That shirt says perfection. We agree!
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Thursday, December 24, 2009
We are the proud parents of Amari Nigist Mingrone!!!!!
We passed court in Ethiopia yesterday and we are now mom and dad to our beautiful little bundle of sunshine!!!!!!!! Amari, YOU are the best and most perfect Christmas present ever!
I thought I'd spend all day checking my email to find out if we passed court and the first time I looked there was a note from Sharon and the subject line said... NIGIST IS OFFICIALLY YOURS!
Here's her email:
Happy Holidays Mark and Lisa,
Your adoption has been approved !!!! Congratulations!. It’s much too early to confirm a visa appointment at this time but it looks like it's likely to be on Feb 4, 2010. We’ll be in touch once we are back in the office to confirm a date and to get you prepared for travel.
Please do not confirm any flights at this time,
Have a Blessed Christmas,
Sharon M. Turner
Ethiopia Program Director
Children's Hope International
Amari, you turned 4 months old yesterday too! We made lots of calls, celebrated all day, and are still celebrating! This is the most amazing and joyful Christmas of our lives.
Hey baby we're almost there and we wish wish we could be holding you right now but we are coming!!! We can't wait and we are so honored to be the ones to hold you forever. Love Mom and Dad.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
COURT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OUR COURT DATE IS DECEMBER 23rd! We are so excited and are keeping all of our fingers and toes crossed that we pass the first time! If that happens then our girl will be a Mingrone for Christmas! What an amazing present that would be! We might get a visa appointment January 21st at the earliest. It could be in February too. We will find out in January I think. That is when we go to Ethiopia. Our Gotcha Day could be as early as Monday January 18th! We're getting ready but WOW.
Until we pass court we can email any pictures but when we do look out! She'll knock your socks off!
We've decided on Amari as her first name. It has so many lovely African/Ethiopian meanings - having great strength (so true of all the babies from Ethiopia), pleasing, agreeable, and beautiful. Mari would be a good nickname. It a diminutive of Marie (my middle name after my Grandma), and has Latin - of the sea, and Celtic - form of Mary, connections too. Mark is Italian and we are both Irish. I actually have heard Amari while subbing and Mark and I have like it all the way along. We wanted to wait to choose a name until we got our referral and we knew what her birth name was. We are going to move her birth name to her middle name. We'll post her full name after court!
Until we pass court we can email any pictures but when we do look out! She'll knock your socks off!
We've decided on Amari as her first name. It has so many lovely African/Ethiopian meanings - having great strength (so true of all the babies from Ethiopia), pleasing, agreeable, and beautiful. Mari would be a good nickname. It a diminutive of Marie (my middle name after my Grandma), and has Latin - of the sea, and Celtic - form of Mary, connections too. Mark is Italian and we are both Irish. I actually have heard Amari while subbing and Mark and I have like it all the way along. We wanted to wait to choose a name until we got our referral and we knew what her birth name was. We are going to move her birth name to her middle name. We'll post her full name after court!
Friday, November 13, 2009
WE GOT OUR REFERRAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WE GOT OUR REFERRAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And she is so amazing! She is adorable and so so so so our girl!
We got the call Monday and with it came the warning to send all of her paperwork to the Dr. before accepting. We thought it best not to say anything until we officially accepted the referral. Gosh that's hard.
I just knew in my heart that we would accept and busted out and called my folks the next day. They were just so happy and excited too!!!!
We heard from the Dr. last night and he said her medical status was about the cleanest one you can get in international adoption! We are so thankful.
She is at the House of Hope now and we are also very thankful for them and the care they are giving our baby.
Our caseworker at CHI tried to reach us several times that morning. Mark called me from work at one point and asked if CHI had called me. They had tried to reach him. I hadn't heard a phone all morning but as soon as he said that my heart started racing! He said he'd call them back and get back to me. I started pacing around the living room just about to pop! The phone rang and it was our case worker with Mark on a conference call. She told us then all about our girl and even said at one point I know you're probably only taking about half of this in (I was crying with joy). She was so sweet. She sent the email with her pictures and records next. Mark came home from work so that we could look at her for the first time together. We made a video of that for her to have. We were so involved that we forgot the pizza Mark had put in the oven for lunch until it started smoking!
It has been an amazing week!
We are bursting with joy and so happy to share this long awaited news with you!
Monday, November 2, 2009
November is National Adoption Month
November is National Adoption Month. We would love to get our referral this month. We really thought we would last month. It has been a long time since there have been any referrals.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Friday, October 23, 2009
Four super updates!
1. We had a get together at our house at the end of last month and it was fun to see everyone that came. There were two other families and the kids played, hung out with us and on their own. I made pasta salad with one of the kiddos and she was a super helper. I had thought to have them all help, but we did fine on our own. I forgot the cookie dough that I got for the kids to help with though! We had plenty of food and shared lots of ideas and just hung out. We got lucky and had really good weather that day and no mosquitoes. The kids all made our baby art with notes, several of which said I can't wait to see your face...Awwwwww. That's exactly how we feel! I put all of it together as a collage that is a hanging on the baby room door. I'm looking forward to the next one - not sure when it will be - think someone needs to volunteer to host.
2. We have been online garage saling and have raised more money for our adoption fund. Specifically for our expenses while we are in Ethiopia. We are also earmarking certain things in adds as fundraisers for the kids at the orphanage and House of Hope. We know that things like toys are luxuries and that food, especially formula is really expensive. We are going to let the directors tell us what they need most and get that with some extra things as gifts for the kids. We will wait to spend the money there so it helps their local economy.
