Hulk Mama

I went to the clinic to get my travel shots for Africa.  $360 later I got 3 shots and a prescription for "expensive" malaria pills (which I still need to fill).  These 2 Fish Sticks got Dum Dums.  It doesn't seem right to me.  I might suggest to the clinic that if I have to pay that much and get that many shots, peanut butter chocolate ice cream might be in order.

On the 14th we hit 4 months passed of our waiting for our investigation to be complete. The US Embassy in country organized a conference call to all adoptive parents on that very day to explain some of these new procedures and the reasons behind implementing them.  It was meant to clarify things to the waiting parents and to nip in the bud the rumors that seem to be floating in cyber space.  The problem was that they didn't anticipate the number of callers that would be participating and many of us didn't make the call.  It filled up at 120.  This drove me to do an insane move.  I joined FB after years of saying I never would.  No need to find me and try to be my friend because truthfully I'm not there to be friends.  I'm there only as a Crazed African Mama Bear trying to keep myself in the know to get my little boys home.  So with the help of another mama in the same boat, I was able to get updates on what was being said on this important phone call.

The gist of it was neither encouraging nor discouraging.  I'm an optimist and so I look for the good.  I was confident to hear that they continued to take cases in the order in which they were received - and it appears we were one of the first in line.  I heard that they are working first also on local cases before traveling to difficult areas.  Our boys' case was local.  So we continue to wait until June 14.  On June 14, when our 6 month mark is complete, the Crazed Mama Bear will come forth once again.  We are all hoping that won't be necessary.  I'm Bill Bixby, the mild-mannered hitch hiker who when he is provoked, huge green muscles rip out of his shirt and you wished you had never crossed him ("You won't like me when I'm mad.").  Just teasing of course, but the feeling of being stuck in the shuffle of paperwork while orphans are waiting is just plain hard.  Not to mention that large, monthly bill that continues to come that we never expected to pay past 6 months of interim care.

In the meantime we pray that our boys stay healthy and strong, we thank the Lord that they are in a loving home receiving lots of hugs and kisses with food and care (unlike so many other orphans), we thank the Lord for an agency who advocates on our behalf, we pray for sufficient funds to finish this process and we refine our packing list in anticipation of traveling to Africa.