Securing the Courtroom Doors

Well, folks, as of today the courts in Ethiopia are closed until approximately the first week of October. Not to worry -- this happens every year during their rainy season, and actually this year it happened about a month later than normal due to the back-log of cases the courts had to hear following the debacle in May. Referrals still do trickle in during this time, but as I've posted previously, it slows down substantially. Although there haven't been any referrals for the last 3 weeks, so I don't know how much slower it could possible get. I'm just saying . . . !!!

On this coming Monday the 24th, we will have been officially on the wait list for 9 months. And as many people have commented, I'm carrying the pregnancy really well and you can hardly tell I'm pregnant at all! All jokes aside, it is a curious thing, this waiting. No, I'm not pregnant. And along with that comes no weight gain, no morning sickness, no swelling ankles, etc. But I think the proper term to use is that I am an expectant mother. Yes, I like that. Kyle and I are expectant parents. Has a certain ring to it, don'tcha think?

On the crafting front, I have finished a small quilted bag that I was originally going to use as a diaper bag (picture below). As is typical, I didn't really pay attention to the "finished project" size information, and it's way too small for a diaper bag, so I've picked up another pattern that is quite large and will spend the next month or so working on a REAL diaper bag. I guess the one I just finished can be considered a trial run . . . or it can be a supplemental diaper bag. Who knows? It's cute nonetheless so it'll get used!

I'll continue to post as anything new happens . . . say when the baby furniture arrives, or we've finally painted the nursery, or any referrals come and we move up on the list, etc., etc.

Signing off for now . . .

Not Much . . .

Not really anything to report. So why am I posting? Um, perhaps because I'm slightly embarrassed that my last post was just adding pictures of my dogs to our blog. Ahem.

So . . . no referrals last week (did I mention it was a slow news day before?). Although there WAS good news in that a TON of families passed court both last week and today . . . I think it's up to like 12 families by now. Those were a bunch of families held up by abandonment issues back in May/June.

Still crossing fingers for referrals this week . . . would love to exit the 40's on the waiting list. Not that it's really any big deal. Just movement. Feels good to see movement.

Here's my short list of stuff a'coming:
* Court closes in 2 weeks until the first week of October. Referrals still happen but at a much reduced rate.
* We leave for Costa Rica in 3 weeks. We'll be gone 2 weeks. Hopefully the sun comes out again here before we leave so we can touch-up the tan a smidge. If not, the 70+ SPF baby suntan lotion might come in handy.
* Gonna finally paint the nursery when we get back. Plus, we should get our baby furniture sometime in September. Yippee. Makes it feel real, huh?

Oh, yeah, before I forget . . . I've gotten email from a few of y'all that you've tried unsuccessfully to leave comments on the blog and aren't able. I'm not sure what's wrong, but that's ok. Even if it's user error (eeek gads, really?), I still know you're out there!!

Hugs and kisses all around for now.

Oooo, found better pictures of "da boys"

I know, I know . . . slow news day around here. But I found some better pictures of our boys that I thought I'd post. I'm a dork. I know. (And yes, I ALSO know, I have more pictures of my dogs than my husband and daughter on this blog). Maybe next slow news day I'll randomly put some photos of them up here too! ;o)

Told 'Ya!

Okay, so maybe I should have waited until the END of the week to do an update since it seems I'm posting daily this week!! BUT . . . . another referral came through. This time it was a 4 1/2 month old baby boy to a family that waited 11 months (and a week, but who's counting).

So, that means we're now #41 on the list.

Hopefully I'll get to post as much next week. It'll be nice to use the "3" key on the keyboard!! :o)

It's Raining Babies!

ANOTHER referral yesterday . . . puts us down to #42!! (it must be that lucky number thing!)

A baby girl (10 weeks) was referred to a family that waited just over 12 months -- the huge batch of DTE 7-18-08 people who waited and waited and waited!!

I met with another waiting momma yesterday for lunch up in Bellingham. It was great putting a face to a name and connecting with a kindred spirit. Had a great time! They're around the mid 20's in their waiting numbers although they're only about 5 weeks ahead of us in line. It would be AWESOME to travel at the same time, but we'll have to see how the numbers game works! Fingers crossed!!

Okay . . . so here's to hitting the 30's by the middle of the month. Only 3 more to go and we're there!!

That was Quick . . .

Okay, so 44 becomes 43 (see post below) . . .

A baby girl (4 1/2 months) was referred yesterday to a family that waited 12 months for her.

Here's to 42 . . .

See, I told you it was quick!

A Number

We have received a number from CHI as to where we are on the wait list. The number is somewhat misleading in that it reflects ALL families waiting, including those asking for siblings, toddlers, females, males, or those requesting either, but it does feel fun to be able to countdown to some extent. So, our dossier went to CHI on 11/24/08 (DTE 11/24/08 in the lingo) and we're . . .

. . . drumroll please . . .

#44 on the list.

So there ya have it.

Here's to being #43. Then #42. Then #41. You see the pattern! :o)