Leaving tomorrow

Well the time has finally come. I leave tomorrow. I'm excited and a little anxious. The kids are a little crazy and upset and acting out. Bill joked that I'm the lucky leaving - he has to stay and put up with them :) And I am excited to go get Abigail. I will meeting Sue, with our agency, at JFK and we will be flying over to Ethiopia together. That makes me feel a little better. She's been there done that too many times - she's a pro. I am stopping in Dubai, Saudi Arabia overnight on Sunday and then leaving there early Monday for the last leg to Addis. I should arrive around 11:30. From then I will be checking in my Guest House and then leaving again to go out to Will's orphanage. I will have the opportunity to meet Will's bio grandfather. It will be a long trip and require an overnight stay but when will I ever have the chance again. I'm taking a scrapbook for him so he can see Will now and how much he's changed. Because of this side trip I will not be getting Abigail right away, I will be getting her on Wednesday. After that Thursday is our Embassy appointment and then shopping on Friday. We leave late Saturday and will be home on Sunday. Hopefully I will have better email access on this trip and I will plan on posting from Ethiopia. :)

1 week to go

Well, I leave for my big trip in 1 week. This time next week I will be on board my plane for JFK. I am excited and scared at the same time. I also am dealing with the thought of leaving Bill and the kids behind and that doesn't thrill me. But God is good all the time, and all the time God is good. He provided me someone to tag along with and not feel so alone. Sue with our Adoption Agency is making a trip and will be on the same flight and staying at the same Guest House as I will. That makes my family feel a  little better. I'm busy, busy packing and making lists of things I need. Not like China, there is no WalMart and I have to take everything I need with me. I'm carrying on as much as I can so I don't have the same disaster like last time. Prayerfully that will not happen again. So pray for me as I prepare to go and that everything will work out well :)

Abigail

Well we haven't posted in a while. Since the last post things have really changed. Abigail didn't have her court date on 5/3, it was postponed until 5/21. Well, she didn't pass court - more paperwork problems. Then she had another court date on 6/8 and this time around she passed. She is officially ours and we are her's. We all were so excited for that wonderful news. We didn't think she would pass, but God got all those needed papers in the right hands. So now, I'm in the process of making flights and hotel reservations. Her Embassy appointment is 7/15, which means that I have to be there that week. I am probably going to leave Saturday 7/10 and return Saturday 7/17. We're trying to get the best flight for the best price (which during the summer there is no such thing). The prices are already at least 1/2 more than the trip just back in March. Thankfully we only have to buy 1 ticket and not two. Anyway, I'll post more when we have exact flight info.
Thanks for praying for us and Abigail. Soon our house is really going to be CRAZY!!!! :)

Abigail's court date

We received yet more good news. We know now Abigail's court date. It's May 3rd. Only about 2 1/2 weeks away. Please pray that it passes court. If it doesn't pass the first time they correct the mistake and send it back to court. We're hoping since it took so long to get it done that it is done correctly and that it will pass. Once that happens we wait again for word of our Embassy appointment. That should be about 5-6 weeks later. Which puts it in the beginning of June. Maybe the 2nd week or so. Will let everyone know once she has passed. Please pray that she does.

Good News!!!

Well we finally got the news we have been waiting for. Abigail's paperwork is finally complete! We are waiting for a court date (which should be the beginning of May) and if the case passes court then about 5 weeks later to go get her. We will let you all know when our court date is. We will be praying that her case passes and there are no more problems. I posted 2 more pictures to enjoy!

Life back to normal

Well, things here are getting back to normal. We're back to homeschooling and Bill is back at work. Thankfully JPMChase allowed him to take FMLA paternal leave last week and I was very happy he was here with us on our first week home. We had lots of Dr appointments for everyone. Will is healthy and happy- no intestinal bugs or anything. And Brooke got her braces off! Her teeth look amazing. Anyway the adjustments here are ok. Believe it nor not the girls are having a harder time than he is. Lots of crying and fits and most of it is from them not him. Oh, he's having fits too, but the girls are having their fair share. Unfortunately no new news on Abigail. We were hoping that we would hear something soon. Our agency worker is over there now and hopefully she can get it completed. I've added new pictures of Will and the girls.

Enjoy!

We've back

We weren't able to post a lot in Ethiopia.  The internet service is slow when it is available.  Most of the time we could not get connected.  It takes 10 to 20 minutes just to connect sometimes.  Then, there are often brown outs; no power; no internet.  Perhaps, Becky or I will back post some entries about what went on in Ethiopia. 

We are back.  Our luggage is missing again.  Isn't that funny. :)

Will (Eyob) is doing great.  He loves his Sister's who are dragging him around everywhere!

