Time elapses

I haven't blogged in forever and so much has happened. Our original court date of July 17 was bumped. This was due to the Ministry of Woman's Affairs (MOWA) closing unexpectedly until the end of July. Lots of stress was put here with the rainy season and the courts closing Aug/Sept usually. However I was assigned a Aug.4th court date and hoped and prayed we would pass. AND... we did! I officially adopted her on Aug. 4th in Ethiopia. Then the next layer of waiting was added. Basically after court it would take a week to translate her adoption decree into English. And then another week to get her passport/papers done. And yet another week... up to 5 weeks of waiting. The 5th week then is my Embassy/Travel date. So plans are to take off on Sept. 5 to fly to Addis.

In the mean time I had a shower with alumni home from college and wonderful families/moms that have always been supportive of this journey. Another shower for DSA teachers is in the planning stages and a final shower for DSA current kiddos will be upon our return. So I will know more about what she needs and it can be a sit-n-see shower, where the baby is THERE. :) I have also received so many things from my siblings-- used items, the crib and such. Every piece of furniture in her room is special-- from great grandmother Waldron's rocking chair that I recovered with a dragonfly material! :) to the chest of drawers that was in my grandmother's closet and held the knitting she helped me learn how to do when I was 10 until last year when she died. That drawer represents a project taught to me in love that I would work on randomly when I came to visit. Started at 10, continued at 22, picked up at 37... never finished without her. And a vanity from grandma's bedroom that is also special to me and memories. The baby room is only missing the baby!

Right now it has outfits laid out all over the floor in anticipation of packing. AND the donations I've already received. I can take 100 pounds of donations so it is most important I get what they need vs. unusable items.

Last week I went to a picnic held by my agency and met a couple that were in one of my classes. They just brought home their 12 month baby boy 5 weeks ago. So they gave me lots of info, including remembering my daughter and relaying a story that she was very happy and scooting across the floor to play. :) yea! That's the first "happy" report. All the photos she has been sad/serious in. However, they also said most of the babies have Giardia, which is a parasite in the intestines and causes awful diahhrea. They said they went through 5 outfits on the plane ride home and that "no diaper can hold that." Great. Something to look forward to. I have an appointment with my pediatrician on Sept. 1 as a pre-seeing the girl meeting. However, my girl hasn't gained any weight in almost 2 months and I think it is because of the Giardia. So.... we will see if he can give me anything to give her some relief immediately vs a week later when we get home.

Today is another picnic where I am sure to learn more things to do, say, take... Yesterday my parents and I ate out at an Ethiopian restaurant and all of us enjoyed it very much. So that is a positive and releases some tension/apprehension of eating there and not offending people if we didn't like it. Am worried about my dad getting sick. I will be handling most of the diaper situation to protect dad and bringing gloves for him. I already have prescription meds to protect myself from Giardia... let's hope I don't need them!

I leave in 12 days and then the REAL journey of loving this baby girl and raising a daughter can begin! :)