Skyped with our girl today!

This morning we got to Skype with our girl in her Foster Home!  It is amazing how happy and healthy she looks.  She is talking up a storm.  Too bad we cannot understand her!  They said they would start speaking some English words to her and calling her Hanna. She is potty trained, eats very well & sleeps very well!  She loves to play so she she will fit right into our family!  She said she loved us.  Amazing!!!!!!!!!

More Pics!

 Could she be any cuter?????

News!

Sorry, I have not posted much lately, honestly there has not been much new info until recently.  We found out that it is probably going to be 12 more weeks before we bring Hanna home because the time it takes to get her Passport, Embassy Date & investigation, Medical Exam, Visa, & Exit Letter.  Hanna is now in Foster Care with another little girl in Kinshasa.  We are glad the girls are together, but hate the fact that they have to leave everything familiar to them.  The plan is still to have her escorted. 

I have been given an incredible opportunity to work as an Adoption Consultant with my agency.  I will be helping families sing up and help them with the paperwork process.  I am super excited about it!  If you or anyone wants info, you can email me @ sue@adoptmeinternational.org


Here are some pics we got of Hanna when someone from our Agency picked up his son!  This was the first case to be completed in DR Congo for our Agency!  So exciting!

New Pics!!!

Not much new news, but we did get new pics of our Hanna today. Here she is! She looks VERY SAD! We cannot wait to wrap our arms around her! Hang in there Hanna! We love you!

Where are we now?

I have not posted for a while, so I just thought I would give an update. There is not too much to tell, but we did get our adoption order and were able to file our I600. This will classify Hanna as an immediate relative and is necessary to bring her home. Once we get the approval, we can get an Embassy Date, then her Visa, then the EXIT LETTER! We did find out that it is probably possible for us to have an escort bring Hanna, so we probably will not have to go to the Congo. We are relieved that we do not have to go based on the unsafe conditions and the fact that it would be very difficult to leave Sara for who knows how long. However, I do feel that it is important to see where Hanna spent her 1st 2 1/2 years of her life. Maybe some day!

Off the subject

Why Exercise During Cancer Treatment?

Cancer is something that can derail your life in an extreme way. The diagnosis alone is challenging enough mentally. Whether someone is diagnosed with breast cancer or rare mesothelioma, doctors end up taking over all of your time with treatment and medication. When you are trying to get your life back on track after treatment or when you are in the middle of treatment and desperate to be thinking of something else, consider how fitness and exercise can help you.

The National Cancer Institute states that there is suggestive evidence that point to exercise being linked to progression-free survival in colorectal cancer and breast cancer. While there is no direct evidence that supports this, the evidence is compelling that exercise does help. There are a number of different types of exercise that are recommended, but at the end of the day, the sum argument seems to be that any kind of movement is good for you. Think about what role exercise could play in your recovery and what it could mean for you.

In the first place, it is essential to find a kind of movement that you are going to enjoy and welcome. Exercise, especially daily exercise, is not easy, and sticking to the schedule can be hard at first. Some people do very well simply by going to the gym every few days and walking on the treadmill. On the other hand, other people need to make something a habit by doing it every day and doing the exact same thing over and over again. Find the mode that works best for you and stick with it.

One way to start up an exercise program that you will stick with is by getting someone to do it with you. Get a friend who will keep you motivated and who will make sure that you are in a good place to go every day. You can do the same for your friend by motivating them when they are having an off day. You may simply take an exercise class together or you might only walk around the park together; every little bit does help, and you’ll discover that this is something that you have control over. It is something that you can do on your own terms, not subject to your doctor’s schedule or your own fears.

Exercise is a way to take joy in your body again, which is something that can be very hard when you are dealing with moving forward after cancer. After cancer, people feel as though their bodies are untrustworthy or that they have been betrayed by their bodies. Learn to take control of your body again and learn how to make it work for you. This can be an integral part of your healing.

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ADOPTION GRANTED!!!

OK, so we thought we were supposed to have our Court Date mid-Feb, but I got an email today that our case was submitted and passed court YESTERDAY!!!! We are just waiting on the Adoption order and translations!
What happens now? There is a 30 day appellate period, and at the end, there is a No Appeals Judgment issued. Once that is issued, the I-600 is sent to USCIS and you wait for your approval. Once you get the approval, documents are filed with the US Embassy in Kinshasa for visa. We get the visa, then we get the Exit Letter from the DGM in Kinshasa. Then you go and pick up your daughter - YAY!!
So, here is our Hanna!!!!!!