Last Day of Summer Break

Tomorrow I go back to school, which means "summer break" will be over... however "family leave" begins the next day!  I have attempted to commemorate this awesome summer of 2010 with the following photo montage. 

Went back to the golf course for the first time in at least 12 years.  Thanks to Michael for inviting me to play with Twin Lakes Yacht Club's Scramble.

My caddy was pretty handy... and handsome too!

It was great having Kerbie and Mike complete our foursome.  Lots of laughter and fun, despite the rain.

I LOVED driving the golf cart.  Did you know they do go in reverse?  And you really shouldn't go in reverse when someone is teeing off.

Had a fun trip to Chicago, once again in spite of some inclement weather!

We enjoyed an indoor play about the 3 Little Pigs.  Then really got to town making hats, masks, puppets and block cities.

Mehandis and his Grandma keep up with one another :)

Saw elephants, dinosaurs, animal poop and many buttons to push at the Field Museum.

Had to find some money to pay for all of these events... thank goodness for Craig's List ;)  Finally got our 40 pound second microwave out of the house and off the porch.  Lots of other odds and ends made there way out to make room for our newest family member!

Although Michael and Mehandis did not get to travel with me to meet Abera last month, they are still key members of the team... as the bumpers proudly state.

Loved the get togethers that we had with Tizita and her family too!  This summer we enjoyed kayaking, swimming, hiking, zoo time, train riding, and dancing together.

Who is this character covered cutie-pie cartoon loving child?  Mehandis is such a proud and confident 3 year old.  He absolutely adores anything for "Cars" and "Thomas".  He has the accessories to prove it!

We have had quite a few fun celebrations with friends.  Below Mehandis is cleaning his picnic table for the 4th of July party at the lake.  This job kept him busy for about 45 minutes by the way.

 

We were enthusiastic guests at other friends' lake houses too.  Here is Mehandis helping his friend Ella celebrate her 3rd birthday.

Some of the friends who joined Mehandis in "re-organizing" the basement toys on the 4th.

Onto some more of the adult fun...

My long-time friends, Maira and Sarah, and I had a ladies night out in Chicago.  First with appetizers and conversation at a Mexican restaurant.   

Then on to see Jon... Bon Jovi!!!  What a fun and perfect night.

Below is the more typical events of my summer days...

Watching great friends and neighbors play together.  Lots of train talk, car swapping, bike racing and crab walking!  Love it.

Packing!

We are going back to Ethiopia in 3 days!!!  Michael is joining me for this trip... and Abera will be joining us on return flights home.  Hooray!

I have been quite busy the past month between the first trip, prepping for the second and figuring out coverage for the time I am away at work.  Oh, and a bit of baby proofing, reorganizing and room readying for our newest family member!  Will have to post pics of Abera's room too.

So far I have my/Michael's/Abera's clothes packed (should point out that Michael did pack his own), all meds stocked and available, diapers/wipes/ointments organized and baby sling re-slung to fit a tinier body (Abera's that is... not sure if mine is tinier from 2 years ago or not!).  Doctor's appointment is made for Abera's return home, credit card company notified about upcoming unusual charges and all papers notarized and filed.

Now just have to organize my class list, school schedule, IEP goals, and so on.  But that can wait until Thursday, right?

Thoughts on Recent Readings

I know... it has been TOO long since my last update.   But I promise to share more when we actually get confirmation of our upcoming homecoming date!  For now I will share "my" response to recent postings I have read on the ethics of international adoption.  It is a hard subject... but I very much believe in the perspective that Elizabeth Barholet writes from in the following article:
Focus on the Child’s Human Rights

Elizabeth Bartholet, a professor of law and the faculty director of the Child Advocacy Program at Harvard Law School, is the author of “Family Bonds” and “Nobody’s Children.”

The news media often distorts some aspects of international adoption, but can at the same time bring needed attention to important realities.

International Adoption: Thoughts on the Human Rights Issues

"The biggest problem in international adoption is that many who call themselves advocates for children’s human rights press for legal restrictions that limit the ability to provide homes to children in need. Thus Save the Children calls for denying Madonna’s second adoption based on interpreting a residence requirement so as to prevent virtually all international adoption. Some 67 children’s rights organizations went into court to oppose her first adoption. Unicef calls regularly for restrictions limiting international adoption to at best last-resort status. Romania was forced by similar pressures to outlaw such adoption as a condition of joining the European Union.

