobs caring after the babies. Three of the workers are German teenagers/youth who volunteer to work at the orphanage for a year on a program run by the government.
After meeting everyone and taking video and pictures, we went to a small town closeby called Richmond where we had lunch and to buy formula.
One thing that I don't feel comfortable here are the design of the baby seats and how they fit into the cars. Compared to the difficulty of the one i installed in canada and the sturdyness of it, i'm always real cautious driving as i don't have much confidence in the seats down here!!!!!
After meeting everyone and taking video and pictures, we went to a small town closeby called Richmond where we had lunch and to buy formula.
One thing that I don't feel comfortable here are the design of the baby seats and how they fit into the cars. Compared to the difficulty of the one i installed in canada and the sturdyness of it, i'm always real cautious driving as i don't have much confidence in the seats down here!!!!!
Monday, March 29, 2010
What day of the week is it?
I don't know what it is but we keep forgetting what day of the week it is.
Yesterday we set out on a tour of the countryside. Our goal was go to the area of "1000 hills" outside of Durban. After setting our GPS to this town where we thought the scenic drive started, our journey started going down a less and less travelled road into the rural black settlements. The drive was interesting but you always need to be aware of your surroundings as we hear of car jackings etc.. We have never felt any danger but always keep doors locked as i'm carrying precious cargo now. We finally ended up at our destination 2 hours late after getting the right coords. The '1000 hills' is a what the name implies, it a countryside where literally there is a hill , after hill after hill. It is quite gorgeous but soon after getting there Little Kai started crying and nothing could sooth him. Thinking the car ride might make him fall asleep we kept on driving but for the next two hours we didn't get any peace and quite. (not until we were almost home) After getting an ice cream, i had one small lapse of judgements and found myself going down the wrong side of the road eating ice cream. Luckily it wasn't a busy road and Louisa said "you should've seen the reaction of the guy coming towards us"
The other Canadian staying here also rented a car and after only driving for one minute, punctured his tires hitting a curb.
People here always mention how Kai is so lucky to be adopted by a us, but we always reply that we are so lucky that god has blessed us with a terrific baby boy. We are both so lucky.
Tomorrow we are applying for Kai's passport to bring him to Canada. The process should take two weeks from tomorrow but not sure if easter will delay the process. After that we hope to go to the baby house again and meet with the care givers that looked after Kai for the first 8 months of his life. Hopefully we can take more pictures of where he stayed so we can give him some history of the first few months of his life when he gets older. Louisa hopes we get there without getting lost, but doubts it.
Louisa wants to share that we bought Kai a rattle at the market. He loves to shake it and make sounds on daddy's head.
One good thing about staying in a one bedroom room with our baby, we know that he is a sound sleeper as we watch tv and he never wakes up with the sound normal.
Yesterday we set out on a tour of the countryside. Our goal was go to the area of "1000 hills" outside of Durban. After setting our GPS to this town where we thought the scenic drive started, our journey started going down a less and less travelled road into the rural black settlements. The drive was interesting but you always need to be aware of your surroundings as we hear of car jackings etc.. We have never felt any danger but always keep doors locked as i'm carrying precious cargo now. We finally ended up at our destination 2 hours late after getting the right coords. The '1000 hills' is a what the name implies, it a countryside where literally there is a hill , after hill after hill. It is quite gorgeous but soon after getting there Little Kai started crying and nothing could sooth him. Thinking the car ride might make him fall asleep we kept on driving but for the next two hours we didn't get any peace and quite. (not until we were almost home) After getting an ice cream, i had one small lapse of judgements and found myself going down the wrong side of the road eating ice cream. Luckily it wasn't a busy road and Louisa said "you should've seen the reaction of the guy coming towards us"
The other Canadian staying here also rented a car and after only driving for one minute, punctured his tires hitting a curb.
People here always mention how Kai is so lucky to be adopted by a us, but we always reply that we are so lucky that god has blessed us with a terrific baby boy. We are both so lucky.
Tomorrow we are applying for Kai's passport to bring him to Canada. The process should take two weeks from tomorrow but not sure if easter will delay the process. After that we hope to go to the baby house again and meet with the care givers that looked after Kai for the first 8 months of his life. Hopefully we can take more pictures of where he stayed so we can give him some history of the first few months of his life when he gets older. Louisa hopes we get there without getting lost, but doubts it.
Louisa wants to share that we bought Kai a rattle at the market. He loves to shake it and make sounds on daddy's head.
