The Merrill Adoption Story: April 2008

So sorry for the long time between posts. It has been a little busy! This last week we went to the doctor for physicals and the dentist. Both of the boys were so brave and did so well being put through all the poking and prodding. What sweet boys!! The doctors appointments went well. Both boys received several vaccinations and blood tests. Kidus is Hep B positive as we already knew but wanted to confirm. We are waiting to go to Children's Hospital in Denver to see what kind of treatment he will need . We also had an x-ray done to help determine his age and the x-ray shows that he is only 3 years old. We knew he was tiny we just were not sure if it was do to malnutrition or if his birth date was wrong.
Nati is very healthy and also checked out better than expected at the dentist. He only had two cavities and Kidus had four. We do have to go back to get the cavities filled under conscious sedation. The dentist we chose is a pediatric dentist in Denver and we really liked her and her staff all fell in love with the boys and were fighting over who was going to take care of them. Grandma, Grandpa and Aunt Karla met us in Denver to help us at the Dentist's office. It was so great to have them there!!
We also met Nati's teacher this last week and he attended his first day of school this Monday. He will finish 1st grade. He is actually very upset that he is in 1st grade. He keeps telling us "I am in 2nd grade". By birth date he should be in 1st and I hope that he is advanced and we can accelerate him in math and other areas that he is doing so well in. I will post some adorable pictures of the boys.

Bailey continues to do well in track. She also had her 9th grade dance this last weekend. She was adorable and Sierra did her hair and makeup. The girls are doing well in school and seem to be all caught up since the trip to Africa. They get along really well with the boys and have such fun with them. It warms my heart.

Grandma Frihauf has been here since last Thursday. The boys are falling in love with their grandma and vice versa. It will be hard to see her go. We had a great time and we even were able to make an Ethiopian meal including Injera and Doro Wat. Ethiopian flat bread and chicken stew. The boys loved it and thanked me for attempting and I guess, being so successful at our first Ethiopian meal. It was fun and it was great to see the boys gobble it up!!
Grandma also made each of the boys amazing quilts with vibrant African prints!!
It was very hard seeing my mother go. It was amazing how fast the boys became attached and Kidus especially had a difficult time seeing grandma go. He had a grip on her jacket that I had a hard time prying off. It was heart wrenching and very difficult for everyone. You wonder what is going through those little minds when things like that happen. All the goodbyes they have experienced in their short lives!!
Nati is loving school and is doing really well. He had his ESL assesment today and I am anxious to see how that went for him. His English is very good and getting better everyday.
We are waiting for Grandma and Grandpa Caley to come this weekend and see their new grandsons. Also Erica and Dan. We will be gone all day Sat for Bailey's track meet and then home to a full house. Should be a great weekend and then we start all over again on Monday.

I will post pictures and try to do better keeping up on posts.

Love you all!!