Obstacles... & Organization

"All adoptive families must now travel to Addis Ababa to be present for their court appointment. There have been rumors of this change for several weeks now, and the change is a direct result of the dramatic increase of "revocation" cases - cases in which the adoptive parents decline to bring their children home after they have passed court. This will mean families will make two trips to Ethiopia to complete their adoptions, which will certainly increase the time and money required for adoption."

When we started thinking about doing a second adoption first (while waiting on China) and was researching countries, there weren't alot of choices for us to begin with due to travel, age limit for an infant, etc. One of the requirements we immediately scratched off the list was any country that required multiple trips. Ethiopia was perfect, one trip, 5-7 days and the court process was done beforehand so the only thing you had to do when you went to Ethiopia was the Embassy appointment and pick up your child. Since choosing Ethiopia, it has felt right from the beginning. So much so, that I was even considering going back to Ethiopia for our second (originally first?) child and giving up on China. The trip is shorter, the process and paperwork seem to be even smoother than when we paperchased for China, and I like the idea of both of our kids (was always planning on having 2 children) being from the same country. Right now we're sticking with China, but I'm getting off the topic..

Apparently, the Ethiopia process has just changed as of yesterday, requiring both parents to travel to Ethiopia 4-8 weeks after referral (not exactly sure about the timeframes) to meet the child and appear for the court date, then leave the child there and come home, then go back to Ethiopia (not sure if it has to be both parents the second time but I don't think so) in another 10-12 weeks (again, not sure of the timeframe) for the Embassy appointment and to bring your child home.

This is a HUGE change. Probably another $6000-$7000 to travel a 2nd time, although I'd travel 5 times if had to. I'd REALLY like both of us to travel the second time to pick her up. On the positive side, we both CAN travel for the court date. I'm sure some families don't have that opportunity and that's sad. Also, the child will be a US citizen upon arriving in the US as both of us will be meeting the child beforehand, which is good. And we will get to meet our child sooner since we have to appear for the court date, but then on the negative side, we'll have to leave her there for possibly 3 months.

Overall, I'm surprised that I'm not more upset by these new turn of events. I haven't handled these types of roadblocks and obstacles that well in the past. When I told hubby he just said "we'll figure it out, it's not like we're not going to go". Always the positive one. But I'm not feeling positive or negative about it. Maybe I'm completely desensitized to all these bumps in the road now. All I know is, I'm going to Ethiopia. I'm going to have a daughter. Maybe I've been so pumped up working on the nursery FINALLY that nothing is going to bring me down.

Speaking of the nursery. I finished "remodeling" the closet in the nursery and I moved some things into it already. I put a second rod in and the closet is a little deep so I also put some narrow shelves in the back, all removable when she gets older (if she's still in that room). I didn't want to waste any space! haha


I'm working on the curtains next. I have a bunch of fabric I had bought a while ago to make bedding and such for the nursery. That should keep me busy for a while. haha