We attended a required course for Parents in Progress in Omaha the first weekend in December. Here we met with three other adoptive families--two for China and one for Ethiopia.
It was great to have conversations about our fears and hopes for the adoption process with each other and to be able to ask questions to the Holt staff. The director in Omaha was actually leaving for a trip to Ethiopia a few days after our class. We are sure that she saw our little boy!
During the month, Micah and I filled out our 16 page questionnaires. We also had our health papers completed. Micah, thankfully, had just been HIV tested for life-insurance and so his doctor said that was good enough for him to sign off on. I, on the other hand, had to send my blood away to be tested.
...the results are still out.
Julianna was my photographer here--what a steady hand!
The lab tech also, thankfully, had a steady hand.
We are so thankful for the Dr.'s office and Dr. for being so kind and patient with all of the paperwork we pushed their way!
We are excited for next Christmas when our boy will come claim the puppy under the tree that Julianna is taking care of for him in the mean time.
Hi! You left a question on my blog asking about how our daughter adjusted to her name change... we called her by her Ethiopian name the entire time we were in Ethiopia. We started calling her by the name we gave her, and her Ethiopian name as a middle name, on the plane ride home. We used both names together. She LOVED it. She started saying the long version of her name (with both names together) over and over on the plane. Once we got home, our son called her by the American name, and she responded to it immediately. We often just use the American name now, but will sometimes still use both because we love both. She answers to either one. I was worried about the adjustment, but it wasn't a problem at all!
ReplyDeleteHey Sarah I follow this blog and this family decided to adopt in Africa too. Just thought you might like to see their journey as well...she just announced that they were going to do this. I am praying for you guys as well, and am SO excited to meet him. http://www.mymeanderings.net/720328609/we-are-expecting/?nextdate=last&leftcmt=1
ReplyDeleteCara Ashley
Bethany--thank you for the insight. Our plan for changing his first name is very similar, so good encouragement. We will see how he responds and work from there. Your family is a great inspiration, thanks for sharing your family life with us.
ReplyDeleteCara--I will definetly check this out. It is very helpful to rub shoulders with others who are on a similar journey. Thanks for thinking about us.