tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34423543548852991572024-02-18T17:40:24.685-08:00Charvet Adoption JourneyMegandrew7http://www.blogger.com/profile/15893342170821943628noreply@blogger.comBlogger65125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442354354885299157.post-46182967586226819882012-03-31T08:15:00.000-07:002012-03-31T08:15:18.918-07:00Our boys are going to be big brothers!!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Baby Blessing Number 3!!! </span></div><br />
After 4 years of infertility God is blessing us with a bio baby! Coming this fall!!! We are so excited and already started talking to Noah (3yrs) about it (mostly because I have caught him staring at my growing little bump). Throughout the day he will just come right up to my belly, point to it and say "baby?".<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZRuNL2C5GrKxWu-W4dY_qXr-lrMO5A0UpJiN_U6w5DZTGucRrHPYU-6w0DTV7_ug8HRLVeAv9EYFolsNjd1gJij7269DTBBuEIUd9SkO1oL3E3_5eXHWWDbY8r7s98DCLZvqefp6Gtlv2/s1600/IMG_9580+%283%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZRuNL2C5GrKxWu-W4dY_qXr-lrMO5A0UpJiN_U6w5DZTGucRrHPYU-6w0DTV7_ug8HRLVeAv9EYFolsNjd1gJij7269DTBBuEIUd9SkO1oL3E3_5eXHWWDbY8r7s98DCLZvqefp6Gtlv2/s320/IMG_9580+%283%29.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>We feel so blessed beyond words to have our boys home and now thrilled to be bringing another baby into our home! 0-3 kids in less than a year! Whoo hoo!!!!<br />
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</div>Megandrew7http://www.blogger.com/profile/15893342170821943628noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442354354885299157.post-13581816121970588892012-03-22T19:30:00.001-07:002012-03-22T20:26:30.509-07:00Our boys are finally home!!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">We are proud to present our sons Noah Bahu Charvet </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">& Colton Ubang Charvet!!!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Home March 11th 2012 </span></b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDxrlKg7LjiI5_uyN1lJCK-sDi0KK9qmwGaOK9nhbE0JyITS6GiyvK3549PoKtQYRwLvKcNytWayyHXQ6F414PIiRGUZ0OvHZLJ6x6-RmyFWmV8DjAPlgXwC1Fqb9t15wBA29R2TbUq-GD/s1600/425213_3637875792333_1437396155_3472706_1405537099_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDxrlKg7LjiI5_uyN1lJCK-sDi0KK9qmwGaOK9nhbE0JyITS6GiyvK3549PoKtQYRwLvKcNytWayyHXQ6F414PIiRGUZ0OvHZLJ6x6-RmyFWmV8DjAPlgXwC1Fqb9t15wBA29R2TbUq-GD/s200/425213_3637875792333_1437396155_3472706_1405537099_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b>Noah is 3 years old. He loves playing with his toy "makinas" (car in Amharic) and also likes to try on his new clothes all the time! He has a very sweet spirit and mostly reserved quiet personality. He enjoys all kinds of food (really not a picky eater) but he LOVES anything spicy and with meat!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Ni-gs5ItZQjpBhmZfaB2JnvZiL2Aqi_pAyE3QhDGB5q78_fxrl5aFMxm3jweWY2J7l-DBNzjg2pxVvRxU1ifqdgVGkfd_yb6OpdUe6NRVgjTiSo4q9uH12eJ8yYaSz1AZ3kGl9nXw8a6/s1600/424819_3637871632229_1437396155_3472704_2094607223_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Ni-gs5ItZQjpBhmZfaB2JnvZiL2Aqi_pAyE3QhDGB5q78_fxrl5aFMxm3jweWY2J7l-DBNzjg2pxVvRxU1ifqdgVGkfd_yb6OpdUe6NRVgjTiSo4q9uH12eJ8yYaSz1AZ3kGl9nXw8a6/s200/424819_3637871632229_1437396155_3472704_2094607223_n.jpg" width="200" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Colton is 10 months and is the life of the party! He likes to laugh, squeal, and snuggle with mom and dad! He is starting to crawl but really just prefers to be held or put in his carrier! He LOVES drinking his bottles (and you can tell ;-) and has not been introduced to solids yet but we will slowly work into other foods or we will go broke buying formula for this guy! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I am so sorry I have not been better at keeping this blog updated lately. This post has taken me several days because I have had to write it in segments in between babies wanting to be held and lack of good internet connection in Ethiopia well, it's just taking a while.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><u>Here is our "<b>Gotcha</b>" story in a nutshell...</u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">February 29th was our boy's birth mother interview and we were hoping to hear that our case was cleared and we could go get the boys. However, in our disappointment we heard nothing on the 29th. The next morning at 4am we did receive an email from the embassy. <b>WE WERE CLEARED! OUR SONS ARE FINALLY COMING HOME!</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The next turn of events happened very quickly. We received an embassy appointment in Ethiopia for March 8th which meant we needed to leave that weekend! So, we got cleared on a Thursday and we were on a plane to bring home our boys on Saturday. We were so very excited however we really didn't have much time to let it all sink in. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I happened to have signed up for an extra shift at the hospital on Thursday and Andrew was working at the fire station. On our breaks at work we were frantically, and I mean frantically contact our travel agent, banks, adoption pediatrician and family trying to sort out last minute details. Since I ALSO had to work Friday we literally had Saturday morning before we left to pack for the four of us and run last minute errands. I had been preparing for this moment for months and months and thought that I was so organized. HA! Packing for a toddler and infant of children you are new parents to definitely had its challenges to say the least. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">How much formula should we take for a week? How many diapers does an average 10 month old go through in a day? After researching the answers to my questions I realized that there are so many opinions out there that contradicted each other..."just bring double of everything" I thought.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After an overnight lay over in Dubai we finally arrived in Addis at 11:30 am on Monday (March 5th).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We were totally gross and exhausted but we were really hoping to go right away to pick up our sons. We arrived at the hotel and called Hannah's Hope. They said they would come pick us up in an hour! ONE HOUR!!! After over 2 1/2 months since we last held them they would be in our arms again and forever this time! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We instantly shifted into mom and dad mode and started preparing our hotel room to accommodate our boys and their needs for the week that we would be staying in the hotel with them. We pulled an extra mattress into the master room for Noah to sleep on and just planned on having Colton sleep in between us every night.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The drive back to Hannah's Hope seemed so surreal at the time. I remember that I couldn't really think of anything other than how desperately I wanted to hold our sons again. It had been over 10 weeks since we last saw them. By the time our 5 minute ride to Hannah's Hope was over we would be instant, ready-made parents to a wonderfully perfect 3 year old and 10 month old. Our life was about to drastically change forever and we couldn't be happier!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We pulled into Hannah's Hope through that famous black gate and were escorted into Almaz's office (the director of HH) for a bit of logistical info but don't ask me what she said. I was so distracted and just wanted to go find our sons. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Almaz and some of the special mother's took us to find Bahu first. He had just got done with his nap and was washing up with a group of other children. One of the special mothers told him that his daddy and mama were standing in the hall way and he came out right away. Both Andrew and I knelt down and embraced our sweet son. It was such a sweet moment to hold him again and know that he is now ours! ALL OURS!!! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We then went to find our little Colton Ubang. He was being snuggled by one of the special mother's in the baby room when we walked in. I tried to hold back the tears as I took him in my arms. Oh how we missed these boys and couldn't wait for this moment. Colton immediately laid his head on my chest as to say "finally you have come back for me". </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We took the boys around Hannah's Hope so they could say goodbye to their special mothers and then just moments later our driver was ushering us into the van to head back to the hotel. Our sons left their home for the past 5 months with nothing but the clothes on their backs but seemingly happy hearts!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The rest of our time in Ethiopia with the boys is really a big blur to be honest! The week we spent at the hotel was full of new experiences, joys, hardships, ear infections, sicknesses, sleepless days and sleepless nights, laughter, tears, and most of all LOVE! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The boys are really doing exceptionally well transitioning to their new environments and to new parents. We are daily amazed by both our son's resilience and ability to flex with different situations. They have been through so much in their short lives and have endured more hardships and emotional pain than most of us have gone through in our adult lives. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We left Ethiopia with our sons on March 10th and embarked on our over 35 hour journey home to Seattle! ( dreaded airplane story to follow shortly) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>We want to thank our Lord for the gift of our precious sons. We have been so blessed beyond blessed to have these little guys home with us forever! Thank you to all our friends and family for all your amazing support, prayers and love during this journey! We are excited for the boys to meet you all see that it really did take a village and the body of Christ to help us pray these boys home. We love you all!!!<br />
