Almost 6 weeks of Waiting

Well this Wednesday will mark the 6th week since I saw my son for the very first time. I have the feeling this weekend of relief...of "I have finally made it". From here on in, its just a matter of waiting for Canadian Immigration to finish their part of the process. It seems that most people receive their medical paperwork for their children at teh 12 week mark after referral (Although unfortunately some have waited longer than that). So if Nathaniel does get his medical done by the 12 week mark, that would be the first week of September. Very exciting!!!
It feels like I am half way there....because after the medical you pretty much know when you are going to travel. I know those 4 weeks will fly by sooo fast I will most likely just be spinning! Its hard to believe that in as little as 2 1/2 months I could be travelling...and bringing my son back home finally!!! I can't be happier about the court date being done...I keep thinking wow I don't have to stress about getting it done before court closures! That stress is GONE. But ofcourse there is still the stress and worry about immigration not being done quickly, files being lost,etc,etc. "POSITIVE THINKING" :) :)
Louise

Officially Nathaniel's Mom!!!

Well I finally got news about my court date!!! My petition to adopt Nathaniel was approved!!!!!!!! So that means that I am legally and in all meaning of the word Nathaniel's mommy!!!
It is such a relief to have this happen before court closes for the summer. I can't imagine having to wait two months for a court date. It feels so good to know that he is mine and nothing can change that! I can't wait to see more pictures and to hear how the process with Nairobi and immigration is going. I should get some more updated news at the beginning of August. I imagine I won't be travelling until the middle of October. Maybe beginning of Novermber. It all really depends when the medical papers get to Addis, done and is sent back to Nairobi. Once that is done it will be 4 weeks till travel date.

Louise

Waiting waiting waiting

Well as everyone knows in the process of adoption there is a huge amount of hurry up and wait going on. You wait on paperwork, meetings, appointments, then you wait on government officials, approvals, canada post, and fedex. You wait for your dossier to arrive in Ethiopia, wait for it to be picked up....and then the big wait for referral. After you get that amazing news you go back into hurry up and wait mode once again. Although this part of the wait is like a double edged sword...on one hand you have this beautiful baby to think about, focus on, shop for, prepare for and love....but then you also have no way to touch, feel, smell, hug or kiss this little one. You bond through pictures and each picture is a precious glimpse into who your little one is.
So now what is the wait....well I need to wait to hear how court went on Monday..no news yet...expecting to hear something this week...I am so anxious to hear if it went smoothly!
Then I have to wait on Immigration...how long with that take? That is the million dollar question. It seems most people have gotten their medicals done 12-13 weeks after referral....that puts me the first week of September to have medical completed. After that is done then I should be able to travel 4 weeks after that....so that would be first week of October. Ofcourse there is no timeline written in stone..things can be delayed or it might be quicker....hard to really know when that call will come!

Well in other happenings....I finally installed a gate at the top of my stairs.....what a pain in the rear end!!! It was awful to install but it looks good now.
I got some things at children's place today...all 297 or 397...can't beat that price!

Louise

4 weeks into the wait!!!!!

Well I am already at 4 weeks into the wait to travel to get my sweet boy! I cannot believe a month has passed by sooo quickly. Not a day goes by that I don't think about my son, about what he is doing, how he is, if he has grown. A mother at the unit in which I work was really upset yesterday because she was being discharged but the baby wasn't yet. And she said something that really spoke to my heart. She was so worried that she wouldn't be there to comfort him if he was upset or crying. Yes she knew that there would be someone there to hold and comfort him...but it wouldn't be her.
I cannot wait to see my sweet boy and hold him in my arms...kiss and hug him. That day...the first meeting is something I think of a lot. Just to finally hold him and really be able to touch and smell him. My son. Its incredible to think that this part of the journey will be over in just a few months and that I will be starting a new journey with my son.

Louise

Baby Shower Fun

Well what a day, really a weekend I have had. First the Burkes came and spent the weekend with me at my house....yes 6 kids in my house this weekend...what fun we had. They ofcourse were excellently behaved, and so the weekend went well. It was so nice to have Dawn and Gerald up to visit.
Today my family had a baby shower for me...it was sooo nice to have family and friends celebrate Nathaniel and we had a great time playing some very funny shower games. My sister Hillary and Cousin Toni did all the hard work of arranging this shower and it was so beautiful...lots of nice touches noticed. They made the theme nautical...made sugar cookies into the shape of sail boats with Nathaniel's name on it..and a beautiful cake that my aunt made....pics don't do it justice!
Thank you again for all the beautiful gifts..can't wait to use them all with Nathaniel.
Louise

Rest of the week in PEI

Well I stayed in PEI for another few days after the gathering to extend my vacation there. I had my sister, and friends come up to camp. WE had a great time except for the last night there when the winds really picked up and made the tent trailer very noisy! The winds were really gusty and were pushing at the tent part of the trailer.
Well I had to post what I bought...ofcourse for Nathaniel...don't think I bought one thing there for me Hahaha.
I got a pair of fake crocks at Gateway Village that were bright yellow in size 5...they are so small and cute.
I also got the cutest onesie. It will go great with the hat that I got at Giant tiger which says Canadian cutie.

PEI Camping Gathering

Wow
What a weekend this was. There were so many families either camping or there to visit it was hard to keep up. It was my first time out with the camper and so this was too much fun. Kristin and Nathan came along and stayed with me in the camper...it was great having some company in the camper.

I won't talk about getting lost too much...apparently I need to take more time to read the directions that I am given before jotting them down on a piece of paper...but lets just say getting lost down a narrow dirt road with a ten foot trailer behind you is not what I would call "fun"....anyways I survived and had a great week in PEI.

Kerry you still owe me a tim hortons...that was tooo funny us four trying to put down your awning with Susan and the wind just lifing up the awning dumping the ice cold rain water on us....shower was quickly had by all to warm up and awning was saved.

The late night campfires were sooo much fun and I for one am glad we mastered the art of smores even if it did result in some burnt fingers ( :) Lisa...hope your fingers have recovered). Lets just say it doesn't take much to make a bunch of girls who love chocolate busy trying to master the art of smores. Especially when the alternative was joining the Brad Paisley Debate of 2007.

August will be here before we know it and then another gathering...can't wait for the next one..these have been such a great time for all that come!

Louise