We've been quiet

It's been a couple weeks since I last posted.  It's also been kind of quiet on the adoption front.  We were finishing up our home study and collecting some final documents.  One of the forms that's still missing is our report from the Ohio Child Abuse Registry; they have to say we're not on it.  We had to get one from every state we've lived in.  So far, every other state has responded.  For those of you keeping score, that means we got answers from as far away as Pennsylvania, New York, Virginia, Texas and Hawaii, and yet, somehow, Columbus which is only about 90 minutes away from us, has yet to respond.

So, we're finishing our forms for the US Customs and Immigration Service to get something called an I171H, which is required to travel to Ethiopia.  But we can't submit for that without our home study, which requires those stupid abuse registry responses.  So, you can see, we're a bit frustrated by our state government, but don't get me started on THAT rant.

In the meantime, we took the family on a vacation.  It was the first real vacation in 5 or 6 years; at least one that didn't involve visiting family.  We went to Seacrest Florida for a week; it was fun.  The kids and Jen really like the beach and the house had a nice pool.  We ate and drank too much and basically relaxed.  It was a well-deserved break.  The last couple years have been kind of a treadmill for us; between running for re-election, starting a new company, and getting the whole adoption thing off the ground, it's been non-stop.  The only issue we had was justifying the cost and spending money on recreation when we're trying to save up for all the adoption costs.  It may sound like rationalizing, but I figured it's been so long since the kids (and Jenny) were away, and it's probably going to be a while before we can do it again.  In the end, I think it was worth it.  Besides, we took advantage of the downtime to finish Tommy's America Book and his family album.  Can't wait to send them over.  More paperwork this week, then we move to serious fundraising.

Double aaaaaaaawwwwww!

More proof that Tommy is someone VERY special.  A note this week from another mom who met him in Addis:

I traveled to pick up my son in early May and developed a relationship with a young boy at the Addis care center.  I know very little about special needs but would say his lower body was underdeveloped/partially paralyzed and that his upper body also was affected by something.  He had the greatest smile in the world and the ability to get what he needed!  I think about him all the time and would love to know if he has found a family yet.

God Bless Kerry!  Comments like hers help us focus even stronger on what needs to be done.  Hearing that it seems like he can get what he needs is so very encouraging.  We are trying so hard to get all our paperwork done, finish fund raising, and get ourselves over there to bring Tommy home.  We're anxious to get him started on some physical therapy to improve his mobility and dexterity. 

What's so very interesting, is that as we struggle with the mundane--the paperwork, the interviews, the fund raising--God is letting us know that he's watching over Tommy; connecting these moms with us, letting us know he's OK and sharing these important glimpses of his life before he joins us.  As we stare at the obstacles that lie between Tommy and us, it's these little things that gird our conviction to push ahead.  Thank you God.

awwwwwwwww!

We got the sweetest email last week from Adrianne, an adoptive mom who met Tommy at the Child Care Center in Addis last December.  She and her husband were there to bring their daughter home.  Here's her story; you may want to grab a tissue, it made me practically cry.  Could barely muster the words to express to her my gratitude for taking a moment for Tommy during such a special time for their family.

    We brought home our girl from Holt in dec.  While at the care center there was a little boy between 2 & 3 who sat on the floor while the other kids buzzed around him.  He had a few toys in front of him that he was playing with.  You could tell he had some sort of paralysis I forget on which side of his body.  I gently went over to him and started stacking bricks with him.  He LOVED it!!  I got some odd toys, and he kept stacking whatever he could, and then we would watch it fall and giggle.  When he got excited his little tongue started bouncing all around.  I praised him for all of his hard work.  He was so focused on building that tower and was so determined.  He was a complete joy.  I was so smitten by him, while my hubby engaged our new baby I kept wanting to spend time with him.  I shed a tear and prayed for his family, and rejoiced on how perfect this little boy was.  His face is forever etched in my mind and his happy bouncing tongue.   I believe you are that family. 

    Can't wait for your union.  God's timing is perfect - we want everything now, but God is in control, and He will connect you in His perfect time.  Not a second too late or too soon!  Before time, before you were born, before you were married, before you had kids, before, before, before etc....Tommy was ALWAYS part of God's plan for your life.  I share that to say God has already orchestrated every detail for your union - financially, the perfect doctors, the perfect airplane pilot to get you over there, everything...  May you truly walk by faith these next months, as that is the only path to Tommy!  God Bless!!!!

