43 days and counting. We just had our first baby shower on Sunday 3/22. It was also my 37th birthday--I couldn't have asked for a better birthday. I sent Elise our notarized letter yesterday giving her and her family permission to take pictures of Ella for us. I can't wait to see a new picture, it has been 4 weeks since the last one that we got. I am sure that she has grown and I need a new picture! Waiting is so hard.
I am trying to make some travel arrangements, but not knowing if our visa appointment has been moved makes things more difficult. I will keep you posted.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
SHOTS!!!!!!!
Yes, we got the first round of shots on Friday. We went to the Hillsborough County health department vaccination clinic on Adamo and 50th St. We decided to get Typhoid, Hep A and Hep B. I also had to get a tetanus booster--ouch! We did the twinex on the A and B, it is a combo shot and we go back to get another injection in 1 month and another in 5 months after that. We should be protected for our trip to Ethiopia. We opted out of the Yellow Fever, it is not in Addis Ababa--too high altitude for mosquitoes. They are recommending that all caregivers at home also receive Hep A inoculations--Grandparents especially! Sorry Mom and Dad! Just need to see the doctor to get some antibiotics, anti-diarrhea, and etc.
More Soon!!!
More Soon!!!
New Court Date
We got a new court date of May 8th. The day that Ella becomes ours! Our old date was May 19th with a visa appt for June 11th. We are waiting to see if our visa appointment changes--I hope that it is May 28th--giving us time to get home and attend Rory's wedding in Mexico!
51 days till she becomes ours!
51 days till she becomes ours!
Thursday, March 5, 2009
95 Days and Counting
We got this update about Hep A.
Please see the recommendation (reproduced below) that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued today. Please pass this information on to your adoptive parents. Please also pass this on to your agency’s headquarters in the U.S. Adoptive parents need to be aware of this recommendation BEFORE they travel to Ethiopia to meet their prospective adopted children.
Consular Section staff will be handing this information out to adoptive parents. However, it is most important that they receive this information prior to coming to Ethiopia.
Hepatitis-A Risk Associated with Ethiopian AdopteesThis information is current as of March 04, 2009
Several cases of hepatitis A have recently been reported in children and adults linked to adoptees from Ethiopia. Hepatitis A is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis A virus. Most children under the age of 6 years do not get sick from the infection, but can spread it to older children and adults, who often become ill.
Recommendations
· Travelers, including adoptive parents and any accompanying family members, who pick up the child should visit a health-care provider or travel medicine specialist as soon as travel is considered to ensure that their routine vaccinations are up to date and to obtain pre-travel advice tailored to their own medical history and the country they will visit.
· To prevent hepatitis A virus infections, CDC recommends that travelers to areas with intermediate and high rates of hepatitis A, including Ethiopia, receive hepatitis A vaccine prior to travel.
· Other household members and caregivers of children adopted from Ethiopia, should consider being vaccinated before adopted children are brought to the U.S.
· Post-arrival of adopted children: Adopted children, household members, caregivers, or other persons experiencing symptoms of hepatitis A should be evaluated by a health-care provider. Persons exposed to hepatitis A who have not been previously immunized should contact their health-care provider or local health department to determine if they should receive an immunization or immunoglobulin to help prevent illness. More information about hepatitis A is available at: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hepatitis/.
More Information
· The hepatitis A virus is found in the stool (feces) of persons with hepatitis A. It is usually spread from person to person by putting something in the mouth that has been contaminated with stool. Frequent hand washing with soap and water, particularly after using the bathroom, changing a diaper, and before preparing or eating food, is very important in preventing the spread of hepatitis A.
· Symptoms usually occur abruptly and include fatigue, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, nausea, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes), and diarrhea. Jaundice is common in adults but rare in children. Older persons and persons with chronic liver disease can have more serious illness. The overall mortality rate among reported cases of hepatitis A is 0.3%, but it is 1.8% among persons >50 years. Symptoms generally last up to 2 months; there is no chronic (long-term) form of the disease.
Additional information is available at: http://wwwn.cdc.gov/Travel/contentHepAEthiopianAdoptees.aspx
Charles and I will be getting vaccinated, but until we get her tested when we get back we will limit who has a lot of contact with Ella.
Please see the recommendation (reproduced below) that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued today. Please pass this information on to your adoptive parents. Please also pass this on to your agency’s headquarters in the U.S. Adoptive parents need to be aware of this recommendation BEFORE they travel to Ethiopia to meet their prospective adopted children.
Consular Section staff will be handing this information out to adoptive parents. However, it is most important that they receive this information prior to coming to Ethiopia.
Hepatitis-A Risk Associated with Ethiopian AdopteesThis information is current as of March 04, 2009
Several cases of hepatitis A have recently been reported in children and adults linked to adoptees from Ethiopia. Hepatitis A is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis A virus. Most children under the age of 6 years do not get sick from the infection, but can spread it to older children and adults, who often become ill.
Recommendations
· Travelers, including adoptive parents and any accompanying family members, who pick up the child should visit a health-care provider or travel medicine specialist as soon as travel is considered to ensure that their routine vaccinations are up to date and to obtain pre-travel advice tailored to their own medical history and the country they will visit.
· To prevent hepatitis A virus infections, CDC recommends that travelers to areas with intermediate and high rates of hepatitis A, including Ethiopia, receive hepatitis A vaccine prior to travel.
· Other household members and caregivers of children adopted from Ethiopia, should consider being vaccinated before adopted children are brought to the U.S.
· Post-arrival of adopted children: Adopted children, household members, caregivers, or other persons experiencing symptoms of hepatitis A should be evaluated by a health-care provider. Persons exposed to hepatitis A who have not been previously immunized should contact their health-care provider or local health department to determine if they should receive an immunization or immunoglobulin to help prevent illness. More information about hepatitis A is available at: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hepatitis/.
More Information
· The hepatitis A virus is found in the stool (feces) of persons with hepatitis A. It is usually spread from person to person by putting something in the mouth that has been contaminated with stool. Frequent hand washing with soap and water, particularly after using the bathroom, changing a diaper, and before preparing or eating food, is very important in preventing the spread of hepatitis A.
· Symptoms usually occur abruptly and include fatigue, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, nausea, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes), and diarrhea. Jaundice is common in adults but rare in children. Older persons and persons with chronic liver disease can have more serious illness. The overall mortality rate among reported cases of hepatitis A is 0.3%, but it is 1.8% among persons >50 years. Symptoms generally last up to 2 months; there is no chronic (long-term) form of the disease.
Additional information is available at: http://wwwn.cdc.gov/Travel/contentHepAEthiopianAdoptees.aspx
Charles and I will be getting vaccinated, but until we get her tested when we get back we will limit who has a lot of contact with Ella.
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