Our 3rd Visit

We woke up, again lazed around trying to kill the vast amount of time we had to kill before Girmachew would be here to take us to our third visit. He was to be here for 10 am and the sun is up at 4 am so that meant lots of time. So, we read and ate and cleaned a little as the power was out most of the morning. Then our cell phone rings, and it is the front desk advising the Girmachew is here already - one hour and 15 minutes early. I was still half-naked and gross. So, I ran around cleaning everything important, but as you will see in the pictures, I walked around all day with bed head as a result. Anyway, we were so happy he was early because that meant we would be to Amunoo early. We had some shopping to do before we headed over to the orphanage so, Girmachew helped us pick all the things the orphanage needed. With our money we were able to buy pasta, flour, bleach, rice, tomatoes, coffee, toilet paper, eggs, quick oats. Thank you everyone who donated money. My heart breaks for the diet here, so full of white starch. For instance, the nurse at the orphanage told me that Amani isn't on any sort of formula as it is too expensive and they reserve it, but she told me to put him on it right away so that he can catch up. He also has never had a vegetable, or anything other than ramen noodles, spaghetti noodles and corn flour. So, here are a few of us on our shopping spree.... Once we got to the orphanage, we unloaded the van and played a little soccor with the kids as we waited for Amunoo. We have no idea where he was before however, eventually, the nanny called to us from inside... The minute he saw us, he bagan to wail and the nannies told us to come in and get him. So, we made our way around and when we entered they essentially "threw" him at us and left swiftly. He cried, loudly this time, for about 15 minutes and then just wimpered for the remainder of the visit which was about 2 hours long. I just held him and rocked him and kissed him and sang and eventually he calmed. The best moment of the day was when he sunk his whole body onto me and put his head in my neck and sucked a little. I sobbed then. I was the happiest mumma ever! Eventually Darryl was able to inch closer without setting him off and so we sat, like a family, quiet. LInda snapped pictures and sat close too. But there was no playing, just snuggles and I am so, so happy with that. Darryl fed him the ramen noodle porridge and as he did, Amanuel looked him in the eyes and DArryl loved it.