tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-356767972024-03-07T17:45:46.605-05:00Adopting IsaacS&Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08875284343833451175noreply@blogger.comBlogger181125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35676797.post-60114389838123910602007-09-20T20:31:00.000-05:002007-09-20T20:32:46.077-05:00S&Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08875284343833451175noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35676797.post-37134870593157439052007-07-12T21:41:00.000-05:002007-07-12T22:16:30.882-05:00New blogSo we haven’t posted in a couple days cause we have been torn. We are not super comfortable posting private info about the adoption on an open website but you all are our friends and we want to share the good news and pictures.<br /><br />So we decided that since we have to move the blog anyway (I guess Isaac just doesn’t fit anymore LOL) we will just start a new one that’s closed.<br /><br /><a href="http://adoptmicah.blogspot.com/">Adopt Micah</a><br />Please email maymicah@gmail.com for approval.. (If you email me and it doesnt work within 24 hrs email me again and i'll send instructions) I promise there is a picture of a beautiful baby girl at the end :-)<br /><br />When our court date is over and we are approved, we will open the blog to everyone.S&Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08875284343833451175noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35676797.post-36073545646949220142007-07-10T12:18:00.000-05:002007-07-10T12:58:36.288-05:00Our baby girlOk here is some info..<br />She is 2 months old. Which is so great younger then we ever dreamed! She was brought to the orphanage by a nun from a smaller city then Addis.<br />She is in perfect health except for a small infection. <br />We should get the official referral paper work in the next week then we will post some pics.<br /><br /><a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/leastcmplicated/waitinggirl.gif" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a>S&Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08875284343833451175noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35676797.post-76129933577996370552007-07-09T18:52:00.001-05:002007-07-09T18:52:47.040-05:00Good news!That's right referral!<br />A GIRL!!!!!!!!!<br />Updates to come.S&Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08875284343833451175noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35676797.post-46685977730564887832007-07-07T21:51:00.001-05:002007-07-07T21:52:53.068-05:00The yearThe year can be a little misleading. <br />Thats since we sent the application in. The official wait started in December when we filled out the dossier so 7 months ago.<br />Still is a long wait. But the year thing is a little misleading.S&Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08875284343833451175noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35676797.post-4418280786011898102007-07-06T13:21:00.000-05:002007-07-06T13:22:05.863-05:00OMG!1 year today since we sent the adoption application in!S&Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08875284343833451175noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35676797.post-69922409811825107932007-07-04T16:34:00.000-05:002007-07-04T16:46:15.025-05:00Dad Just LeftWhew! its been a long weekend! My father came in from CT Friday afternoon and its been non stop until we brought him to the airport. We had so much fun eating out, doing stuff like the Art & Science Museum... so much fun! We also went to Babies R Us and got the stroller and car seat :D and also made a registry! Thanks Dad and Sue for the car seat and stroller!!! These are the ones we got (rated best by consumer reports)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl4SSEif4OBUkzdfD4-MxBn8hIzT1QU4a0d16r4Ao7tExpl1_z-3x5WwSl5iSZ64v0ZvLGM6xXB6wJTeQbBL93Br0F8dfdRBOosUxk2Ld4aIB522OP_rqFc7lRj40IEQGFvIrGNw/s1600-h/stroller.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl4SSEif4OBUkzdfD4-MxBn8hIzT1QU4a0d16r4Ao7tExpl1_z-3x5WwSl5iSZ64v0ZvLGM6xXB6wJTeQbBL93Br0F8dfdRBOosUxk2Ld4aIB522OP_rqFc7lRj40IEQGFvIrGNw/s320/stroller.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083461015317918466" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKE0unhriyBYu0B9g4soCHiNULawjs4h9hjUS-578ZESveHkhy0MR7c4fLw2sVLE5wLOKnvu_cIM02AId2eObTO1QCz_DdB5Ot1eWkH7o10SIiHTu72NGpDuIVpWvSf9wnVw-GKQ/s1600-h/carseat.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKE0unhriyBYu0B9g4soCHiNULawjs4h9hjUS-578ZESveHkhy0MR7c4fLw2sVLE5wLOKnvu_cIM02AId2eObTO1QCz_DdB5Ot1eWkH7o10SIiHTu72NGpDuIVpWvSf9wnVw-GKQ/s320/carseat.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083461247246152466" /></a>S&Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08875284343833451175noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35676797.post-25341672158718202562007-06-28T14:32:00.000-05:002007-06-28T14:36:06.397-05:00It's Been a WhileI know its been a while since we really blogged... sorry, I hope you all are still checking :D It has been a busy couple weeks and weekends! Last weekend we were at Piedmont Park all day Saturday and Sunday in the heat and this weekend my father comes in until the 4th. I'm trying to keep my mind off adoption but its not working. <br /><br />I just wanted to write to tell you all that we are still alive and well.