Just a Little Test

This is just a test of the emergency email posting. I need to make sure
this works before we go to China as I would really hate to not be able
to post things to the blog! :) I'm helping someone from our agency out
to see what happens, so don't get excited...we're not close to traveling
YET!

Still hoping for October/November....would love Sept but it's highly
unlikely. Heck, I would LOVE August, but I really doubt that one occurs!

I had a surprise in the mail!

I got a package from our agency that had travel information in it! OMG it seems so real now. The package contained such wonderful tidbits of information as how much cash to bring, what documents we needed before we traveled, info on when different payments were due, sample itineraries, recommendations on what to pack, and other interesting things.

One item of note was "luggage weight limits" for our travel. On the international portion of the trip we're allowed 50-70 pounds PER bag checked. On the in-country flights in China we are allowed 2 bags per person checked with a combined weight of 44 pounds.

Did you REALLY catch that? We can only bring luggage with a TOTAL weight of 88 pounds for 3 of us (Katie won't have a seat on in-country flights). To give you an idea of how I pack, on our trip to Disney World for 4 people and 7-8 days, our luggage weighed around 150 pounds total.

88 pounds.

I do believe we'll be paying that extra fee for over-weight luggage. LOL

27 days of waiting

We've now been waiting for Katie's RA/LOA for 27 days. It seems like it is so much longer!!!

Because we are going SN now, we have a few things to "paperchase" now. First up is we need to be re-fingerprinted (you know because the first set of prints expired...hmmm...). Then we have to update medicals for a renewal of the 171h form (just in case we do not travel before Jan 31, 2008...at which point you will probably be visiting me in a special home). We also need to have a homestudy addendum covering us for a SN child before we travel. Our homestudy agency is waiting to do this until after we get RA/LOA because if it takes until December to get RA/LOA then we will just have to do a homestudy renewal for expiration. If it comes before then, we just have to do the addendum.

What's the difference? Not much, except in the eyes of the USCIS people and how much it will cost us in the end.

4 weeks down. I would guess around 60 more days to go (or 8 more weeks). I hope that the next 4 weeks go by as quickly as these have gone.

They did it!

JM came in 3rd place in forms (out of 5). He did really good, except he turned the wrong way when he started. But he kept on going, stayed focused, and finished it!

Samuel came in 2nd place in forms (out of 5). He did Kihon Kata Ich after all, and did GREAT! The only thing he missed was yelling at appropriate times. :) *sniff* He looked so cute.

In sparring, Samuel came in 2nd place (out of 2). LOL He didn't get any points, but he sure did have a GREAT time.

JM, in sparring, did not place. He *almost* beat the 1st place person, and if he'd kicked just a TAD lower, he would have. He kicked the chin/neck area, so it didn't count. Glad the other kid was NOT hurt. He did really awesome at not getting upset or frustrated. He knows what he needs to do for the next tournament.

Overall, it was quite a fun morning. Watching the older kids and Sensei do their forms and sparring was really neat (and I hope motivating for my boys). I told Dh, that I am excited that Katie will get a chance to learn Karate. I think it will really help her....like when she goes off to college as a black belt...LOL I won't worry so much about those boys bothering her! Seriously, I've loved seeing how confident the boys have gotten with it, how respectful (well sometimes), and how focused they are with it.

Then...any guesses as to WHERE I went next?!

Harry Potter book 7 is in the house!!!!! LOL I'm resisting reading it though, because the yard needed mowed and the flowerbed needed weeded...the house needs cleaned. I have work stuff I need to do. I have clothes to tag for the consignment sale. I do not have much time to sit...and read all of HP7 today. Tonight? Yes. I probably will be VERY sleepy for Early worship in the morning, but I"ll know if Harry lived or died...and what happens!

Tomorrow we do something new...

The boys are going to their first ever Karate tournament, where Samuel is sure to be the youngest one there...and sparring.

I may not survive.