To fix this problem we need to focus policymakers on the real human rights issues for children. The judge who granted Madonna’s first adoption got it right in ruling that Malawi’s residence requirement must be read in light of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and that required allowing the child David to grow up in the nurturing home that only international adoption would provide.

Angelina Jolie and her adopted son Maddox.Many millions of children worldwide are living and dying in orphanages or on the streets, with no possibility of finding homes in their own country. Unicef argues for the creation of foster care and social welfare programs, but these things will not happen overnight, and foster care generally doesn’t work nearly as well for children as adoption.

International adoption provides good homes for the children lucky enough to be placed, and brings significant new resources into countries to improve orphanage conditions and help build welfare programs for the future. Celebrities like Madonna and Angelina Jolie have provided many millions of dollars for such efforts. While few individual adopters have their resources, many develop comparable interest as a result of their own adoptions in contributing what they can to help those children left behind.

Details...

Back on the blog again. 
Was a bit overwhelmed not knowing the details but now they have arrived!

Okay, so I am going to Addis... by myself.  Which I feel very good doing but admit am definitely nervous about pieces of.  We decided that I would be the solo traveler with the increasing stress of waiting, watching flights fill up and feeling the pressure of costs doubling.  The option for traveling without a spouse was previously not available to us.  So we really didn't even know if this was a possibility.  Then we received a message from our specialist asking if both of us were going, since we would need a special form if a parent stayed behind.  Voila, the solution to the frustration suddenly became very clear.

Last Thursday the decision for me to represent the family during the first trip was made, then on Tuesday the option to travel a week early was given.  So the whirlwind of flight finding, hotel hunting and piece-meal packing began.  The reason that we were given an all clear on travel was due to Abera's court case in Ethiopia passed,  declaring him as "orphan" status.  So then the courts were able to schedule a second court case for the us, the adoptive family... which will occur a week from today.  Thursday will be the first time that our agency will have adoptive families represented in Ethiopian courts.  Previously the country did not have adoptive families come for a court process at all.  I will be reviewing the questions that might be posed during the 16 hours of travel that lay ahead.  But the court process is likely to go smoothly and it is not something that I am worried about.

The worry I am feeling mostly lies in making sure all of my flight, connections, lay overs go smoothly!  I will be departing from Chicago.  Then I land in Amsterdam to spend a bit of time.  From Amsterdam I go for a quick change in planes in Nairobi, where I will travel the rest of the way on Kenya Air.  My arrival in Addis Ababa will around 11:30 at night.  Midnight is the busy time in Bole Airport. 

I am glad to have had the experience of previously traveling to Addis.  So the process of getting the visa, exchanging dollars for birr and waiting for transportation in the large open airport lobby will be familiar.  I am VERY thankful to have secured transportation from the airport to a local hotel.  That was what took up the majority of my time yesterday.  Hooray for forum "friends" who suggested Ethio Comfort Guesthouse... no idea what it looks like, where it is, but they said they will arrange my transportation from the airport - in the middle of the night.  Once I take time to look at their website I will share a photo ;)

Pretty incredible for $30 a night!

At this point I am very unclear as to what my Monday to Thursday stay will entail, in the CHSFS quarters.  Since I am part of the first "2 Visit" travel program they have yet to create a schedule, give packing suggestions or emergency phone numbers.  I wonder who is busier - them or I?  What I do know is this - I will be able to spend time with Abera.  He is in Addis Ababa now, in a similar care center that Mehandis spent a good amount of time.  That is comforting to me.

On Thursday I will go to court, say goodbye to Abera, fly out of Ethiopia to Amsterdam, New York and then Chicago.  It will be Friday when I land in Chicago and haven't even taken the time to see who will be picking me up.  But I trust that I won't be forgotten!!!

So those are the details as I know it.

Much more to come.

Mid-Way Week One

It is just past the mid-way point of the first week in summer vacation... and it is definitely different than a work/school week so far!