3. We are SOOOOOOOOOOO close I can't stand it waiting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I carry my phone on, and on me, everywhere. For those that know me this is highly unusual, as it's mostly off and in my purse!
4. The student council at my school decided to participate in fundraisers that Chidren's Hope has organized. They are going to have their dress down day in October for orphans in China that need cleft pallet surgery. They are going to have their dress down day in November for Bright Hope School in Ethiopia. It's a school for orphans and they need food for the kids.
I LOVE MY KIDS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They really are the most generous and spiritual people and I am honored to teach them. I was jumping up and down in the dining room when the teacher that advises the student council called to let me know! It's just GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It's a beautiful day.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
It's the beginning of October and we're hoping hard to get our referral this month. There were some last month and we're closer. But who knows what will happen. This month we have to start re-doing our home study before it expires. It would be great if we could be home from Ethiopia in February next year.
I remember feeling like that a year ago and thinking then that February was at the outset. December was still a possibility then. I really hope this February doesn't go by and we aren't home with our girl.
My lifeline on a bad day - it could be her birthday. On a regular day wondering if she has been born yet.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Slow down
Well I did it again. Got all hopeful about us going to
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
We are 6th!
As of the last group of referrals we are 7th overall but I know that one of the familes ahead of us is adopting older children than we are so we are 6th as far as adopting a baby. We could be closer but it's hard to tell. So there is still the possibilty we could travel this year to get our daughter.
We started our travel vaccinations and while it didn't really hurt getting them they made our arms sore and they still are today. We have a few more rounds to go.
We are getting CLOSER. It's getting harder to wait everyday with the anticipation and uncertainty mixed together. CLOSER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Friday, July 31, 2009
IN THE TOP TEN!
THATS US!
YEA!!!! We are officially in the top ten on the waiting list for referrals!!! We won't be told where we are 8, 3, or 1 on the list but simply that we are in the top ten. It could still be a while (read months) for our refferal and it could be us that's the next referral. We don't know. We need a video camera! Anyone have one we could borrow? I have seen lots of happy referral videos and would like to make one for us when we get the call.
Now we need to get in gear and start getting more done on everything!
We are hoping to host an adoption event in September at our house. I wanted to use the community center but it's nearly impossible to book the free room. I called in May for SEPT and was told to call back in July, did that and was told weddings were booked before me in June. Huh???? It would have been nice to have the indoor pool and their playground handy but what can we do. Maybe for next year we can get folks to share the cost of renting the room on a Sunday or something. Still annoyed that they parse out the room in this rather arbitrary manner.
WE ARE IN THE TOP TEN THOUGH AND THAT'S TOO COOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Mixed news
Courts are not closing this year! Courts are closing rumors. Courts are closing for part of the rainy season not as long as normally? ANYWAYS it is official that I'm happy/sad! It was so exciting to hear that courts would stay open this year (normally close AUG/SEPT/OCT) as that might mean we would hear something sooner and maybe travel sooner. Now with courts closing for what I think is a shorter time than normall this still is true - just not as much potential. The back & forth in this process is something! WHEW.
More good news - courts have started seeing cases of abandonment from Addis Ababa again. The concerns over people taking advantage of the children to make a profit have been investigated for the last few months and the determination has been made that some agencies (our agency was one of the first ones) are above board and so cases for adoption from these agencies are being heard again. I'm still waiting for more news on the whole issue and the problem agency.
Again its just crazy to me that in a country that has the one of the highest cases of AIDS in the world and has one of the highest numbers of orphans, that people would sell a child. This hurts so many. Still I guess I shouldn't be surprised either because there are always those willing to take advantage of any situation for their own benifit above all moral considerations. That's a reality of the world.
However the hearing of cases from Addis is good news for everyone (any delay affects us all) and YEA to those parents (referrals of children from Addis) who have been waiting, along with their children, for months for their court date to be set during this investigation. It is my ferverent hope that there are no hitches once they do go to court as the parents have been watching their child grow older without them and the children have been growing up with out a parents who love them there to take care of them, over all of this time.
Court has been getting less sure than it use to be. The requirements have been raised (remaining family must appear and relinquish thier rights to the child - paperwork is more to make sure the families/child have gone through all of the various steps required before court) - medical is more and so forth. This is all god stuff but it makes the chance that something can go wrong on the first try at court higher. There have been many more posts of not passing court the first time or at all, over the last few months.
Hoping to get a referral in the next few months and keeping our fingers (and toes!!) crossed for everyone. With a shout out to LOVE and GOODNESS in the universe in the face of it all and to the PEOPLE who are loving and caring for our KIDDOS through all of this.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
A Year and a Half
That's the time frame for us so far. We still really don't have an idea when we will get a referral but are hoping for sometime this year. Other than that we are just keeping on keeping on.
Because we have been saving money for the adoption we held off from any travel, as it is so expensive, and on top of that I don't get vacation days from much of my work, so we have always lost that income. But it has been a long time since I have be able to spend time with any of my family. We had always used most holidays and most of Mark's time off to go see our families. We took one weekend a year as a trip for us (our anniversary) to somewhere close like Memphis or Chattanooga. That has been on haitus too.
