shots. check.

On Tuesday I got the first round of my shots-- 7 total. One in each thigh, one on the back of each arm, two on right shoulder, one of left shoulder. Pleasant. Was told to be ready to experience "slight" flu like symptoms over the next couple days. According to the nurse, be ready to be "icky" for a while. I think I was OK yesterday-- slightly warm. My arm pain has dissipated but my thigh where I got the "new" tetanus hurts. It is a deep down in the muscle hurt. But I will be FINE! :)

Yesterday I retraced this journey back to when I was still trying to get pregnant to the decision to adopt to finally finding her. I created one of many scrapbooks/baby books for her life. It made me very happy to piece together this story-- the story of her coming into my life. I foresee us reading it together, almost like a bedtime story. I of course will also make one of the actual trip there, meeting her, bringing her home. I've actually started thinking about writing a children's picture book of that journey. Both my sister and mother are visual artists, they could draw the pictures to my story.

Now I wait. Again. Just wait. But I have things to keep me busy! I had the JOY of registering at Target the other day which made this whole thing seem real. Looking at diapers and formula and wondering what she will want/need. And seeing the blankets-- finally her baby room came into view of what I need to do. My plan today is to move things OUT of her new room and move the dresser and crib IN. And my new infatuation with DRAGONFLIES. They have been swarming my house for a couple weeks. And then when I registered I was drawn to a quilt with dragonflies. So I researched them and they are a symbol of "change." Woot woot! I now wear a dragonfly bracelet (much like Wonder Woman) in hopes that my change will come soon. Also, lady bugs. My yard was infested with them the other day, and again, I registered for things with ladybugs. And they mean GOOD LUCK! I am beyond excited. :)

COURT DATE!

I am now doing a court date dance!!! AHHHH!! My hopes have been fulfilled. I had hoped against all hope that I would be assigned a court date mid-July. I had HOPED for July 15 because if I could get a court date by the 15th then I could get her passport/visa BEFORE the courts close for rainy season in Aug/Sept. It was looking doubtful. Again, trying to remain positive, realizing I can't plan/depend on ANYTHING. But thinking about traveling in August vs. October is a big deal to a theatre teacher-- where my 6 week maternity leave will land amid productions and units. However, I have realized it is futile to PLAN any of this, so I will take it as it comes and go with the flow.

Yesterday I got an email from IAN saying I was assigned a COURT DATE of July 17!!! Whoo hoo! Now I just have to HOPE and cross my fingers that she passes. According to IAN, The two main reasons a child does not pass court is if the child was relinquished and the parent does not come to court or does not have an ID, or if the ministry has not submitted their final letter of approval to the court. If one of these things happen it is generally cleared up in a week of so.

But I really hope she passes the first go round...

What the court date means is basically a representative in Ethiopia will go to court on my behalf and my little girl will be officially classified as an orphan and therefore adoptable by me. This is scheduled on July 17. If she passes court (the right papers are there and signed by the right people) then I will travel to pick her up about 4 weeks after that date-- which is of course the beginning of school. But I will make it work! :) For now, one step forward!

AND.... SHOTS! Just had my phone consult with Kaiser. I hate shots-- but must do what I must do-- I know I spelled a lot of that wrong, it was over the phone and I was spelling how it sounded-- forgive.

Shots to do:
Hep A recommended – transmits via food/water. Two shots—now, booster in 6 mons
Typhoid – spreads by food/water. Capsule form/injection form. 4 capsules in 8 days—immune for 5 years. Or shot, 2-year immunity. Charge for typhoid—capsule $58, injection $150.
Hep B – transmits by blood/body fluid—like HIV. If you work in an orphanage—recommend it. Series of 3 shots. Get it. 3 shots, one now, one in a month, and 6 mons. booster
Yellow fever – recommended. Charge- $150 vaccine. Not in Addis, but outside there is. Entry to Ethiopia currently needs it.
Rabies—stay away from jackel and monogoose—if bitten, seek help immediately. Don’t need it now.
Menegitus vaccine—covered. One shot…
Flu shot – pass on it, get it this fall with my daughter.
Tetnus with vertusus (sp?)—update this. Tetnus, yes.
Polio—resurgent in Africa. Adult dose/booster recommended. 1 shot.
Malaria – use insect repellent.
Travels diahrea—ciypro. Food/water watch it. Viral. Usually.
Dengate fever—insect precautions/repellent.
Larvee – fresh water—NO SWIMMING

So...looking forward to shots. :)