Travel Vaccines...and we leave in 4 wks!

We go tonight to get our vaccines. Fortunately our trip to Africa in 2005 leaves us in good shape, we got most things then. We need HepA booster, HepB and Yellow fever. Some good news on that front--we were enrolled in a yellow fever vaccine clinical trial so J and I will make $575 for our trouble.
Not bad windfall $$ for the trip!

Bought our plane tickets--we fly out 3/25 and arrive 3/26 on Lufthansa (let's hope they resolve their strike), one stop, and best news--the lowest price I have ever seen to ET--$1200, and very best news--we got two sets on our credit card miles (good thing J and I are spendy and have lots of reward miles stored up on the credit card) and A is coming with us!

We are getting seriously excited. Mimi girl will be in our arms in no time!

Lauren

PS: We also needed Meningococcal. That one was the worst!

A video snippet!

Her brand new mobile, and crib toy!

I could be imagining it but doesn't she do a double take when she hears "mommy"?

Lauren

Embassy Date

Looks like we will move forward with the March 29 Embassy date. We want to get Lil' Mimi into our arms as soon as possible.

Reservations are not bad, one stop, through Frankfurt on Lufthansa. A has Good Friday off so he would only miss 5 days of school. We are waiting for his Principal to approve his absence.

Starting to mildly freak OUT.

Lot's of reno still to do.

Lot's of gear still to be gotten.

Ranger is a little concerned that he will have to sleep in the dog crate with Mimi like had to do with puppy Skyler. Or have to sleep with her draped over his belly like Jem and Scout did (and still do). We have assured him that he has done his part in raising the little ones, we'll take over now...



Lauren

Court

Court was to have been today.

But the Court closed! No reason given! Must have been sunny, or rainy! Beach day! Who knows? Those crazy kids...

Any way, we are rescheduled for tomorrow.

They asked for it:



They had better get their act together.

Lauren

From Jenny!

My e-friend from Italy is in ET to pick up her 10 mos old daughter H from an orphanage named Miskaye. D is at an orphanage called BZ but Jenny joined some other families at the goodbye coffee ceremony at BZ. Jenny is also a pediatric nurse. I asked her to hold D and cover her with loud sloppy kisses. Here is her report!

Lauren, we went to the goodbye ceremony at BZ today. They did a coffee ceremony and the nannies said goodbye to J and Y.

I held D for a long time. They call her Doo, Doony, and Dun-ee-ya, and Dunya. Very cute. She's petite and serious most of the time, but I saw her smile several times, especially for the nannies. They feed the babies every 2 hours even at night with fast flow nipples. (AHA! That's why they get so chubby!) The bottle they gave to me to feed Dunia was 4-5 oz and she drank about half of it and fell asleep and they were ok with letting her not finish the bottle.
I saw her butt-naked while we were there for a diaper and clothes change and I got 3 naked photos of her on Lissa's camera. She will send them to you. D looks great. She is alert, makes eye contact, babbles and coos, raises her chest and head while on her tummy, is not quite sitting unsupported yet, and puts some weight on her feet when you hold her upright. She has a bit of a belly but is not chunky like J and Y(yet). She is light skinned but not pale in my opinion. Whites of the eyes are white. Her eyes are watery (clear) and her nose is crusty with dried boogers. No cough. Very tranquil. The cribs are small and have a solid dividing wall between them so the babies don't interact with one another which is a shame. Definitely don't get much stimulation but I do not think they are neglected, so I know whatever delays she may have she will catch up. The mobiles are a fantastic idea. They need them. Her photo book of you guys is in her crib and we looked at it together. I gave her several wet loud smooches and millions of smaller kisses and told her over and over that you are coming. She liked that.

Gosh, my heart is breaking with joy and love.

The network of mom-friends that forms around adoption is a blessing. We keep each other propped up in so many ways. Thanks Jenny for this simple joy!

Lauren

PS: Just about every photo we get of D she has a dried booger in her nose! To be honest I have been photoshopping them out to spare you all, and me! When my lil' booger gets home she won't have those any more!! Enjoy the pic above of milky bliss!

another tidbit....

From a different traveling mom--

The orphanage is beautiful and clean and bright. The nursery is clean and there is someone in there constantly....the older babies are sitting, etc....which is great news!! Their cribs are clean and orderly and they seem very well cared for...

I still want to grab her and run.

Lauren

PS: I sent over a crib mobile and another mom did too. My goal is to have two per crib rig. I just scored four more on Ebay. The kids really need to have more stimulation. We are getting crib mirrors too. If you have anything you don't need, send it on to me, I'll get it over there.