Our Time in Albania in Numbers

33 -- the number of days we've been in Albania

19 -- the number of nights we've stayed in a hotel

0 -- the amount of malaria medications available in this country (by the way 90 is the number of bottles of tonic water you would have to drink in one day to get the amount of quinine in one full doseage of malaria medicine. Nathan's record: 3!)

1 -- Amazing God

2 -- the number of hot showers I've had at our hotel

3 -- the number of times we've been to the pharmacy in the same number of days

4 -- the size of our family now

5 -- the number of times we've driven the beautiful mountain road to Elbasan

6 -- the number of Sisters of Charity at David Reni's orphanage

7 -- the number of caregivers employed there too

8 -- David Reni's age in months when we first saw his photo and learned about him

9 -- years ago Nathan made his first trip to Albania and this is Cydil's 9th visit to this country

10 -- the number of states that have not visited this blog this month (Where are you ND, WY, HI, AK, RI, DE, ID, MT, NV or UT?)

880 -- the number of unique visitors to this blog in the month of July --THANKS!-- obviously more folks than just Aunt Ruth are visiting, and that's more friends than we have on Facebook!

3, 570 -- visits to this blog this month (this number may be inflated by Aunt Ruth (we love you, Aunt Ruth!))

Checking In

Thanks to you who have been praying for Nathan. Today we took it easy, staying around the apartment doing laundry, visiting, catching up on the internet, etc. Nathan started perking up later this afternoon and even went on a walk with us to show Kerri the neighborhood, stopping for a coffee, and resting again at a park while Ellie played. Malaria flares up in cycles so it's hard to know if the antibiotics are already helping or if he was between fevers.

It's been nice to have Kerri here as a diversion. We've enjoyed the opportunity to get to know her better and makes these days in Tirana not feel like we're just killing time. She shares our hearts for missions and orphans and Albania, plus we're learning a lot about her home country of South Africa, too.

Working on another post so check in again soon!

Happy Birthday, David Reni!

Sweet boy, this is just the beginning. What a joy and love gift from Jesus to spend ALL your birthdays with you!

Duzi brought this incredible balloon bouquet for David Reni AND the outfit he is wearing. So handsome!
Ellie wanted to be in charge of the birthday candle. I had no idea I caught this expression until looking at the photos this evening.

It still seems surreal to me that these are our kids! Sister and brother.

I forgot the cake on the dresser in the hotel room. I felt like such a loser mom for that.

Kerri gave David Reni a sweet framed photo of our family surrounded by selected Bible verses. Such a sweet and touching gift.

I promise we're not...

...trying to drum up drama to keep you all reading our blog. After describing Nathan's symptoms to his father (an MD), his dad is concerned he's having a relapse of malaria (the dull headache for 3 previous days, then the onset of the chill/fever cycle and other familiar symptoms). We just need to find the medicine here to treat him and he should do fine within 24-48 hours... however in trying to explain to our Albanian friends, many want him to get the bloodwork done -- which he doesn't need -- he just needs the medicine. Finding that here could prove kinda tricky. We may have to have it shipped here, however we're running into the weekend and that could also complicate matters.

Sadly, Nathan had to miss the party this morning and given this new development, my mind was distracted to say the least. Not knowing if I was going to be saying my 'goodbyes' and 'thank yous' that morning, while strategizing Nathan's health care options, and hosting a party for a bunch of kids -- well, it was a tad overwhelming. We arrived to music blaring and very excited kids. It was too much for Ellie and she was on the verge of losing it (and did indeed lose 'it') several times. I felt so bad as they had gotten him gifts, and Duzi came in with a special outfit for Reni and a beautiful balloon bouquet. I'm afraid Reni spent most of the party in Duzi's arms so I could blow up balloons, serve food, calm Ellie, and try to get some photos and video (which I will post those later on from Tirana). I was so grateful that Kerri could come and lend a hand. She got some video, picked up merengue for the kids, and took Ellie to the potty when she needed to go. Can't ask for a friend to do more!

