I live in a row of 8 townhomes. As of yesterday, 5 women are pregnant, including 2 on each end. Apparently the baby fairy forgot my address. This coupled with the recent rumor that the CCAA is quoting 18-24 months from DTC to referral. Argh...
Sorry, I know I should enter some happy news every few entries, but some days I just feel like it's raining right over me and not in too many other places!
4/13/2006
4/07/2006
The game of Life
I just had a thought today. Ok, I had a few more than that in the 10 hours I have been out of bed, but I will share this one. I feel today like I am someone's pawn (or little plastic car thingy) in the game of Life. Like there is literally someone up there playing the board game and chose me as their pawn. They did pretty well the first half of the game, they chose the college path, met the spouse, got the house but keep skipping over every square that allows whoever is using me as a pawn to collect the little pink and baby blue pegs. Everyone else's little plastic cars are filled with pegs. Or rather their VW Touregs, or other momma SUV's have lots of cute little pegs in them all dressed up in their itty bitty Babypeg Gap clothes. Once my pawn was halfway through the game, alot of "go back one space and skip a turn cards" have been drawn. Just like yesterday, I thought when my agency called me, someone rolled a 6, but nope, got that go back 2 spaces card again. Darn.
Oh well, hopefully next week we can roll another 6, or at least a 4. And hopefully this game will end with at least one peg behind the front row. Pink, please.
Oh well, hopefully next week we can roll another 6, or at least a 4. And hopefully this game will end with at least one peg behind the front row. Pink, please.
4/06/2006
Houston we have yet another problem
I was so excited today when I saw CCAI's number light up our phone. I thought the caller would tell me everything looked great, ah, but that would be too darned easy. Apparently David's dumbass doctor (the guy is a real jerk with the personality of a cat getting a scalding bath, so I can say that) . On the long checklist they require our doctor's to fill out, he checked both the yes and no boxes under sexual disease and mental illness on David's form. Don't laugh, it's not funny. It will be in a few weeks when this all gets cleared up, but right now, for my sake, hold your laughs. Ok, just don't let me know you laughed then, not yet. Crap.
Oh and you'll love this, I did. I need an explanation from my doctor regarding my "abnormal vision". I have never worn glasses or contacts in my 32 years. I am 20/20 in one eye and 70/20 in the other. I have never had an issue. So I may have to go spend who know how much on glasses just to satisfy this "condition" from them. Well, maybe I can get some cute Ralph Lauren ones, kinda preppy sexy-Lisa Loeb
looking. Maybe I can look smarter than I am!
Oh and you'll love this, I did. I need an explanation from my doctor regarding my "abnormal vision". I have never worn glasses or contacts in my 32 years. I am 20/20 in one eye and 70/20 in the other. I have never had an issue. So I may have to go spend who know how much on glasses just to satisfy this "condition" from them. Well, maybe I can get some cute Ralph Lauren ones, kinda preppy sexy-Lisa Loeb
looking. Maybe I can look smarter than I am!
100 Good Wishes Quilt
David and I are putting together a Bai Jia Bei quilt for Amelie with the help of our wonderful friend Sherry. I hope you call all help!
The tradition behind the One Hundred Good Wishes Quilt, or Bai Jia Bei .
This tradition began in Northern China. When a new child was born, family and friends would give the parents pieces of fabric, generally from clothing they'd worn, to the new parents to create a quilt from the 100 pieces of fabric (wishes). The quilt was meant to wrap and warm the child in good wishes and the energy of the people who were around the child. Parents adopting from China have taken on this tradition by creating One Hundred Good Wishes quilts for their children. It is a custom to invite 100 people to contribute a single square patch of cloth. The 100 patches are sewn together into a quilt that contains the luck, energy, and good wishes from all the families and friends who contributed a piece of fabric. The quilt is then passed down from generation to generation.
With each fabric piece that is given to the new parents, a wish for the child is also sent, with a 1x1 inch piece of the same fabric attached to the “wish” so that the child will always know whose wish was made just for them.
Now what about this wish?
You have a lot of freedom with how you create your wish. People find their inspiration in many different ways; you can use song lyrics, a quote, bible verse or even a word with its definition to create your wish from. You can make your wish as simple as you want (e.g. "I wish you joy in your life" or humorous “I wish you to pass your driver’s license on the first try”) to a poem written especially for this occasion. How creative you want to get with the presentation is also your call. If you are into scrapbooking, you will love this part of the project. If you want to pretend you are into scrapbooking, this will also be a good time. If you are into stamping, this is also a chance to use that creative channel.