<br /><br />How are you guys?<br /><br />-SS&Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08875284343833451175noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35676797.post-69772787870114763802007-06-23T21:16:00.000-05:002007-06-23T21:24:07.061-05:00Our ReasonsSome people have asked why we decided to adopt from Ethiopia. I think I might have posted on this already but I will post again :)<br /><br /><br />We chose Ethiopia after a long time deciding and going over pros and cons of each country. The biggest reason is we looked at some statistics of the adoptions from Africa vs other countries and they were staggeringly low, one of the places that needs it the most. Skin color was never a factor to us and neither was Angelina Jolie but I really do applaud her. Just her status as a celebrity has raised awareness and visa's for children from Ethiopia have gone up dramatically since she adopted Zahara. <br />Another factor was money, Ethiopia was one of the countries that we could afford. I hope that doesn't sound bad to you guys but we all know in almost every decision money is taken into consideration. Also Ethiopia is one of the countries that you can get babies. :)<br /><br />And those are the reasons :)<br /><br />Have a good rest of the weekend guys!!<br /><br />-SS&Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08875284343833451175noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35676797.post-23688883842263723162007-06-18T12:14:00.000-05:002007-06-18T12:16:32.885-05:00Immigrant Visas Issued from EthiopiaWow its amazing how much a couple celebrities can make a country popular! We did not go with Ethiopia because of celebrities have adopted there but who knows if they hadn’t if we would have found info on the web on agencies and groups?!?! <br /><br /><strong>Fiscal Year Number of Immigrant Visas Issued</strong><br /> 2006 - 731<br /> 2005 - 440<br /> 2004 - 289<br /> 2003 - 135<br /> 2002 - 105S&Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08875284343833451175noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35676797.post-44033506560058466402007-06-14T09:42:00.000-05:002007-06-14T09:44:26.757-05:00Harry Potter6 months 1 week and 1 day officially waiting for a referral but it feels like 6 years 6 months and 1 week LOL. Not much more I can say to that… <br />So lets switch gears totally. I am SO SO excited about the new Harry Potter book and movie!!!!!!!!!! The new trailer came on last night and I couldn’t get to bed right away cause I was just laying there thinking about it. We already preordered our books for the midnight release and our movie tickets for the midnight release :-) It’s so great to have something to look forward to. Is there nothing Harry cant do LOL Are there any Harry Potter fans out there? Any guesses on how the book ends? I think I might need a Harry Potter ticker on here ;-)<br /><a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/leastcmplicated/rickman.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a>S&Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08875284343833451175noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35676797.post-654171344976221112007-06-12T11:14:00.000-05:002007-06-12T11:23:22.251-05:00Baby TeethS dad sent us a bunch of dental stuff to send to the orphanage :-) He is the best!! I have terrible teeth so I hope my babys teeth will be taken care of from day 1! It’s a big heavy box so I have no idea how our agency is going to get it to Ethiopia but I am sure they get donations over there all the time. Anyway thanks Sdad!!!!!S&Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08875284343833451175noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35676797.post-74665950355296671712007-06-06T08:56:00.000-05:002007-06-06T10:10:42.660-05:006 months6 months today our dossier was sent to Ethiopia. I never thought I would make it this far without a referral. I should not be too terribly surprised when I think about it in months most people with our agency wait 6 months for a referral... I am surprised at how hard it is and I am terribley nervous we will not make it before courts close. Seriously it’s in the back of my mind all the time everything I do I am secretly thinking about courts closing. We are still doing a pretty good job at attempting to stay busy, we are painting the hall this week and S's dad comes into town in 2 weeks. I have gotten to a point where I really don’t care when I get a referral as long as it’s before courts close!!!S&Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08875284343833451175noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35676797.post-35717577840135251372007-06-04T10:14:00.000-05:002007-06-04T10:17:06.275-05:00Increasing Immigration Fees: I-600A and Certificate of Citizenship<strong>FYI..