Thursday, December 27, 2007

Crazy Christmas Fun!


Well, we survived our first Christmas with 3 kids. WHEW! Now THAT was fun....and also a lot of work. Tony and I were driving home from our first Christmas event (with three sleepy kids and all their Christmas "haul" in the back of our minivan), and I turned to him and said, "Boy, that was a lot more work than when it was just Eliana!" He just smirked and said, "Yeah, at least 3 times as hard!" We had a good laugh.

The kids are doing so great. They are getting so big and healthy and strong. When I look back now at the pictures from when they first came home I am really amazed and all the changes. They are talking and doing so many things....

We got a picture taken with all the grandkids for my parents for Christmas. Calvin and Zahara were a little shellshocked by all the people in the mall and all the cameras and wouldn't smile, but we still got this really cute picture. It will show you how much they've grown.

A very MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Love, Tony, Jill, Eliana, Calvin and Zahara

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Falling in Love!

Wow! The time is really flying by. I find myself most days just wanting to capture the precious moments and take the time to write them all down. But too often they get by me. The last month and a half (since I wrote) has glued us all together and now it is impossible to imagine life without our funny, independant Calvin and sensitive, clever Zahara. They are a gift and a joy. It is fun to watch the sibling rivalry start to fade and be replaced by funny kid interactions. Eliana is completely into Big Sister mode. MY big sister, April, often reminds me (when Eliana is being a bit too bossy), that it isn't easy being the oldest. So, I try to be patient and laugh when I see Eliana parroting all the words to Calvin and Zahara that I have said to her. "Sit down!", "Mommy said, no!", "STOP!" But, being the youngest myself, I also remember that it isn't fun being last all the time, the littlest one, or getting whapped on the head! SO, it is a constant balancing act....Patience....Discipline....Grace....Love... There are days that go great and I feel like "SUPER MOM"! Others I fall into bed feeling like I wish I could do some parts over. But, like Anne of Green Gables always said, "Tomorrow is always fresh with no mistakes in it....yet."

Other than the day to day stuff...no huge news, but I thought I would give an update on all three kiddoes:

Eliana's world right now consists of her favorite things...gymnastics class, books, playing with Evan (her cousin) and of course...as many bowls of cheerios as I will allow in one day. She is also really into zoos, farms and animals. She talks ALL the time, and is constantly saying funny things. The other day she walked out with a straw hat on and said, "Look, Mom, I'm a Girl Cow!"...She meant a cowgirl! :) She is full of energy, loves to sing and dance. She loves to walk around holding onto Zahara's hand, and she loves to show her how to do new things. And whenever Zahara does it right she cheers for her. So, now Zahara walks around the house cheering "hooray!"

Calvin is my adventure man. He is always getting himself into sticky situations, and then can't get out again. He climbs on things, then can't get down. He has, more than once, pushed his arm up into a toy only to get it stuck. He manages to get his knees and elbows jammed into places. It is kinda funny. I feel like I am running from one thing to another saving him from disaster! But he is also delightfully independant. He plays well without a lot of fussing. He is snuggly and loves his Mommy. And of course, I LOVE that! He has a temper....mostly that flares when food is slow on the appearance. He'll eat almost anything. In short...he is pretty easy-going...as long as he is fed! He is not only walking, but practically running. He also trys to hop with two feet, but ends up doing this funny skip. And the cutest thing is that whenever he hears music he just HAS to dance for a bit. He is saying hi, bye, Dada and Mama.

Zahara is our sensitive one. Like her big sis, she has a flair for being dramatic. She LOVES to be held, and would probably like to be held most of the day if we would! She has a quirky little sense of humor and seems to already know that she is funny. She likes to follow Eliana around and do whatever she is doing. She likes stuffed animals and dolls, and gets really attached to things. She is a "watcher". She watches people and things all the time. She seems to be a visual learner because you show her how to do a puzzle or toy once or twice and she can do it.

It is amazing how different these three are from each other, but still each of them is so FUN. Tony and I just find ourselves falling in love with these guys!

Sunday, September 2, 2007

It's been awhile...


It's been awhile since I last posted to the blog. Sorry about that if there is anyone out there actually reading this! I have been busy....imagine that! :) Yes, life with three small kiddoes could definitely be classified as busy. Whoever out there thinks that Stay-at-Home moms just sit around and watch soaps and eat bon-bons, well...they couldn't be more wrong. I'll be the first to admit it's a LOT of work. But, it is SOOO worth it. And so I am really thanking God for every single moment I have of my leave from work. Being able to be there for my babies is a beautiful thing.

We still spend a lot of time at home, but we have had a few adventures as a family. About a week ago we went to the Minnesota State Fair together. It was a nice time. It was pretty crazy doing all of it with three kids, but we all worked together and it was great. I am grateful MULITPLE times a day for my husband. He is SUCH a great dad. I don't know what I would do without him! We got to the fair around 10:30 and stayed about 4 hours. By then the kids were exhasuted (parents, too)! But I think we all felt happy that we had successfully navigated our first big family outing. Plus the kids all got initiated to being Minnesotan by eating several things "on a stick"!


Last night we were at my in-laws and my mother-in-law made a comment. We were sitting outside and she said, "It's really amazing how quickly you can fall in love with a child". It really struck me, because it is SO true. Not that long ago, Calvin & Zahara were just pictures to us. They were our children, but we had no emotional attachment to them. Now, less that a month home it is really beginning to feel like they've always been here. Their smiles, temperments, personality quirks and every little thing about them is so dear to us. Adoption is an amazing thing. We are so grateful for all that God has done.

Love, Jill

Friday, August 17, 2007

Lions and Tigers and Snakes?....OH MY!

So, here's the latest fun news for the neighborhood...



