Wednesday, November 21, 2007
We chose 7/4/07 as the boys' birthdate. The day we celebrate the birth of the greatest nation the world has ever known seems like a perfect day to share as the birth of the twins.
The names we have chosen, Reagan Michael Dennis (President, Jen's dad, and my good friend Mr. Miller) and Samuel Brian Carl (after great American author Twain, and our brothers).
We have been overwhelmed with e-mails and greetings from all over. Thanks for thinking of us and for the support, prayers, and so on. Be back soon.
The names we have chosen, Reagan Michael Dennis (President, Jen's dad, and my good friend Mr. Miller) and Samuel Brian Carl (after great American author Twain, and our brothers).
We have been overwhelmed with e-mails and greetings from all over. Thanks for thinking of us and for the support, prayers, and so on. Be back soon.
Sunday, November 18, 2007
I am writing this somewhere over the Atlantic, the vastness of which is immeasurable, no matter how many times you fly over it.
I am returning from what will, barring the unforeseen, be the most memorable trip I will ever venture on. I left the US Wednesday morning as the father of one, and I am returning as the proud papa of three...one more than expected, but more on that later. As the culmination of about a year of planning and hoop jumping, the last few days have been spent in Ethiopia, where we had been setting up an adoption of a little boy.
After a Newark-Amsterdam-Addis itinerary, I met with the officials we had worked with. After minimal paperwork, I was transported to a rural orphanage, which is most often the refuge of babies that are victims of child abuse or parental neglect, due to extreme poverty, drug use, or illness. In the case of the youngster for which we signed on, he was brought to the center by extended family, as his mother had passed away soon after his birth, due to complications. The family did not feel they could support another, so he was brought to this center.
I was introduced to the little fella late Thursday. He was sharing a crib with another little guy, about the same size. I assumed this was common, due to shortage of space, but looking around, it did not seem to be common at all. When I asked which one was destined to live with myself and Jenny, there was some whispers and such, quick explanations, and I was informed it was up to me...as the boys were twins, and either would be fine.
This was quite a dilemma, because I was being asked to make a decision which would have repercussions for not just two lives, but all they would touch in their lifetimes, and possibly generations/eternity. I am not comfortable making such a random call, as my mind would constantly wonder what happened to the other baby I left in the crib to be released at 12 to fend for himself.
After relatively painless discussions, the idea of taking the siblings was brought up, and though the call to my spouse was not looked forward to, it was the best choice, I felt, for myself, my family, and the boys.
{now in New York City, Manhattan to be precise, where I was on a day we now refer to as 9/11}
Anyway, I called Jen in Amsterdam, she was shocked but understood, and I was joined by a trusty assistant for the trans-ocean flight of infinite length, with two 6-month olds. Heh.
We landed without incident in Newark, and my wife met her two new sons. We will be releasing info such as their names and the like as soon as we decide on a second one. I'm been calling them "guys" for days now.
I do ask that if you are a member of the media, you respect our privacy, as we will continue to release information as things change. We will soon be home in Wisconsin and will celebrate our first Thanksgiving as a family of five Thursday.
I am returning from what will, barring the unforeseen, be the most memorable trip I will ever venture on. I left the US Wednesday morning as the father of one, and I am returning as the proud papa of three...one more than expected, but more on that later. As the culmination of about a year of planning and hoop jumping, the last few days have been spent in Ethiopia, where we had been setting up an adoption of a little boy.
After a Newark-Amsterdam-Addis itinerary, I met with the officials we had worked with. After minimal paperwork, I was transported to a rural orphanage, which is most often the refuge of babies that are victims of child abuse or parental neglect, due to extreme poverty, drug use, or illness. In the case of the youngster for which we signed on, he was brought to the center by extended family, as his mother had passed away soon after his birth, due to complications. The family did not feel they could support another, so he was brought to this center.
I was introduced to the little fella late Thursday. He was sharing a crib with another little guy, about the same size. I assumed this was common, due to shortage of space, but looking around, it did not seem to be common at all. When I asked which one was destined to live with myself and Jenny, there was some whispers and such, quick explanations, and I was informed it was up to me...as the boys were twins, and either would be fine.
This was quite a dilemma, because I was being asked to make a decision which would have repercussions for not just two lives, but all they would touch in their lifetimes, and possibly generations/eternity. I am not comfortable making such a random call, as my mind would constantly wonder what happened to the other baby I left in the crib to be released at 12 to fend for himself.
After relatively painless discussions, the idea of taking the siblings was brought up, and though the call to my spouse was not looked forward to, it was the best choice, I felt, for myself, my family, and the boys.
{now in New York City, Manhattan to be precise, where I was on a day we now refer to as 9/11}
Anyway, I called Jen in Amsterdam, she was shocked but understood, and I was joined by a trusty assistant for the trans-ocean flight of infinite length, with two 6-month olds. Heh.
We landed without incident in Newark, and my wife met her two new sons. We will be releasing info such as their names and the like as soon as we decide on a second one. I'm been calling them "guys" for days now.
I do ask that if you are a member of the media, you respect our privacy, as we will continue to release information as things change. We will soon be home in Wisconsin and will celebrate our first Thanksgiving as a family of five Thursday.