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</div></div>Megandrew7http://www.blogger.com/profile/15893342170821943628noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442354354885299157.post-6062657160983145862012-02-11T19:19:00.000-08:002012-02-11T19:31:20.531-08:00Heard from the Embassy and finally moving forward!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Wow, I just realized how long it has been since I have blogged. To be honest, there really hasn't been much to report up until now!<br />
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It has been 57 days since we left Ethiopia after passing court. 57 days since we had to say goodbye to our sweet boys and not know when we would be back for them. By far the hardest thing I have ever done in my life.<br />
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Our boy's adoption file was submitted to the Embassy a long 4 weeks after we passed court because the staff at Hannah's Hope was trying to gather as much evidence and information about the boy's as they could in order to hopefully lessen the amount of additional information the embassy may request as they look through and investigate the boy's case.<br />
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For 4 additional weeks we heard nothing from the embassy besides that they had recieved our file (that was encouraging, at least it wasn't lost) and that they needed us to update some more paperwork. We quickly did what they asked but did not get a response back.<br />
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Finally, last Wednesday night my hubby and I just had this strong urge to email the embassy ourselves. Now, a little background is that our adoption agency generally does not recommend that families email the embassy as they have apparently had negative responses and increased wait times when adoptive families have emailed them in the past. We did not ask our case manager's permission, we just did it! It was very short and polite. I simply listed our boy's case numbers and respectfully asked for the current status of their case.<br />
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We sent that email and then went to bed knowing that the embassy office in Addis would be opening shortly.<br />
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I couldn't sleep. But I prayed.<br />
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I was tossing and turning, dreaming about the embassy emailing us with a response to our request.<br />
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At one point I woke up in the early morning and realized I had been sleeping with my phone in my hand, just ready to receive an email! <br />
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At about 5:30am I awoke, checked my email again and was feeling so deflated as there was nothing from the embassy and it was now 4:30pm and the office was about the close.<br />
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I started getting ready for work and then came out to the living room where my hubby was sitting on the couch. He was looking at his email. I asked him what he was looking at and he calmly (in a typical Andrew way)said he was reading an email from the embassy that just came through.<br />
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What? THE EMBASSY? Here I couldn't sleep all night due to constantly checking my inbox and he just wakes up and checks it for the first time and its there?<br />
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Well, I was too excited for words! I was SOOOOO glad that we took a chance and emailed them when we did. When it really comes down to it, these boy's are legally ours and we have to do what we feel is in the best for them and that is to GET THEM HOME!!!<br />
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The email from the embassy was requesting a birth mother interview and is now scheduled for the 29th of this month. This is a very good (and usually last step) before the boy's are cleared to home home.<br />
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So when do we get to actually go and get our little ones? We still do not have an official travel date but our case manager said that her best guess would be within a few days of the birth mother interview!<br />
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Most recently cases have been cleared with a day of the birth parent interview so we are just praying that is the case for us!<br />
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We are specifically praying that God will allow everything to go smoothly and that we will be en route to Ethiopia the first week in March to bring home our boys!<br />
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</div>Megandrew7http://www.blogger.com/profile/15893342170821943628noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442354354885299157.post-80540471159541889472012-01-17T00:51:00.000-08:002012-01-17T00:58:45.335-08:00A very special shower for our very special boys!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRplT-8GoAeIVZKrHfoKNf33Yuu8R3z0XiRjiA0pGt-66F8WG2fD3qBkEeWNY1ILQNk7aohby_3vcU2sGtu7P3ebGkN6Nlf6pdW5a3-RFjszjCGj9DHTZKUSsU8zTohjjtfR2TUtEiCbSd/s1600/IMG_0027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRplT-8GoAeIVZKrHfoKNf33Yuu8R3z0XiRjiA0pGt-66F8WG2fD3qBkEeWNY1ILQNk7aohby_3vcU2sGtu7P3ebGkN6Nlf6pdW5a3-RFjszjCGj9DHTZKUSsU8zTohjjtfR2TUtEiCbSd/s320/IMG_0027.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Just wanted to take a moment to share about the wonderful shower that our church hosted for us last Sunday! What a huge blessing to us and our boys! Despite the snowy weather we actually had a wonderful turn out of wonderful loving people! <br />
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A huge thanks to all who braved the snow and attended, helped set-up, tear down, decorate, and provided wonderful words of adoption & parenthood wisdom. Mostly thank you for your continued prayers, support and love throughout this journey! <br />
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Also, we felt so honored and privileged to share pictures of our sons during the slide show! We are very proud parents and think that they are just the cutest kids in the world! And no we are not biased at all. Well, maybe a little. Okay we are. :-)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Here is a sampling of pictures taken during the day! The theme was fire truck....go figure! :-)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdBbQUFLmb9NXYDRfBzmKPd5rxvQA3cQszGJffI7Nbk6Bt5neWDJ9teOtfvYJ00F8_ljxKDjklYh0rR7sBHNuZJHYrnzgNpMnlFI8IGYLXbOoFuzxdrCxkFWKr0C8EpPayFmz5vLSajV8O/s1600/IMG_0003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdBbQUFLmb9NXYDRfBzmKPd5rxvQA3cQszGJffI7Nbk6Bt5neWDJ9teOtfvYJ00F8_ljxKDjklYh0rR7sBHNuZJHYrnzgNpMnlFI8IGYLXbOoFuzxdrCxkFWKr0C8EpPayFmz5vLSajV8O/s320/IMG_0003.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnS_1ogGr3i4i17U9pTgFcjQsEqZAqFm5Yp_1QRn26O7jeOEftKAV091wbf3vTv5Ohg0RQyEgmxDmzgN9W7mLVlFiHzjF27mLYqnctBcW1A_2L9CHNlO74VXQ_rQGIqNNmYPr-ae22jO0Z/s1600/IMG_0008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnS_1ogGr3i4i17U9pTgFcjQsEqZAqFm5Yp_1QRn26O7jeOEftKAV091wbf3vTv5Ohg0RQyEgmxDmzgN9W7mLVlFiHzjF27mLYqnctBcW1A_2L9CHNlO74VXQ_rQGIqNNmYPr-ae22jO0Z/s320/IMG_0008.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Noah and Colton's Fireman cake!<br />
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My creative mom made this wonderful fire truck themed diaper/formula cake! It was so awesome!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrX_nmPTMGHGFyWkLgofkh_-_re2Y-u0c8tuV_55l4Lmis9CtGcj6kvBne39hXCHto4z6hjogUyUzNslzcDwvwuL1zCiybBDtgI3Om6FAqF-BS2T7Usczmcyj6tBVaJ45y_oOvDeEVpzbV/s1600/IMG_0015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrX_nmPTMGHGFyWkLgofkh_-_re2Y-u0c8tuV_55l4Lmis9CtGcj6kvBne39hXCHto4z6hjogUyUzNslzcDwvwuL1zCiybBDtgI3Om6FAqF-BS2T7Usczmcyj6tBVaJ45y_oOvDeEVpzbV/s320/IMG_0015.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> Tiny Converse for Colton (Just like his Dad & Uncle Chasen wears)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA7z_sj6DaOxG6LVqf6GV1JbsFARU1eSMkxhehgot_P_f1GfArKRieJo_coRgolEuyu2q-bv_H0qGtn1JtdtiMUr-ol_pvUl626DlbUotWAyYiXTeyxI-8Pg6O0ndnTO-OD10TIeV2vejD/s1600/IMG_0022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA7z_sj6DaOxG6LVqf6GV1JbsFARU1eSMkxhehgot_P_f1GfArKRieJo_coRgolEuyu2q-bv_H0qGtn1JtdtiMUr-ol_pvUl626DlbUotWAyYiXTeyxI-8Pg6O0ndnTO-OD10TIeV2vejD/s320/IMG_0022.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> A fireman/duck faucet protector for bath time!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">Andrew's first time attending a baby shower EVER! And he still kissed me at the end! ;-)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div></div>Megandrew7http://www.blogger.com/profile/15893342170821943628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442354354885299157.post-50853164642478057332011-12-15T21:28:00.000-08:002011-12-16T09:46:53.936-08:00Officially a family of four!!!Ethiopia day 4 ~ <br />