</strong><br />Are you planning on submitting immigration paperwork anytime before the end of the year? If so, you'd be wise to get moving soon on this paperwork. The USCIS has announced a hike in immigration application fees starting July 30. These new fee increases will affect most adoptive families at two points: when they are submitting their I-600A, and when they are applying for a certificate of citizenship for their children.<br /><br /><br />The fee for the I-600A Orphan Petition will increase from $545 to $750. The fingerprint fee (or biometric fee, as they now call it) has increased from $70 per applicant to $80. You will need to pay that $80 fee for each person 18 or older living in your household with you. One small good thing about this rate hike, though: the $750 orphan petition fee now includes the fingerprinting fee for one applicant. So you will only have to pay the $80 fee for the second parent and any other adults living in the home. <br /><br />Keep in mind that many immigration offices will allow you to submit the I600A without a complete homestudy. So if your homestudy is not complete and it is close to the end of July, I would recommend submitting the I600A without the homestudy, thus avoiding that increased fee. Of course they will not issue your I171H without the homestudy, but at least you will have avoided the higher fee.S&Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08875284343833451175noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35676797.post-63502194512784973952007-06-03T22:19:00.000-05:002007-06-04T08:23:42.213-05:00July 1stWell, we have started the countdown. Some of you have asked about courts closing and such, July 1st is the cutoff to get a referral before court close. 27 days and counting...S&Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08875284343833451175noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35676797.post-68506167291899838422007-06-01T10:32:00.000-05:002007-06-01T10:34:57.501-05:00ShotsWe got our 2nd round of Hep shots today. We are 98% covered for Hep A and 78% covered for Hep B or at least that’s what the brochure said. <br /><br /><a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/leastcmplicated/need.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a>S&Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08875284343833451175noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35676797.post-62533173057875612512007-05-31T09:23:00.000-05:002007-05-31T09:26:42.042-05:00Someone’s TimelineHere is a timeline of someone in our agency adopting a 6 month baby boy. This is what our timeline will probably look like… Again our dossier was sent to Ethiopia in December. <br /><br /><strong>July 7- Dossier sent to Ethiopia<br />Jan 15 - Referral<br />March 8 - Case submitted to court<br />April 5- Court date<br />May 5 – Travel </strong><br /><br />I know a lot of people wonder what the hold up is to referral or what happens after.. Hope this helps :-)S&Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08875284343833451175noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35676797.post-84150271255092837882007-05-30T10:10:00.001-05:002007-05-30T10:12:26.785-05:00NPR Melissa Fay GreeneOn the way to S brothers house I heard Melissa Fay Greene speak on NPR. Although this is an older show and I am sure most of you have heard this for those who haven’t enjoy!!<br />Man I LOVE NPR!!!<br />http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6381100S&Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08875284343833451175noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35676797.post-53669939222032263422007-05-28T21:01:00.000-05:002007-05-28T21:10:03.383-05:00More Clothes!We're back from Jacksonville and man, are we tired! We went to Busch Gardens on Sunday for 7 hours... I haven't done that in years! <br /><br />While we were there Christine drags out this MOVING box FULL of clothes for both Isaac and the orphanage... Thanks so much Christine and Nate, we love you so much!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/leastcmplicated/100_0825.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px;" src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/leastcmplicated/100_0825.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Can you spot Waldo... I mean O'Malley? :-)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/leastcmplicated/100_0826.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px;" src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/leastcmplicated/100_0826.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Thanks again!! Here's to another long week, even with today off...