A new day....some new measurements...

For a fun surprise today I opened my e-mail and found one containing updated measurements on our little cuties! The general jist of the information is that they are getting bigger, but still tracking along on the growth charts where they were back on May 19th. Of course I had to map it all out on the growth charts that I printed from the internet! For those of you who just want to know they are doing great and growing....they ARE. For those of you who are also numbers people, here is the lastest.

Tesfahun is now:
26.9 inches tall (3%)
18 lbs, 4 oz. (10%)
17.9 inch head circ. (25%)


Zenete is now:
25.6 inches tall (not on the US charts)
16 lbs, 4 oz. (3%)

16.9 inch head circ. (10%)

Eliana also didn't even land on the charts for the longest time. She has finally leveled out at the 25% for everything. So, I think these numbers look good... considering they are little Ethiopian kids. I just keep reminding myself to expect them to be small. That way if they look big, it is a bonus.

Love from all,

Jill and Tony and Eliana Marda

New pictures!

We were so excited to receive in the mail yesterday a CD from our Social worker FULL of pictures! It had 58 on it, to be exact! 58 amazing and wonderful pictures of our new babies. What a gift. And I really can't wait until the moment I can post some of them.

It has now been officially 3 weeks since we got the call. Those weeks have gone by pretty painlessly, and I hope the next 3 or 4 do as well. I am hoping that we will get the travel call within the next month or so. It seems like most families lately have been traveling within 8 weeks or so. And our SW said that they only call from Ethiopia if there is a problem with the process. SO, no news is really good news.

Meanwhile we just continue to get things ready around here. Organizing, washing little clothes, putting things away. Looking at pictures and dreaming up names.

Can't wait for the day we hold you, little ones!

Love,

Tony, Jill, and Eliana

A New Visa Record!!!

Well, not only is Ethiopia the home of very fast runners. It seems that it also is the home of very fast Visa producers! The Ethiopian Embassy in Washington D.C. once again came through in record time! We sent our passports to them for Visas on Thursday and already got them back in the mail on Tuesday! Our previous record with Eliana's adoption was 6 days, but they beat it by one day...and over a weekend, too! It is good to have that taken care of and out of the way. We now have up to date passports with Visas inside stacked neatly in a pile! Waiting for the word to travel...

While we are waiting, I thought I would post some of the things that Horizon House (the care center the twins are in) and other orphanages in Ethiopia are in need of. That way if anyone wants to donate anything we can bring it with us when we go. Here is the list:

DONATIONS NEEDED FOR HORIZON HOUSE AND
OTHER INSTITUTIONS IN ETHIOPIA

Neosporin or antibiotic ointment
Hydrocortisone creams
Infant and child Motrin, Tylenol or other fever reducer
Pedialyte or Kaolyte (preferably powdered form)
Infant and child decongestants
Infant and child vitamins
Children’s Vitamin D supplements
Milk based infant formula (Similac is preferred)
Sheets for children
Infant clothing
Bactoban ointment
Alcohol Swabs
Saline spray or drops
Anti fungal ointment and tablets
Antibiotics
Petroleum jelly
Semilac formula milk in powder form. Semilac with iron preferred.
Nystantin (Mycostatin)
Standard bottle nipples
New or like new condition children’s shoes
New or like new condition children’s clothing (infant to 14 years of age)
Developmental toys for children
Baby shampoos
Baby bath soap
Baby oil
Baby powder
Body wipes
Infant toddler and size diapers
Disposable surgical masks and gloves.
School supplies
Books for very young children ( board books and easy readers)
Polaroid Film

Well, that's all that's new for today.

Love, The Geselle 3 (soon to be 5)

Fully Operational Hope

And so we wait....We were expecting our SW to be in the office today and home from Ethiopia, but I just found out that her trip got extended and she will be staying there another week or so. We were hoping to get more info and pictures of Tesfahun and Zenete. She was sweet enough to send me a little e-mail telling us a bit more of their personalities and also her hopes that we will make it through the courts in time. She didn't say we WOULD..... :(


But, then again....she said she is HOPEFUL....


We are, too. I am attaching her e-mail comments below.
Love, Jill

*********************************************************************

Jill: the kids are great! smiling, laughing, playing outside. Constantly moving, very curious kiddos, love to explore. Court: It has been getting a bit more difficult but families continue to travel within the 3 month mark. We are hopeful that your family will be here this summer (but I can't guarantee it!). Tsegaye and his team are moving as quickly as possible to complete the legal process. Warmly, e.

Preparation and Excitement...

We are just about 2 weeks out from our referral call and the excitement just seems to keep building. We are in a flurry of activity. It all feels a bit surreal, but it is becoming more and more real as time goes on. We can hardly wait to go get our little Tesfahun and Zenete.

I feel like I could be completely, deliriously happy if I was 100% SURE that we would make it through the Ethiopian courts before they close. The thought of leaving our precious little babies there any longer just kills me. Now that I know who they are.....I really want them NOW! But who can blame me? They are SO cute. I think our chances are good that we will make it in time. It is all in God's hands, and I know that trusting Him is really our only option.

Our Home Study expires on June 17th, so we recently sent off all the one year refresher stuff so that we will have a completely updated home study to take with us to Ethiopia. We also sent our passports to the Ethiopian embassy in Washington D.C. to get our visas. So, now we have all the paperwork in and it is hurry up and wait time.

Our SW (Social Worker) from WHFC (Wide Horizons for Children), Erica, will be back in the office tomorrow. We are really hoping that she is going to have some more pics of our little beauties for us!

That is all for now....