Unofficial Countdown

The Unofficial Countdown has begun.

Two families who received open court files two weeks before us just received their court dates:  November 19 and November 23. Sadly, our agency has assured us that they do not expect to receive our court dates until after court re-opens on September 30. 

We expect to receive an early-December court date.  Although a part of me hopes and prays that we will pass court in time to make the late-December embassy appointment, realistically, I know that we will probably have a January embassy appointment.  The familes who recently made it court-to-embassy in three weeks (three weeks!) were an anomaly; in most cases, it takes 4 - 6 weeks to go from passing court to meeting with the U.S. Embassy to get a VISA.  

Bad news:  I will be attending the court hearing by myself because Jon cannot travel from Thanksgiving through Christmas. Good news:  Jon can travel in January, so he will get to be there for the "gotcha" day (and more importantly, the 21 hour flight home! :)

In the meantime...

Option 1: smuggle our baby into the U.S. after we pass court.  This option will almost certainly end with me on the nightly news.  Pros:  15 seconds of fame.  Cons:  15 years with good behavior.

Option 2 (considered for a few seconds longer than Option 1):  stay in Ethiopia or take our baby to live in a country that does not require a VISA until the U.S. VISA comes through.  Pros:  baby time!  Cons: there's no place like home.

Option 3:  Wait semi-patiently, whining occassionally, and joking often.  This option has won out for now. 

You'll know if I change my mind: you'll either see my on the nightly news, between updates on Tiger's divorce and the egg recall, or my Christmas card will be postmarked from somewhere in Africa...

150 days and counting...!?