The weekend

Well it was a bit of a downer, but we made the best of it.  My mom stayed and we went shopping.  We also painted Micah's room!  The girls got to "faux" paint!  Poor Ty, he was having a hard time with 4 messy girls painting in his new house, LOL!  After the girls went to bed, Ty and mom and I rolled the rest of the room in a much lighter orange color.  It's hard to tell the color in this picture.  I have to say, I LOVE IT!  We did a good job I do believe!  Now all we need is the baby...  Maybe we'll get some news tomorrow.  In the meantime, you can look at where we are staying: Yebsabi Guest House.  Not bad!

We are praying for our travel group!  They are over there right now!  They get to meet their kids in just a few hours!  We cannot wait for updates!

Well... not so much.

So not good news.  The consulate said no to us.  I don't know EXACTLY what happened, but I believe they did not get our update before close of business today. They are 1/2 day ahead of us and they only work 1/2 day on Friday.  The ET embassy is so volatile right now, it would not be a good plan for us to travel without their belssing at this point.   So be it.  HOPEFULLY we will be all UTD on Monday and will get concrete travel dates for two weeks from now, on March 13th.  So I feel better than a few hours ago.  Still sad, but ok.  Thanks for your prayers!  Mom and I are going to paint, clean, pack a little and make curtains for my den.  It will be all good.  His timing is perfect though He forgot to ask me what I THOUGHT!  Just kidding.  I know it will happen at the right time. 
Thanks for praying! 
Audrey

Test Post and Introduction....

Hi, my name is Kristie and I will be updating this blog! :) I am SO excited to be saying that! I never lost faith that THIS is the time for Micah to be coming home. While Audrey and Ty (and Amber) are in Ethiopia meeting their son to bring him home, I will be updating the blog with news from abroad! Safe Travels to Ty and Audrey...... we cannot wait to share your adventures!

I think...

Well!  I think it's a go! :)  I just got through to NVC and another very nice lady told me that our case has been "forwarded for scanning".  She said it's "in the room" and being scanned in.  The way I understand it is that once they hit "send", it's a done deal, all the way to ET!  So we are sitting on go.  It's time to leave the computer and pack!  I forgot to buy baby wash if you can believe that!  I have everything under the sun but that!  Anyway, to the poor sad rude lady who told me it would not happen today I say "MY God can do EVEN THAT!".  That's probably not very nice of me but, there it is.  I was reading this blog while on hold:

http://www.kissesfromkatie.blogspot.com/ .  I have no words to describe this blog.  You'll have to check it out.  Thanks for your prayers! 

calling all prayers

Just spoke to a supervisor at NVC.  She was AWESOME!  She was totally appalled that someone was rude to me.  How refreshing.  She put in a request for all the other supervisors to be on the look out for our case.  As soon as they locate it, they will upload it and we'll be on go.  I'll call back every two hours until midnight! :)

update...

We are still waiting to hear from NVC with confirmation that they have, or have not,  uploaded our update.  It was submitted via "secure communication" earlier today, from Immigration.  Nothing like getting down to the wire.  One VERY VERY rude receptionist at NVC told me it would not get done today.  I don't believe her. :).  A person by the name of Supervisor SUE has it and if she uploads it, we're in.  PRAY! I am calling every hour to check on the status.  The line is busy right now...  Come on Sue!!!  Come on God!

grains of sand...

There are grains of sand in my eyeballs I think. 

So today brought a little news.  Ty received our updated 171-H form (necessary for getting Micah's Visa) by fax today!  Big news!  We also heard from the Senators office that Immigration over-nighted the form to the NVC.  So, if NVC actually receives it and uploads it tomorrow, we're on.  If not, I don't know...  Ty and I are finishing up gathering documents together to take with us so we'll be ready whenever the time is right.

Mom is here!  Praise the Lord!  I hope we know something definitive tomorrow...  Man I am so tired!

This is a little finch who visits our window feeder!  Cute huh?

o.b.e.