<br /><br />-SS&Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08875284343833451175noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35676797.post-75234140315139951182007-05-25T13:44:00.000-05:002007-05-25T13:46:48.989-05:00Darfur Petitionhttp://ga6.org/campaign/savedarfurcoalitionS&Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08875284343833451175noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35676797.post-30772648754299345922007-05-24T08:47:00.001-05:002007-05-24T08:47:09.304-05:00No NewsThanks everyone for the Birthday wishes!! I appreciate it all :D<br /><br />No news regarding Isaac unfortunately. *sigh*<br /><br />We are leaving for Jacksonville tomorrow evening to visit C's sister and brother-in-law. This should be a nice distraction to the long weekend. We are going to Busch Gardens :D yay roller coasters!!! It will be nice to see them and her other sister as well, I love going to Florida to visit them. We were hoping for a referral before we went down, but what are you gunna do right?<br /><br />Anyway, just wanted to post to let you know we are still with ya! Have a good and safe Memorial Day long weekend... no drinking and driving!!!<br /><br />-SS&Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08875284343833451175noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35676797.post-4144377484739396142007-05-21T08:23:00.001-05:002007-05-21T08:23:40.438-05:00Happy Birthday S!!!!<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/leastcmplicated/Happy_Birthday.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a>S&Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08875284343833451175noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35676797.post-18075707756118408182007-05-19T23:35:00.000-05:002007-05-19T23:48:57.023-05:00More Stuff.. Thanks VanessaWe've really been amazed with our friends and family, even people we don't know giving us stuff for Isaac, new and used. This stuff is from Gavin (walker is from Kim) someone we have never met. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqVLqMbQlzXJhtfWcNPjmG-DTsSWkjce55x_lHmkNnCCgrnprGrBQ7oBT7CN8BOeRHFpn2MwES6fnPXodNgc5uEm2nbIxCEGuLv9S8NqpxwHLtYUfqZ7lSOaT2TeY6uk197ucJxw/s1600-h/toys1.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqVLqMbQlzXJhtfWcNPjmG-DTsSWkjce55x_lHmkNnCCgrnprGrBQ7oBT7CN8BOeRHFpn2MwES6fnPXodNgc5uEm2nbIxCEGuLv9S8NqpxwHLtYUfqZ7lSOaT2TeY6uk197ucJxw/s320/toys1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5066497725679788402" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgSPx-VwN_jomHPm4Jof1Iwr8w8JrnFzqLBnP4Lr9omgLL8OUQ1w7OA9uoM4xKgDHUoHrgB9r0-xYM2uf6va63yXouYzlgWlKvBn5B5nOoisliyG2N_KGFjKWccFFvuPPrmWIQzA/s1600-h/toy2.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgSPx-VwN_jomHPm4Jof1Iwr8w8JrnFzqLBnP4Lr9omgLL8OUQ1w7OA9uoM4xKgDHUoHrgB9r0-xYM2uf6va63yXouYzlgWlKvBn5B5nOoisliyG2N_KGFjKWccFFvuPPrmWIQzA/s320/toy2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5066498825191416242" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv0ek9JOxI-tgYzL7SX7nLVoZ5uTKe5Wml128vCycDSW6HSHFNhx99lnLqW_0j3FC3WzkdELnMZ1sUFrBkGOI_wIeCScwAOnMei3KodDv94z9U3vLhUVNNtdOjmWL3ziI-wPeT2w/s1600-h/toy3.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv0ek9JOxI-tgYzL7SX7nLVoZ5uTKe5Wml128vCycDSW6HSHFNhx99lnLqW_0j3FC3WzkdELnMZ1sUFrBkGOI_wIeCScwAOnMei3KodDv94z9U3vLhUVNNtdOjmWL3ziI-wPeT2w/s320/toy3.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5066498107931877778" /></a><br />This one is from Grandpa Ziggy :-)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnB6w4-kqHPrqqXDq265VZn5NlxEcaGSnQIxXhNGklJEeYTEPULpbnEFYfF2hIzyFg9oQxOHrUz0IERpeHvtK9dWkuhevSTBrXD5ArXCqMZM8qXJJJXVCBjVeP2AzpIwAxGYVRIg/s1600-h/bibs.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnB6w4-kqHPrqqXDq265VZn5NlxEcaGSnQIxXhNGklJEeYTEPULpbnEFYfF2hIzyFg9oQxOHrUz0IERpeHvtK9dWkuhevSTBrXD5ArXCqMZM8qXJJJXVCBjVeP2AzpIwAxGYVRIg/s320/bibs.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5066498228190962082" /></a><br /><br />Thanks again to Gavin and Vanessa!S&Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08875284343833451175noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35676797.post-23133431904127922322007-05-17T09:06:00.000-05:002007-05-17T10:00:02.827-05:00No newsNothing going on here... Life is pretty much at a stand still waiting with anticipation for a referral. I asked S the other day “has anyone gone in the mental hospital because of waiting for a referral” we had a good laugh but secretly wondered. We are nowhere close to crazy now but give me a couple weeks LOL We have been staying busy I painted a mural in my friends baby nursery I will post pics later when she adds the finishing touches. Maybe I should go into the mural business? Well anyway just wanted to post that we are still alive and in spite of the tortures wait we are doing well.S&Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08875284343833451175noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35676797.post-12186364834247443092007-05-14T09:20:00.000-05:002007-05-14T09:21:09.898-05:00Next Year!Mothers day went better then I thought it would :-) I thought we would be sad cause we don’t have a referral yet but we stayed busy and hardly thought about it! I hope all the women out there that are ttc or adopting had as easy of a time as we did. Next year will be our year girls!!!S&Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08875284343833451175noreply@blogger.com3