However, both are also entered into the forms competition. This means that both must get up, in front of judges, announce themselves, the do their Kata...by themselves...in front of people. JM is ready (and eager), Samuel on the other hand, is well, a little more timid.

We've been practicing, and he's no longer whispering his introduction to us. I'm not so sure he will speak loud enough for someone to hear right next to him tomorrow morning though. JM should do great. He's excited.

JM is doing Kihon Kata Ich which he is learning to earn his Orange with black stripe belt. Samuel, who is also Orange belt did not know this form yesterday. He now knows it. However, we are not sure he should do this for tournament. Samuel, rather emphatically said, "But I'm ORANGE belt!" Well, yeah, but he's can do the Taiso Renshu form, which he does know WELL. *roll eyes*

But you know, that's only if he survives that sparring. JM? He's eager for sparring in tournament. Let's all just hope his partners survive.

Why did I think Karate was a good idea for the boys again?!

I wonder...

I wonder if I sent a digital camera, fees to pay for internet, oh I guess the computer, and yeah...the email service...could I get updated photos at least weekly?! I'm dying here, I need more photos. Video would be nice as well. I am very thankful that we did get updated photos, and that I can gaze longingly at my daughter's face. But, wow, the longing to hold her in my arms is so strong. I was doing really well until JM told me that he wished that we could just go and get Katie already. He told me that he really wants her to come home soon.

yes, I just about cried.

You should hear him with everyone we meet. "I've got a new sister. She's in China. Her name is Katie." Then if I'm around and I'm showing off her photo, he says, "That's MY sister Katie."

Yeah, that just about got me too.

19 days since LOI...and counting. Oh how I wish we could have the world's fastest LOA/RA in history!

Have you heard of the purple bracelets?

There was a church pastor who handed out purple jelly bracelets to everyone in his congregation, and encouraged them to be "complaint free." There were a few rules for wearing the purple bracelet:

1. Put it on either wrist.
2. When you catch yourself complaining, take it off and put it on the other wrist.
3. Keep doing this until you've gone 21 days without having to change which wrist the bracelet is on.

The online article, which I sadly didn't save the link to, mentioned how everyone who participated had a better outlook on life, said they were happier, etc. It's the POSITIVE thinking. Hmmmm...It's an idea to try. It can't hurt anything, right?!

New photos!

I can not believe how much new photos can make your day! Of course the 5 photos I know have are not nearly enough for me, but I can gaze at her beautiful face and then go look at her soon-to-be room and feel all giddy inside.

We hit a great clearance sale at a Gymboree outlet this past weekend, and man oh man I got some great deals. Then a good friend gave me a Target bag stuffed full of clothes her daughter had worn (when she was 12 months, and it's iffy if they will fit Katie or not, but hopefully they will).

I've also been looking at all the things we need to prepare for, pack, and all the things we must do before we travel, and WOAH there's not much time!!! One important thing is we need to get our USCIS fingerprints done again as ours have expired already. *sigh* At least we're probably not going to have to redo that 171h. 13 days since we were LOI....77 (or there abouts to go) until we get referral approval.

More than you wanted to know about ME!

What were you doing ten years ago?
Living in Arizona as a Newlywed and going on the "Grand Tour of Arizona" with my parents when they came to visit. We visited both the South and North rims of the Grand Canyon in 1 day! Doesn't that make you want to go on vacation with us so badly?!

What were you doing one year ago?
Stalking the mailbox/mailperson for my 171h form so I could FINALLY be DTC.

