We made it!

We just finished breakfast here at the guest house and in a very short
time our driver will be here to take us to Judah's orphanage. We are
overwhelmed and beyond excited! It's about time, right?! Our trip here
was interesting and very very long! Our first flight out of Grand
Junction was delayed but we didn't miss our connection in Denver. We
got to Washington DC and met up with Melissa which was a sweet reunion.
Our plane out of DC left late but with no issues. After the first meal
I (Kami) didn't feel well. It got worse and worse. I couldn't sleep
because of my stomach which made the night very long and not at all
enjoyable. Finally I was able to find a couple empty seats to lay down
in. Shortly after I filled a baggy with my last couple of meals. I felt
a lot better after that but even this morning I am not 100%. Last night
we got to the guest house by 10:30pm (12:30 in the afternoon in Grand
Junction). I took a prescribed sleep aid pill and slept fabulously
until 4am when I woke up very awake and ready to go. So, we have a full
schedule today but the only thing we're thinking about is meeting our
boy.

Ethiopia is a very different place and it's been wonderful so far to
experience the people and the sites. I love cross cultural experiences
having been to Costa Rica and Mexico but this trip is a first for Dave
and Melissa.

We will try to update as often as we can but with 2 other families here
using one laptop on dial up it may not be as often as I would hope.
Thank you for your prayers.

Last post in the USA

My heart skips a beat every time I realize how close I am to leaving the country. We will be in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Sunday morning (for those reading) which will actually be evening in ET. We'll get a good nights' sleep and hopefully be meeting our son on Monday. It's becoming more real the closer I get to that plane. I am praying we haven't forgotten anything and that all our luggage will meet the weight requirements.

The Lord has been so good to us through this journey. We've hit many bumps along the way and many human errors that have delayed our trip but we never once doubted that this little boy was our son. We've always known that God called us to this and even in the hard moments I knew it would be worth it all in the end. God's amazing and we are so thankful to be called HIS!

I will update again as soon as I can. I am thankful for all who read this blog, have supported us along the way and are praying for us now. God bless you for blessing us!

We're packed

. . .and sadly, we have to leave some donations behind because we can't go over the weight limits. :( We have 4 suitcases weighing 50 lbs. each and 4 carry-ons weighing 15 lbs. each. Most of what we are bringing is donations which means we'll have plenty of room for souvenirs coming home. I hope that our scale is correct and we don't go over on anything. I am a little nervous. I am thrilled to have so many clothes, shoes, diapers and formula to give to the orphanage. It's a blessing!

I got a massage this morning, which was fabulous. It loosens everything up and I feel so amazing now! I am drinking a ton of water and I'm going to do some yoga before bed.

Just some random tidbits

So, our agency got us an embassy date before having confirmation that the National Visa Center has processed our request. So, Dave and I spent over an hour calling them tonight . . .there wasn't a waiting queue so we had to keep calling back. Finally I pressed 1 instead of 2 for the Haiti line. . .I got a hold of someone in no time. They checked and it was sent to the embassy 3 days ago. . YEA!

I downloaded the Beth Moore audio book Breaking Free. I am excited to listen to it on one of our many flights. I have heard good things about the study but haven't had a chance to do it. This will be good for me.

We had a plastic bag with J's undies and sox in it. . .I can't find it anywhere. I know it's in the house but one of the boys probably got a hold of it. Who knows where it is now. So, tomorrow we may have to go purchase some more to take on the trip.

I started to crochet a blanket for a friend. It's a long overdue gift. I hope I have room in my carry on cause I want to work on it on the plane. It'll help keep me awake while listening to my book on my ipod. Otherwise, I will fall asleep while listening.

On my mind. . .

meeting Judah
experiencing Ethiopia
Doro Wat
15 hour flight
painful hip
a massage
leaving Liam & Gabriel
packing
shopping in Addis
The Orphanage
dinner
seeing Melissa
planning Liam's birthday
making J's bed
sick boys
National Visa Center isn't answering
frustration

Started Packing

So, I gathered my clothes together for our trip and started to work on organizing and packing. It's a little over whelming. There is actually a weight limit on the carry-ons. I suppose it's only on international flights but it makes packing tough. In the past, we'd always save heavier items such as shoes for the carry-ons so we could easily stay under the limit on the checked luggage. I must say I am thankful that we each get two free checked bags which is what is allowing us to take so many donations for the orphanage.

