Danica, the kids, and some pics

Since Vancouver, Canada is only 3 hours away, Danica thought she'd do a quick day trip yesterday. The border police ended up being so mean to her because she lost her purse and they seriously interrogated her and searched her car. If you knew how sweet, innocent, and sensitive she is you would understand that this about gave her a heart attack.. Poor thing came home with her eyes all swollen up and just needed to be home for the night. Like they say, "no place like home". Otherwise prior to the whole border thing they had a really good time since the Olympics were still going on.

Today was a really awesome day, I had all the girls to myself while the 2 guys were helping a friend move..

Danica in Vancouver, Canada

The picture below is quiet interesting. Danica is not into the girly stuff but look how she dressed Amira for me.

Anastasia and the little ones playing legos on Biruk's bed. This is really special because I never imagined Anastasia getting along with the little ones but she has come so far and just adores them and they adore her. They always include her.
This was last weekend. It was so beautiful ouside and Danica was trying to get her a quick tan, and Anastasia is in heaven because her favorite Danica is home.

Still Waiting

For those wondering if we have a travel date yet? Not so, unfortunately. I will posted it here the minute I find out. This Friday was 3 weeks since the kids passed court.. Without the adoption decree the agency will not schedule an embassy appointment. Plus after that we are still waiting for the birth certificates to schedule the flights..

(most) People that have passed court January 25 and 29 havn't gotten a travel date either.. In a way this is sort of bad because these people need embassy dates before us and they only schedule the embassy dates every other week.. We were told by the agency that if we had not gotten an adoption decree by yesterday that most likely it would not be possible to get an embassy date in late March..I guess we are now looking at late April which would have taken us almost 3 months for them to come home after court..

A picture of Micah

I just received this today and love it so much.

We are on the Home Stretch

I don't know what happens after I pass court but I tell you what, I am completely checked out from the world rather it be at home, at work or anywhere I go. Sort of when you first get pregnant, you have temporary brain loss? All I can think about is picking up my kids and be a family. I still remember how sweet and smooth it was right before we started this newest adoption. But now I am just out there in the left field somewhere checked out.

Of course I am afraid to say anything negative of STILL WAITING because this adoption went super fast and we past court the first time. So for me to say, wait 2 more months, its like hello, stop whining but I still feel like whining because I want my kids now.

Anyways, not much of an update but here is what's going on. 99% sure that my dear sweetheart will pick up our kiddos. His incentive is stopping in Germany to see my folks, brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews prior going to ET. Kevin hasn't seen my family in nearly 20 years and they all are just crazy about each other. It was fully and completely his idea to travel he will even take it as far as missing school but he wants to go. If it takes seeing my family for him to travel to ET and see my love and passion for ET through my eyes, amen to that. Honestly I am a little jealous I can't travel but I zip it right here. Unfortunately Kevin doesn't want us to travel together because he doesn't want our Anastasia to be with other people. He is really protective over her. Plus its too much money anyway to tag on a fourth person.

As for a date, I have no clue. Things are different now. When I left for Amira and Biruk I got an embassy date the day after they passed court. I am hearing first off they need an adoption decree to schedule an embassy appt and that can take some time. I am not sure about the birth certificate but i need them to schedule my flights because I have no clue what the kids' birth dates are. Lastly, I also heard from agency that the embassy is only having appointments every other week, and that it can take them up to 4 weeks to log the cases from the NVC.

If I have any great news or travel dates, I will post immediately.

Ramblings

Here are some answers to the questions people have asked.

First of all, Amira and Biruk are absolutely ecstatic to have a new brother and sister coming. They tell me every day not to buy beds and please let them sleep in their bed. I think the way we will set up the rooms for the moment is making a sleep room (with all 4 together) and a playroom. If Misrak and Micah have night terrors we might split them up. But that is what we are planning on doing.

Biruk hasn't changed much with his crying and know it all attitude so I am hoping that will change some with Micah coming. We keep explaining to him that he is an older brother now and he needs to set a leader example because Micah will look up to him.

Amira is happy to still be the baby. Its good that way because she still is so dependant and attached to me. I told her she will still be my baby girl and Micah will be the baby boy; she said that's fine. I am really looking forward to the girls playing house and doing all the girly things together. Biruk gets so annoyed when Amira asks him to play house. And they boys can do their boys toys stuff.

As to the kids' sizes I am pretty right on I think with having Micah in an 18mo clothing (it might be big on him) and Misrak in a 6. I know Amira is in a 5-6 now and per Misrak's measurements she is Biruk's height basically just about a head taller than Amira. But she looks just so petite I am a little stressed out about the shoe sizes. I think I buy some crocs in a few different sizes. Although Micah has his beloved pink crocs right now which he cannot wear them anymore once we pick him up. They will have to go in his memory box (:

Oh and lastly, Danica was a little shocked or disturbed (she thought we should have waited longer:) but than after I wrote her that we will be fine and we could handle ourselves she wrote this:

I know mommy I am very proud of you, your doin a wonderful thing for these children no matter what! And your an awesome WONDERFUL mother no doubt about that or else I wouldn't be the way I am and we wouldn't have the relationship we do! Your great!

Actually Danica and I are extremely close so it means a lot to me that she wasn't totally blown away by this new adoption.

A SLIDE SHOW OF THE KIDDOS

I have had these beautiful slide shows all made up for days but this morning I couldn't do it because they wanted to charge me for it. No, no, I want free stuff. So unfortunately, there aren't any captions but please enjoy this one.

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

IT'S OFFICIAL

God has just been amazing throughtout this adoption and was there the whole way every step of the way putting old friends and new friends into my life that without their love and prayers I couldn't have made it thorough or woudn't have even started just yet. To say the least, I am seriously speechless. And I had a whole nice slide show made up but for some reason its not working, of course.

My I introduce to you:

MISRAK MOGES HILL

MICAH GETNET HILL

Welcome Bags

Finally today the kids received their welcome bags. It was such a joy to see them together with our t-shirt from home! My little man was drowning in the shirt while Misrak's fit nicely. My Misrak looked really content and happy in her picture by herself. I think she was happy to know that she finally has a family that is coming for her soon. I think Micah is still too young to realize what's happening. That's always nice when adopting older children because they understand so much more.

I think there was lots of confusion per the email from ET as to where the kids meet up for the picture to get their welcome bags. Even in the picture together one has the welcome bag the other one didn't. I mean they looked at them separately. I really hope it wasn't too awkward for them to meet.

Still waiting for my I171 to come in the mail but at least its on the way.

Good News

Thanks for your answers yesterday. It really got me motivated to jump in there early this morning. My letter was all written up and phone numbers were ready to be called.

First thing in the morning I contacted my agency and spoke to the lady that has a dear relationship with our USCIS office and she nicely ask me not to call the senators just yet. She wanted to email them first.

Mind you last Thursday I had written another email the USCIS office asking where my file is in the process. So while I was getting this all figured out, and decided not to do it and wait a few more days, I received an email in my inbox saying "YOU HAVE BEEN APPROVED AND WILL RECEIVE YOUR I171 IN THE MAIL THIS WEEK.

What an amazing God we serve. I was just blown away by this very good news. Now lets just hope it will get to ET in a reasonable time.

Thank you so much for all your prayers. I really am counting on them and they mean so much to me.