More AFAA kids are COMING HOME!!!

After more problems than any family should be forced to endure. Ishamel is coming home and there is a chance that Diamond (Angeline) may come home at the same time! This should be the week after Thanskgiving! BIG SIGH!

Additionally, Alomiza got her visa today so she will be coming home at that time with Jacob, Mardia, Felicia, Tarry and Maima.

And last Cheryl is working hard to get Kurker's passport secured tomorrow so that he and Gormah can come home at the same time. Potentially, 10 kids could be coming home by the first of December!!!

We hold our breath for Diamond and Florence, and Jemama and Princess who are awaiting DNA testing.

All the firsts are sooooo rich!

The last couple of days the temps in Oklahoma have dipped below freezing. This would usually be an event that would like of set me off into a bad mood because I am a warm weather gal and winter is not necessarily a good thing for me, but for the firsts...

Lorea is out of town all week and I am playing single mom which means getting both me and Akins ready every day (usually somewhat of a shared task), putting the dogs out in the barn for their day and all that goes with getting the day going. Here's the scene... we head off with cookies (dog treats) in hand to take the dogs out to the barn and I note that the grass is frosted over so I point it out. The face is priceless, the smile, the alarm and puzzlement, the realization that our foot prints show on the grass and finally all of the questions. The point to which he touches it and realizes it is cold. Then the car window is frosted over and the wipers don't even wipe it off. He says, "Mommy, it's cold". Yeah, I know!

Then today again it is cold and following our daily ritual we trek off to take the dogs out. I was talking to him about something, probably that I would beat him there a game we play often and I realize that my breath shows in the air. So, I show him the "smoke" coming out of my mouth and then ask him to try it. Again, the face is priceless, the smile, the alarm and puzzlement, and finally all of the questions always follow. The same thing happens as we go to the car as today I decided to start the car before taking him out because it truly is cold. As we are going out to the car and he passes behind it he notices the exhaust coming out the tail pipe and exclaims "Mommy, see"! I think he thought the car was on fire. Again, Priceless!

Great news for some of the Liberian Kids

Jacob and Mardia going to Jackie and JJ will be coming home soon Visas are approved!

Felicia going to Norma is coming home Visa is approved!

Tarry and Maima are coming home Visa is approved!

Additionally, the consular has agreed to review Ishamel's case again and for the kids that have to have DNA tests, the test kits shipped today!

More on the belly story

There were a couple of funny moments yesterday even though it was kind of bad. Last time we were there which was a good 3 or 4 weeks ago they gave him some stickers for him being good and he got to playing with toys and left the stickers in a truck he was playing with. When we got there this time he immediately went to the toy box and pulled out the truck and said "where are my stickers"? He remembered all this time.

Another funny thing... the doctor is going over the options on how we can remove the fluid building up and she talks really fast. She is describing how we will need help holding him down and she does not want him to see the n..e..e..d..l..e and then she leaves to go get help and as soon as she is gone he says "that doctor is trying to trick me". The boy is so smart there is no pulling anything past him.

The Belly Button Saga Continues....

We went today for the post surgery checkup and had bad news. I had noticed over the past few days that his belly was cone shaped again. I was hoping it was just swollen. It turns out it was fluid and had to be drained. Big needle a lot of stress and it may have to happen again and again!

First glimpse of the new belly button

Okay, the patch came off today and we got our first look at the belly button. Not a pretty as I would like it to be, but Akins is VERY pleased. He has a belly button that he can stick his finger in and that is A.O.K.! He even showed the neighbor kids! I'm not sure they were as thrilled. There is still some swelling and as the doctor said he will grow into it. I'm not sure it looks right yet, but we go back on Tuesday to confirm everything is going as it should be. Here is what it looks like for those who have been asking. Oh and there is still some sticky tape around it so that is part of why it looks weird.

Sushi - Pet Stores - Kurker

The past few days have been filled with some fun things and lots of talk about Kuker. On Thursday I was out of town and so Lorea seized the moment to take Akins for Sushi to see if he likes it. Anyone who knows me very well knows that I want nothing to do with fish or any type of seafood especially any that might be raw. Lorea was hoping to have a Sushi partner. Well, boy did she get it!! She told me Akins ate 20 Sushi rolls of various types and when I got home on Friday we were going to go out to dinner with Mom at the local hole in the wall until Akins starting saying he wanted... he wanted... couldn't remember what it was called but was quite clear on what he wanted so much so that he almost cried at the loss of words to ask for it. Next thing I know we are on our way to Tulsa for Sushi - damn, I'm still on the hook. Lorea was thrilled she even got Mom to try it!

Then yesterday we took Akins to the PetCo. With four dogs we buy a lot of dog food and I will only buy the good stuff for them. Anyway, while there it was like being at the zoo with all the small animals and then we came to a lizard. Akins began to recount a story of Kurker having a lizard "in his room at his house". When I inquired further it was the house with the blue gate where you honk to get in. Sure enough this is the AFFA house. Since then Akins has spoken of Kurker a lot. Just a few minutes ago he said he wanted to go to his house. I said "we are at your house", and he said "no your other house". So, I asked about the blue gate where you honk and he said "yeah". I said "what will you do there" and he said "I want to play with Kurker". Bitter sweet!