Happy 5th Birthday Ayden!!!

Yesterday was Ayden's 5th birthday. I knew that we would not get to spend it with her but with what has been happening this past week on the adoption homefront it made it all the more sad that she is not yet with us. She was likely not even aware that it was her birthday but a family from here that is in Ethiopia right now was able to take a small package to each of the girls, so Ayden did receive a African cabbage patch doll, a please mum "Canadian princess" t shirt, stickers, balloons and 2 books. So at least she did get some new stuff close to her birthday!! Can't wait till next year when we get to celebrate her 6th birthday...Canadian style.

Adoption news

Hello everyone,

As most of you are already aware my adoption agency in Ontario has declared bankruptcy. This is a devastating situation for more than 400 families across our country. The director of the agency Sue Hayhow has reportedly misused our money which could be in the millions of dollars. It is GONE!! when this news first broke out the bank accounts in Addis Ababa had been frozen. The Transition Home that my girls are in had at the time enough food left for 3 days and no plan for more provisions!! I among many other parents were panicked. I had no idea what would happen to my girls. As it happens the same woman who stole our money flew to Ethiopia and purchased supplies for the Transition home (with her own money, ya right) A family from Cranbrook that I met through this process is in Ethiopia right now and has emailed saying she has seen my girls and they are well. I wish it was me who saw them. So as it stands I among many families are working with our wonderful MP's and government officials to try to complete the final steps of paperwork which will allow our children to enter Canada. At this point the rest of the process is only able to be completed by Canadian officials, the Ethiopian people have already completed their side of the adoption. I am grateful to the Ethiopia Transition home staff, many who continue to care for my children despite no longer being paid themselves. They have stated they will NOT leave the children until ALL are safely home. Bless their hearts, how do you repay that. So at this point I am trying to figure out how a quicker trip to Ethiopia may be possible. I am on a strict budget and thought I had several more months to plan (financially) for this trip. Oh well it will all come together. One positive thing that has come out of this is my girls are now back together. Do to their ages Ayden is living in the toddler/child home while Abbey is in the baby home. These 2 homes are about a 20 minute drive apart so my belief is that the girls RARELY see eachother. It breaks my haert to know that after all they have been through in their short lives that they also do not have eachother. As a cost saving measure the baby house has closed and Abbey has moved into the toddler/child house and is now back with her sister. The rest of the children who had yet to "be matched" with a Canadian family have sadly returned to the orphanage that they came from :(

Meigan loses her 3rd tooth!!!..in the pool :(

Today I took the kids swimming at our local pool. Meigan has had a very loose tooth for some time now, just barely hanging on. We talked about the fact that it could be bumped out while swimming and playing and as you guessed it did. We were fooling around and she was riding on one of my legs and was bumped in the face and just like that the tooth was gone. Right down to the bottom of the pool. We tried to find it, more to satisfy Meigan but it was nowhere to be found. She became worried, of course, about the tooth fairy and how she would know that a tooth was lost if it was not there under her pillow tonight. Thats where the lifeguard came to the rescue, writing a personalized note to the Tooth Fairy herself. In case you can't read it is say's Dear toothfairy, Meigan lost her tooth today and couldn't find it. I hope you believe us--Lifegaurds. Isn't that cute. So tonight we will put the note from the lifeguard under the pillow instead of a tooth and see what happens!!! :)

Meeting new friends, visiting old friends and the Kootenay Trout Hatchery

Recently Carlee, Meigan, P and myself made our way over to Cranbrook. We met and visited with a fellow adoptive family Corrie, Bruce and company. They have a beautiful family including 3 children from Ethiopia. It was wonderful to meet them and talk about things that only families in this process of adopting from Ethiopia can understand and appreciate. They are also a homeschooling family so I got to ask many questions about homeschooling which will prove helpful as we start this journey in the fall. Corrie's children also have horses which delighted Meigan who got to have a ride (without a saddle) which she thought was cool. We enjoyed a nice dinner and dessert. We hope to be able to spend time with them in the future. Unfortunately I forgot my camera in the van.

Then we spent the night at an old friends place, Shirley. She is also on this rollercoaster and is adopting from Ethiopia and China. I will be great to see her finally able to start her family (look out kids, she is more than ready for you) It will also be wonderful to have a friend with children from both China and Ethiopia like us. Finding families similiar to ours can be difficult. We managed to sqeeze ourselves into Shirley's very small basement suite and then she let Meigan make breakfast for all of us.

