IT IS A BOY!!!!!! YEEHAW!!!

I am seriously choking back the tears as I post this, but we saw our baby boy for the first time today.

The 3 little ones were eating lunch and I was getting ready to pick up Leah from a friends house when the phone rang. I have been jumping a bit when the phone rings lately wondering if this was "the call." A quick look at the caller ID usually quickly clears up my suspense. This time the call came up as "unknown." My first thought was "telemarketer." Nope, it was my case manager. We small talked for a minute and then she said "Do you want a boxer?" I said "huh?" and she said it again, "do you want a boxer?" I finally just said "what are you talking about." To which my case manager replies "well he has his hands up like a boxer in his pictures." I immediately responded "Are you serious?!?" She was serious.

I got the basic info. He is approximately 5 months old (we don't know his exact birthdate at this point) and he is in Awassa, Ethiopia (here's where that's at http://uk.geocities.com/sp228/pictures/ethiopia_map.jpg). He seems to be very healthy and has tested negative for everything according to his first medical report. His name right now is Mussie.

I can't post pictures but he really is beautiful. He has very distinct facial features and the most beautiful little mouth. He is as bald as can be and I could just eat him up!

Now we have to officially accept the referral (which as this point we plan to) and then our agency will request a second medical report to be done. After that is completed and the results are compiled (which can takes weeks) everything is sent to the courts in Ethiopia (this includes our dossier) and a court date is set. We are probably looking at a court date in October some time. Hopefully shortly after the courts re-open. If we pass court, Mussie is legally our child. If we do not pass court the first time(which is usually due to some minor paperwork issue), a new court date will be issued, usually 2 to 4 weeks later. Once we pass court we wait for our Embassy date which can take 3 to 8 weeks to get. We actually travel for our embassy date and that is when we pick up "little bean."

Well, we have a lot to process, but we are extremely excited!!!! Please keep us all in your prayers. I just pray that "little bean" stays healthy and our process is smooth and quick!

Julie