Our neighbors' 7 foot python got away this afternoon....and he's HUNGRY.



I'm thinking....great! And I have 3 small children! They thought he crawled under our shed, so they dug under there and got a hold on him, but he got away. So, now he is roaming the neighborhood! They don't have a lot of hope to find him because they think he will "keep moving around looking for wamth." GREAT. All I can say is that I am planning on keeping my house as cold as possible! Seriously. Could this place be more crazy? And to make things even better, they consoled themselves with the fact that they could always get another one!



I have these secret fears of it somehow making it into our house. Yuck. Have I mentioned, I DON'T LIKE SNAKES?!



So, we've had parasites, scabies, ear infections, colds, giardia, and now....snakes? Oh, dear, what's next?!


Sleeping well tonight?
Jill

Thursday, August 16, 2007

Turning the Corner?


Could it be we are turning the corner on the sibling rivalry? It seems like it is getting better. Well, at least we are having a pretty good day. I am going to claim this one as a victory!

I am sure Eliana has felt overwhelmed....like her every single space has been invaded. It HAS been pretty crazy around here. But as we settle in and get to know each other better, I am beginning to see some really fun moments of interaction between them.

Today it was Eliana and Zahara....dressing up in clothes and sunglasses and laughing at each other. And Eliana sharing her snack (willingly and independently) with Calvin. And then it was Calvin playing peek-a-boo with us and Eliana laughing really hard. Those are fun moments, and they make all the hard moments so worth it.

Love, Jill

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Oh the Mysterious Rash!


So, since we have been home we have been dealing with various issues common to international adoption. I affectionately refer to those things as "boogies and cooties"! We got home on a Sunday at 6pm and then we had to drag our jetlagged bodies to the Dr on Monday at 2.

We found out that Calvin had an ear infection and that Zahara had a nasty cold. Plus there was the mysterious rash on Zahara that popped up the week before we got her. So, they sent us home with antibiotics, creams, and specimin jars. Need I say more?

I am happy to say that the kiddoes are overwhelmingly VERY healthy. Calvin is all better, the cold is ancient history, but we are still dealing with the mysterious rash. The Dr. initially thought it might be scabies. So, we went through a funny ritual that Monday night we came home. Everyone got baths, then the cream from head to toe, then on with jammies and socks over the hands so the cream wouldn't get in mouths. Then in the morning, off with all the jammies and into the bath again. Then wash ALL the linens, and vacuum EVERYTHING! Then, repeat AGAIN a week later! It is a good thing Tony and I work well as a team. So, the result?...

The mysterious rash is STILL with us! AARRRRGH! I took Zahara back to the doctor today and we got a whole new set of medicines and instructions. I am sure hoping that it works this time. Poor baby. So, if you think of it, send up a prayer for little "Zaza" (as I like to call her). The rash hasn't spread to anyone else, so at least we have that going for us!

I know that "THIS TOO SHALL PASS". And one of these days it will all be ancient history!

Love,
Tony, Jill, Eliana, Calvin, and dear little rashy Zahara!

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

Happy Birthday to you....You live in a zoo...



Well, it DOES feel like a zoo around here sometimes, but mostly in a very good way. We are having a lot of crazy fun here in the Geselle house! And today we were happy to celebrate the first birthday of the very newest members of our family. Calvin and Zahara turned 1 year old today!

I think Eliana was more pumped up and excited than anyone. She kept skipping around the house talking about presents and "happy cake" (her name for birthday cake). Since it was going to just be the 5 of us I kept it kinda low key. I made some cupcakes and a very small round cake that said "Happy First Birthday". We sang to them and let them each dig into a cupcake. It was so fun watching them. Calvin was tenative at first (he had just woken up from a nap), but Zahara dug right in! She had two fistfulls and kept shoving it in as fast as she could. Calvin wasn't too far behind and he soon had a face completely covered with blue frosting.

We feel so blessed to have celebrated their first birthday with them and to have these 2 special rays of sunshine in our lives. God is so good.

Love,
Tony, Jill, Eliana, Calvin and Zahara Geselle

Wednesday, August 8, 2007

"Getting to Know You....Getting to Know All About You..."

We are home, and now begins the fun of getting to know each other all over again. Before we left it seemed like things were in a groove. It was Tony, Jill and Eliana. The three amigos who knew each other inside and out. Now we've added to the mix our two new little cuties, and BOY....have things changed!

Eliana is in big sister mode in all possible ways. It is fun to see how excited she is to see the babies every morning and when they get up from their naps. It is so cute how they look at each other and laugh and entertain one another. It is neat to see how they get such a kick out of each other. It makes me see that having three kids so close in age is going to be a great thing. Not easy....but SO worth it! I remind myself of that when there is much crying, pushing, toy stealing, and tantrums going on! :)

As another news flash, we have FINALLY chosen names.

Tesfahun is now:
Calvin Tesfahun Anthony Geselle



We realize that this is a LOOONG name, but it all has a reason. We named him Calvin because he looks like a Calvin, but also because that was the first name of a missionary, Calvin Olson, who did amazing things for God in Bangladesh. I admired him and his wife SO much as a kid. It is our prayer and desire that Calvin would grow up to be a man of God like that. Tesfahun means, "be my hope" and it is his Ethiopian name, so it gets the place of honor. Next is Anthony, for Tony. In Tony's family, the boys always take their father's first name as their middle name. So, the tradition continues!

Zenete is now:
Zahara Zenete Geselle

Zahara is an Ethiopian/arabic name that means "beautiful flower". We though it fit. You say it like the Sahara desert....with all long a's. Zenete is her Ethiopian name which means, "proud". I guess we are proud of our beautiful flower!

We will try to keep updating you all on how things are going.
Love,
The Geselle 5