The most important part is this: have fun. You are working towards making a gift for this child. In the end what this child will treasure is the effort and work that went into making this creation, in whatever form it ends up, and the love that was behind it all of the way. A HUGE Thank You goes out to Sherry who so sweetly agreed to take on this project!
What type of fabric do I need?
Please send one 9 x 9 square along with a smaller 1 X 1 square. The smaller square should be attached to your “good wishes” message/card and is the quilter’s way of identifying your fabric within the quilt.
Type of Fabric: I would recommend QUALITY (not Wal-Mart and not the cheaper stuff at Joann Fabrics) 100% cotton fabric as most decorator fabrics have some synthetic blends and tend to be heavier. It's always good to have 'like fabrics' in a quilt. Quilt shop fabric tends to have a better thread count (think of how thread count in sheets generally designates the quality of the sheets) and will wear better than fabrics that have a lower thread count. Please pre-wash if you can, as they will shrink. Some ideas are red fabrics, ladybugs (good luck symbols in China), panda bears and pink.
The tradition behind the One Hundred Good Wishes Quilt, or Bai Jia Bei .
This tradition began in Northern China. When a new child was born, family and friends would give the parents pieces of fabric, generally from clothing they'd worn, to the new parents to create a quilt from the 100 pieces of fabric (wishes). The quilt was meant to wrap and warm the child in good wishes and the energy of the people who were around the child. Parents adopting from China have taken on this tradition by creating One Hundred Good Wishes quilts for their children. It is a custom to invite 100 people to contribute a single square patch of cloth. The 100 patches are sewn together into a quilt that contains the luck, energy, and good wishes from all the families and friends who contributed a piece of fabric. The quilt is then passed down from generation to generation.
With each fabric piece that is given to the new parents, a wish for the child is also sent, with a 1x1 inch piece of the same fabric attached to the “wish” so that the child will always know whose wish was made just for them.
Now what about this wish?
You have a lot of freedom with how you create your wish. People find their inspiration in many different ways; you can use song lyrics, a quote, bible verse or even a word with its definition to create your wish from. You can make your wish as simple as you want (e.g. "I wish you joy in your life" or humorous “I wish you to pass your driver’s license on the first try”) to a poem written especially for this occasion. How creative you want to get with the presentation is also your call. If you are into scrapbooking, you will love this part of the project. If you want to pretend you are into scrapbooking, this will also be a good time. If you are into stamping, this is also a chance to use that creative channel.
The most important part is this: have fun. You are working towards making a gift for this child. In the end what this child will treasure is the effort and work that went into making this creation, in whatever form it ends up, and the love that was behind it all of the way. A HUGE Thank You goes out to Sherry who so sweetly agreed to take on this project!
What type of fabric do I need?
Please send one 9 x 9 square along with a smaller 1 X 1 square. The smaller square should be attached to your “good wishes” message/card and is the quilter’s way of identifying your fabric within the quilt.
Type of Fabric: I would recommend QUALITY (not Wal-Mart and not the cheaper stuff at Joann Fabrics) 100% cotton fabric as most decorator fabrics have some synthetic blends and tend to be heavier. It's always good to have 'like fabrics' in a quilt. Quilt shop fabric tends to have a better thread count (think of how thread count in sheets generally designates the quality of the sheets) and will wear better than fabrics that have a lower thread count. Please pre-wash if you can, as they will shrink. Some ideas are red fabrics, ladybugs (good luck symbols in China), panda bears and pink.
To ease my mind
If you read my last post this is good news, sort of. This is straight from CCAI(our agency). So we can scratch rumor #1 off of our list, at least for now. In the meantime, I will still be addicted to the insearchofrumors blog which gets 17,000 hits a day.
From CCAI: Dear CCAI Waiting Families,
Spring greetings from Josh and Lily! As an agency that values open and honest communication, we want to share with you our thought on the recent referral slow down.
