Finally, Some Details

We've been hesitant to post much on our blog since receiving our referral because we haven't been able to talk to our agency director personally to verify what we can and cannot share. He plans to call us Monday after his return. It's obvious we received our referral, we've told all our friends and family, including our Yahoo group, so I don't think posting to our blog will hurt anything. When the referral was sent in an e-mail Sunday, our director stated "See attached....do not put info over blog or internet please....Just info is for you." After some thought, I take that to mean we can't release her records or photo to the web, which we have not.

Anyway, WOW! Sunday was a Mother's Day that our whole family will never forget. I am still in disbelief that our director chose that day to send us Amelie's information, especially while he was out of the country. Shock, amazement and awe are just a few words to describe how we all felt. I'll post the details later of exactly how we stumbled upon "the e-mail" that changed our lives. For now I want to say that Amelie is absolutely perfect. She's the girl I kept seeing in my morning visions, only much younger. She was born the very same month that I started feeling and undeniable "tug" in my heart toward a female child (and I was trying so hard to put it out of my mind). She's a mere 7 months old, 13.2 pounds and 24 inches long. Her skin is very dark with a caramel-honey glow, just like I've been imagining. Her eyes are large and wise. She has the button nose and little raspberry lips I kept seeing, too. She is almost completely bald, except for a small tuft of coal black hair growing in toward the back of her head. In one photo, when I enlarge it I can see tiny round spiral curls starting to form. We cannot see her body because of an oversized sweater dress she has on, which looks more like a toddler sweater than a dress; it's oversized and the sleeves are rolled up. I keep looking at her tiny hands, thinking of how many times we'll be holding them. Her cheeks are adorably chubby and she looks so healthy.

Most importantly, she sounds as if she's developmentally on target. She's rolling from back to tummy, tummy to back on her own, and attempts so sit with assistance. She drinks 5 ounces of milk every three hours, supplemented with porridge, and she's sleeping normally. They also state that "she's begun to laugh loudly" which warmed our humorous family's hearts more than anything.

She arrived at Toukoul on April 23rd and we can't help thinking about all the transitions she's had to go through at such a young age. I'm sure her youth makes it easier, but we learned from Sky that on a subtle level it is still confusing, even to infants. She started out in Bahir Dar, about 8-9 hours away from Addis, abandoned at a police station when she was only 1 month old (last Halloween). She stayed at one of Toukoul's satellite orphanages for nearly 6 months and most likely felt very at home there. The police searched and exhausted every avenue to try locating family, extended family, or anyone who would be willing to take care of her. Finally she was sent to Toukoul in Addis Ababa, and has begun another period of transition. Apparently, she's not too horribly affected if she is rolling around and laughing (a beautiful image I hold)....she's probably a ball of great joy, and may be one of those souls who goes lightly through life. I keep imagining her laughter, and cannot wait to finally hear it and laugh along with her.