Home and everything else (a long update)

We have been home for five days and are just now starting to feel un-jetlagged. Despite our immense fatigue and the major and not always smooth transition for the whole family, we are so glad to be back!

The trip
There's too much to say, way too much to describe in a blog post. I decided to list some highs and lows:

The highs (besides Mirabelle, of course)

1. Our travel group. We were in a group with nine other adoptive families. Our numbers were split between two guesthouses, but we ate meals, hung out and traveled together. They were a diverse, fun and supportive group, hailing from the east coast to the Twin Cities.
2. Seeing the remote countryside where Mirabelle is from, near Hosanna. It is truly a different world, with thatched huts that house both the people and cattle together. I mentioned the Hosanna trip in an earlier post. We were able to go inside one of the huts, which had an earthen floor, open fire pit and many cooking pots. Here are some pictures of it:
3. The coffee ceremonies. We were privileged to attend three ceremonies, which are an integral part of Ethiopian cultural life. First, while burning incense filled the room, the green coffee beans were roasted over hot coals. Once they were roasted each of us was given an opportunity to sample the aromatic smoke when the hostess walked around the circle and wafted it towards us. Next, the beans were ground with a mortar and pestle, and then the coffee was boiled. The hostess then served the coffee in tiny china cups. So cool!
   
4. The Ethiopian people. The people we encountered everywhere were friendly, warm and accepting of us Americans (and boy, did we stick out like sore thumbs!) Wherever we walked, pedestrians greeted us with hello or selam, and we were approached by many children who gleefully exclaimed "Barack Obama!" Someday we will tell Mirabelle what a happy people she comes from.
5. The food. We ate fabulous, traditional Ethiopian food at the guesthouse and at a restaurant. Unfortunately, Randy and I were experiencing some tummy trouble, so we enjoyed it a little less than others in the group.

The lows

1. The poverty in Addis. There were so many beggers, so much need that we could hardly take it in. We saw young children who appeared to be living on the streets, cared for by other homeless people. We watched them as they ran from person to person.
2. Missing the kids at home, and longing to bring Mirabelle back to join the family seven days before we could leave.
3. Tummy trouble for most of the trip, despite our best precautions.
4. The lack of sanitation and clean water. There was literally garbage, feces and animal bones in the street right outside our door. I feel prissy even writing that - of course it's a developing country and we knew what to expect. Still, it really hit us in the face. And oh, what a treat to be able to wash our hands with tap water again!
   

The plane ride - total airport/airplane time with baby = 26 hours

Our first leg, Addis to Amsterdam, went well. Mirabelle slept much of it, allowing Randy and I to snooze, too.

The second part, Amsterdam to Minneapolis, was a little harder but still bearable (well, we bore it anyway). She slept very little - the longest stretch was about 45 minutes. Still, at least she wasn't the screaming, angry baby often found on long flights. She was fairly content, as we let her investigate absolutely anything that kept her interest, including my hair, a bottle of Cipro (it had a childproof cap!), various wrappers, a straw and a spork (you know, a spoon-fork). The reason this flight was a little tough was that we really couldn't do anything to pass the time, like watch a movie, read or sleep. However, on all of our flights there was a live flight tracker screen we could watch, which showed our progress in real time. It's a cool feature, until it's the ONLY device you are left with to occupy yourself! Then it's torture, watching the little plane icon not move over the Atlantic. Every minute a "Time to Destination" update is displayed. This, too, is not meant to be watched for eight straight hours, but we did!

The homecoming
My dad got the older kids out of school early, so they could meet us at the airport. It was so wonderful to see their faces and haircut-needing heads, and to hug and kiss them! Wow, did we miss them. They were excited to finally meet their sister, who stared at them quite seriously until she discovered that she could reach a satisfying handful of Ethan's shaggy mop. Then it was all smiles. (Until the car seat. This girl has never experienced a buckle before in her life, and she does not appreciate them).

Sleep
The first two nights, Mirabelle awoke at 3 am, bright-eyed, bushy-tailed and loud. The past three nights... well, I don't want to jinx anything! Let's just say it's not too bad and we're keeping our fingers crossed.

Mirabelle at home
We sure can't complain - she's been smiley, playful and talkative. She adores the big kids, and they've been great with her. That said, we are all still adjusting. Randy and I only met her 12 days ago, and we are getting to know her as we try to become accustomed to babyhood again.

She does not like to have her diaper changed. I know, no babies like to have their diapers changed, but she screams like we are performing surgery without anesthesia as soon as we put her on her back and start undoing the onsie snaps.

She sleeps with her butt in the air, her hand near her face but not touching her mouth, with pursed, sucking lips but nothing in her mouth.

I am going to post more pictures of her in a separate entry, as this one has gotten long enough.