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. :)

Waiting waiting waiting...

I've officially accepted my referral for my beautiful baby girl. Now I wait. Wait for a court date. I am reading entries on the EthiopiaAdoptColorado group I am a part of it where many people who have HAD a courtdate failed to pass court for whatever reasons. And the rainy season is madly approaching. According to someone who is staying there the rains have started and with rain comes power and water outages. Last year the courts closed July 15-- I have my fingers crossed that I will get a date before the 15th and the courts don't close until July 30. Oh the tape to cut to get to that little girl who waits for me... I just want to go get her right now. In a way it is almost easier-- having her "assigned" to me and a photo and knowing it will happen... some day soon. Hopefully in this year. ;) Just waiting

REFERRALLLLLLLL!!!!

9:20AM got the call. A baby girl. 8 mons old. Or 12 mons. Depending on the document. Can't post the photo of course, against the rules. But she is BEAUTIFUL. I can tell already I will lose my heart to her eyes... one bat of an eyelash. She is amazing....

can't tell you her Ethiopian name...

can't post anything really... except... I HAVE A REFERRAL!!!!! :)