Zaza's Adoption Blog

Coming and Going

rixgal — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 05:06:19 +0000

That is what I can’t figure out…. whether I’m coming or going. I barely have time for one blog, let alone two. So please go read the other one: www.MySistersJar.wordpress.com

Nora’s Gotcha Day is Nov. 25! We have BIG things planned! Stay tuned!

Adoption Updates

rixgal — Tue, 17 May 2011 05:33:58 +0000

…. at my other blog. www.MySistersJar.wordpress.com There are two new adoption blogs coming in the next two days! One on fundraising and one on friendship!

Three Months Home

rixgal — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 01:28:49 +0000

Yes, it’s been three months that we’ve been home from Colombia with Nora. It seems like WAY longer. They (the adoption people) told us that it would be four months when she started speaking English. Well, counting the one month IN Colombia, we are at four months, and they were right. She is mostly speaking English now, with a decidedly Spanish accent.

Just last night we had a major breakthrough with her opening up to me and talking about her previous life for the first time. She talked non-stop for over 2 hours including a trip in and out of the bathtub. What a blessing that we have earned her trust. What a LOT for a little girl to shoulder and NOT talk about for over 18 months! She is a trooper and I know that our prayers for the last four years protected her.

We have a neighborhood shopping mall that is searching for local kids to do their next advertising campaign, so we took our kids. Hey, if they can work for a living at these ages, BONUS! Out of our four kids, Nora is such a natural, tilting her head slightly and smiling so sweetly. We’ll see!!

Blessings to all those still waiting for your angels to be in your arms!

First Post-Placement Visit!

rixgal — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 03:16:24 +0000

Yesterday was our first post-placement visit since we’ve been home from Colombia. There are four all together. The social worker who comes to visit lives in Tuscon, two hours away, so she fits in two or three Phoenix visits together when she can. She asked us a whole long list of questions about Nora’s adjustment and ours. It was good for us to review how things were when we first got home, and how much better things have become in less than two months.

One thing that surprised me was how often Nora has contact with Spanish-speaking people. It’s at least twice a week, if not more. (That’s not counting Winn Dixie in Spanish.) This was not entirely on purpose, but God placed people regularly in our lives to give Nora a taste of home. :o)

One down, three to go!

One MONTH!

rixgal — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 16:55:32 +0000

Yesterday, January 22, 2011, marks ONE MONTH that Nora has been home with us. It seems so much longer! She has adjusted so well! In our adoption training, I think they gave us several worse case scenarios, which left us apprehensive. However, with those horror scenes in mind, our transition time has been wonderful. We were warned of troubles sleeping and eating, which are the two biggies for kids who change cultures. But Nora has slept well since day number one, in her own bed with hardly a blip on the radar. There are foods she likes a lot (chicken, beef, garlic mashed potatoes and pineapple) and foods that she will eat, but are not her favorite (spaghetti, lasagna, and green salad). We think she was slightly addicted to salt and sugar. She asked to add them to everything! I mean everything! That has been put to rest along with her coffee drinking. I still heat her milk for her each morning, but it now has chocolate Ovaltine…. like warm cocoa in the morning. :o)

Neglect Warning!

rixgal — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 05:28:51 +0000

Yes, I’ve neglected this blog. Not that adoption work is over…. at all. We just started our re-adoption in the State of Arizona this week. It includes, but I’m sure is not limited to: new doctor physicals, new sets of fingerprints, court filing, more cashola, four home visits, five family photos ready at each visit and more paper work. Why do we bother? Because the courts in Cali wouldn’t let us change Nora’s name to the name we chose. In Colombia the children take both the mother and father’s last names. So the name Nikander has risen again in my life. I thought I put it to rest 23 3/4 years ago! But no! Also, Nora will end up with an AZ birth certificate… WAY more easily attainable when you need original copies. There will also be an adoption trail of court papers in America. I’m told we will be thankful for that one day. In AZ, the child has to be in your home for six months before the case goes before a judge. So we’re looking at July or August for Nora’s name to be officially changed. She doesn’t know that it isn’t Nora Linda Crosby at this time…… that’s all we’ve told her since more confusion was not necessary! So off we go…. for more fun and paper work!

Once Again….

rixgal — Sat, 04 Dec 2010 22:18:12 +0000

I blogged adoption news over at my regular blog….

http://mysistersjar.wordpress.com/2010/12/04/hindsight-is-2020/

Advice for those coming to Colombia in the future!

We got HER!

rixgal — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 02:47:42 +0000

Go read details and see photos at my other blog:

www.MySistersJar.wordpress.com

It’s a Done Deal!

rixgal — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 06:05:59 +0000

We have accepted Nora’s referral! We sent off the fax on Nov. 19th. YAY!!! We are shocked that we are able to go and come home with our little angel BEFORE Christmas! Oh, this mother’s heart is full of joy unspeakable and full of glory! Presentation day is Nov. 23rd… NEXT Friday! I can hardly believe the whole thing is real!

Here are a FEW of the cool God-instances that have become apparent to us…. God moments where His hand was all over this adoption:

1. Nora was placed into the care of ICBF on my birthday!

2. We are traveling to get Nora on Thanksgiving Day! It was Thanksgiving Day 2006 when we announced our adoption plans to our families. Four years to the D A Y !

3. Her name is Nora, but she asked us to change it. Eleanor is my mother’s middle name….. and for purely quirky reasons, we wanted her to have a name starting with E….. we hope she likes Eleanora. It means ‘shining light’.

4. I have been making a little play kitchen for Nora with a sink and stove top. In the new report it specifically said that she “especially likes playing with a kitchen with a stove…” Awwwww.

See? God moments.

Please stay tuned for adorable little girl photos….

I’ll be there for You!

rixgal — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 05:24:12 +0000

Today I went to lunch with a girlfriend who is also an adoptive mom. She told me her “gotch ya” stories and I almost burst into tears each time when she received her babies! It is so awesome how God brings families together. I love to hear each story! Somewhere throughout our conversation, I told her about a group of adoption maniacs who all live in Tennessee. (You know who you are!) I read their blogs and have become friends with them. I am supremely envious when each of their new babies have come home in the past six months from Colombia, China and Ethiopia… and they ALL go to the airport to celebrate the homecoming of a newly adopted child. It’s awesome! Anyway, my friend promised me that she would come to the airport even if we come home at 3:00 in the morning! So sweet. Made me want to cry again! So thankful for supportive friends!