Picture Game

See if you can spot at least 5 differences between the pictures. Remember that game? Really though, no "comments" necessary :)

News!!!

Well, we have a court date. We will be meeting our girl in 79 days and going to court to adopt her in 80 (October 26). Of course, none of this is final and it could change, but they're telling us to buy plane tickets, so...here goes nothin'!

Also, we got a medical report on Kayla last week and it stated that she has "gazing eyes which are filled with laughter. She also has a beautiful smile." This goes along with what the photos of her show. The report also states that "she seems an observer". Hmmmm...maybe a little like our Gavin--I can handle that!

She's still tiny--like 1oth percentile for weight and height, but that's actually pretty good for Ethiopian babies while they're still in care centers there. She is definitely 100th percentile for cuteness.

There you have it, the latest news on our girl.

My Perspective

When you choose to adopt, the reason really isn't anyone's business but your own. But when you choose to adopt, often you end up putting yourself in a situation to stick out like a sore thumb--say, if you're a completely Caucasian couple who chooses to adopt from Ethiopia. People will notice, people will stare, people will decide that your life is their business and will ask questions. So many adoptive parents cannot figure out how to best respond to this type of situation that I wanted to offer my perspective.

My perspective comes from being adopted myself and from parenting a bi-racial family once before that stuck out like a sore thumb and as someone who is preparing to be asked a lot of these types of questions again soon. So...what is my perspective?

Honestly, I think people need to relax a little more about this issue and see it as an opportunity to educate the world about adoption. If you have chosen adoption, chances are, you think it is a great option. If people want to ask you questions, try not being offended (which is really hard sometimes), but try to see their questions as your opportunity to share how wonderful adoption can truly be. Don't be offended for your child, use the moment to teach your child to be proud of how they came into your family. I'm adopted and I LOVE this fact. I have never wanted to hide it or just blend in so that people wouldn't know. I wasn't ashamed of my adoption and I have always loved it when people wanted to know more--it excites me to answer questions about adoption. If my parents had chosen to get all offended or answer in snappy ways, my attitude about adoption probably would have been more shameful. I think my parents were proud of the fact that I was adopted, too, and so that's the attitude I grew up with.

People get all offended when they're asked how much they paid for their child...why? I was bought and paid for and I'm totally cool with that. I mean, you can certainly rephrase the answer so that it doesn't sound like your child was purchased off of a store shelf, but maybe the person asking just wants an education and I say that even if they don't, give them one. I always love informing people that not all adoptions cost money--that there are free options and even options where you can get paid to provide care for certain children. If you're going to ask me a question, you will get an education!

Whenever I see a family that was obviously created through adoption, I want to ask them a million questions, but knowing that so many people get offended by this, I don't ask questions. Why? My questions shouldn't be offensive, I would be asking with the right heart, but I don't want to offend and people choose to be so sensitive. So, I just want to make a suggestion to all adoptive parents out there...choose not to be offended immediately by adoption related questions. You will do more damage by responding in a defensive way than if you answer happily, with a smile on your face and choose to see each question as an opportunity to educate. Also, I have decided that if I see someone staring at my "obvious" family, I am going to smile and say "hi". That way, if they have a question they're dying to ask, I hope that will open the door. I would urge other adoptive parents who want to spread the good news that adoption is a great option to do the same! Let's educate the world, people. Honestly, most people are pretty ignorant about adoption--I know I've received one heck of a crash course through this process and what good is that knowledge if I don't share it? Now, of course there are some situations that don't deserve an answer and sometimes you just need to stare blankly until you can get away because the question or comment was only meant to be offensive, but for the most part, people ask out of true curiosity and probably want an education. If not, and you choose to give an educational answer, I'll bet you the person won't ask anymore questions and the problem will be solved.

Some ideas:

• Your daughter is beautiful, where is she from? -She was born in Ethiopia and we are from _______, Wisconsin.

• Is your little girl adopted? -Yes, she was. Are you interested in adopting?

• Why did you choose to adopt? -Honestly, we believe that God calls all those who can to care for the orphans and we wanted to add to our family. Seemed like a win-win.

• How much did you pay for your daughter? -Less than it cost to deliver my son! She received great care while we were in the process of adopting her--that is what we paid for. She was worth every penny.

