We got an updated pic of our little guy today. Too adorable for words. we did get some sad news that he is just getting over the chicken pox. Poor little guy. He needs his mama.

Got court date?

WE DO! Dec. 4th 2008! Thats the day we hope we pass court so we can fly to get our little man some 4 to 6 weeks after! We're counting down the days!!!

still waiting

Still no news of when we have our court date...........in the meantime, we have started a scrapbook for out little guy. We have been able to find a lot of photos of him in the snapfish program where parents who are at the orphanage picking up their children take the photos and post them so other waiting parents can get some nice updated pictures. I ordered a stack of them yesterday and picked them up at our local walgreens. We are also sending him off another little package with a first words book and some little toys. Ronda, who is going to pick up her little guy is graciously taking it for us!! She gets to meet our little sugar before us. I know she will shower him with lots of love. Her little guy and mine have been in the orphanage together since late June.

Fall photos

weekends waiting

The girls and I spent some time working on the little sugar's bedroom. Here are a few photos of our finished product. Above is the floor for the shower that Jeffrey worked on ......... the bathroom is coming along!!

no court date yet

We had our first fire in the fireplace last night! We love the cold evenings. We have to have a huge bombfire outside tonight to burn all the scraps from our bathroom renovation. I helped our old neighbor (our handyman) install a window in our bathroom yesterday. It looks really good and lets so much light in. We still have not gotten a court date. We are waiting patiently. Every day that goes by though makes it closer to impossible for getting him home for Christmas. Jeffrey and I got our shots on Wed. We each got 4 of them. We are still debating if we are going to get the yellow fever shot. For some reason Jeffrey has it in his mind that he wants to go on some Safari or something. I just want to stay in Addis Ababa where there are no mosquitos because the elevation is too high. We'll see.

another step

Yesterday we were assigned a group which means that sometime soon we will be assigned a court date and all the members of this group (group A) will have their cases submitted to court on the same day. For those who pass, many will travel at the same time and have their embassy dates at the same time. So, we have gotten another step closer to our little man. We got some new pictures of him again yesterday. The girls are really excited to be big sisters and give him lots of love. Tomorrow the walls in his bedroom are going to be painted by Jacklyn and Jaymie and Gramma. Jeffrey and I are also getting our shots tomorrow evening. That should be fun. Well, not really, but it will be nice to chalk that off the list.

He knows what we look like

This week we received a photo of our little guy wearing the shirt we sent him and holding the ball in one hand and the little photo album in the other hand. The page was opened up to a pic. of me. Yikes, he knows he has a family now. I'm not sure how much of this he comprehends, but I hope he feels happy. Now at least when Jeffrey and I get to the orphanage he will have a thought that he has seen us before...Can I just say that it is getting very hard to wait..........but it is a test of patience, and we will pass, and hopefully soon he will be in our arms. It would be wonderful if it happened before the new year.

It's on its Way

The director of our international agency left yesterday with our welcome bag for our little man. So this weekend, half way across the world, he should be looking at pictures of us and playing with his new toys and sportin his new sunglasses and shirt. I hope he can feel the love :)

Gotta love yahoo groups

Through our international agency we have a yahoo group where you are able to email to others about adoption questions and everything from a-z about the adoption process. Recently I got an email from someone who was just at the orphanage where Fraole is. They were picking up their daughter. This is what she had to say about our little guy. Emails like this are priceless..........

"We didn't know his name, but we definitely remember that little boy in the Snapfish picture! I know what you mean about kids looking very different in pictures, but I would bet that if you see a picture that you *think* is of him, it is. Fraole has a very unique look and is totally gorgeous (I mean, all the kids at Wanna are cute, but Fraole is stunning), and I didn't see any other kids that looked anything like him. Striking enough that I remember my husband and I saying something to each other about him. We would describe him as cheerful and mellow/calm (with my husband emphasizing the "calm"- he thinks that's the best way for a toddler to be, of course :)). There were times he seemed kind of solemn but I wouldn't say he was unhappy. We saw him at mealtime during several of our visits, and he seemed like a good eater. I would guess his age range to be right around what you said, maybe closer to 2 than 2.5. "

welcome bag contents

We are encouraged to keep the gifts small and under $10, so this is what Jacklyn and I put together for the little guy :) We found out the meaning behind his name. It means "to make nice for friends and family" and is derived from NOAH.

this and that

Here is our placement agreement and the picture of his little family photo album and shirt that is being sent off for him to open next week. We signed our bigtime legal docs. Now we are waiting to get a court date. Hopefully we will hear about that sometime in mid Oct. It sure is feeling a lot more real now that we have a name and photo of our little sugar! Hard to believe he will be wearing his little shirt in a couple weeks :) Too cute!