Right now, we're planning to go back to Tirana this afternoon and Kerri will come with us. Nathan and I both believe he will be more comfortable back at the apartment where we can prepare meals from a kitchen, rather than running back and forth to restaurants and mini-shops and dealing with a cooped-up Ellie in a single room. Did I mention she's dealing with major homesickness right now? She tells us several times a day that she's ready to go back to Kentucky.

Thank you for your prayers. Gotta go pack.

A Couple of New Prayer Requests

Okay, I know I'm his mom, but isn't he just the cutest thing? And his sister's not bad either (see below)!

Your prayers have meant so much to us, as we try to express here on the blog. Tonight we ask with a couple of specific requests in mind.

First, Nathan is coming down with something and he rarely gets sick. He’s had a dull headache for a couple of days, slowly losing his appetite. Tonight he hardly ate any dinner, then on the walk back to the hotel got violent chills. He’s doing better in bed now, but was asking for socks (he’s NEVER cold) and is resting with some ibuprofen in his system. Tomorrow morning is Reni’s 1st birthday and we’ve planned a party and a lot of the staff is coming in, even on their day off, to celebrate with us. We were wondering how we were going to do it all (including making balloon animals – which is a skill only Nathan possesses!) while adequately documenting the event with still pictures and video! We’re hoping it’s a 12-hour thing, otherwise, he’s not going to make it.

The second request is much more vague. Suffice it to say, we’ve been presented with a possibility for getting David Reni home much sooner, but it’s not been done before and we don’t want to push in our own strength, but determine if we are to proceed through a door that appears to be opening. Pray for supernatural wisdom. We only want to do that which brings glory to the Father. We will know more after our Monday Embassy appointment. This morning I read this from one of my favorite bloggers: "...the Lord said to me, 'If you never had problems you would not see Me work.' Wow! I know that, but it was fresh and new and I am still blown away by how powerful that is. It's so true. How many of us would stop and pay attention to the God of the Universe if life was all peachy? Not many." So while I don't classify this as a problem, we are thankful for the opportunity this entire experience has been to lean into God and see Him work.

Some photos from this morning at the orphanage:







Thankfully Nathan was still feeling relatively well this afternoon to enjoy a special treat: we got to take Reni back to the hotel with us! What a delight to surprise family with a pool-side Skype video conference with Reni ‘live’ and ‘in person!’ He is sporting some cool pool attire thanks to his generous Aunt Hannah!

Thanks again for lifting us up. We are honored that so many have joined us in this faith journey. The story is still being written!

Um, yeah. Nathan dipped DR in the water...which is why my pants are wet. ;-)

What's Next?

yesterday, up in the rooftop play area (more photos below text)

So now that we've passed court, many of you are asking what's next in the process, what's next in your plan? Albanian law requires a 15-day appeal period before the adoption decree is officially legal. We are not to get custody of Reni until we have those papers in our hands and notarize a custody transfer from the Sisters of Charity orphanage to us. Also, until the adoption decree is in hand, we cannot apply for Reni's Albanian passport to travel as "Reni Waggoner".

Since we adopted Ellie in December 2006, Albania has switched to using biometric passports, and with that change they shifted passport production from the individual district police headquarters to a centralized private company in the capital. Furthermore, we heard from someone that biometric passports make it easier for Albanians to travel abroad (I really feel badly for them in this department -- not many countries smile at Albanian passports) so many Albanians living abroad have understandably been returning to Albania to apply for a new biometric passport to ease their travel headaches.

This affects us in two ways. First of all, it used to be that with the adoption decree, Bethany could go to a Ministry office and get a document that would expedite the production of an adoptee's passport so that it could be obtained in less than a week, or as quickly as one or two days. With the private company, you submit your request and get in line with everyone else. Secondly, the surge in passport applications has extended the wait to as long as four weeks, even with the passport office working 16-hour days, 6 days per week.

With our adoption decree not being released until August 12 or 13 (which in itself is a God-miracle -- Altin was able to get the judge to agree to sign the papers yesterday which the courts will hold for us until the waiting period expires, which is during the judge's August recess -- go Altin!), we can't apply for Reni's passport until then. And with the delays, it could be as long as 6 weeks (from now) before he has his passport. Add a couple of days to that timeline for the Embassy appointment and doctors/lab visits and we're looking at September before we can bring Reni home.

