Auntie Rumi's Guest Post

This is a test. Auntie Rumi will be a guest blogger while we're gone. I'm going to send her updates from Ethiopia. The force is strong with her.

Where in the World are Dan and Stacey?

I've had several requests for our itinerary, so here goes:

Monday: Depart at 4:15 p.m. to Amsterdam, 8.5 hrs on plane, couple of hours of layover

Tuesday: Amsterdam to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, by way of Khartoum, Sudan. Flight to Sudan is a little over 6 hours, another 2 hours or so to Addis from there. Arrive 9:05 p.m. (Ethiopia time). Spend night in Sheraton, Addis.

Wednesday: Tour Addis, try to get acclimated, then move stuff to agency's guest house.

Thursday: Shopping in the morning, Reception for the 5th Anniversary of our agency in Ethiopia.

Friday: Orientation and meet the newbie

Saturday: Morning visit to the care center and time with newbie, brief shopping, dinner and show with traditional Ethiopian dancing.

Sunday: Travel south to Hosana (several hours by van) possible meeting with birth family, return to guest house in evening.

Monday: Morning spent at care center with newbie, afternoon at museums and city sights. Also visit AHOPE and other agency facilities in Addis.

Tuesday: Going away celebration at the care center, receive newbie into our care. Afternoon Embassy appointment, visit to the Hilton Hotel to confirm travel.

Wednesday: Time spent with newbie in our care, hair braiding class in afternoon.

Thursday: Morning cooking class, packing. Depart for airport at 3:00 p.m., 11 p.m. flight to Amsterdam.

Friday, 5 hour layover in Amsterdam, then flight home. Arrive 11:55 Chicago time.

Preparing for Travel

We're confirmed for travel on April 20th. And we're hosting Easter. And work is a disaster. But, things are moving along and we are in good shape.

When I was waiting I was interested in what other families sent to their babies in the care packages. I included a couple of photos in the slide show so the waiters could see.

More later, I've got to prepare for the Bunny.

Tentative Travel Date

Funny, the photo says it all, doesn't it? We have a tentative travel date of April 20th!!! Yikes! We're excited, but since it is just over 2 weeks away, we're freaking out. If any of you out there who have traveled have tips, please leave a comment. At this point, we'll take all the advice we can get.
Oh, and the photo is from the newbie's birth certificate. Fitting, don't you think?

Tooth Trouble

Doodle is my girl that has broken her front tooth twice. The dentist glued on the broken portion the first time but the second put a crown on it. We call it her "beautiful tooth." She's also had one cavity (must be Dan's tooth genes). So for a 5.5 year old, she's been to the dentist a lot. The last time we went, the dentist suggested we buy her a helmet (I'm not kidding.)

Last week, she told me that she hit one of her bottom teeth on her water bottle. Sure enough, it was loose. I frantically sent her out to find a tooth fairy pillow with Mary Poppins. I was picturing a pretty, lacy pillow. She came back with this:

She picked out this ugly doll (the name of the doll, but also my commentary) and named him "Little Huggy Face." She thinks he looks like a tooth. I sewed on the purple fleece pocket part, because I couldn't figure out for the life of me how to attach the tooth otherwise.

We also bought some books on losing baby teeth. I wasn't prepared for her to lose her teeth, so we really hadn't talked about it. The books helped her anxiety, but the blood freaks her out. Doodle spent most of the weekend with a paper towel sticking out of her mouth.

The tooth came out yesterday--but not all of it. She appears to have broken it near the base. We have a dentist appointment this morning. Poor girl. She hates the dentist now, and I don't blame her. She's had more visits than most adults. Sigh. I'm dreading it too. I think he's going to bring up the helmet again. I'm not sure he believes me that she is so klutzy.

She's going to fit in just fine

Ok, so since you have seen the newbie at her best--at least the best from her social report-- I can post this about her: at least two places in the social report it mentions that she sticks her tongue out when she's happy. Here's an example (there were a couple of tongue shots to choose from in the social report). She's going to fit in just fine with this nutty family! All she needs now is a Star Wars t-shirt and a pint-sized lightsaber.

She's Ours!!!

We passed court today!!! The Newbie is officially ours! We expect to travel in 5-6 weeks. These photos are taken from the social report, which we received this morning!