Time's a wastin' and I'm just procrastinatin'. With prose like that, I can't imagine why I'm not a published author.

Ok, last night I dreamed that the agency called and gave me 2 weeks to travel to Ethiopia. Needless to say, I woke up in a cold sweat mathematically working out in my head how I will fit 4 rooms worth of stuff and furniture into 2 rooms. I exaggerate a bit, but I still have our "library" set up with all the books and junk that goes with that in the girls' new playroom. That one needs to be cleaned out, painted light pink with yellow woodwork and Tinkerbells. Their new bedroom is still serving as home office for me, and needs to be cleaned out, painted (same theme as DD#1's former room: blue skies, grass border, dragonflies, ladybugs, flowers, etc. with white clouds and glow-in-the-dark stars on the ceiling), and furnished. We have a small cape so you can imagine the challenge of fitting regular human sized furniture into matchbox sized rooms. On a good note (albeit a somewhat 'detail oriented' one), I am nearly packed for the trip!

I also decided to shed my extra poundage or at least get into reasonably good shape so that I won't pass out when required to carry my new 27 pound weight around for a week. It is now that I have become best friends with the Three Musketeers. They are delicious. They, however, are not helping me with my goal. It's hard to lose when your friends only want to feed you.

The Countdown to Travel!

Well, we finally got the medical report from Ethiopia regarding DD#2's recent illness. She had a "hyperactive airway" (english translation = wheezing) and was given Ventolin. Don't know alot about that drug or the whole situation other than that, but our pediatrician reassured me that there's nothing to worry about. Anyway #2 was never in the hospital, thank goodness, but just treated there.

So, everything is in to the agency, we were approved by US CIS in a record setting 4 days, the dossier is off the Addis Ababa, and we are just waiting for a travel date. I'm so excited to go to Ethiopia again, but wow will I miss DH and DD#2! I'm not sure that I will be able to be away from them for an entire week, but since I will be an ocean away guess I'll have to adjust. haha Now I'm looking for a cellphone that I can use from Ethiopia and am having a very challenging time. Hmmm. If anyone knows anything about this subject, I'd love to hear it! Packing up donations, etc. and have collected some lovely/fun decorations for the children's homes. The coordinator at the agency told me that the walls are stark and the babies have nothing in their cribs, so at least I have something specific to look for. I've been looking at the baby einstein mobiles (nonbattery operated), but good grief those things are expensive!!! How do you guys with babies do it?

I'm very scared. Our agency just called to let us know that our sweet DD#2 is sick. She may or may not have been in the hospital (now in the children's home) and they don't know any other details. I just want to go and get her NOW. Please send positive and healthy thoughts her way?

Why is it that when I decide I must lose flab and get into shape, it is right then that I eat more? I came to the conclusion (albeit late) last week that I must get into shape so that I don't pass out carrying our newest darling daughter home from Ethiopia. That very same day I ate an entire package of Twizzlers. Is it some biological defect where the word 'diet' or 'excersize' signals my brain to stuff as much fattening food as possible into my gaping maw? Is it a physio-psychological defect caused by exposure to Twinkies and Spacefood Sticks as a child? Or, sadly, is it just a severe lack of willpower on my part? I'm leaning towards the latter. I type this as I sit waiting for a double batch of fresh blueberry muffins to finish baking.

On the adoption front, we go tomorrow to get our fingerprints done! Yay! DD #1 is very excited at the possibility of fingerprints, due to watching Harriet The Spy 12,000 times. Hoping that we are approved asap! We are still trying to clean out our homeoffice, which will soon be the girls' room. It's turning out to be quite a job, as we are a family of packrats. Really, how much craft supply stuff does one family need? Not more than 3 boxes surely. So this week is the week to finish cleaning out the room. Then next week we will paint. DD#1 has decided that it must be a duplicate of her old room: blue walls with white clouds, grass and flowers along the bottom, butterflies and dragonflies on walls, and stars on the ceiling. Wish me luck.

Now, on another subject... a friend of mine brought up an interesting subject on her blog http://sometimeswedo.blogspot.com/ about when another girl or girls are mean to or don't like your daughter. This is a subject close to my heart as I was one of those girls that others were mean to and I know that my daughters, only because they look different than the lilywhite folks around here, will experience it as well. Fortunately I was able to 'turn the other cheek' so to speak, and just move on to my other friends. I can't tell you that it didn't hurt though, and frankly even now I can feel the sting of those first rejections. I've tried to raise DD#1 (and will try with DD#2) with a strong sense of self, compassion for others, and the ability to stand up for herself. I continue to try not to react with anger or beligerance when faced with a negative comment or action. We've both tried to be nonjudgemental around her, which is sometimes hard because we have been judgemental in the past. DD#1 is such a beautiful and pure soul that I would rather kill or be killed than to snuff that, and I will fight tooth and nail not to let others do it either. That's why I want her to have a sense of who she is and what is important. We've faced a bully already (hard to believe that it was in preschool, but guess they're everywhere) and I've gotten her to see that he must be in pain or sad to have to make others feel so bad and to be so mean. I hope that is the right way to handle it. Any thoughts?

YAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Got our fingerprint appointment for next week! Time has been running up to a month for approval, so everyone cross their fingers please. Here is another adorable picture of our littlest girl.

I know, it's been way too long since my last update and even that was rather pathetic. Have to admit, I've never been very good at waiting so this waiting to go to Ethiopia is practically killing me! We've sent everything in to the agency and are now waiting (yes, that horrible word again!) for US Immigration to approve and fingerprint us. Wouldn't you know that our last fingerprints just expired?! Now, generally speaking, one would think that fingerprints would not have changed in a year, nor would a fairly boring couple from rural NH have spent that year honing our skills as white slavers or international jewel thieves. Our tax dollars hard at work.

So, in the mean time...I am trying to wade through all the junk/stuff/crap in our office (soon to be the girls' bedroom: pink with Tinkerbell on the walls) so that I can paint it next week. I hope you are crossing your fingers for me since I will need all the help I can get to focus and finish it! Well, I will add some more details later, but am preparing for a playdate with the very popular Nicholas this morning. Must shower and convince the Princess to change out of her cheerleader pajamas.

Here are a few more pictures of our new daughter that a very lovely and generous friend (Julie) took while she was in Addis last week. Thanks Julie!

This is our small video montage of our newest darling, coming home in October! More on that later, but take a look at our sweet Freweyne at
Kaly's Baby Sister, Freweyne.......