This has got to be one of my new favorite pictures that Stephen has taken. When I first saw it all I could do was just look at it, and think. On the outer most part of the rose are tiny little thorns protecting it, then it has a bud leaf cover to protect the rose inside. It is just about to open and let it's beauty blossom out. I love it for what it stands for in so many ways.

By the way this rose is from a row of bushes that has been around since I was a little girl. It's smell is heavenly to me. This summer while the first blooms took place I was taken back many times to my childhood summers here with Grandpa. It was such a wonderful experience. I remember hiding along side his garage that we were never allowed to go into and just stand there with our backs to the wall eating or should I say sucking the nectar from the honeysuckle plants. Just knowing we were that much closer to Grandpa and the forbidden place. Taking our three bikes down to the candy store for (are you ready for this one) penny, nickel and dime candy. There was six of us so two on each bike and yes we used the handle bars. At night we would play "kick the can" & sleep out in the front yard. Crazy my kids would never sleep in the front yard, but that was a different life then. It has been fun having all these memories back with smells, sights, and sounds. Somethings never change. Oh and by the way the air has the exact same smell when it rains as it did when I was little. I would swear the dirt has never left the driveway, I loved to lick as a kid. Gross but true.. Germs & me, I would have never guessed.

This is a face I just love (lg), and it just wouldn't be the same without some kind of ouh-wee. His eyes are always full of what he is feeling. You never find yourself wondering what is (lg) thinking. He will use those eyes to get loves, hugs, his own way, daddy time, food, bottle, time-outs, candy, play-time, and yes his new favorite friend ELMO.

Can we say DRAAAAAAMA

We have seen BB really blossom in swimming this summer. He can swim to you from about 20 feet away, he loves the water. His favorite type of swimming is underwater rockets.

He can go to the bottom and loves his goggles. On friday Daddy took time off to watch BB swim, I just knew he had to see for himself what I was seeing. BB has one of the most beautiful forms, he can hold this very calm perfect stroke, both on his front and back it was soooo awesome to see coming from a little guy. He could truly be the next Olympic swimmer. Diving is his latest thing and he is learning the art of that. He not so sure about the diving board.

He is such a tender sweet kid.

The lord has blessed us to have both sides of the apple with our children and I am so glad he has. Life just wouldn't be the same, I have had to learn new things with each one of them and it is just not possible to teach the same thing to them in the same way. So we become like taffy pulled, stretched and sweetened.

Zimmerman the Goldendoodle

(dad-Golden Retreiver * mom-Standard Poodle)

He is the most sweetest boy, loves the kids and his Belle. We would have to say for a family dog he tops the charts. Zim didn't just come that way it has taken alot of work, just ask daddy. Some of the kids favorite tricks are: stick-em up, high-five, sit & down. "BB" taught him even how to sniff. He is a great trick-dog.
He is at 67 bls and takes about 1 hour to groom. Everyone seems to ask if we are going to cut that hair and the answer is no. We love it, he reminds us of a crazy rocker.

Belle our French Sheep Dog

What a beautiful pic of Belle the Briard

Daddy took this photo and it has made it on the top 500 photos with "Flicker"

A day after surgery, no more babies.

Beautiful Belle, if you only could see the way she prances, when I walk with her people will comment on the way she happily trots along side me. She is my baby & I love her.

What a soft face.

"Big Brother" (BB) on the pony @ the carnival
"little guy"(lg) is being pulled in the cart by "coco"

"coco" and "Big Brother" playing a pioneer game called stickpull

"Cotton Candy" Yummie! there was still one more bought after this, and as you can see by ZeeZee she had allready eaten most of that one.

We had such a fun day!!!

Just for fun!

It was pioneer day on the 24th and we had a great time lighting off the fireworks. "Big Brother"(BB) of coarse loved it and "little guy"(lg) had to also be part of it. He is just starting to do everything that brother does. Since brother would sit and hold the "next" firework to hand to daddy, he to thought this was the thing to do. It was so cute. The funny thing is is though when it comes to things that take great bravery; can we guess who starts that one? Yep its the "little guy" (lg). He has no fear. We just love them both; when you want a relaxed easy going time its "Big Brother"(BB)you want; when you want crazy, wild, and dangerous just call "little guy"(lg). As you will see in these next pictures "little guy"(lg) started this on his own, and "Big Brother"(BB) follows that call.

This look you see on "little guy"(lg) is his common under bite. So funny he is saying cheeeeese. "Big Brother"(BB) started out just on the seat and as he became braver he ended here in this position. Pretty Good I thought.

