I think mom's do more before 9am than even soldiers do.
Ya ready?? Here goes....
6:45 am - kids up and ready for school
7:00 - Trae is coughing up a lung and can't breathe good....he's staying home today
7:10 - Kids on the bus
7: 45 - I call dr. office to make appt. for Tyler to be seen at 2pm for his feet issues (a whole 'nother story)
8:00 - call my work to ask them to move up my last client so that I can get Tyler to his 2pm appt.
8:22 - Health nurse calls from school to tell me that Tony is sick
8:25 - I call work back and tell them I won't be coming in at all today
8:35 - Tony throws up in the hallway at school in front of the 5th grade classroom
8:45 - I get to school to find out from 2 kids and the office receptionist that I missed him throwing up by 10 minutes
8:55 - get to Tanner's preschool and ask the teacher if it's okay for me to drop him off 15 min. early cuz Tony is sick in the car.
9:05 - get home and try and figure out how I"m going to keep Tyler's appt. today at 2pm with 2 kids home sick.
Haven't even had breakfast yet...
Who says moms at home don't work.
Friday, April 16, 2010
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Adoption update
On Monday we went to the adoption agency to go over our completed home study. Everything looked good......Jason and I even had a good laugh over a couple parts that our social worker elaborated on quite eloquently. For example, in our family guidelines we wrote, about Tony, that he was our little stinker that you never knew what he was up to next......in our home study she wrote, Tony is a creative boy who always seems to be planning something fun. HA HA!!!!! Hey, that's why she's the professional...who are we to argue with her wording. Too funny!
I was pretty impressed with us after reading that. We're a great family.....who knew? Haha..
We also got to meet with Jill, the person in charge of the list. The "List"...the miles of names and info on over 1500 kiddos looking for a family to call their own. This list is shared by over 300 agencies and can be looked at by any one of their clients. She showed us some girls to see examples of how the file works and what sort of info we can expect on each one. The list is mostly boys, over half the kids are severe needs, and another 3rd of that are over the age of 7. This makes a little girl under age 4 with minor/correctable needs a more rare find. They're out there, just harder to lock in because you have to do that before anyone else does, and unfortunately, those same criteria are not only the most rare...they're also the most sought after.
We knew all of this going into Monday. But there was something we learned that we didn't know. Mostly because it's a new law only a few weeks old. China has changed the way they handle the special needs list. In the past a couple could look at and lock in a child and then get their dossier (paperwork) over to get approval. Not anymore....now, they want everyone to have it all over there already and approved before you can lock in a child. This goes for any child that has been put on the list since 3/19/10 and from now on. What does this mean for us? Well, since we don't have our dossier sent over yet (you have to have a completed home study and immigration paperwork all done first) we would have to wait another 3 mos. or so until we can get a log in date before we can lock in any child. Major set back on our timing. There is the possibility that we can look for a child available since BEFORE the 19th.....but the reality is, if a girl, under age 4 is still available after being on the list for that long.....she probably has a more severe need.
I left there definitely a bit discouraged, but still knowing that it will all work out. It may not be in our time frame, but I know there is a plan for us and God has His hands all over this. So for now, I choose to believe that there is a reason we aren't supposed to find her just yet.
I was pretty impressed with us after reading that. We're a great family.....who knew? Haha..
We also got to meet with Jill, the person in charge of the list. The "List"...the miles of names and info on over 1500 kiddos looking for a family to call their own. This list is shared by over 300 agencies and can be looked at by any one of their clients. She showed us some girls to see examples of how the file works and what sort of info we can expect on each one. The list is mostly boys, over half the kids are severe needs, and another 3rd of that are over the age of 7. This makes a little girl under age 4 with minor/correctable needs a more rare find. They're out there, just harder to lock in because you have to do that before anyone else does, and unfortunately, those same criteria are not only the most rare...they're also the most sought after.
We knew all of this going into Monday. But there was something we learned that we didn't know. Mostly because it's a new law only a few weeks old. China has changed the way they handle the special needs list. In the past a couple could look at and lock in a child and then get their dossier (paperwork) over to get approval. Not anymore....now, they want everyone to have it all over there already and approved before you can lock in a child. This goes for any child that has been put on the list since 3/19/10 and from now on. What does this mean for us? Well, since we don't have our dossier sent over yet (you have to have a completed home study and immigration paperwork all done first) we would have to wait another 3 mos. or so until we can get a log in date before we can lock in any child. Major set back on our timing. There is the possibility that we can look for a child available since BEFORE the 19th.....but the reality is, if a girl, under age 4 is still available after being on the list for that long.....she probably has a more severe need.
I left there definitely a bit discouraged, but still knowing that it will all work out. It may not be in our time frame, but I know there is a plan for us and God has His hands all over this. So for now, I choose to believe that there is a reason we aren't supposed to find her just yet.