As travel has really been limited for close to two years now, the adoption process officially started for a year and a half, and the whole process looking like two to two and half years (please no longer) right now, well, we are going to have to chang things up. We have seen Mark's family, except for his dad whom we've only seen once, more due to needs and circumstances over the last two years but still not enough. We need to see everyone more and will have to make some trips this year to do that.
Our neighbors had us over for their yummy fried fish last night and they had all their family there as they always do when they have a reson to get together. Cars were up and down the street on both sides and in the drives - for fried fish. Just wait till the 4th of July an the cars will be that much more and they all come full. It was really nice to be there but it made me even more aware of what we are missing with our own families. Where we live is kinda in the middle of all of ours but they are all spread out.
I hope people can come here more to see us as time goes on but know that we will have to be very proactive in making sure we get to our families and that our girl sees them enough to bond and feel connected to them all.
Because we have been saving money for the adoption we held off from any travel, as it is so expensive, and on top of that I don't get vacation days from much of my work, so we have always lost that income. But it has been a long time since I have be able to spend time with any of my family. We had always used most holidays and most of Mark's time off to go see our families. We took one weekend a year as a trip for us (our anniversary) to somewhere close like Memphis or Chattanooga. That has been on haitus too.
As travel has really been limited for close to two years now, the adoption process officially started for a year and a half, and the whole process looking like two to two and half years (please no longer) right now, well, we are going to have to chang things up. We have seen Mark's family, except for his dad whom we've only seen once, more due to needs and circumstances over the last two years but still not enough. We need to see everyone more and will have to make some trips this year to do that.
Our neighbors had us over for their yummy fried fish last night and they had all their family there as they always do when they have a reson to get together. Cars were up and down the street on both sides and in the drives - for fried fish. Just wait till the 4th of July an the cars will be that much more and they all come full. It was really nice to be there but it made me even more aware of what we are missing with our own families. Where we live is kinda in the middle of all of ours but they are all spread out.
I hope people can come here more to see us as time goes on but know that we will have to be very proactive in making sure we get to our families and that our girl sees them enough to bond and feel connected to them all.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Summer!
It's so lovely outside!!!!! We are planning on seeing our families more this year. We really put travel on hold thinking we would be going out of the country sooner than later. It has been the longest time since we have seen my mom's side of the family and over year since we have seen my hometown and all of my family around there. We are still waiting for our referral and are hopeful we will receive one this year. PATIENCE. Some people have complimented me that I am such a patient person (work, people, customers, and kids). One coworker said to me recently when she gave me a customer service problem to deal with that I have the patience of Job. HAH!!!!! HA!!!!!! HAH!!!!!!! As far as the adoption goes that is not the case - BUT I am trying. School is out for the summer. I am taking a classroom web design class and having fun with that. I am waiting until 2010 to go back to get my MS in Library Science now. There is too much uncertainty with the adoption and there are some other prep classes I would like to take first anyway. Mark was just at a family reunion in West Virginia (I wasn't able to get that time off from work) where his band and cousins played for friends and family there. I can't wait to see the DVD. He's also getting farther with an album he is recording with another progressive rock band. We are going to do more work on the house this summer and fall - especially the front porch and the kitchen cabinets. I need to check on hosting a get together this summer with adoptive families.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Doing better...
Mark and I went to two group get togethers yesterday for adoptive families and I'm feeling better. Also have had some time and perspective. It's still not easy but everyone that goes through the delays and changes in the adoption process knows what we are going through and can relate to where we are. If they've been there they really know and they can all empathize.
The inter-racially mixed family group of mostly adoptive families met in our neighborhood. There were kids of all ages playing on the piano, running around and doing what kids do. We ran into people that we know from living here and enjoyed getting to know them better and talking about everything with them. There were quite a few families and so many different adoption stories. This is a small town and we are a part of a special community now.
We went to meet up with another group for our first get together after that and might combine forces with the first group. Several families are traveling to bring home their child or newly returned so it turned out to be just us and another couple but it was a really good visit. They have been through the adoption ringer but are SO close to becoming parents and being home with their adorable boy. They had pictures of their little boy in Ethiopia that another family took for them and had all of the news from families that had been to Ethiopia recently. Their court date is coming up and their visa appointment is right after. The months be tween the referral and court have been hard but having the pictures and news from people has helped. We talked about our experiences and that overpowering yearning that I feel was the same in her. While it's hard on our guys it was funny that as couple we were the same. She and I worry and keep track of everything and they try not to read all the emails and chat site stuff because it's overwhelming and we are addicted!
I can't wait for the next get togethers and feel such relief that we will have people that know what this all is to share with as we go along this path of growing as a family. As much as I appreciate everyone's love and support it is also important to have people that understand from walking in the same shoes. It takes so much explaining to everyone else and always will. That's normal and fine but to not explain but just to have a statement accepted and understood is calming. To have responses that not only support and encourage but specifically address issues. Nice. Everyone at the get togethers encouraged us but they did it knowing that things will keep changing, it can get harder, it might not work out, it really hurts and that we will be OK and that we can become parents no matter what it will just take more than we could have ever anticipated or understood till we went through it. And after being around all the families, some that are or have adopted more than once and in so many ways, it's the love that we all want to share as parent's that we felt yesterday. It's there in the kids and we'll get there.
The inter-racially mixed family group of mostly adoptive families met in our neighborhood. There were kids of all ages playing on the piano, running around and doing what kids do. We ran into people that we know from living here and enjoyed getting to know them better and talking about everything with them. There were quite a few families and so many different adoption stories. This is a small town and we are a part of a special community now.