The girls and I are on a mad rush to get our photo album put together to send to the little sugar. We have to have our welcome bag to Washington by Thurs. so the director can deliver it to him personally as she leaves for Ethiopia in about 10days or so. After taking about 60,000 photos, we narrowed it down to these 2 for the pictures of "MOM" and "SISTERS". We also have to take a picture of the house and his room. We already have a million pictures of Oscar and Bagheere and Belle, so they were saved from not having to be part of our photo party. We got little sugars blue plaid comforter last weekend to match Jaymies but we need to paint 2 of the walls in the "shared" room. We have his disposable camera that they will get back to us in the next weeks after they take some pics of him opening up his welcome bag and pics I believe just to help make the wait easier. (this gets sent back to us once our director flies back.) I am able to smooosh his blanket in the gallon size ziploc, and the Tshirt and toy still need to be purchased. I hope to have this all in the mail by Fri. for safe delivery to Ethiopia via our international agency. I guess our next big hurdle is to wait for the courts to open (oct. 7th) and see when we are assigned a court date. If we pass our court date the first time I'm pretty sure we will be able to fly before Christmas. Wouldn't that be just too perfect!!

Referral

The time was 12:24. (24 is my favorite # by the way) & I was sitting in the lobby at Jaymies school when my cell phone rang. The area code on it was a 360 area code, which is Washington where our international agency is. It was the director, Merrily. She asked if I had a moment and if I was sitting down. I think my heart pounded out of my chest! She said she had a referral for us of a 2 year old little boy. I had to cover my face and look down as the tears started rolling. Then of course I began shaking. So I had to walk outside for a bit to get it together and try not to speed home once I got Jaymie. Pictures and a medical report and background were going to be waiting for me on our email. Can I just say he is just a little sugar! We're in love already. I can't post pictures of him on our blog until he is legally ours. If you are interested in me sharing with you, send me an email. I can say that the medical report says he is a healthy little guy, can feed himself with a spoon, can walk up and down steps, plays well with others, and can kick a ball :) He was abandonded, but he is not alone anymore. It's time to go shopping for his little package families send once they get a referral. I've already got his blanket that I have been sleeping with to get my scent on it. I think he needs some trailblazers, cowboys and dodgers shirts. Well, I have to go stare at some photos and figure out how to make them wallpaper on our screen!

shots

Jeffrey and I are getting ready to visit the dr. to get some shots. I believe we will be getting hep A and B, typhoid, and tetanus. Hopefully there will be no side effects from the shots. jaymie took this shot of the newest members of our family. We are taking a trip to a new pet store today and may add some more fish to the tank.

a gift for myself

A fundraising gift to myself...........a lady on a website I was reading was selling these charms of Africa with a heart carved out in them and I thought I would support her fundraising of trying to earn $ to help pay for her airfare to pick up her adopted child. Isn't it neat. I have gotten quite a few comments on it and struck up some interesting conversations by wearing it from people who have connections to Africa. Too cool!

Jaymie

OUR SECOND GRADER!!!!!!!!




check out this video of a toddler boy from Ethiopia who just arrived at OHARE with his new family. Too adorable!!!!!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Re026MmrDz8

JACKLYN

OUR SOON TO BE MIDDLE SCHOOLER! TIME SURE DOES FLY, NOW IF ONLY IT WOULD FLY SO QUICKLY WHILE WAITING FOR A REFERRAL!!

Up North

A couple of photos of our trip "UP NORTH"!

Passports

Our passports arrived in the mail this week. We also got a note from our agency that some referrals were going to be made after labor day so that should get some of us on the waiting lists moving a bit closer to a referral....

Stu Stu

This is our hamster stuart who has been with our family for some time. Jaymie thought we should post a pic. of him. Isn't he adorable. Our most recent family members have been a variety of fish in a 29 gal tropical freshwater fish tank. My sister is moving so, we inherited their fish tank. So we have a couple of shark type fish and some leopard pattern suckers that are about 6 inches long, an adorable crab with one huge claw named Jacque'pronounced "Jock" and a variety of others. The girls sit and watch them for long periods of time. We introduced a couple of new fish to the tank today, and are hoping they come out of hiding soon. They are staying at the surface. I think they are a little intimidated by the sharkies. I'm sure Jaymie will be photograping the fish soon to post on here. If it were up to her I'd be posting to the blog twice a day....

Our Tennis Star

A couple shots of Jacklyn during a league match play>> she is our rising tennis star!

Aug. 11

Some photos of some summer fun. The fawns were in our neighbors yard down the road, and Jaymie is posing on my sisters mini horse Sugarbaby, and the other photo is of Jeffrey and his girls at Navy pier. Just thought I'd download some photos for some sort of change on the blog....WE got our passpot apps off in the mail today, so that is another item off the list.