That's how I have felt today, I must admit.  Overcome by events, that is...  Which do you want first, the good news or the bad news?  The good is very good and the bad is... not so good.  Ok, let's start with the good then.  The ET embassy cleared us to travel!  That is very good news!  The bad news is that we can't travel because our address update is still sitting at immigration.  The officer in charge of our case says she'll try to overnight it tomorrow. There was some sort of problem along the way, which is why it is not at NVC now...  Go figure.  The bottom line?  If our update is not uploaded into the ET consulates database by Thursday, we don't go this weekend.  Our agency thinks it may be fine for us to travel in two weeks (instead of this weekend), but we may be by ourselves.  The fear is that everyone else behind us in line may have delays due to new procedures (we typically travel in groups). There is so much going on with the ET embassy right now, we are hoping we will not get caught up in it.  We need to travel now before they won't let us!  I contacted my senators office again today.  They said they are doing everything they can and have called and left messages with Immigration, with no response.  They cannot do much until our documents are sent to the NVC. 

How are we doing?  Ha!  I forgot to drink my coffee this morning at home. Never fear, Anna and I had to run errands before gymnastics so I could happily visit Starbucks inside my favorite Target!  Guess what?  It was CLOSED!  Seriously?  That is right.  The "person" working at Starbucks was on break from 9:45-10:10.  NO kidding.  No coffee for me today.  I mean really, can Starbucks really close in the morning anywhere in the whole U.S.?  The answer is yes.  So that was fun.  At least I got in a good workout before coming home to follow Ty's maddening email chain with Immigration.  I'm happy to say that most of our travel group is getting to go.  Two of us are waiting on Immigration and a couple are having to wait to travel at a later date.  By the way, this adoption thing is crazy, but worth it!!!!  We know that!

On a much lighter note, tomorrow is Ty's Birthday.  The girls and I skipped Jackie's gymnastics tonight (I was o.b.e. and she also fell on the sidewalk and skinned up her palm and both knees) and went to get ice cream and then Birthday shopping.  We had a good time.  Thursday will be the day we know about travel I guess.  :)  We did get our travel itinerary today, which includes a trip to a spa for the ladies!  How cool is that? 

We appreciate your continued prayers. I can feel them!  Don't stop! :)

this morning...

This morning we should know one answer, I guess!  AWAA had a meeting with the embassy while we slept and hopefully they will let us know if we can travel.  On another front, we did not hear from Immigration yesterday.  We are supposed to get a tracking number when they ship our 171-H to NVC.  We will give this number to our Senator so his office can contact NVC and have them look out for it and hopefully put it on the TOP of their to-do stack.  I don't know if immigration even mailed it yesterday.  I am also concerned because we need copies of those immigration documents in our hands to take with us.  Will they get here in time?  I know nothing is too big for the Lord to overcome, if He wants to.  But who konws His will?  In the meantime, I'm trying to make myself make steps to finish up preparing, but I don't feel motivated.   Oh well.  I did wash the new onesies and the new 6-9 month clothing.  I just need to fold them and pack them and I think I'm done with Micah's stuff.  I'm full of donations and sad to say I only have 3 care packages.  I wish I had more to give out but I don't feel confident taking more, just in case we don't get to go anytime soon!  BTW, it is tradition for families traveling to take care packages to waiting children from their new families here in the US.  We also get to take pictures of the kids for the families!.  It is such a pleasure, I am sure! 

Anyway, we'll see what today brings.  My friend Leigh sent me some strength:

Psalm 37:7 Be still in the presence of the Lord and wait patiently for HIm to act. 

I will admit that patience has never been my strength.  I have prayed and prayed for patience.  One of my dear old friends, with 4 kids, once told me (before we had kids) to be careful in praying for patience because God would surely give me a reason to need it!

PS Why did I go private with this blog?  A friend of mine, who is also adopting from ET, said she suddenly was getting hits from all over the world on her blog.  Not just one time hits, but returns, and from countries that I don't think need to be looking at ET adoption.  So, because I have lots of info on here about my kids, my family and our travel plans, I don't think it's a good idea for just anyone to be reading it!  I'm glad I had the conversation with her.  I have no problem inviting people who want to follow along because of an adoption interest or because they are friends/family!  They can just email a request.  

steel your hearts...

Well we got word from AWAA that they did not actually meet with the embassy last night (our time).  So no news.  They have a rescheduled meeting for tomorrow to decided if we can travel.  Please pray!   We've been told to steel our hearts for delays...  It is going to be down to the wire for all of us now. 