We went to meet up with another group for our first get together after that and might combine forces with the first group. Several families are traveling to bring home their child or newly returned so it turned out to be just us and another couple but it was a really good visit. They have been through the adoption ringer but are SO close to becoming parents and being home with their adorable boy. They had pictures of their little boy in Ethiopia that another family took for them and had all of the news from families that had been to Ethiopia recently. Their court date is coming up and their visa appointment is right after. The months be tween the referral and court have been hard but having the pictures and news from people has helped. We talked about our experiences and that overpowering yearning that I feel was the same in her. While it's hard on our guys it was funny that as couple we were the same. She and I worry and keep track of everything and they try not to read all the emails and chat site stuff because it's overwhelming and we are addicted!
I can't wait for the next get togethers and feel such relief that we will have people that know what this all is to share with as we go along this path of growing as a family. As much as I appreciate everyone's love and support it is also important to have people that understand from walking in the same shoes. It takes so much explaining to everyone else and always will. That's normal and fine but to not explain but just to have a statement accepted and understood is calming. To have responses that not only support and encourage but specifically address issues. Nice. Everyone at the get togethers encouraged us but they did it knowing that things will keep changing, it can get harder, it might not work out, it really hurts and that we will be OK and that we can become parents no matter what it will just take more than we could have ever anticipated or understood till we went through it. And after being around all the families, some that are or have adopted more than once and in so many ways, it's the love that we all want to share as parent's that we felt yesterday. It's there in the kids and we'll get there.
Monday, May 11, 2009
We are probably going to be waiting for even longer than we can imagine at this point. From here on out I really can't even begin to guess what the future holds. This process is one that we knew would not be easy. We knew it would be a lot of work. We knew it would be hard. We knew there would be uncertainty. We knew from others that had adopted that there would be tears as we went along. Tears of sadness as we comprehended the causes of so many orphans, confusion as we tried to do everything that was required, frustration as we waited, and all of these tears would be in hope for the tears of joy as we became parents. We had another notice of bad news and 3 to 6 months of addtional delays Friday. As I cried Friday night I realized that no matter what you hear, no matter where you are in the process there is no way to be ready for or to tolorate the pain of continually hearing of furthor extensive delays and possibly having your hopes smashed alltogether. This little girl is real. I have cried for her losing her mom, for her losing her country, culture, and anyone that has ever cared for her and all of the pain and confusion that she has been through in her short life. She may not be born yet but that is what many children around the world go through all the time before they are adopted. That is what our child will have gone through no matter how we adopt. Even if this adoption does not work out there are is a beautiful soul in Ethiopia that might have been for our hearts. For her we have been waiting, planning, and dreaming with such love and care and if we lose her we will always have her in our hearts. Right now though it just hurts so much and I really don't know quite how to handle it.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Still waiting
It's April 13, 2009. That's 14 1/2 months from when we applied to CHI. We are still waiting for the next benchmark, our referral, which will probably be this summer but by then it could be later. The next wait after we get our referral is to get our court date (courts close August to October) in Ethiopia. Then we wait to pass court and hope it doesn't have to be rescheduled. Court means she's adopted to us. Next we wait for our visa appointment. After that get that we can buy tickets and fly over to bring her home. All said maybe we'll be home by Christmas this year but then, it may be later.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
In honor of Haregewoin Teferra and her life...
Mrs. Haregewoin Teferra has died. She passed away on March 17, 2009. Haregewoin was and will continue to be an example and an inspiration for people to love and care, without reservation, for children in need. Her ability and determination to care for the neediest when no one else would and her determination to make the situation better for them brought much needed attention to the problems that face the orphans in Ethiopia. People of all ages flocked to Haregewoin because she did not let AIDS, the threat of social ostracism for caring for children and befriending adults with AIDS, or financial hardship (in a country that has been enduring longer and deeper economic troubles than what most of us can imagine), keep her from sharing everything she had with the children that arrived at her door. These sites will give you more information about Haregewoin and help answer any questions you might have about the issue of adoption from Ethiopia. Mark and I also recommend the book There Is No Me Without You by Melissa Fay Greene. Her book is extremely well researched and has an endless list of sources and information at the end. A Google search will also provide you with hours of reading on the complexity and seriousness of the issues that I discuss below.
http://www.thereisnomewithoutyou.com/blog?op=view&id=64
http://www.ethiopianreview.com/content/2009/03/ethiopian-humanitarian-haregewoin-teferra-dies/
Please realize that adoption is NOT viewed, and rightly so, as a solution for the orphans in Ethiopia. These beautiful children are loved and wanted but they become orphans due to one or both parents dying and the often impossible task of earning an income due to a combination of drought and a bad economy and/or stigmatism from someone in the family having AIDS. The number of orphans that will be adopted does not touch the problem it simply saves those children. That is the concern of the Ethiopian government and that concern, saving as many children as possible, is weighed against the loss to the child of their family, home, country, culture, language, and heritage. It is a huge loss for the child and the country. The beautiful children from Ethiopia that you see adopted into families are a treasure to those families and their communities. However I am hopeful that more people will become more informed and therefore better able to promote healing and recovery in Ethiopia and that will provide a greater and more secure future for the children in Ethiopia.
