Travel Dates!!!

WOW... I am still flying high with excitement from getting the news that Sweet M* is my son. I can't even put into words the excitement and anticipation that I feel right now. I have a lot of updates so lets get started.

Travel Dates- We found out yesterday that we are traveling May 11-21st. We may leave May 9th if we think we can leave the kiddos and business long enough to visit the orphanage that Sweet M* was in initially. We really want to make this happen but its just a matter of if it is a real possibility or not at this point?? We also are advocating for squeezing in the earlier travel group which would leave April 27th- May 7th. But, our agency is not sure they can process the required paperwork in time. I am keeping my fingers crossed though as those dates would be MUCH better for us. But, either way we are ecstatic. The thought that we will be meeting our son and coming home to finally be a completed family is just overwhelming... and GOOD!

Orphanage Donations- We are starting an underwear donation drive. Our transition house and the orphanage could use boys and girls underwear in sizes 2T-12. We are hoping to bring tubs of NEW/ clean underwear for the kids. I know they are short especially on boys sizes 5-10. If anyone out there in blogland wants to help contribute leave a comment with your email address and I will email you my mailing address.
They are also in need of soy formula (parents choice available at Walmart), diapers in all sizes (but more smaller bc the kiddos are potty trained very young), new and like new kids and teen clothing, dark colored tights for kids 1-4 yrs, lice shampoo, hydrocortizone cream, diaper rash ointment, band aids, multi vitamins (drops for infants, chewable for kids), toothbrushes, toothpaste, & plastic pants.

TO MY FAMILY/ FRIENDS- Some of you have asked if we need anything for Sweet M*. Or if we are having a shower. The answer is thank you so much but, no. We are so lucky to already have EVERYTHING we need for him. What we really would like is for our family and friends who would like to have given a gift to help us by giving donations for us to bring to the transition house and orphanage when we travel. Families that traveled before us have been bringing donations that have helped Sweet M* while he is there. It is a pay it forward type system and we would LOVE to help the kiddos who will follow in our sweet boy's footsteps. And, each little bit helps. We thank you in advance for your generosity and understanding.

Second Try

Tonight while we sleep hopefully our case will be heard in Ethiopia.
We are praying that all the proper paperwork and people are present and that the power stays on so that our case will be heard and the judge will approve it.
I have to be honest it has been the hardest wait so far between not passing on the 17th and now. I miss my son. We all do. The kids constantly are asking when their brother is coming home. They want some sort of a time line and I can't give that to them yet. Belle has even buckled M*'s picture in the car... I mean really we are soooo ready. But, we know that God's timing will be perfect and we try to relax and trust in him. Here are a few recent pics of M*'s brothers and sister. (room re-model is still finishing up so pics will be another post).

Above is Captain Crazy's artwork at his school's art show. We were very proud his piece was chosen;)

Cuddlebear at the art show

Belle at Disneyland trying to convince us to buy her a Jessie doll. Hard to say no... but we did.

Captain jumping through the "A" at California Adventure

Cuddlebear swinging in the rope swing.

And, Belle being the happy girl she is ;)
Please pray for us, send us happy thoughts and positive vibes we appreciate everyone's support.

Update from a traveling parent

I mentioned in a previous post that a very sweet traveling parent from my agency agreed to bring Sweet M* a voice recorder and some stickers for me. She just recently arrived home with her son and was sweet enough to email me this about Sweet M*, " I showed him how to stick the stickers on his clothes and he liked that. His eyes got really big when he listened to the recorder. He was beautiful! Just wanted you to know he got it and I gave him some hugs for you. :) ."

It is unreal to know that she was there looking into my son's eyes... face to face... I SO badly want to be there with him now. But, little things like this help me stay sane. Thank you so much Angeline. I really appreciate your kindness.

Just a reminder our second court date is March 29th, but it will take place Monday night here in the US bc Ethiopia is ahead of us. Please please please pray that we pass this time. That the power does not go out and that all the documents and people that need to be there are there. I am very ready to go and get Sweet M*!!!!!

Another M* Update!!!

I was so excited to receive an email from my case worker today. I have been really nervous with our court date coming up on Thursday. It is so strange to think that this Wed. night while we are all sleeping our case will be heard in a court half way around the world in Ethiopia. And, if we pass my sweet boy will share our last name.

Just a heads up it is common in Ethiopia for court to be postponed or re-scheduled due to power outages, missing paperwork, etc... We are hoping and praying that we pass the first time and we would appreciate any prayers, good vibes, positive thoughts etc... that you could send our way. We are SO READY to bring our little guy home. Even though we have never met him we all miss him dearly.

The update had a medical exam in it and my M* is doing very well. His health is still only adequate but he looks great. The update also had a new picture and for the first time my boy is not in pink... not that there is anything wrong with boys in pink in fact he looks pretty darn good in it. But, I am sure a little boy probably prefers blue over pink... at least I think?? It is so funny to only know your child through photos. I sit and analyze each photo for hours. Trying to imagine how he feels, what his personality is like. I think it is going to be so weird to finally be face to face with him. Hopefully, that day is soon... very very soon!!!

Update on M*!!!

I spoke to my caseworker today and I learned that my sweet M* was moved to the WACAP House earlier this week, this is great news!!! Previously, M* had been at an orphanage and while they do their best to take care of M* it is a little more reassuring to have him at our agency's transition house. I was told that the WACAP House has a doctor who is employed by our agency and that M* will be fed better there. Plus, when traveling parents go to pick up their children they spend a lot of time at the WACAP house getting to know their own kiddos and therefore there is more opportunities for them to also meet my sweet M*. I am really hoping this will mean that we hear some more updates on how our son is doing.

My second bit of happy news is I got an email today from a traveling parent who is leaving to pick up her son this Sat. She emailed me to let me know she received my voice recorder (woohoo)and that she was happy to give it to sweet M*. Very exciting!!! I wish I knew if he has received my first care package yet. Does he know who we are... What we look like???

But, all my happy news doesn't take away the worry I have about how the new HUGE change to Ethiopia's travel rules for adoptions might effect us. You see yesterday a rumor spread across the yahoo boards from numerous agencies stating that a new rule was made effective immediately that requires both parents to travel and appear at court (to be in person to accept their referral) and then make a 2nd trip back to Ethiopia to pick up their child. That is why I am saying HUGE change. Right now we are being told that people with a court date (like us) will NOT be effected by this change... but I am not counting my chickens. So, to say I am a little stressed in an understatement. I am praying we pass court next Thursday (really Wed. night here) so I can put this behind us. But, how selfish is that??? There are tons of families who this rule will effect if it becomes law... not to mention all the children who need families. One of the reasons people choose to adopt from Ethiopia is because of their current travel requirements. Now people may skip over Ethiopia as an option and that breaks my heart. Ethiopia is a beautiful country and there are many children in need of a loving home. My heart goes out to those children. I hope that Ethiopia is able to work on this rule and find ways to empower ethical adoptions without making the process too difficult for loving families to get through.