On another note, I bought short sleeved onsies, cloth diapers for burp cloths, a bulb syringe, and 2 inflatable neck pillows.  I will not be deterred!  I will get my son home and he will use all of this stuff!

Today we got updated pics of Micah!  It could not have been better timing!  Thank you Vagnoni family!  It looks like the TH shaved his head again.  They left him a mohawk!  Click here to see all the pics. I don't know, but it looks like the clothes I sent might be big for him...  He is supposed to be 16 pounds but I'm wondering if that is right?!  I am going to pack both 3-6 and 6-12 clothes for him. 

My heart feels ok.  I'm tired, but otherwise I am so covered in prayers I'm feeling ok!  I will still pack and be ready for Saturday until they tell me to stop.  I am going to make a "in case we don't go" list at some point today...

granola bars....

Today was fun!  Great church service and then Jackie and I met Carol, the mother of one of my best buds, at Costco.  We shopped for snacks for the orphans and the street kids.  We got granola bars, cereal bars, fruit snacks and tootsie pops.  Jackie "sold" some of her art work to our good friends last night (thank you Justin and Anna for playing along!) and spent her new $3.00 at Target in the dollar section.  She bought three packs of sidewalk chalk for the kids in the orphanage. We discussed, again, what it means to be an orphan.  (We also had a good discussion on how to take care of an orphan foal or kitten, bottle feeding, breast feeding and then got into why you spay and neuter LOL!  She wanted to know if "you do that to people too!  Ohh boy!")  Now the challenge will be to try to get pictures of the kids playing with it for her!  She was cute. 
Ty is about to go put the second coat of chocolate colored paint on the desk I got for my 12th birthday, which is the diaper changing table (still need that diaper changing pad LOL!).  I've packed much stuff and am working on the final spread sheet of our packing list.  I think we are doing ok!

Tonight we are asking for your prayers!  Tonight, while we sleep, the ET embassy will let AWAA staff know our fate, or part of it anyway.  We should know something at about 9:30 am I would think.  Hopefully before lunch anyway! :)

Off to relax a bit!  I'm going to try to remember this tomorrow morning and all through this week, one of the craziest weeks of my life:
1 Corinthians 13:7
Love is patient, love is kind.  It does NOT envy, it does NOT boast, it is NOT PROUD.  It is NOT RUDE, it is not SLEF-SEEKING, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

the family taking pictures of Micah now

http://godsplanaformikeandamy.blogspot.com/
They should be home today!  They are bringing home two boys.  They are in the group we were SUPPOSED to be in and kindly delivered a care package and took pictures of Micah for us. 

Oh, I got his measurements yesterday!  He is 16 pounds and 25.2 inches long.  Last night I pulled out the 12 months bin of clothing...  Nat actually did not have as much 6-12 as she does 3-6, but I think we will survive!  I want to buy him a cute hoodie to take with me on the trip.  I did find an awesome snow suit Ms. Mac must have bought from gymboree, size 6-12.  He will get to wear that!  Oh my! 

oh my...

My head may blow off my shoulders.  No really, I'm actually doing better than I would have thought!  Much is happening.  First, we got word from Immigration that they did finish our updated 171-H but that it would not be mailed until Monday.  We are supposed to leave Saturday...  It has to get from Immigration to the NVC, be checked out and then be uploaded to the ET consulate.  That is scaring me!  AND, to make it a little more nerve wracking, the ET embassy has now come up with a NEW policy.  They are increasing the investigation time on some cases from certain agencies and on children from certain orphanages.  In light of the recent bad publicity, they are tightening up the whole process.  Now that is a good thing, but man....
Ty, Amber and I had agreed that with all of our paperwork still pending, it might be a good thing to go ahead and voluntarily move to the NEXT group, leaving in 2 weeks.  AWAA did not think that was a good plan because they think the NEXT group might have more delays.  Like significant delays!  SOOO, we bought tickets (on Ethiopian Airlines), Mom is coming on Wed and we probably will not have confirmation until Friday!  UGH!  AWAA is meeting with the embassy to plead our groups' cases on Monday.  We'll at least know something by 9:30 I guess.  What we are waiting on:
1) Monday (ET time, so it will happen while we are sleeping Sun night)) AWAA has a critical meeting with the ET embassy.  Pray our travel group gets to go as planned! We could have a 4- 8 week delay!!!!
2) Monday our 171-H should be UPS 2nd day air mailed to the NVC.  It ws supposed to have been mailed yesterday (Friday) and I have no idea why it did not happen...  This may cause us big problems...
3) Wednesday our 171-H should arrive at NVC
4) Thursday, with the help our Senator, our 171-H should be reviewed and uploaded?  Not sure about the details of this part of the process...
5) Friday we should know if we are traveling?