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Today was the big day. The day we have been waiting for and the main reason for this first trip to Ethiopia! Today was our court appointment to make the boys legally ours. The Ethiopian court system is very random and does not make full sense even to the Ethiopian staff at HH. We were picked up by one of the HH drivers at 8:30am and drove about an hour to the court house. It was a small room located in a pretty big building. We waited in silence for about 2 ½ hours for our agencies name to be called. We then went into another room along with a staff member from HH and the other adoptive family that has been here with us at the same time. It seemed like such a simple process once we were before the judge. She simply asked yes or no questions such as “have you met your children?” and “have you learned about the Ethiopian culture?” among others. She told us that once we passed court today that there was no undoing this adoption. The other family was told that they passed right there in the courtroom but for us and our boys she said that there was a typo in the spelling of our last name and she could not pass us at that time. My heart was racing. “What does this mean” I thought. I asked “H” (the HH staff member who was with us) what this meant and if it would delay any paperwork being submitted to the embassy. He told us that he had gone to MOWA (Ministry of Women Affairs) earlier this morning and submitted the correction. It would then be submitted to the judge by the end of the day for her approval. We were so happy and felt do very relieved as “H” assured us that everything was fine. Later that afternoon when we went back to HH to be with the kids we were met by “A” who told us that we passed court this afternoon! “so the boys are ours now?” we asked. “Yes” she said, “the boys are yours” Those were the words we have been waiting to hear and it was so great to hear them. <b>Our boys are now OURS!</b><br />
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Today was a long day. In between the courthouse and going back to HH. “D” took us to a market where we were able to get some Ethiopian paraphernalia. We wanted to get some things for the boys to help them remember their Ethiopian culture. We found some really cute traditional Ethiopian outfits for them as well as some animal pictures made from banana leaves to hang in their room at home.<br />
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Another huge highlight of our day was being able to go through the boy’s photo albums with them. This was such a milestone especially for Noah. We put together an album for each of our sons so that they can look at it often and remember us when we are away from them. It has mostly pictures of Andrew and I with captions that say “Daddy” and “Mama” in both English and Amharic (Thanks to one of the special fathers). It also has pictures of our house, the boy’s new room and even our dog “Kimber”. Noah’s face lit up as soon as he saw his photo book. He studied every photo for a long time and pointed to Andrew and I and then back at the photo of us. It was so great to watch him identify us as daddy and mama. It was so precious to see how proud Noah was of his book. He wanted all his little friends to see it and he wanted to sit on our laps and flip through the pages over and over again. The whole scene just totally melted my heart! Colton really is too young to know what a photo book is but he sure did like to chew on the pages with his 4 small teeth that are starting to erupt. We bought him a baby photo book that is made of fabric and has lots of fun colors and things to touch. <br />
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Thank you for all your prayers everyone! We are amazed by the power of prayer and have felt so supported through our journey to our boys!<br />
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These are pictures of us showing Noah and Colton their photo albums for the first time.Megandrew7http://www.blogger.com/profile/15893342170821943628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442354354885299157.post-80419814614377789342011-12-15T21:19:00.000-08:002011-12-15T21:19:56.765-08:00~ Getting to know our boy’s schedulesEthiopia Day 3 <br />
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Well, today we got to spend most of our day with the boys at HH. Andrew and I both spend time getting to know our boy’s personalities and routines. HH does a great job keeping all the kids on a schedule that works for everyone. Colton (“U”) falls asleep everyday at about 10:30am no matter what is going on around him whether we are in a meeting with the boys and the HH director or playing outside, he falls asleep in our arms like clockwork. Noah (“B”) is getting use to his schedule too with lunch at 11:30am and then a nap for 2-3 hrs. Every day we have (unwillingly) been escorted back to the hotel during the early afternoon for our lunch and a rest. Although we have wanted to just stay at HH and be with the kids it has actually been good, especially for Noah to be able to re-charge before we go back in the later afternoon.<br />
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Noah is a really good eater and often times asks for 2nd and 3rd helpings. Today Andrew fed him with the fork which turned out to be a great bonding experience for them. Most of the days they eat injera with some chopped meat, potatoes and of course SPICES! We asked the staff if the meals are prepared with bland spices but they actually use spicy spices just like what the adults eat. We are so glad that we have practiced making Doro Wat and other Ethiopian dishes so Noah will have some familiar foods to eat when he comes home.<br />
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Colton is 7 months now and we plan to keep him on the bottle until he is 2 years old and start introducing baby food and rice cereal sometime after his first birthday. We learned that all the babies in Ethiopia are breastfed exclusively until they are 2 years old. We know that at least one bottle in the evening up until he is two will really help with bonding so that is our plan (we have done quite a lot of research on bonding and attachment of the adopted child ).<br />
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Tomorrow is are court appointment so Andrew and I would so appreciate prayers for that!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlzYxlZMSWN4EcF5ox157L89qRk_cQm1n4_Y_jQmelLNTgQwpyLrmQWDN893TnRYdLjcIuPawEvCy7bVB5E6aM6CndvHBwG9bql6sDI3a9hrbGXPYhPCYE55mMjyi16IZFA3AwxtDOE4Zu/s1600/IMG_1063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlzYxlZMSWN4EcF5ox157L89qRk_cQm1n4_Y_jQmelLNTgQwpyLrmQWDN893TnRYdLjcIuPawEvCy7bVB5E6aM6CndvHBwG9bql6sDI3a9hrbGXPYhPCYE55mMjyi16IZFA3AwxtDOE4Zu/s400/IMG_1063.JPG" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixuW0qhcMx6xKQ_GOVeByWh83Q2k0TF6b8EEqMDOEJVOXWWd3lDR-Aau_VmCT7IjOrpMcjAMXBC5dNw91I5qXj5cEksYwIFIsVr9rStKN3_LAVdGWzLpPQfEWPTY0pPhrSGT0jAG-PJYbL/s1600/IMG_0759.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixuW0qhcMx6xKQ_GOVeByWh83Q2k0TF6b8EEqMDOEJVOXWWd3lDR-Aau_VmCT7IjOrpMcjAMXBC5dNw91I5qXj5cEksYwIFIsVr9rStKN3_LAVdGWzLpPQfEWPTY0pPhrSGT0jAG-PJYbL/s400/IMG_0759.JPG" /></a></div>Megandrew7http://www.blogger.com/profile/15893342170821943628noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442354354885299157.post-80853593137042149712011-12-12T22:20:00.000-08:002011-12-13T03:50:11.448-08:00Ethiopia Day 2~ Where are my white people?Ethiopia Day 2<br />
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This will be a short post tonight because we are pretty exhausted from our full day! The highlight of course was being able to spend more time with our boys at Hannah’s Hope. Noah (“B”) was very excited to see us again today which was nice to see because we had to leave him crying in one of the special mother’s arms yesterday. Noah again wanted to play with stickers with Andrew again. We also brought some bubbles today and he was so cute as he tried to blow into the bubble wand. Most of the time his blow was so strong that no bubbles would form but is when he did manage to create a bubble he would make sure that we both saw it. He is a very smart toddler and has been picking up English words even just since we have been there. He does not speak Amharic like the special mothers do because he came from a region that speaks a different language. <br />
