Making a few changes

Updating the look of the blog, playing with templates. I didn't like that the widgets on the side were getting cut off. So, here I am, changing the template around to make it more pleasing to me.

One thing I notice is that my photo needs to be updated. I think I'll see about getting a cute one instead of a pretty one. :)

What do you mean, baseball practice?!

Yes, fall baseball has started back up and we're headed the baseball field AND soccer fields each and ever Saturday through October. Unfortunately games are at different times, which means that it feels like we will be living there. Oh joy.

JM is doing well with the baseball, and can actually hit a ball pitched by his coach. Next practice he goes against an actual child pitching. That should be very interesting. He also needs to learn about such things as stealing a base. Yes, very interesting times indeed.

I was going through some photos and ran across one from this past May when we were going to the ball field all the time. Samuel wears his crocs everywhere, and the baseball field was no exception. Due to the dryness of the weather, there was quite a bit of dust and dirt to make it seem like heaven to any 4 year old boy. After on particular night of frolic with his friends he took off his crocs and told us his feet were dirty.



I'll say they were dirty! LOL

So, it's not surprising that we didn't learn from the spring season and once again Samuel had dirty feet after baseball practice. Good thing he doesn't mind baths and showers.

Just finished the book!

What book did JM just finish reading? Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, yes, he's just finished book 4. He told me that he is ready to start book 5 tonight. He does know and understand about the book, and he is going to write a book report on it (well at least I'm hoping I get him to write a book report on it).

I had him take an Accelerated Reader quiz online, and he scored 100%. I'm so very proud of him, even if he did take after his father in spelling.

Waiting is just hard

One thing that I never really thought about was how incredibly hard it is to wait. To wait while you have a photo of your child and know that while they are cared for and probably loved by their foster mother or ayi, that it is not your love. Not your care. 58 days of waiting, 61 days of knowing who our daughter is, and we do not know how much longer we have to wait.

Each of the few photos we have are precious. Each of them have been studied for any clues to who she is, what she likes, and any gleaming of any possibility of what her smile looks like. In all of them she is not smiling. I want to know what her smile looks like. I want to gaze into her eyes and see the iris and whether or not the color is all homogeneous, or does it have slight variations. Does she have a favorite toy? Does she really like music? What does she like to eat?

Yes the wait is hard for referral. Yes the wait is hard after referral. I think waiting is just hard. I follow all sorts of blogs, and there are some who get monthly photo updates. I think of how wonderful that would be since I have my total of 5 photos with no hope of getting more. But then, it has to be hard for them as well getting those photos, as it's a physical reminder that they too are still waiting. The ability to send a care package is not something we have with where Katie is. The director of the orphanage will not forward the package to the foster parents, and thus Katie would get our package until about 3-5 days before we met her. So we have to decide if it is worth it or not.

All we can do at this point is pray for patience and pray that officials in all governments involved will work fast and get us all of our approvals. We can take it one day at a time, and hopefully before we know it we'll be leaving on a jet plane.

We have a fingerprint appointment!!

YAY! We go Tuesday morning Sept 4th to get fingerprinted, yet again! I think this makes 4 times so far in this process for me? Perhaps 5?

Now we're still waiting on that Letter of Acceptance or Referral Approval (LOA or RA). Some people from our agency got theirs this past week who had Letter of Intents near ours. However, they had already been through review with the CCAA. We have not. So, we are still waiting. The "average" I have heard is 60-90 days for those who have not been through review. Today, Saturday, is day 57. We're getting closer.

I really should fill out that Travel Packet information to get our Visas, tell them our preferences for flights, and other such information that is necessary to getting us to China and back. I am actually amazed at how much coordination goes into our travel to pick up Katie. I am also shocked at how much I still have left on my to-do list regarding packing for this trip.

Katie's clothes are picked out, and the carseat is bought.

I still need to finish her room. I need to purchase gifts for the people in China we will need to give thank you gifts to. I need to find powdered form of Gerber Liquilytes. I need to get our homestudy addendum done. I need to get the forms back from the doctor. I need to...

At least we know they got it!

Our fingerprints have expired, so we asked USCIS to issue us new appointments to get them updated. It's been 3 weeks since we sent it to them, and we got a note today saying they got it.

Now we need that appointment. It would be nice to have it done sooner rather than later as we can not leave without it being done. Absolutely can not leave.

Guess what I get to do tomorrow?

I'm getting a pedicure! :) My very very first one, and it's all thanks to JM's baseball team (I was team Mom and the wonderful ladies on the team got me a gift certificate). It is enough that I'm treating one of my best friends to a pedicure with me. I mean, what's the fun in going all alone?

