Ciao for now...................

We leave tomorrow afternoon around 3 pm to get baby Theo, baby Teddy, baby Cooper, whatever you want to call him. I will admit, two weeks ago I had this feeling in my gut that told me something wasn't right. I told Jeff, my friend Tim, my Mom, my friends Carla, Avie, and probably lots of other people I can't remember right now...(sorry if you're one of them) that something wasn't right....all before Grace called and told me that something wasn't right. As a matter of fact I asked Grace (before she knew) if I was actually leaving. Call it a sixth sense or something. I had the same feeling the day I sat in the Embassy back in August right before they told me there was a problem with Ben's paperwork. I felt the same way before every known court date that I had. Something just felt.....off.
I really, really think I am leaving tomorrow. I always get doctor sick right before I leave the country. Ukraine, Niger, and Ethiopia; it happened for every big trip in the last 4 years. This morning I had to go to CareNow because I had been feeling bad since late Thursday night and it just wasn't getting better. I thought I could beat it with the usuals: Musinex, EmergenC, Airborne, and lots of Mannatech vitamins. No good. I ended up with Bronchitis and had to get steroid shots and antibiotics to kick it. I am already feeling better and the confidence I felt about leaving is only that much stronger now that I have come down with an illness that requires a doctor visit.
This Bronchitis could just seal the deal if you know what I mean! I think it might really happen this time people.
So...I'll see y'all in a week!

What were we thinking......

It was just two days ago that my sweet son Ben was being awarded with the Circle of Courage award at school:

Two days ago my boys were being supportive of each other and being kind to one another:

It was two days ago that we got official word that Aiden had passed his Math TAKS! We had been waiting to hear the news...it was iffy. We were delirious with the news:

But today, with my children pouting (Ethiopian Style) and fighting and making giant messes with 3 of their friends over, it hit me that very shortly there will be yet another boy in this house. I came in my room and locked myself in. Not like breakdown-ish or anything. I just came in to relish the quiet, the ability to leave them out there. Very soon that will not be the case so I am gonna enjoy my last few days of having only big boys! I have my work cut out for me.

Official Departure Date: Round 2

I found out yesterday that I leave Monday. We got confirmation that the Embassy has the correct documents and our flights are officially re-booked. My Mom and I are making it a short trip. 6 days total. We get home Sunday June 7 in the afternoon!
We are officially very excited.

**I first wrote July 7 but we actually get home June 7!

The NEVER ENDING ADOPTION.......

We are not on our way to Ethiopia today. We will be staying put for now. The plan is to wait the two weeks until the next available Embassy appointment and go back then. It gives us time to make 100% sure that every piece of paper is in the Embassy Officer's hands when it is time to interview us.
I can do this, I can wait two more weeks. It's just two more weeks. I'm gonna keep telling myself that. Just two more weeks.
To be perfectly honest, it is not the end of the world, I do realize that. It would be really easy for me to get all riled up and throw a fit (and trust me I can throw a MEAN fit!!) and make life hell. But if I look at it logically that would require making my own life hell in the process and I'm not too impressed with that option. It seems to defeat the purpose.
I will just go crawl in bed and watch movies and pretend that two weeks was always the plan...technically....according to God....it was.

Lightening Does Strike Twice......

I'm quoting Grace on that. So here is the deal.... We did not leave for Ethiopia today. Grace called this morning and according to some medical record (not sure who's) my child is 33 months old. Not 20. He turns 3 in August some time. Riiiiiiiiiiiight.
It is the same exact issue that we had with Ben except this time I am here to call and deal with it myself. My homestudy says I can adopt a 3 to 24 month old or a 3 to 11 year old. There is a 12 month gap that we thought would never be a problem because he was 6 months old in February of 2008. That would make him 20 or 21 months now. Just to be sure I had a second addendum written up covering me up to 48 months. The only problem is I didn't get it through USCIS and NVC earlier this week because I thought if there happened to be a problem I could hand deliver it this week. No such luck.
So as it stands I may leave in 2 weeks, I may leave Monday. I don't know right now.
Grace, again, I am sorry for my meltdown this morning. You are a great lady and I never wanted to be the one to make your job harder. You have enough of that to deal with without me adding to the cause. Thanks for being a good friend and taking it all in stride.
Heather you are an angel, the BEST SOCIAL WORKER KNOWN TO MAN!! This sweet woman sat outside Dallas USCIS refusing to leave until she was able to speak to someone and get the ball rolling for me. AND IT WORKED! I am in tears just thinking of how amazing that is. Above and beyond. What a remarkable person you are! If we are able to leave Monday it will be entirely because of you.
So the wait continues. We will keep you posted.

Living by the list..........

Wow, I have been crazy busy trying to get everything lined up before I leave this Friday. It is so weird, I can't believe that I am actually going back to Ethiopia finally. I think this time it is even more surreal than the first time I went.
It is so weird to be packing for a baby too. There is so much more to think of than with big kids. Shoes, I am just wingin' it with shoes. His feet were so tiny when we were there 8 months ago, tiny for an 11 month old. Who knows what size he wears.
I am in complete list mode. I go into it when I have something huge going on that requires me to do and get a lot of things. The lists grow and shrink and turn into new lists and sub-lists. I categorize them in must do and would be nice to get done. They are my life line in times like these. Like the title of the post says, I am living by the list.
I know I probably won't post again until I am back from Ethiopia. I leave Friday afternoon at 3pm and we get home Sunday May 24th at 1:20pm. Thanks for you prayers. Add Jeff and my Dad to the list because they are home with the boys while my Mom and I head to Addis. Yikes!
Ciao for now!