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Noah wanted to do everything just like daddy (Andrew) and if Andrew would sit a certain way in the courtyard, Noah would be right there sitting in the same position. It just melted my heart to see that. Towards the end of the day our driver and special father at Hannah’s Hope “W” came to see if we were ready to go back to the hotel (we never are). He told us that everyday Noah would ask the staff at Hannah’s Hope “when do my ferenghi(white people) come?” It breaks my heart to think that every week or so he sees other families come to visit their new children and up until this point no one has ever come to him. The staff has told us that they have tried to explain to him that we are here now but have to leave for while but then will be back to take him and his brother to America. I know that he is only a toddler but I really hope that he has been able to grasp this concept even just a little.<br />
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Colton (“U”) was just as happy as can be again today. He almost never stops smiling! He is at that curious stage where he is wanting to look around at everything, especially anything colorful! I put him into our Moby wrap again today and he was less than thrilled because he wanted to play so he was quickly out of it again. <br />
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Today we also met the director of Hannah’s Hope a wonderful Lady “A”. She helped us fill out our I-600 forms and told us a bit about the rest of the process. Our next step is very unpredictable. We have to go home and wait for our embassy appointment. “A” wasn’t able to give us a time frame as the way the Ethiopian government processes these cases seems to be quite random. She told us to pray for a miracle because we are now at the mercy of the government and it is completely out of our hands as well as our agency and Hannah’s Hope staff. We know that we will get an appointment to come back but we need prayer that the case will process quickly.<br />
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Well, wish I could write more but must get some rest for another day with our boys tomorrow!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCYLjIvk8XEKi6-LtPxW0oxFQcV0SwGxNuhzjuKQSJYzjr1tVhWqt8gN6fa3NkQ6h7jKQQklR8YLiwdxYBh7s_smAmDTbc7IzCMlxmLGXEm63e7kkb2RFESgjMguU86cdYbgdSXQmIgb4J/s1600/IMG_2859.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCYLjIvk8XEKi6-LtPxW0oxFQcV0SwGxNuhzjuKQSJYzjr1tVhWqt8gN6fa3NkQ6h7jKQQklR8YLiwdxYBh7s_smAmDTbc7IzCMlxmLGXEm63e7kkb2RFESgjMguU86cdYbgdSXQmIgb4J/s400/IMG_2859.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4e4r2gwD2Ifp43ZQZl5Qzvgx6sanemVKJzOzQ2NK7TvF983IGppuW3LERTWtc2taiAEoQRu_YlyTyC42U9jRxCWVFZ2gUV-KC8S3n0A4C1EndObtk1x9YuibYG34VYBwJY5XkRc4VZz_R/s1600/IMG_0782.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4e4r2gwD2Ifp43ZQZl5Qzvgx6sanemVKJzOzQ2NK7TvF983IGppuW3LERTWtc2taiAEoQRu_YlyTyC42U9jRxCWVFZ2gUV-KC8S3n0A4C1EndObtk1x9YuibYG34VYBwJY5XkRc4VZz_R/s400/IMG_0782.JPG" /></a></div>Megandrew7http://www.blogger.com/profile/15893342170821943628noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442354354885299157.post-40707392321390168482011-12-11T21:44:00.000-08:002011-12-12T07:28:31.267-08:00The Day Our Lives Changed Forever~ Our Gotcha Story part 1!Ethiopia Day 1~ Picture of the boys at the bottom<br />
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Well, we arrived in Addis Ababa Ethiopia late last night and traveling went really well with no long delays or luggage hassles. We were so tired by the time we got to our hotel but we were also too excited to sleep right away. I stayed awake thinking of what the next day would bring. We would be picked up and taken to Hannah’s Hope to meet our boys for the first time. I didn’t really know what to expect. Would the boys pay attention to us or would we be just another white couple coming and going? Would they want to be held or would they shy away at any attempt to show them affection. We really did not know what kind of emotions we would encounter for both us as well as our boys. <br />
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10:30 am our driver “D” was in the hotel lobby to take us to HH. There is another sweet couple here as well for their first trip court appointment and they were preparing to meet their little baby girl for the first time. We were all so excited as we climbed into the van. The drive to HH was only about 7-10 minutes from our hotel which was nice because I was already getting so inpatient to get to the boys. <br />
We turned onto a bumpy road and soon saw the infamous black gate separating us from HH. This was the gate I had seen so many times in pictures and videos from other adoptive families over the past 2 years. My heart must have been pounding at 150 beats per minute as we drove into the courtyard. As the van drove in we immediately saw young kids running towards the van to greet us. Our driver asked who is getting “B”? “We are” Andrew and I said. The van door swung open and we saw our son Noah "b" looking up at us with the most precious eyes and hand extended up to us. I think I was so overwhelmed by emotion that I kind of froze for a few seconds. It seemed like it took Andrew and I forever to climb down out of the van to greet him. Noah (B) immediately warmed us to us as if he already knew that we his parents coming for him. From all the referral pictures we had seen we were expecting him to be much bigger but he is actually quite small. He is suppose to be around 2 ½ or 3 but he was wearing sizes 18 and 24 months. <br />
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After playing ball with Noah for a couple minutes, Andrew picked him up and “D” showed us where all the babies were being cared for. As we approached the courtyard area in the shade we immediately knew who Colton ("U") was amongst the other babies. He was sitting in his little baby chair on the mat just smiling away. I rushed to him and picked him up! He took a quick look at me and then proceeded to lay his head down on my chest and snuggled into me. My heart was melting more and more by the minute. It was an unbelievable feeling to finally be holding our sons in our arms. Such as answer to prayer that they warmed up so quickly!<br />
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We spent the next almost 4 hours just holding them and playing with toys. Noah loved the stickers we brought and soon Andrew was covered in them. Noah would put a sticker on Andrew and then put one on himself in the same location. He also knows a few English numbers and letter and he counted the stickers “ one-two-three” as he placed them on daddy! Noah really attached himself to Andrew right away and after playing for a while he fell asleep in Andrew’s arms. When one of the special mothers tried to take him away for nap time, Noah pushed her away and buried his head into Andrew’s chest. This was so encouraging to see the bonding already taking place. While Noah napped, I held Colton and fed him his bottle. As he sucked on his bottle he looked up at me with wonderful eye contact for quite awhile with a very content look on his face. He is such a happy baby and has the most infectious smile. Colton can sit with a little help and can roll over but has not started to crawl yet. We think he is about 7 months but he was wearing 12 month pants. He has definitely been well nourished and appears to enjoy all his bottles.<br />
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The time went by so fast and before we knew it our time to leave for the day had come. We managed to squeeze out a little more time but we needed to be sensitive to keeping the boys on their nap and eating schedules as much as possible as well. I carried Noah up to his bunk bed and tried to hand him to the special mother. He wrapped his legs around my wait and started crying. He didn’t want me to put him down and apparently didn’t want another nap either. It was so hard to leave him there while he was crying and I felt myself tearing up as I walked to the stairs. I know that this is a small glimpse of what is to come when we have to leave Ethiopia without them on this first trip. I can’t even think about it without getting so emotional. <br />
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Well, as difficult as it was, we came back to the hotel for a bit of a rest and ate some Ethiopian food in the hotel restaurant. I can’t say enough how much we both LOVE Doro Wat and injera. Andrew and I then decided to venture out into the community a bit and had a walk through some of the streets where people were selling mostly food items and plastic sandals. Then back to the hotel for some emailing and updates.<br />
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Well tomorrow we have some HH orientation and we will fill out our I-600 forms. We will of course have more time with our boys as well!<br />