Packing is making all this so much more real. There are a lot of little things that just make the reality sink in a little more. Like, when our travel packet from our travel agency arrived. It was so awesome to see our names on those little slips along with the details of our trip. I am just ready to go!

Nice! It's time to start packing

To-Do

DONE >Pick up prescriptions
DONE >organize documents
DONE >call insurance company about what name they'll use for Judah's coverage
DONE >call pediatrician's office to give correct name
DONE >finish setting up child care for Andrea
>clean house
>laundry
>pack our 4 suitcases and 4 carry-ons
DONE >get someone to clean the church for us
DONE >get tons of cash from the bank
DONE >get another car seat
>get J's mattress from friends
DONE >get passport/money belt from friends
DONE >pick up Beth Moore book from the bookstore
>finish play lists for ipods

What's wrong?

The past two days have been tough. . .I am so emotional but not in a happy way. I was watching 101 Dalmatians with the boys and found massive tears rolling down my face at the reunion at the end of the movie. I know I am excited to meet my son and the anxiety isn't fun but what in the world is wrong with me?! I just have been on the verge of tears all day. I pray that it's linked to my anxiety and that it's all gone by the time we leave. I don't want this to be an issue and I get nervous about what's going on inside of me when I deal with feeling depressed and don't have a good reason for it. I mean, I am going to meet my new son in less then a week! Come-on!

Slowly getting things done

To-Do

>Pick up prescriptions
DONE >organize documents
>call insurance company about what name they'll use for Judah's coverage
>call pediatrician's office to give correct name
>finish setting up child care for Andrea
>clean house
>laundry
>pack our 4 suitcases and 4 carry-ons
DONE >get someone to clean the church for us
>get tons of cash from the bank
DONE >get another car seat
>get J's mattress from friends
DONE >get passport/money belt from friends
>pick up Beth Moore book from the bookstore
>finish play lists for ipods

Booster Seat

So, it dawned on Dave and I that when we get home we won't have a booster seat for J. This is a fairly important thing to get taken care of!! So, I ordered one online today and I'm having it shipped to my brother's house where my boys are staying while we're gone. They can get it into our van (which they'll use while we're gone) and it'll be all ready for him when we get to the airport. It's kind of crazy to think about having three car seats in our van. It's a lot of work now to get both boys in and out of the van but now it'll be 3 boys. I am not sure how much I will be out and about with all 3 of them without Dave. I will become super mom!! I am excited!

Sleep and pain

So, I need some prayer. I have not had a good night sleep for a week. The boys are taking turns waking in the middle of the night and I struggle to fall back asleep once they're taken care of. On top of these restless nights I am having some pretty intense pain in my hip. I have realized that I usually sleep on my back with my left leg pulled up and bent but laying down. This opens up my hip and it's causing the pain when I sit or lay down. I am trying to fix this problem so that when I have to sit on a plane for 24 hours I won't be in so much pain. So, please pray that through my Chiropratic adjustments and trying to get out of this sleep habit my hip will get back to normal and won't affect my sleep or the trip. Thanks!

"To-Do" and "Finished" lists

Done:

>tickets booked
>accommodations booked
>pets are covered
>mail is covered
>groceries for My brother's family (where our boys are staying)
>prescriptions are filled

To-Do

>Pick up prescriptions
>organize documents
>call insurance company about what name they'll use for Judah's coverage
>call pediatrician's office to give correct name
>finish setting up child care for Andrea
>clean house
>laundry
>pack our 4 suitcases and 4 carry-ons
>get someone to clean the church for us
>get tons of cash from the bank
>get another car seat
>get J's mattress from friends
>get passport/money belt from friends
>pick up Beth Moore book from the bookstore
>finish play lists for ipods

Check the blog

So, in my last post I mentioned that if you want to be on our email list to let me know. I realized that could get complicated. I will try to send out email updates BUT please don't bank on keeping updated through email. I will, however, be updating this blog first and foremost so if you want to know what's going on, check the blog. :-)

Tickets are booked!

We have paid for our tickets so this is it! We are flying out of Grand Junction in the morning on Saturday the 30th and we'll be getting back on Saturday the 6th of February. We have a lot to get done between now and then and we still are both in shock and it's so over whelming. If you're interested in meeting us at the airport when we arrive let us now and we'll try to remember to put you on an email list. :-) No promises.

