Montage of Lillian in Tam Binh#2 2007

Lilly Montage

I learned to do a Montage

Just a quick video montage of Abel, so I'll probably be going private with my site till next we
My Montage 7/31/08ek when we pass court hopefully.

counting down

So 8 more days to the next court date. Will we be successful? I don't know but I m praing for Abel and many other families who will face court that day as well.

Fed Up with The System

So all the requested paperwork is done and what do they do, put our file in archives so we had to apply for yet another court date. We were assigned August 6th, which is the absolute last day courts are even open before the 2.5 month closure. So it is literally make it or break it. And a big IF they find this new paper "acceptable" Through this process I have lost faith in the court system, the government, International adoption agencies who half ass their paperwork causing the investigation to begin with and other agencies not having their ducks in a row to get these kids through court, And the incompetent way some can manage an adoption. I am an Operating Room Nurse and if I half assed my job someone could die in surgery or have instruments or sponges left inside them. And who really suffers through this the children left languishing in an orphanage not getting nutritional needs met adequately and being grossly infected with bacterial and fungal infections. My husband and I have never felt more helpless through this process, and we are no longer enjoying this adoption experience. It has been an incredible stresser and I am so ready to just get him home. That is all I have to say.

A Bit Confusing

OK, So we are now officially confused. Here is the skinny of it. The letter needed to make the adoption people happy was done. Aderajew went to Abels region over the weekend and got it. YEAH. So we were presented again to this social worker who insisted he needs it and you know what he said. "You'll need another summons from the court before I can entertain this case again" What??? This sounds so much like a classic runaround. I feel so frustrated I just don't know whether to cry or laugh. So we are hoping and praying this summons part will be done in a day or 2 and Abel's case will be heard again very soon. All this debacle has given our son 2 more unnecessary months in an orphanage. We are just praying real hard we beat the court closure. We are really getting to the wire now.

More bad news

Ok so we are just taking a hit this week. We thought for sure we would get through court this week but that is not how its going to happen. Apparently Abel is Oromo which is an ethnic group insde Ethiopia. He also comes from the Arsi tribe so the review that was needed for us to pass is wanting more info from the region he was abandoned at. So this is certainly a solvable problem just taking more time. Our lawyer Aderajew must travel to this region for the paper. He will go on Monday and it will take a whole day of driving to get there (approximatly 250 km) . He cannot drive at night since from what I understand it is not safe to drive at night there. The infrastructure is nothing like we have here in USA. think dirt roads, wildlife in the middle of the road as well as broken down abandoned vehicles, add that to no street lighting and you see why. He will do business all day Tues getting our paper we need, then spend all day Wed comming back to Addis from this region. We are praying for safe and an expedient journey for him as well.

A loss of Beloved Brittney

Last night I lost my best 4 legged friend. To say my Brittney Spaniel named Brittney was a member of the family is an understatement. The dog was with me through thick and thin. At the lowest points of my life through my divorce and muddling through single parenting of 2 babies. to the birth and adoption of my children. She was my rock or someone I could hold on to. I loved our walks down to Lake Erie and letting her swim in the lake to chase ducks. She loved every person she ever ran into except the mailman. I never ever used a baby monitor at night since she slept right by the cribs and came to get me if they were fussing. She watched as my toddlers did wrong and participated with them, such as the sharpie marker incident. She let them write on my walls then sat still as the children decorated her with squiggle marks. That took weeks to grow out and shave off. For 4 long years I stood by her side as her heart began to fail, We had echos done to see how to best manage her failing heart and added medicines if necessary. I just knew last night she couldn't take any more. As I cried with the vet she cried too expressing the loss of a special dog to her too.So I knew in all great things come to an end, and I am greatful God gave her to me from that small farm inTexas to be my very own for a short flash of time.

waiting for news

So I'm waiting to hear if we passed court for sure before booking anything. I'm not going through that again. I picked up a few things for Abel today. 1 thing is a beach ball I figure we can play ball in our room and it will deflate real small to not take much room in the luggage. I hope we hear something soon.

The Latest and the Greatest

So It IS OVER. I mean the investigation. YIPEEEE. Apparently they are wanting us in Ethiopia On or around August 1st. We are thilled. I think I will be traveling alone since we cannot seem to coordinate childcare , etc. We have heard our Abel is a funny little guy and can't wait to meet him. I must get packing. YEAH.

new news

Well one of our traveling families the husband just arrived home and sent us a great update on our Abel. First of all he apparently had a nasty infection in his eye and elbow and that appears to be resolving. Thank God. Also the husband says he got to spends some time with our Abel (he was there everyday for 7 days) And Abel is not shy as we thought he was, apparently he is a little clown that carries around a whistle all day. Sounds fun doesn't it. He sounds just like a Sereika, full of pranks. We are so appreciative for this insight to our son and can't wait to meet him for ourselves. We are still praying to make the court closure August 6th but are not counting on it either. But it does make our heart feel better that Abel is a happy little boy in the world he lives in now and not sad or depressed. Wait till he comes here and sees things like a giant trampoline in the backyard for him and Disney, etc for the first time ever. Oh my what adventures await our Son.