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We could only post one because of the internet connection. We cannot post their faces on the internet until they are legally ours but take our word for it they are stinking cute!Megandrew7http://www.blogger.com/profile/15893342170821943628noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442354354885299157.post-23584647633902557892011-12-02T10:50:00.000-08:002011-12-02T10:50:48.252-08:00Prayers answered!We wanted to update everyone on a huge praise we received just moments ago while sitting here in our Munich hotel! We got an email from our case manager that our boy's birth mom safely arrived to her court date yesterday and everything went smoothly! We are truly praising God! Thank you everyone for you prayers! We are going to try to sleep now, it has been an incredibly long 30 hrs without sleep! ;)Megandrew7http://www.blogger.com/profile/15893342170821943628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442354354885299157.post-11168832010401308322011-11-30T21:31:00.000-08:002011-11-30T21:35:27.772-08:00Leaving on a jet plane TOMORROW! Ethiopia or Bust!Well, the time has finally come that we have been waiting for for over 2 years! Tomorrow we embark on the most exciting adventure of our lives, we meet our precious baby boys for the first time. We have prayed, pondered, waited, and waited some more for this day to come and now that it is here it seems so surreal.<br />
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Over the last couple days I have found myself nervous with excitement. I don't really know how to explain this new emotion. I am anticipating what it will be like to see and hold my boys for the first time and to be honest I really don't know what I will feel and that is what scares me a little. Even though we have not met the boys yet we have fallen in love with them already. However, we are preparing ourselves for a less than climatic response from the boys when they see us because we know that until we bring them home, we may simply be viewed as another couple white people coming to visit the children at Hannah's Hope. They are very young still and up to this point every adult figure has come in and out of their lives. We know that it will take time for bonding and attachment to happen and that is why we will be taking at least 6 weeks off work after we bring them home (hopefully in January:)<br />
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Anyway, I am sitting here now in our living room as family members are "helping" us get all packed and ready to go! My sister-in-law Carolyn pulled out our brand new Moby baby wrap and helped me figure out how to use it so we will be ready! It holds a stuffed panda so it should work for our 7 month old right?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWIYyjHriclfL_Flk5gdViSQGiagyRZuOFJAVvz_w3Zp2dwdE8LukMNS2PAps8kP1HGS9pPpXXTSxL6VkuO5ZTsPa0r7NxPDgd7iI2AoXY9mjVQmMaHacyv0quP2wDSAHavsNK8mJQtXUq/s1600/IMG_0008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWIYyjHriclfL_Flk5gdViSQGiagyRZuOFJAVvz_w3Zp2dwdE8LukMNS2PAps8kP1HGS9pPpXXTSxL6VkuO5ZTsPa0r7NxPDgd7iI2AoXY9mjVQmMaHacyv0quP2wDSAHavsNK8mJQtXUq/s200/IMG_0008.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg84e9lgdzAwrSA_xoJivAmidruLXm-oNvaajm8iBSBeMOqP37dLHMozA-m14n4DJr1Ut4EQhnM97pQQx2aGcspQmwQe0oG4HSK2EWItCeEeoIO5FOfxg6Hfml2bfj7JYHPC3YuHfV05dCC/s1600/IMG_0012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg84e9lgdzAwrSA_xoJivAmidruLXm-oNvaajm8iBSBeMOqP37dLHMozA-m14n4DJr1Ut4EQhnM97pQQx2aGcspQmwQe0oG4HSK2EWItCeEeoIO5FOfxg6Hfml2bfj7JYHPC3YuHfV05dCC/s200/IMG_0012.JPG" width="150" /></a>We are taking off a week early and spending a little time in Austria, Germany and France before heading to Ethiopia. My wonderful mom is coming along with us for this first trip too which makes it even more special. I am taking my husband and mom to see where I went to school and worked as nanny in Schladming, Austria when I was just out of high school. We are also possibly meeting up with Andrew's uncle in France. We are excited to make the most of this opportunity to do a little extra traveling as well but of course our main focus and source of excitement hits when we land in Africa :-)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Please pray: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">***For our boy's hearts, that they would be prepared to meet their new parents!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">***My mom's foot. She broke it several weeks ago and she is currently wearing a boot on it and she still has some pain.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">***That the boy's birth mom would show us for her court appointment tomorrow so that there won't be any delays in the processing of paperwork. Also for</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">***For safe and smooth travel</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">We will be updating the blog as often as we can while in Ethiopia. We are told that the internet at the hotel in Addis is hit and miss so we will do our best!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Thank you all for your support and prayers! We look forward to sharing our journey with you all! </div>Megandrew7http://www.blogger.com/profile/15893342170821943628noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442354354885299157.post-6412300342160388222011-11-02T20:01:00.000-07:002011-11-02T20:04:22.283-07:00We need your help!!!<span style="font-family: "Kristen ITC"; font-size: 18pt;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">We are collecting items to take with us to the orphanage (called Hannah’s Hope) that our boys are living at in Ethiopia. We will be packing up the donations to take on our second trip (probably in January). There is a great need for donations, especially the expendables listed below. If you would like to donate some of these items please let us know! Thank you so much for making a difference in the lives of these children!</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><b><u>Needed Donations: </u></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">• Baby wipes (this is always needed)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">• Bibs</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">• Hand sanitizer</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">• Diapers of all sizes; please include preemie sizes</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">• Infant and children’s vitamins</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">• Formula: vegetable-based Similac, soy-based Similac, as well as regular formula</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">• Bottles: Avent bottles for both 8-12 ounce feedings.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">• Diaper rash cream: Desitin is preferred, but A&D ointment or Butt Paste is also useful.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">• Baby shampoos and baby oil</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">• Shampoo, conditioner, and lotion for older children</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">• Age appropriate development toys for infants and toddlers</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">• Blow up balls/outside toys</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">• Sidewalk chalk</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">• Bubbles</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">• Children’s DVDs and CDs</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">• Men’s and women’s deodorant</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">• Kleenex boxes</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="height: 226px; margin-left: 23px; margin-top: 110px; position: absolute; width: 226px; z-index: -2;"></span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">• Twin sheets (mainly flats) in children’s patterns</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">***If you can donate any items please let us know by email: <a href="mailto:megandrew7@gmail.com">megandrew7@gmail.com</a> or find us on facebook! We would be happy to come pick up your donated items or meet you anywhere! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGZOKc_jGZscYeT92OwhJvhPpgz3YdKDoMWFVgg-s7fBU7rwcOXgGz6-f3hbPs42EMfH9Th4falmPzH9ghN44yMakm1GUq4UghdQj3h2ToRI1FSgsChb4pNuxjClt9BG06Zl2B4F_FR2J4/s1600/0203-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGZOKc_jGZscYeT92OwhJvhPpgz3YdKDoMWFVgg-s7fBU7rwcOXgGz6-f3hbPs42EMfH9Th4falmPzH9ghN44yMakm1GUq4UghdQj3h2ToRI1FSgsChb4pNuxjClt9BG06Zl2B4F_FR2J4/s1600/0203-1.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3JamFVD83Z9fgSLPIY01SKR5Rn5VQZMOmOKPT-dCJABMkWr_cfdT6l3roS8HRVCK8kQSGlc_vRp0VCBcae-TBX9MmyKSefpSt82NmYgpyC68kBRfCEGpYPwt00MDnTZh3azyocELViHsD/s1600/0192.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3JamFVD83Z9fgSLPIY01SKR5Rn5VQZMOmOKPT-dCJABMkWr_cfdT6l3roS8HRVCK8kQSGlc_vRp0VCBcae-TBX9MmyKSefpSt82NmYgpyC68kBRfCEGpYPwt00MDnTZh3azyocELViHsD/s1600/0192.JPG" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"> Hannah's Hope</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"></span></div>Megandrew7http://www.blogger.com/profile/15893342170821943628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442354354885299157.post-41847432851745471792011-10-25T11:15:00.000-07:002011-10-26T13:56:39.243-07:00WE GOT OUR COURT DATE!