Mehandis has been a great companion (and napper) which has been a blast.  We can do so much more together this year than last.  He hasn't even complained about all of the errands we have been on together, although the fruit bars offered as collateral are motivating.  But let's focus on the fun :)

We shared a morning date at Starbucks, thanks to a gift card from a student of mine.  I have had my eye on our local Starbucks for the past couple of months... as I pass by it on the way to work everyday.  Seemed that people were always enjoying conversation and coffee at 7:30 when I would drive by and I made a decision that Mehandis and I would be part of the morning crowd once school let out.

Had a fantastic play date and lunch with my friend Nicole and her daughter Sophie.  Nicole and I work together and could not find a mutual time available for a work lunch all school year.  We made a date for the first week that our schedules freed up... at an awesome pizza place.  $7 for all you can eat for me and free all you can eat for little kids.  I am not one to seek out "All-You-Can-Eat" specials but this was exceptional!  Plus chalkboard dividers for kids to color on while adult conversations can be completed.

What is better than starting off my stint at home with clean carpets... and not being the one who had to clean them.  Thanks Frank & Steve!!!  They followed the 2 Ryans who came the previous week to move our elliptical from upstairs to the main floor.  Mehandis is beginning to think that friendly gentleman come over all the time to complete our house projects.  I am beginning to get used to this idea as well.

Well I guess I can pat myself on the back on getting a couple projects done myself... such as putting in a new toilet seat (TMI????).  Unfortunately ours doesn't "rock" quite as much as the one shown above.

Leisure time seems abundantly available as I have now finished 3 books... one for every day (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday) that I have officially been off of school.  Don't know if I can keep up that streak.

My Green Little Monster is Good For Me!

Just got word that a friend of ours received their family's travel date... they received their referral about a week or so after us.  That is not only awesome that they will be meeting their little girl soon (July 1st) but I am selfishly celebrating that the 2 trip/2 court process is now beginning!!!  This is the first I have heard that anyone has received a court date following the recent rule change.

So hooray for the Hammerlund's!!!  And hooray for the kids that will soon be officially adopted by their new families.

I do have to admit that I am a little green with envy... but it will definitely serve as a motivator to get moving in project completion and a reminder to appreciate all of the special moments that I have right now (like a peaceful house will my "only" sleeps!).

The Rest of the Story

So who was to know that I would have a day late Mother's Day gift at the time of the above photo.  Mother's Day was wonderful for me as it was!  My parents came in town, to help out with our garage sale/Mehandis watch as well as visit.  We enjoyed a great dinner of jumbalaya together as well as french toast al fresco the following morning.   Mehandis delivered my fave flowers, a bouquet of tulips to me (with a little help from Grandma & Grandpa.  The 3 M's then traveled south to join Michael's parents and sister for more Mother's Day celebrating.  I received some thoughtful cards from Michael's family... and got to kick back while Michael did much of the dinner prepping :)  Ooh, forgot to mention that my husband gave me an incredibly sweet gift card to enjoy during an outing with a friend.  A wonderful weekend with wonderful people.

But then Monday came!

My phone rang at 1:15 during a speech session with two kindergarden students.  I jumped up to check... as has been my habit the past several months.  And the caller ID said CHSFS!  I answered calmly telling me that it could be our specialist just checking in (as has been her habit once a month the past 6 months).  But then she asked if my husband was available - a big clue of big news about to be shared.  I told her my husband wasn't available since I was at work, to which she asked if she should talk to me at a later time.  Of course I answered "No!  Now works great."  The students were quickly sent back to their class with promises of stickers to come.  Then the news of Abera was shared.

I called Michael right after we hung up.  Together, over the phone were able to look at the 10 page email, all about Abera, which our specialist immediately sent.  I forgot that it would have his picture in it :)  Michael got to that first while I was reading away.  Awesome!

We had to wait a couple of days to share our news with friends and family, to which God wanted to lend me a helping hand by giving a bout of laryngitis.  Guess He didn't know that by noon on Wednesday I could have the gag order removed.  I could only croak out every fourth word when we got word that all the paperwork was in and we had officially accepted the referral of this one month old boy!  I needed to email the news to my parents since I could not speak at all clear enough to communicate over the phone.  Pretty funny.  I stayed on vocal rest for the rest of the day and night (except for a couple of pitiful phone attempts) and was pretty much recovered by Thursday.  Never had I wanted to cheer and share so much and be unable to!!!  A good joke on me.