One good thing about staying in a one bedroom room with our baby, we know that he is a sound sleeper as we watch tv and he never wakes up with the sound normal.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
FALLING IN LOVE
it's been long day so didn't finish blog,
Falling in Love
It is hard to imagine falling in love with your husband again (I mean you already love them how could you possibly love them more), but watching Bob become a father is pure magic. Kai adores him and lights up when Bob feeds him, or plays with him. He was born to be Kai’s daddy.
Today we hmm travelled thru the 1000 hills (our attempt to be parents and see South Africa). Kai was not enjoying the curving, bumpy roads. Lets just say he was slightly grumpy! It could be the crying in the middle of the night or because we were off his regular schedule but it wasn’t our happy boy (the one that only cries when he is hungry, getting his diaper changed or he is over tired). To say it was less than the perfect day we envisioned is true. Then we went back to the B&B, what a switch there he was hppy and laughing cuddlinfg and cooing Mama and Kai discoved that throwing a receiving blanket on Kai’s head was very funny. Nothing better than a mama and daddy kissing sandwich.
Falling in Love
It is hard to imagine falling in love with your husband again (I mean you already love them how could you possibly love them more), but watching Bob become a father is pure magic. Kai adores him and lights up when Bob feeds him, or plays with him. He was born to be Kai’s daddy.
Today we hmm travelled thru the 1000 hills (our attempt to be parents and see South Africa). Kai was not enjoying the curving, bumpy roads. Lets just say he was slightly grumpy! It could be the crying in the middle of the night or because we were off his regular schedule but it wasn’t our happy boy (the one that only cries when he is hungry, getting his diaper changed or he is over tired). To say it was less than the perfect day we envisioned is true. Then we went back to the B&B, what a switch there he was hppy and laughing cuddlinfg and cooing Mama and Kai discoved that throwing a receiving blanket on Kai’s head was very funny. Nothing better than a mama and daddy kissing sandwich.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
A Day in the Life...
This was our day, what a difference a week makes!
6:30 Kai wakes up (mama slept better than daddy...Kai woke we changed him :) )
Time for first bottle...daddy fed Kai while mama got ready!
Mama finishes bottle daddy gets ready.
7:15 time to rub Kai's body with lots and lots of cream! All slippery!
7:30 New diaper!
7:45 Breakfast, Dad holds Kai while eating cereal and then it is mama's turn ~ first day we had breakfast together!
8:15 Lets make Kai's breakfast (yummy rice cereal)
8:30 Kai eats, eats and eats!
9:00 clean up, clean up eveyrbody clean up!
New Diaper!
Daddy put Kai down while we get ready for the Essenwood Market
9:20 All packed and ready off we go ~ Kai's job sleep in car! Good job Kai!
Okay we're lost, Daddy don't be grumpy! Hmmm wrong way mama! Not that left!
We're here! Let's find a parking spot ~around the park we go.
Daddy carries Kai in the ergo. We wander in the hot humid weather looking at the stalls. We meet nice south africans. A very nice lady Jackie who adopted a little boy Sebastian. Lots of cool stuff. We got Kai a new shirt (he can wear it when he is 4). Too hot, we sit down at a table (you share tables with other people). Kai immediately attracts attention, he can't help being CUTE! They recommend an avacardo sandwich (so good) Kai doesn't want to drink his milk. Too hot out ~ lets go home. New Diaper!
12:30 Drive home...yes we got lost again!
We eat pears! Okay Kai eats pears!
Play time!
New Diaper! Yikes lots of crying!
Time to smear Kai wioth cream ~ slippery!
1:45 nap time ~ hmmm cries for 15 minutes before sleeping (yes I counted the minutes)
2:00 Daddy and mam go for a nap too!
3:30 Kai wakes up
New Diaper!
Bottle!
Lets play~lots and lots of smiles! I think he likes us (well me).
New Diaper
4:30 Grocery shopping..Kai snuggles with mama in the ergo (yes we went the wrong way again!)
5:30 Lets eat butternut squash (okay I actually tasted this ~yummy!)
Guess what?? New Diaper!
Play time and cuddling!
6:10
BATH TIME! All clean!
All wet...no wait till you are wearing a diaper! Yikes!
New Diaper!
Bottle (yes I eat alot!)
Cuddle time!
Spread the cream ALL over!
NEW DIAPER!
7:35
BED TIME FOR KAI!
That was our day :)
6:30 Kai wakes up (mama slept better than daddy...Kai woke we changed him :) )
Time for first bottle...daddy fed Kai while mama got ready!
