More about travel, etc.....

Okay, I am finally going to take a few moments to share more information. We now have 2 1/2 weeks to get ready to travel & for the arrival of Sid. Some of the things that we will be doing during this time to prepare include packing, completing another round of paperwork, trying to finish reorganization of the house. The list goes on, and in there, we WILL find time to see the new Harry Potter movie.

The travel agent called today and informed me that our flight arrangements have been made. We will be flying out of Rochester to Minneapolis, then Amsterdam, then Addis Ababa. Sorry, Tim & Cindy, that we couldn't go through Dulles. Our travel agent doesn't recommend Ethiopian Airlines for the month of August, because they apparently have a tendency to overbook. He would make an exception to that recommendation if we were bringing home an older child, where the ability of the flight attendants to translate would be useful.

When we arrive in Ethiopia, we will be staying at our agency guest house. Other travellers have reported that they are very hospitable. I think it will be much more like visiting in someone's home than staying in a hotel. Right now, they are rationing electricity in Ethiopia. We are hoping that the power will be on for a significant part of the overnight, so that Pete may use his CPAP. While we would love to be able to travel long enough to see some of the country, that is just not something we are able to do this time.

We will be kept pretty busy from the time we arrive in Addis Ababa. Here is an overview of what our schedule will be like:

Day 1: Orientation briefing, meet with case worker, meet & spend time with Sid.

Day 2: Visit Sid, observe/learn his routine, shopping, traditional Ethiopian dinner.

Day 3: Travel to Hosanna for entrustment ceremony between first family/adoptive family.

Day 4: Visit Sid, sightseeing, visit to agency sponsored relief projects.

Day 5: Going away celebration for children, US Embassy, settle in to have 2 beautiful boys.

Day 6: All day bonding with Sid.

Day 7: Ethiopian cooking class, pack, leave for home!

We will arrive back in Rochester at about 5:40 on August 14.

Leaving on a jet plane............

TRAVEL DATE!!! Woo hoo!! We will be leaving 8/5 from Rochester Airport on NWA via Minneapolis/Amsterdam to pick up Sid, and arriving back in Rochester on 8/14. We are so happy to finally know when Sid will come home. I will share more details when the butterflies in my tummy calm down.......

Birth Certificate Joy

I couldn't have been more surprised when I openned my e-mail a few moments ago and saw that we received Sid's birth certificate.

HAPPY DAY!

Now, his Ethiopian Passport will be obtained, as well as his U.S. Embassy medical clearance. Two more steps 'til we can bring him home!!!

Introducing...

After what seems like the longest 3 days EVER, I am thrilled beyond words to announce that we PASSED court!!! We are deeply grateful to now be the parents of 2 beautiful boys. Without further ado, introducing: Sidamo....

So, what's next? First, Sid's new birth certificate will be issued. After this is received and verified as accurate, his Ethiopian passport will be applied for, as well as his US Embassy medical clearance. When these two items are received, we will be able to travel to Ethiopia to bring Sid home. Currently, we expect this to be sometime in August. THE SOONER, THE BETTER THOUGH!

What's your brothers name?

Me: What's your brother's name?
Michael: Umm. Suzy!
Me: His name is Sidamo, we'll call him Sid.
Michael: Well, I want to call him Suzy.
Me: Suzy is a girl's name, honey.
Michael: So.
Me: Why do you want to call him Suzy?
Michael: Because I like Susan in Monster vs Aliens..........

Hmm. How do we argue the logic of a 5 YO......

Sidamo

"I have found something"

Michael's a big brother!!!!

I received the call at work yesterday at about 3:15 yesterday afternoon. I could not have been caught more off guard. I had made the assumption that when the call came it would be on my cell phone. So, I picked up my office phone when it rang "This is Paula". The voice on the other end said "Hi, this is xxx from CHSFS, is this a good time?". xxx is not our SW, so, at this point, it didn't actually sink in that it was "the call". I received the information from her, and have been stunned & excited since.......

I am so happy to finally be able to announce that after 12 1/2 months of (not so patiently) waiting, we have been matched with the adorable little boy who will soon be our son. His name will be Sidamo Peter. He is 7 months old, and looks like quite a content little guy. I can not post a photo for you until he is legally ours, so you will just have to take my word that he is, indeed, adorable.

So, what happens now? Again, we wait. We wait for a court date to be set in Ethiopia. The court date is usually about 8 weeks from now. At court, if all goes well, we will officially become parents again. Then, we wait. We wait for the Ethiopian birth certificate & passport, and for the final USCIS medical clearance. This is usually about 4 weeks after court (as many as 8 weeks). Then, we will be assigned a travel date (another 2 - 4 weeks). Then, we bring our peanut HOME!



Hopefully, I will have many good news posts until that time.........