This week's lesson: governments are the same all over the earth

Apparently, the Ethiopian courts take about 6 weeks off every year.  And apparently, it's like a surprise vacation each year since no one knows exactly when they'll leave, or for exactly how long....ever. And we found this out from reading the adoption blogs and forums, since a whole pile of people who were leaving for Ethiopia Thursday had their court dates canceled on Wednesday.  Ooooh!

Now, I know every country has its peculiar customs.  And I'm sure from the outside looking in, we do some odd things in America (like bungee jumping or bull riding).  But, come on folks; one day's notice to postpone a critical trip like this one?  I'm super flexible, and even I think that's obnoxious.

So, we're trying to figure out just how this delay is going to affect us.  We are trying so hard to bring Tommy home before Christmas.  Everyone says it's a real long shot, but we're convinced he needs to be here as soon as humanly possible.  Every additional day he's in ET is one more day he's without a real diagnosis and the serious kind of physical and occupational therapies he needs.  We're hopeful once the vacation season is over in Ethiopia, the US and ET officials will work extra hard to eliminate any backlog in an effort to help us expedite Tommy's package.

OK, I know, the word expedite probably doesn't even translate into government-ese, in English or Amharic.

Health insurance; a necessary evil

We live in Deerfield Township, a fast-growing suburban community of 33,000 people about 26 miles north of Cincinnati.  In combination with the adjacent City of Mason, which has about the same population, we comprise the largest population center in our county. I was elected to our town council in 2005, then re-elected last year.  It's a challenging assignment--managing police and fire service, road and waterways, development and zoning, parks and recreation.  It's supposed to be a part time, board level job, but the first 5 years has been more like 3/4 to full time hard work.  A benefit of being on the Board is eligibility for health insurance.  It's been great for us.  Having insurance through the town has permitted me to be self-employed and to pursue other consulting jobs that don't offer health insurance.

Still, health insurance is a pain in the butt.  I won't get too high on my soap box, but health insurance reform is so badly needed; and not the kind of reform offered by the current Congress.  True reform would lower government-instituted barriers to competition to help lower the cost and reduce the need for insurance that covers every possible expense.  That would allow us to carry insurance that covers just the most expensive, unplanned costs, and every day medical costs could be covered out of pocket because the cost would be more reasonable.  Unfortunately, that's not how things are, and (at least for now) we have to carry insurance that covers just about everything because everything medical costs so much.

So, "why the rant?" you ask.  Because today, we're signing up for next year's health insurance.  Despite choosing one of the best "consumer driven" care plans, our insurance runs nearly $1 million per year.  And even though it's truly comprehensive coverage, I still can't get someone to tell me specifically whether or not Tommy will be covered under our insurance for the things he'll need like physical, occupational and speech therapy.  I have a masters degree in business and have run very large organizations, and even I can't tell for sure from reading our insurance plan.

The people in the know say he'll be a covered person on our plan.....HOWEVER....if he has what's called a pre-existing condition, and doesn't have insurance now, he may not be covered for certain costs.  When I went on to explain that he's in Ethiopia and we know he's got something wrong, but that we've got VERY little in the way of documentation, all I get is silence and wonder.  Differing opinions tell me he may not be covered for rehab services if he's been diagnosed there by a doctor.  I guess the distinguishing factor is...."diagnosed."  Unclear what they'll want to see, or whether we'll be able to procure it.  Sure makes it difficult to plan our finances for next year.

Love how my family looks!

Found this very cool silhouette maker online: http://www.widdlytinks.com/myfamily/silhouettes/

Absolutely love the new shape of our family.  Can't wait till we can all stand together for a real photo!  Somehow, little things like this make bringing him home more and more real every day.

Next step...dossier

Finished our home study today.  Karla, the social worker who helped us train and prepare, did such a nice job.  What a sweet lady.  She's absolutely well matched with her chosen career; she's very good at what she does.  We talked at length about all the things we'd need to know in order to do a good job as adoptive parents.  We identified resources and talked about what to expect.  Lots of mushy "feelings" stuff.  Still, very helpful.

Next, we move on to completing our "dossier."  That's all the paperwork required for US Immigration.  The office used to be called NIS, but they have a new acronym now.  In either case, there's a ton of paperwork that has to be completed before they'll allow us to bring Tommy home.  More on that as we progress.  For now, we're waiting for the home study documentation to be completed by our friend Karla and forwarded to our agency for review.  We're praying for a stiff wind in her sails.