We Love Our Agency

Okay, so we have no news on the progress front - still no passport, etc. But, we have had an exciting week. Last Saturday our agency had a meeting/class for the Ethiopia families in town. They had a panel of transracial families who spoke about their experiences and answered our questions, and we were lucky enough to have a gentleman who is from Ethiopia come and talk to us. He answered a lot of our questions and was so nice and funny! He told us about the Ethiopian community in our town and answered my question as to which Ethiopian restaurant he liked best. (For those of you in the area - it's the new one that just opened on South Grand). We really learned a lot and (this is the best) he offered to come back to teach us about Ethiopian cooking. How cool would it be to learn how to make injera from someone from Ethiopia! Maybe I'll even learn how so I can start cooking something other than fish sticks and mac-n-cheese (which is one of Kevin's favorite meals, by the way). We feel so lucky to have found our agency - they really make an effort to keep us involved.

We also had some news from our close friends this week- they are thinking about adopting an older child (4-5 years) from Ethiopia! I think it would be great if they are able to do this- not only would we have another addition to our 'family' of friends, but our children would be able to grow up knowing someone from their birth country.

And, we were lucky enough this week to have a visit from Grandpa D! Kevin's family lives out of town and we don't get to see them as much as we'd like to. Grandpa D came in town for work and had dinner with us Monday night. He informed us that he and Grandma D will be visiting a lot more when the babies come home- which makes us very happy.

And, finally, it is spring! It is so beautiful out- the tulips are coming up (which always make me think of my Grandma who I miss- she had the most beautiful tulips), the bradford pear trees are all white - we have two big ones in the front yard. And, our dogwood might actually bloom this year. The family that lived here before planted it when their daughter was born and it hasn't bloomed since we moved in. Yesterday I found little buds on it - perhaps a sign of good things to come? :) I took some pics with the intent of sharing, but I'm having trouble uploading from my camera, so I'll share one that is also a sign of spring for us - when it rains and the dogs get muddy they all need a footwash after being outside. This is all three of them in the bathtub- it's so funny when they're all in there together! Drying them off becomes a bit more challenging though!

Passport Blues

UGH.
Last week I checked the status of my passport online and it said that I could expect it by 4/9. I decided to check again today with high hopes that it might be moved earlier- but now it says that I can expect it by 4/14!! YUCK! I really wish I had expedited it. I know that we have time (we're still waiting on licensing) but I just want it to get here! Stupid passport processing delays. :)

CPR Class

Updates-
We're still waiting on my passport...
We sent in our I600-A, but we were not granted out fingerprint appointment - we'll have to wait until the homestudy is complete (passport) and then they'll give us the appointment...
FromEthiopia is waiting for a shipment of necklaces, so I'll be waiting a bit longer for that too...
PATIENCE!

Today Kevin and I got our CPR certification for adults and infants. Our friends Chryssi & John are expecting a baby boy in July, and have a 10 year old daughter, so they set up a class for other new parents or expecting parents and grandparents at their house. We wanted to go so we would feel more comfortable in an emergency, but hopefully we'll never have to use these new skills. I did once give a small (really small) piece of pizza to our friend's two year old and he started choking - very scary! His mom had taken this class and knew what to do. Thank goodness! I've taken CPR classes before (in my glorious lifeguarding days) but I've never done infant CPR and lots of things have changed in the past ten years. Also, CPR is HARD WORK! Either that, or I am WAY out of shape (which could easily be true :)

This is Kevin with his baby mannequin-Our mannequins-

Class picture - Chryssi (in the light blue) & John (on the end) are expecting a boy, Christine (in the pink) is expecting a baby girl, Kevin & I are in the center, Matt & Maureen have a three month old baby boy (he is a cutie!) and Chryssi's Mom & Dad - Grandma and Grandpa - are on the other end.

Waiting until April...

Just to check in - I checked the status of my passport online (you can do that!) and it probably will not be here until April! So, I can quit running to the mailbox with anticipation.

I did, however, pass some waiting time by ordering some items from a website called "From Ethiopia." The proceeds go to the Grace Fund, which gives financial assistance to families in the process of adopting, and they also go towards an orphanage in Ethiopia. http://fromethiopia.us/ (that's the link) I ordered a beautiful scarf and a necklace. So, I can run to the mailbox with anticipation for these things instead of my passport! I'll post pics when I receive them.

Waiting for my Passport & Sad Day

Just to check in - we are SO CLOSE to being finished with the home study. I turned in a few more documents this week and am now waiting only on my passport to get here. Kevin applied for his last week, had it expedited, and 'poof' it appeared. I, on the other hand, thought I was being smart and applied for it almost 8 weeks ago and am still waiting. As soon as it gets here Erin can finish the homestudy and we will send it off to our government and wait for the fingerprint appointment.

I also have to add that today is a sad day. My dad & stepmom had to put their dog, Murphy, to sleep. She had Cushing's disease and hasn't been doing well for some time. She was a great dog- and she was a champion swimmer at the lake (in Arkansas). I was there the day we picked her out and I was lucky enough to go visit her this afternoon and give her kisses. I will really miss her. So, in tribute to Murphy Lynn (aka Lynnaburger) here she is at last year's Bark in the Park parade.

The Home Visit

Just to let everyone know - the home visit went very well. The only real blip was when Annie decided to nose-kiss Erin (our social worker) when she walked in the door and then Annie rubbed her peanut butter face on Erin's black pants. We were a little freaked out when Annie did that! For those of you that remember, Annie used to bark at people when they come in the door - and now, a nose kiss! How would you like to get a nose kiss from this? :)

But, overall, everything went very well. The dogs were great (thanks to peanut butter kongs) and we had a really good conversation with Erin about our plans for parenthood.

SO, what next? We will turn in the last few pieces of paperwork for our homestudy within the next week or so (providing that our passports get here soon) and then Erin will compose the homestudy. We'll send one copy into CIS (I think that is it) along with another government doc and then wait for an appointment to have our fingerprints taken. And, as always, we're still waiting on word from the Ethiopian govt. on licensing, so keep us in your prayers!
Stacie