Greater access to the medicines that have made AIDS a chronic disease in the Western World is needed. For too long, and at the expense of a generation of people in third world countries like Ethiopia, pharmaceutical companies would not make the needed medicines easily available and affordable. It is complicated but right now it is my understanding that only the first round of AIDS medicines has been made affordable and available. The second and desperately needed round of medicines that an Aids patient need is still being kept out of reach (greed) and therefore the numbers of people dying from AIDS in third world countries continues to be outrageous. It is also my understanding that AIDS became AIDS and was then spread primarily with the reuse of plastic needles during the early immunization phase in Africa (1950's on) because not enough (needles were made inexpensive and mass produced in US but not distributed widely enough) were made available to meet the demand for the miracle immunization drugs that were proven to save lives in record numbers.
Haregewoin Teferra your life will be honored by all of us who have been touched by your efforts. We will be the ones to carry on for you. It is our turn now.
http://www.thereisnomewithoutyou.com/blog?op=view&id=64
http://www.ethiopianreview.com/content/2009/03/ethiopian-humanitarian-haregewoin-teferra-dies/
Please realize that adoption is NOT viewed, and rightly so, as a solution for the orphans in Ethiopia. These beautiful children are loved and wanted but they become orphans due to one or both parents dying and the often impossible task of earning an income due to a combination of drought and a bad economy and/or stigmatism from someone in the family having AIDS. The number of orphans that will be adopted does not touch the problem it simply saves those children. That is the concern of the Ethiopian government and that concern, saving as many children as possible, is weighed against the loss to the child of their family, home, country, culture, language, and heritage. It is a huge loss for the child and the country. The beautiful children from Ethiopia that you see adopted into families are a treasure to those families and their communities. However I am hopeful that more people will become more informed and therefore better able to promote healing and recovery in Ethiopia and that will provide a greater and more secure future for the children in Ethiopia.
Greater access to the medicines that have made AIDS a chronic disease in the Western World is needed. For too long, and at the expense of a generation of people in third world countries like Ethiopia, pharmaceutical companies would not make the needed medicines easily available and affordable. It is complicated but right now it is my understanding that only the first round of AIDS medicines has been made affordable and available. The second and desperately needed round of medicines that an Aids patient need is still being kept out of reach (greed) and therefore the numbers of people dying from AIDS in third world countries continues to be outrageous. It is also my understanding that AIDS became AIDS and was then spread primarily with the reuse of plastic needles during the early immunization phase in Africa (1950's on) because not enough (needles were made inexpensive and mass produced in US but not distributed widely enough) were made available to meet the demand for the miracle immunization drugs that were proven to save lives in record numbers.
Haregewoin Teferra your life will be honored by all of us who have been touched by your efforts. We will be the ones to carry on for you. It is our turn now.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Baby Room pics!!!
Here you go!
It's been a while but we are almost done! The room is serene and cute with many things that are mine from when I was a little girl. Several things were handmade by my mom. The dressers from my childhood bedroom were refinished by my parents quite a while back. There are still a few things to add but it feels great to be ready. The "Hope" bear that Brenda from Children's Hope gave us is in the crib waiting for our baby to love on it.
There is also a new link under Our Library Wish List on the left to try out. The guest password ourgirl must be entered to see the list. I created a baby gift list of books and music that are special for our adoption. These are about adoption, racial issues, hair care, Ethiopia, and Africa. If you choose any of these for us then we would be happy for you to read or listen to your gift before we receive it. Much of this is new to us so it would be so neat to talk to you and hear your ideas and thoughts afterwards!
Enjoy the pics!
Lisa
It's been a while but we are almost done! The room is serene and cute with many things that are mine from when I was a little girl. Several things were handmade by my mom. The dressers from my childhood bedroom were refinished by my parents quite a while back. There are still a few things to add but it feels great to be ready. The "Hope" bear that Brenda from Children's Hope gave us is in the crib waiting for our baby to love on it.
There is also a new link under Our Library Wish List on the left to try out. The guest password ourgirl must be entered to see the list. I created a baby gift list of books and music that are special for our adoption. These are about adoption, racial issues, hair care, Ethiopia, and Africa. If you choose any of these for us then we would be happy for you to read or listen to your gift before we receive it. Much of this is new to us so it would be so neat to talk to you and hear your ideas and thoughts afterwards!
Enjoy the pics!
Lisa
Monday, March 2, 2009
Keep Moving Forward
So this winter has been a time of hunkering down and regrouping. While things with the adoption are taking longer and leaving us with out a clear time frame, other parts of our world have kept right on keeping on. It has also become clear to me that in order to stay viable in the job market we all have to keep adding to what we can offer.
With the arts always on the verge of or actually being cut or reduced in quantity/quality it's been clear to me for a long time that if I want greater opportunities for my career as an educator that the arts is not going to provide them. As much as I love teaching art and am always on the lookout for better and new ways to teach it and share my passion for it, it may never provide any stability and security for my career. I plan to keep my professional art educator license up after I graduate though because you never know.
Something that is increasingly important to us is the need to create a stable and secure future for our daughter. So with that in mind I am moving forward with applying to start in the online Masters of Library Science program through the University of Tennessee (UT). The online program means no commute to school and therefore less time away from baby. I've been researching library science programs for a long time and have been interested in being a librarian for over 15 years. This is a 42 credit hour program and allows me to add a school librarian certification to my program.
