It's a Mac world

We're moving the family news to the .mac site. It's easier to upload photos and video, so we're going for it. Let's face it, y'all only want to hear what I have to say in small spurts. You'd much rather see the beauty of his little face and hear his giggles.

If that's what you want, you'll find it here:

web.mac.com/thetreadwells

We'll post at the above address the first chance we get.

Much love to all. We leave B'ham at 1:30 pm March 1 and return at 1:30 pm March 9. See you soon!

Less than 24 hours

But who's counting? Me, that's who.

All the errands are run. All the items are laid out. The last of the laundry is being washed and dried. MT will put everything that hasn't already been packed in suitcases tonight.

I'm hoping to talk MT into a last night of freedom date. We'll see...

Our Itinerary

Check this out. My Dad made a chart showing central time, Ethiopia time, and what we're supposed to be doing when. How cool is that?!

The flight going is actually my mom's flight. We leave Birmingham at 1:30, go through Cincinnati, and arrive in Washington, D.C., at 4:30. Of course, we're on the same flight as she is leaving Washington, and she's flying back to Birmingham with us, so we're on all the return flights listed, too. (GMT = Greenwich Mean Time, BG=Bowling Green, KY, where my parents live [a.k.a. Central Standard Time])

Adoption Trip to Ethiopia to pick up Caleb Melese Treadwell
BG Day BG Time Addis Time Addis Day ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GMT-6 GMT+3
Saturday - Day 0/ March 1, 2008
Saturday 10:00AM 7:00PM Saturday
Saturday 11:00AM 8:00PM Saturday Depart Nashville @ 11:40 AM : Delta Flight 4178
Saturday 12:00PM 9:00PM Saturday
Saturday 1:00PM 10:00PM Saturday Arrive Atlanta @1:48PM
Saturday 2:00PM 11:00PM Saturday Depart Atlanta @2:57PM : Delta Flight 1132
Sunday - Day 1/March 2, 2008
Saturday 3:00PM 12:00AM Sunday
Saturday 4:00PM 1:00AM Sunday Arrive Washington DC @ 4:41PM
Saturday 5:00PM 2:00AM Sunday
Saturday 6:00PM 3:00AM Sunday
Saturday 7:00PM 4:00AM Sunday Depart Wasington DC @ 8:30PM EST/7:30PM CST
Saturday 8:00PM 5:00AM Sunday Ethioian Flight 501
Saturday 9:00PM 6:00AM Sunday
Saturday 10:00PM 8:00AM Sunday
Saturday 11:00PM 9:00AM Sunday
Sunday 12:00AM 10:00AM Sunday
Sunday 1:00AM 11:00AM Sunday
Sunday 2:00AM 12:00PM Sunday
Sunday 3:00AM 1:00PM Sunday
Sunday 4:00AM 2:00PM Sunday
Sunday 5:00AM 3:00PM Sunday
Sunday 6:00AM 4:00PM Sunday
Sunday 7:00AM 4:00PM Sunday
Sunday 8:00AM 5:00PM Sunday
Sunday 9:00AM 6:00PM Sunday
Sunday 10:00AM 7:00PM Sunday Arrive Addis Ababa @7:40PM GMT+3
Sunday 11:00AM 8:00PM Sunday
Sunday 12:00PM 9:00PM Sunday Dinner @ Hilton
Sunday 1:00PM 10:00PM Sunday
Sunday 2:00PM 11:00PM Sunday

Monday - Day 2/ March 3, 2008
Sunday 3:00PM 12:00AM Monday
Sunday 4:00PM 1:00AM Monday
Sunday 5:00PM 2:00AM Monday
Sunday 6:00PM 3:00AM Monday
Sunday 7:00PM 4:00AM Monday
Sunday 8:00PM 5:00AM Monday
Sunday 9:00PM 6:00AM Monday
Sunday 10:00PM 8:00AM Monday Go to to market
Sunday 11:00PM 9:00AM Monday Go to Transition home & meet Caleb
Monday 12:00AM 10:00AM Monday
Monday 1:00AM 11:00AM Monday
Monday 2:00AM 12:00PM Monday
Monday 3:00AM 1:00PM Monday Lunch & coffee Ceremony
Monday 4:00AM 2:00PM Monday
Monday 5:00AM 3:00PM Monday
Monday 6:00AM 4:00PM Monday
Monday 7:00AM 4:00PM Monday
Monday 8:00AM 5:00PM Monday
Monday 9:00AM 6:00PM Monday Dinner @ Castelli's
Monday 10:00AM 7:00PM Monday
Monday 11:00AM 8:00PM Monday
Monday 12:00PM 9:00PM Monday
Monday 1:00PM 10:00PM Monday
Monday 2:00PM 11:00PM Monday

