Living Life As...

The Simmons Six

Thursday, May 29, 2008

The first 13 days...the good, the bad, and the ugly

Silly faces!

Mommy and her girls

All my kiddos!

So...the kids have been home for almost two weeks! In some ways, it seems much shorter (like we were JUST in Ethiopia) and in some ways it seems like they've been with us much longer.
Overall, we are doing well. We are having our share of adjustments. I can honestly say that NOTHING could have prepared me for becoming a Mommy of one to a Mommy of four overnight. At times, it is incredibly overwhelming. It seems like SOMEONE is always acting up, pouting, crying, or into SOMETHING. Here are my general observations:
1. Tewodros is doing very well. He is definitely missing Hannah's Hope and FRIENDS. He spends most of his day with four year olds, a two year old, and a 31 year old. I think he is DYING to just PLAY with an eight year old boy. He will be starting ESL summer school on June 20th and he REALLY needs it.
He loves Braeden. He loves to play soccer. He is trying to learn English but is not as interested as I would have hoped. He seems bored ALOT. I find myself always looking to please him which I know is probably unrealistic. He LIKES to holler at the girls ALOT. This is something we are working on!

2. Yitayish (a.k.a. Waverly) is doing great! She is sweet, has an infectious laugh, and is VERY mischievous. She seems to be adjusting GREAT. I think she is very happy and content. She likes to fight with Braeden. They have made me nervous with each other because they will go into COMBAT with eachother. She will repeat English words but that is about it for now. Her hair is my PROJECT. She is beautiful, sweet, and for now pretty easy.

3. Seble (a.k.a. Riley) is my little drama queen. She is MOODY, MOODY, MOODY. She sulks ALOT. She smiles the rest of the time! She loves to play with Yitayish (who SOMETIMES chooses to play with her.) She listens very well. She LOVES to tattle. She tattles ALL day long. I have NO idea what she is saying but she is tattling...believe me. She LOVES to eat. She will not be my skinny minny for long! Haha! She repeats..."I love you So much."

4. Braeden is happy when he has Mommy's attention. He follows me EVERYWHERE. He doesn't like to share toys, LOVES to wake up and see the kids, and LOVES to sit on, jump on, and ROUGH HOUSE with the girls. We are working on this! He is more of a big boy everyday. I look at him and think..."Oh, my baby. Where are you going to."

Did I mention that the girls LOVE to fold wash! I'm NOT kidding!!

Daddy's girl

Sweetie pies

Yitayish in the tent

My Teddy

Braeden's method for keeping his toys...hiding BOWLING pins in this shirt...Also check out that he is wearing a GIRLS hat!

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

The long road to good bye...our FINAL day in Ethiopia

Our final day of Ethiopia was one filled with tremendous emotions.

We awoke to MORE cold showers but piping hot coffee! We then travelled as a group to Enat Elam. We left the children behind as we were going to the Mother Theresa house afterward.

Enat Elam was a very important experience for me and Shawn. Our children spent six long months there and I needed to see it for myself and for them. The children were beautiful. We gave out candy, stickers, little cars, and balls. I wanted to cry the entire time. I didn't feel happy or blessed...I felt helpless and sad. These children need SO much. It left me aching inside. I held Shawn's hand as we left and kept telling myself that I had to be strong because I was MEANT to experience this day.

We then went to the Mother Theresa House. As we toured, I felt overcome by emotion and fear. I again felt so small and powerless. As I looked around at death, illness, poverty, disease, I sang in my head OVER and OVER...
"Be not afraid...I go before you always. Come. Fall me and I will give you rest."
It just came into my head and I could not stop singing it to myself. At the last leg of the tour, I walked back to van where Kristin was and just started to cry. It was too much for me.

We then returned to the hotel to shower and change and all I could think about was my kids. We returned to Hannah's Hope and got ready for one last shopping trip. We again boarded the vans and spent a few hours shopping and relaxing. I got some beautiful treasures and it felt good to relax. I saw a little boy that I had seen at the shops on Tuesday. He began to beg and I again began to feel overwhelmed. I waited until we were walking back to the van and I gave him food and money. I just didn't want to turn my back anymore.

When we finally returned to Hannah's Hope for the LAST time, we said our good byes. It was hard for Tewodros. It broke my heart for him. We then returned to the hotel and busily packed, ate dinner, and prepared to travel home. The kids kept screaing, America, and I felt giddy. America, yes, America!

We boarded the vans for the last time at 6 pm and said our good byes to Almaz. What a women...there are NO words.
I felt tired, excited, and overwhelmed. We settled into the airport terminal and waited for our flight. All of the families seemed tired but ready for the new journey in their lives.

As many of you know, the flight brought the emergence of CHICKEN POX all over my little Seble. I initially thought it was hives from stress. But, Oh, NO, Chicken Pox which would become my arch nemesis for the next ten days.