I will be able to work full time when our girl goes off to school and still have hours that match hers so I can be there for her after school and hopefully she will go to the same school that I work at. I can also work in academic libraries, art libraries, and businesses. I may only take one class this fall. I may need to defer until the spring if we find out we will be traveling in the fall. It is 3 or 4 years of study as a part time student so regardless it is time to get moving.
This is a big decision and one that we have put lots of time and thinking into. Send us your best wishes when you get a chance.
With the arts always on the verge of or actually being cut or reduced in quantity/quality it's been clear to me for a long time that if I want greater opportunities for my career as an educator that the arts is not going to provide them. As much as I love teaching art and am always on the lookout for better and new ways to teach it and share my passion for it, it may never provide any stability and security for my career. I plan to keep my professional art educator license up after I graduate though because you never know.
Something that is increasingly important to us is the need to create a stable and secure future for our daughter. So with that in mind I am moving forward with applying to start in the online Masters of Library Science program through the University of Tennessee (UT). The online program means no commute to school and therefore less time away from baby. I've been researching library science programs for a long time and have been interested in being a librarian for over 15 years. This is a 42 credit hour program and allows me to add a school librarian certification to my program.
I will be able to work full time when our girl goes off to school and still have hours that match hers so I can be there for her after school and hopefully she will go to the same school that I work at. I can also work in academic libraries, art libraries, and businesses. I may only take one class this fall. I may need to defer until the spring if we find out we will be traveling in the fall. It is 3 or 4 years of study as a part time student so regardless it is time to get moving.
This is a big decision and one that we have put lots of time and thinking into. Send us your best wishes when you get a chance.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Important update
For all of you who may be in close contact with our baby girl within 60 days of our return from Ethiopia please follow through. Send this information to friends and families you know that are adopting from the countries listed in the article. This vaccination has been reccomended for years but people are not following though and getting it.
Panel: Adopting from abroad? Get hepatitis A shotBy MIKE STOBBE – 2 hours ago ATLANTA (AP) — A 51-year-old adoptive grandmother's death from hepatitis has helped spur new vaccination recommendations for people in close contact with children adopted from other countries.The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, meeting in Atlanta, voted Wednesday to recommend hepatitis A vaccinations for all close contacts of children coming from countries where hepatitis A is relatively common. That includes Guatemala, China, Russia and Ethiopia — four countries that are currently the major sources of international adoptions. The committee makes recommendations to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Federal officials estimate that international adoptees trigger only 100 to 1,000 of the estimated 32,000 hepatitis A infections that occur in the United States each year. But cases that do occur are sometimes tragic.Hepatitis A is a liver disease caused by a virus, which can spread through handling a diaper or other contact with contaminated feces. Federal guidelines call for vaccinations against it for all U.S. children and for adults who travel to countries where the illness is common.The two-dose vaccination costs about $140 per person. International adoptions tend to cost $20,000 to $40,000, said Dr. Cindy Weinbaum, a CDC viral hepatitis expert.Children adopted from other countries generally do not have recommended vaccinations when they arrive. They undergo physical examinations, but infected young children often don't have the jaundice considered a sign of the illness, CDC officials said.Non-traveling family members of the new adoptee often aren't vaccinated either. A CDC official told the panel a 2007 international adoption of twins caused the death of a 51-year-old woman in Minnesota. Another last year put two adults in the hospital and prompted school vaccination clinics in a Maine community.The panel's recommendation is targeted at family members, baby sitters and others who come in close contact with an international adoptee within 60 days of the child's arrival in the United States. Ideally, people should get the first dose at least two weeks before the parents bring the child home, health officials said. Hosted by Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Panel: Adopting from abroad? Get hepatitis A shotBy MIKE STOBBE – 2 hours ago ATLANTA (AP) — A 51-year-old adoptive grandmother's death from hepatitis has helped spur new vaccination recommendations for people in close contact with children adopted from other countries.The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, meeting in Atlanta, voted Wednesday to recommend hepatitis A vaccinations for all close contacts of children coming from countries where hepatitis A is relatively common. That includes Guatemala, China, Russia and Ethiopia — four countries that are currently the major sources of international adoptions. The committee makes recommendations to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Federal officials estimate that international adoptees trigger only 100 to 1,000 of the estimated 32,000 hepatitis A infections that occur in the United States each year. But cases that do occur are sometimes tragic.Hepatitis A is a liver disease caused by a virus, which can spread through handling a diaper or other contact with contaminated feces. Federal guidelines call for vaccinations against it for all U.S. children and for adults who travel to countries where the illness is common.The two-dose vaccination costs about $140 per person. International adoptions tend to cost $20,000 to $40,000, said Dr. Cindy Weinbaum, a CDC viral hepatitis expert.Children adopted from other countries generally do not have recommended vaccinations when they arrive. They undergo physical examinations, but infected young children often don't have the jaundice considered a sign of the illness, CDC officials said.Non-traveling family members of the new adoptee often aren't vaccinated either. A CDC official told the panel a 2007 international adoption of twins caused the death of a 51-year-old woman in Minnesota. Another last year put two adults in the hospital and prompted school vaccination clinics in a Maine community.The panel's recommendation is targeted at family members, baby sitters and others who come in close contact with an international adoptee within 60 days of the child's arrival in the United States. Ideally, people should get the first dose at least two weeks before the parents bring the child home, health officials said. Hosted by Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Patience
No news. Waiting. Not easy. Patience.
Things will work out. They will.
Postive thing to think about:
Today could be her birthday.
Things will work out. They will.