<div class="MsoNormal">We were praying that we would receive a court date for before Christmas but after reading other adoptive family blogs yesterday I started getting somewhat discouraged that a before Christmas date was not in our future. It seemed like so many families had been waiting for weeks and months to hear word of a court date. So yesterday while driving to the hospital I just came to peace with the fact that we would not be traveling until January. It wasn't that I was running out of faith but more that I was trying to think about things realistically. The Ethiopian courts are not what they used to be in terms of processing time. I told myself that January would be better because the airports would not be so crowded with Christmas travelers. I told myself that this way Andrew and I would have a bit more time to raise more money for our trip. I also told myself that God was in control and that I would stop worrying about the date.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Well, God IS in control and He is faithful! At 8:30 this morning I woke up to AGCI calling my phone. I leaped out of bed and answered my phone while trying to sound semi awake! I heard K's voice on the other end and she sounded very excited. She quickly said, " How would you like to go to Ethiopia to meet your boys???" Wow! Another shocking moment in this journey of adoption! I could barley believe what I was hearing! After yesterday I was fully prepared to play the waiting game for several more months before hearing word of a court date and within just hours of giving it all to the Lord we get our date! </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Our court date is just as we prayed for. Before Christmas. <b>The date is December 14th!!!!</b> We will be arriving a few days early to spend time with the boys at Hannah's hope so we will most likely be leaving Seattle Dec. 10th! </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Prayer requests:</div><div class="MsoNormal">***The boy's birth mother has her court date on Dec. 1st and she needs to attend this date in order for us to keep our date. Please pray that she will be able to make it as she has to travel a long ways. Also pray for her heart as this has got to be the hardest thing a mother could ever do.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">***Pray for all our travel arrangements too (we are leaving in 6 weeks)! We need to find the least expensive airline tickets.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">***Continue to pray for the boys as they are adjusting to being a Hannah's Hope. Pray that God would be preparing their hearts to meet us too!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Thank you all for your continued prayers and for rejoicing in this great news with us!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div>Megandrew7http://www.blogger.com/profile/15893342170821943628noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442354354885299157.post-39279107070693755112011-10-25T10:40:00.000-07:002011-10-25T10:40:29.266-07:00A Big Thank You!!!We want to shout out a special thank you to The Laha family and the firefighters and their families for all the support you raised for our adoption at the cider squeeze last Saturday! We feel so blessed by all of your support, prayers and words of encouragement over the past 2 years! We are so excited for our boys to meet you all and see how many people love them! We are also excited to attend the Laha's cider squeeze next year with our boys! THANK YOU!!!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMup3iCDf3btXMGIjcykDJVuR16nn7xfYBHT90Ah5lEZxgCf-BWN4JlGm6jh5BfKC9x0erYYQ7eq-1v3yagLfiqtvSj2kwk6yshfkNWHXcxcWVCOAnlfMaAGUtnB2cyMyhq5QHBcN7wAvp/s1600/293425_2353454847444_1582368289_32324042_1463723479_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMup3iCDf3btXMGIjcykDJVuR16nn7xfYBHT90Ah5lEZxgCf-BWN4JlGm6jh5BfKC9x0erYYQ7eq-1v3yagLfiqtvSj2kwk6yshfkNWHXcxcWVCOAnlfMaAGUtnB2cyMyhq5QHBcN7wAvp/s400/293425_2353454847444_1582368289_32324042_1463723479_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Megandrew7http://www.blogger.com/profile/15893342170821943628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442354354885299157.post-68292091345700887892011-10-13T17:40:00.000-07:002011-10-13T17:40:54.439-07:00Bringing our boys home one Etsy item at a time!So, last year after we were done with numerous fundraisers I told Andrew (my hubby), "I don't ever want to do another fundraiser again!". I really hate asking people for donations even if it is for such a wonderful cause. Maybe it's a pride thing but I just really hate it! With that said, I am humbling myself yet again and opened an Etsy account today to help raise a bit more to go towards our adoption. When we set out on this adoption journey we really thought we would be adopting one child and we kinda budgeted for one. When we received our referral for two baby boys last week we were completely overjoyed! We then realized that everything is now times 2! We need to purchase an airline ticket for our 3 year old (about $1000) and several thousand more in the care and country fees while they are in Ethiopia under the care of Hannah's Hope!<br />
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So, I do have a few items for sale on Etsy and I would be delighted if you would take the time to browse our "Adoption shop"! :-)<br />
<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/megmercy?ref=pr_shop">http://www.etsy.com/shop/megmercy?ref=pr_shop</a><br />
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In addition to Etsy, I am picking up as many extra overtime shifts at the hospital as possible! Andrew did that last year but now the fire station does not offer overtime anymore...:-( <br />
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Thanks for looking everyone and God Bless!<br />
MeganMegandrew7http://www.blogger.com/profile/15893342170821943628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442354354885299157.post-34024053292070091762011-10-08T12:14:00.000-07:002011-10-08T12:14:54.502-07:00Referral acceptance packet sent!!!We got all our documents notarized this morning and then sent our packet via UPS! We decided to use UPS because the post office is closed Monday due to the holiday and we didn't want to lose even one day of processing time. We also payed the big bucks to get it there next day (Monday). It should arrive at AGCI's office at approx 10:30am ;-) I think that the lady at the UPS store thought we were crazy as we triple checked the address, payed an outrageous amount to have it sent and took a picture of the envelope before handing it to her. Oh well, what can I say? We are baby crazy and totally in love with our precious boys. I have been spending way too much time just staring at their photos the past few days!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlvlcfqeEyVkxd5hOyaUrN1GzFJ3KEIJ28mSibV73N1-7vjydNYM2Y08r92nQpL9DMyKGJlE9BjGjszhwjPfV6VMxlHDJz8XJq7i9Qk4m78tyz9dbz9NY0N-dJZ-cI1_SpNuU7HSMb_lb_/s1600/311383_10150480590037925_812487924_11234978_652643968_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlvlcfqeEyVkxd5hOyaUrN1GzFJ3KEIJ28mSibV73N1-7vjydNYM2Y08r92nQpL9DMyKGJlE9BjGjszhwjPfV6VMxlHDJz8XJq7i9Qk4m78tyz9dbz9NY0N-dJZ-cI1_SpNuU7HSMb_lb_/s1600/311383_10150480590037925_812487924_11234978_652643968_n.jpg" /></a></div>Megandrew7http://www.blogger.com/profile/15893342170821943628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442354354885299157.post-56784227286303669872011-10-07T20:41:00.000-07:002011-10-07T20:41:11.161-07:00Celebrating our baby blessings with Ethiopian food!Most of today was spent filling out paper work in our referral packet. I am always amazed by how much adoption paper work there is at every stage of our journey! Just when we think we have filled out every possible document imaginable, there is yet another. <br />
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We had two phone meetings today too. One with a social worker from AGCI to go through our transition plans for the boys.We covered issues such as bonding, sleep disturbances, behavior etc. It was recommended to have the boys sleep in our bed with us for the first 6 weeks they are home. Our S.W. also advised us to buy a good baby sling and carry our infant boy close to us in the sling for at least 6 hours a day to help promote bonding and attachment. It was a really good phone meeting because there were so many things that we just hadn't thought of yet.<br />
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We also had a consultation with our adoption specialist pediatrician from the UW. The pediatrician went over both boy's medical exams that were done at Hannah's hope. He said that he was very pleased with what he saw in the medical exams, labs and photos of the boys. He did say that our 3 year old is probably more like 2 to 2 1/2 years of age based on weight, height and number of teeth. We may end up adjusting his age once he has an official medical exam at the UW. Praise the Lord for healthy babies!<br />
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At the end of the day we decided to go out and celebrate our baby blessings by going to our favorite Ethiopian restaurant for some traditional cuisine. We so love Ethiopian food! <br />