We landed in D.C. FINALLY after a LONG trip from Ethiopia with many trips to bathroom. Yitayish LOVES to pee. Haha.

America...we're here, guys. Mommy and Daddy will be your tour guides. I hope we do a good job.

Thursday, May 22, 2008

Day 4...Highs and Lows

Travel buddies at the golf course!

Travel buddies at the golf course!

Yitayish at the golf course


Today began as our other days in Ethiopia began. We had a nice breakfast and savored EVERY moment of the Ethiopian coffee. The cups are so little but the coffee is STRONG.

Shawn and I had very heavy hearts as we prepared for the birth mother meeting. I was filled with so many worries and fears, some rational and some completely irrational. Our meeting was not until 12:30 pm and I can honestly say that this was one of the longest mornings that I have ever experienced. We sat in the hotel lobby trying to look at peace but in truth, I was anything but at peace. The kids became bored and fidgety but there was little to do but wait.

At 12:10, we began the walk to Hannah's Hope. Tewodros had wanted the kids to wear their traditional Ethiopian outfits. When we opened the gate, we saw that she was there waiting for us. I won't share details. This is for the kids to do if and when they decide to. I can tell you that for ME, a birth mother meeting with older children is difficult...point blank. I wonder if it creates more uncertainty and insecurity in little fragile heads. I felt sad for Tewodros.


After our meeting, we lightened the mood by having lunch at a BEAUTIFUL golf course. The food was good, the conversation was good, and it was exactly what I needed.

Later that night, we ventured out AGAIN for a traditional Ethiopian meal. There was incredible music and DANCING that was WONDERFUL! Seble was so tired from the day that she spent most of the night in my lap asleep. Yitayish and Tewodros FEASTED and their little bellies paid for it later. Of course, the highlight for all of us was Abraham Gresham dancing and grooving to the music. That man can get DOWN!

We returned to our hotel late at night and I can honestly say that I actually fell right to sleep.

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Day 3...Shopping and becoming a family

Tuesday was a great day for us in Ethiopia. We began the day with breakfast as a family. The kids all played at the Union and it was so nice to all be together. We then headed over to Hannah's Hope and ENJOYED the kids so much!

We then left the little girls at Hannah's Hope for naps and lunch and took Tewodros shopping. He carefully picked out Ethiopian outfits for him and the girls. He was so serious in this task and it was soo sweet. We got some great keepsakes and were really happy with them. We then went out to a really nice lunch. It was at this cool restaurant that had beautiful art pieces. I wanted one so badly and now regret not getting one. (Word of caution...if you see something you like, BUY IT! It is an opportunity you will never get back again!)

When we returned, we had what my travel buddies will affectionately remember as "BUBBLE GATE". Many of us had brought bubbles and we gave them to all of the kids at HH. They had a BLAST but it began to rain so they went under the car port. Big mistake. The painted cement became an ICE SKATING rink and here we are grown adults with 25 kids slipping and sliding EVERYWHERE! We got water, brooms (no hoses at HH) and got the kids out of dodge. (I have GREAT pics of Bubble gate and wish sooo badly that I could show them!)

The rest of the day was spent as a family coloring (which we did MUCH of in Ethiopia...who knew it would be such a hit for all of us including me and Shawn). I did feel home sick at night on Tuesday. I cried a bit after the kids went home for Braeden. I think this trip made me feel even closer to Braeden. He is just the sweetest little man in the world.

Overall, this was a day of peace and grace.

My kids in their Ethiopian outfits




P.s. Heather Rae, I keep e-mailing you and it kicks my e-mails out. Let's try for a get together this weekend!

Monday, May 19, 2008

Day 2...The Meeting


Yitayish swinging on the swings at Hannah's Hope



Seble running at Hannah's Hope

After a very restless night sleep, we awoke excited and nervous. We got a nice hot shower (we didn't know this would be our ONLY hot shower of the trip...Haha). We then all met downstairs for breakfast and awaited Almaz. I spotted her walking up the stairs and we all ran to the window. It was so cute. We filled out our paperwork for about an hour and she then said, "O.k. let's go meet you kids!" I almost had a heart attack.
Walking to Hannah's Hope, I felt so scared. When we came to the gate, I could hardly breathe. We walked in and the people adopting infants went right over to them. I watched and cried. I then looked for our kids but didn't see them. I felt anxious and nervous and then heard, "Mommy". Standing in the distance was Yitayish. She looked EXACTLY as I imagined she would...from size, to movement, to voice. I had dreamt of her. I then saw Seble and Tewodros and ran right to them. Shawn followed behind. It was amazing.
We played at Hannah's Hope for about an hour. Seble struggled. She cried and seemed very unsure. Yitayish and Tewodros took it all in stride. I was very calm for the kids and felt so at peace.
At lunch, we left the older kids at Hannah's Hope (including our guys) so they could have lunch and get ready. We got ready at the hotel and then went for our embassy appointment. The appointment was perfect. The embassy worker said "Congratulations" and I cried. We then went backt to the hotel WITH our kids for a quiet night of dinner and relaxation.