He slept good last night, but, got up early on 6:00.  I think is is the time zone change.

I've been trying to post this entry, but, he keeps distracting me.  He wants more cherrios.  This boy eats!!  We are certain it is because of knowing too much hunger.  We are trying not to over feed him.  It is hard to say "no more". 

I'll let becky post some later with a picture.  Will keeps wanting me to pick him up and play.  He is constantly speaking amheric words to me and I can't figure them out.  I even got a amheric dictionary, but, it isn't helping.  He will learn english soon enough.

Ciao

We're here

Hey everyone.  Well, we made it very late Sunday night at about midnight here time.  We are about 7 hours ahead of you all back home. Anyway, yesterday we got Will and to say that he is adorable is just not enough. He is full of personality and very shy (just like Daddy and Brooke). He cracked some smiles this morning and has laughed. He is adjusting very well and has been eating and drinking very well. The only thing is that he is potty trained but will not go for us. The ladies here at the guest house have been wonderful and have talked to him in Amharic and he went for them. The weather here is great. Very cool at night and comfortable during the day, which is good since we don't have a/c. The other thing is there are rolling black outs around town to conserve energy so last night we didn't have electricity. Other than that everything is good. The only thing all of you can pray for us is that we only got 1 of our bags, the other 3 are supposed to be coming this morning and we are downstairs waiting for a ride to the airport to go get them. The other families here have been wonderful and gave us lots of toiletries. After the airport we are on our way to get Abigail. We haven't seen her yet and it was good for us to have a day with Will by himself. Just pray for us and for her that she will adjust to us. One other family here is in the same situation as us and has to let their one daughter go, so we are able to comfort eachother. The intenet connection is DSL and very unreliable. Hopefully we'll be able to post again soon. We love you all and miss you terribly.

Rhon - tell M&D we're doing good and to give the girls a big hug and kiss from us :)

We're off!

Just wanting to send a quick post before we leave.  Everything so far is going smoothly at home.  The girls are a little cranky but that is to be expected. We are excited and scared at the same time. Please continue to pray for us and for Will and Abigail. I know leaving her will be the hardest. :(

A few pictures to enjoy

Well, we're tying up things here.  We've got all the bags at the door and making sure we have the proper paperwork. We are going to try to get to bed early and get ready for that long trip tomorrow.  Sue sent us these pictures just last week.  All the children in are the transition house, meaning that the have passed court and are waiting for their parents to come get them.  Will is in the front with the orange shirt.

less than 2 days to go

We are super busy around here packing and making sure we have everything.  It's not going to be like our previous 2 trips to China.  We have been told several times if we don't bring it we won't be able to get it. So we are making sure we have everything we think we need plus some.  The suitcases that looked so empty just the other day are bulging at the seams. The girls are starting to break down and get upset as they see the packing getting done.  Both of them cried and cried this afternoon begging us not to go and then changed to us bringing them along. We knew it was only a matter of time before that happened. I can't wait to see what it's going to be like when we leave them at the airport :)

Will is from Hadiya

Will is from an area called Hadiya.

In dark pink (not light pink), below (or surrounded by) the gray area, below Gurage, south of Addis Ababa. In the region area called SNNPR

Flight info

06 MAR 10 - SATURDAY
AIR UNITED AIRLINES FLT:312 ECONOMY

LV TAMPA 130P EQP: BOEING 757-200
02HR 15MIN
AR WASHINGTON DULLES 345P NON-STOP
REF: PPSF48

AIR ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES FLT:501 ECONOMY MULTI MEALS
LV WASHINGTON DULLES 830P EQP: BOEING 767
15HR 00MIN
07 MAR 10 - SUNDAY
AR ADDIS ABABA 730P 1-STOP
REF: LRERVF
VIA ROME FIUMICINO


12 MAR 10 - FRIDAY
AIR ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES FLT:500 ECONOMY MULTI MEALS
LV ADDIS ABABA 1015P EQP: BOEING 767
17HR 20MIN
13 MAR 10 - SATURDAY
AR WASHINGTON DULLES 735A 1-STOP
REF: LRERVF
VIA ROME FIUMICINO
AIR US AIRWAYS FLT:3997 COACH CLASS
OPERATED BY US AIRWAYS EXPRESS-AIR WISCONSIN
LV WASHINGTON DULLES 1000A EQP: CANADAIR REG JET
01HR 29MIN
AR CHARLOTTE 1129A NON-STOP
REF: DFEH3V
AIR US AIRWAYS FLT:1817 COACH CLASS
LV CHARLOTTE 101P EQP: AIRBUS A321
01HR 39MIN
AR TAMPA 240P NON-STOP
REF: DFEH3V

Traveling second week in March

We have an embassy appointmet.  It is March 11th.  Your home travel centers around you US embassy appointment for your child's visa to the US.