It will all be moot if the Embassy decides they want to reinvestigate all of our cases at the Monday meeting.. 
Ugh.  Pray!!!
Audrey

news...

It has been a bit since I've posted!  The news is some good and some... good-ish.  First, we did get an email at the end of last week that Micah is feeling better!  Praise God!
After much frustration this week in our wait to hear back from Immigration, I finally contacted my Senator, Jim Webb today.  Long story short, basically I got in touch with his office before 9 am and by 3pm I
heard from USCIS that they would be sending out our new 171-H to NVC on Friday.
UPS second day air. So, AWAA estimates they will get it by Tuesday and with the
help of the senator's office, could upload it by Wed. AWAA is going ahead with
our travel plans! OH MY GOSH! So stressful but wonderful! We will be down to
the wire on this... Now to stress about tickets... to buy now with a change fee
or wait until next week?  I have an email into the travel agency to ask some questions.  I have so many now!  I had sort of slowed down my prep I think, in anticipation of not making the deadline, but now... I have to step it up and I'm suddenly behind!  I'm off to work!

Pray for us!

Micah has pneumonia

Joshua 1:9
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."
(well said Joshua. love you, nat)
 
So this I must remember on days like today.  Thanks Nat.  As Ty and the girls and I ventured out into the MAD HOUSE that is 610 and Stafford, VA,  to buy paint for the house, we got a phone call  from Nicole.  I knew it was not going to be a happy one.  She told us that Micah has pneumonia and is the "hospital room" at the transition home.  He is with several other babies in the same predicament.  He is on IV antibiotics and oxygen.  She said she would give us an update in one week, unless it was bad news in which case I guess AWAA gets that info from the in-country staff, and they pass it along to us sooner.  So, no news is good news.  Bless Nicole's heart for being the bearer, and from her home phone, as AWAA is closed.  This is tough for me as you can well imagine.  Anna had pneumonia and the swine flu this fall and it was not a fun time for us.  Especially not for me.  So, the only thing I can do from my end is pray.  Truly, that is all!  He will get around the clock care by the very attentive and loving people there.  The best news is that there is a pediatrition on staff at AWAA's transition home.  I feel MUCH better knowing this.  Will you join us in praying for Micah and ALL the other babies over there suffering from this illness?  How I wish I could bring him home.  He is in God's hands though, which are better than mine, this I know.
 
So of course the weather is terrible here, as predicted.  We have several inches of fresh snow on top of the 23 that have not yet melted   I TOTALLY understand now why things are shut down.  It's a little crazy because people HAD to go out today to re-stock after the last storm, in light of this new one.  Many of those folks don't have the kind of vehicle that does well in snow/ice, or they don't know how to manage the one they do have, so are getting stuck EVERYWHERE.  Attitudes are not so good either.  There was a horn honking contest going on while some poor non 4x4 was stuck in an intersection!  Imagine!  Ty and I agree we are glad we live "in the country" compared to most here.  He declared that there never would have been that kind of a mess in Childress, TX.  Ty had a few good laughs watching people try to get unstuck.  At one point we stopped to see if we could help pull two armored money trucks out of the snow!  I warned Ty not to scare the guy while walking up to the vehicle, as I am sure the guy must have had a gun!  Anyway, we were literally stuck in gridlock traffic in the parking lot of Home Depot/Foodlion for hours! Amazing! I was VERY glad to get my family home after our 3 hour trip to town to buy paint for the kitchen, den and Micah's room and a quick stop in the grocery store. Oh and they were down to only WHOLE milk (GAG!) and that was dwindling fast. I do need to remember that some folks still don't have power around here though!  So we are happy with our whole milk, full tummies and warm beds!  God is good. 
Tonight I'm praying for all the kids over there.  I'm praying they have strong medicine and I'm praying the caregivers are all wise.  I thank them for watching over my baby...
Audrey

government... shut down, again?