• Why would you adopt a black child? -Why not? Color makes no difference to me.

This is just my perspective. Obviously, people are entitled to have very different opinions and handle questions like these differently, if they so choose, but I thought that hearing from an adult adoptee might be a helpful perspective to have. I plan to educate as many people as possible on the topic of adoption. Join me?

Just thinking...

All of my life I wanted to know my biological family. My adoptive family was everything a kid could ever hope for--maybe more--but I still wanted to know where I came from. I just always felt like a little something was missing. Meeting so many members of my biological family has been pretty wonderful (for the most part). It definitely filled the void I always felt.

Growing up, I always felt a little different from my parents. Now, most people would never guess that I was adopted. I don't look that different from my family--we all have similar hair and eye colors (and skin color, for that matter). Sometimes, I even act like certain members of my adoptive family (mostly my mom and I'm not too ashamed to admit that!), but I think it is more in may mannerisms that anything.

This past week, I got to spend some time with my paternal biological family members and it was really neat, but it got me thinking...how much of our personality really is nature vs. nurture? My kids don't have my eye color or Chris'. Gavin has the same eyes as my bio-dad. Reily has red hair, that apparently comes from that family, as well. It was fun to compare physical traits since those obviously come from my biological family and not my adoptive family, but really, what about personality? I have a STRONG one. Stronger than either of my parents (and that's saying a lot if you know my mom!). In getting to know my biological family members, I see where my personality comes from--in a good way. I definitely have some of the same tendencies that my mom and dad have and have learned to handle situations similarly, but my personality--the root of who I am and why I do what I do and feel how I feel--I really think comes from my biological family. There are too many similarities to ignore. So, nature vs. nurture is really more of a nature + nurture for sure.

Why am I thinking about this? Well, I am really wanting to know this little girl of mine and I'm wondering how much of me will she take on. How much of her biological mother and father will I get to see in her? Honestly, we should have the opportunity to meet her biological mother while we are in Ethiopia and I am so grateful for that--though it will be difficult, for sure. Still, to be able to present my daughter with a snapshot of the mother who carried her and gave her up rather than let her die, the mother she looks like and acts like, will be priceless to my daughter one day. I will be so happy to be that link to her void. I hope I can get a sense for who her birth mother is and what she is like so that maybe I can figure out what I'm in for!

I wonder...if my parents had that snapshot into my future before they adopted me, would they still have adopted me? I don't think I was the easiest kid to raise in a lot of ways. But, I'm mostly kidding. I don't think they would trade one moment that they had with me--well, maybe a few moments, but not the experience overall.

I hope my daughter gets a few things from me. I hope she has the same view of adoption that I've always had. I hope that she gets my strength and self-confidence. I hope that she has the same sense of value that I have. I also hope that she gets some things from her birth mother. I hope that she has her ability to give birth (I lack here). I hope that she also has her strength--she has a strength I don't know that I would have if I were in her shoes. I hope that she has her braveness.

I guess we'll just hope for a healthy mixture of nature + nurture. It's really a huge gamble, but I'm so ready to take it! Come on baby girl, mommy wants you home.

Some News

Well, our paperwork has FINALLY been submitted to the courts in Ethiopia. The courts are closing from August 6-September 27, so we won't be able to go for court until October, but this is still good news. At least our paperwork has been submitted and the courts now have it. Hopefully before they close they'll let us know when our court date is going to be in October--we're thinking towards the end of that month.

Keep on praying for our little one, please. Pray that she stays healthy during her remaining months in Ethiopia. Pray that our court date is scheduled for October and that everything that needs to happen before that does happen. Also, please pray that we'll have her home for Christmas. We'd all really like to see that happen! We received 7 new pictures this week and she looks great, but it is hard to watch her grow up in pictures.

Water park?

So, I took today off so that we could take the boys to a nearby water park for some summer fun. Who knew the water park would end up being in my basement! Ugh. Sump pump failed at the EXACT wrong time and this is the result.

Gavin found it very fun to clean up with his boots on. We sent Reily off with one of my sisters because he would not have been helpful.

This is Chris stepping on the corner of the wooden flooring. Water just whooshes out. It's actually almost funny. Almost.