While that sounds so far away, we are reminded of all of the hurdles God cleared for us along the way to speed things up, from the drop-in fingerprint appointment in May (which wasn't supposed to be allowed) which saved us 6 weeks, to getting permission to apply for the I-800 before getting the reply from the I-800A, which saved us another 2 weeks, to coming to Albania before getting our court date which allowed us to get a date before the judge's recess and that saved us who-knows-how-many weeks... We don't think it's exaggerating to say that it may have been Thanksgiving before bringing Reni home, so while we're sad at the thought of leaving him here when we return on August 4 to Kentucky, September doesn't sound so bad. In fact, it's amazing!

Plus, we are able to have this wonderful summer experience as a family during a time when our job on campus is quietest so we have had the least stress in that department (thank you to our amazing housesitter and cabinet member, Rachel, for taking care of the place in our absence and for Mark who has stepped in and is dealing with dryer repairmen so she can process the guestroom laundry!). We have really had a great time creating memories as a family and watching Ellie experience her country of birth. I don't know if I have shared this here or not, but it has been a difference experience to watch adult Albanians interact with a child -- most adults here seem to really dote on kids. Poor Ellie has been pinched and kissed and hugged in so many places (just yesterday I was cleaning purple lipstick off her ear from the courthouse guard and after the taxi driver left Ellie with a hug she said, "Ouch! He pinched my bottom!" ) And this is with very few of them even knowing she's Albanian. When they learn that little fact, she is the recipient of even more love! I think in America we have tried so hard to protect our children that many American adults are afraid of showing attention or affection for fear of coming across with ulterior motives.

Another thing I am grateful for is that most Albanians don't understand her thoughts which come right out her mouth out loud without a filter. Again, just yesterday she said of a man smoking a cigarette in swimming apparell on his front step, "Look! That man has no clothes on!" Then, of the substitute taxi driver, "His teeth are BLACK!" Last week while in Tirana we were at a coffee bar with Vera and Ellie abruptly turned to point at two ladies at an adjacent table. She said, "Mommy, are they STRANGERS??" To that, one of the women turned to Ellie and in a not unfriendly tone of voice said, "I do speak English!" We all got a laugh out of that!

Ellie is picking up a handful of Albanian words and sprinkling them into her conversation. Yesterday at lunch she wanted to clink our glasses and said, "Gezuar!" (though it came out something slightly differently, but close enough.) I find this really fun and hope she remembers them!

So back to 'what's next'... we bought our tickets in June without even knowing our court dates and made a best guess to schedule our return for August 4. We are going to stick to that return date and let Bethany handle Reni's passport application on our behalf. We think that Nathan will probably come back to Albania sometime around Labor Day to collect Reni and fly back to the States with my mom who was already scheduled to be here to host a team.

Since I will not be returning, we have to complete some paperwork at the Embassy before we depart. We will stay in Elbasan for Reni's 1st birthday (Friday) and return to Tirana on Sunday which will give us Monday and Tuesday for a possible Embassy appointment, last minute-shopping, cleaning and repacking and then LONG day of travel on Wednesday (24 hours from our departure at Rinas to touchdown in Lexington).

Sorry this was so lengthy and wordy! Enjoy some photos from yesterday below...

yesterday afternoon we took a little walk with Reni. I'm sorry I didn't get a photo at the beginning of the trip. He was so excited, sitting tall and gripping the sides of the front tray like he was a king on a throne. He couldn't take in enough of the cars, trucks, and motorcycles that zoomed by.

The neighborhood around the orphange doesn't have many attractions (that we have discovered yet, at least). We stopped on the main road for some ice cream bars and water. This is Ellie's daily request, though she usually only takes a couple of bites before declaring she's finished.

Like Courtroom Dramas?

We'll spoil the ending right away. We passed court this afternoon and the 15 day appeal period begins.

Now for the drama. We arrived early, about ten minutes past twelve for our 12:30 court appointment. We were the first to arrive, followed shortly by Dr. Agim (from Bethany), then by the Sisters from Reni's orphanage, and finally at 12:30 by our attorney Altin (he was held up because of an accident on the road from Tirana to Elbasan).