Tuesday - Day 3 / March 4, 2008
Monday 3:00PM 12:00AM Tuesday
Monday 4:00PM 1:00AM Tuesday
Monday 5:00PM 2:00AM Tuesday
Monday 6:00PM 3:00AM Tuesday
Monday 7:00PM 4:00AM Tuesday
Monday 8:00PM 5:00AM Tuesday
Monday 9:00PM 6:00AM Tuesday
Monday 10:00PM 8:00AM Tuesday Pick up Caleb--Gotcha Day!!
Monday 11:00PM 9:00AM Tuesday
Tuesday 12:00AM 10:00AM Tuesday
Tuesday 1:00AM 11:00AM Tuesday
Tuesday 2:00AM 12:00PM Tuesday
Tuesday 3:00AM 1:00PM Tuesday Lunch @ Hilton
Tuesday 4:00AM 2:00PM Tuesday Lounge @ Hilton Pool
Tuesday 5:00AM 3:00PM Tuesday
Tuesday 6:00AM 4:00PM Tuesday
Tuesday 7:00AM 4:00PM Tuesday
Tuesday 8:00AM 5:00PM Tuesday Early Dinner
Tuesday 9:00AM 6:00PM Tuesday
Tuesday 10:00AM 7:00PM Tuesday Paperwork Meeting
Tuesday 11:00AM 8:00PM Tuesday
Tuesday 12:00PM 9:00PM Tuesday
Tuesday 1:00PM 10:00PM Tuesday
Tuesday 2:00PM 11:00PM Tuesday

Wednesday - Day 4 / March 5, 2008
Tuesday 3:00PM 12:00AM Wednesday
Tuesday 4:00PM 1:00AM Wednesday
Tuesday 5:00PM 2:00AM Wednesday
Tuesday 6:00PM 3:00AM Wednesday
Tuesday 7:00PM 4:00AM Wednesday
Tuesday 8:00PM 5:00AM Wednesday
Tuesday 9:00PM 6:00AM Wednesday
Tuesday 10:00PM 8:00AM Wednesday Breakfast & Paperwork party
Tuesday 11:00PM 9:00AM Wednesday
Wednesday 12:00AM 10:00AM Wednesday
Wednesday 1:00AM 11:00AM Wednesday
Wednesday 2:00AM 12:00PM Wednesday Lunch at Deli Roma
Wednesday 3:00AM 1:00PM Wednesday 1:30 PM at US Embassy
Wednesday 4:00AM 2:00PM Wednesday
Wednesday 5:00AM 3:00PM Wednesday
Wednesday 6:00AM 4:00PM Wednesday
Wednesday 7:00AM 4:00PM Wednesday
Wednesday 8:00AM 5:00PM Wednesday
Wednesday 9:00AM 6:00PM Wednesday Dinner @ Sheraton
Wednesday 10:00AM 7:00PM Wednesday
Wednesday 11:00AM 8:00PM Wednesday
Wednesday 12:00PM 9:00PM Wednesday
Wednesday 1:00PM 10:00PM Wednesday
Wednesday 2:00PM 11:00PM Wednesday

Thursday - Day 5 / March 6, 2008
Wednesday 3:00PM 12:00AM Thursday
Wednesday 4:00PM 1:00AM Thursday
Wednesday 5:00PM 2:00AM Thursday
Wednesday 6:00PM 3:00AM Thursday
Wednesday 7:00PM 4:00AM Thursday
Wednesday 8:00PM 5:00AM Thursday
Wednesday 9:00PM 6:00AM Thursday
Wednesday 10:00PM 8:00AM Thursday Lion Zoo
Wednesday 11:00PM 9:00AM Thursday
Thursday 12:00AM 10:00AM Thursday
Thursday 1:00AM 11:00AM Thursday
Thursday 2:00AM 12:00PM Thursday Lunch at Kaldi
Thursday 3:00AM 1:00PM Thursday Visit St. George Cathedral
Thursday 4:00AM 2:00PM Thursday
Thursday 5:00AM 3:00PM Thursday
Thursday 6:00AM 4:00PM Thursday
Thursday 7:00AM 4:00PM Thursday
Thursday 8:00AM 5:00PM Thursday
Thursday 9:00AM 6:00PM Thursday Dinner @ New York, New York
Thursday 10:00AM 7:00PM Thursday
Thursday 11:00AM 8:00PM Thursday
Thursday 12:00PM 9:00PM Thursday
Thursday 1:00PM 10:00PM Thursday
Thursday 2:00PM 11:00PM Thursday