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Many of you have been asking us about the names of our boys. We have decided to keep their Ethiopian names as their middle names and give them new first names. We have several ideas but have still not come to a decision on what those are yet. We will let you all know when we finally decide!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZi7wYxUJBy-9u7eaw-wuw5wDWbER6iqrC_6JP-c6bkf33l_z0L_Axm5lYT0d6oKlocGN_-bun0H2WG8bdEboLJszFb7Nz8g-azWp3hoLHu92UQj-HoVn9H8OrissJj3t0uU-KfWrsFdn6/s1600/largemenuplate2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZi7wYxUJBy-9u7eaw-wuw5wDWbER6iqrC_6JP-c6bkf33l_z0L_Axm5lYT0d6oKlocGN_-bun0H2WG8bdEboLJszFb7Nz8g-azWp3hoLHu92UQj-HoVn9H8OrissJj3t0uU-KfWrsFdn6/s320/largemenuplate2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Megandrew7http://www.blogger.com/profile/15893342170821943628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442354354885299157.post-46053731225034409062011-10-05T19:31:00.000-07:002011-10-07T12:25:49.234-07:00The best phone call of our lives!<b>WE RECEIVED THE CALL!</b> The phone call that we have been waiting for for almost 2 years!<br />
Here is the story of our referral call in a nutshell!<br />
Yesterday morning I was working a 12 hour shift at the hospital and Andrew was in the middle of a 48 hour shift at the fire station (perfect timing right?). At approx. 9:30am I went for my coffee break and checked my phone as I usually do. I noticed that I had just missed a call from our adoption case manager "K" a few minutes earlier. "Darn" I thought. "I always miss her calls". I was wondering why she had called because it wasn't time for our monthly check-in call yet. I figured it must be a paperwork issue or something. I decided I would try giving her a call back before my break was up. To my surprise "K" answered right away and said she was so glad that I called back because she had some exciting news for us. I immediately started shaking and felt like I was in a dream. She said that she had a child referral for us, in fact she had TWO! "Two?" I didn't know if I was going to be able to contain myself after I heard those words. I just felt like squealing with joy! "K" waited until I resumed my composure and then began to tell me a few details. She said that they have to<b> brothers ages 3 years and 5 months!</b> "Oh my goodness" I kept saying that over and over again. I could not believe this was happening. I was really wishing that Andrew was right there with me so we could find out at the same time. I asked "K" if I could call her on my lunch break because I didn't want to know anymore details until I told Andrew. I tried to call him on his cell right away but he didn't answer. I was freaking out because I really wanted to tell him about our referral call right then. I went back to work and was trying to stay focused on my patients for awhile. I tried Andrew again a few minutes later but still no answer. "Ahhhh, he must be on a call right now", I thought. It just so happens that Andrew was not at his regular station because he was working for another firefighter so I had no idea what station he was assigned to. I frantically called a station that I had the number for and they gave me the number to the station he was at. I'm sure that firefighter thought I was a crazy wife on the phone. No answer at that station either. Now I was really freaking out! Of all the times to not be able to reach my husband! I again tried to focus on my patient load. It was a really busy day for me and I had a pretty critical patient that needed my full attention. I silently prayed that God would ease my mind and I would be able to do my job without constantly thinking about the life changing call I had just received (at least until lunch break;-). About one hour later I got a call on the hospital phone from Andrew asking "What is the Emergency?". "We got the call!" I tried not to scream those words as I stood in the middle of the busy nurses station. I briefly told him all that I knew, which wasn't much at that point and quickly had to hang up. He had been in the middle of his fire drill when he heard I was trying to contact him with an "emergency". Okay maybe it wasn't an emergency but very urgent I would say ;-) On my lunch break I was able to connect with K again and get all the details about "our" boys. <br />
It has been over 24 hours since we got "The Call" but I still feel like I am in a constant state of shock, amazement, excitement and so many other emotions that I have never felt before! We are going to be "ready-made parents", no kids to having a 3 year old and 5 month old in a very short time. We are so thankful to God for allowing us to receive our referral at this time. Despite many days that we felt hopeless that this day would never come, we now see that God was and is in the details of this and His timing is perfect. <br />
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So.....what are the next steps for us?<br />
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1) Meet with a pediatrician at the UW that specializes in international adoption for a consultation on Friday.<br />
2) Phone meeting with a social worker from ACGI to discuss our transition plans on Friday.<br />
3) Fill out paper work (again) and get documents notarized in our referral packet and send off to AGCI<br />
4) Wait for our court date in Ethiopia (about 2 weeks).<br />
5) Fly to Ethiopia to meet our precious baby boys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!<br />
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<u>Prayer requests!</u><br />
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**Please pray for safety for the boys as they are adjusting to living at Hannah's hope.<br />
**On Monday, the 3 year old fell while playing and fractured his leg. He is now in a cast. Please pray for healing.<br />
**Pray that all our paper work will all go smoothly and there will be no delays.<br />
**Pray that we will receive our court dates soon and can travel to meet our boys before Christmas.<br />
**Pray that God will be preparing the boy's hearts and emotions to meet us and with the transition of coming home!<br />
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****We have decided to not put up any pictures of the boys or background information until they are legally ours. We do have the option of showing part of a photo without faces but we would rather wait!<br />
If you would like a sneak peak at photos we can show you in person! They are SOOOOO cute!<br />
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More info to come! Thank you all for being a part of this journey with us for the last 2 years! Thank you for your continued prayers, support and love! We can't wait to bring home the boys so they can meet all of you and see how many people love them already!<br />
Megan & Andrew<br />
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Megandrew7http://www.blogger.com/profile/15893342170821943628noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442354354885299157.post-38093585006113946412011-09-29T11:50:00.000-07:002011-09-29T11:50:23.158-07:00A dusty nursery...Well, I just finished cleaning all the dust off the nursery room furniture and re-washing all the baby clothes I bought last year. It has been just over a year since I finished painting and decorating our baby's room with firetruck decor. I was filled with joy as I made up the crib's bedding and hung curtains. I was picturing how I thought things would be once we brought home our baby from Ethiopia. I pictured my husband holding our child while rocking him in the rocking chair in the corner. I envisioned how cute our child would look wearing all the baby boy clothes that I had recently picked up at summer garage sales. Now it is difficult for me to look at the items in the nursery. I never thought that it would take this long before we got our referral call and brought our baby home to our family. I honestly wish that I had more encouraging posts to write to you all but lately I have not had many positive days. Please continue to pray for our baby or babies. Pray for safety where ever they are right now. Pray for the Ethiopian government that they will process cases faster and so we can get our referral call soon! Thank you all!<br />
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"I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him".<br />
1 Samuel 1:27Megandrew7http://www.blogger.com/profile/15893342170821943628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442354354885299157.post-37705077323113196522011-09-20T19:03:00.000-07:002011-09-20T19:04:03.544-07:00Something Tangible!So today was one of those days in our adoption journey that I woke up thinking to myself, "will we ever get our referral call?" and, "Is this really going to happening?". Unlike a pregnancy, we don't have a child to feel moving in the womb or even an ultrasound. As soon-to-be adoptive parents, we have numbers. We wait. We wonder. And then we wait some more. To help us see something tangible as we wait for our precious baby or babies I made a countdown chain type thing for our waitlist numbers. We hung them in our living room today so we can see them everyday and continue to be reminded of our child.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUGFXL6amsTi9rOUZwfymSo9UPyrpWf4zQFqNwHD2vzr3IlRD7ZsYrCAe51zSb2beXGS_WBKSTpITmEAMfWV7nmwPjV5nLN9q8v5NRMZR7tgJlJBNrHhqdhoxsbSxH_o4NlAAZe7iko-5v/s1600/IMG_20110920_181120.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUGFXL6amsTi9rOUZwfymSo9UPyrpWf4zQFqNwHD2vzr3IlRD7ZsYrCAe51zSb2beXGS_WBKSTpITmEAMfWV7nmwPjV5nLN9q8v5NRMZR7tgJlJBNrHhqdhoxsbSxH_o4NlAAZe7iko-5v/s400/IMG_20110920_181120.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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"I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him".<br />