As a result of “more-dossiers-than-children” at the CCAA, the child match wait in recent months has lengthened. While fluctuations in the timeline are a normal part of international adoption, there is no doubt that this delay has created anxiety, uncertainty and frustration among our families. As adoptive parents ourselves, we understand and empathize with you completely. Honestly, we don’t know how long the delay will last this time or how it will impact your individual situation. However, we have been assured repeatedly by the CCAA that China adoption will continue for many years to come. We know for certain, after participating in this up and down journey with more than 6,600 families, that you will one day be united with the child you are dreaming of. “When” is the question, not “if.”
We will keep you informed of all verifiable information we receive directly from the CCAA. As we have always said to you, please feel free to write or call us at any time. Our “open ears” and understanding hearts are always available to you.
Thank you again for the opportunity to serve you. We truly appreciate your trust and support.
Yours,
Josh and Lily
From CCAI: Dear CCAI Waiting Families,
Spring greetings from Josh and Lily! As an agency that values open and honest communication, we want to share with you our thought on the recent referral slow down.
As a result of “more-dossiers-than-children” at the CCAA, the child match wait in recent months has lengthened. While fluctuations in the timeline are a normal part of international adoption, there is no doubt that this delay has created anxiety, uncertainty and frustration among our families. As adoptive parents ourselves, we understand and empathize with you completely. Honestly, we don’t know how long the delay will last this time or how it will impact your individual situation. However, we have been assured repeatedly by the CCAA that China adoption will continue for many years to come. We know for certain, after participating in this up and down journey with more than 6,600 families, that you will one day be united with the child you are dreaming of. “When” is the question, not “if.”
We will keep you informed of all verifiable information we receive directly from the CCAA. As we have always said to you, please feel free to write or call us at any time. Our “open ears” and understanding hearts are always available to you.
Thank you again for the opportunity to serve you. We truly appreciate your trust and support.
Yours,
Josh and Lily
The ugly rumor mill....
Like most people on the China adoption roller coaster (and I am sure all countries are the same), I find myself addicted to the yahoo groups and other people's blogs to see the "Rumor of the Day". I don't know why we do this to myself. I am already, as you know, a big fat ball of anxiety as it is. If I believed in taking meds for it I would, but a bowl of ice cream, a glass of wine or a good cry seems to work just fine. On the yahoo groups and blogs, you can find pretty much anything for your mood when it comes to the China referral rumors. If you are in a misery loves company mood, we have a rumor for you. If you need to be cheered up, someone else has some gossip that will lift your spirits. Now, we are not even DTC yet, so imagine what I will be like a year from now(no, I doubt we'll be traveling by then, then again, according to some rumors...)-I imagine I will go from a ball of anxiety to ball of goo by then. I keep telling myself I will just keep busy and try not to think about it. Riiigggghhhhttt. Anyhow, here are some of the huge quantity and range of rumors I have read lately.
Here's a sampling for my non-adoptive friends and families:
The adoption program in China is shutting down "soon".
The wait time till referral will speed up to 6 months again, just as it did a little over a year ago.
The lengthening in delay to referrals is due to the Hunan Baby Smuggling Scandal.
The CCAA is taking longer with American families due to the two recent families who killed their adopted Chinese babies(both shaken baby syndrome, makes me ill to think about).
The time we wait till referral will go to 12 months.
The time we wait till referral will go to 24 months.
The lengthening in delay to referrals is due to no babies available.
The time we wait till referral will go to 18 months.
The lengthening in delay to referrals is due to a surge in domestic adoptions(read that, as in adoptions within China).
The signing of The Hague Convention in the US, with China, will slow down the program
The signing of The Hague Convention in the US, with China, will speed up the program.
Adoptive Parents will not be allowed to specify Special Needs or Non Special Needs children.
International Adoption will only be allowed for special needs children.
Adoptive parents will not be allowed to specify any age range, like <12 months, 2-4 years, etc.
The increasing delay in referrals is a sort of natural selection in the eyes of the Chinese government... that the longer the referral gets, the fewer applications they get and thus the smaller the program is.
So when you ask us what we know, please specify...
1. you want to hear about the rumors
OR
2. You want to know facts
Answers to #1 will be easy and plentiful, answers to #2, not so easy, not so plentiful!
All I know is... we're on this road and we're sticking with it, life holds no guarantees.
Here's a sampling for my non-adoptive friends and families:
The adoption program in China is shutting down "soon".
The wait time till referral will speed up to 6 months again, just as it did a little over a year ago.