Horses, cake, and a concert....
......what could be better? On Sunday we had a birthday party for Helen's son, Alex. It was way the heck out in the middle of nowhere at a horse farm and the kids were allowed to ride ponies and run around the farm. They loved it. It took about an hour, 20 minutes to get there so we were driving as long as we were actually at the party, but it was worth it. I had offered to make a cowboy cake for Alex which turned out pretty good. We had to leave a little early because Jason and I had a casting crowns concert to go to that night and we were meeting for dinner beforehand. But we managed to be there for the horses, lunch, cake, presents, and pinata....so we were good.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Big step
I'm so excited. Monday is our appointment with our social worker to go over the home study she has completed for us. I'm worried....er...anxious to see it all down in writing and what she said about us and how we come across.
I have a small detail to take care of with our medical reports because my doctor decided it wasn't important to follow the directions. It took him 5 weeks to get the report filled out and back to me and that was with me calling every week.....so, I'm pretty much gonna walk my butt in the office on Monday and tell them I'll wait right there while they bring it back to him to re-sign. The person at the agency that takes care of this suggested to me that I just write it up the correct way and see if they can just copy it onto their letterhead and have him sign. Simple enough....hopefully.
I'm really hoping that while we are at the agency on Monday we'll be able to meet with Jill who is the person in charge of China's Waiting Children program that we are going through. Wouldn't it be amazing to find a child on that list just waiting to be brought home by us. I don't get my hopes up about that possibility, I know it's a long shot, but it's still exciting to be able to finally look and see.
Jason and I are still hoping to be traveling by the end of the year. This is doable if we get a referral before June. If it comes after that, we're looking at the beginning of next year. Either would be fine, I'm just antsy. I feel like we've already been waiting for so long. It seems like longer than 3 months since we started the process because we've been preparing for it for almost 2 years. As much as I want the time to go by quickly, I'm still apprehensive because we just don't have the money we will need yet for traveling. We 'lost' $5000 of money we had anticipated getting between now and then. It happened because of 3 different unforeseen changes that we weren't expecting. So, yah, it wasn't really our money....yet....but we thought it was pretty sure thing and we were counting on it. I just have to keep believing that God will provide. If this is meant to be, it will all come through when we need it to.
So, for now I'm crossing my fingers on bended knees.
I have a small detail to take care of with our medical reports because my doctor decided it wasn't important to follow the directions. It took him 5 weeks to get the report filled out and back to me and that was with me calling every week.....so, I'm pretty much gonna walk my butt in the office on Monday and tell them I'll wait right there while they bring it back to him to re-sign. The person at the agency that takes care of this suggested to me that I just write it up the correct way and see if they can just copy it onto their letterhead and have him sign. Simple enough....hopefully.
I'm really hoping that while we are at the agency on Monday we'll be able to meet with Jill who is the person in charge of China's Waiting Children program that we are going through. Wouldn't it be amazing to find a child on that list just waiting to be brought home by us. I don't get my hopes up about that possibility, I know it's a long shot, but it's still exciting to be able to finally look and see.
Jason and I are still hoping to be traveling by the end of the year. This is doable if we get a referral before June. If it comes after that, we're looking at the beginning of next year. Either would be fine, I'm just antsy. I feel like we've already been waiting for so long. It seems like longer than 3 months since we started the process because we've been preparing for it for almost 2 years. As much as I want the time to go by quickly, I'm still apprehensive because we just don't have the money we will need yet for traveling. We 'lost' $5000 of money we had anticipated getting between now and then. It happened because of 3 different unforeseen changes that we weren't expecting. So, yah, it wasn't really our money....yet....but we thought it was pretty sure thing and we were counting on it. I just have to keep believing that God will provide. If this is meant to be, it will all come through when we need it to.
So, for now I'm crossing my fingers on bended knees.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Sunday Snapshot: Easter Eggs
Coloring Easter eggs, for me, ranks right up there with decorating Christmas cookies....in other words...it's just not my favorite thing. Is that bad?
But here's one of the beauties of having the boys get older.....I barely have to do anything anymore. Just get out some cups....measure some vinegar...and watch them do their magic. ooohhh....now that sounded bad.
I know deep down I should be cherishing these moments because it won't be long before they will be too old for all of this.....and I'll probably be sad.
But, I do it for the boys and smile though the whole thing.
I admit I even got secretly excited when they decided to have a contest who could finish the most eggs the quickest. And, let me tell ya, I was cheering them on.
Oh man, I'm a really bad mom.
They finished in 21 minutes start to finish.....and....God, help me.....I can hardly wait for next year when they try to break their record.
I am a good mom, I am a good mom, I am a good mom....