After that I'm meeting Dh for lunch. Just us two. It'll be just like a date! I have no idea where we are going eat, but I'm vetoing places with light up drive through signs. We might end up somewhere with a light up sign (on the inside) but it's a yummy fast food Asian place. Mmmm....Vietnamese Crunchy Noodle Bowl! :)

That is of course if I can wait that long. We really need to go grocery shopping (well I do), and there really isn't much left to eat here. Although, I think I have enough for a "veggies" night. I do have soup mixes, but for some reason I'm thinking soup on a day that it has been 101 in the shade just doesn't sound appetizing. Eating out *might* work if I can take a look at our budget envelopes for eating out and entertainment. I might still have some money there.

Math Helpline

Okay, I think I will not show my boys this. I can only imagine that they would get ideas I would rather they not have.

1st soccer game and day of school!

He was so excited to get to play his first game in a uniform! He loved it.


My how big they have gotten!




In his classroom, doesn't he look oh so proud. I asked him if he was nervous, and he replied, "Not really. No I'm not nervous. I'm okay Mom." I then asked if he was ready for me to go. "Yeah Mom, I'm good. You can go now."

It's been a year.

Can you believe that it's been a year since we were DTC? 1 year ago today all of our hopes and dreams were sent to China via FedEx. I wonder if FedEx knows what they are holding in their hands when they get these packages?

It's hard to think that Katie was a brand new little baby when we sent our dossier to China.

We've been "in process" now for 1 year and 9 months. We hope to have completed the adoption by the time we hit our 2 year anniversary of applying to the agency. LOL

I don't like that ticker

Why? I feel like its wrong when it's not. I've been waiting 7 weeks. 6/29/07 was on a Friday.

However, in all reality, I have been waiting 1 month, 1 week and 6 days as of Saturday. Why? Because 7/29/07 was on a Sunday.

Grrr....I want one that counts days. Pure days.

I'm old, and I kept forgetting

LOL Forgive me that ticker, I just kept forgetting how many days it had been. Okay, this isn't quite what I had in mind as it gives month, weeks, days, but it will suffice for now. ;)

100 Good Wishes quilt

I would like to make one for Katie. *okay you can ALL stop laughing now* It's a wonderful tradition from Northern China I believe (yes I know she's from Southern China). People give you 100 10x10 inch square pieces of fabric (either something they have bought, or something that has an important meaning to them). They also put a piece of that fabric on a card/paper with a wish for the child.

So, if you are family or friends and would like to help me out on this, I would appreciate it! :) I figure, at the very worst I can finish it for Katie's firstborn child.

It's good to have a goal. Right?

Honestly, if I end up with less 100, I'm good with that. I would like for her to have at least a doll cradle size quilt though. Thanks to my friend Carla, I already have 2 squares! I'm hoping that my other bloggy friend Carla will send me some as well. Don't you love the internet where you can find people who are adopting, who share the same name as you?

Katie's name meaning!!

Okay, I know you all have been just dying of curiousity about Katie's name. What does it mean? Well, I finally got someone to translate it for me other than the basic symbol translation.

Xiao Lan means "Morning Orchid"

Katelyn means "pure"

So, pure morning orchid. See, you were just wondering and staying up all night wondering, right?

High School memories, so be forewarned!

1. Who was your best friend? I had a few, but Sarah was probably my best. Although Beth was a pretty good one as well (still is actually). But then again, Carrie was sweet and we sure did get along great in college. Yet, Suzanne and I probably hold the longest friendship record...okay she probably holds that with Shannon but I definitely think she is my longest running friend. I mean, we met at swimming lessons...when we were 5 or something!

2. Did you play any sports? In high school? Not a chance. I learned my lesson in softball as a child.

3. What kind of car did you drive? Oh I was the ENVY of all my friends. I drove a nice 1988 silver Mercury Sable. Yeah, I was something alright. My parents felt like it was a SAFE care. I guess since I totaled it my senior year of high school, it was. Never knew going 35 and rear ending someone could do that much damage! LOL It was replaced by a nice safe 1988 silver Ford Taurus. We're consistent that way.

4. It’s Friday night. Where were you? Football season, I was at the game wherever it might be. Sitting in the stand, either sweating or freezing depending on the time of year in my nice oh so lovely band uniform. Yes. All 4 years of high school.