Postive thing to think about:
Today could be her birthday.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
History along with more patience, positive thinking, and appreciation...
History in the making...
Today Mark and I heard the words of many famous historical US figures like Jefferson, Lincoln, Roosevelt, Kennedy, and Martin Luther King Junior. Theses words were spoken out by actors and great songs, representing the spirit of the US, were performed at a fabulous inaugural concert for President Elect Barak Obama called We Are One. An aptly chosen title for the free concert that took place today on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Obama and Joe Biden also spoke and they continue to emphasize the importance that we all play in working to make the improvements that our country needs right now and for a better future. As Barak Obama was going up to speak I was really overcome with emotion. So much hope for the spirit of our country and for the continued movement towards a better nation for all of its citizens filled me. We are all responsible for helping each other and giving of ourselves to the common good.
This historical moment is one that friends of mine are adding to their baby books and one that I am excited to add to ours. Our daughter will inherit the world that we leave her and I am full of hope right now that it will be one in which she finds fewer barriers and limits and more love and support from all people than those African Americans that came before her. While I would have been eager to have an African American run for president - that would not have been new. I was happy to have a woman and a Latino running for the Democratic candidate as well. I was really happy to see that all of the Democratic candidates were intelligent, informed, and worthwhile examining. At the start any of them were viable candidates for me to choose from. I was even happy with the John McCain and shared those feeling with my cousin when asked for my opinion - but that was before he picked someone who, despite having access to more information on anything and everything national and international than I could dream of, couldn't answer questions about what was going on the nation and the world with the knowledge, understanding, and thoughtfulness, that my family can. That was a scary realization. I would not have voted for Barak Obama if he had not had purpose and a message that I agreed with - and I am really behind him as I have not been for any politician in my lifetime.
Barak Obama is making history as the first African American president because of his ideals. He moved a huge diversity of people to come out and support him, to show up at his campaign headquarters and give not just their money but their time in record numbers. The time that I spent helping at his headquarters was so amazingly energizing and uplifting and I continue to feel that energy from him whenever I hear him speak. As I read over the speeches that we all heard throughout his campaign I am thrilled that he is going to be our president and so moved that we a nation reached the point where the message mattered more than the race. It is uplifting for all of us to be at this moment in history.
Patience, positive thinking, and appreciation...
With the changes in adoption all over the world Ethiopia has become a country that more and more families are adopting from. This means that the adoption process continues to slow down as we go through it. We could be finishing during the next holiday season based on the updates that we read recently - and that's at the outside as of now but we'll just have to see. At this point we really have to be patient and flexible because things will probably continue to get slower as the year goes on. I am going to be positive that everything will work itself out as it should and am trying to let go of the timelines that we have been given. We are so fortunate in so many ways that many people would be grateful to have our shoes right now. We have a family and friends that love a support us, our health, our home, and our jobs. We just have to keep that all in mind as we go forward this year with hope and faith that our daughter will be part of our family before we know it.
Today Mark and I heard the words of many famous historical US figures like Jefferson, Lincoln, Roosevelt, Kennedy, and Martin Luther King Junior. Theses words were spoken out by actors and great songs, representing the spirit of the US, were performed at a fabulous inaugural concert for President Elect Barak Obama called We Are One. An aptly chosen title for the free concert that took place today on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Obama and Joe Biden also spoke and they continue to emphasize the importance that we all play in working to make the improvements that our country needs right now and for a better future. As Barak Obama was going up to speak I was really overcome with emotion. So much hope for the spirit of our country and for the continued movement towards a better nation for all of its citizens filled me. We are all responsible for helping each other and giving of ourselves to the common good.
This historical moment is one that friends of mine are adding to their baby books and one that I am excited to add to ours. Our daughter will inherit the world that we leave her and I am full of hope right now that it will be one in which she finds fewer barriers and limits and more love and support from all people than those African Americans that came before her. While I would have been eager to have an African American run for president - that would not have been new. I was happy to have a woman and a Latino running for the Democratic candidate as well. I was really happy to see that all of the Democratic candidates were intelligent, informed, and worthwhile examining. At the start any of them were viable candidates for me to choose from. I was even happy with the John McCain and shared those feeling with my cousin when asked for my opinion - but that was before he picked someone who, despite having access to more information on anything and everything national and international than I could dream of, couldn't answer questions about what was going on the nation and the world with the knowledge, understanding, and thoughtfulness, that my family can. That was a scary realization. I would not have voted for Barak Obama if he had not had purpose and a message that I agreed with - and I am really behind him as I have not been for any politician in my lifetime.
Barak Obama is making history as the first African American president because of his ideals. He moved a huge diversity of people to come out and support him, to show up at his campaign headquarters and give not just their money but their time in record numbers. The time that I spent helping at his headquarters was so amazingly energizing and uplifting and I continue to feel that energy from him whenever I hear him speak. As I read over the speeches that we all heard throughout his campaign I am thrilled that he is going to be our president and so moved that we a nation reached the point where the message mattered more than the race. It is uplifting for all of us to be at this moment in history.
Patience, positive thinking, and appreciation...
With the changes in adoption all over the world Ethiopia has become a country that more and more families are adopting from. This means that the adoption process continues to slow down as we go through it. We could be finishing during the next holiday season based on the updates that we read recently - and that's at the outside as of now but we'll just have to see. At this point we really have to be patient and flexible because things will probably continue to get slower as the year goes on. I am going to be positive that everything will work itself out as it should and am trying to let go of the timelines that we have been given. We are so fortunate in so many ways that many people would be grateful to have our shoes right now. We have a family and friends that love a support us, our health, our home, and our jobs. We just have to keep that all in mind as we go forward this year with hope and faith that our daughter will be part of our family before we know it.
