I crack myself up...

As I have mentioned before, the ONLY time our agency will call us is when they have our referral. So when they call, it will be the real call with our babies! I realized that since I have changed phones, I didn't have our agency number in my phone yet. So I thought I should program it in so I know to answer it when they call. Instead of putting it under the name of the agency, I put it under 'Jack and Hayley'. When the agency does call, it is really like Jack and Hayley calling!  I can't wait for the number to ring! Hopefully it will be soon.

This video is very touching, inspiring and emotional. I hope you take the time to watch it. On this adoption journey I have come to have a much different appreciation for those who have adopted, have been adopted, or given up a child to adoption. I realize that adoption isn't in the cards for everyone, but everyone can have an impact on a child's life, even if it is just reading them a story or giving the a hug.

"As one person I cannot change the world, but I can change the world of one person."

5 Months

As of Friday we have been on the wait list for 5 months! 

The first 5 months has gone by fast, but now I can tell I am starting to get anxious and much more excited. The last two families that I know of who got referrals got their's at 5 and a half months. I am hoping that will be the case for us too! keep your fingers crossed for us!

What I Miss...

As you can tell, I have redesigned my blog once again. The new picture was taken on my 30th birthday. My sister, who was my amazing stylist, gave me my fab blowout that day for my birthday...then she moved Denver. So looking at the picture above makes me miss my sissy (and her crazy ass skillz at doing hair). Miss you and love you Laura!

Getting Close...

I read the blog this morning of another family who just received their referral of a 7 mo. old girl. They are using the same agency as us and they have been waiting for a referral 5.5 months. You can read about their referral story hear.

Tomorrow marks our 5 month mark of on the waiting list!  Knowing that this family is only slightly ahead of us and got their referral is encouraging to us. I even wore my Ethiopia necklace today for good luck!

In the meantime, I have slowly been collecting clothes for Hayley and Jack. We have been VERY fortunate to have friends and family who have given us a ton a stuff for them.  I have also been hitting up the garage sales too. I also discovered Saks 5th Ave has some great deals (thanks to Melis - my sisterinlaw)!  Here are some of my favorite finds!

Coming Home

People all over are waiting and praying for their loved ones to come home. Whether that be a soldier or child through adoption. These homecomings make everything worthwhile and makes everything else melt away.

Ouch!

Today Sam and I had our travel Dr. apt. and immunizations. Every day we seem to be one step closer. Here are the immunizations that we got today.

-Hep A
-Pollio
-Meningitas
-H1N1

We also received Malaria pills that we take prior to being exposed to Malaria risk areas. We also chose to take the Typhoid pills rather than another shot. We will take those soon as the side affects from these immunizations ware off.

We did NOT get the Yellow Fever immunization today. This shot is not required, but reccomended if you are traveling to remote areas in Ethiopia, which we plan to. Here was our conversation with the Dr. today on if we needed the shot.
Me -"Is there any reason we should consider not getting the shot"
Dr - "Yeah, it is the nastiest of nasty of all immunizations out there."
Me - "What do you mean?"
Dr - "Most people get sickness and a fever for a few days. There is also a 1 in 300,000 chance you could die."
Me - "I think I really need to decide if I want to get this one"
Dr - "It is okay if you are a chicken. What, you don't want die?"

Then he made balking chicken noises at me with the arm motion and everything. Who does that?

Two Down

Two To Go!

Is that I tear I see in Sam's eye?

Almost done Sam, you can do it!

After we done with our shots, here was the conversation with our nurse:

Nurse -  "Wow, you guys are pretty brave"

Me and Sam - "huh? It wasn't too bad, but we can feel it."

Nurse - "No, you are pretty brave, I would never get four of these suckers at the same time."

Huh? What is that supposed to mean?  I guess only time will tell. Pray for us please. Ha!

Go Twins!

Sam and I have a fun weekend planned filled with Baseball! Tonight we are going to the Twins game and tomorrow we are going again! We will watch the Twins battle it out with the White Sox. My uncle Dennis from Chicago is also coming up fo the game! Should be a good time. Lets Go Twins!

Some of my thoughts...

This post is about something’s that I think about that I don’t think others would think about unless you have adopted, been adopted or have gave a child up for adoption. Last night when Sam and I were going to bed I asked him if he thinks our babies have been born yet. Something I think about a lot. He said no, I said yes.


When I think about our children being born it brings me great joy to know that our children are one step closer to being with us. However, at the same time it brings me great sadness. I am sad because as I am about to become a mother at the loss of another mother. A mother that had to give their child up out of circumstance and not out of choice. Some give their children up because they are so poor they cannot survive with another child, they are sick, or worse, they die during childbirth. These families use adoption as a last resort and as a means of survival for everyone involved. This decision forces them into what we would think of as unthinkable. They abandon their children. These children are left to be found in public places such as a bus station or a dump. Dumping grounds are actually very public gathering spots in Ethiopia. 80%+ of children that are in Toukoul, where we are adopting, is because they were abandoned.

So last night when I asked Sam if he thought our babies were born yet, I also thought what they were doing right now. I thought they are just fighting to survive. They could be alone, scared, hungry, who knows. I also thought of their mother and how she must feel. I read this post tonight about a birth-mother and really just resonated with me.

People often say to Sam and I that our kids will be so lucky. They will be lucky because I think we will be great parents and I take it as a compliment when people tell us this. I also want people to think and to pray for their birth-mom. Our happiness is born out of someone else’s sadness. And that part makes me sad.

Court Closure Update

Courts close in Ethiopia for their rainy season, which we new, but we just weren't sure of the exact dates. I emailed our agency today to find out when exactly they will close. This is what I found out: The courts are scheduled to close on August 9, 2010 and at this time the re-opening date has not been announced. Traditionally early dates are assigned in October for the court new session.

It is unlikely, more like impossible that we will have a referral and court date before they close on Aug. 9th. This means that the earliest we would travel would be in October. My hope is that we get our referral soon so we can be put on the list to go to Court right after they re-open. Keep your fingers crossed that our referral will come in the next month or so!

Next week will mark our 5 month mark. Isn't that nuts! We have been waiting almost 5 months!  Again, the average to a referral is 4-6 months. So everyday is starting to get more real for us. We will find out that we have a referral when our agency calls us. They will not call us unless they are calling with BIG news. So everyday I start to get a little more attached to my phone. I am starting to jump a little when it rings or my heart will skip a beat. I am soooo excited and ready to become parents, but at the same time I am terrified. I am terrified that I won't feel an immediate attachment. It is such a strange feeling knowing in the next few months I will be looking at my son and daughter over an emailed photo. Strange, so strange. I think I used to be in la la land dreaming of how cute, great and perfect they will be. Now that each day is getting closer reality is starting to kick in. These kids could be far from perfect and I really have no control over this situation, none!  I just keep try to remind myself that things probably won't be as I have imagined it to be, and nothing in this life is perfect, but everything will work out in the end and I will love these children and their imperfections.

Proof is in the Puddin'

Brent made it pretty clear that he was not very happy with Sam's last post stating that we are undefeated. We have tied before, so technically we are undefeated. Sam and I are 'Us' and Brent and Kim are 'Them'! It was a great day and match-up. As you can see we were all tied up going into the 9th hole. Kim needed to sink a 2.5 ft putt and rimmed it and missed. It came down to Brent – The result is below.

Better luck next year Brent and Kim.