I have a couple of “deep thinking” type articles related to transracial adoption that I want to tackle, but since I got a “request”, (and it’s on a topic that is a lot more fun to write about) I decided to write about this today. For those of you on Belane overload, I apologize.

Here is the “request"(thanks Jen!)

Here's a post idea for you (and it's Belane related): How do you envision your first few days home with her? Will you schedule doctor appointments and such or will you simply stay at home with her? Do you have things you will do with her to introduce her to the other kids? You get the idea!

One of my dear friends who has adopted even... more

Happy weekend everybody!

The last two days have been a little rough...we had a SNAFU...hit one of the proverbial bumps in our adoption paperwork road. We're not exactly sure if it was a true miscommunication or if someone dropped the ball and was making excuses, but we were able to get everything on track with only a week's damage done. I was once again reminded of how important it is for me to keep on top of this stuff...I shudder to think how much time would have been added to the process if we had just sat back and waited and not... more

Time for an update on things! Our last big accomplishment was that our waiver had been received and processed by the CDC in Atlanta, and the CDC had faxed their “response” back to the Embassy in Addis. The next step was for the Embassy to send the waiver on to Nairobi, Kenya, where the USCIS/Department of Homeland Security could review it and give their final approval, at which point Belane’s visa could be issued in Addis and we would be ready to travel. The last couple of families have waited almost exactly three weeks... more

In my last two posts, I discussed choosing how to share your child's story, and who to share with (or not).

Belane's adoption and this blog created a very unique situation.

While most people have been very supportive, I have taken some criticism for being so open about her HIV status. It was not a decision that we made lightly…it is not even a decision I am 100% sure was the right choice…but it is the decision we made after a lot of thought, discussion and prayer, and the choice that I truly believe was right.

For one,... more

Happy Monday everybody. I hope you enjoyed your weekend! We had a lot of fun…on Saturday we celebrated Maggie’s birthday with a giant Snow White cake, dinner out with our family and some friends, and then a trip to the movies to see “Open Season”. (Pretty darn hilarious!)

Maggie enjoyed being “Princess” for the day (although truth be told, she is the princess most days!) and birthdays are always a lot of fun in our house.

The weekends are kind of nice…with all the kids home and all of our running around, I don’t have as much time... more

Oh boy…it is getting harder and harder to “not hold my breath” and “not get my hopes up” about traveling earlier!!!!!

I knew last week that the woman at the CDC in Atlanta, the one who has to review our waiver before it can be sent back to Africa to be approved, was out of the office for several weeks. I knew she was returning to work on Monday, Sept. 25 (yesterday). I assumed that she would be very busy and a lot of catching up to do (her voicemail message said it could take her up to 10 days to return messages!). I assumed this would... more

At three o’clock this morning, one of my girls came through my bedroom to use the master bathroom (the one downstairs is being remodeled and we try to keep kids out of the hallway one when Marcus is sleeping because it is attached to his room).

So after I tucked her back into bed and stumbled back up the stairs, I shot a look at the computer and (remembering it was day time in Ethiopia) I decided to wishfully check my email quickly before falling back into bed.

I had resent my email message to the Embassy before I went, asking... more

I am the emotional, impatient spouse when it comes to our adoptions (if that comes as a surprise to anyone…those of you who know me well can stop laughing at the understatement now).

Josh is typically the “big and strong” one, and sometimes he is so patient it makes me NUTS. Just a week ago when I was being particularly whiny, he pointed out how much longer this “could” have taken, and how much longer it has taken for many other families.

My reaction? Yes, thank you, I know. But I don’t care.

I was almost irritated with... more

I bet you can’t guess what I woke up to this morning (and no fair guessing a throbbing toe, because that is NOT what I am talking about.) :)

Give up?

SNOW!

Yes, on Sept. 16 it was snowing on my house. Not just a few passing snow flakes either…three or four hours of real snowing snow. The kids were bouncing off the walls, the house was chilly and soon enough it had warmed up enough that it melted away and everything outside is a muddy mess.

We live in the mountains and unseasonable snow is not all that unusual, but this is early even for us.

Last night I got an even better surprise… I got an email from a friend directing me to Denise’s... more

Today is September 13. That means our HIV waiver has now (hopefully!) been submitted as planned to the US Embassy in Addis Ababa. It means our final wait is finally ticking down. It means that Belane will finally be in our arms in the foreseeable future. Woo hoo!

I am excited and anxious. I take comfort (and keep myself busy!) by organizing and planning, so I have been doing lots of that sort of stuff.

I think it is the “not knowing” when this is all going to happen that is making me anxious. We were planning on the waiver taking about eight... more