So it is 5:33 p.m. in Oswego-land, which means it is 6:33 on the East Coast AND it is Monday AND we haven't received the weekly update yet which prompts that weekly flurry of questions in my "wow, this could actually happen soon, but I don't want to be excited 'cause it could still be a while, but it could be soon" head....
Is someone getting a referral right NOW and that's why they haven't sent it yet? Are they looking up someone's phone number right now to give the good news? Are they looking up MY phone number? Is MY phone ringing at home and Jim is not answering because he is engrossed in a game of "Barbie v. the Clone Troopers"?? Are any of my blog friends getting their referrals right now? Has there been a dramatic increase in the number of posts on the Yahoo! board??
And then, just like that, I click on the other window, check my e-mail and there it is- the update! More families did pass court, which was not expected this week and is totally awesome, and there have still been no referrals for February, which is in the normal range but could also mean some are bound to happen soon.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Keeping current
On Friday afternoon, our social worker, Wendy, came over to update our licensing (which happens every 6 months) and gather some information to finalize our home study revision (which has to be done every year while in process). The licensing update was pretty quick; she checks our hot water temp, tests the smoke alarms, checks for carbon monoxide detectors and ensures all things hazardous are locked up.
For the home study part, she had already collected the documents prior to the visit, but now that our kids are older she had to talk to them about the adoption and include that in our report. Tessa went first and said she was excited to get new brothers or sisters. She reminded Wendy (multiple times) that she is 4 1/2. Wendy asked how she would feel if babies came, and Tessa told her, "Well, they would be, like, 1 (year old) and I am 4 1/2. Glad we got that squared away... Wendy moved on to Mark, and he said, "We just keep waiting and waiting and waiting." She asked him how he thought he could help when the babies or kids arrived, and he said that he would write down some words and tell them how to read the words. What a great kid! Wendy suggested that Mark help us make some flashcards for the children to help them communicate with us while they learn English; regardless of their ages, I thought this was a great way for Mark and Tessa to get involved in the preparation and bond with their siblings when they arrive at home. Mark was brainstorming important words and Tessa immediately suggested "chocolate"; that girl is always thinking. We'll let you know how that project goes!
I've also added a bunch of blogs written by families who are also adopting or have already adopted from Ethiopia to the right of this page. Some are people using our agency, some we found through other blogs and we are even fortunate to have one other family who we know "in real life"; it has been so great to have them with us in this process (Insert shout-out to the Hanson family here...). I enjoy reading all of their stories and seeing how their families have evolved. Thanks to all of them for sharing that!
For the home study part, she had already collected the documents prior to the visit, but now that our kids are older she had to talk to them about the adoption and include that in our report. Tessa went first and said she was excited to get new brothers or sisters. She reminded Wendy (multiple times) that she is 4 1/2. Wendy asked how she would feel if babies came, and Tessa told her, "Well, they would be, like, 1 (year old) and I am 4 1/2. Glad we got that squared away... Wendy moved on to Mark, and he said, "We just keep waiting and waiting and waiting." She asked him how he thought he could help when the babies or kids arrived, and he said that he would write down some words and tell them how to read the words. What a great kid! Wendy suggested that Mark help us make some flashcards for the children to help them communicate with us while they learn English; regardless of their ages, I thought this was a great way for Mark and Tessa to get involved in the preparation and bond with their siblings when they arrive at home. Mark was brainstorming important words and Tessa immediately suggested "chocolate"; that girl is always thinking. We'll let you know how that project goes!
I've also added a bunch of blogs written by families who are also adopting or have already adopted from Ethiopia to the right of this page. Some are people using our agency, some we found through other blogs and we are even fortunate to have one other family who we know "in real life"; it has been so great to have them with us in this process (Insert shout-out to the Hanson family here...). I enjoy reading all of their stories and seeing how their families have evolved. Thanks to all of them for sharing that!
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
The "Promised in November" Holiday Photo
Here's Mark (sans front teeth) and Tess (w/ her ever-so-fashionable hair bow) from Christmas 2008... They are really great kids! Last night at bedtime, Mark prayed that the babies (or "babies who are already kids" as he and Tess call them due to our open age request from infant to 5) would come during the night or the next night or SOON! He also referred to them as his brothers.....wishful thinking or psychic powers??? Leaving our request open to either gender, and given our age range, there are so many possibilities when the call comes!
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Sooooooooooooo...
It seems that little three-post-sprint I went on in November tired me considerably, because I haven't exactly been on top of posting regularly since then...mmmm, or ever. Don't get me wrong, I do visit my blog often to view my "What's the current temp in Addis?" icon so I can share with everyone around me how warm it is there and how cold it is here (Right, Kim!?). I do feel bad, however, that another waiting parent visited my blog and had to comment on a November post 'cause that's all there was. On the adoption front, there are many families traveling to pick up their children in the current and upcoming weeks as well as many who just returned. Congratulations to all of them! We continue to make sure all of our paperwork is updated and in order for when we get "the call".
...and here's to a busy February of posting :)
...and here's to a busy February of posting :)
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