I get to meet my son SOON!! AHHHH!

No more delays. . .PRAISE the LORD!!

We found out today that we got the February 2nd embassy date and we will be leaving in a week and a half! It's been quite an emotional day. I couldn't stop crying with excitement over the fact that I will be holding my son in less then two weeks! AHH! I have a hard time describing the emotion I have been feeling today. It's over whelming but in a good way. :-) Dave is in communication with a travel agency and we're working on plane tickets. We will most likely be leaving on the 29th and returning on the 6th. I've been reading "gotcha" stories (when families meet their kids for the first time and forever) on the BCS discussion boards. It's such a beautiful thing and always makes me cry. I know there is so much to get done in the next 10 days but today I am just trying to let it soak in and become a reality.

Not the best news

The USCIS refused to expedite our immigration approval onto the National Visa Center however they did go ahead and finish it at their office today. They will be mailing their approval via snail mail to us and the NVC on the east coast (hopefully, they mailed it out today). The NVC will take up to a week to get everything set for J to get his visa in Ethiopia so he can come home. Once we have that approval letter in our hand we need to fax it onto the national BCS office and it's up to them whether or not they will proceed to get us an embassy appointment set without knowing for sure the National Visa Center is done. The risk is that we could end up in Ethiopia waiting on them to approve us and get J his visa home. At this point, Dave and I are willing to take that risk knowing that they only need about a week and if we get a embassy date set it may not be for two weeks. Anyway, now we wait for this letter to come in the mail. If they sent it today from the other side of the mountains there's a chance we could get it tomorrow but then with the holiday on Monday, BCS won't touch it until Tuesday. Please say a prayer that things will move quickly after the weekend. We're ready to go. . .

Another update

Just talked to Dave and he said that the woman at a congressman's office said that USCIS is waiting on a new copy of the home study that shows we can adopt an older child. Bonnie with our agency said she over-nighted it over a week ago. Yet, They don't have it. So, Bonnie emailed them a copy of it today but it's not a signed copy. So, to cover our bases Dave called the CO branch of BCS to get them to fax a signed copy. I am hopeful that things could be moving along quickly by tomorrow. This is exciting and nerve wracking and overwhelming. I think the Lord's really been in this because I wonder how long USCIS would have waited for the home study copy that BCS supposedly sent. It's a good thing Dave called the congressman's office!

our congressman and travel prep

So, Dave made the call to our Congressman and they are ON IT! I don't know what the status is as Dave's busy at work and we haven't communitated a ton today. I hope they call him back to let him know what they found out. Like I said before, I hope the letter's in the mail today and that this was merely over-kill. I think it's neat that they're sensitive about adoption and wanted to take the time to help us. It's all we can do now so we conintue to wait.

I spend a good portion of my day making a chart of departures and arrivals and prices of tickets. After all was done I realized I hadn't checked those many flights for how many stops they made. Many of them, looking back, made up to two stops just from Washing DC to Addis Ababa. Ugh! That's 4 layovers total. Insane! So, I gave up. We need to just wait until we know for sure when we're going and then let a travel agent do their job. I got excited about some cheaper tickets then very disappointed with all the layovers. So, I quit.

Overview and Update

In April of last year we got our letter of approval from US Citizen and Immigration services to adopt a child up to two years old. In Oct. we accepted a referral for an older boy. We had a court date in Ethiopia in Dec. and were approved to adopt him. After that our agency was going to send in a new request to USCIS to get approved for a child up to 5. After the court date there was a lot of things they needed to get done in Ethiopia as well, like getting our son's medical tests done, getting his Birth certificate etc. Well, 3 weeks after the court date had passed our agency emailed appoligizing that there had been a misscommunication within two of their branches and the USCIS request hadn't been sent.

As of today, everything is ready in Ethiopia and we're merely waiting on the USCIS approval. So, our agency's mistake is what is holding us up. :-( We got an email from an agency worker suggesting that we contact our Colorado State Representative asking them to contact USCIS on our behalf. Dave is working on this now. They said they will contact USCIS for us but are looking for our case number which we do not have. So, once Dave can track down that number the congressman's office will get in touch with USCIS.

Our prayer is that this is all unnecessary and that the letter of approval will be in our mail box today. As soon as we have that letter our agency will contact the embassy in Ethiopia and set up an appointment for us. We're praying it will be Feb. 2nd as another Colorado family just got an ebassy appointment on that date and it would be wonderful to be there the same time as a CO. family.

