Need to take a break from obsessing about what is going on adoption-wise! Weekends are great for that! So here are a couple of highlights from school last week:

Field Trip with our friend, Teressa, to the MLK Jr. Center. It was very cool and the kids had a lot of fun! 

After numerous times telling the kids, "No dirt on the patio!", how could we be mad when Vinny made "Franklinstein" with some dirt, azaleas, and the swing...it even has plant knobs sticking out of the neck!

We finished up our Monet study yesterday with a little painting. Here are the kids' versions of one of Monet's waterlilies paintings. 

"We would like to inform you the consular section completed screening for your Form I-600 petition. We will now begin the review of orphan status for the I-604, Determination on Child for Adoption."
So that is what we got today.

Then we found out Friday night that beginning some time in April travelers will no longer be able to get their Visa at the airport. We have to apply for it before leaving. Hard to do when you do not have a date!
Are you KIDDING me?? We are THIS close to travelling, and they are screwing with the entry Visas.

 OK. I think that we have hit every obstacle there is. What next?? Dare I ask...

"Congratulations! Your adoption case has been submitted to the U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia."

OK, this is the first thing I found this morning when checking email. I am hoping it is a good sign and not just something to get our hopes up...cross your fingers, folks!
This is one family that is READY to go!

Just so you remember what she looks like:

Recap Friday...Mimi told me she had pooped and it looked "something like a raccoon's tail." Ummm...not sure what to do with that kind of info!

Amid all the pooping, Natan announced he wanted to ride the "big" bike. No training wheels. So Mimi and I set out to teach him.

I instinctively held on to him as he started off, to which he replied, "I can do it by myself!" 

And he did. I admit, I got choked up. Natan has changed so much from the time he was first officially diagnosed and we realized we would approach things with him a different way. Watching him zip down the road--without falling--made me realize that no, he will never be cured. But he is learning in leaps and bounds how to cope and survive. And most of all, to be happy! 

(Video is silent and a little blurred, but you get the idea!)

Saturday, we had a blast watching Mimi and Natan on their soccer teams play this season's first game. Jason and I switched halfway through since they play at the same time, on different teams.

First Game!

Today's Happiness:
1. Mimi ROCKED at soccer last night...fiercest gal out there!!
2. Paperwork will be at Immigration Monday morning. Let the games begin...
3. Someone from Senator Isakson's office is seemingly giving a crap. Thank you!!
4. Natan is getting his US passport--much easier to travel now!
5. All four of my kids want to go to the following places: 

• Giverny, France to sit in Monet's garden; 
• Ellis Island to see the Statue of Liberty; 
• a desert; 
• Brazil to be in a rain forest; 
• Mars.

Ahhh...successful home schooling!!!

 

The kids wants to move to Monet's house...Who WOULDN'T want to live here?? (Of course, Vinny is sitting with me right now and just said, "I would like to pick my nose at his house..." OK, maybe not so successful!!!!!!

 

Mimi would like to paint this!

First my pity party, then some pictures.


I just want ONE person at:
1. Immigration;
2. Our sorry-ass adoption agency; or
3. Our state rep's Office
to give a crap about our adoption.
ALL we want is to bring home our daughter. Why the (you go ahead and insert what you'd like here--I am partial to a little f-bomb myself) can this not happen? 
It is ONE form. Does it really take 3 MONTHS to file this? It's been approved once already. 
We are her legal parents. 
We just can't bring her home.
I have hit rock bottom. I think. I don't really know what that feels like.
But...just when I am feeling my worst, I am reminded of what we have here and now, and that yes, it will happen. (But I'm still pissed.)

 Vinny modeling his new Princess and the Frog dress from Nana.

The reason I don't know what rock bottom feels like...how can I with this crew??

OK.
My last post (and a few before), were seriously negative. I will never apologize for my opinions, but I do apologize for the negativity. So...sorry. I am still down, but I realize at some point, it WILL happen, it is just not happening NOW. And I am a NOW person. Therein lies the problem! The other problem is that a certain person has been and brought home her new daughter AND HAS YET TO SEND ANOTHER CERTAIN SOMEONE EVEN ONE PHOTO!!!! Jill. Send. Picture. Remember that she can sit on your lap while you use your computer!!!!
********
Had a pretty damn awesome week at Disney World. Yes, I said Disney World. Represents everything that is wrong in the world--extravagance, over-eating when others are starving, indulgences when so many have so little or nothing....but, there is balance. And it is super fun!! And it will be very different from their upcoming trip to bring T home...


Discovered that Mimi has anxiety in large crowds of people...she finally just stopped eating anything except dinner because she barfed after every meal. I have seen more Disney bathrooms in one week than anyone, I imagine! 
For those of you who know Natan and the fears he has due to his Autism, may I just brag a little?? He and George signed up for the Jedi Training (!) at H'Wood Studios. I had "the talk" with Natan about not being scared and running off the stage or screaming...common things for him to do. He knew that he had taken a spot and there were more than 50 kids getting turned down behind us (and one screaming, big-boobed mother in serious need of medication). I think they would have killed him if he backed out last minute!!
When their turn came, George grinned his grin...no surprise--he fought "Darka Vater" and won!
Natan took it very seriously. This was no joke. Beat Darth Vader or go to the Dark Side. He did it!! He faced his fear when DV came out in a cloud of stage smoke and red lights (and LOUD Darth Vader theme music!). If people wondered why a certain lady was cheering a little too loudly and even tearing up just a bit, it was because she saw her son overcome some of his struggles and defeat his fear--and Lord Vader!! Proud mama!
Oh yeah...and he rode every roller coaster at every park--with Jason because the rest of us are too chicken!
I will continue to post pics and updates about the trip, but frankly, right now, I am tired. 
Here's some to start things off:

 First night...T'Rex! And yes, that is my long-awaited T'Rex margarita!

 Thanks for the shades, Sa Sa and Dwayne! 

 One of the two rides/reasons G and M will NEVER believe me when I say, "It's really not scary..."

 One of my favorite pictures  in front of the giant golf ball!

 Animal Kingdom--awesome day!

 Hello, My name is...daredevil! Jason finally has a partner to ride with!

After three consecutive rounds on the raging river thingy that SOAKED us--a great cooling finish to a great day.

 Goofing off in line for the Toy Story ride...super fun!

 Zurg!!

 Well worth the wait to meet Buzz and Woody...

 Earned my "Coolest Mom in Town" designation after riding the Star Wars ride 11 times and would have gone more if the park hadn't closed!!

 Using the Force to take Vader down...

THANK YOU, NANA!!!!!!!!!

SO ready for a vacation!
I am about as down regarding the adoption as you can imagine. We are legally parents of a child in ETHIO, but cannot go bring her home yet. Every time we turn around, there is a glitch. It sucks. Plain and simple. Our home-study agency has turned out to be awful--letting things go and not keeping up with things that should be kept up with. They do not provide free services and they are certainly not earning what has been paid to them.
It is the feeling of being helpless to do anything that is so frustrating. Jason has been great--making phone calls even though he knows it will lead nowhere, but it makes me feel like we are doing something. Her case it at the Embassy in Addis. We are...surprise...still waiting. With no answers.
Did I mention I am ready to vacate?