Sleep-Skyping and Bedazzling

I ended the week before Thanksgiving with a webcast from the US Embassy in Bogota.  Any hopes we had of traveling in 2012 were gone with the sober message from the official.  With the strike, there was a 4 week backlog of cases so even if the strike had resolved, no new cases would have a chance of completing in what remains of 2012.

While not spectacular news, it was a huge relief to know something.  Anything.  Living in limbo was wearing on all of us.  So, instead we began to get some stuff done that we were putting off until our return from Colombia.

• We bought a real family vehicle!  We bought a Mazda CX-9 and Lucy is in love with it.  At school she had to make a turkey feather with 3 things she was thankful for:  Babies, Pancakes, and the CX-9.
• We finished unpacking and organizing the basement.  Now the kids can ride bikes and goof around - we are hoping to add a climber and a swing soon.
• We took a few days of vacation!  With the adoption looming, we were setting aside all of our vacation time.  Now with our travel in 2013, we needed to use some of our time AND we needed a break.  
• We visited family in Wisconsin.  We had to take advantage of our final chance with only 1 (potty trained) kid.

Skyping continues, now on a semi-regular schedule of 2 times a week.  You can tell that the regular conversations are really paying off and will make our transition more natural - she fell asleep right in the middle of it!

Before.

During.

After. 

In honor of Josie apparently being a good sleeper,  Lucy and I bedazzled the wall above Josie's bed.  I do love removable decals!

Good news yesterday that the courts are functioning again in Bogota, enough for a family from NY to get sentencia (the final legal step finalizing your adoption in the Colombian courts)!  After a brief check-in with FANA, it looks like we should be able to travel immediately after the New Year.  I am estimating January 3rd, but I am waiting for official word from FANA.

Yippee!

In other news - our group has been working with FANA to find families for some fantastic older kids and sibling groups.  Please visit the CaringBridge site dedicated to these kids - AND PASS IT ON!  Scroll through the pictures to see the kids that are waiting.