Yes, we're expecting another.

As I put in my last post, we're expecting another addition to our family in the end of October (I'm hoping for early October!).  We weren't really talking about it because of all the other things that are happening in our lives, but now, as with many pregnancies, we just can't ignore it any more. 

Our little one is a girl, and she has been a lesson to me that, above all, your children are their own independant being.  This little one has been through her mommy travelling to Ethiopia, working, moving in the hot Florida summer and taking care of other kids.  She's heard her brother and sister began to talk and she's felt the ocean waves.  Through all this, she just keeps growing and moving.  Here's a picture of her little feet, that I'm guessing will be pretty big when they come out, based on the kicks!  The Ob says she's long and skinny and should be a great runner.  I think she's practicing already with the bulk of her jogging practice at night when Mom is trying to sleep :)

Too busy for blogging...

Well, I'm not sure we have any more followers out there since I haven't made in entry in over 8 weeks.  Sorry all.  With the move, the two new little ones and my pregnancy (I realize I haven't announced that yet on the blog), it's been just too busy to blog.

Here's a summary of what has happened over the past 8 weeks:
1. We had three great partied for our departure and the arrival of our little ones.  Thanks everyone for all the stuff.  The movers thank you too because it made our loads heavier!
2. We sold two homes, bought a home and moved into it in late July, in Florida.  Hot and humid is not ideal weather for moving and it made us all tired and cranky and slow.  But we're almost completely unpacked and we have all of our cars in the garage, so seems like an end is in sight.
3. I have announced broadly that I'm pregnant because, well, there's just no denying it now.  I'm at 31 weeks and waddling.  My belly button is now and outy.  My due date is October 29th, so stay tuned.
4. Endrias and Bethel have started picking up the language and we are all having a great time.  In the last 8 weeks they have learned how to fish, how to swim, ridden on a variety of boats, taken a private plane ride, learned how to work Mommy and Daddy's phones, cameras, televisions, played tennis, learned how to ride bikes (no training wheels for Endrias after about 10 days), received a collective total of 15 immunizations, 5 doctors visits, 4 dentist visits, 3 fillings and 8 sealants, learned how to take pills and how to "chipmunk" pills to spit out later, met a new nanny, love "swamp people" and started school.
5. Leigh has started a company and is actively building it's infrastructure.  It's called Parallax Quantitative Asset Management.  It has something to do with using statistics and computers to make money in the market, whether it goes up or down, but that's the best I can explain it.  He has an office and he's also working full time as a quantitative analyst consultant for a NYC based firm.
6. I started back to work at Mayo Clinic Florida as a gastroenterologist and have an administrative position in the Department of Medicine.
7. Arranged for an apartment for my folks, Stan and Irene, to relocate here.  Stan (80) fell and broke his hip and had a hip replacement around the fourth of July.  Ironic switch from independance to dependance on that day. :(

Sigh...so you can understand why I haven't been blogging.

I've attached a few pictures, but frankly, we're behind on the picture taking too.  These pictures were sent to me by my lovely and talented sister-in-law Wendy Lommen.

Claire Lommen and Bethel

The Lommen Cousins at Lommen Grandparent's House

Bethel with her first Shirley Temple looking pretty in pink.

Coming home photos

I have a few moments with Endrias playing quietly and Bethel asleep, so I'll try to post a few more pictures.  The kids are doing great.  Every day they speak more in English and certainly understand more and the frustration between all parties with the language barrier lessens.  We're getting used to the routine that works for all of us which involves no nap for Endrias (because he's up too late otherwise) and late afternoon nap for Bethel.  The kids have been to the pediatrician's office where they each received five immunizations at once (tough day for all of us), to the lab to get their blood drawn and to the dentist office.  They don't know yet that Mommy is a doctor, but when they learn about that, I think they'll like me less.

They love to go to the park and to play outside, so it's great that they came in the Summer. They've been to the library, to the store, out to eat and they do love all of that.  The first thing Endrias wants to do every morning is "Mommy, machina!"  which means "Mom, let's go somewhere in the car!"  If it's raining, I still go in the car and park near one of Rochester's many construction sites so they can watch the heavy equipment and the workers which they love.  Every couple of seconds one of them says "Mommy!  Ooooh!"

Endrias has learned how to use a camera and so has been taking lots of pictures with an old camera of mine.  Some of them are really good!  I'll download some of those as soon as we locate the camera again...

The problem with blogging.

I know many of you are anxious to see new and more pictures of the kids and hear how it's going.  The problem is that we're so busy with taking care of them that we have little time to tell everyone how it's going and upload photos.  I will do as time allows.  Essentially, the kids are great.  They are loving, generally happy, eating well and potty trained.  Once they are asleep they stay asleep, but getting them to go to sleep has been a challenge: they are jet lagged, in new surroundings with new beds and their own rooms.  That's getting better every day, but it has left Leigh and I pretty tired.

They are learning the language with Endrias having about 100 word vocabulary and Bethel about 20 words.  They speak to each other in fluent and long conversations in their native tongue, so I know it's just a matter of time before they switch over. 

They are both very sweet kids.  Endrias is very inquisitive, athletic, smart and active.  Bethel is sweet and cuddly and loves all things girlish.

Our hearts burst with love for them and we are so glad to have them home.  Our lives our changed and we are so much richer for their presence. 

Bringing them home.

Going away ceremony at Care Center in Addis Ababa.  Bethelihem (left) and Endrias (right) with Leigh and Grandma Cherry.  Kids are in traditional Ethiopian outfits for the ceremony.

Bethelihem and Endrias looking out the window at the Lucy Land guest house after Leigh had taken custody.

Leigh at the U.S. Embassy for the visa interview for the kids.  This was the last step of the long legal process (a process that started in May 2010).

Leigh with the kids at the Care Center where they have been the last 6 weeks, waiting for us to bring them home.

Endrias and Bethelihem with some of their nannies at the Care Center.

Above you'll see pictures from the trip to Ethiopia to bring the kids home.  Overall, the trip went really well with minimal hiccups and no illnesses.  The trip was a great bonding experience for Leigh with the kids.  Grandma Cherry found it a life-changing experience.  Both were touched by the love shown for our kids by all those involved.  They have given us two very loving, affectionate, beautiful kids whose smile just breaks the heart.

Pictures at last.

Leigh, his mother Cherry, Endrias and Bethelihem walked through the doors and into our lives at 12:45 today.  The kids were great on the trip with only minor meltdowns and, after having been in transit for 26 hours, got into the car, strapped into their car seats (a totally foreign concept) and rode the hour and a half drive without incident.  We introduced them to their new surroundings, let them play about an hour, gave them a bath and put them to bed (which took about an hour of dedicated time for each of them).  They did all that with very little resistance, especially given that we don't speak the same language.  They are very happy kids and very affectionate, and as you can see, adorable.  We don't have pictures of the homecoming yet as they were taken with Cherry's camera.  We'll try to load new pictures in the coming days.  For now just peace and rest.

The end of the world as we know it (and I feel fine)

Tomorrow at noon I'll meet Leigh, Endrias and Bethelihem at the airport in Minneapolis after their 24 hour trip.  I've tried to make everything ready in their rooms, in the house in my heart.  So what shall I do this last night alone?  I've eaten a nice dinner, I'm watching my favorite show on TV and then I'm going to go to bed early and get up late.  And tomorrow will be the start of our new world.