Five Snacks You Enjoy:
1. Dove dark chocolate
2. Veggie Bites - Broccoli and Cheddar
3. Dark Chocolate M&Ms
4. Oatmeal Raisin cookies
5. Trail mix

Five songs you know all the lyrics to:
1. Grace to You (hymn sung at our wedding)
2. Let's just say "Veggie Tales Song" and you can practically pick one. ;)
3. Kiss the Girl - Little Mermaid (ummm...yeah, left over from high school days)
4. Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride - Jump 5, Disney Mania 3 (have to have song on though)
5. I will be here - SCC (have to have the song on though)

Things you would do if you were a millionaire:
1. Pay off debt, and get that new house
2. Pay for rest of our adoption, and give adoption grants...lots of them
3. Give LOTS to Love Without Boundaries/Half the Sky/A Child's Right
4. Save in Money Market for future
5. Give to church and family

Five Bad Habits:
1. Procrastinating at just about everything
2. Reading fluffy romance novels late at night
3. Not doing laundry until it's a HUGE pile
4. Not doing kitchen stuff until it's a HUGE pile
5. Picking/scratching my face (and I wonder why I still have acne)

Five things you like to do:
1. Take photos and learn better ways to do so
2. Read fluffy romance novels
3. Play piano
4. Read fluffy romance novels
5. Take photos

Five things you will never wear again:
1. Some of the outfits I wore in high school
2. Some of the dresses I wore before I got married
3. High HIGH heels
4. Spandex in public when I'm not working out...
5. Crocs all day in Disney World

Five Favorite Toys:
1. Computer
2. My Camera
3. My "big" lens
4. My "little" lens
5. Cell Phone

Where will I be in ten years?
Knee deep in photography, homeschooling, kids, and teenage angst!

We have a referral for our Little Princess!

I'm so happy, excited, over the moon with JOY to announce that we have accepted the referral of a little girl who was on our agency's SN list.

It is so surreal right now, and it's just starting to sink in that I have a daughter. That we will have our little princess home with us by Christmas (if things go smoothly). Since it is a SN child, we are not supposed to share photos openly until we have TA, but trust me, she is CUTE! (yes, it deserves ALL those caps!) If you email me, I will send the photos to you in email because I'm so excited to share her cuteness with everyone.

She was born August 1, 2006 and is currently in Kunming in foster care. We are LOI on June 29, 2007. WOW!

Personality Test

ESTJ - "Administrator". Much in touch with the external environment. Very responsible. Pillar of strength. 8.7% of total population.

Free Jung Personality Test (similar to Myers-Briggs/MBTI)

I took the Myers-Briggs test in college, and my results were not far from this one. The I/E part was more even, the S/N was more even, but the J...the J was as strong as I could get J. LOL The T/F portion (the 3rd letter) I think was still T. I remember that my chosen field of Engineering was not one of the fields that "fit" my personality test. I did end up changing majors (not based on the test), but it was funny to look back and realize that the personality test did NOT show engineering. LOL

I'm not sure that this is a true reflection of myself, I just don't really "see" it like I did the ones from college! I'll retake it later and see if changes, I bet it does.

Personality Test

ESTJ - "Administrator". Much in touch with the external environment. Very responsible. Pillar of strength. 8.7% of total population.

Free Jung Personality Test (similar to Myers-Briggs/MBTI)

I took the Myers-Briggs test in college, and my results were not far from this one. The I/E part was more even, the S/N was more even, but the J...the J was as strong as I could get J. LOL The T/F portion (the 3rd letter) I think was still T. I remember that my chosen field of Engineering was not one of the fields that "fit" my personality test. I did end up changing majors (not based on the test), but it was funny to look back and realize that the personality test did NOT show engineering. LOL

Photos from around my home.

Is it Friday yet?

Does this week seem like the LONGEST week ever? It feels like it should be at least Friday by now, and the agency should be starting to make phone calls. I'm keeping busy and distracted, until the phone rings. I then JUMP up for it and eagerly await caller id to pop up. I'm not to the "major disappointment sets in when it's not the agency" point yet, but it's not far from what I am feeling right now.

So, it's Wed. It's seeming like this week is dragging by, ever so slowly. I'm glad that the oldest is at day camp this week, all day long. At least I do not have to deal with the "I'm bored" and the resulting screams and thumps and bumps heard from the boys' room during the day. Of course, if I could get motivated to actually clean my house I think I would be good. But alas, I'm glued to the computer. Checking the yahoo group for postings of referrals, so that I might know when they start calls.

is it Friday yet?!

