6 referrals!

We got our bi-weekly update today, and there have been 6 referrals in the past 2 weeks. 3 girls, one infant boy, and 2 sets of siblings. We are only given our number on the waiting list at our monthly call, so I don't know if this changes our status or not. Regardless, we are excited that there is movement and that children are being placed with their forever families. It won't be long!!

Number 5

I got our monthly call tonight and we are now number 5 for an infant boy. One of the families ahead of us is actually waiting for a 1-3 year old, but they're on our list because a 12 month old could go either way. Although Julie (our case manager at AGCI) isn't sure exactly how long it will be until our referral, she agreed when I said "maybe 4-6 weeks?" With the courts in Ethiopia closing in August and September, she really doesn't think it's very likely that we'll bring James home before October. Even families that are getting referrals now are being told that their paperwork could get held up in the court vacation.

So now I guess we need to pray that we won't be in Ethiopia when baby Eggers is making his or her debut into this world. I'd hate it for Mom if she had to be in Cincinnati with our kids waiting for one new grandchild to come home from Ethiopia while another new grandchild was being born in Memphis! God will work it all out; I am truly confident that His timing is perfect!

9 referrals!!

We got our bi-weekly update on Friday, and there were 9 referrals made in the past 2 weeks: 3 girls, 4 boys, and 2 sets of siblings. 2 of the boy referrals were waiting children, so I don't know if the families who adopted them were ahead of us on the list. I've e-mailed our case manager to find out if we're now number 6 or number 4. Either way, we're moving on up!! Can't wait to meet you, James!

Disney pics

Just wanted to add a few of our Disney pics. The whole time we were there we talked about how great it will be to come back when James is old enough to enjoy it!

Still number 8

Hopefully we will learn today at the bi-weekly update that we have moved up on the list, but as of right now things have not changed in 2 months!! 2 weeks ago when I read the update, tears filled my eyes. I am so ready to know my son and have a mental image of him. I'm ready to start washing baby clothes and picking out what to take to Ethiopia for him. I'm ready to buy his special "coming home" outfit!
Yet, at the same time, we have 3 vacations planned this summer that I'm REALLY looking forward to and don't want to miss (even to go to Ethiopia). So I know the Lord's timing is perfect and we will receive our referral and travel in His time. And for one of the only times in my life, I think I'm actually content in that.

I have a great big PRAISE!! Drew has finally accepted that he is going to be a big brother, and I think he will be great! Last week, I bought both of the kids little black baby dolls (Grace Caroline calls hers her Ethiopian baby). Drew has not let that baby out of his sight since I gave it to him. He hugs and kisses that baby just like Matt and I hug and kiss him (frequently and with much emotion)! I'll try to get a picture of him with baby and put it on here.
Drew has also had a new little boy join his class who is only 1 year old and has had a hard time adjusting. Drew has offered many hugs and pats on the back to little Ry, and even wants to help feed Ry his bottle. So Drew is finally ready to play the part of big brother!

Hopefully I'll have more news about the wait soon!

no change

We got the bi-weekly update from our agency yesterday, and there have been no referrals in the past month. I don't know if it's slowing down or they are just in a lull right now. So we are still number 8 (out of 25 families waiting for a boy). I hope things pick up, because I am starting to get mentally and emotionally ready to meet my son. We still have a lot of physical preparation, but that can be done once we get our referral.

Still Waiting...

It has been exactly a month since I last posted. It's hard to write when there is no news, but I have had several people ask me recently. So the news is that we're still waiting. We are number 8 waiting for a boy, and there have been maybe 2 boy referrals since the last time I wrote. So we're still looking at several months.
Answered prayer: Drew is now in a "big-boy bed" and has been for a full week. After he slept in it the first night, he hasn't looked back! Can't say I blame him --I'm sure it's much more comfortable, and now he has a pillow!
I will try to post as we hear from our case manager about our status, which is usually monthly. We still are expecting summer or fall.
Please pray for our friends Dan and Amy Saxby (see link to their blog) who are still waiting to bring their daughter home from Guatemala. They are running into a lot of problems due to the corruption in that country. They have visited twice, but still cannot bring her home.