We're still here

We are still here. Just no new news on the adoption front. I believe we are 10th on the waiting list for toddler boys and I dont know how many referrals have been made lately. Courts in Ethiopia close Aug 6th, but referrals are still made during that time. Courts will reopen in Oct I believe. We did finally get the girls their tshirts. I found a great website where you can tell the craftspeople what you are looking for and different people give you bids and send you examples via email on ideas they have to create what you are looking for. It is great for one of a kind items, like the tshirts I had designed above. Too cute heh? Summer has been going by quickly. Jacklyn spends a lot of time on the tennis courts. She has her dads talent and we are enjoying watching her improve her game all the time. She is on the courts daily and plays for our clubs team against other clubs. She is on the 13 and younger team and is seeded #1 at all the matches. Jaymie has been a trooper going to practices and such. She has had a lot of mommy time this summer. We got a scooter a couple months ago and she loves riding on the back with me to run errands. She has her moms love of motorcycles! It is a 150cc Honda, and it goes about 65mph, but on all the country roads around here we have it at usually around 35 or so. It gets about 70mpg, so we like the savings in gas $$ and the fun of running errands that it gives us! We leave for a 5day getaway up North today. We are renting a cabin next to family friends and will spend the next 5 days at flea markets, tubing, waterskiing, campfire marshmellow roasting and relaxing. We are looking forward to the getaway. I enjoy it even more knowing I get to take Oscar with us. He is pretty much by my side most of the time. He has been a great addition to our family and I'm sure our son will love him too! Jeffrey and I just celebrated our 15th wedding anni. We bought ourselves a car top carrier for the van. It doesn't get much more romantic than that!!! We get to use it today! Fun Fun. Until next time!

making a wish

Jaymie found some huge puff ball weeds in our field while we were walking Oscar tonight. She made her wish that her new brother was knowing we were coming to get him when he needed us. She's a keeper!!

Jacklyn and Jaymie

Monday eve.

Jaymie went to a bday party at libby lu and got the royal treatment of an updo and glitter! Right up her alley! I think one of the Libby Lu shots will be added to Juniors album so he sees how beautiful his 7 year old sister is! Tonight Jeffrey left for Boston on business. It just so happens game 6 is there tomorrow night and he had a connection and got tickets. So look for him in the crowd tomorrow as he cheers on Boston with Boston fans to take the series! He will be in heaven tomorrow. His job really has some perks.

news

In the blogger world, you start up friendships with people who have been there, are there and are just starting out their journey. You find people adopting in the same state as you, and talk with others who are using the same agency. Well, one gal I have been emailing back and forth with who is using the same agency as us and is also waiting for a toddler boy just got a referral 2 days ago for a toddler boy. I believe our app. was in a couple weeks after hers. So we pretty much are right up there on the list of a referral of a toddler boy I believe. Her app was only in for 6 weeks. So.......you just never know when you get that call. WOW!
In the near future you will most likely be seeing pics of the girls flipping on a trampoline. Jeffrey and I picked one up last night and the girls are going to be surprised when we pick them up from their friends houses today (they spent the night at our old neighbors!) We got the trampoline off Craigslist! What a bargain! I have to go into work today because of a makeup snow day, so we will see how far along they are in putting it together when I get home. So, just wanted to celebrate the 6 week referral of my email friend!

photo album

So now that the wait has begun, what does one add to their blog to update people on the latest. I suppose tell them every detail, no matter how small of a step about the adoption. So, yesterday, Jacklyn and I purchased our small photo album that we get to send over once the referral is accepted. We will fill it with photos of us, our amimals, our house, etc..... They share this with the little one as a way to introduce us and so they can recognize us a bit when we get to the orphanage. I know the older children like to show their friends their new family and such. So we have 24 photos to fill to give him a first impression. Thank goodness for digital cameras.

We're paper pregnant!

Well...........we got our email from our international agency that our dossier left for Ethiopia on Friday. This means we are OFFICIALLY on the waiting list. They are now referring families who have the same requests as far as age and gender and such as ours who submitted their apps. in Aug. So, a bit of a wait, but also included in the email was something to the fact that referrals should be moving a bit quicker in the near future as the director is their now working on something. Some of the things that take such time are the fact that they only have electricity a couple times a week. The rainy season occurs sometime I believe in Aug/Sept. and this closes the courts. In the meantime, I believe our little guy will come into our lives when he is hand picked from God, and we will welcome him with open arms.