If we get the Feb. 2nd embassy date then we will most likely be leaving on Jan. 30th. Please pray!

the delay update

As you know, our adoption agency submitted our request with USCIS later then they should have. We just got this email from our contact with our agency.

I did everything I could last week - and you did your part. They (US Citizen Immigration Services)do not process Orphan Cases every day. They have certain days set aside for Orphan Processing. They also do not usually notify me when a they complete something for a family. I did request that they do notify me. You will probably know of your approval first. You will receive it in the mail. Your I-171H is current, it just does not show approval for an older child.
You will receive a revised I-171H showing the extended age.

Ethiopian Calendar

Because Ethiopia follows the Orthodox Christian calendar, Christmas is on January 7 every year except during a leap year when Christmas is celebrated on January 8. The Ethiopian calendar year is on September 11 each year (our son's birthday). Gregorian calendar, which most of the world follow, runs approximately 7 years ahead of the Orthodox Christian Calendar. The Orthodox calendar year 2003 will begin September 11, 2010 on the Gregorian calendar.

Families traveling

Three BCS families got their embassy dates for January 21st. Two of them are leaving on the 15th and one on the 18th. The crazy thing is that they only found out a few days ago. The two families who are leaving on the 15th found out 8 days before they are leaving. It happens so fast!! I am very excited for them all!! Pray for them to have safe travels.

We could be next. . .

Reason for delay

It's our agency's fault and I am trying not to be angry. We had to get re-approved by USCIS to adopt an older child then we originally requested. We just got an email today from our agency asking us to write a letter to USCIS begging them to expedite our approval so we can still travel this month. There was a lack of communication within the CO and IA branches of our agency and it sounds like we've been waiting for 3 weeks for nothing. UGH!

Heritage and Naming Ethiopian Children

I found this on the internet and thought it was pretty important. We had decided to make his given name his middle and then give him a new first name. I realized that his "last" name is also his birth father's first name. Now, I think that our little man will end up with 4 names because I don't want to drop any of the two names he has.

Heritage is very important and traditionally a child grows up to know at least 7 generations of his / her ancestors. For example a child named Abraham Alemayehu Zerihun carries 3 generations of names, his own (Abraham), his father's (Alemayehu) and his grandfather's (Zerihun).

Why are children named like this?

One reason is that many people have the same first name so the father's name identifies them like the English "Robert - son" = Robertson.

The grandfather's name adds to this and also shows heritage which is important in determining status - the more names you know the higher your status in the community.

Another reason for naming children this way is that when Ethiopian men plan to marry, traditionally they send a delegation of 6 elders to the girl's family to negotiate the marriage. This negotiation includes determining if the bride and groom are related. Both families must provide the male lines of both sets of parents back 7 generations. Therefore, it is the names that are handed down through the generations that are the evidence of their family line.

just waiting. . .

I found that Bethany Christian Services has a message board for those adopting from Ethiopia. This has kept me occupied within the past few days. It's nice talking to others who've done it or are doing it. There are a lot of ladies on there who are right where we are, waiting for our embassy date. So, I could be "meeting" people who we might meet in Ethiopia picking up our kids. It's exciting!

Advice about adoption

I found this list on someone's blog and thought I would share it and comment on how we handled these things.

1.Get your ENTIRE family on board before you begin. There will be bumps in the road.
We didn't need to worry about "convincing" each other. We were both 110% on board the moment we felt called to start the adoption process.

2.Consider your birth order and do not change it easily. I had been set from the first moment that our adopted child would also be our youngest. I don't know why, but this was how I thought.

3.Consider an older child as well
I thought about this for a moment. . .but went back to wanting "as young as possible." However, God had other plans.

4.Realize that you are not in control and that God has a plan. He just needs obedient followers.
This was HUGE for us! Since I had my heart set on a young child it took true obedience and seeking God to know we were called to accept a referral for an older child. If I hadn't had an open heart to the Lord I would have passed up that referral. Soooo glad I was in tune to Him.

5.This adoption is not about you getting children, but rather children getting parents.
This was our feeling from day one. It's tough and it can't be selfish. It HAS to be about the child. This is why I didn't request a girl. I knew God was in control and would bring the child who needed us the most. I couldn't try to control it.