The First 6 Weeks

What an amazing 6 weeks!

Abi and Joseph have settled in amazingly well and experienced many, many firsts!  We laugh everyday at their sense of humor and perspectives.

They are in school and playing soccer.  School is going really well.  There is a definite gap in reading, vocabulary and spelling but that gap will shorten over time.  We work with them at home and their teachers have been great working with them.

They both love sports and are incredibly athletic.  We have been approached by the soccer league to start them both in the academy soccer in the fall which grooms young players.  It seems any new sport they try they are good at.  We can see how our weekends will be spent for the next several years.  :)  It will be interesting to see what other sports they latch onto besides soccer.

As far as health they are doing great.  All screenings came back just fine.  The biggest issue is dental care and we are working on that.  Abi had to have a tooth extracted and that was really traumatic for her.  They will have some fillings done next week as well.  They had their first cleanings a couple weeks ago and it was VERY needed.  Once we get the dental care in line they will be in great shape!

Behavior has been great.  They have each had a few emotional ups and downs and a couple weeks ago I thought we might be heading for a small grief crash but they both seemed to have readjusted and moved on.  This last week I have noticed a REAL settling in....just an abvious sense of belonging. 

I'm sure we aren't going about things in a real text book way but everything seems to be working.  Both kids are extremely affectionate and tell us "I love you" and they hug lots and seem very, very trusting of us and their environment. 

Here are some pics to help tell the story:

First Day of School

Abi wanted her picture taken again on another school morning because she loved her dress.  That's my girl!

Trying to figure out the best way to stay warm in our Colorado spring time.

Easter morning.....took a few minutes for them to get the egg thing figured out then the competition was on!

Cleaning up after Easter.....such a ghanain girl at heart

Nice form!

Abi thinks her Dad hung the moon!!

Mr cool and collected

First soccer game

Had to make them nuggets fans!

Maybe a future Nugget??

I'll just end this post by saying "Yes, they really are doing that well.  We aren't making it up!" 

I've had a few too many people look at me questionably and make comments like "It won't last" or "Are you sure?" or "Are you being honest?" 

Maybe it won't last...........

but maybe it will.  

Trip Home

I've been really slow in getting this post done.  We have been so busy since the kids came home and time has flown!  It is a great feeling after so many months of waiting and wishing time would go faster. 

I'm going to dedicate this post to the pick up trip and trip home and then do a separate post about the first few weeks home.  Abi and Joseph are adjusting great!!

I'm going to let the pictures tell the story:

Abi and Joseph right after I arrived at Auntie Ruth's.  Joseph already has my backpack on and wants to go to the hotel.

Abi and Joseph at our hotel

The afternoon of the day we leave for the airport.

A few minutes before leaving waiting for the AAI Van to pick us up and take us to the airport.  Very excited kids!

A last pic with Auntie Ruth.  This was Abi and Joseph's foster Mom over the last 7 months.

At the airport after making it through bag checks, tickets, immigration, etc etc.  We are having a "treat" to kill some time before we go to the gate and have to sit and sit and sit.

At the gate.  Joseph is taking a picture of Abi and I.

At this point we have been at the gate about 30 minutes.....it is about 10:30 at night (way past bedtime) and Joseph is getting cranky and not thinking all this waiting is much fun.

Finally on the plane.  Very excited kids!  (If they only knew how many hours we were about the fly)

The next day on our 3rd and last flight.  We are within minutes of being home and Daddy waiting for us at the airport.

Getting ready to take off in Denver.  This is our 3rd and last flight.  Abi can't stop talking about Daddy being at the airport.

This picture says it all.  They went running through the glass doors and practically knocked Omar over.  Very happy to see their Dad and he was soooo happy to see them.  For Omar it had been 5 months since seeing the kids.

We Have Visas!!!

Abi and Joseph's visas are printed and ready to be picked up tomorrow morning!!!  We are so excited!  Now we're frantically trying to arrange our travel plans. 

We're going to Ghana and bringing home our kids this time!

They're coming home soon!!