4th of July

Papa likes to put on a fireworks show for the boys. They love it, even if it is raining!

Random

We love playing in the water.

The boys think they are superstars. I just think they're cute!

Seriously cute!

They wanted to model a couple of bows that I purchased online for Kayla. Seriously, it was their idea.

Baby Girl

Well, the baby is out of the hospital--has been since July 5, we're told. I guess she is doing well, so that's good news. Our paperwork still has not been processed, though many other families from our agency have been processed, so maybe it's only a matter of days. But, then we've been told that for about 5 weeks now, so we'll just have to see.

We did receive some new pictures from a family that was in Ethiopia recently and had a chance to interact with her there. It was fun to get the updated pictures, since the only two we have are over three months old. A lot changes from 4 months to almost 8 months of age. She's still cute,completely bald, and VERY skinny. I wish I could share them with everyone, but then we'd risk losing her, so I'd better keep them to myself for now.

Thanks for all the prayers. Keep 'em coming. I have found myself in a strange place lately--I've run out of words to pray for this situation.

We're keeping a friend's little girl for 10 days. We're 5 days in and so far, so good. It's actually easier with her here than when she's gone. She's a novelty to the boys, so they just play with her, pretty nicely, for hours--in the basement, no less. (How long do you think it'll take for that to wear off once the third child is their sister?) I'll have to snap some pictures of the three stinkers at some point. Pics of the boys coming soon! We've got some cute ones from the 4th.

It's true

I have often said that no matter how bad you have it, someone else always has it worse. It's not that this give you permission to feel superior to anyone else, but it does help to keep things in perspective. As cruddy as things get, I have my health, my loved ones are all still living and healthy, I have two children who are incredibly healthy and happy and I have a wonderful husband. Things could certainly be worse.

Take today, for instance. We just found out that what is ACTUALLY holding our case up is the fact that in the 67 days that Ethiopia has had our paperwork, they have failed to translate it. This should typically take 2-3 days. We were told at the beginning of May that the staff in Ethiopia had done all that they could to get our case submitted so that we would only have to travel once. Obviously not true. Two weeks ago, we were told that there were only a couple of very minor items missing from our file and then our case would be submitted soon. Well, if our paperwork hasn't been translated yet, it wasn't translated then either, so again...not true. This news--cruddy. But, at least 4 other families working with our agency just found out TODAY that they cannot travel to pick up the children that are already legally theirs TOMORROW as they were supposed to. Some change has occurred in Ethiopia only allowing 5 children to be processed per day instead of the usual 10. Our news was cruddy for sure, but these 4 (maybe more) families have it much worse than we do. I mean, we don't have any hope of making it to Ethiopia this summer anyway, so another delay really isn't going to hurt us, but these families were ready to go. Their kids here were prepared for their parents to be gone, some were even flying in a relative to care for their children in their absence. This is sheer insanity. I cannot imagine being one of those families. I'll take the news we got any day over that news. It helped put my news in perspective, definitely. Bummed for everyone stuck in this process. What a mess. Please pray for us, for our little girl (who is still in the hospital as far as we know) and for all the families caught in this disaster. I'm just sad for them and maybe a little for us.

Inspite of it all...

We are bound and determined to enjoy our summer with the boys no matter what the latest news out of Ethiopia is. So, Wednesday afternoon, we had a great time at a nearby waterpark and an outdoor concert. The boys loved it. I wore sunglasses (and made sure to take pictures, not be in them) all afternoon--hides the crying eyes, you know?

You're not supposed to bring snacks into the waterpark, but we're pinching pennies, so we did. This was Gavin's idea for being sneaky. You can tell he's rather proud of the idea! Chris was a good sport. Trust me, no one really cares if you have snacks or not. There was no need to hide.

BY THE WAY...Yesterday, we got another report on the baby. It actually had loads of details in it, unlike the first shocker. Sounds like she's doing well and is predicted to recover fully. Thank God for small miracles! We still have no idea when we'll get to her, but we'll keep you posted.

Why?

