This is us very happy!

on to Africa...

Family have helped launch us to the next and final phase! Our Ugandan attorney can start working on getting us a court date! Things were looking bleak there for awhile with the Ugandan attorney hired, dossier in hand, but unable to move forward without a deposit.

Whew.

We've become financially dried up through this process, and mostly because you need so much money, up front, so often. Plan on $3-4,000 per month on average. It takes a village to adopt a child.

We'll miss you Lizzy.

The dossier (collection of stuff about us) is in the mail via FedEx to Uganda. Just have to wire some cash now.

I can't wait to tell my credit union to wire $5000 to Africa. And fast. To get a child. Yeah right. Sucker.

We have an attorney! $5000, plus $2000 for a private investigator fee. Love it. I'm sure it's all legit....right?...

I believe the PI looks into the child's family history, makes certain there are no lingering relatives that wish to have the child. Really to confirm orphan status. There have been problems in the past where families didn't realize that International Adoption meant the child would be moving to another country.
ouch.

Next step: Send dossier (which is ready to go) and monies to Uganda.

WOw. That was fast. U.S. CIS approved our petition to adopt! I think that was less than 2 months. I've sent off an email to hire an attorney in Uganda and am waiting to hear back. (She was referred by my agency and works on their adoptions.)

Meanwhile, I spent the day applying for grants and low-interest loans. It would sure help if I was a little more blessed and believed in a little more God. There is that much more assistance if you know a pastor. I'm thinking I'll just eat less. It's simpler and it even saves time!

Phase 3 of 4: Dossier of us for Uganda officials sent to agency for pre-approval. Once approved, dossier will be sent to Uganda and an attorney will be hired. I'm looking forward to paperwork being over, and baby clothes shopping to begin.

I spent Sunday looking up what kindergarten he should go to...I think I'm going to like this mama thing.

We finally received an update on our baby! He is now 5 months old. I'm not even sure what 5-month-old babies do. Since I never learned what 4-month-old babies do. Or how much they weigh and when. I can't wait to read more about how to raise a baby than how to apply for grants and get papers notarized.

Baby Luke is steadily growing into a lovely boy. 

He is 5 months old.

He made 5 on May 15th, 2013. He is being supported with sitting. 

His appetite is excellent. He takes 6 bottles of 250mls of milk during the day, and takes 2 in the night. 

He also enjoys drinking water and juice. He is also getting used to taking soya porridge.

He has gone through his first doses of immunization and so far he has been immunized against polio, tetanus, tuberculosis, diphtheria whooping cough hepatitis B, haemophilus influenza type B. 

Luke is known by all the children as baby Luke and he enjoys the company of other children. 

He is seen laughing and making some bubbling sounds. 

This month he has weighed 6 Kilograms.  

He sleeps well during the night and wakes up twice to have a bottle of milk.

Luke loves warm water and enjoys his shower sessions.  

After every shower he is given a bottle of milk and before he empties it, he is sweating  off and falls asleep.

Thank you! (10" x 10" sandblasted)

The winds have turned

The winds are blowing in our direction. This weekend we'll be sending out U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) application for Petition to Classify Orphan as an Immediate Relative. I like the sound of that.

Through paintings and generous gifts from friends, we're able to keep moving through the process. $10,000 out the door this weekend. Whew. This is a very humbling process.

more portraits

Phase 3: $9200 due this weekend. Getting exhausted. Wondering if we'll actually have a child at the end of all the paperwork. Spirits low.

portrait

Eric's finishing up a series of paintings this weekend and will be ready to start painting any new orders, so FEEL FREE TO ORDER A PAINTING OF YOUR BEST FRIEND.  : )

Thank you to everyone out there. We've gotten such a great response from friends and family, both emotional and financial support. We've raised $6000 of a potential $25-35,000. We're able to save several hundred each month between the two of us, and I certainly threw my $3000 tax refund at it. We are very warmed to know all the people we know are a part of this in some way. This may actually work and we may get to have a beautiful baby.

our baby blue turned 3 months without us 

(he's pissed, and flipping us off)