Friday, January 9, 2009
We had a lovely holiday season. We didn’t like that we did not get to see a lot of our families this year as we stayed here to save money but we were busy. First we drove a little ways to KY to spend Thanksgiving with Mark's Aunt Jackie. She's in an assisted living place and her son, Denny, and his family are spread out all over because both parents are in the military and not at the same location. It was really good to get together and visit with her. We saw his cousin Denny and his family the day after X-Mas as they were visiting his mom in KY and drove here to see us. Denny will probably be deployed to Afghanistan next - we're hoping not back to Iraq. It was really good to see them and are keeping our fingers crossed that he doesn't go anywhere.
We had Christmas dinner with my friend Adrienne, her husband Dave and all of her family that was in from out of town. She and Dave have two little girls and they really made the magic happen this Christmas. Their 2 and half year old daughter Casey has started calling to talk to us and when I see her always wants to know what Mark is doing if he is not with me! Her extended family is getting to be like our extended family, not just to me as I've known them forever, but to Mark. New Years we went over to the friends of ours that hosted our wedding, Malinda and Doug, and they had a murder mystery themed party with us dressing up in costume and playing parts and trying to solve the whodunit. Great fun!
Mark had some much needed days off and I've been working a couple of extra jobs at Baby Gap and Pottery Barn Kids to earn some extra pennies to put towards the baby. With the holidays it’s been BUSY. I think it will calm down in a couple of weeks and the Baby Gap job will end for the season. I'm excited though because I talked Pottery Kids in to hiring me permanently not seasonally! It will be great to know I have a summer job and an evening and weekend job to help out over the first few months when we get back from Ethiopia and I can't work during the day. As far as the adoption we are moving closer to being on an active waiting list. We are almost at the 6 month mark from when we turned in our dossier and referrals have been coming in on average from 6 to 10 months out from the dossier.
Our gift from Santa this year was an adoption baby book and we have started filling that out. The baby room is all patched and the trim was sanded, the ceiling painted, the walls primed and the first coat of trim paint is on. My mom went to lots of garage sales and Jon dropped off everything on his way down to meet her in Texas for the winter. She had knee surgery and had to fly. We have some great toys, clothes for our girl at the ready for when we travel and bring her home, a stroller and car seat, and the most beautiful hand-knitted-by-grandma baby blanket.
Court is slower in Ethiopia right now so I pushed the referral age of our child back to 0-8 months. We need to be sure that she will be able to come back on the visa paperwork that says 0-12 months. I've sent out more note to folks in the Ethiopian adoption community and asked them to forward the idea of starting regular get-togethers. There are a couple of mom's here that get together regularly in my neighborhood that I need to contact. I'm focused on Ethiopia but am going to suggest that we have an open to all in adoption event as well as I am still in touch with families that have adopted through all of the myriad of possibilities that one could choose. I'm excited and hope to set up the first get together by the end of January.
We had Christmas dinner with my friend Adrienne, her husband Dave and all of her family that was in from out of town. She and Dave have two little girls and they really made the magic happen this Christmas. Their 2 and half year old daughter Casey has started calling to talk to us and when I see her always wants to know what Mark is doing if he is not with me! Her extended family is getting to be like our extended family, not just to me as I've known them forever, but to Mark. New Years we went over to the friends of ours that hosted our wedding, Malinda and Doug, and they had a murder mystery themed party with us dressing up in costume and playing parts and trying to solve the whodunit. Great fun!
Mark had some much needed days off and I've been working a couple of extra jobs at Baby Gap and Pottery Barn Kids to earn some extra pennies to put towards the baby. With the holidays it’s been BUSY. I think it will calm down in a couple of weeks and the Baby Gap job will end for the season. I'm excited though because I talked Pottery Kids in to hiring me permanently not seasonally! It will be great to know I have a summer job and an evening and weekend job to help out over the first few months when we get back from Ethiopia and I can't work during the day. As far as the adoption we are moving closer to being on an active waiting list. We are almost at the 6 month mark from when we turned in our dossier and referrals have been coming in on average from 6 to 10 months out from the dossier.
Our gift from Santa this year was an adoption baby book and we have started filling that out. The baby room is all patched and the trim was sanded, the ceiling painted, the walls primed and the first coat of trim paint is on. My mom went to lots of garage sales and Jon dropped off everything on his way down to meet her in Texas for the winter. She had knee surgery and had to fly. We have some great toys, clothes for our girl at the ready for when we travel and bring her home, a stroller and car seat, and the most beautiful hand-knitted-by-grandma baby blanket.
Court is slower in Ethiopia right now so I pushed the referral age of our child back to 0-8 months. We need to be sure that she will be able to come back on the visa paperwork that says 0-12 months. I've sent out more note to folks in the Ethiopian adoption community and asked them to forward the idea of starting regular get-togethers. There are a couple of mom's here that get together regularly in my neighborhood that I need to contact. I'm focused on Ethiopia but am going to suggest that we have an open to all in adoption event as well as I am still in touch with families that have adopted through all of the myriad of possibilities that one could choose. I'm excited and hope to set up the first get together by the end of January.
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