The lengthening in delay to referrals is due to the Hunan Baby Smuggling Scandal.
The CCAA is taking longer with American families due to the two recent families who killed their adopted Chinese babies(both shaken baby syndrome, makes me ill to think about).
The time we wait till referral will go to 12 months.
The time we wait till referral will go to 24 months.
The lengthening in delay to referrals is due to no babies available.
The time we wait till referral will go to 18 months.
The lengthening in delay to referrals is due to a surge in domestic adoptions(read that, as in adoptions within China).
The signing of The Hague Convention in the US, with China, will slow down the program
The signing of The Hague Convention in the US, with China, will speed up the program.
Adoptive Parents will not be allowed to specify Special Needs or Non Special Needs children.
International Adoption will only be allowed for special needs children.
Adoptive parents will not be allowed to specify any age range, like <12 months, 2-4 years, etc.
The increasing delay in referrals is a sort of natural selection in the eyes of the Chinese government... that the longer the referral gets, the fewer applications they get and thus the smaller the program is.
So when you ask us what we know, please specify...
1. you want to hear about the rumors
OR
2. You want to know facts
Answers to #1 will be easy and plentiful, answers to #2, not so easy, not so plentiful!
All I know is... we're on this road and we're sticking with it, life holds no guarantees.
3/30/2006
EEEEEWWWWWWWW!
This is just wrong!
I had to share this. Well, seeing that I will probably never be pysically pregnant(as oppossed to paper pregnant which we will be in a month or so)-at least no one will ever make a revolting statue of me. I, like most people, think of Ms. Spears as a no-talent ,trailer park, please-cover-up-your-fat-you-are-not-cute-as-you-once-were girl who always desperatly needs her roots touched up, BUT I do feel a little bad for her. I would not be a happy camper if someone used my likeness for this!
On another note, my wonderful agency, CCAI finally has my 171H, fully authenticated and certified. They said within the next 10 days, we will be DTC(see below post on acronyms : ) ) That is cause for a nice wine and dine night on the town!
I had to share this. Well, seeing that I will probably never be pysically pregnant(as oppossed to paper pregnant which we will be in a month or so)-at least no one will ever make a revolting statue of me. I, like most people, think of Ms. Spears as a no-talent ,trailer park, please-cover-up-your-fat-you-are-not-cute-as-you-once-were girl who always desperatly needs her roots touched up, BUT I do feel a little bad for her. I would not be a happy camper if someone used my likeness for this!
On another note, my wonderful agency, CCAI finally has my 171H, fully authenticated and certified. They said within the next 10 days, we will be DTC(see below post on acronyms : ) ) That is cause for a nice wine and dine night on the town!
3/24/2006
And she shall be called....
So I made the executive decision that she, the baby, our dauther, Amelie, this wonderful bundle of love we are forever waiting for will be referred to during this wait as....the Empress. Or Empress A. I like it. Better than princess. That, as I have discussed before, is already taken by someone in this family. That would be me. Besides, I have a funny feeling she will rule the roost and Empress trumps Princess. Guess David is the jester?
More Acronyms than a chemistry class!
I decided to post this just this once as a reference to all future posts. I am still learning all the adoption acronyms that people throw around. When we go to dinner with other FCC (can't go too long without an acronym-Families with Chinese Children), people around us probably think we are speaking in code, like we are Russian spies or alien invaders.
So, here is the abbreviated list for your reviewing:
FCC (families with chinese children)
CCAA (chinese center for adoption affairs-the branch of the chinese gov't that handles all of our paperwork)
HS (homestudy)
DH/DD (dear husband, dear daughter....these are dumb, I never use them)
I600 (application to adopt abroad)
171H (approval from the USCIS to adopt abroad)
USCIS (Formerly known as the INS)
CCAI (our wonderful agency-Chinese Children Adoption International)
DTC (Dossier to China)
LID (Log in Date-this occurs a few weeks after your DTC)
TA (travel approval)
I have a couple other acronyms that I could use for this whole process, which most days stinks like dog poo, but I'll keep them to myself. I know my church friends are reading.....
