So Excited!!

Do you know what I did tonight after I e-mailed and talked with friends and family? I packed a suitcase. For my daughter. I folded her little clothes, packed her bottles, her formula, her little socks, towels. Her cousins helped me roll up her diapers to make more room in her suitcase. I'm preparing to bring my daughter home. After six years of planning and almost two years of waiting she is coming home. It's for real. No one can change their mind. It's really, really happening. My baby girl is coming home.

I bought our tickets today. We leave November 27th at 6:00a.m. and we return on Saturday, December 5th, Grace's 8 month Birthday. We come in on United from Dulles and we arrive in Boston at 2:15p.m. Anyone who would like to come to the airport is welcome.

My sister Kate, my step-mom Judi and I are so excited. In three weeks I'll be home with my punkin baby. This is what it must feel like to have all of your prayers answered.

Give Me A Ticket For An Aeroplane!!!

Yahoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I leave on Friday, November 27Th. Two weeks from tomorrow! I am finally going to hold my baby girl in my arms. We return on December 5Th which is the day she turns 8months old. THE very, very BEST Thanksgiving gift I will ever receive.

Back to Earth

Well, now that I have spent a wonderful weekend celebrating that I passed court and rejoicing in the news that Grace will soon be home with me, I think I'm slowly coming back to earth. There is so much to do and probably much of it will happen in a very short period of time. I'm hoping that we'll get travel news early this week. From the "unofficial" tally, there are at least 14 families that passed court. There are likely to be a few more that we're not aware of since not every family is part of the e-mail list. We also know that not all of the families will travel at once since there can only be a maximum of 10 families traveling at one time. That's because each agency only gets 10 embassy appointments per week. Some of the families that passed on Friday may not be ready for travel because their immigration paperwork may not have been received by the Ethiopian Government. I know that all of my paperwork has been received and I've had that information verified, but it still doesn't mean that I'll make it in the first wave. But honestly, just to know that I've passed is a huge relief.

There are at least 4 single parent families out of those who passed court last week. I didn't post this much during the process, but there were two scares during this process when I feared that Ethiopia would close to singles and my adoption might not happen. The first scare was when I was about 7 months into the wait and the second was just a couple of weeks after I got my referral. There has not been an official ruling so the fact that singles are passing court means that nothing has changed yet, but I wouldn't be surprised to see it happen at some time, thought I sincerely hope that it doesn't. I am eternally grateful for those of us who passed and I pray daily that they continue to keep the program open and that many more singles pass in the future.

So I spent the weekend making lists, panicking, re-reading the lists, panicking, organizing baby stuff, panicking and shopping for things we need and for donations for Horizon House. I think I got a good amount of things together to donate and I also have some new and gently worn children's clothes that I'll donate as well. It's overwhelming with all the things that need to happen in a short period of time and since as of today I don't know if I'll have days to prepare or a couple of weeks. It will get done either way, but did I mention I'm panicking a bit?

On Friday a friend of mine since childhood came to visit and she and her daughter gave me two of the most special gifts I have received.

The first was a white onesie that has the image posted below on it.

The second is a cream tote bag that has the following image on it.

So adorable and so thoughtful of them to get something so specific to Grace. Thanks Laura and Annesia! They got it from a website called cafepress.com. Just type in Ethiopia and you'll be shocked at the options you'll find!

So, now I go into prepare to depart at any minute mode. I have a lot to put in order both at work and at home but it will be worth the lack of sleep since I know in the end, it will bring me to my precious Gracie.

Oh Happy Day!!!!!!!

Today I got the news I have been waiting 17 months for. Today I passed court in Ethiopia. That means that in the eyes of the Ethiopian Government I am now legally Grace's mother. I expect to get travel dates early next week. I'm not sure how how much time I'll have to prepare but really, does it matter? My baby girl is coming home!!!!!!!!!!!!! I think I will sleep soundly tonight for the first time in months!

Seven Months Today

Grace is exactly 7 months today. At the end of last week I got an update on her. Some of it was fantastic, some of it a little scary.

First the scary: She isn't gaining weight at the rate they would like. She'll drink about an ounce and a half from the bottle and then lose interest. So as a proactive measure they are supplementing her bottle feedings with a feeding tube. I'm obviously grateful she's getting such care and attention and that's she in a place that can provide her with the nutrition she needs. However, it's very unsettling to get a call telling you that you're baby's on a feeding tube even if you know it's being done for good reasons. It makes a difficult wait unbearable. That being said, there does not seem to be any underlying medical issues and while it was only a very small gain, she did have a gain in weight this month. I'm hoping that we'll see a big improvement with the feeding supplement. I was also told that she doesn't like the feeding tube and will pull it out. To me, that's the most positive sign that she's still feisty!

Now the fantastic: A WH social worker was visiting a few weeks ago and sent me an update on not just the eating issues but how she is doing in general. She said she interacts and engages well with the other babies when she's on the floor with them. She kicks her legs a lot and vocalizes loudly, she blows raspberries and is very smiley and sociable. It's just so amazing to get these little snippets of what she's like. All the pictures I have of her are so posed and I constantly worry if she's doing the things that babies her age should do and now I know that she is. Quite a relief!

Still no travel news. I'm just desperate to hear anything at this point. This part of the wait has been exhausting and I'm definitely cracking. So if you could send some good vibes, prayers,whatever you like, into the universe for us to hear something soon I'd be very appreciative.

I've Still Got Nothin

So I wanted to update the blog since it's been a week but to be honest, I still have nothing to report. There still hasn't been word of anyone from my agency passing through court yet. No sense of when I will travel. Not even any measurement updates of Grace. I really have nothing and honestly, it's getting pretty draining. I feel like I'm in a holding pattern and can't plan anything for fear that I'll get the e-mail telling me to travel.

Last saturday I took Meghan and Jacob out with me to do errands. At first Meghan didn't want to come but then she changed her mind. When I asked her why she now wanted to come, she said "Auntie, I was thinking that it's getting hard to not have Gracie and I didn't want your errands to be sad and boring so I thought it would make you happy if I came with you." Even the five year old knows I'm on the verge of cracking. I'm hopeful that something will happen soon. Any little sign would be very welcome. Here's hoping that the next post is a little more up beat.

I Don't Want To Wait Anymore

Not that I have any say in this part of the process, but I really don't want to wait anymore. I just want to get on a plane and go get my daughter. I want to stop thinking about what it will be like to have her in my arms. I want to walk around the house with her in the new baby sling I got for my shower. I want to put her down in her very own crib in her very own room meant just for her. I want to go to Target with Grace instead of just going there for Grace. I know she's well cared for but I want her to be well cared for by me. I want to be the one kissing her forehead to see if she has a fever. I want to give her a bath and put her lotion on her. I want to cuddle on the couch in her room and read all of the books I've bought while I've been waiting for her. I want to begin being a real life mother to a real life baby. I love looking at her beautiful picture but I am ready for the real version. The version that poops and cries and smiles and giggles.

So in case the above paragraph hasn't clued you in, I haven't heard any news about travel and It's really starting to get hard. Excruciatingly hard. Yet all I can do it wait. Her room is ready, her clothes and towels and crib sheets are washed and put away. Her baby book is filled out as much as it can be. Heck, I even finished my shower thank you's in 5 days. I'm running out of busy work. And sanity. I just want my punkin to come.