Leaving on a Jet Plane

**I couldn't post/upload photos in Ethiopia, so I have gone back through and listed each post on the day it was written (in other words it is post-dated).**

Shannon’s Mom & Dad flew back to Dallas this morning. In the afternoon we finished packing and ran some last minute errands for a backpack we could use as a diaper bag. We left the house around 6 p.m. and went to eat dinner. Chloe was tired from the day and slept through dinner. She woke to say goodbye to us at JFK and I cried saying goodbye to her.


We checked into our flight on Emir*ates. Our flight was schedule to take off at 11:00 p.m. but we sat waiting for the de-icing trucks for 45 minutes. The flight to Dubai was nice. Our travel agent had booked the bulk head seats like we were traveling with Oliver already so we had plenty of leg room in economy. Matt slept for some 5 hours. I slept off and on for about 3 hours and I managed to watch 3 movies. Time seemed to go quickly for a 12.5 hour flight.

We landed 15 minutes behind schedule at 8:45 p.m. (Dubai time). Most people on our flight were using Dubai as a hub to other destinations so we got through customs and got our luggage quickly. The airport is amazing and new. Lights danced and flashed on the marble and against the palm trees. It was impressive.

We then caught a taxi to our hotel—the Hyatt Regency.

Leaving Today

We leave tonight for Dubai. We will arrive tomorrow in Dubai, stay two nights and then go to Ethiopia on Sunday to meet Oliver. We are packed and ready to go.

I don't know about internet connection but we will try our best to post from Addis Ababa. I am bringing a journal along to document the days.

Less Than Two Weeks to Take-Off

Two weeks from today I will be on an airplane headed for Dubai. I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed with all that I still have to accomplish. But, as my husband reassured me last night, it will all get done and we will be with Oliver soon. Most of the stress comes from the work we have been having done on the house. Our house has been rearranged and taken apart so many times in the last few months I am a little tired of it all.

Our floors were refinished this week and I was blocked from our basement and laundry room. I managed to gather together Oliver's clothing that we will take but still have to wash it. I am just pleased that the big work is done on the house and I don't have to keep putting our house back together and I can concentrate on putting together Oliver's room.

Tonight we're FINALLY breaking out the indoor Christmas decorations. The finish on the wood floors will be set and we can put up the tree without fear of destroying the floor. We had to break the news to Chloe that we weren't getting a real tree this year. We just don't want to have to deal with the needles on the floor and our 6-month old puppy trying to eat the tree or drink the water from the base.

We've got a long list to accomplish this weekend. I am now on the search for a diaper changer (we never got one for Chloe and I am not changing diapers this time around on the floor or beds). I took Matt to BrU, but he didn't like any of the diaper changers there (I know, I know, its a diaper changer for goodness sake).

I just keep repeating...It's all going to get done.

A Whirlwind of Activity

Our lives have become a whirlwind of activity since finding out our travel dates. We had our embassy document conference call yesterday with our agency and went over all the paperwork we have to complete and get back to our agency ASAP. It has to be at the U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa next week. I am sending it via F*ed* E*x tomorrow morning. It took me 3 hours to get Tur*bo T*ax to open up our 2006 taxes so I could get our Adjusted Gross Income for that year (the past 3 years are needed for a U.S. Embassy document). It was such a saga and I was completely worn out and grouchy last night from the experience.

The interior of our house is painted. I have been putting the furniture back in order and trying to figure out where the pictures and paintings were all hung. Chloe says it looks like we just moved in our house and she's right. It's pretty much a disaster. Our wood floors will finally get restained/repaired next week and I can concentrate on Oliver's room and putting up some Christmas decorations inside the house. A tree would be nice at this point too.

I am so thankful that my parents, sister and brother-in-law will be here for the holidays to help us get ready and to calm me down. My sister is staying on to keep Chloe and the dogs while we are in Ethiopia. She will also stay a short while after we return home with Oliver. My friends have organized meals for us on our return, much to my disapproval---I hate to ask for help or anything. Its very nice of them and will be appreciated.

I made Oliver's pediatrician appointment yesterday. He goes to the doctor for his checkup the Tuesday after we get back. My sister will still be here at that time to help.

I am trying to figure out what to take to Ethiopia. My friend who traveled to Africa a few years ago told me the people would ask for sneakers and American t-shirts. I don't think I am going to be handing out sneakers in Addis Ababa but I'm gathering some shirts with NYC area logos and teams and my friends are too. I am also trying to figure out what donations I will take for the orphanage. I have to put a call into our agency to find out what is needed. When we went to China we donated a crate of formula we purchased in town while visiting the orphanage. I am trying to find out if we can do the same in Ethiopia.

I had a complete spaz out today because I couldn't get our travel agency to call me back and book our flights and hotel which were on hold. I emailed our travel agent yesterday afternoon to tell them what we decided on our travel plans and that we wanted to book a.s.a.p. I never heard back yesterday (and they are 3 hours behind us on the west coast). I thought for certain they would call me by noon today because our flights were on hold until 1 p.m. today. When I still hadn't heard from them I called and left a message for our agent to call us so we could book. Three hours passed and not a word. I called back and left a message and then sent an email just to get my point across. Another hour passed. Just as I started to call another travel agency, the phone rang. It's all worked out and we our flights are booked. I just got the confirmation.

Our travel plans are to leave on December 31 and fly to Dubai. We want to see Dubai, so we opted to spend two nights before we leave for Ethiopia on Sunday, January 3. We should see Oliver that day! We then spend the week in Ethiopia before we fly out on Friday, January 8. We are unsure when our U.S. Embassy appointment will be right now because January 7th is Ethiopian Orthodox Christmas. What a great time to be in country! We're back home on January 9th. That gives us a whole weekend at home with Chloe and Oliver.