Musical News!!!!!!!!!

I have started to contact local stores and I am so excited we have received our first musical commitment from a music store here locally. Next week we can go a pick up triangles, blocks, small hand drums, sticks, and what ever else he may have. What a blessing this is going to be for these children who have nothing. As I spoke with the orphanage coordinator she expressed the value of music to these little ones. Many come to their care and are scared or sad because of the loss the have experienced. Music helps to lighten their moods they begin to open up and heal. I am so grateful that we all have this opportunity to help the Lord bring joy, happiness, love and gladness into their lives, they truly need it. I will post pics at another time of these instruments. I have made the decision to go to Ethiopia with my couple pairs of pants, and some other things that only I care to know about and fill the rest of the bags with the gifts that are donated. Thank to all who are show interest in this wonderful cause. I realized after I posted last time I didn't leave an e-mail for you to contact me, here it is:

thethomascentergifts@yahoo.com

We send our Love and Thanks

Service Projects

We have already begun to put together some service projects and thought it would be nice to open it to all. I have talked with the coordinater and got a list of the most needed items. So these are the projects we will be working on:

Music -the items can't be anything that would go in the mouth, and needs to be able to be cleaned often. This is due to sickness and diseases which are common.

Activity Bags - crayons, color books, pencils, pens, rulers, erasers, sharpeners, markers (washable), picture cards, and we also need bags made (if someone want to help but needs the material for the bags I am very happy to supply the material needed)

First-aid supplies - bandages (all-kinds), band-aids, neosporin, lotion, vasoline,any small first-aid items would be great.

If you are interested in doing something, please e-mail me and let me know what your desires are. We will be loading all items into luggages and bring them with us. It will be a truly wonderful experience and you will get to see pictures and a story of where these items went & to who. It is not often that we have an opportunity to make such a big difference in the lives of others far away and get to see & hear that story personally. These are a few options:

Buying the items and sending them to us,

You can donate money towards a specific item,

the money can be mailed to us

or can be placed in the fund account created specifically for this cause.

(we will be sending out a mass e-mail with more info on this fund account)

Above all we want you to know that we don't expect anyone to give, we just felt it was such a wonderful experience that we truly just wanted to share in the blessings that will come to others.

We love you all,

Thank you for being so wonderful and supportive.

Pioneer Day - What a Day

I just had to blog tonight. What a great day it has been. It is Pioneer Day weekend, and once again I was reminded of what a great place we live in. You really couldn't ask for more.

We woke up this morning fixed an awsome breakfast with eggs, pancakes, saugage, bacon & toast. Then did some dishes (twice) and off to swimming lessons we went. Stayed right where we were park and walked to the carnaval (other side of parking lot). Kids played in the jumper, climb a rock wall (in a jumper tunnel), played games (pioneer ones), a pony ride, ate cotton candy, snow cones, hot dogs, corn on the cob for 4 kids and a toddler we only spent 20$. I taught that was pretty good. after that headed for the dollar store & Kmart to start collecting items for the service projects we are working on for the children at "Thomas Center" that is the name of the orphange were we will be going. Then of to the house to play in some water & take a brake before we headed back out for the parade and firework show. It was so great, the kids loved it and were very tired by the evening. I will post pictures in my next blog. Once again, I couldn't go thru the day with out thinking about our soon to be kid(s). It is wild how you can already love someone you have never even meet or seen, but that is how I feel.

Comments

F.Y.I.

Anyone can now comment. I have changed the settings and you no longer have to create a blog to comment, all you need to do is click on the comments button and it will open a window you your notes. I love hearing from you and often even go back in time to check on any new posts.

Thanks

Just some Thoughts!!

As the time goes by I have had so many thoughts. I wanted to share one in particular. As I have ran around town doing my daily things, I have thought so much about how life well be for the new one(s). I have thought about all the fun things, she/he will be able to do. Like:

Swim classes

Water Parades

Candy Parades

("Big-Brother" is the only boy and they made him drop his candy!! Just for a hug!)

Gymnastics, parks, singing with us, playing music, dancing with mommy which can get really crazy. Just ask "Big-Brother". Story time, lots of hugs and kisses, scriptures, church, cooking food, eating good food, traveling, having a good family, there are so many things I have thought about and I am sure you get the point. We live in a land with so many options. Even our desserts come in many shapes, sizes, flavors, and looks. And for that I am grateful.

