More New Photos

Holly is my new best friend!!! Today when I opened my email there were some more new photos of The Princess lying in her crib. They are below. For my feelings and thoughts for today's photos, visit my other blog. Holly's son is in this room as well. If I understand correctly, they are "next door crib neighbors".

Soon, little Ms. Ellie. I'll be there, soon -- 50 days.

New Photo!!

With much appreciation and thanks to Holly who is currently in Kyrgyzstan meeting her son, I have a new photo of "The Princess". In all her glory, here she is:

I think she might have been moved to the "bigger" baby room because this is most definitely not the configuration of the room that she was in when she was in the tiny baby room. Another mom said this looks like the bigger baby room. I think they get moved there when they are 10 pounds, so that would be a blessing to know that she has grown more. She looks bigger to me. Every time I see a new photo of her I have to stare and compare with other photos of her to make sure it is her. She changes so much, but her sweet little lips always are a give away.

My heart longs to be there to get her. I visualize going back to the orphanage and getting her and never having to let her go again. I can imagine the car ride back to the hotel where I hold her and just stare at her, trying to memorize all her features and every sight, smell and sound of this event so I can tell her about it in years to come. I visualize getting off the plane in Nashville to family and friends who have waited so long with us for this day and the celebration we will have knowing that Ellie is finally home. Thank goodness my friend Jennifer is going so that I will have someone to capture the photos and videos for me and help me remember it all because I will be absolutely worthless. Kevin was the one who did that for us last time.

I can't wait to show Joshua when I get him from school today.

Soon, baby girl -- 53 days.

It's Official - she is our daughter!!!

After three long (repeat LONG) years of waiting for the child that God called us to adopt, we are so happy to report that Ellie Aimana Lois Elisabeth Latham cleared the court system in Tokmok, Kyrgyzstan and has become our daughter. So very, very exciting for us!!!

We are told to expect to return for pick up of our daughter on 10/12 (pick up on 10/14). I continue to visualize leaving the orphanage with her. It's so overwhelming for me to think of!!! It just seems like it's not real. My mom and I have both agreed that it just doesn't seem real yet. I get moments of unbelievable giddiness followed by amazing wonder and fear of it all!!!

Thank you to SO MANY who have supported us/carried us through this journey: family, old friends, new friends, friends we've never met in person, but know so well online. We would not have wanted to make this journey without you. I'm so glad that God put us together as a family: Kevin, me, Josh and Ellie. What a grand adventure we are all going to have!!

Blessings and many, many thanks to God -- the giver of all things.

Video of Ellie

During my trip to Macon, I heard the Aerosmith song, "Don't Want to Miss a Thing" and thought how perfect it described how I felt while we were in Kyrgyzstan visiting Ellie. So, I came, put together a video, added the song and Voila!! I hope you enjoy it. When court is finished, I want to post it on my regular blog to introduce our daughter to those who have not been able to see her yet.

I've Decided ...

.... that in order to give myself SOME sort of anticipation that I am setting the date that we will pick up Ellie to be September 9. This is not a date I have been told or that anyone has indicated will happen, BUT, if the judge returns from vacation on July 26 (as we are told he will) and hears our case that week (we are hopeful), then 30 days past that, plus 10 more for paperwork processing and a Tuesday pick up (as they seem to be for AO), puts me at September 9.

The last time I decided when I wanted to travel, it worked out, so that's what I'm doing this time.

It is 56 days away -- exactly eight weeks from today.

So, I have things to do and I'm trying to get them done. Today I picked up a couple of bottles. We are going to use disposable liners while we are there to save in trying to sterilize bottles and all, so I got that taken care of. I want to use the Born Free bottles when we get home, but I don't want to deal with that there. I've gotten a pack of diapers. Even though we will primarily use cloth, we will use some disposables as well.

Kevin has done a LOT to the office; we are trying to organize like crazy.

I am leaving for yet one more project next week.

We are about to begin buying school supplies as school starts back full time August 11.

I've also been encouraged by God who has laid the following on my heart. Ellie is His child. He formed and created her and her life belongs to Him. He is allowing me to be a part of it for whatever period He allows. He will take very good care of her while I am not there. And because of this, I am ok with whenever He wants us to get her. I know that He takes much better care of my life than I do and He will take good care of her and I don't need to worry. It is a hard decision to make, but it's what faith is all about. The Bible tells us faith is the SUBSTANCE of things HOPED FOR, the EVIDENCE of things NOT SEEN. And I have a choice to trust the One who made her and who chose me to be one of her moms. I am choosing to trust Him.

I will go when He is ready for me to -- but in the meantime, I'm just setting my goal date. *smile* Will I be disappointed if that's not the date -- yes, I'm sure I will. But, would I be surprised if it came earlier -- sure! So, it will be a target and we'll see how close we get!

Has Everyone Lost Their Minds?

I think I'm going to have to go on adoption "hiatus". I truly do. The last few days have just wrecked heck on my nerves. We were supposed to find out this week if Ellie's case would be heard in court. If so, our 30 day wait would start and then, when complete, a final decree would be issued and ten days later we could pick her up. On Tuesday I was on pins and needles because court was likely to be Tuesday or Wednesday and they are a half a day ahead of us.

THEN we got an email stating the judge that would hear the case was ill and that the families slated to travel to pick up their kiddos would not be going as he had not signed some documents they needed to pick them up. The coordinator had asked if she could bring them by his house and was told no. No cases went to court and it would likely be next week.

THEN the next day (Wednesday), I heard from another source that he was not sick but on vacation and had not returned and would not return until the end of July and so there was no way we would return prior to early/middle September.

TODAY I have heard that the judge is "missing" and no one seems to know where he is and his wife won't tell either.

When I talked with Joyce at our agency today I was told that our file was with the coordinator who was taking it with the other files to be heard next week -- assuming the judge returns to work. She did not comment on whether he was sick, on vacation or missing. She could not confirm that we will or will not have court next week.

OK... so, I know this is a different culture and that people take vacations. I'm fine with that, but WHERE is the breakdown in information coming from? We are all adults -- can someone not just say, "Hey, he's ______ (fill in what ever is appropriate) and won't be back until ______. Your case is scheduled to be heard on ______." Seems simple, doesn't it? Oh well. There is absolutely nothing I can do about it except wait and pray really hard. I'd ask you to pray really hard as well. This judge's action is affecting the lives of 10 children who are stuck in an orphanage because he isn't back at work where folks thought he would be. And, while I hope he is ok and nothing has happened to him, I am a bit frustrated that no one can say what he's doing and when he will return to work. With this type of work policy, I think maybe I should go to work there.

So, yes, I'm whining, complaining and griping. I'm tired and probably should go to bed and let it all go. It's just hard knowing that she is there and we are here and that she needs to be here with us.

Maybe tomorrow will allow me to resume my positive thinking methods.

New Photos

My "online friend" Suzanne was just in Tokmok visiting her sweet little pumpkin and was able to get a couple of new photos of The Princess. Many people have asked why I haven't posted them. Read on the next post and you'll understand why. I've been busy with many things, including Josh's surgery to remove his tonsils and adenoids, along with working on adoption related things and trying to keep up with my regular work. So.... without delay, here is The Princess, now fondly known at our house as "Chipmunk Jaws". Isn't she the most beautiful baby girl you've ever seen?? Suzanne's notes say that she is growing and that she is eating well. Well, we can see that in these photos, can't we?