Seriously?  For real?  Are you kidding?  Our government is SHUT DOWN AGAIN tomorrow!  I cannot believe it.  I'm PRAYING it's just Quantico and it's NOT Immigration!  But my thoughts are that if a little snow and ice can shut down a Marine Corps base... how safe are we?  We drove into town today and got icecream (BRUSTERS IS OPEN!!!!) and went to Home Depot!  I can pick out paint for my kitchen but the Government can't open?  What the heck?  That does not sound so good to me, as far as our security goes!!!  I'm sure it is much more complicated than that but...  Ok, now that I have that out...  Yes, Ty JUST told me that Quantico is closed tomorrow, again (that would be Tuesday).  That means he is home.  Typically if my husband were to tell me he would be home for a snow day, I'd be beyond thrilled (as I was today) but....  We NEED IMMIGRATION TO PROCESS our paperwork or we will be unable to go get Micah at the end of the month.  I can't help but think Micah is growing up in that transition home.  Yes I am exaggerating and I know it but still... he is fat.  he has a roll.  he has hair.  he is drooling.  he is LOOKING at something in the pictures and I can't tell what it is!  he is CURIOUS and I'm not telling him what it is he is looking at!  It's a bit maddening.  OK a lot.  Yes Yes Yes I know it's all in perfect timing!  It does not feel perfect right now.  SO I say "I believe!  Help me with my unbelief!!".  OK that is better.  Thank you for letting me vent (so I'm liking this blog thing).  I had JUST finished emailing something similar to a new "friend" who is suffering from these same emotions.  Except I was advising her on how to deal with them LOL!  I am so wise!  So yes friend, it sucks for me too.  Yes I cry.  Yes I am frustrated.  Yes I know it will be all in perfect timing too.  I know I am equipped to deal with this and that I will deal with this.  However, it will be by God's grace and not my own!  That is one thing I know for sure!  Grace is so not my middle name right now (my mother was wise and did not include this in my name anyway.  I, however, did include it in my oldest daughters name)... So I need to stop with the comfort stuff, the eating, the baking, the not working out hard enough.  Tomorrow it's back to taking care of the house that God gave me.  I need to drink more water.  Go to sleep earlier.  Keep loving my husband, playing with my kids and training my dogs.  Above all else, I need to keep praying for patience and wisdom because I already know I have been given a life that needs them!   Amen!

Micah Abenezer Ferrel at about 5 months of age!!!

Thank you Kern Family for taking these pictures!

snow, snow, GO AWAY!

So we were supposed to hear back from USCIS regarding our new 171-H today.  BUT, everything is CLOSED due to the Great Blizzard of 2010.  Every day that goes by without our paperwork off to NVC (national visa center) is... not good.  We can only pray that the officer in charge of our case moves on it first thing tomorrow morning and gets our paperwork off to NVC very very fast.  More weather is headed our way!  UGH!  We did get a spot of bright light today though!  We got pictures from the Kern Family!  They just got back from ET with their cutie and took some great pics of Micah for us!  Thank you thank you thank you!  This tradition of families visiting with, holding, loving, taking pictures of and delivering packages to waiting children is WONDERFUL!  Most of the precious pics we have of Micah were taken by fellow adoptive families.  We are so grateful.  We will be taking pictures and taking packages for other adoptive families as well.  We already have three families signed up!  I cannot wait to return the favor! 

I have been compiling "stuff" for months for our trip and for Micah, of course.  Today I brought the suitcases up out of the basement and began packing.  I'm sure I'll re-pack 100 times, but at least we can start getting an idea of how many donation we can take!  We are going to be bringing LOTS of donations and only a few outfits for each of us to wear and wash at the Guest House.  We'll be bringing things to give like: kids vitamins, wipes, diapers, paper towels, various clothing, rubber gloves, shoes, twin sheets, granola bars, bubbles, chapstick, small toys like balls etc. I'll take donations from anyone who wants to send them with me!  First email me to see if there is room though!  I'm thinking of hitting Payless to see if I can pick up a few more pairs of tennis shoes.  I'm taking lots of hand-me-downs from my kids and from Nats :).  Lots to do!
Audrey