1 Samuel 1:27Megandrew7http://www.blogger.com/profile/15893342170821943628noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442354354885299157.post-26397406377256781792011-09-15T12:17:00.000-07:002011-09-15T12:17:12.213-07:00My strange addiction!I am really starting to drive myself crazy right now and I KNOW I am driving my poor husband even crazier. Yes, I admit I have an addiction.<br />
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I can't stop checking my phone, checking other adoptive family's blogs and analyzing every possible situation. I have located every waitlist family below us and I am constantly checking their blogs or Facebook to see if they got "the call". If another family receives their call then that means than we are one spot closer. I daily talk over every possible or not-so-possible scenario with my husband and his usual reply is "uh huh" or "that is exciting honey" or "it will happen when it happens sweetie". Man I wish I had as much patience as him. Or at least half of it. Maybe it's the soon-to-be mom in me that can't stop fantasizing about the moment our life changes forever. The moment that we hear our agency say "we have a baby boy for you". "Lord please give me patience, endurance and faith as I wait on you for the perfect moment you have already chosen"<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8yPxnQpKvvR9iFJa0k_BnoBKCEHPggi9XbZOBab4XvKiYSvrtVf_Xzax4TcqaHNBPWhrOO2PDorozapslDDLeBvR0SEEacj2KDq4C-eY_gVwcmIZQSbRgeUTStg3aPNV6N7Sj-bdFoCfz/s1600/my-strange-addiction-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8yPxnQpKvvR9iFJa0k_BnoBKCEHPggi9XbZOBab4XvKiYSvrtVf_Xzax4TcqaHNBPWhrOO2PDorozapslDDLeBvR0SEEacj2KDq4C-eY_gVwcmIZQSbRgeUTStg3aPNV6N7Sj-bdFoCfz/s400/my-strange-addiction-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Megandrew7http://www.blogger.com/profile/15893342170821943628noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442354354885299157.post-2830974708685555922011-09-08T20:37:00.000-07:002011-09-08T20:42:50.466-07:00Our Official September Numbers!!!<div style="text-align: center;"> We actually got our official numbers today over the phone which was earlier than normal. We usually do not receive our numbers until the middle of the month! We are very excited to be so close to meeting our precious child or children soon!</div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Baby boy (3 months-12 months)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjer49Gf8krv8sBCDV5IRMklp4_xS22rK6yXz8BuPPPiGbU5i6DOSsBIBnI5S4MzavBanC6oR2SCx5C5BkMLKp2Stwev7XyatwrpbeH3jT6IkiNNLqag5n0oNPBAudPJ93AXX6h-kj-WEf8/s1600/enging+8.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjer49Gf8krv8sBCDV5IRMklp4_xS22rK6yXz8BuPPPiGbU5i6DOSsBIBnI5S4MzavBanC6oR2SCx5C5BkMLKp2Stwev7XyatwrpbeH3jT6IkiNNLqag5n0oNPBAudPJ93AXX6h-kj-WEf8/s400/enging+8.png" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Baby boy siblings (3 months- 3 years)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqwBDpbqAIllDVWQ4pC5yxIiTSYSf4KRSnEikLD-ul7eeTrkUTiBPGL0jLLsFkoSg4-bxfJv3Dard5yocd8qAbD0a2U6t0aAOsVrAC10AQoA7sHNNwgtubrG8_DEwBCnppyhZxwFQ-GaUv/s1600/3241317712_d903c62404.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqwBDpbqAIllDVWQ4pC5yxIiTSYSf4KRSnEikLD-ul7eeTrkUTiBPGL0jLLsFkoSg4-bxfJv3Dard5yocd8qAbD0a2U6t0aAOsVrAC10AQoA7sHNNwgtubrG8_DEwBCnppyhZxwFQ-GaUv/s400/3241317712_d903c62404.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Megandrew7http://www.blogger.com/profile/15893342170821943628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442354354885299157.post-36744399896817352362011-08-23T11:00:00.000-07:002011-08-23T11:09:04.307-07:00New August Official and Unofficial Waitlist Numbers! Baby boy (3 months - 12 months)<br />
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There is the official waitlist numbers that we receive from our AGCI (our agency), and then there is an "unofficial" list that is based on the number of referrals made. Most of the unofficial list is tracked through other adoptive family's receiving their child referrals!<br />
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So.....<u style="color: yellow;"><b>Unofficially we are NUMBER 8!!!!!</b></u> Single digits baby! This means that we really could receive our referral call within the next 1-2 months! YAY!!!!!!!<br />
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Baby boy siblings (3 months - 3 years)<br />
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Megandrew7http://www.blogger.com/profile/15893342170821943628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442354354885299157.post-84342801593879812362011-08-15T13:36:00.000-07:002011-08-15T13:36:53.983-07:00Low numbers please!we were told by our agency that would be getting our new august waitlist numbers this week! We are really hoping and praying for some good movement on the list like last month! Please join us in prayer today as we pray for low numbers! We will let you all know as soon as the numbers our in!Megandrew7http://www.blogger.com/profile/15893342170821943628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442354354885299157.post-34197499436976797852011-08-07T10:43:00.000-07:002011-08-07T10:44:20.281-07:00It's kinda like being pregnant for two years straight......<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr6mQCZtGYoaqzbxFlM2UGfmLeqazatYrDQOQliO2Hc3rGP22qr0Ojbmf1E5ks3cUx4E8A-nAKw_1S8AyXUM1Ir4fqznAc_L5-fmwhiBjxO8t1udvPPFCFSBi5Co1X_efrDQkLG2MaXByu/s1600/Africa+ultrasound.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr6mQCZtGYoaqzbxFlM2UGfmLeqazatYrDQOQliO2Hc3rGP22qr0Ojbmf1E5ks3cUx4E8A-nAKw_1S8AyXUM1Ir4fqznAc_L5-fmwhiBjxO8t1udvPPFCFSBi5Co1X_efrDQkLG2MaXByu/s400/Africa+ultrasound.jpg" width="374" /></a></div> <br />
Yes, my belly may not be any bigger and I haven't had complaints of morning sickness but I definitely feel like we have been pregnant for a very long time. This November will be two years we have been waiting for our little one(s) from Ethiopia. We are getting close, very close but that doesn't mean that this road has been easy. Unlike pregnancy, we really don't know the due date. Will we get the call tomorrow or will it be another 4 months? Are we having one child or twins (siblings)? We wait patiently (or not so patiently) for our new child wait list numbers. Some months we are encouraged by the movement and others months we are discouraged. We watch all our friends get pregnant, have their baby and then by now possibly a second. This adoption journey has been filled with so many struggles as well as joys. We feel that it has truly strengthened our marriage and our faith. We are asking that all of you pray for us as our journey is really just beginning. Please pray specifically that we would receive our referral in the next 3 months!<br />
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</a></div>Megandrew7http://www.blogger.com/profile/15893342170821943628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442354354885299157.post-72887158789899466982011-07-13T14:15:00.000-07:002011-07-13T14:15:58.814-07:00New summer adoption numbers for July! <span style="color: white; font-size: large;">Baby Boy (3-12months)</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: white; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcGFYI3wMcXT-rZAGu21ljgIj6eD0kq5Gtyea-TYmQ46TCrqPDgP6bBRNMqx14EW6fd24n_tlc-M8a8PSpNfnsnejluZVJn-nvMZQZMryAm8Ow22-jDc9TnW6eB2nt0MG-_h15d8DKhKwp/s1600/d645cfd8-79d9-4de9-b403-9c2a00bdc92e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcGFYI3wMcXT-rZAGu21ljgIj6eD0kq5Gtyea-TYmQ46TCrqPDgP6bBRNMqx14EW6fd24n_tlc-M8a8PSpNfnsnejluZVJn-nvMZQZMryAm8Ow22-jDc9TnW6eB2nt0MG-_h15d8DKhKwp/s400/d645cfd8-79d9-4de9-b403-9c2a00bdc92e.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="color: white;"> </div><div style="color: white;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Baby Boy Siblings (3months-3years)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: white; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN9jg4eZZ7i32iViyKTz2tIh5_07t0asX6A9pOw1bNuRGorX54jq6Iu8bl5nvSVh6AgtbxaCBK4b964bXthltg-9Lnq_QMt-uH6RowZkHrsFIgtK_NJ5FgeLBtwZCf3VK-i3jm2O4YCaKB/s1600/d418d1cd-f22d-4f12-bd7d-9c2a00bde9ca.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN9jg4eZZ7i32iViyKTz2tIh5_07t0asX6A9pOw1bNuRGorX54jq6Iu8bl5nvSVh6AgtbxaCBK4b964bXthltg-9Lnq_QMt-uH6RowZkHrsFIgtK_NJ5FgeLBtwZCf3VK-i3jm2O4YCaKB/s320/d418d1cd-f22d-4f12-bd7d-9c2a00bde9ca.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: white;">We are excited to announce these amazing wait list numbers for July! We moved 6 spots each from last months numbers. We have averaged 4-5 spots a month since we started the adoption process. This means that if all goes well, we should be receiving our child referral in 3-4 months! Please pray that the rest of these months will go quickly as we continue to wait for our babies!</span>Megandrew7http://www.blogger.com/profile/15893342170821943628noreply@blogger.com1