So, here is the abbreviated list for your reviewing:
FCC (families with chinese children)
CCAA (chinese center for adoption affairs-the branch of the chinese gov't that handles all of our paperwork)
HS (homestudy)
DH/DD (dear husband, dear daughter....these are dumb, I never use them)
I600 (application to adopt abroad)
171H (approval from the USCIS to adopt abroad)
USCIS (Formerly known as the INS)
CCAI (our wonderful agency-Chinese Children Adoption International)
DTC (Dossier to China)
LID (Log in Date-this occurs a few weeks after your DTC)
TA (travel approval)
I have a couple other acronyms that I could use for this whole process, which most days stinks like dog poo, but I'll keep them to myself. I know my church friends are reading.....
3/22/2006
Celebrity Watch
Since I have nothing new to share regarding the adoption-just waiting on my 171 to get all it's pretty little stamps before my agency gets it-I thought I'd share something somewhat funny. Last week we went with some friends to the Old Key Lime house in Lake Worth for lunch. Great place by the way. It got all but demolished during the hurricane and they are putting up a huge tiki type roof over the whole outside. Anyhow... Halfway through our lunch, our friend Ferny noticed a B list celebrity a few tables away. Ok, not so exciting, but it was Kendra, the winner from season three of the Apprentice. Not terribly exciting, I know. Like I said, slow week. It was funny when some others in our party started singing "money, money, money, money...moneeeey".
I promise not to update my blog with anything equally or less interesting than this, or else I will lose all readers.
I promise not to update my blog with anything equally or less interesting than this, or else I will lose all readers.
3/17/2006
Kiss me, I'm Irish
Happy St Patties Day! I am actually fully one half Irish(I beleive)-or at least 1/4 Irish and 1/4 Scottish-close enough!
| You're 40% Irish |
 You're probably less Irish than you think you are... But you're still more Irish than most. |
| Your Irish Name Is... |
 |
3/16/2006
No kidnapped babies for adoption!
Ok, so a few weeks back someone posted an article on my blog that was in the Washington Post. It painted Chinese adoption in a very negative light and suggested that all Chinese adoption is corrupt. It stated how there was all of these babies being stolen in China from their mothers and put on the black market. Yes, I agree that blackmarketing babies is a horrendous act, but I am also pretty sure that the article is very slanted and the writer I am sure had his own agenda(maybe he works for an agency that deals with Korea or Russia, who knows?) This article was floating around several of the China adoptive parents yahoo groups and scared the crap out of some of us. Most people choose to adopt from China because it is seen as a straightforward, non-corrupt process. Luckily, a few days later this article came out. (BTW-who did send me that first article, the name was "anonymous"?-note to all friends, let me know who you are, I love reading your feedback!!)
By JOE MCDONALD
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER
BEIJING -- The Chinese government says that an investigation found no children involved in a recent baby-trafficking case were adopted by American families, a U.S. State Department official said Wednesday.
The U.S. government asked the official China Center for Adoption Affairs to investigate after state media said abducted babies were sold to welfare homes in the southern city of Hengyang and later adopted by foreign couples. The United States is the leading destination for Chinese babies adopted abroad.
"The CCAA informed us that it had concluded its investigation into all of the children from Hengyang adopted by Americans and found that all of these children were legitimately orphaned or abandoned and that there are no biological parents searching for them," the U.S. official, who declined to be identified further in line with State Department rules, said from Washington.
By JOE MCDONALD
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER
BEIJING -- The Chinese government says that an investigation found no children involved in a recent baby-trafficking case were adopted by American families, a U.S. State Department official said Wednesday.
The U.S. government asked the official China Center for Adoption Affairs to investigate after state media said abducted babies were sold to welfare homes in the southern city of Hengyang and later adopted by foreign couples. The United States is the leading destination for Chinese babies adopted abroad.
"The CCAA informed us that it had concluded its investigation into all of the children from Hengyang adopted by Americans and found that all of these children were legitimately orphaned or abandoned and that there are no biological parents searching for them," the U.S. official, who declined to be identified further in line with State Department rules, said from Washington.
YIPPPPEEEEE!
The setting: A beautiful March day(the 16th), 2006
Where: Kristen and David's home/office
Ring, ring
Me: Apex Lending can I help you?
The voice on the other line(TVOTOL): Hi, Kristen?
Me: This is she?
TVOTOL: This is Phyllis at USCIS. Congrats honey, you and your husband are approved. Your 171H is in the mail.