I am so grateful that Heavenly Father is blessing us with this opportunity. Just having them be a part of our family is a blessing for us all.

Ouch!!!!!


I have just spent the last hour writing and just lost the post. Boy that can make you mad.

Well I guess if I am going to get over it I had better start over.

It has been some time since the last post. We have been very busy with so many things. As of lately we have been taking a class online. We have spent 10+ hours since the end of last week. Starting at about 9:30 pm and going till midnight each night, and as for today we spent just over 3 hours and finished the course. Thank goodness. I would have to say it was not the most positive of courses I've taken. I think they try to scare away the weak by doing so; and for those who are left you feel like you need to go on a hunt for some positive stories. Well none-the-less we have finished it and we are so glad. We have also been working on our medical Clarence. Physicals, blood work, and shots for travel:

I sneaked in this photo with our phone while she went out to get another shot me. I thought it would be great. Hopefully when she came back I didn't look guilty. HA!HA!
As most of you now my dear husband loves shots and getting his blood drawn. Ya right! So he was next after me. He made it; he's still here with us.
So with the online class done we have well be working next on our Q&A's. There are only about 15 pages of this. And then we will begin our letter to the Ethiopia government request adoption of child and telling them exactly why we would like a child from Ethiopia and not Africa. We are very excited for that part of the processes as we have such a great desire and back ground for choosing this place.

OOOOOOO's

Just a one more. We had so much fun today. Learning how to say sounds and words he was really into it. Daddy was being camera man. Thank you daddy.

A Fun Day

Mommy and the boys playing peek-a-boo

Just mommy and me!

This is a normal meal at my table. Who's is it? Can you guess?

The younger eats everything and look what he can do.

Aren't kids great!!!!

Journaling........... Today was a great day at church. In our last class today we talked about journaling and how important it is. I can say that I have not been the best at journal keeping. I start and stop with large gaps. But today as I sat there listening to the comments being made I thought about something really special. The gift that this child(ren) are/is given/ing to our whole family is the gift of journaling & recording all these experiences. Because of them I have started writing, and they don't even know it yet. My heart has been filled to overflowing with feelings and they will have these feelings written down to know just how mommy felt.
I must say it is not easy, today while leaving church I even thought oh man this is not a private journal. But "who cares" was my next thought. I don't need to be worried about that. This experience has been quite different from being pregnant. The feelings feel different the excitement feels different and I am not sick. It has been wonderful though. And I just can't wait to know who she is, what her name is and what she looks like. So in that way it is very much the same.

We have officially started the Home Study. WOW!!!!! More paper work. Since Stephen and I have lived in way too many places we have ran into a delay of sorts. While doing our check with the FBI they will need to do an extra check for individual states we've lived in. We were told that it can take 8-12 weeks. The Home Study can't be closed until that is complete. So I was feeling a little bummed, and then I quickly remembered that all is well and the child the lord intends us to have will be ready at that prefect moment. So once again maybe we need the extra time anyways.

We had the fire marshal over today. Everything went well; we need to fix a couple minor things and that was all. I also got to meet our social worker for the first time. Well I am sure she was left with a great picture of us. Paxson had to be told about 4 times to stop doing the same thing. And Izzac showed her what he was made of, by slapping mommy across the face. Well he is two, and has such a small vocabulary that he is expressing his wants and needs in the WRONG way. We are working on that. So we will see just how good we do. We are good parents, I know we are, but does she? HA!HA!

We love you all

This has to be one of my favorites. We just came back from swim lessons.

What a hairdoo.
Expression

Well it's time to get back to our story.

After we left the family reunion I don't even think that there were any doubts in our minds. We didn't just come out and say it, but I think it was there. As we drove down the road that night our conversation about adoption was equal. Remember it had not been that way in the past and now it was. We were thinking very seriously about it. I loved each moment of it. I even thought to myself just enjoy it and maybe it will stick, and so I did.

When we got home the search started. I must have looked at 30 different agencies, and that included domestic and international. For us we just kept coming back to international for many reasons. We then picked three places each. Our lists were different from each others. After we gathered more info on requirements for stays in each country and costs, we soon had our list narrowed down to a couple of places. And boy was I happy it was headed straight for my #1 & #2 picks.

While at the family reunion our camera took its final dump on us. The zoom was gone. We have given Paxson his first camera, & he loves it. This next few parts are some of my favorites, (Stephen is such a sweetheart and can make some of the sweetest comments).