This just keeps getting worse...
Today, we found out that our little girl has been in the hospital for a week with bacterial meningitis. There is nothing I can do for her but pray.
I had already given up all hope that we would travel this summer, but now I may have to give up hope that we ever get to meet her? I realize that may be being a tad dramatic, but people do die from this and it's not like she's here, in the States, receiving top of the line medical care. I mean, she's already been in the hospital, on IV fluids for a week! Is that normal?
Well, pray with us that she will survive and that we will get to meet her someday and give her the family that she deserves. We know that she is a fighter and has survived a lot already, so maybe this will be no big thing to her. Just pray! (for my sanity, too)

Haircuts

It was time...I have never cut Reily's hair short. I was always a little afriad to. When I cut Gavin's really short, it never grew back the same and I loved Reily's baby thin, baby soft hair, but the kid is going to be 4 in a few months, so it was time. As you can see, Reily couldn't care less about the haircut. Gavin, on the other hand, looks like his world has just ended. They are SOOOOOOOO different! I assure you, it only took Gavin about 10 minutes to get over losing his long, messy mop of curls, but they were a miserable 10 minutes. He has now decided that he likes his short hair and I think he looks rather handsome.

I was a little afraid we'd lose the redness in Reily's hair after cutting it, but I actually think it looks more red this short.

Beach Day

Cute Kids

Here they are, as promised.

Eating giant suckers from their aunties. Sooooo sticky.
The boys love painting.

My baby

I want my baby! The good news is that we have been told that they are very close to submitting our case to the courts. The bad news is that we were told the same thing 5 weeks ago. This time, though, they gave specific information about what was needed for our case to be ready and what's left to gather is pretty minimal. So, there's still a chance we'll get that court date before closures.

And, the really good news, we were awarded an adoption grant by a wonderful agency. God truly is providing for the additional cost of this second trip--we're getting closer. Did anyone doubt that He would? :) It's a nice little affirmation that we are, indeed, following His plans for our lives.

It's raining again, really raining. I'm wondering if our yard will ever dry out this year, but then I think maybe the more rain we get here, the less they'll get in Ethiopia and then their closures for rainy season will be shorter. Makes sense, right? Funny how all my thoughts end up in Ethiopia these days. I haven't yet figured out if "pregnancy brain" or "adoption brain" is worse.

I will do my best to post some pictures of the boys this weekend. I know that is what most everyone wants to see anyway. Who can blame you? They are awfully cute.

3 kids?

There are definitely some things I'm going to miss once we have 3 kids...

-each parent only having one kid at a time (I figure the opportunity for this will decrease A LOT)
-"date nights" with my boys (Chris is working most nights--I am NOT taking all 3 out by myself)
-being evenly matched--1 parent for each kid
-having enough hands to grab all children
-having enough room for other people in our vehicle
-having all self-sufficient kids (they can dress, feed and go potty themselves--she will not)

I am sure there are more, but this is what I thought of tonight as I was out on a "date" with my sweet Reily. I will just have to make the most of the time I have with only 2 kids.

Of course, there will be many things that I am going to love about having 3 kids, too...

-I'll have my girl (yes, I am excited to have a girl!)
-I like odd numbers (just a warning, if we get a #4, we won't be stopping there, 5 sounds better)
-the middle row in the van won't be empty anymore
-the hole in my heart should finally be filled after 10+ years of dreaming of this moment
-I'll have 3 children that will all get along perfectly and play well together (positive thinking)
-everyone will just expect my life to be out of control and won't ask why I'm frazzled

Of course, all of this only matters IF WE EVER GET HER HOME!!!!!!!

Still no news on the adoption front to report and I am getting a little tired of saying that. We do, however, have a phone interview for an adoption grant tonight. So, if you think of us, say a little prayer about that. I don't know when we'll receive a decision, but even being considered is encouraging.

I so wish I could post her picture here so that you could all see her. She is beautiful! If you could see her sweet face, you would understand why I long for her.

A New Day

It's a new day and I'm already fine--not over it, certainly--but fine. Thanks for all the concern expressed. It was my choice to be crabby and now I choose not to be. It's going to be a beautiful day. (I think the chocolate covered, custard filled long-john helped last night!)

Poopy!

