Here I go.

I've run into another immigration snag, but it is not going to delay my trip. The form they were suppose to forward to the National Visa Center did not get sent. The National Visa Center has to have it before I can pick up Elijah's visa and bring him back into the states. It was mailed today and NVC only has about a 48 hour turn around time, so the agency is fairly confident it will be done in time. I'm not leaving Ethiopia until May 29th, so if it's not done by the time I go to the embassy (Tuesday 5/25) It should be done by the time I need to pick up his visa (thursday or friday). There is a slight possibility it will delay me in country and I will need to extend my stay a day or two until it is taken care of, but I can't think about that right now. I'm just trusting and praying that all will be handled on time.
It's been such an incredibly long journey to get to this point. I can't believe the time has actually come to go get my son. This has been the longest pregnancy ever! I won't be able to update while I'm gone, but I'm going to try to journal my thoughts so I can post about them when I am back. Next time you hear from me I will have my cute, sweet, little boy at home in my arms!

48 hours

48 hours until I arrive at O'hare to begin my journey to Ethiopia. I'm nervous, anxious, scared, excited, but most of all ready. It's been a very long road and I am finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. I wish I wasn't going alone, but it is what it is.
My bags are packed, meals for the kids are made and frozen, child care is lined up (and yes I printed out a novel's worth of instructions- go ahead and mock me!). The house isn't nearly as clean or ready as I wanted it to be, but there are somethings that are just not going to get done. At least since I'll be gone, everyone will just assume the kids made the mess! :-)
For those that don't know me well enough to know how my insane mind works, here's a glimpse:
I've studied the map and weighed out the possibility of the plane going down over land versus over water. I have formed the theory that I have a better chance of survival if the plane goes down over water, and since it appears we are over ocean for a lot longer than we are over land- my odds are pretty good! I could go into all the how's and why's of the theory, but since it's all just my opinion any ways, I won't go into it. Of course I also have it in my head that as I'm sitting there in the ocean, floating on my flotation device, I get eaten by a shark. Haven't quite outweighed the eaten by shark vs dying by plane crash options all the way out yet, but there is still time. Getting the picture yet? This is why I asked the doc. for some really good medication to help get me through this trip.
I'm looking forward to seeing and experiencing Ethiopia, just wish I could drive myself there to do it!
I also rec'd an email from the agency stating that since it is election time, and Ethiopia is known to have riots break out during elections, none of the families traveling for this embassy appointment will be leaving the city. Our activities will also be kept to a minimum. I think I'm ok with that. Some of the other families that have gone before me have expressed that the schedule is usually pretty full and the trip is pretty scheduled. I'm ok with just having some free time to spend with my son.

I'm leaving on a Jet plane

I rec'd word today that Immigration has finished my I600A re-file and I am cleared to leave for Ethiopia. I was starting to think this was never going to happen. Since we had been watching flight prices on various sights for weeks, it didn't take long to find one. It was not my first choice of flight pattern or flight times, but it was a few hundred dollars cheaper than the others, so that made it a no brain-er for me! I'm leaving on Wednesday at approximately 10:00 p.m. and flying overnight to Franfurt, Germany. I'll have a whopping 20 hour layover in Germany and then go on to Addis from there arriving around 6 p.m. on Friday. I was informed by the airline, that as long as I am not leaving the airport in Germany, I won't need a visa. Guess I better bring a couple good books!
I'm assuming that since I'm getting in later in the day on Friday, I won't get to meet Elijah until Saturday. Saturday is also his first birthday.
I will be in Ethiopia until Saturday May 29th and will arrive home on Sunday afternoon. I am hoping to stay at Morning Coffee Guest house. I have heard so many wonderful things about the family that runs it, and am looking forward to meeting them and supporting the work they do in Ethiopia.
I weighed my bags today and I have about 6 pounds available still! Looks like I'll be packing in a few more donations for the orphanage.

Another Bittersweet day.

Happy Mother's Day. It's a reminder to me of how long I waited and how much work it took for me to become a mother. For as long as I remember it's all I wanted to do with my life. I am reminded today of how blessed I am to have my amazing kids. I am also sad today to be missing one of my kids. I should have been spending this Mother's Day in Ethiopia, picking up my new son. Due to an error in my paperwork and an oversight regarding my immigration approval expiration date I have been delayed. I was given another date (may 25th) for an embassy appointment, but was told not to book my flight until we have the immigration approval. As of Friday we still did not have everything turned into to Immigration for them to work on the approval. Apparently the FBI has not processed our required background check update. My case worker is doing everything she can to get this done quickly, but once again I find myself waiting on things that are out of my control.
I think of Elijah's birth mom today. I can't help but wonder what she is thinking and feeling. I can't help but hurt for her today.
Hoping for good news this week, bags are packed and I'm ready to go get my son.