Me: OHMYGOSHThankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouyouarethebestyoudon'tknowhowmuchIappreciate youcallingmecanIcomehugyou... (I was talking like Molly Shannon's character in Superstar and SNL, Mary Katherine Gallagher...sometimes when I get really nervous, I put my hands under my arms and go like this...sniffffff)
TVOTOL: (interupting)...um well, anyhow, congratulations, you should receive it shortly .
So, there it is. Then I called my good friend Amy M who invited me over for a congratulatory lunch and big fat glass of "yippee for you" Reisling
Hopefully I will get this in a few days, then it's off to be notarized, certified and authenticated-that will take two weeks. After that it will be "critically reviewed" along with our other huge stack of dossier paperwork already sitting at the agency. That will take another 10-15 days. Then we are DTC(dossier to China-or officially paper pregnant)! Yipppppppeeeeeeeeeeeee part 1!
Where: Kristen and David's home/office
Ring, ring
Me: Apex Lending can I help you?
The voice on the other line(TVOTOL): Hi, Kristen?
Me: This is she?
TVOTOL: This is Phyllis at USCIS. Congrats honey, you and your husband are approved. Your 171H is in the mail.
Me: OHMYGOSHThankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouyouarethebestyoudon'tknowhowmuchIappreciate youcallingmecanIcomehugyou... (I was talking like Molly Shannon's character in Superstar and SNL, Mary Katherine Gallagher...sometimes when I get really nervous, I put my hands under my arms and go like this...sniffffff)
TVOTOL: (interupting)...um well, anyhow, congratulations, you should receive it shortly .
So, there it is. Then I called my good friend Amy M who invited me over for a congratulatory lunch and big fat glass of "yippee for you" Reisling
Hopefully I will get this in a few days, then it's off to be notarized, certified and authenticated-that will take two weeks. After that it will be "critically reviewed" along with our other huge stack of dossier paperwork already sitting at the agency. That will take another 10-15 days. Then we are DTC(dossier to China-or officially paper pregnant)! Yipppppppeeeeeeeeeeeee part 1!
3/15/2006
Weird Week!
Whew, someone please get me off this rollercoaster! Ok, so here is my last week. You saw my post last week about the USCIS. My case worker is switching positions, can't tell me who is taking over but don't worry, just another 4-6 months til we process your application. Yeah, that was fun. Ok, now if you don't beleive in God, stop reading here.
I was reading on the bible on Sunday in prepration for a bible study class on Monday. I read in Genesis about how Joseph could analyze people's dreams. I never give much thought to my own dreams, if I can remember them at all. I usually delete them from my brain's harddrive before I hit the second snooze alarm. But Sunday night I had this strange and very very vivid dream. I couldn't shake it when I woke up. Now, before I tell you about the dream, you must know I was praying very very hard for God to give me both patience and to hurry up and the INS moving on our paperwork.
Now to my dream: I dreamed that there was a nasty storm in the middle of the night and for some reason I had to cross this covered wooden bridge. The floor of the bridge was missing most of the floor planks and it was about 20 feet over this long expanse of ocean. There were two people helping me cross that bridge. The person in front of me I did not recognize, only that he had longish blond hair-but he was a surfer type. The person in back of me was my dad, who in real life passed away 5 years ago. They helped me reach the other side. I am not sure what was on the other side, I wke up shortly after that.
Can anyone else read into that? I saw the bridge as this crazy road to adoption. The person in front of me was probably God, or rather, no doubt God. My dad represented my dad as well as my family and friends who are backing me up. The water, I thought was the difficult waters of adoption, but speaking to my mom(who is one of the only people I shared this with)-she said it was probably the Pacific Ocean and the other side, safe and sound is your daughter in China.
Ok, so for those of you who think I am nuts, that's ok. Guess what happened about an hour ago? The head of the adoption department at INS(USCIS) called to tell me she is wrapping up our file tonight. I believe. God is good.
I was reading on the bible on Sunday in prepration for a bible study class on Monday. I read in Genesis about how Joseph could analyze people's dreams. I never give much thought to my own dreams, if I can remember them at all. I usually delete them from my brain's harddrive before I hit the second snooze alarm. But Sunday night I had this strange and very very vivid dream. I couldn't shake it when I woke up. Now, before I tell you about the dream, you must know I was praying very very hard for God to give me both patience and to hurry up and the INS moving on our paperwork.
