We're Home!!!

Pictures taken in Ethiopia

Paying it forward

If there is anyone out there with a referral and would like for me to take some pics of your little one, email me at fredabrown1007@yahoo.com. I’m sending a special thank you out to Tonya, Emily and Carmen for taking pictures of my little one while you were traveling.
We leave next week!!!!!!!!

We are blessed

In less than two weeks we will be on a flight to Ethiopia. I cannot express in words how truly amazing this all has been and it’s only just beginning. Thank you, thank you, thank you God for blessing our family with Jordan.

We Passed!!!!!

Two Weeks

We have less than 2 weeks before the big day. I’m trying to stay busy and not think about our court date. I know there is a possibility that we will not pass the first time, but I’m putting everything on us passing on the 30th. I’m looking forward to spending the holidays with my son. This adoption process has been a long emotional journey for me and I will be devastated if we do not pass on the 30th. I know God has it all figured out and we will bring Jordan home in his time.

Court Date November 30!!!

Your prayers for a successful court date and safe travel is greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

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Today was a good day!

Today I received pictures of Jordan from a traveling mom. It really means a lot to see pictures of your little one when they are so far away. I can’t wait until the day I am the one holding the camera taking his picture.

The Call

When the call came it was totally unexpected at that moment. Although I had been anxiously waiting for over two weeks for the phone to ring, I was caught off guard. I forgot I had given the agency my work cell number and since I have clients in the same area code I assumed the call was business related. I was totally surprised when I heard my case manager’s voice. I couldn’t run to my computer fast enough to see him for the first time. As she was going over the information all I could do was stare at his picture. I wanted to call my husband but I knew he was driving and wouldn’t be able see the picture at that time and there was no way I was waiting a minute longer. As she was going over the information I tried to remain focus on what she was saying but I couldn’t. Every now and then I would make a sound to let her know that I was still on the line.

Seeing his face made everything feel real. I would be honored to be his mommy and I would be immensely grateful if MOWA and the Ethiopian courts agreed.

Next step........back to waiting

Referral Day!!!!

3.5 month old little boy, more to come later!

Still Waiting

Waiting for the phone to ring is tough, especially when you are close to the end. This video put a smile on my face. I know it will do the same for you. Enjoy!

We are in the Window

What does that mean. Hopefully it means we will receive a telephone call from our adoption agency any day advising us that we have been matched with a little boy. This experience has truly been a mental roller coaster for me. I can’t recall how many times I read that phrase on someone's blog who was waiting on a referral and thought to myself, that won’t be me. Well it is me, I’m anxious and I’m tired of waiting! Can I just skip to the front of the line, please? I feel selfish for having those feeling. I know it will happen, why am I rushing this, why am I stressing? I have come to love a child that I have not seen. I want to see him, I want to smell him, I want to touch him, and I want him to know how much love our family has for him. Mommy and daddy loves you, Jordan.

Another Reason

Number 7

July is the 7th month of the year. We’ve been waiting 7 months for a referral. We are #7 on the waitlist. A few months ago I told my husband that we would get our referral in July and travel to get our son by December. It appears that we are still on track!!!

Daddy’s Diaper Bag

Go Gators

No Words

The photo is the Pulitzer Prize winning photo taken in 1994 during the Sudan famine by Kevin Carter. The picture depicts a child crawling towards an United Nations food camp and a vulture waiting for the child to die. No one knows what happened to the child, including the photographer.

Three months later the photographer committed suicide.

What can one do?

Ethiopia Adoption Alert

May 13, 2009


Adoptions of Abandoned Children Halted by Ethiopian Court:
The Ethiopian First Instance Court has temporarily stopped accepting cases involving abandoned children from orphanages in Addis Ababa, citing concern over a recent increase in the number of abandoned children being brought for adoption. The number of abandoned children from orphanages in Addis Ababa has grown dramatically in recent months and Ethiopian authorities have become aware of possible cases of unethical practices associated with some of them.

Currently neither MOWA nor the First Instance Court are accepting any abandonment case from any orphanages in Addis Ababa pending an inquiry.

Please continue to monitor adoption.state.gov for updated information on Ethiopia.

Round Two

Today I received my second set of shots. Hep B, Typhoid, Tetanus and Meningitis. I can barely type.

Charity: Water

Happy Referral Day Robbin!!!!

Vaccination Part 1

Today I received my first series of shots. I decided to take the shots in phases instead of all at once. I had three shots today, yellow fever and hep A/ B. I will return in 30 days for the second series of hep A/B and I will also get tetanus and meningitis. In six months I’ll get the final injections for Hepatitis and also polio and typhoid. For those of you who have already traveled or in the process of planning your travel to Ethiopia, please advise if I have missed anything.

Waiting

Average wait time for a referral for age 0-12 months is 8 months. Average wait time to travel once the referral is accepted is approximately 3-6 months. What does that mean? I’m still waiting……but I’m good.

Three Months

It’s been three months since we were officially placed on the wait list. So far the wait hasn’t been bad. I’m trying not to focus on the adoption as much in hopes it will speed up the wait in my mind. Now, if only I can stay out of the stores. I told my husband that I wouldn’t buy more than 10 outfits in each size 12 - 18 months. Well, I’ve exceeded that.

I had to laugh at myself and you would have too if you heard my reasons for buying five more outfits. My husband is great but he doesn’t think it’s a good idea to buy clothes until we get a referral. Have you ever heard of such nonsense, who can wait that long. Joking aside, he’s probably right but baby shopping is therapeutic for me.

There are approximately 30 families ahead of us on the unofficial wait list. I’m still hopeful that we will be matched with our son by July and have him in our arms by Christmas 2009.

Haregewoin Teferra

There is no me without you is a wonderful book written by Melissa Faye Greene. In the book, Greene depicts the struggle and achievement of Haregewoin Teferra in her quest to save the lives of African children. I have just read on Melissa Faye Greene’s blog that Haregewoin Teferra who gave unselfishly of herself to save the lives of many orphan and abandoned children passed away today. If you have not read this book I strongly encourage you to read it.

My Favorite Adoption Video

Speechless

Steelers Nation Baby!

One

Today marks one month of waiting for a referral. Our agency is averaging 4-5 referrals a month; at that rate we wouldn’t receive a referral until close to the end of the year. The wait time for a court date, as well as the number of court attempts to pass court have increased. I remain optimistic that we will bring our son home before the end of the year.