Mama finishes bottle daddy gets ready.
7:15 time to rub Kai's body with lots and lots of cream! All slippery!
7:30 New diaper!
7:45 Breakfast, Dad holds Kai while eating cereal and then it is mama's turn ~ first day we had breakfast together!
8:15 Lets make Kai's breakfast (yummy rice cereal)
8:30 Kai eats, eats and eats!
9:00 clean up, clean up eveyrbody clean up!
New Diaper!
Daddy put Kai down while we get ready for the Essenwood Market
9:20 All packed and ready off we go ~ Kai's job sleep in car! Good job Kai!
Okay we're lost, Daddy don't be grumpy! Hmmm wrong way mama! Not that left!
We're here! Let's find a parking spot ~around the park we go.
Daddy carries Kai in the ergo. We wander in the hot humid weather looking at the stalls. We meet nice south africans. A very nice lady Jackie who adopted a little boy Sebastian. Lots of cool stuff. We got Kai a new shirt (he can wear it when he is 4). Too hot, we sit down at a table (you share tables with other people). Kai immediately attracts attention, he can't help being CUTE! They recommend an avacardo sandwich (so good) Kai doesn't want to drink his milk. Too hot out ~ lets go home. New Diaper!
12:30 Drive home...yes we got lost again!
We eat pears! Okay Kai eats pears!
Play time!
New Diaper! Yikes lots of crying!
Time to smear Kai wioth cream ~ slippery!
1:45 nap time ~ hmmm cries for 15 minutes before sleeping (yes I counted the minutes)
2:00 Daddy and mam go for a nap too!
3:30 Kai wakes up
New Diaper!
Bottle!
Lets play~lots and lots of smiles! I think he likes us (well me).
New Diaper
4:30 Grocery shopping..Kai snuggles with mama in the ergo (yes we went the wrong way again!)
5:30 Lets eat butternut squash (okay I actually tasted this ~yummy!)
Guess what?? New Diaper!
Play time and cuddling!
6:10
BATH TIME! All clean!
All wet...no wait till you are wearing a diaper! Yikes!
New Diaper!
Bottle (yes I eat alot!)
Cuddle time!
Spread the cream ALL over!
NEW DIAPER!
7:35
BED TIME FOR KAI!
That was our day :)
Friday, March 26, 2010
The Canadian House
Our bed and breakfast (B&B) has two other couples from Canada who have also adopted. A couple from Surrey B.C. are adopting a 7.5 year old girl and a couple from Saskatchewan have been here a week and have adopted a baby girl and a boy. All we need now is a Tim Hortons and it'll feel like home except for the 30 C temperature, the smell of the ocean in the air and the palm trees blowing in the wind. (I'm exaggerating a bit but it is very humid reminding me of mid summer back home) We forgot to mention yesterday our luggage arrived and Louisa finally got to wear her first new pair of underwear.(just kidding)
Kai slept through the night for the first time. We didn't know if we should wake him up at 7am but decided to let him wake up by himself (something everyone tells me now that you never wake a sleeping baby) We do have to become better organized as we find getting the baby ready, sterilizing bottles etc., 12 noon rolls around quicker than we thought it would. We took Kai to a nurse today to look at his eczema, she prescribed a anti-bacterial cream and corn starch to put over his bottom every night as it helps the rash, skin heal. He still has a bit of a cough and we scheduled to take him to a pediatrician on monday at the local hospital to give him a look over just to make sure he's fine.
Tomorrow we plan on getting out of here by 9am and visiting the local market for the morning. That about it. Louisa is sleeping so she'll probably post tomorrow.
(we saw Kai crawl today, probably for his first time)
I need to make a few additions to this post. I was "resting" my eyes! Kai did sleep thru the night as did daddy but mummy was up all night because Kai has a bad cough that gets worse when he is laying down. So he coughs mummy gets up to check he is okay. Thus daddy slept mummy did not. I have heard this is pretty normal.
We did go to a nurse and I think I was more upset than Kai. He is wonderful and perfect but he is still recovering from the measles. I just hate that he is any pain or discomfort and I would switch places in a second.
We went for a walk in sweltering heat today ~ Daddy carried Kai in the ergo. We saw a few people who were amazed a dad was carrying a baby. Kai's daddy is very hands on (he now feeds Kai shirtless).
Last thing, while my son is very talented and scooched today on his belly and knees for the empty ointment cream box. He is not yet crawling. He is the strongest kid around though SERIOUSLY!
