She's coming HOME!!!!

We GOT THE CALL!!!! We are officially cleared by the US Embassy to come for our appointment to get Jillian's Visa next Monday, Aug. 30! My dad and I are leaving this Friday, in 3 days!!!!! We will be home WITH HER on Friday night, Sept. 3! I can't even believe it right now! I am SO happy! I even found tickets that were cheaper than the first time we went and I don't have to go through Chicago, which is a huge blessing in itself! I am So thankful right now- We get to go with 3 other families that were there before for court with us- so happy to get to see them again! Please pray that everything goes smoothly for us and that Jillian is just fine on the travel home, I'm nervous about that-

Praying

We're praying we hear something tomorrow about our embassy date. I'm getting doubtful that we will get to go next weekend for the appt date of Sept. 1. Maybe I don't want to get my hopes up. I will post as soon as I know anything- If you read this and have any extra time, please say a little prayer for us. It's really getting hard to wait. I just feel like she needs to come home! I've been stocking the pantry and freezer and trying to get things ready for me to be gone and then home again with a baby! So exciting! If we don't get to go for Sept. 1, surely it would be Sept. 15- so the end is still in sight! Trying to have a good attitude!

Morning sickness!

Yesterday it started.... the nauseous feeling in the pit of my stomach, especially when I look at her pictures! Yesterday- the day I found out that our paperwork hasn't even been submitted yet to the US Embassy! Maybe I was wrong to assume that it should have been. Our court date was July 21- I thought for sure it would have been submitted within two weeks of that date- by Aug. 4.... We obviously didn't make it for the Aug. 18 embassy date, honestly I didn't think we would- or we would be packing frantically! I did think however, we would have a STRONG chance for Sept. 1- I can make it until then..... if I have to wait past that date- frankly- I might die! That is the part that makes me want to puke! And cry!
My wonderful hubby made a little call and we did find out that our paperwork would be submitted by August 18- but with a "small possibility" of getting in on Sept. 1 for embassy- just typing it makes me want to throw up! If the end of August comes and goes and we don't have a "date", you might want to check on my hubby and kids here at home, because I'm on the next plane to Africa! Seriously, people..... I just can't let it go on---- and on! I'm already devising my strategy, and it just might work... I'll let you know! PLEASE pray that we get in on the 1st of Sept.... I am GOING TO GO INSANE if we don't! It will just be better for everyone! I assure you! In the meantime, I will just keep watching the snippets I have of her- and keeping some lemon juice and smelling salts nearby- blah!

The nest is ready!

Well, we're ready!! We have diapers, clean bottles, clean clothes- now all we need is that embassy date to get Jillian's visa! The next date is August 18th. It *could* happen that soon, but I really don't expect it to happen until Sept. 1. If it does happen Aug. 18, we probably won't have much notice- which means higher prices for plane tickets. I don't want to wait any longer than I have to, but cheaper tickets would be nice! My dad is getting ready- I can't wait to show him Ethiopia and introduce him to Jillian! I can't believe that the next time I see her, its FOR KEEPS! I don't think I will ever put her down! I miss her so badly- Our family is all spread out..... it's just not right! Thank goodness it's a busy time of year! School starts on the 18th- so it will be nice to get everybody in their new routine and then off to bring home baby! I can't wait to see how she will adjust to being here- I know she's going to love the kids and the kids are going to LOVE her! Stay tuned!