Now to my dream: I dreamed that there was a nasty storm in the middle of the night and for some reason I had to cross this covered wooden bridge. The floor of the bridge was missing most of the floor planks and it was about 20 feet over this long expanse of ocean. There were two people helping me cross that bridge. The person in front of me I did not recognize, only that he had longish blond hair-but he was a surfer type. The person in back of me was my dad, who in real life passed away 5 years ago. They helped me reach the other side. I am not sure what was on the other side, I wke up shortly after that.
Can anyone else read into that? I saw the bridge as this crazy road to adoption. The person in front of me was probably God, or rather, no doubt God. My dad represented my dad as well as my family and friends who are backing me up. The water, I thought was the difficult waters of adoption, but speaking to my mom(who is one of the only people I shared this with)-she said it was probably the Pacific Ocean and the other side, safe and sound is your daughter in China.
Ok, so for those of you who think I am nuts, that's ok. Guess what happened about an hour ago? The head of the adoption department at INS(USCIS) called to tell me she is wrapping up our file tonight. I believe. God is good.
3/14/2006
Ok, my martini friends...check this out and let me know what you are!
| You Are A Blueberry Martini |
 You are a eclectic drink - liking to change drinks and venues often. You are usually the first of your friends to find a cool new dive bar or cocktail. You should never: Drink mystery drinks strangers hand you. Unless you want to wind up in foreign country. Your ideal party: Is mobile, hopping from party to party. Your drinking soulmates: Those with an Orange Martini personality. Your drinking rivals: Those with a Chocolate Martini personality. |
Ode to Hugh Jorgans
I am not being vulgar here by saying "Hugh Jorgans". That is the name of our piano bar in Delray Beach that is going the way of City Limits, Powers and the Irish Cottage Pub...that is, sadly....gone. They used to do a version of that 70's song "Kung-Fu fighting" and would do funny "Confusius say ...A man who run behind car is exausted", but genreally they were a little more vulgar and alot funnier.
In honor of that fine establishment I found this. Click to find your fortune cookie saying. I love mine!
In honor of that fine establishment I found this. Click to find your fortune cookie saying. I love mine!
| Your Fortune Is |
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3/10/2006
What's in a name?
Ok, so I need some advice. I know that it's still a long ways away before we pick up our little princess, and she probably isn't even born yet, but I am struggling with her name! Even before we decided to adopt, I fell in love with the name Amelie. I got the name from the french movie of the same name. If you haven't seen it, find a rainy weekend, snuggle up on the couch and watch this beautifully wonderful flick.
The problem is I am getting about one out of every four people hating the name because they can't pronounce it. I usually have to pronounce it a few times before the person I am talking to gets it right. The conversation usually goes something like this:
Them: So, did you decide on any names yet?
Me: Well, um, sort of. We are leaning towards one. The middle name will be Josphine after Dave's mom, but we like Amelie as a first name.
Them: Oh, Emily is pretty
Me: Well, close, it's pronounced ah-mah-Lee(think french here, the last syllable is stressed)
Them: Oh AHH-me-lee
Me: Close, just a little more stress on the end.
Them: oh ok, well, do you think people will call her Emily
Me: Not if I can correct them.
Now, I really do adore the name, and maybe if we moved to Paris(hey, not a bad idea), the name pronounciation would be easy. But, as much as I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the name, as it is unique, not in the top 20 but still normal , do I want to go through this all the time? Plus, I have to be honest with myself...what will happen when she has to pronounce her name in pre-school? Ask any 2 or 3 year old their name and you can barely understand them. Everyone will assume she is trying to say Emily and has a speech impairment.
So, here are my two alternatives.
1. Gianna (Gigi for short)
2. Gabriella(Gabbi, Brie, or Ella for short)
If we use either one of these, when we go get her Mei Mei(little sister) from China we can use the other name. Oh, sorry David honey, you didn't get the memo?
I can't think of any knicknames for Amelie. Then again, since my whole family called me at all times Princess K(youngest child of 6-only girl), the princess status and name will no doubt be passed on to her-Princess A perhaps(nah, don't like it, surely she'll be teased by school kids). I am looking forward to being promoted to Queen though. Ha, ha!
