Two Steps Backwards

I should have known better than to write about the progress we were making in getting ourselves on a schedule. Last night was the worst night!

Biruk woke up at 11:30pm and at 4:30am just screaming and crying and rejecting any comfort from us. Then both times, once he stopped crying, he just wanted to stay up and play - in particular, play with Mommy, who desperately needed sleep. In the morning, Biruk had two massive, stinky bowel movements, which supports the theory that in addition to being jet-lagged, he's having some stomach issues.

It sure would be great if he could tell us what's wrong, or what he wants. But in addition to only being 22 months old, Biruk has had language switched on him two times - the first time when he was moved from his orphanage in the south (where they speak Wolaita) to one in Addis (Amharic), and the second time from Amharic to English. Actually, he was in two different orphanages in Addis -- how's that for a less-than-firm foundation for a little guy's life? It seems likely that we'll be seeing some language delays because of that. Among other things, we resolved last night to get going with the sign language in the meantime!

Photo: a building in Addis Ababa under construction...just like our family!