5. Were you a party animal? Depends on what you consider a party animal. LOL I was a band geek. I partied with the band geeks. Guess that answers THAT question now doesn't it. ;)

6. Were you considered a flirt? I have no clue. I had boyfriends, and lots of friends that were boys. I know I knew how to flirt, but was I flirt? Probably, but I didn't think I was then.

7. Were you in the band, orchestra or choir? Yes, as I answered above. I'm a band geek. Choir? Let's just say that my children tell to please be quiet and leave my singing ability out of the conversation!

8. Were you a nerd? Hmmm...I didn't think I was. Perhaps I should ask those friends listed above? I did graduate 2nd in the class...yeah, I guess that seals THAT. Further evidence? I think I joined just about everything I could, and was on all those lovely academic teams. LOL Just might have been a bit of nerd I guess...didn't think I was though at the time.

9. Were you ever suspended or expelled? Oh heavens no. *giggle* I was beloved by all (the teachers that is). I remember this ONE time getting sent to the principals office (yes one time in ALL my years as a student) and the principal looked at me and asked me what I was doing there. I told him. I yelled at a fellow student because he was driving me CRAZY asking to see how I worked a Calculus problem (remember that nerd thing...does getting almost 100's in Calculus make one a nerd?). Mr. Principal sent me back to the room without any punishment. I think the boy I yelled at got detention.

10. Can you sing the fight song? I do not think it has words. I can hum it VERY well. Well, honestly, I can hum the drum part, then the trumpet part that comes in...and then I might start getting confused on what the "melody" is and hum the mellophone part that I played for 6 years (our middle school band had to learn it to play at a few middle school functions).

11. Who was your favorite teacher? Oh, now, see, the "beloved by all teachers" part makes this one tough! My band teacher would probably be my favorite. Although those years of "One more time through, then circle up!" could do me in. Or, perhaps, Geometry and Algebra 2 teacher...she was really sweet. My latin teacher was always great fun. The "dreaded" Senior English teacher though, I did like her. I still say she was "misunderstood by all." OH, Mr. V....and Shakespear Studies for zero period (oooh...there's evidence I'm a nerd again, I voluntarily took EXTRA classes starting at the unseemly hour of 7:30am). Mr. S (Junior English) was pretty cool, he was also Prom Committee advisor (yeah did that too).

12. What was your school mascot? OH this one is good! A BLUE and ORANGE yellowjacket. Yeah...made sense to us then too. LOL


13. Did you go to the Prom? Oh yes. All 4 years. (hmm...could that be "flirt" answer as well?). OKay, one year, my Sophomore year I was on Prom Committee and helped "serve" and "take up tickets" and such. I even wore a matching dress with 5-7 other girls (Beth of best friend forever above did it with me).

14. If you could go back, would you? Are you KIDDING? Heck no! Now, college...I might be persuaded to go back to college when I met Dh. :)

15. What do you remember most about graduation? Big things shake to the top, little things go to the bottom. If you are going to do something, do it BIG. You want to be on top.

It's a toss up between that and the knowledge that our wacky school had Class President and Vice President give speeches instead of Valedictorian and Salutatorian (which meant I was off the hook!!!)

16. Where were you on Senior Skip Day? I'm not sure if we had one. I didn't skip, and yeah, that does give more weight to the "nerd factor" does it not?

17. Did you have a job your senior year? I wasn't allowed to work during the school year. Something about maintaining my grades. I did work at a grocery store the summer before though. :) Before scanners...I had to *gasp* type in the price for EACH item bought.


18. Where did you go most often for lunch? Since we had to stay at the school, I typically ended up eating with my friends in the band room. Yeah...that nerd/band geek thing again. I tell you, I was a PARTY animal. LOL

19. Have you gained weight since then? Why yes I have! I now weigh a whopping 12 pounds more...or maybe 15-20. I can still wear the same hideous clothes if so desired.

20. What did you do after graduation? Went to college, met Dh, got married, had a baby, THEN graduated from college. :)

21. What year did you graduate? Isn't this one of those "security questions" I had to answer somewhere? Let's say it's been long enough for me to laugh at myself there.

22. Who was your Senior Prom Date? Senior Prom? Um...Tab. That was his name. LOL

23. Are you going/did you go to your 10 year reunion? No I did not. It was only a catered dinner at a hotel not in the same small town we grew up in. It was $125 for 2 people for dinner. I had 2 YOUNG children, I was a SAHM, and well...for $125 I was not going to eat crappy catered food. Evidently others felt the same way. Only about 30-50 people showed up (that's including spouses).

For our 15 year? We're over-throwing the "rulers" and planning our own! (the class president plans)

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?!