Finally....good news!!  The interview at the embassy went well today and they took Abi and Joseph's passports.  Now we just wait for an email from the embassy confirming the visas have been printed and we can travel to pick them up. 

Time frame??  Maybe this Friday?  Next Friday?  We won't know until they tell us but it's soon!!

Not Today

Well....no visas today.

There is yet another appt scheduled for Monday.  We will see what happens from there.

I can't even begin to put our emotions into words so I'm not going to even try.

Keep you posted..................

Tomorrow's Another Day

We have our follow up appointment at the embassy tomorrow.  Our POA Muna will go for us.  We are so anxious!  This has been one LONG week waiting for this appointment.  We really hope tomorrow we have a date for the visas and can make travel plans.  FINALLY!! 

We have done everything we can possibly think of to prepare for Abi and Joseph's arrival.  We feel very ready.....or atleast as ready as we can be. 

We'll keep you posted!

Ways To Help In Ghana

Hi Everyone,

Our agency Adoption Advocates International (AAI) does some great humanitarian work in Ghana.  AAI supports Ghana'’s children and families in a number of ways. A significant portion of adoption fees go directly to provide humanitarian support. Primarily, donations are made to NGOs who focus on orphan care and family preservation. However, the funds available from adoption fees only go so far and the need is much greater than available resources. 

Below are some active projects AAI is currently working on.  The first one (Family Preservations Sponsorships) is AAI's current greatest need.  Without some sponsorships there are approximately 15 children that AAI currently helps that will lose that assistance.  However, all the projects are extremely worthwhile!

Family Preservation Sponsorships:  For $35 a month you can sponsor a vulnerable child to go to school and receive lunch each day.  These are children who are still living with their families, in part, because we are able to help with education.  Alternatively, you can sponsor a vulnerable family by giving a food donation each month.  This is a bundle of basic foods (oil, rice, beans) that will help the family fill the gap in their nutritional needs.  Again, this food may literally be the difference in a child staying with their family or being put into alternative care.  Currently there are FIFTEEN children ages 4-15 years who desperately need sponsors for their education.  AAI is unable to continue meeting these needs without individual sponsors.  Please email anita@adoptionadvocates.org to choose a child or family to sponsor.  You can set up ongoing monthly sponsorship through the AAI website.  This is our greatest current need!

Survival Paks: The Ripley Foundation is collecting "Survival Paks" for women and children living on the street or in the marketplace. These are 2-gallon ziploc bags that contain essentials like soap, 2-yard cloth, flashlight and batteries, protein bars, and socks. Please consider putting together 2-5 bags to deliver when you travel to Ghana, or being willing to carry over bags that others have put together.


Diapers and Wipes: Although we rarely have infants available in our adoption program, there are children in care of foster homes or birth families who are in need of diapers and wipes. Please consider donating disposable diapers in sizes 2, 3, and 4. The Ripley Foundation will distribute them to children as there is a need.
 
Nyame Dua Boys' Dorm:  Nyame Dua Foster Home cares for six teenage boys who are not able to be adopted.  These boys are currently living in a wooden structure outside of the main house.  This structure is literally falling apart as termites eat away the wood.  We are currently fundraising to rebuild the structure with wood and concrete, including running water and electricity.  The total estimated cost is $5000.  We still need about $3000 in order to meet the financial goal and begin construction.  This Boys' Dorm will provide a solid long-term home for these young men as they complete their teen years and enter into adulthood.  Donations can be made to "Ghana:  Boys' Dorm" on the AAI website.
 
Food:  Sometimes this need is overlooked, but there is always a need for a simple donation of food!  Each month we give several hundred cedis worth of food to a handful of orphanages and foster homes in Ghana.  We do not give cash, but an actual food donation.  At the top of this email you can see this months' food donation to Nyame Dua.  Food donations can be made in any amount.  Just designate "Ghana:  Food Project" on the AAI website.  Every dollar received is directly added to what AAI already gives each month.  With the rising cost of food in Ghana the homes have a greater need than ever.