To the shock of all six of us, the judge told us we were all late as the court case was supposed to start at noon. I don't think nuns are allowed to lie and they claimed their summons (back at the orphanage) stated the proceedings were to begin at 12:30. Our hearts sank as we knew this could be grounds for postponement if our judge so wanted. She had another case scheduled to begin at 12:30 and this one included a man in handcuffs.

Another issue was that the representative from the Adoption Committee had a car break down, delaying him indefinitely. His presence was required to complete the case today. And again, the judge would have been within her rights to postpone our case to another day if she didn't want to wait for his arrival.

Instead, she decided to start with who was there (delaying the next case) and hope that the others would arrive before we finished. After giving a brief testimony as to why we wanted to adopt Reni, we were ushed back into the hallway to await the arrival of the committee rep. Since no one had his direct line, we didn't really know when he was expected to arrive.

We passed the next hour or more in the hallway making small talk with the two Sisters. We also were debating Reni's adoptive name. Middle names are not common in Albania, and our request to name him "David Reni Waggoner" really threw confusion into the mix. After some discussion the judge agreed to allow us to give him a middle name but there was concern that it could delay production of his passport at the central office. In the end, we decided to adopt him as "Reni Waggoner" and embark on a name change back in the States when the time comes.

In the mean time, the judge left, but returned after the the representative from the adoption committee eventually arrived. Everyone (but us) was ushered back into the office, the rep was asked if his opinion had changed since last week. He said, "no," and the case was complete in less than a minute! The poor guy walked out of the courthouse and was on his way back to Tirana before his car could even cool down!

Thank you for your prayers today! I hope you share our joy in reaching this point in the process. It's official! He's Reni Waggoner!

Thank you

I just want to say a quick 'thank you' to all of you lifting us up in prayer through this adoption process! We have felt a peace surrounding today that we can't describe. Your notes have been such an encouragement. Last night as we discussed our proposed 'timeline' options yet again, I had to resist the urge to go back in time and ask "what if" we had done this or that when we first got here; would we be bringing David Reni home sooner?

As we approach the one-week-til-we-fly-home mark, it's getting harder and harder as I realize that I probably won't see our little boy again for 6 weeks. As crazy as it sounds (especially after dealing with Ellie's language comprehension issues), yesterday Nathan and I really believed Reni knew my name was 'mama' and Nathan's name was "dada". Then watching him walk behind a truck was another feat we got to witness. It makes leaving him that much harder.

I just had to share one other experience here on the blog that was a vivid reminder about the countless prayers we will never know about. Many from people I will probably never meet. This message came to me through Facebook:

Cydil,
We have never met but I am another mom going through the adoption process.
I was looking at your blog today and read that your sons name was Reni and that he was from Albania. When I saw his picture I burst out in tears!

I had seen Reni's picture a few months ago from an Agency. I instantly fell in love with him and have prayed for him to find his family.

I have seen pictures of hundreds of children but never one I connected with like Reni. I could tell he was a special little boy that will grow up and do amazing things.

I know this all sounds weird but I just wanted to let you know I am so happy for you and for Reni and am so glad that God placed him with you and your precious family.

Isn't that amazing? After further correspondance she told me that she had found a link to our blog on another adoption blog she found through Google. I was touched she took the time to contact me (and I hope she doesn't mind my posting her note here!). And I was touched that God used her to remind me that He is working behind the scenes! As God has grown our family through adoption, how wonderful it is to see a bigger picture of the family of God!

Tuesday blog post, Pt 2: More Videos

This weekend we got caught in a cloudburst without an umbrella, which Ellie frequently reminded us from then on that we needed. If the sun was out, she told us we could still use the umbrella to protect us from the sun (smart girl)! We pacified her by telling her she could by one from Tesa (Aunt) Vera's shop. She didn't let us forget and a day and a half later we were in the store to purchase it. The first video is of Ellie buying the umbrella (she is concerned that because her money isn't in coin form -- which is what she uses to buy tickets for rides at the park -- that it's not 'real' money).