Friday - Day 6 / March 7, 2008
Thursday 3:00PM 12:00AM Friday
Thursday 4:00PM 1:00AM Friday
Thursday 5:00PM 2:00AM Friday
Thursday 6:00PM 3:00AM Friday
Thursday 7:00PM 4:00AM Friday
Thursday 8:00PM 5:00AM Friday
Thursday 9:00PM 6:00AM Friday
Thursday 10:00PM 8:00AM Friday Downtime @ Hotel
Thursday 11:00PM 9:00AM Friday
Friday 12:00AM 10:00AM Friday
Friday 1:00AM 11:00AM Friday
Friday 2:00AM 12:00PM Friday Lunch @ Carnivores
Friday 3:00AM 1:00PM Friday Visit National Museum
Friday 4:00AM 2:00PM Friday
Friday 5:00AM 3:00PM Friday
Friday 6:00AM 4:00PM Friday
Friday 7:00AM 4:00PM Friday
Friday 8:00AM 5:00PM Friday
Friday 9:00AM 6:00PM Friday Dinner @ Zebra Grill
Friday 10:00AM 7:00PM Friday
Friday 11:00AM 8:00PM Friday
Friday 12:00PM 9:00PM Friday
Friday 1:00PM 10:00PM Friday
Friday 2:00PM 11:00PM Friday

Saturday - Day 7 / March 8, 2008
Friday 3:00PM 12:00AM Saturday
Friday 4:00PM 1:00AM Saturday
Friday 5:00PM 2:00AM Saturday
Friday 6:00PM 3:00AM Saturday
Friday 7:00PM 4:00AM Saturday
Friday 8:00PM 5:00AM Saturday
Friday 9:00PM 6:00AM Saturday
Friday 10:00PM 8:00AM Saturday Visit Kids Care Orphanage
Friday 11:00PM 9:00AM Saturday
Saturday 12:00AM 10:00AM Saturday
Saturday 1:00AM 11:00AM Saturday
Saturday 2:00AM 12:00PM Saturday Lunch @ Blue Top
Saturday 3:00AM 1:00PM Saturday Downtime at Hotel Prep for departure
Saturday 4:00AM 2:00PM Saturday
Saturday 5:00AM 3:00PM Saturday
Saturday 6:00AM 4:00PM Saturday
Saturday 7:00AM 4:00PM Saturday
Saturday 8:00AM 5:00PM Saturday Leave hotel @ 5:00PM GMT+3
Saturday 9:00AM 6:00PM Saturday
Saturday 10:00AM 7:00PM Saturday
Saturday 11:00AM 8:00PM Saturday
Saturday 12:00PM 9:00PM Saturday
Saturday 1:00PM 10:00PM Saturday Depart Adddis Ababa@10:15PM GMT+3 / 1:15PM GMT+6
Saturday 2:00PM 11:00PM Saturday Ethiopian Flight 500

Sunday - Day 8 / March 9, 2008
Saturday 3:00PM 12:00AM Sunday
Saturday 4:00PM 1:00AM Sunday
Saturday 5:00PM 2:00AM Sunday
Saturday 6:00PM 3:00AM Sunday
Saturday 7:00PM 4:00AM Sunday
Saturday 8:00PM 5:00AM Sunday
Saturday 9:00PM 6:00AM Sunday
Saturday 10:00PM 8:00AM Sunday
Saturday 11:00PM 9:00AM Sunday
Sunday 12:00AM 10:00AM Sunday
Sunday 1:00AM 11:00AM Sunday
Sunday 2:00AM 12:00PM Sunday
Sunday 3:00AM 1:00PM Sunday
Sunday 4:00AM 2:00PM Sunday
Sunday 5:00AM 3:00PM Sunday
Sunday 6:00AM 4:00PM Sunday
Sunday 7:00AM 4:00PM Sunday Arrive Washington DC 8:20AM EST / 7:20AM CST
Sunday 8:00AM 5:00PM Sunday
Sunday 9:00AM 6:00PM Sunday
Sunday 10:00AM 7:00PM Sunday Depart Washington DC 11:59 EST / 10:59AM CST
Sunday 11:00AM 8:00PM Sunday Delta Flight 6033
Sunday 12:00PM 9:00PM Sunday Arrive Cincinnati 12:39PM EST / 10:59 CST
Sunday 1:00PM 10:00PM Sunday Depart Cincinnati 1:10PM EST/12:10 CST:
Delta Flight 6137
Sunday 2:00PM 11:00PM Sunday Arrive Birmingham , AL 1:30PM CST
Sunday 3:00PM 12:00AM Monday WELCOME HOME, CALEB!!

