Heading back to Ethiopia - October 4, 2013

Well, it has been a couple years since the last update but here we are heading back to Ethiopia on a mission trip.

Sorry...for no updates...coming soon

o.k. so I have been a little tardy in getting my blog updated...it is for good reason...see picture.

We are doing wonderful and I am like the happiest mom in the world. I have been working on our video from our trip and should have it completed and posted in the next week - hopefully. Just so you didn't think we fell off the face of the earth here are a few shots of our new angel.

Jennifer

Pictures of Sam

Wanted to share a few close ups of our sweetie!

Home Sweet Home

We woke up on Easter morning with our whole family together...it was so wonderful. I have so much to share in regards to our trip but was not able to access blogger while we were gone. I will catch up soon (hopefully) and post the pics but it is time for Sam to have a bottle in about 5 minutes and he does not like to wait....

Ready or not...here we go

It is Friday night and I am almost ready. Cole has gone on a trip with my family (to see UT beat Ohio State and advance in the NCAA tournament). Caroline has gone to my mom's house and Brooke, Russ and I are getting those last minute things done and packed. All the care packages I am taking arrived so they are all packed in case anyone didn't get confirmation from me that I received theirs. I have been very anxious and overwhelmed throughout the day but now feel a bit of peace....actually I can't wait to go to bed so that tomorrow will be here faster. I am going to try and update our blog as often as is possible with details of our trip. We fly home on Saturday, April 3rd at 5:45pm...would love to see everyone and have you meet Samuel Hayes Connelly!

48 hours to takeoff...

It is Thursday afternoon and we have our airline tickets, our housing arrangements, Russ got his last shot and the kids and I got back from Florida a few hours ago. I don't know how to explain this week. I have so much emotion that I could burst into tears at any minute but they are tears of joy. If I think about having him in my arms the flood gates open, I know it will be just like when the doctors put my children in my arms for the first time. You have waited so long, endured many hardships and then the miracle happens....your child is in your arms to be part of you for the rest of your life. I am ready and happy and anxious and edgey and so many other things.....I even feel bad for my husband and children at home with me. The funny thing is I have not packed one thing....now remember when I left for Florida on Thursday I thought I wasn't traveling until May or April at the earliest. So tonight will be a very busy time at the Connelly home. I will pack Brooke, Russ and me for Ethiopia and pack Cole and Caroline for their grandparents. We are so lucky to have our families so close by to help. My parents are taking the kids half the time and Russ' parents the other half.

I do have a prayer request for Sam....they let me know that he is showing signs of pneumonia again and he has started an IV again. Please pray for his health and our safe travels. I hope to update the blog from Ethiopia if at all possible.

Praise God! Sam is coming home...

God is so good and we are so blessed!! We received a call from our travel coordinator (Kristen) this morning and she had very good news for us. The investigation by the US Embassy is complete and they are ready to process the paperwork for Sam to come home. The next appt. that our agency has is next Wednesday....that's right in one week +2 days. Kristen told us that if we could work it out to travel this weekend that we could go. I went to work right away making sure Russ' work schedule could be cleared and that we could get airline tickets. My first email back from the travel agent said that all flights were booked and that it looked nearly impossible but there was a chance that she could get us moved from a wait list hold to a confirmed ticket and hours later she had it done. So we are most likely leaving Saturday morning the 27th and returning Saturday evening April 3rd. I say most likely only because Kristen was wanting to receive final confirmation and should tomorrow morning.

On a side note...because we did not think we were traveling the kids and I left out yesterday for Florida and are not scheduled to go home until Thursday. That will give me 48 hours to pack the three of us and get my two kids who are staying home situated for a week. We have been off from school for 2 weeks and they start back on Monday. My mind is racing a million miles a minute but I am smiling so much my face hurts. I have always told my mom that I like that my life is a bit crazy and boy will the next few weeks be crazy!!

Will keep you updated and thanks so much for all your prayers....they are felt and are working.