The second video she was unaware of Nathan shooting. It's of her happily walking down the sidewalk, twirling her new purchase.

Change in Scenery

We left Tirana at 7:45AM this morning and had dropped off our luggage at the hotel in Elbasan and were at the gate of David Reni's orphanage by 9:15, our normal arrival time. Our original plan had been to return Monday morning but we needed to stop by the American embassy yesterday afternoon (their usual time for drop-ins).

It seemed that in the 5 days we were gone, DR had chunked up some more, if that's possible. He was in a good mood and very jabbery. Because of the rain these past three days, the temperatures have dropped off considerably to the point of being 'cool!' We went up on the roof of the orphanage and enjoyed some quiet family time with the bigger toys. Reni really likes the rocking horses and the trucks. In fact, on two different occasions we caught him pushing a large truck and then walking about 4 or 5 steps behind it! Whoa! We're going to try to be prepared next time with the video for that!

Since we left, Orsiole, one of the cuties in the pool picture with Ellie and also photographed on Dad W's lap, left to go home to his forever family in Tirana. We are so glad he has a family now! We go back for an afternoon visit this afternoon at the orphanage and will settle into our last stint at this hotel. This is our 5th week here, believe it or not. 10 visits remaining with David Reni before we leave...

I don't know if you've gotten to 'hear' much of our little guy... enjoy this video of his giggles.



And 'cause I gave up the thought of napping and I'm feeling generous, here's another...

A Taste of Home

Over the course of our weeks here in Albania, we've made numerous trips back and forth on the autostrada between Durres and Tirana. You'd have to have your head in the sand to miss the billboards advertising the new City Park Mall. We asked around and learned that this new mall (open a little over 6 months) boasts some of the finest shopping in the country in addition to a kids play area and an ice skating rink!

In light of the heat we've been experiencing, thoughts of gliding on ice became very appealing. Not to mention, we were curious to check out this new attraction in town. We arranged with Vera to go with us to City Park after church for lunch and an afternoon of diversions. She wholeheartedly agreed so after church we walked to the center of the city where we caught a free bus to the mall. The mall indeed looked impressive. The first store we saw was "Versace Home." It was pretty empty. As were a lot of the stores. Someone told me that this mall is more like a museum -- people go and just look! Where we did find a good crowd was at the food court and children's play area.

Nathan had already looked up the restaurants on the mall's website and determined that he just HAD to try "AFC" (Albanian Fried Chicken). After all, we do herald from the state of Kentucky that has brought the world KFC. If any of you know someone at Yum! brands, they may get a kick out of some of these photos. The young worker behind the counter assured us they were a branch of the real KFC (though the small writing on all of the packaging was in Greek). Some of the items on the menu were the same (like the Twister wrap), however, last I checked at home, you can't get a Heineken with your value meal.

Ellie's "Surpriza" meal, came with an enormous (super-size) portion of french fries and about a pound of chicken tenders. Her special prize? A beaded bracelet and a large bottle of hand sanitizer! I think she got the best deal of all of us! Our food was pretty good, as it should have been for taking about 15 minutes to prepare. I guess you can thank them for making it fresh!

After lunch, Ellie visited the children's play place, a fenced in area with a variety of inflateables. It cost 250 lek (or about $2.50) for one hour of access. The only place for adults to sit and watch their kids had tables owned by the ice cream shop so we ended up spending another 480 lek on an enormous ice cream dessert which the three adults split. It was called something like "chocolate spaghetti" (see photo below). Ellie thoroughly enjoyed herself then we were off to the Slovenian-owned Hypermarket (supermarket) where we bought some party supplies for David Reni's party on Friday. The rent must be pretty high because the prices for everything were pretty steep. After all that anticipation of ice skating, we ended up not going -- too much food and a crabby Ellie made us just want to go home and nap.

On the bus I noticed that very few, if any of the other riders, carried shopping bags. We'll see how long this establishment lasts!

yes, that's Barney on one side and Sylvestor and Tweety on the other side

those are penguins the skaters are holding onto for balance

chocolate spaghetti ice cream

Albania's name in their language is "Shqiperia" which translated means "land of eagles"
It just so happens that Ellie is into a major bird phase right now (we think it has to do with observing a robin's nest this spring and been re-activated by the prevalence of pigeons in our neighborhood)

Miscellaneous Photos from Elbasan

It's a rare thing to see both rows of teeth! I think he looks much older than his age!

