Elijah is ours!

So much has happened since my last post. I haven't had the time to sit and gather my thoughts enough to post anything profound. There is so much that has gone on in my head and thoughts that it has been hard for me to put it all into words. Being involved in a process that is so far out of your control and having a child that is on the other side of the world that you can't do anything for has been a lot for me to process emotionally. I guess you could say I'm just a little bit of a control freak, and I don't do well in situations where I have no control!
The day before our second court date we left for vacation with the kids. We drove straight through the night the first night, so while our case was being presented in Ethiopia we were driving through Iowa and Nebraska on our way to Colorado Springs(the first stop of our trip). I had a lot to think about and pray about while driving, knowing all that was going on in Ethiopia. We didn't have Internet access on the road so I had asked our case worker to call us when she heard anything. No call. By the time we got to our hotel I was pretty much over the waiting and immediately signed on to email. Nothing. I checked the Bethany Boards and found out that none of the people with court that day had heard anything. Apparently the Internet in Ethiopia was not working so we would have to wait until Monday.
By the title of my post you would assume we passed. That is not the case. The first time we didn't pass it was because MOWA (the Ministry of Women's Affairs) did not write the letter needed to present to the judge on our behalf. They had a conference and were not able to get it done. Well this time they did all the letters for that day except for 2. They were then called out to a meeting. Ours was one of the 2 not done. I was so frustrated. Delayed again for 2 weeks. I tried to keep myself together and enjoy vacation with my kids, but it was difficult. Not passing the first time was hard, not passing the second time was devastating! Especially when I found out the family I was planning on traveling with had passed. I was thrilled for them, but suddenly was faced with the possibility of traveling alone.
On Wednesday (March 31) I rec'd an email from my case worker. Mowa had written our letter and Sissay (one of Bethany's workers in Ethiopia) had taken it before the judge and asked him to please look at the case early. The judge agreed and passed us right there on the spot. Elijah became legally ours. This was such a surprise and a huge weight was immediately lifted off of me. We celebrated Elijah Day at the Phoenix Zoo, followed by some swimming and then dinner at Claim Jumper. We were in Arizona at Jason's parents house, so they we able to celebrate with us.
On the way home from Arizona we were able to stop in Iowa and spend some time with another couple that has become very close to us through this adoption process. They are the family I was hoping to travel with and it looks like we will be doing just that. It was nice to actually meet them in person after being cyber friends for the past 2 years.
Since we've been home I've been busy gathering all my orphanage donations and gifts for the nannies and case workers as well as readying things for Elijah. I'm realizing that it has been a long time since we've had a baby and my house is no where near as baby ready as I thought it was. I moved Kennedi in with Mckenzie to make room in Tyler's room for Elijah. I have washed and folded all my cloth diapers and started going through all Tyler's old baby clothes. If all the updates on his measurements are correct he should just be entering the 6-9 month size when we bring him home.
I talked to my case worker yesterday and she said there is a good chance I could be traveling at the end of April. There is also a chance it will be in May, but she wanted to give me warning that it may be that soon. I hope it happens that quickly, although I know it will more realistically be in May. I believe the embassy dates assigned to Bethany are April 27, May 11 and May 25. I should be assigned one of those dates, but won't know until a few days before hand what my date is.