Kai slept through the night for the first time. We didn't know if we should wake him up at 7am but decided to let him wake up by himself (something everyone tells me now that you never wake a sleeping baby) We do have to become better organized as we find getting the baby ready, sterilizing bottles etc., 12 noon rolls around quicker than we thought it would. We took Kai to a nurse today to look at his eczema, she prescribed a anti-bacterial cream and corn starch to put over his bottom every night as it helps the rash, skin heal. He still has a bit of a cough and we scheduled to take him to a pediatrician on monday at the local hospital to give him a look over just to make sure he's fine.
Tomorrow we plan on getting out of here by 9am and visiting the local market for the morning. That about it. Louisa is sleeping so she'll probably post tomorrow.
(we saw Kai crawl today, probably for his first time)
I need to make a few additions to this post. I was "resting" my eyes! Kai did sleep thru the night as did daddy but mummy was up all night because Kai has a bad cough that gets worse when he is laying down. So he coughs mummy gets up to check he is okay. Thus daddy slept mummy did not. I have heard this is pretty normal.
We did go to a nurse and I think I was more upset than Kai. He is wonderful and perfect but he is still recovering from the measles. I just hate that he is any pain or discomfort and I would switch places in a second.
We went for a walk in sweltering heat today ~ Daddy carried Kai in the ergo. We saw a few people who were amazed a dad was carrying a baby. Kai's daddy is very hands on (he now feeds Kai shirtless).
Last thing, while my son is very talented and scooched today on his belly and knees for the empty ointment cream box. He is not yet crawling. He is the strongest kid around though SERIOUSLY!
Thursday, March 25, 2010
A day of MANY firsts
First off my son likes to stay up ALL night so his mummy and daddy don't get any sleep! Daddy wouldn't let mummy give him a bottle (lets not start bad habits!)
In my defence, when we picked up Kai from the baby house, the caregiver told us his last bottle is at 7pm and his next is at 7am. So at 2am in the morning and after changing his diaper and still crying at 5:30am , I thought well he has to want his bottle. By the time he got his bottle he took to it with such a firm grip!!!! We don't know if he missed one his feedings during the day or what but we'll monitor how he does tonight.
Where we are staying in Durban, South Africa (Heeton Cottage), the woman (Shayne) is amazing who runs it. She is so helpful and has gone out of her way with us and the other family staying here. She's taken louisa to get clothers, food for the baby and for us to pick up our car today. We picked up a Toyoto corolla, but the kicker is they are all crazy drivers and drive on the wrong side of the road. I kept turning on the windshield whipers changing lanes, and going through a roundabout, that was exciting. I've had three cars beep at me today so we'll see if that record holds.
We went to the mall today and took Kai for his first shopping experience. He enjoyed the crowds and was thilled at looking at himself in the mirrows throughout. (we had a few stares but I think that was the crazy lady kissing her baby - he likes kisses)
Louisa here ~ Bob fed Kai carrots ~ he wore more than he ate I think! We had our first family photo taken, best part Kai wouldn't look anywhere but me! Kai loves his mummy!
Tonight Louisa bathed him and smoothered him in cream to help his eczema. Kai rewarded Louisa by peeing on her. (I was worried about pee and poo ~ we're old hands at this point!)
He spite up half his bottle which I (mummy) think means he 'll be hungry in the middle of the night! We will see!
In my defence, when we picked up Kai from the baby house, the caregiver told us his last bottle is at 7pm and his next is at 7am. So at 2am in the morning and after changing his diaper and still crying at 5:30am , I thought well he has to want his bottle. By the time he got his bottle he took to it with such a firm grip!!!! We don't know if he missed one his feedings during the day or what but we'll monitor how he does tonight.
Where we are staying in Durban, South Africa (Heeton Cottage), the woman (Shayne) is amazing who runs it. She is so helpful and has gone out of her way with us and the other family staying here. She's taken louisa to get clothers, food for the baby and for us to pick up our car today. We picked up a Toyoto corolla, but the kicker is they are all crazy drivers and drive on the wrong side of the road. I kept turning on the windshield whipers changing lanes, and going through a roundabout, that was exciting. I've had three cars beep at me today so we'll see if that record holds.
We went to the mall today and took Kai for his first shopping experience. He enjoyed the crowds and was thilled at looking at himself in the mirrows throughout. (we had a few stares but I think that was the crazy lady kissing her baby - he likes kisses)
Louisa here ~ Bob fed Kai carrots ~ he wore more than he ate I think! We had our first family photo taken, best part Kai wouldn't look anywhere but me! Kai loves his mummy!
