We're parents!I

Well sort of. The good news is that the judge approved our petition to adopt Benjamin, the bad news is that she did not waive the 10 waiting period liked we had hoped. Bummer.

So we're going to be here awhile and almost certainly won't be home before Christmas. We took this news a little harder than we expected we would. I guess we had rather high hopes based on other recent families all getting their 10 waiting period waved. Oh well, the end result is all that really matters, and another few days over here is something we can handle.

The court process was a bit odd. We met with a translator yesterday who "prepped" us with information about the whole process. She gave us examples of the kinds of questions we would be asked, told us a bit about the judge, and other people that would be present. She gave us good feedback on what would be appropriate to mention and what would be best to omit.

The court proceeding seemed very brief. What is strange is that the judge never looked at us, not once. I'm not sure if she really looked at anyone else in the room either. She was a very stern looking woman, and asked us only one question I think. Our translator said that was because we did such a good job in presenting ourselves. Hard to say why the judge then made the decision she did. Frustrating for sure.

Our translator/representatives were not very happy with the judges decision either. We had brought a small gift with us for the judge, but they did not even want to give it to her after the hearing. They will do everything within their power to get us out of town the minute our 10 days are up. That's good. They'll probably be pretty sick of babysitting us by then.

We'll visit Benjamin every day now until we finally make the last trip to go get him and take him with us. I think this wait will actually make the transition to being with us a little less traumatic. He'll feel a little safer leaving his home if he knows us a little better.

Well we're tired after a long emotional day. We just got back to the hotel after dinner, and Linda is actually sleeping in the chair next to me as I sit in the lobby and type away.

The computer battery is about dead here too, so I think all three of us will go up to our room and try to recharge.

Good night for us, Good morning to you.

Ed