Waiting.

We got word that a new batch of SN referrals were received at our agency, and now we wait for translations. I have no idea how many girls or how many boys are in it. But this cycle is less anxious for me. I hope Katie's referral will be in this batch, but I'll be okay if it is not.

I feel like eventually we will have our daughter, I just have to be patient.

We have now been Logged In for 9 months.

A quick Carla blogging history

I'm going to let you in on a secret, this is not my first blog. It's not even the blog that my closest online friends read. It is the blog I send my family to though. ;) My very first blog I started WAAAAY back in early 2005. We were planning to adopt from China, but knew that I needed to "age into the system" so it was going to take a few months. We were not telling anyone, and I wanted to blog about my feelings. However, I needed it to be PRIVATE because, you know, the adoption was a secret thing! LOL I've gone since then to expand that blog, created one for public that did not mention names...messed that one up. LOL Here I am with the latest variation of my adoption blog. I still have 2 others I post to.

Did you intend to be a blog w/a big following? If so, how did you go about it?

Nope. I'd say I still do not have a following. I think it's something about hooking up with bloglines or something that I've not done. :) This blog is mainly for sharing our daily life and our wait for Katie with friends and family (and the occasional visitor).

What do you hope to achieve or accomplish with your blog? Have you been successful? If not, do you have a plan to achieve those goals?

That so reminds me of those old college applications! All I want to do with my blog is keep our friends and family who live away from us (that's all of them by the way), a way to keep up with our lives. It also gives me an outlet to write down all the fun and silly things the kids do. I highly doubt I will ever go beyond being a Mommy-blogger.

Has the focus of your blog changed since you started blogging? How?
That would assume that I had a focus to start with, right?! LOL

What do you know now that you wish you'd known when you started?

I feel like I'm STILL just starting out! :)


Do you make money with your blog?
Nope, but I'm interested in it. I think I would need more than my normal traffic amount (which is about...oh...1 a week?!)

Does your immediate or extended family know about your blog? If so, do they read it? If not, why?
They know about it, I see someone from their area reading every once in awhile. The rest know about it, but don't seem interested to read.


Head HERE to read more blogging history from people how are MUCH better bloggers than I can ever hope to be.

Referral Math...for June!

CCAA did 6 days worth of LIDs. I will not speak about my feelings on that one right now.

There are now 311 days worth of LIDs between where they are now and our LID.

If they, somehow miraculously do full months, that is roughly 11 more months to wait.

If they, somehow surprisingly do half-months, then that is roughly 23 more months to wait.

If they, go somewhat on pace of the last few months and do 1 week a month, then that is a depressing 45 MORE months to wait.

Predictions put us getting a Non-Special needs referral, sometime in 2009. Do I honestly need to tell anyone how I feel about that?! LOL Since we started the paperwork in Nov 2005, that could potentially mean we waited 4 years (or 48 months). Poor dh living with a "pregnant" me for 48 months!

Our Unplugged Summer

I've done it now. I've gotten Dh and JM on board, and now I'm pulling the plug on my addiction favorite daytime pastime. Electronic devices will not be used from 8am-8pm...daily.

June. July. August. UNPLUGGED.

Yes, I can check email from 8pm until 8am, freely. I did give us the ability to check email during lunch break (noon-1pm). Because I can check email, Dh gave the boys the ability to watch a show, play a game, etc. I figured if I didn't go cold turkey I might actually last longer than a month week day.

Yes, it's not totally 100% unplugged, but for us, it's a major step of being unplugged. I know we can not do it 100% because my job must use computers and electronic devices. Plus, we're doing online banking, tracking of JM's school work with computer, Dh has fantasy baseball leagues to keep track of, etc. I'm ignoring that little voice that keeps saying that this is just excuses. Moderation. Yeah, that's what I'm going for...moderation.

