Gabriella's Adoption Finalized

Just wanted to share some exciting news. We hadn't heard anything since September 13th about the status of either our kids adoption process. So we finally felt the need to request for some info. We know AoH does a wonderful job in all that they do, and many of them go way above the call of duty in many cases. So we didn't want to be just one more burden of asking. But couldn't help ourselves anymore so asked, and we were delighted to find out that Gabriella's adoption has been finalized. They have applied for but have not received her passport yet, so we are still waiting on that. Also the plan was to have their pre-Visa interview in mid-November, but there are no guarantees. AoH received the Visa schedule from the embassy for appointments through November 6th, and our kids names are not on there. So we need to continue to be patient. But we are yet another step closer.

Orphan Reports

Boimah Mambu
Outgoing, very active, and still a baby at heart, Boimah adds a lot of spice to the toddler room. Boimah (pronounced Boy-muh) is a strong willed boy, who is also strong physically. Boimah is very active and energetic. Whether indoors or outdoors, Boimah is almost constantly on the move. He prefers being outdoors, but if he's allowed to run around inside, he's content with that too. Outside Boimah really likes sports. Though he's young, he's already learning how to play soccer and loves participating in relay races. As far as toys goes, he loves cars, balls and just about anything designed for little boys to play with.

Kimberly Peters Calm, even-tempered and reserved, Kimberly is a sweet baby who loves to be held. Kimberly, which is pronounced by the Liberians like
"Kee-muh-lay" is smart, playful and a very good-natured 18-month old. Kimberly is quiet and easy going. She is quite shy in new situations, acting even quieter than usual and not saying a word. But when she's comfortable she will talk to herself, smile, and play with her friends. Kimberly loves to be held and if she had her way she would almost always be on a lap or a hip of one of her nannies.

Bath Time for Brie

Here are some cute pictures of Gabriella (on the right) sharing a bath with two of her friends - Tracee and Bess.

They are all so cute and looking like they are having a fun time washing up.

We are hoping to be getting some more pictures over the next couple days, and with any luck even an update. We are trying to be patient at this stage in our adoption. Thanks for being patient with us.

Starting to Day Dream

Unfortunately we have no new news to report. We had hoped to receive some updated pictures by now from AoH but haven't received anything yet. So I will just share some random thoughts.

We headed up to Door County this past weekend and picked apples and pumpkins. It's become a tradition my mother started several years back and so it's fun to get together with all my siblings and their families. It was a nice day to enjoy each others company, and to take in the early fall colors. While we were there we made friends with another trans-racial family there also picking apples that had an older daughter and adopted a boy from Chicago and 2 other children from Haiti. Haiti is where our adoption journey began, so it was great to connect and hear their journey and get some practical advice from parents who are 3 years past their homecoming. The greatest info they shared with us was about a salon in Green Bay that does African hair very reasonably.

Until we hear otherwise, we are still trusting we will be traveling in 8 short weeks. Kim is starting to get us prepared by making copies of all our important documents. We bought two large storage bins on wheels that we are hoping to fill up with donations and supplies for the orphanage. Mentally I'm going through travel arangements and coordinating where our existing children will be during our 10-12 day journey. It all still seems very much like a dream. I'm sure reality will hit very quickly once we pick up Josiah and Gabriella. In my mind I was even working through saying their names. Because in reality they are Boimah and Kimberly. And so our plan is to address them Josiah Boimah and Gabriella Kimberly, and then eventually drop the second name once they make the association. I wonder a lot how they are going to respond to us and being ripped from their culture and being dropped in the middle of northern Wisconsin at the start of winter. I wonder how they will greive that loss, and how long it will take them to trust us and know that we are here to stay. I wonder how well I will do at sheltering them initially. My nature is to want to show them to the whole world, but I know that during that initial transition, they'll need time to process it all and adjust. I wonder what their personalities are like. I wonder how it will change the dynamics of our existing family. I wonder how noisy meal time and bed time and van time and getting ready for school time will be. I wonder what it will be like the first time they call me "papa". I wonder....

As I shared last month, Kim and I just celebrated 15 years. So we are hoping to take advantage of this trip to Liberia by way of Brussels, to schedule a day in Paris before we pick up our children. Being such a romantic city, it would be great to experience that and connect in a special way before our lives are completely changed by Josiah and Gabriella. Lets face it, there are not too many baby sitters interested in caring for 6 children these days. And not many would we trust with 6. So the days of Romantic get-away weekends are going to be much more infrequent and more difficult to pull off.

So those are just some random day dreams. For now it is all one big question mark. So as we wait for it all to play out, we look forward to sharing the highs and the lows of this journey called adoption.

Introducing Juliana Elisabeth McFarland

Thank you so much for your prayers. Everything went as planned today and Ava was officially adopted as Juliana Elisabeth McFarland today to proud parents Lisa and Pat and big sister Emily (also adopted through ECFA). It was a joy filled day and it was great to celebrate her adoption. Though as I write, it's 10:30 and usually around this time each night was my feeding duty, so it seems awfully quite. But Kim and I will enjoy some much deserved and much needed rest. We feel blessed to have been able to play a small part in her life, and are thankful for the new friends we have made in the McFarlands. Elizabeth and Emily became close friends in the short time we knew them, so we look forward to continuing our relationship and seeing Juliana's progress as she grows. And as I mentioned early on, it was a welcome break from our own adoption, so we are just that much closer to experiencing our own finalization and homecoming.

Not flesh of my flesh Nor bone of my bone, But still miraculously My own. Never forget For a single minute: You didn't grow under my heart, But in it. --Fleur Conkling Heyliger

Health Update On Our Kids

We received the following update on Josiah and Gabriella...

Gabriella is very healthy but unusually small for her age. She looks like a healthy nine month old. So far there is no reason to think she is not 18 months, except for how small she is, but we will try to ask the birth mom sometime when we see her again. Gabriella takes 6 ounces of formula 3 times a day, in between meals and before bed. She'll drink out of a cup if you give her a cup, a bottle if you give her a bottle. She's not picky about how she gets it, but she loves snack time! Gabriella is in the room with other babies of her age group (15 to 30 months). She is now walking, though very hesitantly, so as not to fall. Gabriella is 28.5 inches tall and 18.5 lbs. She wears size 9 month clothes and size 2 shoes. Josiah is very healthy and right on target for his age. He is talking very well and is potty-trained. He is in the room for his age group (24 to 48 months) and fits right in with all the kids. Josiah wears size 3 clothes and size 7 wide shoes. He is 33 inches tall and 28 pounds. He is one of the healthiest kids we have.

Regarding our foster child Ava, her court date is this Tuesday at 9:30. So hopefully by around 10, she'll legally be the daughter of Pat and Lisa McFarland. So Tuesday night I'll be able to legally post a picture of this cutie (with Pat & Lisa's permission) so you'll be able to see her. Tuesday is her one month birthday, so please pray that everything goes as planned.

Until next time...

When Does 8 weeks Equal a Day?

We received a call that Josiah received his passport today. So we went from one small step to a giant leap in two days. Josiah has been scheduled for his pre-VISA interview in mid November. It is our hope and the expectation of AoH that Gabriella's adoption will be finalized and passport issued by that same time so that we are back to looking like we will travel in Late November or early December. We will pray to that end. Thanks for praying too...