TRAVEL DATES (and freaking out a little bit)

We have travel dates!!!! We are to be in Ethiopia on January 3rd!! That's right---in less than one month. I think I have to call a travel agent now as ticket prices are 2-3 times what we thought it would cost.

SO EXCITED!!

It's Official

We got the information via email from our agency director. Tonight was the tree lighting in our town. I took Chloe to Chinese school, which is in our downtown, and then we met Matt at a restaurant. Downtown for the Holidays is a big deal in our village and everybody comes out for it so we meet and see lots of friends and neighbors. Also, my cell phone reception in our downtown is sketchy. Apparently our agency director tried to call me but I didn't receive it or hear it. Right before the countdown for the tree lighting I pulled out my cell phone to use it to take a photo. That's when I saw the email response to "RE: Court News?" from our agency director. I opened and saw the word "ratified" and gave Matt a big kiss and shared the news.

I didn't speak with our agency because it was 7:30 p.m. EST so I don't know any details. From what I gather, our agency only knows we were ratified and does not know the date. I expect we will get lots more information next week. Right now we are just excited about the good news.

Should Hear Something Today

We expect to get some news from our agency today. We did not hear from them yesterday so I assume that means that our case did not get heard in court. We were told not to write yesterday down on our calendar as our new court date. The attorney was unsure what would transpire.

I should probably hear word late this afternoon (EST) on when our court date is rescheduled. I'm really hoping for next week, not a month later.

Its a busy day today, which is a good thing. I will be the taxi driver for the day, taking the puppy to obedience school, Chloe to/from school and then to Chinese school this afternoon. At least it will keep me away from obsessing over the computer and phone all day.

On a sweet, side note: We haven't relayed any of the delays to Chloe. She wouldn't understand, so we haven't shared our disappointment and frustration with her. Yesterday when we were playing in the basement, she randomly went to look at Oliver's picture, kissed it and said, "Please come home soon little brother." It was sweet. Now that I look back though I think it was more of a prayer that another child come into our home. I think she is beginning to believe I am no fun to play with!

Kreativ Blog Award

I've been tagged for the Kreativ Blogger award. These are the blog award “rules.”

I. Thank the person who awarded me the award, and link that person’s blog on my blog. Thanks Jennifer. Now I have to think of 7 things about myself and 7 other bloggers to tag!

II. Identify seven things about myself:

1. I taught History in middle school for 7 years. I left to be a stay-at-home mom to Chloe.
2. I've been married for 11 years to Matt. We got engaged in Vienna, Austria on Valentine's Day.
3. I'm a serial volunteer/organizer. Last year I served on the Board of Director's for 3 organizations, this year I serve on two. Chloe drew a picture of her family last year at pre-school and it was of just she and her dad. When she was asked where her mom was in the picture she replied, "She's in a meeting." I'm excited to report that I will be taking a break from volunteering next year to concentrate on family.
4. I live in New Jersey, but I am a native Texan.
5. I'm opinionated and bossy. Apparently this is a learned trait as my daughter is very much like me.
6. I like living on the east coast and have no desire to move back to the south again. I live just outside the greatest city in the U.S. so there is so much to do. I don't mind the winters (we like to ski), it's the spring I can't stand.
7. We own an RV and like to go camping.

III. Award seven bloggers with the “Kreativ Blogger Award,” post links to their blogs, and leave a comment on each of their blogs, to let them know of the honor.

I'm going to give this a shot, but am only naming 4 bloggers.

1. Ang-she is waiting on her court hearing to ratify the adoption of her son and daughter. She is my fellow east-coaster with our agency.

2. Sarri-also with our agency and getting ready to send in their dossier to Ethiopia. I wish you all the best on your journey--I hope its a smooth ride!

3. Diana-she really is a Kreativ Blogger, so creative! Diana designed my A Family United blog and this blog for Oliver. She adopted her daughter from China in 2006. I always enjoy reading her posts.

4. Rachel--another creative mommy blogger her crafts and sewing put me to shame. I love to check in on their Ethiopian adoption progress, they are also adopting from Toukoul but with a different agency.

In Limbo but Relieved to Have Some News

I heard from our agency director just a little while ago. She spoke with the attorney in Ethiopia. It seems that MoWA has had meetings and that the paperwork they need to submit to go into Oliver's file wasn't there. It seems to be widespread for all the court cases this week. Realizing they now have a backlog, MoWA is going to try to play catch-up in the courts and get the missing paperwork submitted and the cases heard asap.

Our attorney in Ethiopia is being called in tomorrow before the judge who has Oliver's file. He believes it is to hear our court case. The attorney was at his home when he spoke with our director so he didn't have his files in front of him. Oliver's Ethiopian name is not a typical name, so he could recall that he received a court summons about Oliver. We were told not to rely too much on our case being heard tomorrow and that with the backlog, we should know more Friday as to whether we got heard or if we have been rescheduled to a later date.

Though we continue to wait, at least we know why we have the delay.

Still Nothing & New Updated Photos

We still have no word on whether we passed court or not. Apparently the phone line is so bad that it cannot be confirmed which families passed court. An email was supposed to be sent today but it still hasn't arrived. This isn't encouraging. The pessimist in me says it means we didn't pass and gear myself up to wait again for court.

But, congratulations to the other family with our agency who had their court date today and passed--that's great news!

The email from Toukoul works and we received updated photos of Oliver today. He changes so much each update. We also found out he has chicken pox, so that was a little upsetting.

I'm emotionally spent today.