The next day after our narrowing of places Stephen had to go down and pick up some film he had dropped off. As he entered the home he had a huge bag of stuff in his arms. He just smiled at me as he came down the stairs and said we will need a new camera to take pictures of our new baby. He hadn't ever said yes, we are adopting and let’s put in our papers, but at that moment I knew exactly what he was saying. Yes, let’s do this. Yippee!!!! My heart was now at mock 4. I can't recall now if it was latter that day or the next morning, but I came down to his office and he showed me a picture on his camera. It was Ethiopia zoomed in real tight. He had decided and I knew it. This picture is the one posted here in the first post. All I could do was just hug him tight. What a champ of a man. He has let himself look and feel beyond his own fears and to feel what is right for our family. In my opinion that is a GOOD MAN, and I am so grateful to him.

So the rest is paper work.......

We have been learning all we can about Ethiopia in our extra time. We were able to meet a family who lives only 15 mins. from us, they adopted from Ethiopia last year. She has been a great resource. Here in down town Salt Lake they have a branch that meets every 1st Sunday of the month. The Genesis Group was established to meet the needs of Black members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, many of whom were descendants of early pioneers, with the hope of reactivating those who had left the Church and of supporting new converts of African descent. It was established in 1971 under the direction of President Harold B. Lee with the assistance of Elders Gordon B. Hinckley, Thomas S. Monson, and Boyd K. Packer.
Everyone is welcome to attend. The monthly meetings feature a fireside format with guest speakers, a Black gospel song as a practice hymn, and testimonies. The organization operates with Relief Society, Singles, Youth, and Primary auxiliaries.

We have been told that they sing African music and dance; the testimonies shared are just amazing. We were told you come away a different person and never wanting to miss a meeting. We are truly excited and so happy that we have something like this to take our family to.

We have also been learning about foods so our new friend told us of the only Ethiopian market & restaurant here local. So we went down today to buy some Teff so we could start making Injera. This is a crepe like bread that your food is served on and eaten with. So, yes eventually you eat your "table cloth". That is how it is describe. We really enjoyed it. It is packed with spices so if your tummy is sensitive like mine you might want to start out lite. I told Stephen I will be bringing with me some meal bars just in-case. And for all of you that know me really well yes I am already putting a plan together for my bottle water. HEE HEE!!!!!! Can't live without it.

Tonight during our story/scripture time we also had a family talk about the adoption with Paxson. We have talked with him before but we were feeling like he just might not totally understand. I wish that everyone was as accepting as little ones are. I asked him how he would feel if all he had to color with was a yellow crayon. He said not fun, boring. And then I asked him about all the colors and how those made him feel to have so many. He smiled and said he liked that and it was fun and not boring. And so we told him that Heavenly Father has made all of us and how wonderful it is that we all look different. He just smiled his big smile of approval. I love him; he has such a huge heart for everything and everyone. I am so grateful for a son like him.

Bye-Bye for now..............

He had such a great time on 4th of July.
Can you tell? I thought that he might be
afraid of the fireworks & loud sounds
but he just had ohhhhh & awhhh to say.










This is one of Stephen's best pictures from that night.










He was sooooo excited as if it doesn't show.
We love our boys.

At this time we have begun our paper work. It seems all very overwhelming. There are so many forms & certificates needed, it is crazy. All forms must have two that are certified originals, and the other two that need to be notarized copies. We have applied for our passports, got 4 copies of all our birth, & marriage records. Asked friends for notarized references, Extra passport pictures, and as I look at the list of things they want I truly feel like we haven't even put a dent in the "paper chase".

We should be seeing our Social Worker by next week, and then back to more paper work we go. We will need the police to run a check on us, have the fire dept. over to inspect the home, pictures of us and the house, get medical releases of health, bank statements, employment letters, I am still not even done with the first page of things they need, there is still 2 more pages of things. So to spare you the stress as we are already feeling we will just stop here.

I am sure that after all the paper work stuff is done I will be able to relax a bit more. MAYBE...... Or will I just be to excited to get to the next step of bring our child home. Yep I think so.....

As some of you may be wondering what are the Shelton's wanting? Boy or Girl? Can you guess? I bit you can! Yes, we are wanting a girl, or should I say I am wanting a girl more than anything. Actually I would really like one of each. The girl being the youngest. This is something we have to choose at this stage of adoption. Our adoption coordinator was such a great help with this. She was great at explaining how the system works, and that has help us to know what it means to keep yourself open to options.