JAYMIES FIRST RECITAL

JAYMIE HAD HER FIRST BALLET RECITAL LAST NIGHT. SHE DID GREAT. I THOUGHT SHE WOULD GET STAGE FRIEGHT AND END UP NOT COMING OUT ON THE STAGE, BUT SHE SHOWED UP ON THE STAGE WHEN IT WAS HER CLASSES TURN TO PERFORM AND DID HER DANCE WITH ALL HER LITTLE FRIENDS AND DID GREAT.

NO NEWS YET...

AFTER ALL MOM, THEY DO CALL IT A FLOWER "BED"..........
WELL NO NEWS THAT OUR DOSSIER HAS BEEN SENT, SO I DO NOT KNOW WHERE WE ARE ON THE WAITING LIST YET. ANOTHER WEEKEND OF NOT KNOWING. OH WELL, IT IS A GOOD TEST OF PATIENCE. I'LL UPDATE THE BLOG AS SOON AS WE GET NEWS. HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND. OSCAR IS OFF TO A GOOD START WITH FINDING SOME COZY FLOWERS TO SETTLE IN FOR A NAP IN.

JC

enjoying the weekend

Touches the heart!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSdP6PqsbJY
Something worth watching!

Getting the room ready

I finally found the loft I had been looking for on Craigslist and it was even located inOconomowoc so we didn't have to go far to pick it up. So Jeffrey, Jaymie and I spent the evening figuring out how to put this loft, that the previous owner made from scratch, together. I will admit, we had to flip boards around more than once after we had them screwed in and unscrew some bolts more than twice, but the finished product turned out perfectly and Jaymie was thrilled. We plan on having "jr" share a room with Jaymie after he sleeps with Jeffrey and I for a year or two or three! For those of you who know me well, you know I practice that attachment parenting pretty intensly! :) Anyhow, Jaymie decided to go with a pink plaid comforter and Jr will have the same in blue plaid. So i will have to paint 2 walls in the colors of jr's comforter, and Jaymies 2 walls are already in the colors of her comforter. So the nesting has begun. I added a pic of Oscar. Doesn't he just look like he needs another kid in the house to play with? He is such a good boy!, except for the fact he does not like the command "come". We continue to work on that.

update

Our paperwork is now on its way to the embassy and state. This will have a 2 week turn around and then it will be mailed back to our international agency. There is a 1 day turn around at our international agency and it's off to Ethiopia. Then we are OFFICIALLY on the WAITING LIST. I'll let you know when I find out what our agency says we can expect as far as a referral time.

signed, sealed, delivered

Well, Jeffrey and I and the girls mailed off the dossier today. It was a huge weight off our shoulders! It wasn't too difficult to get together, just a lot of keeping it all organized. Once our international agency gets the package, I'm sure they will let us know what the next step is and what our referral wait time looks like for a toddler boy. I'll keep this blog posted!!

Sisters waiting for their brother

Here is a photo too cute to not post! Just a couple updates. ... we got our paperwork in the mail from the U.S. citizenship and Immigration Services today. This is a good thing. They determined that Jeffrey and I are able to furnish proper care to an orphan or orphans. They are advancing our application, and it has been forwarded to the national visa center in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Just a couple more things have been completed for our Dossier. We will mail it off on Friday. I have completed the DVD series, and Jeffrey is completing his part tonight. The last portion of the test is hand graded so we will receive our results in a week. The wait for our referral begins once our dossier is approved by our agency and it is shipped off to Ethiopia.

Jaymie

Jaymie wanted a pic of her on here, so here is the princess with my sisters goat "TEX"

making a list and checking it twice

Dossier Cover Documant (check)
Notarized adoption homestudy (check)
Notarized police clearance (check)
Notarized medical statements from both our drs. (check)
Notarized bank statement (check)
Notarized employment letters (check)
Family letter to Ethiopian Government (check)
1 notarized ref. letter (check)
Notarized power of attorney letter (check)
I-600Petition to classify orphan as immediate relative (check)
Post placement agreement(check)
8 passport photos of both Jeffrey and I (check)
Fees and costs disclosure (check)
Statement of understanding(check)

Our only items not completed is the notarized copies of our birth and marriage certificates. That should be done on Monday! We also need one more letter of rec. that should be done by this weekend.

So, as you can see, our dossier should be completed soon and signed, sealed and delivered! You have to be a fairly organized person to keep all this in order, Thanks goodness so far I have been able to stay on top of it all....

How will he adjust to the Wisconsin winters?

Jaymie asked me the other day if it snowed in Africa......"ummmmm no honey" I said. "Well will our brother know what snow is, cause we sure have a lot of it in WI?" I told her he won't know what snow is most likely, but he will surely learn quickly if we have a winter like this one. Then she proceeds to say......I think he might want to stay in Africa, we just had too much snow this winter! So I thought I'd post a pic of Jacklyn and her friend in the snow. We will include one like this in the scrapbook we are creating to send to him once we get a referral :)