We already alluded to the first stroller ride. Ellie was so proud to push her brother in his stroller.

It's hard to get a photo of both of them together, but this one wasn't too bad (aside from shooting into an open window!)

One of the 'games' Ellie hoped her brother would play with her was for him to pull her glasses off her face. She was tickled when he finally did this and asked him to repeat the feat over and over again.

I happened to be outside with Ellie while Nathan and Reni were upstairs. The Sisters caught Reni gazing down on them below as they were leaving for mass. I thought this was a sweet shot. (sorry you can't see him so well). There really is so much love in this place...

Ellie wanted SO badly for her brother to join her in the water.

A family photo with Duzi

Jan Adkins, this photo above is for you. We thought this little sweetie looked like she could be from your bunch. Whadya think? Does Maddie want a sister? (just kidding -- I don't know that this little one is adoptable)

Ellie liked the quieter waters of the little kids' pool over the rambunctious splashing in the 'bigger' kids' pool

Dad W caught this shot of Reni. Love it.

Happy birthday today to Grandpa Whiteford and cousin Dallas!

Nonna and PaPa's Last Day

Ever since Cydil and I have started coming to Albania, we wanted to share that experience with our family. Journalist Mami Jackson says it well: "Motherhood is like Albania - you can't trust the descriptions in the books, you have to go there." The best stories and pictures can't replicate the experience, so we were excited when Mom and Dad Waggoner were able to make plans to join us for a week during this trip!

We packed a lot into the days that they were here (maybe too much at times), but we enjoyed every minute. Our last day in Elbasan was no exception. When Duzi (Reni's favorite caregiver) was told that my parents were in town, she made a special trip to the orphanage to meet them even though she was in the middle of her vacation. Duzi was the one who picked the 'Christian' name David at Reni's baptism. And was named his God-Mother at the ceremony. We have nick-named her Reni's Albanian Nonna, and she really wanted to meet his American Nonna and Papa. Duzi has such a compassionate heart and showers one special needs child at a time with extra love and attention. Before Reni it was a boy with dwarfism who was adopted last summer to a family in Virginia, and now that Reni is being adopted, she has 'picked' a little boy named Joel who is partially deaf and has an enlarged liver and spleen.

You can tell that Duzi is proud of little Reni!

Nonna was great at making sure Ellie never felt left out.

Nonna never passed up an opportunity to hold Reni either. He looks pretty passive in this picture, but believe me, David is strong and active. When he really starts 'jumping' he is hard to hold onto.

The other kids in the orphanage are looking for love and attention too, so if you sit still your lap won't be empty long! I've heard people say my Dad is somewhat intimidating, but these kids sure didn't think so!


You can take Nonna out of the library, but you can't take the library out of the Nonna! Not understanding a word of English didn't stop these girls from enjoying a book read by 'Nonna Reni'.

You can't bounce David Reni enough!


Mom and dad were there for us and Reni, but there was enough love to go around. This little boy is nearly a year older than Reni, but is much smaller. He was having a rough day and needed a little love from a Nonna.


When the Sisters learned that my dad was a doctor, they asked for his medical opinion on several children. Here he is writing up his thoughts on one little girl who will need several surgeries just to survive. Even without instruments, his evaluation may help solicit support from churches and foundations to care for her, so she can live to be adopted some day! There are groups in Italy and the USA who have expressed interest in helping her. Pray that action will be taken soon!

Mom is holding little Eda here. She always wants to be in the middle of everything. She is definitely a little girl with spunk.

I'm not sure if David Reni sensed the sadness in us as we were saying goodbye Thursday morning, but he seemed a little melancholy at the very end of our visit. Here, Nonna is holding him for the last time in Albania. We are glad that there will be hundreds of more times Nonna will hold him when we bring him home!

Thank you Nonna and Papa for coming to Albania to experience all of this with us! What stories we can share!