Tough decisions

I have never been a cat person.

But about eleven years ago someone dropped off a weeks-old kitten at my apartment, and after a series of events she ended up staying. Miss Virginia has been with me through a lot... a fire, divorce, lots of moves, changes in career, etc... While we have had our moments, she has been a constant in my life and she is undeniably cute and cuddly.

Last night she hurt herself pretty badly. We have been to the kitty ER last night and to the vet this morning. They believe she has torn ALL of the ligaments in her knee (ACL, PCL, and laterals). She is in so much pain. She hasn't moved from her spot underneath the bookcase or uttered a sound since we came home from the vet this morning.

We're supposed to meet with an orthopedic surgeon this week to talk about our options. I don't know that she is a candidate for surgery. I do know that I am not a candidate for her surgery. The (overwhelmingly large by estimate) expense is not one that I can take on right now given my adoption expenses and the unknowns of Little B's homecoming and potential medical expenses.

I hate this. I hate that she is in so much pain and that there is nothing I can do for her. And that there could be a solution that I would have to decline due to money.

You animal lovers out there can sympathize with this dilemma... the rest of you probably don't get it at all. But, trust me. It's horrible.

For now, I will keep giving her tastes of peanut butter... her all-time favorite thing.

The next step

...is a BIG step.

I just found out today that our court date is MARCH 10th!

On March 10th, a judge in Ethiopia will make the decision that will make me and Little B a family. Officially so.

It is very common, however, to not pass court the first time for any one of a long list of reasons, but let's be hopeful for a YES!

After passing court, I would travel in about 6-8 weeks to finally, finally meet that little person who has occupied so many minutes of every hour of every day since I saw that first picture in December.

This is big, friends!

(OH! And, an amazing gift... I will share this court date with a friend made in this process, waiting for her beautiful baby girl. Can you imagine the fun if we are able to travel together?!)

The untold benefit of international adoption.

I had no idea that I would be gaining anything more than a new family member when I started this process.

I had no idea that I would be blessed with meeting all of the these fabulous new friends.

Really, it is the untold benefit of international adoption. These friends.

I was so lucky to visit these friends and these friends over the past weekend. Then, I was so happy to meet this new addition newly arrived home.

Just wanted to say thank you to these friends, whether we have met in person or I have just been encouraged by you over the web... thank you!

For the love of dimples.

Yep, we have confirmation.

Little B has dimples!

An ocean and a rock

I am so lucky to have a friend traveling to Ethiopia next week. She offered (oh wait, did she offer or did I assume?!) to take a small package to Little B from me.

This little package will be on its way from Chicago to Addis next week. Pretty soon he'll be holding the things in his hands that I just held in mine. And, then pretty soon after that, I'll get to hold him myself.

There is a song I like that says "an ocean and a rock is nothing to me." It's a pretty big ocean and a pretty big rock, but tonight it's not feeling so overwhelming.

"i am far away from where you lay

awake the day while you fall to sleep

an ocean and a rock away"

Lisa Hannigan

It's a boy

It is with great joy that I am finally able to announce that I have officially accepted the referral of a sweet and itty-bitty baby boy.

I heard of the little guy on 12/22/09 and saw his beautiful face for the very first time. I was just waiting on confirmation which I got over the weekend. He is now ten weeks old and from what I hear from my peeps in Ethiopia right now, between his big brown eyes and sweet smile, he is quite the heartbreaker.

Today, I signed my name to officially become his momma.

I still get a little choked up thinking about it.

I am someone's momma.

Help.

I don't know about you, but I can hardly turn on the TV without crying.

Pray. Then, do this:

Donate $10 to the American Red Cross – charged to your cell phone bill – by texting "HAITI" to "90999."

And, then do it again tomorrow.