Week 6

Our FBI fingerprint appt is behind us....

Met with Kathryn McClain this week. She gave me lots of useful, godly advice on how to help Danil through the first years of life. If there's anyone who understands adoption, it's Kathryn McClain.

A friend, Kate Ericson, finished the bedding for Danil's crib yesterday. It is sweet. And Carl likes it. Now I go in there about 2 or 3 times a day and imagine Danil in that crib.

Today we are headed to Alabama...we'll spend the night in Little Rock and complete the journey tomorrow. My family is giving us a small shower with close family and friends.

Thanks to my sis and parents for getting the four cases of diapers for us.

At the end of the week we'll make a quick trip to GA to see friends there.

Even keeping busy now is not taking my mind off the wait.

Week 5

We have an appt Thursday to do our FBI fingerprints. On Friday we are making a trip to AL, then GA.

Time is flying by. I wish I had something to tell you.

Week 4

My cousin, Bernie, from Ohio spent 4 days with us at the beginning of the week - just in time to experience the hottest days of our summer thus far in Dallas. He was with us from Saturday until Tuesday. I asked him if there was anything in particular he would like to do while in Dallas - the JFK Museum, the Aboretum, the Zoo...what else is there to do in Dallas? His only request was that we do things that wouldn't get in the way of conversation! YES! And so, in short, I spent 4 days talking to Bernie...literally, nonstop. Carl chimed in every now and then, but I think for the most part, Carl enjoyed the chance to give his mouth a rest and GLADLY gave Bernie the floor! HA! Seriously, we both thoroughly enjoyed Bernie's visit and appreciate his heart, his faith in God, his zeal and his love for others.

On Wednesday Carl and I had a conf. call with Paul Daniel's surgeon. I also met with a pediatrician who was recommended to me in order to help me prepare for our first few wks with Paul before his mouth is fixed AND to prepare for the plane ride back to the States. Our main concern is Danil's ears since it is inevitable that he will have ear problems having the cleft palate.

Thursday, my mom, sister, sister-in-law and their two babies came in from Alabama. Since my sister's 6month old (Garrison) slept in our nursery (next to our bedroom), I got practice waking up in the middle of the night to care for a baby. He was more than willing to give me LOTS of practice. This child goes from sound asleep to a blood-curling scream instantly - and at almost exactly 1:30am every night. The first night he did this I didn't know how to mix formula and hold the baby at the same time so I ran to our bedroom turned on the lamp causing Carl to sit straight up in bed which gave me the opportunity to thrust him into Carl's arms while I mixed up his bottle. I wish I could describe Carl's face - he was basically still asleep with his eyes opened. Carl doesn't even really recall the whole event but thinking about it makes me laugh out loud....

My family and I had a good visit. They brought lots of things for Paul...and they, too, enjoyed watching the videos. They headed back to Alabama Sunday afternoon.

We pray every day for Paul Daniel. I am trying not to worry about him, but I pull up his photos and videos about every other day. Please pray that Danil stays well, that he is getting the nutrition he needs and that we can get him as soon as possible. We had an 18mo. old baby come into today at my work (childcare at Cooper Aerobics.) The baby weighed 18 pounds...just like Paul Daniel. I held her a lot today and kept thinking...this is the SAME size as Paul Daniel!! Oh I can't wait to get him!

Week 3

I try to tell myself in the big scheme of things...what's another few weeks until we get to bring Danil home? But it is a big deal and all I know to do is pray and keep busy.

This week we had a meeting with our social worker, submitted another round of paperwork to our agency, found out immigration needs more paperwork from us, received the letter from immigration giving us our appt for FBI fingerprints and were supposed to have an appt with Danil's surgeon...only incredibly I forgot about the time zone difference and missed it. That meeting is now re-scheduled for next week. Carl and I are running as fast as we can go.

Today my cousin from Ohio is flying into town. He'll be here through Tuesday! I'm elated about his visit. Then on Wednesday my sister, nephew and mom will be in town. We're going to have a lot of fun together, I know.

I'm excited that today our friend, Lisa, is headed back to Siberia (3rd trip) to bring her son home. Please continue to pray for our son and that we get to go back as soon as possible.

(Please know that the posts from now until we get our son are just status reports...my posts will come alive again when we are back in Siberia and I have a little boy to talk about.)

Week 2

This week we went to get our x-rays at a chiropractor's office in Grand Prairie...took us an hour to get there but making the trip to his office saved us a whole bunch of money. And we found a good barbeque place where they serve PULLED pork! Felt like I was back in Alabama.

I took something back to Sear's this week and couldn't help but notice a 50% off sale on children's clothes. The things I bought are a size 4...I guess he'll grow into them around age 3 or so... which is fine. They'll still be cute then.

I wrote Gary Henry and told him how much we appreciated his articles. He gave us permission to print his articles on our blog whenever we want to...so I can assure you there will be more to come!! He is a true inspiration to so many and we appreciate him tremendously.

Lord willing we will be in Atlanta later this month, and then I will head on to Alabama by myself. Carl has to save up his vacation days for our last trip to Siberia.

Still have paperwork that we are putting together to complete our adoption.

Please, please pray that we get Danil in August!