Tonight Louisa bathed him and smoothered him in cream to help his eczema. Kai rewarded Louisa by peeing on her. (I was worried about pee and poo ~ we're old hands at this point!)
He spite up half his bottle which I (mummy) think means he 'll be hungry in the middle of the night! We will see!
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Kai, Ma & Pa United
We arrived at the Esimpwhe Baby House early this afternoon and were immediately handed our baby boy. Kai is a beautiful littly boy, we couldn't be happier. He is feeling better but his breathing is still a bit raspy and has a slight fever. Daphne and Robyn commented that he recovered well after he was nebulized. The baby house is where Kai has spent the last eight months of his life growing up with 32 other babies. His eczema has cleared up a bit but we will now focus on rubbing lotion on him 24/7 to clear it up. After getting acquainted with him for one hour and Daphne telling us his schedule and such we were off to the court where we officially became his parents. The proceedings lasted 30 minutes and finished with our photo taken with the magistrate. Kai is a very happy baby and when he cries it's not loud (the care giver says that's only because he is still sick and he does have a good set of lungs on him, just like his mom) Shayne the owner of the B&B is great and gives us alot of support. After finding our bags were lost she phoned South African Airlines and were given authority to spend $75 / day per person to buy clothes essentials. Louisa and her are going shopping shortly to buy us all new supplies and we are becoming ripe.
Kai's first toy has been playing with mom and dads eye glasses. Louisa just left and I was left to feed Kai solid food for the first time. I could just imagine louisa being jealous of me the whole time.
We are staying here another eight days and then moving to the coast as we've rented a beach house on the coast for a few days. Tired tonight at 8 pm so i think it'll be an early night. Hopefully we will rent a car tomorrow so we will have access easier to get around town.
Kai's first toy has been playing with mom and dads eye glasses. Louisa just left and I was left to feed Kai solid food for the first time. I could just imagine louisa being jealous of me the whole time.
We are staying here another eight days and then moving to the coast as we've rented a beach house on the coast for a few days. Tired tonight at 8 pm so i think it'll be an early night. Hopefully we will rent a car tomorrow so we will have access easier to get around town.
Waiting...
Wednesday Morning....
Waiting patiently! So the bags have been lost. I\m wearing the same clothes as I did Monday and it is WARM here! We are staying in a WONDERFUL B&B Heaton Cottage (tennis court and pool) and it really is lovely. Had a full english breakfast. Then went to the local supermarket to buy a few basics mainly for Kai (since the luggage has been lost). Diapers and a few bottles and a hundred dollars later we are waiting for Robyn (our social worker) to show up. I think we are managing well. I woke up at 2:30 and didn't fall asleep until 5:30. The flight was long but when you have somewhere you want to be you just sit and wait. So that is what we are doing...waiting patiently! Still waiting....
Waiting patiently! So the bags have been lost. I\m wearing the same clothes as I did Monday and it is WARM here! We are staying in a WONDERFUL B&B Heaton Cottage (tennis court and pool) and it really is lovely. Had a full english breakfast. Then went to the local supermarket to buy a few basics mainly for Kai (since the luggage has been lost). Diapers and a few bottles and a hundred dollars later we are waiting for Robyn (our social worker) to show up. I think we are managing well. I woke up at 2:30 and didn't fall asleep until 5:30. The flight was long but when you have somewhere you want to be you just sit and wait. So that is what we are doing...waiting patiently! Still waiting....
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
ETMK 12 HOURS
We arrived and probably have been up 30 something hours without any sleep.
Estimated time meet \kai -12 hours
To keep things short, we arrived on time but without our luggage. Tired and will update once we meet Kai.
Bob and Louisa
Estimated time meet \kai -12 hours
To keep things short, we arrived on time but without our luggage. Tired and will update once we meet Kai.
Bob and Louisa
Friday, March 19, 2010
What Louisa has to say!
This is Bob AND Louisa's blog so I thought I should write something! Oh my goodness, we have a lot to do! Bob is "napping" . I rewrote my to do list for tomorrow. I'm so glad Walmart is open early (yes, I Louisa am planning on waking up early on a Saturday).
I can hardly wait to have Kai in my arms. It still feels surreal that something we have hoped for, and prayed for and wished for is coming true in only a few more days. I hope Kai is sleeping peacefully, I know he is being carried for by people who love him (but I wish it was me!)
mommy schaefer
(yes that's me!!!!)