The next day it was off to the Kootenay Trout Hatchery which was awesome for Meigan and P
but a little slow for a 15 year old girl (hi Carlee :). She tried her best to enjoy it and was rewarded with some shopping on the way back through Cranbrook.

First we saw very large trout in the moat just outside the front of the Hatchery. How exciting for little kids to see so many big fish at once. The kids were able to feed the fish who are very enthusiastic when it come sto those little fish pellets. P even tried to feed them his shoe which needed to be scooped out of the moat.

We then came upon a tour guide at the turtle pond who let us hold a small turtle. There were 3 larger ones in the pond that were difficult to find.

Inside we saw aquariums of various trout of different sizes and some of the floor models. All very interesting to a 7 year old. We saw sturgeon in one aquarium. The Kootenay Fish Hatchery is involved in a conservation project with these sturgeon. This was particularily meaningful to Meigan as we recently participated in the sturgeon release program into the Columbia river.

Lastly, we visited the fishing pond where kids are allowed to catch and release trout back into the pond. As this pond is pretty well stocked the kids are almost guaranteed to catch a fish. But if you are visiting bring your own fishing rods and supplies as these are not supplied. Families can stay for as long as they want and there is a small picnic area there as well. We did not bring rods and Meigan was quite set on catchinga fish so being the "non-shy" person I am we were able to borrow one from a kind man. As it turns out this man was also a foster parent and the group with him was a foster family outing. As you know we also foster children. What a small world.
Meigan caught 3 good sized trout and with help of a certain kind man was able to release them back into the pond. It was a good day for all. I am looking for more of these kinds of things that are basically in our back yard.

Hope you enjoy the pictures, more later!!

Carrie

About us

Me (Carrie) I am the mom. I am very new to blogging although I have been following several other blogs for sometime now. I am a Registered Nurse although I am not currently practicing nursing. I quit my job 1 year ago, I was working as a psychiatric nurse to stay home full time with my kids as well as pursue a passion in providing foster care to children. I have over the last 3.5 years had 8 children come into my home through foster care. Some stayed a long time (3years) while others stayed only a few days!! I currently have 2 "bonus" kids, 2 boys ages 8 years and 22 months. By far my most prized role is that of "Mom" to my 6 kids, Jordan (18) Jarred (16.5) Carlee (15) Meigan (7) Ayden (5) and Abbey (1.5). My last 3 kids came to me through international adoption. Meigan Grace Xin Bo was born in China and adopted at the age of 9 months in March 2003. Ayden Sarah Tarikwa and Abbey Lee Feraol were born in Ethiopia and they are still in Ethiopia waiting on immigration paperwork required to bring them HOME!! I am also embarking on a new adventure this fall when I will homeschool Meigan. She will begin Grade 2. I like the outdoors, reading, swimming, watching reality TV shows and CSI Miami!!


Jordan is my first born son. He is 18 years old. he recently graduated Highschool (June 2009). He has aspirations of becoming a member of the R.C.M.P or Military Police. He has wanted to be a poilice officer for as long as I can remember. He is a member of the 44th Field Squadron and is currently obtaining his Basic Military Qualification. He is a member of Search and Rescue and gained experience and training while on active searches. He is a son to be proud of.




Jarred is next in line and he is currently 16.5 years old. he has just completed grade 11. He will enter his graduation year in September. He is very easy to get along with. At this point he still remains unsure as to what his future holds but whatever he decides I know he will do well. Another fine young man that makes his mom proud.



Carlee is my eldest daughter and she is 15 years old. She puts the D in Drama. She is the real Drama Queen, both in school and out. She likes the typical "girly" things, clothes makeup and friends. Although she tests my patience, sometimes on a moment to moment basis, I love her to pieces. Like Jon and Kate plus eight would say "Carlee is my spirited child".

Meigan is 7 years old and still full of wonder and awe. As mentioned she joined us through international adoption from China in 2003. It was an amazing experience. She likes horses, gymnastics and skating and has a very inquisitive nature. We will embark on a new journey this fall when we start our first year of homeschooling.

Ayden is almost 5 years old. Her birthday is in 2 weeks and I am sad that she won't be here with us. She will be coming to Canada this fall an we can't wait. I will homeschool her as well after an adjustment period. I don't know all that much about my third daughter except she is super cute and I lover her already.

Abbey is my baby at 1.5 years old. She is the full biological sister to Ayden and will join us along with Ayden this fall. She is also super cute and we can't wait to meet her.

and that is a brief introduction to my children....so far!! :)