INSIDE SCOOP

Some things we have learned about Will this week from an inside source(a future parent at the Orphanage who is visiting)

*he loves attention
*he likes to snuggle.......once he is in your lap, he likes to stay there!
*he talks a lot.....in amharic
*he is one of the ring leaders of the toddler gang at the orphanage
*he is heavy
*and he has a sweet tender heart as he was kissing his little friends arm who had just had blood drawn and he wanted to make him feel better.

Our plans are to fly out of NY from Chicago on Feb.14th. We will be spending 2 days in Dubai. Jeffrey wants to go on some sort of Camel Safari in the desert. Our friend June is going to be joining us, which we are thrilled about. She has more experience than us in being out of the country. Then it is off to Addis Ababa on the 17th, when we will be meeting our little man for the first time. We then head to the Embassy on the 18th in Addis and plan to board a plane for home that following Sat. evening. I'm glad the flight will be an evening flight as Fraole will be able to hopefully sleep for the long leg of the flight:) Then, we will arrive home on Sunday the 22nd. The girls are going to be thrilled to see their new brother and hopefully they will have missed us too. I already know I will have a hard time being away from them.
Yesterday I got an email from someone who had been to the orphanage where Fraole is and said what a happy and smiley little guy Fraole is. She said he was always smiling and interacting with his little friends. It was good to get that little bit of news.
So, that's the latest! Susan

WE PASSED!

We just got via email the news that we passed court. Our Valentine's Day will be spent on an airplane flying across the Ocean. Doesn't get more romantic than that!

one more night

ONE MORE NIGHT OF WAITING!!! WE'LL POST TO THE BLOG AS SOON AS WE HEAR THE NEWS. HOPEFULLY THIS TIME THERE WILL BE NO LITTLE PIECES OF PAPER TO GET IN THE WAY. JEFFREY IS WORKING FROM HOME TOMORROW AS THE GIRLS HAVE OFF SCHOOL, BUT THE DISTRICT I WORK IN DOESN'T HAVE OFF, SO HE SHOULD BE GETTING THE CALL. LETS SEE HOW WELL I SLEEP TONIGHT. WE RECENTLY SAW A PIC. OF WILL WEARING PINK AND WHITE STRIPED OVERALLS AND HIS ARMS WERE COVERED WITH BRACELETS. I THINK THE LITTLE GIRLS THERE GOT A HOLD OF HIM AND WERE USING HIM AS A DRESS UP DOLL CAUSE HE IS JUST SO DARN CUTE. SWEET DREAMS! SUSAN

Our Beloved Oscar

You know the famous line in Lady and the Tramp, once the baby comes home, the dog goes out............hmmmmmmmmmmmmm Im not sure that will be the case with Oscar.

I WOULD GATHER CHILDREN
Some would gather money Along the path of life, Some would gather roses, And rest from worldly strife; But, I would gather children From among the thorns of sin, I would seek a golden curl, And a freckled, toothless grin. For money cannot enter In that land of endless day, And roses that are gathered Soon will wilt along the way. But, Oh, the laughing children, As I cross the sunset sea, And the gates swing wide to heaven I can take them in with me. -unknown

My thoughts for the day as we anticipate our "2nd" court date even though we "passed" the first. The ups and downs of international adoption. It will be worth the wait. Jacklyn and Jaymie are going to be such great sisters and are so looking forward to it!

Waiting

The above photo shows poor Oscar and Bagheera trying to get a little sun from the below sub zero temperatures we have been having. Oscar is not liking the cold as my walks with him are not even close to as long as they should be!.......
Before Christmas I thought today was the day Jeffrey and I were going to get on a plane to NY and then head to Dubai. I'm not sure why this road bump has been put in our place, but for some reason it has. I guess it may be a test of patience and understanding of everything happens for a reason and I just have to be content that he will come home to us, whether it is this month or next. The orphange is filled with babies right now. So, so many of them. The courts are beginning to clog with cases and many are not passing. It is heartwrenching seeing all the babies and knowing I am just waiting. I'm filling my suitcase with donations to the orphange such as infant formula and bottles and burp clothes. Jeffrey and I may go through London now on our trip as we cancelled our Emirates flight. He is looking for some better deals and we think some are to be found on British Airlines.

These shoes are just waiting for 10 cute little toes to slide into them. The wait is starting to weigh on all of us, especially when we hear of other families who got referrals after us and are passing court and are on their way. We got some new photos of our little guy. They were taken during the Christmas celebration at Layla and he looks so much bigger than he was in his referral pic. I sure hope we pass court next Monday the 26th.

Birthday

Because of this delay, we were able to pick Will's birthday. Jeffrey picked June
22nd, as this is his favorite basketball player, Clyde Drexlers birthday! So we have a big 3rd birthday party to plan :) Maybe I should start planning it now to pass the time! He will be turning 3! Now both him and Jeffrey share the 22nd as their days as Jeffrey is an April 22nd birthday!

not so good

We've been postponed until further notice..........:(....