I can hardly wait to have Kai in my arms. It still feels surreal that something we have hoped for, and prayed for and wished for is coming true in only a few more days. I hope Kai is sleeping peacefully, I know he is being carried for by people who love him (but I wish it was me!)
mommy schaefer
(yes that's me!!!!)
3 more sleeps and narrowly dodging two bullets!!!
We just received our paperwork today (Friday, we leave Monday) from the Immigration office in Nova Scotia. We had talked about having Louisa's mom send the forms to us if they weren't here by today but count our lucky stars, we don't have to worry. I also learned tonight that the cabin crew staff at British Airlines are going on strike Saturday and BA are cancelling over 1000 flights. I have to thank my mother-in-law for noticing that off the news wire three weeks ago and we changed to SA airlines. Originally we were going to fly through London, England as we had a 8 hour stopover and thought Louisa would want to show me where she grew up. (You would think the travel agent would say warn against flying with them when we booked our flight as she knew the purpose of our trip) . Our flight leaves Monday afternoon at 2:20 pm and we get to Durban, SA Tuesday night at 8:20pm. That's alot of reading we can look forward to as we both aren't very good sleepers on the plane.
Louisa went shopping today in Toronto with some friends from school. She bought a car seat and picked up blinds for Kai's room. She was stopping woman with babies in the mall asking them how they like their stroller. Glad I wasn't along for that trip, sorry girls for that experience. (I'm use to it by now)
The Child care worker from South Africa emailed yesterday to tell us our son has measles. He's doing better today after staff nebulized him, but still has diarrhea, high fever, coughing etc. Don't know if this will delay the court date this Wednesday until we get there. Six other babies at the baby house have also come down with measles. Typically babies receive the vaccine in South Africa at age 9 months as it rare for babies to develop them at his age.
Saturday we still need to install blinds, car seat, shop for camcorder
Sunday pack, and one final good night sleep.
Louisa went shopping today in Toronto with some friends from school. She bought a car seat and picked up blinds for Kai's room. She was stopping woman with babies in the mall asking them how they like their stroller. Glad I wasn't along for that trip, sorry girls for that experience. (I'm use to it by now)
The Child care worker from South Africa emailed yesterday to tell us our son has measles. He's doing better today after staff nebulized him, but still has diarrhea, high fever, coughing etc. Don't know if this will delay the court date this Wednesday until we get there. Six other babies at the baby house have also come down with measles. Typically babies receive the vaccine in South Africa at age 9 months as it rare for babies to develop them at his age.
Saturday we still need to install blinds, car seat, shop for camcorder
Sunday pack, and one final good night sleep.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Citizen and Immigration
Thanks with help from our local MP office, we finally received word today that they will fast track our application for Part 1, Citizenship. She couldn't tell us when the application will be ready but I'm hoping early next week or it's going to be a few sleepless nights sooner then we thought :)
Louisa is finishing up report cards tonight and will be able to spend more time on planning our trip and making reservations.
Louisa is finishing up report cards tonight and will be able to spend more time on planning our trip and making reservations.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Our Referral
Feb 18th will be the day we first learned that we will be parents!!!!
I was playing poker at a co-workers house and Louisa was trying to reach me to tell me the great news. After trying repeatedly to contact me, she showed up at the poker game to tell me the good news. I don't remember much of the last hand I played after hearing the news, I just stared at the cards thinking I'm going to be a dad not registering what cards i had in my hand.
After racing home and talking with our adoption practitioner Marcy, we saw the first pictures of our son. That night was surreal, followed by the next couple days. Speaking with alot of families that have adopted previously, they tell me it really doesn't sink in until your handed the baby and your flying back home. After the news settled in over the next couple days, we realized we had lots of work yet to do.
I was playing poker at a co-workers house and Louisa was trying to reach me to tell me the great news. After trying repeatedly to contact me, she showed up at the poker game to tell me the good news. I don't remember much of the last hand I played after hearing the news, I just stared at the cards thinking I'm going to be a dad not registering what cards i had in my hand.
After racing home and talking with our adoption practitioner Marcy, we saw the first pictures of our son. That night was surreal, followed by the next couple days. Speaking with alot of families that have adopted previously, they tell me it really doesn't sink in until your handed the baby and your flying back home. After the news settled in over the next couple days, we realized we had lots of work yet to do.
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