We have talked and prayed about this and have decided that we would like a girl 2 or younger; if the little girl has a sibling we are open to decide if that is right for us having the other child 5 or younger. So of coarse I am praying for a little girl with an older brother, and Stephen is hoping for the little girl. But no choice will be made without the guidance of our Heavenly Father confirming what is right.

This week has been a lot of fun. 4th of July and here in Utah they really have a lot to do. There are many parades which are fun for the kids. And lots of fireworks shows.

So now that we have come to this point in the story you can start to see what types of effects pregnancy(s) have on our family. But we still felt like our family wasn't complete. What does a person do with those feelings? I know what I have been doing. I have thought that I could ignore them or maybe even put them off. I have wondered where my brains have gone in subjecting ourselves to months of sickness, stress, pain, bed rest, many DR appointments and not to mention what they do to me at those appointments. NOT fun at all. And as for my sweet dear husband being left with everyone of my daily tasks, and still do his own work, and be a daddy. It just feels impossible.

But, with all this said I do believe in the power of the Priesthood and truly believe that with a blessing and Heavenly Fathers guidance anything is possible. As the months have gone by and the feelings of needing to still add to our family was there, we wanted to do just that. I asked for a blessing and received a beautiful blessing. I know that Father would and will do those things he has blessed me with. As the days passed I still found myself feeling the heavy load that would be placed upon our family and those around us. Now remember I have always wanted to adopt and it just seemed so right to me. Stephen up to this point was not quite sure though. So what did I do, I did what I have done every time I wanted a child and my sweetheart just wasn't quite ready. I placed that task on the Lord. I could and would express my desire, but I can not nor do I want to force him to feel what I am feeling unless he to has that same desire. So you see I have gone to Lord in faith each and every time asking him that should my feelings be what is truly right, then to please soften and change him, because I can't. You know the most amazing thing has happened each time. Sometimes it has been immediate and other times it has taken longer. But none the less Stephens’s heart has been softened. He is a one child man, two is the topping, and three is a lot. Get my point.

I have always wondered why? Why do I have so many problems and why couldn't I even just have "normal" pregnancy sickness? I can't help but to think that this too was all part of Heavenly Fathers plan. He knows were my heart has lied for soooooo many years. He knows the many times I have prayed for this opportunity. And he knows what help we may need at times to bring us to points of decisions. What if my body could handle pregnancy like a champ? My wonderful husband & I just might have been satisfied with our biological children. Just a thought but it is a real one that looks very likely.

By the time I lost the last one and even before while still pregnant and sick, I just kept reminding Stephen of how nice it would be if someone else could bare our child. He did agree. At least I think he did. And as of more recent I have brought up the joy it would bring me to not have to go thru it again.

A couple of weeks ago we had a family reunion, and I am so glad we were able to make it. During those couple of days some pages were turned our book in regards to this topic (children) and I am so glad they did.

Thank you Blaine!!!!! When you entered the room up at the family reunion I looked at Stephen and said you know this is not good. This is going to melt my heart. And you did just that, and more. You also melted my dear sweet Stephen heart to. Things are always better when you get to see for yourself the beauty of life. So for the first time in our married life we were on the same page, feeling the same feelings, with regards to adoption. And do you know what happened to me I could run with something I had always wanted & hope for, and so I have. The Lord answered our prayers.We have prayed and fasted and have felt the Lords comfort and assurance that this is where our family needs to go.

Isn't that so beautiful, & wonderful? The Lord knows what each of us needs and sometimes He provides it to us in ways that sometimes seem not so fun and just when you feel it just might not happen He backs it up with the very blessing & opportunity you have been asking for. I love it.


I can not put claim on being a great writer (I even thought I might hire Kevin to really bring forward my feelings) but I hope that each of you who come to read our story find something here, that causes you to be happy you have. This is going to be an experience for us that will change our lives forever and we would like you to be apart of it.

So many of you have been so supportive and kind, we Thank You for that kindness. And for those of you who have not buck-up and join the fun.


Ethiopia Education Corner

Languages spoken include Amharic, Tigrinya, Orominga, Guaraginga, Somali, Arabic, other local languages, English (major foreign language taught in schools)

Here are a few words in Arabic:

Hello - Ahalan//Goodbye - Ma'a ElSalama//Thank you - shokran //You're welcome - Ala ElRahib Wa ElSaa//Zero - Sifer//One - Wahid//Two - Ithinin//Three - Thalatha//Four - Arba'a//Five - Kamisa//Six - Sita//Seven - Saba'a//Eight - Thamania//Nine - Tisa'a//Ten - Ashara

Well, I should start us out from the very beginning. This adoption and the very place that we have picked did not come from a one night thought.

