Adventures of J,K,L,L,E and I: We Have Arrived

We've arrived at Mickey's House...Oh Boy...Day 1...and our flight!

Our Family...

Our family of eight...one busy dad, one busy mom, one set of seven year old twins that are on 'go' from minute one, a 6 year old little miss, three year old boy that has to keep daddy sane, an Autism Assistance dog that doesn't do much "assisting" any more, and a "Heinze 57" from the Humane Society that we love to tell 'NO'!!! is what we were put here on Earth to love and provide for. We've completed our journey to build a family via International Adoption by bringing home Ella Miheret and Isaac Yonas in August 2010. Follow our adventures of raising 4 kids age 7 and under, living life as a 'modern day family', having a service animal in our home and advocating for Autism awareness and International Adoption. Let the "Adventures" begin...

Ethiopia Journey

April 23rd, 2009
First Meeting - International Awareness Meeting...Here we go!!!

April 2009
Home Study Update Meeting

June 2009
Home Study Complete

June 8, 2009
USCIS (US Government) paperwork sent

July 25, 2009
Fingerprinting Appointment set for this date...but I had to postpone this appointment and ask for another date:( I am having a hysterectomy on the 23rd...so I'm not really thinking I'm gonna be up to hauling myself to GR to roll my digits!

August 7, 2009
NEW fingerprinting appointment in GR! Our dossier is done so once the approval is given after these, our documents will be sealed by the State and then off the the Embassy for Authentication!!! Getting closer to sending the documents to Ethiopia!

August 19, 2009
Our I-171H Arrived! This is the US Government approval to internationally adopt!!! Now we can get the documents sealed and sent!!!

August 20, 2009
The dossier is on its way to Washington DC!!!! Everything is sealed and now it's time for the US Government to have its turn! Then...off to Ethiopia! Then what you ask???? Wait for a referral:)

August 27, 2009
Our dossier is on its way to Ethiopia!!! Now we're waiting for a referral for a baby!!! The wait could be long...hang on!!! We're told 4-15 months! Maybe Christmas 2010?!?! :( We've stated we'd accept the referral of a singleton infant girl 0-18 months or female-female or female-male twins 0-18 months...we'll see!!!

December 2, 2009
We're still waiting...we're #20 on the wait list :(

December 23, 2009
We're still waiting but we've recieved word that we've moved up on the list to #9 for a baby girl and #15 overall! Things have moved at least! Merry Christmas!

January 8, 2010
We're 12th on the overall list...so 11 families are ahead of us. Of the 11 families ahead of us, 9 are waiting for a little girl :( 7 families are waiting for a girl 0-12 months and 2 families are waiting for a girl 0-24 months and two families are open to twins. So for girls we are overall 10th...more movement!

January 22, 2010
We've moved to 9th on the overall list. So, 8 families are ahead of us, 5 are waiting for a girl 0-12 months, 1 for twins, and 1 for a girl 12-24 months. So, my maternal-ness is just a kickin!!!! EEEEEK!

February 10, 2010
I couldn't wait any longer, I had to email for a "wait list update". Our consultant emailed this morning and told us that referrals have slowed down but we have moved up on the list...bad but good news! We are currently #8 on the overall list. There are 5 families ahead of us on the 0-12 girl list, 1 family waiting on the 12-24 girl list and 1 family waiting on th 0-10 month girl or boy list. So, what's there to do besides...wait for God's time!!!

March 29, 2010
So, this news is rather crappy...and I'm a bit cranky about it! We've been "bumped back" on the twin list to #4! Yeah, bumped back! How'd that happen...someone who didn't think they would ever accept twins who sent their dossier to ET before we did now thought more about it and changed their preferences to accepting twins...yep, bumped back to #4. If it were my agency, they'd go to the bottom of the list! And we've been 'adjusted' to #6 for the 0-12 month baby girl as there is a family who has been included on that list who is requesting a 0-8 month old child. Yep, I'm very cranky with this news. We're still #1 for a 12-18 month old little girl. Referrals are at a stand-still! I'm bummed!

May 18, 2010

Still Waiting... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...

June 8, 2010

Referral Day!!!! Miheret, 3 1/2 & Yonas, 9 mos!!!!!!!!!

July 29, 2010

Court date in Ethiopia!!! We passed with the judge telling us, "Then they are now yours!"

August 26, 2010

Embassy Day - Better known as in our house - GOTCHA DAY!!!

August 29, 2010

Arrive in Michigan to a wonderful welcome and a house full, I mean full, of love!!!!

August 26, 2010

Embassy Day - GOTCHA DAY!!!!