We will be leaving the second week in march to go get Will.

Will not be getting Abigail and Will together

We had thought that we may be able to travel and get them both.  Will would wait in a transistion home until Abigail passed court and we were ready to get her as well.  That isn't going to happen.  There are still issues with Abigail's paperwork.  We don't want to make Will wait any longer.  It is hard seeing him getting older. 

We should be traveling in the begining of march.

Congratuations!!! You have a son.

Will's paperwork has passed court.  We now have a Son. 

Today is our anniversary.  I couldn't ask for a better present.

Abigail's paper work is done !!

Abigail's paperwork is done!!  They will submit her paper's to court after Will's court date is finished.  What does this mean?  We don't know.  But, it is progress.

Court date for Will

Will has a court date on Feb 1.  No news yet on Abigail.

Decisions

We had to make a decision.  Will's orphange can not wait any longer for Abigail's paperwork to be completed.  So, we have agreed to send Will's papers to court.  We will just keep praying that Abigail's paperwork gets done. 

Still waiting on Abigail's paperwork

Will's paperwork has been done.  However, Abigail's has not.  We don't know why.  But, her orphange has not gotten it done yet.  This is what has been holding us up.  We just found out we may have to travel twice.  We are waiting and praying Abigail's paper work will get done and we can get them together.

We didn't even know until now that it would be possible to go twice.  Apparently, this has happened before.  We will do it if we have to.  But, it will cost a lot more and it will be heart breaking to not bring them both home.  Also, we don't know how to work it out.  Who goes for the second trip and who stays behind.

Sue had advised us from the start that Abigail's orphange was slower in getting the paper work done. 

More pictures

We just got more pictures and a video. Will is such a charmer!!

We could have our children home by October

If the embassy does not close down for the rainy season. Then, we could have them home in October. Otherwise, it will be sometime late November or December. Still, this would be before christmas.

Sue found out the courts would close. So, it looks like Nov 3 or 17th for a court date. She says she is sorry this will take so long. It is not so long when you are used to China.

Abigail medical issue

We got Abigail's medical report. She has a misshapened head. It says there are no neurological issues. The agency wants to know if we still want to adopt Abigail. We said we would pray about it. But, we already feel she is ours. We could run into issues if she were our biological child.

I did some research on the internet. This is not necessarily a big issue. If she was in the US then they would do a simple MRI to make sure there is no swelling and put a helmet on her head. However, she is Ethiopia. We will just have to get her home.

Our pediatrician is not concerned.

We called the agency and told them. It doesn't matter. Please, proceed with the adoption.

Sending toys

We were able to send toys to Will and Abigail.  Just something small.  We sent a photo album to each.  We sent a little play phone to Abigail and a couple of cars for Will.  Brooke and Katie Rose picked out the toys, of course. 
 

Everyone comments on those eye lashes

Will has the longest eye lashes! All the ladies are jealous. Of course, the orphanage is putting him in whatever close they have on hand. We have a picture of him (which I will not post for his sake) which shows him in a shirt with pink writing saying "I'm a cutie!" How embarissing for him.

I'll save it for his first girl friend :)

Pictures of Will

Pictures of Abigail

Issues with Abigail

We were told that Abigail's orphanage is slow. We should perhaps consider another child. Sue would let us know if there was another girl in Will's orphanage. She removed them both from the listing of children.

We had decided on Will but would let he know about Abigail. More praying.

Choosen

Becky called me at work. There was a baby girl on the website. She had just been posted. She wanted to know what I thought. I signed onto the website from work. She was so beautiful. Becky was already in love. We said we would both pray about it and look more when I got home. Becky call the agency. They said she was available, just let them know.

When I got home, we looked again. We were both sure. Then, we found Will's picture. I was sure of him.

How do you choose?

The process for Ethiopia is so differnt from China. With China, they select the child for you. (Of course, we know God really does this). But, with Ethiopia, we were presented with a photo gallery of children, beautiful children, all in need of a home. To make things more difficult, the children come with a history. You get to read some of their story. You find your heart going out to all of them. We looked a lot at the children. We had considered many of them. Sue, with the agency, was trying to convince us into two boys ages 7 and 5. That's the same age as Brooke and Katie. We would have virtual twins! We did pray about them. But, we really wanted younger and did not feel God was telling us that these were our children. We did not want to change the age order. We felt Katie was ok with this. She likes being the baby. Brooke likes being the oldest. It would be difficult for her if she wasn't.

- Bill -