On a funny note, my mom and her husband called me after a few bottles of wine a few months ago and they were discussing names. They decided on Omorosa Ella. Put that with our last name and say it three times fast (which I won't do here to protect our privacy a bit). Charming, isn't it?
The problem is I am getting about one out of every four people hating the name because they can't pronounce it. I usually have to pronounce it a few times before the person I am talking to gets it right. The conversation usually goes something like this:
Them: So, did you decide on any names yet?
Me: Well, um, sort of. We are leaning towards one. The middle name will be Josphine after Dave's mom, but we like Amelie as a first name.
Them: Oh, Emily is pretty
Me: Well, close, it's pronounced ah-mah-Lee(think french here, the last syllable is stressed)
Them: Oh AHH-me-lee
Me: Close, just a little more stress on the end.
Them: oh ok, well, do you think people will call her Emily
Me: Not if I can correct them.
Now, I really do adore the name, and maybe if we moved to Paris(hey, not a bad idea), the name pronounciation would be easy. But, as much as I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the name, as it is unique, not in the top 20 but still normal , do I want to go through this all the time? Plus, I have to be honest with myself...what will happen when she has to pronounce her name in pre-school? Ask any 2 or 3 year old their name and you can barely understand them. Everyone will assume she is trying to say Emily and has a speech impairment.
So, here are my two alternatives.
1. Gianna (Gigi for short)
2. Gabriella(Gabbi, Brie, or Ella for short)
If we use either one of these, when we go get her Mei Mei(little sister) from China we can use the other name. Oh, sorry David honey, you didn't get the memo?
I can't think of any knicknames for Amelie. Then again, since my whole family called me at all times Princess K(youngest child of 6-only girl), the princess status and name will no doubt be passed on to her-Princess A perhaps(nah, don't like it, surely she'll be teased by school kids). I am looking forward to being promoted to Queen though. Ha, ha!
On a funny note, my mom and her husband called me after a few bottles of wine a few months ago and they were discussing names. They decided on Omorosa Ella. Put that with our last name and say it three times fast (which I won't do here to protect our privacy a bit). Charming, isn't it?
3/09/2006
A kinder, more gentle poster
Just wanted to say thanks so much for everyone who has read my posts! Leave comment-just a simple hi-love your post-love, insert name here! By the way, these posts are meant to be somewhat light-hearted, tongue in cheek. Most of my comments are only half serious, just trying to add some humour to this process. After all, if I don't laugh through this, I'll go insane! Some people commented on some of my posts, stating I was being too harsh and too sensitive. I REALLLLY hope it was someone I don't know, they didn't leave their name and made me feel just a teensy bit bad about my writings. I am a sarcastic person by nature, but I'll try to tone it down. Just a little. Just a very little. Keep readin, and hey, remember to laugh.
3/07/2006
If we weren't crazy we would go insane-warning, another spewing post
Ok, so I just received an e-mail from the person at the USCIS we were originally assigned to. Back in January, she sent an e-mail stating she would be out for a few months and she gave me the name of someone else who would be taking over. Today, our original gal told me via e-mail that she is chaing positions. No biggie, I thought, someone else is working our file. Wrong! Our file has been sitting on her desk since December 14th and has not moved. There goes the origami theory. And, she can't tell me who will be working on it. All she could tell me is it may take another 4-6 months.
I am just at my wit's end today and had to vent!!!!!!
I am just at my wit's end today and had to vent!!!!!!
3/01/2006
Thoughts on what the USCIS is doing with our paperwork...
Ok, so someone at Congressman Clay Shaw's office finally got ahold of our paper-pusher at the USCIS(formerly known as the INS-they change names more times than P Diddy). Shaw's office was told our file was taking longer because David is not a citizen. What the frick? Ok, this makes NO sense to me. Wouldn't it take less time because all of his information is already in their system? To use my favorite word as a teenager..."Whatever"!
So, here are my thoughts to what they are actually doing with our file
1. Building an office fort or igloos.
2. Practicing origami
3. Having paper airplane competitions.
I guess we'll find out which one it is if and when it comes back to us with various folds in the papers!
Any thoughts on what they are doing?
So, here are my thoughts to what they are actually doing with our file
1. Building an office fort or igloos.
2. Practicing origami
3. Having paper airplane competitions.
I guess we'll find out which one it is if and when it comes back to us with various folds in the papers!
Any thoughts on what they are doing?
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