Two months home

 We've been home over two months now. Medhanit now says about 25 words in English, about 5 in Amharic and just said her first 2-word sentence to her dolly: "Hi Baby".

I am back at work, but this week Medhanit has to come to my office as she developed Chicken Pox from the vaccine. She is utterly bored and mad to be stuck in my little office all day.
She is walking all over the place and learning to walk up stairs. I am amazed at the speed of her progress, but mostly proud



 

6 weeks home and Medhanit is doing great

Medhanit is on superspeed learning. She now says about 12 words in English and signs six. She understands most things I ask her or tell her about (I think). She walks between 2 - 10 steps, depending on her mood. She loves bananas, bread in any form, fruits and some vegetables, and yogurt. She sleeps 2 naps and almost always sleeps through the night for 9-10 hours. She is still working on trusting me and doesn't let too many people hold her. For now, she wants me within her eyesight or at least around the corner. She's very cuddly, loves being rocked, and holds good eye contact. We are definately attaching well. I have two more weeks before I go back to work and I'm not looking forward to it. I really wish I had at least 6 months at home with her. Here's a few photos since we returned.

We're Home!

We've been home for 4 days but she's been sick as have I. We are both battling exhaustion and getting our internal clocks on Hawaii schedule. But, besides that, we are attaching and having a lot of fun. We both laugh a lot, she is a bundle of hillarious baby. It seems surreal how easy it is to be her Mommy, I was definately expecting more difficulty. God has blessed me with my precious Medhanit. More later on the trip.

Embassy! Embassy! Embassy!

Amazing day for me and Medhanit. Last night I got clearance to go to Ethiopia for our embassy appointment on July 6th.

It went down like this:
I harrassed the embassy daily this week asking if they had any update on my paperwork (I knew it had been submitted this week). I even went so far as to call them repeatedly in Ethiopia last night. Needless to say, they did not answer my emails nor did anyone answer the phone or return my phone call.
But I digress, around 8pm I received an email saying I was cleared to go to my embassy appt, but the earliest available date was July 13th. Then 30 seconds later a new email popped up saying please disregard the previous email allowing clearance as my paperwork expires as of July 14th and I would have to renew it before they would allow me to go. I was on a high then a low and I could only think to beg them to let me come earlier. So that's what I did. I sent an email begging them to let me come a week earlier because otherwise I would be delayed a month renewing my paperwork. I didn't hold much hope out, but I did pray. A half hour later, a new email popped up saying they had an opening July 6th and they could fit me in. I literally yelled with joy and immediately emailed them back to say thank you and YES PLEASE SAVE THE DATE!

Today I confirmed with my agency and purchased my plane ticket. I am ready to go!

Embassy submission coming soon (again)

This Monday, my paperwork will once again be submitted to the U.S. embassy in Ethiopia for review. Maybe it will be accepted this time. Hard to believe it will be right this time, after so many submissions, but I am praying.
Meanwhile, my paperwork expires middle of July, so I have started the renewal process of my I600 and an updated homestudy. More money, more time but after two members of my agency got delayed going to the embassy because of expired paperwork, I am highly motivated to make sure it doesn't happen to me.

Medhanit may be channeling my feelings about this long wait:

The police report saga continues

Today my agency told me to call to get further details about this missing police report.

I called and was told the following:

The embassy did not like the original police investigation and is requiring the original police officer to make a new report. The problem is he has been assigned to a new police office so they are requiring him to do the following:

1. He is taking a 6 hour bus ride  to Addis Ababa today and spending the night because he has to go to the foster home and make a video with my daughter Medhanit for the embassy.

2. Then he has to go all the way back to his old police station and make a new police report.

3. Then it goes to the orphanage who gives it to our attorney who can resubmit it to the embassy.

I was speechless and feel terrible for the police officer and grateful that he is willing to do it. One thing after the other, but I am amazed at what goes on behind the scenes to get our little ones home.

Still waiting for an embassy date

All paperwork collected and fees paid. Now the U.S. embassy is allegedly holding up the process. Apparently they are asking for a police investigation report from the region my daughter is from.

The problem? It doesn't exist. So, now I wait for unknown people to create and provide said document for the embassy.

How long? Could be tomorrow, could be next week (how often I have heard that and it has turned out to be more like next month).

Sorry for the whining, it's discouraging 7 months after referral to still not have her home.

At least she looks happy and healthy.