I can remember being very young and always loving Africa, and the people of many different backgrounds. At that time I didn't know just how different each country could be from one another. I was young. To me they were all the same and I loved them.

So about the time I reached middle school we were given a project to pick a country and do a report on it. And so I went on a mission to find the place that spoke to my heart. This was hard at first because I liked all of them. And then I remember just knowing that Ethiopia was it. It’s the place and the people I wanted to study and report on. I wish I still had that report; it would have made a great family keepsake.

Well, as I grew up I still had a love in my heart for any and all people of African descent. I would hang on to friendships like they meant everything to me. Putting it simple, I just loved the people. Hoping that one day I could be a mother to a child from Africa.

Well many years passed and in 97 I was married to a wonderful man. As we would talk it seemed that this hope & wish just might never come true. And yes it would break my heart each time thinking that that was possible. We were able to have children, but not with out a truck load of problems. It really was a truck load. Including infertility problems.

Paxson - he is our oldest at just 5 (soon to be 6), we could not have asked for a sweeter boy, he has always had a sense for feelings and has always been such a comforter to others. I can't forget the sickness, bed rest of 3.5 mths, and wow the water retention. 1"+ hole that would be left after pushing on my skin. YUCK!
45.5 hours of labor, yes that was Thursday to Saturday and then to end it with a C-section. And a beautiful big boy @ 8lbs12.5oz. What a journey.

Izzac - Was our second. Very early in my pregnancy with him I had a "mommy feeling" that he would be my little guy. Not knowing exactly what that would mean other then he would just be a little guy. He is now 2 yrs and all monster. (I mean that in a good way) Basically, he keeps you right on the edge of your seat and on your toes almost always. We love him, & he can make you laugh so hard. Sickness increased from Paxson's causing me to be one day from being put on an I.V. in the home at all times. And at 28 wks my water bag broke and off to the doctor's I went just to stay there until the baby was born. At 28 weeks your heart just crumbles. Will he live?, how long can I hold him in for so he can grow?, the questions just come by the dozens. I was given a steroid that was for his lungs and just started to pray with many others (Thank You). We made it two more weeks, and I was so grateful for each one of those days he laid in my tummy, happy and thriving. I just knew that once he was out things would slow down dramatically for him. He was born just over 3lbs. WOW! That was great for only being 31weeks that day. He stayed there in the NICU for 9 weeks putting him at full term. It was hard; those nine weeks were full of stretching myself in ways you never think are possible. Will he live or not, will he be on a feeding tube or not, will he be able to maintain his body heat or not, can they find the problem this week or not, oh it was an experience that I would rather say I didn't want. But at the same time it is some of the most precious moments I wouldn't trade for anything. I am glad he is a monster; he needed it to make it through.

Levi - he was next, with him I think at least once a day I wondered if I was so crazy to be doing this again. I was SICK. This time it was I.V's and it got to where I would just go every to day to get my fluids and food thru them. It was awful, truly awful. Well unfortunately for us we do not have Levi here to find joy in his everyday actions. I have what is called IC (Incompetent Cervix). So we lost our beautiful tiny boy #3 just at 13wks. And that was a very special experience too. I went into actual labor and headed for the hospital just hoping it wasn't so. The doctors and nurse were not expecting me to be carrying even what they would call a real baby. It was sad. After much “standing my ground" they finally got me an ultrasound. You see, they wanted to do a DnC. And I knew that my baby was alive and fine and that I was not going to let them take his life that way. And sure enough he was as happy as any other little baby in their mommy's tummy. Even the ultrasound technician was so happy to report that he looked great and was sure they would send me home. I was the one who had to let her know that I was dilating and would have no option but to let nature take it course. He stretched across my fingers with his head hanging over the edge. And he was a boy; it was the most amazing picture I had ever seen. At that age and he was perfectly formed with ribs, toes, fingers, ears with little holes, nose with little holes, eyes that were closed, arms , legs, and even a tiny little bum bum. He was precious. And we loved him.


To be continued

Hi! This is Ethiopia. The country where we will be adopting our new family member. It is a fascinating country with a long history and rich culture. We are very excited for the adventure on which we are about to embark.









So far, everything has been paperwork, paperwork, paperwork. Passports, birth certificates, dossiers, Oh my! The faster we can get everything signed, notarized, and sent, the faster things will happen.

So here is what our baby girl looks like so far. Boxy!