There ya have it. Unplugged. The boys are going to clamor about being bored on Friday. I know it. I might actually have a clean house by the time my parents come to visit Saturday (oh WAIT, I'm doing a yard sale as well on Saturday morning, so maybe not).

I'll let you know how it goes tomorrow. LOL

I have the GPS, never need a map again!

Remember that line from Cars? I remember laughing at it, then we got a GPS. I was thinking, WHY in the heck would you need a map? How in the HECK can you get lost when you have a GPS.

Um, driving on mountain roads it's quite easy to get lost. Only, I DID know where I was, and I would turn around when it started looking a little too weird. But that GPS was certainly all messed up. It sent me down a dead end road. Yes, I went, just on the off chance that there was a bridge connecting me to the bigger road across the creek. As my brother was rolling around the back of the laughing his head off at me, I turned around in someone's driveway/parking lot. Drove BACK over the extremely tiny narrow road (it was hardly wide enough for the mini-van).

I even tried following this one road that went up and over the mountain until it got too scary (which happened soon after we saw the dead snake in the middle of the 1.5 lane road). Or it might have been the absence of guardrails on the extremely curvy road. My brother's girlfriend was trying her best to contain her laughter at this point.

See, it started because I was following the GPS. It said we'd there by 4:28pm (back to the campground that is) if we followed it's route. It's route took us WAY north, then back down. Little brother had a map. He told me turn on 416 and it would put us out right there at the campground, no need to travel UP and back down. No need to drive through Cosby again. Knowing that the GPS tries to stick to main roads, and this 416 road was a 35mph "main" road through the mountains. I thought it might be faster to take that route (yes, sometimes the GPS doesn't take you the fastest route).

I made the turn for 416, then the GPS freaked out a little trying to get us to turn around. I had to ignore it's directions for awhile, then it seemed to accept the fact we were not taking the other route. I had me follow 416 for a little bit, then turn left. I turned left. Little brother yelled at me that I turned off of 416. But see, I was trusting the GPS.

The GPS was wrong. It was confused. Those twisty curvy mountain roads did a number on it.

I finally turned around, took the road Little Brother told me to take, and we eventually got there at 4:48ish. 20 minutes later than the original time GPS had for us. Either trust the GPS or don't, that's what I learned. I also learned that the minivans in Cars who were trusting their GPS weren't so far off afterall. Okay, I think I would notice if I were driving through desert not on roads...but still, it's not so hard to get lost if you have a GPS. The good thing is if you use common sense and stick with main roads, that GPS will get you there. :)

Unfortunately, the entire point of trying to get to the campground faster is because I had to go potty REALLY REALLY REALLY badly. I made it, but dang it was iffy there at the end. :)

Works for Me - Cleaning tip #1

I tried Flylady, I really did. When we had our house on the market, it worked well. It worked well as long as I stayed on top of things, but I found out I'm a little lazy. If I do not have a reason to do something, I tend to not do that. Which explains the state of the laundry. Er..."Mount Wash-Me" and "Mount St. Fold-Me" that is.

One thing that I did take away from FlyLady, was the 15 minute rule. Even my lazy self can follow this one (well actually easily distracted by the blogs and internet self). Only, I figured if it was good enough for ME, then it was definitely good enough for the rest of the family. It is our goal (notice the OUR) to do this nightly, but sometimes life has a way of interfering. But, we do it as often as we can.

I will set the kitchen timer (aka Microwave Timer) for 15 minutes, and all 4 of us clean designated area. Dh gets one room, I take another, JM gets his room, and Samuel gets his room. Since they share now, one gets the bedroom, the other gets all the toys in the rest of the house. 15 minutes and we stop, no matter HOW little we've gotten done. It's not a replacement for true cleaning, but it's there for catching that clutter that seems to pile up.

I realize that if I set that timer for 15 minutes a day for laundry, then I would not have the mountains I seem to acquire weekly.