The title just describes my attitude today (and this is a word I hear often since it is Reily's new favorite!). We received notice that our Visa approval--to bring our baby girl home--is in Ethiopia. Woo-freakin'-hoo, is all I have to say. Typically, people get very excited about this because it means that if they've already passed court, they can now bring their kiddos home. We don't even have a court date assigned to us yet and court closures are coming up very quickly. Other agencies have been able to give court dates to families that have to travel twice, but not ours. They promise that it's coming soon, but then they promised that 4 weeks ago, too, and we still have no court date. As far as we know, they haven't even presented our case to the courts so that we can be assigned a court date. Needless to say, I am feeling poopy about the whole situation right now. I'll be fine, I always pull out of it, but today is just not my day. I should be excited about our Visa approval making it's way to Ethiopia, but instead, it just reminded me that we're still so far away. (I know, it'll be over before we know it and she'll be ours forever, God's timing is perfect and all that, but right now it feels like it'll be FOREVER until she's ours--just let me have one poopy day. I think I've earned that right.)

Birthdays

Today, Gavin turned 5! We celebrated with Happy Meals from McDonald's and a trip to the park. It actually wasn't raining today, so other than the mud everywhere, it was fun.

Sunday was my birthday, but we had Gavin's birthday party. It worked out quite well as I was surrounded by everyone I would have wanted around anyway, the food was great and my kids were the center of attention (Gavin because we were celebrating him and Reily because we weren't celebrating him).

Chris made a sandbox for the boys as part of Gavin's birthday gifts. They love it.

Donations!

We have a great little consignment store in town and they always give people the choice to take back their clothes that the store doesn't buy or to just donate them. I have already purchased nearly every decent item that they had on clearance for kids 5-10, so I decided to ask what they do with the items that people don't want back. They just donate them--no tax deduction or anything like that. So, I asked if I could have the stuff. They told me I'd have to sort it since they don't have the time to do that, but I don't care. Free clothes for Ethiopia is worth a little sorting! I wonder if we'll have enough suitcase space for all the donations we'll accumulate before we go. Maybe it's a good thing we have to go twice...maybe.

On that note, we've now received information that possibly only one of us will have to go the first time. I don't know what we'll decide to do, but it's definitely a tough call. On the one had, we'd save a lot of money and the boys would get to stay with one parent. On the other hand, going alone could be very tough and coming home alone--after meeting my baby girl and having to leave her--could be even tougher. Anyone just dying to go to Ethiopia with me for a few days? Tickets are a mere $2600, or so. :)

Birthday Bouquet

Camping

We planned to go camping this weekend and then we got the dreaded forecast of constant rain. My decided it would be best to just take Gavin in case the trip was a royal disaster. It wasn't. We had a great time! It sprinkled a few times, but never really rained, so that was nice. I think next time we'll take Reily, too. Once we have 3 kids, who knows how long it'll be before we try camping again.

Garage Sale

We had a garage sale this weekend--to raise funds for our 2nd trip to Ethiopia. Lots of friends donated great items for us to sell and even though it was a ton of work, it was very worth it.

The grand total was $1546.50. I'm amazed!

Setting up...it was a little overwhelming, to say the least!
The garage didn't even come close to containing everything on Thursday, thank goodness it was a beautiful day. By Friday, it all fit in the garage--good thing because it poured all morning.

This little pile is all that's left--St. Vincent's is picking it up on Monday.

Thanks again everyone!

Pacifiers

For the past few weeks, I've found myself very detached from this little girl that will eventually be ours, but who knows when! I think it's just my coping mechanism. While we were in Minnesota, we stopped at a Babies R Us, just so I could see if there was anything we needed. There wasn't...but I did decide to buy her some pacifiers and this little clip to keep it on her clothes. I have no idea why, but this little purchase made all of my love for her come rushing back. It's silly really, I have a whole dresser full of clothes for her, but pacifiers made me miss her. No explanation for that. We still have no idea when we'll first travel for her court date, but we're still praying for July. For now, we're just loving our boys and trying to raise some money to ease the financial pain of this surprise 2nd trip.

Minnesota

We spent last weekend in the Twin Cities--visiting family and enjoying all the free things that there are to do.

Sculpture Garden

MN Science Museum. Reily's doing a puppet show and Kacey is reading.

Downtown St. Paul

Swimming at Grandpa Rick's

Como Zoo/Conservatory

Preschool Graduation

Gavin graduated from his preschool class at the end of May. He did a great job singing songs and doing all the actions. He was very proud and so were we!