Saturday, May 17, 2008

First pictures and Day 1

Sweet baby girl...Yitayish Waverly


Tewodros cuddling in his bunk at Hannah's Hope


Seble Riley in her Ethiopian dress



May 10th...We boarded the plane for D.C. with nervous anticipation. The ride was quick and we then waited in the D.C. airport for five hours. We met our travel companions and liked them instantly. Then came flight # 2. The ride to Ethiopia is looooooooong. It seems infinite. We tried so hard to sleep but it is just so difficult. EVERYONE who travels will relate to the "airshow" that shows how close you are to Addis. I stared at it for hours!

We finally arrived...tired and nervous. We spent about 1 1/2 hours in Immigration getting visas and then we met up with Danny and Johannes, who are WONDERFUL! They tied a RIDICULOUS amount of luggage to the roof rack of one of our vans. It astounds me that it stayed up but it did. We were delivered to our hotel and then we attempted to get some sleep. I think I slept for about two hours. My mind was filled with fear, nerves, hope, and my ears were filled with the howling of dogs and strange sounds of chanting. Ahh, Ethiopia.

Home~!!

Well, after a 27 hour trip we made it home safe last night. Everyone did very well! I could not have been more happy and relieved to be home and to hold Braeden! Seble, Yitayish, and Tewodros are doing great. They are fitting right in. Seble is not feeling well and I think has the chicken pox. Oh, no!!

The airlines lost our luggage with ALL my clothes and gifts so I am not too happy about it. BUT I feel tremendously blessed!

I am going to chronicle our entire trip in the next week. It was such a life changing experience.

For all the people I travelled with (Toni, Kevin, Kristin, Tom, Amanda, Phil, Sandra, Ingrid, Curt, Stephanie, Paola, Joe), I cannot tell you how special these people are. We will have a bond FOREVER! As Yitayish would say, "Danny, In the name of Christ, GO FASTER!!" (private travel buddy joke)

For all those waiting, your children are BEAUTIFUL! I have FABULOUS pictures from my Canon which I will be delivering soon. Michelle, the picture of R and S are INCREDIBLE. DeeDee, S is a little man! He's got such a major 'tude!

Love, peace, and finally HOME!

Thursday, May 8, 2008

Prayers, peace, and God' speed

Beautiful Braeden!



Daddy and Braeden...waiting for three more EAGLES fans!!!




Please pray for us as we become the SIMMONS SIX.
In particular, please pray:
1. For Megan to have peace away from Braeden
2. Pray for Braeden's protection while his Mommy and Daddy are away
3. For safe travels for Shawn, Megan, Riley, Waverly, and T
4. For peace and comfort for Riley, Waverly, and T
5. For a joyful homecoming on Friday, May 16th
Thank you all for you love and support.

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

A Break in the Action (of Packing)

Braeden watching the animals!


My new pet...I loved her!


Erin the beautiful


The TIGERS...ROOOOOAAAAAAAAAR!!!!!!!!!!!!

We had a wonderful time today at the Philadelphia Zoo. I wanted to just take a nice outing and ENJOY!! It was just what the doctor ordered! Braeden was so incredibly cute. He loved the zoo! He really liked the tigers and outside exhibits. I think he was afraid in the reptile house. Grandpop and Erin came with us! They were a BIG help to me because Braeden decided that he did not want to be in his stroller and was going to RUN through the zoo. He looked like he got out of his cage!! Haha!!

I kept looking at the other kids and felt so excited. I will be taking my FOUR kids to the zoo again this summer. This was a wonderful day for me. I was so at peace that I came home and took a nap! Wow...this is the life! I have to get them in now because I will NOT be napping soon enough.

Sunday, May 4, 2008

Attack of the Worries!

From the time I was very little, I have always been a terrible worrier. I worry about everything...the big to the small. I have gotten better at times in my life and other times have let worrying really get the best of me. Unfortunately, I have really become overcome by worrying in the last week. I am incredibly anxious and worried. I do feel tremendously blessed and excited, but it is in this excitement that my worry comes. I am often a person who is 'waiting for the other shoe to fall.' I am so worried that with all of my dreams about to be realized, something will happen to take it all away.

I am trying very hard to work through this so I can enjoy every moment of my upcoming trip and just pray with all that I am that I can find peace in knowing that my family will be protected during this time. I don't want to waste a moment with worry but sometimes it seems like it is bigger than me.