UGH! i'm sick. :P

well, tomorrow is the last day before we leave. it doesn't feel real.

last night at about 10 pm the chills came on. i laid on the couch miserably shivering and wrapped up in a blanket. michael was working until about 11:30, trying to get his sub plans ready, so i was all alone. it was very sad. i did have a low-grade temperature, but it had disappeared this morning. thankfully, i'm feeling better now (7:22 pm), which gives me hope that i don't have the flu but just an unhappy viral cold. (thanks, ben, for the doc advice.)

I think it goes without saying that I am elated, hopeful, expectant, and celebrating the day we meet Caleb and get to bring him into our family for forever.

Here's the true confession: while I celebrate Caleb and love him and can't wait for him, I mourn the loss of this life that I have and happen to love.

First of all, I have a great marriage. I don't exactly expect that to change, but I've always known that kids will be the source of much conflict between Michael and me. We'll probably fight more. Hopefully not as loudly or viciously. And, we'll have less time together alone. We have had six and a half years of just us. Frankly, we're really good at this thing we've got going. It's going to be a bit of an adjustment.

And, I have so much freedom. I am basically a part-time children's coordinator and a full-time friend. I'm incredibly available. I like that. I like being present with people. Already, since our court date, I've been so busy preparing and getting things ready for Caleb. I've been downright self-absorbed.

I think coming into motherhood a bit later than some gives me a glimpse of what it must be like to marry a bit later than some. It's not that you're not excited to marry. It's just that you're extremely aware of what you're giving up in order to gain the benefits of marriage. I know Caleb outweighs any loss he brings. However, he brings loss--his own and the luxuries I lose in caring for him.

Ah, can you handle this much honesty, big wide world?

test, test, this is a test

I'm trying to post on blogger from an email. Apparently, you cannot access blogger in Ethiopia. So, if this works, we'll post via email. If it does not, we'll post via our .mac site. Honestly, we may just make the .mac switch anyway. Our .mac site has great capabilities than blogger, and it can be better organized. If we do make the switch, we'll announce it here and post the address. Not to worry! Five days and counting... (big grin)

10 days and counting...

Today is almost over, so I'm not counting it any more. I must say...I've been busy!

Everyone takes gifts to the nannies who work in the transition home. It's part of the culture to give gifts to show appreciation. Plus, I am so extremely thankful! These women have been caring for my son. I want to show them how much I appreciate that gift and service. Well, easier said than done. It was a grueling process deciding and figuring out what would be desirable, affordable, and packable. Finally, after ruling out shoes, I went to the fabric store, loaded up on 50% off fleece and am making lots of no sew fleece blankets. Well, thirteen to be exact. Much thanks to my sweet friend who has spent time cutting and tying with me!

Technically, we're only asked to bring gifts for the nannies and orphanage director, but some folks bring gifts for everyone. I was laboring over this decision. On the one hand, it would be nice to do, but on the other hand, 23 people are a lot to buy gifts for. Then, I happened to be in Bruno's grocery store, of all places, and they had fleece throws on sale--3 for $10. So, I did it. I bought 10 more blankets to give to everyone else. Packing these things is not going to be so easy, and I do foresee the fight I'm going to have with my sweet husband about it. However, I believe in him. He can do it; he's not an Eagle Scout for nothin'.

Something else that was looming over me--Francis's lifebook has remained unfinished these (almost) two years since his life ended. I knew that if I didn't complete it before Caleb got home that it would never happen. So, ta-da! What you can't see here (sorry!) is a completed scrapbook. My BFF came for the weekend and we did nothing but craft, eat, sleep, and watch one romantic comedy. Oh, and talk. We managed to squeeze in a bit of talking.

Today I gathered all the paperwork we need for our trip and organized it into a file folder for travel. Then, I visited the bank to get the oh-so-pristine $100 bills needed for our trip. They told me to come back on Thursday. Ha! Just when you think you live in the big city....

And, I made a master Wal-Mart list for all the items we need to purchase for travel and our return home.

I'm feeling pretty productive.

Here's the lovely spring wreath Katie made during our craft session. She kindly proceeded to give it to me. Muchas gracias, chica.

It's DONE!

Caleb is our son. We were approved in the Ethiopian courts just a few hours ago. I am so very pleased to show you these beautiful pictures of him. I can't believe it. I think I'm in shock. We're trying to travel February 29th--three weeks from today! I think I better make a list of what I have left to do. Hooray!

The sideways pic is his referral pic. The smiling pic is him holding the blanket we sent him. The last pic was taken most recently, just over a week ago. He's 10 months tomorrow, and we're supposed to get height and weight measurements next week. I cannot wait to get my hands on him!