But here's one of the beauties of having the boys get older.....I barely have to do anything anymore. Just get out some cups....measure some vinegar...and watch them do their magic. ooohhh....now that sounded bad.
I know deep down I should be cherishing these moments because it won't be long before they will be too old for all of this.....and I'll probably be sad.
But, I do it for the boys and smile though the whole thing.
I admit I even got secretly excited when they decided to have a contest who could finish the most eggs the quickest. And, let me tell ya, I was cheering them on.
Oh man, I'm a really bad mom.
They finished in 21 minutes start to finish.....and....God, help me.....I can hardly wait for next year when they try to break their record.
I am a good mom, I am a good mom, I am a good mom....
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
A "growing up" makeover
I'd been telling the boys since I was done with daycare that I would redo their room. Tyler and Timmy first had this downstairs room when we moved into the house 5 years ago. At that time, they were 5 & 7 and really loved jungle animals so that became the theme.
I got this great border that made their room look like a jungle. I bought some leopard comforters and painted animals on the wall. And lemmetellya, it was hard to paint over those animals.....I still remember doing them and the time it took.
I loved it, they loved it, they grew up, they got tired of it.
This past Christmas, when Tyler got his own new room....we moved Trae down with Timmy. Since then, there has been this debate going on about what sort of room they wanted. Vikings, Baseball, Hunting.....ah, we don't even hunt.....until finally I took the thing about hunting they liked, the camouflage, and suggested a military theme. I would say Army theme, but that just would not go over well in this Marine loyal home.
First step....peeling off the border. My LEAST favorite thing to do in the whole world.
Then, we moved their bunk beds into a new spot. We didn't think they would fit at first, but Tim and Trae had already measured it cuz it was their idea. This new spot makes their desk inaccessible....except for collecting stuff....for doing homework.......but they never used it for that anyway.
Actually, not only did it fit....it fit like it was made to go there. Not an inch to spare. This gave their tiny room a ton more space.
The walls are an Army......er, I mean, military....green on the bottom and a tan on top.
Got some things hung that I found on Amazon...
Including these stickers and a camo blanket that I sort of fashioned into a valence.
At the end of it all, what matters most is if the boys like it, and they do. They love their new, more grown up room. It was like a new chapter....going from jungle animals to the military. **Sigh** Next thing I know they'll be putting up posters of girls in bikinis.
I got this great border that made their room look like a jungle. I bought some leopard comforters and painted animals on the wall. And lemmetellya, it was hard to paint over those animals.....I still remember doing them and the time it took.
I loved it, they loved it, they grew up, they got tired of it.
This past Christmas, when Tyler got his own new room....we moved Trae down with Timmy. Since then, there has been this debate going on about what sort of room they wanted. Vikings, Baseball, Hunting.....ah, we don't even hunt.....until finally I took the thing about hunting they liked, the camouflage, and suggested a military theme. I would say Army theme, but that just would not go over well in this Marine loyal home.
First step....peeling off the border. My LEAST favorite thing to do in the whole world.
Then, we moved their bunk beds into a new spot. We didn't think they would fit at first, but Tim and Trae had already measured it cuz it was their idea. This new spot makes their desk inaccessible....except for collecting stuff....for doing homework.......but they never used it for that anyway.
Actually, not only did it fit....it fit like it was made to go there. Not an inch to spare. This gave their tiny room a ton more space.
The walls are an Army......er, I mean, military....green on the bottom and a tan on top.
Got some things hung that I found on Amazon...
Including these stickers and a camo blanket that I sort of fashioned into a valence.
At the end of it all, what matters most is if the boys like it, and they do. They love their new, more grown up room. It was like a new chapter....going from jungle animals to the military. **Sigh** Next thing I know they'll be putting up posters of girls in bikinis.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Sunday Snapshot: Brothers
With each pregnancy and birth of one of our boys, I was overjoyed at the thought of all these brothers growing up together.
I mean, how many boys can grow up with their very own, built-in, basketball team.
We always had our girl name picked out.....just in case. But deep down, I think I knew that I was meant to be the mom of a lot of boys.
They are protective of me, in a way that only a boy can be with his mom....even now, as young as they are. That special bond between a mom and her son is undeniable.
By the time I was due with our 5th, I thought it funny that some were still anxious to see what it was going to be. Had they not figured it out by then?
God obviously had a big plan for us. A plan that was far beyond anything we ever imagined 15 years ago....
....entrusting us with His children. Knowing that we could bring them up to be Godly men.
What an honor, when you look at it that way. He trusted us with the lives and souls of His boys.
It is an honor I feel blessed to have been given. I will do my best every day to make Him proud and reassured in His decision.
How could I not.....I mean, just look at those faces.
Head over here to see more Sunday Snapshots....
I mean, how many boys can grow up with their very own, built-in, basketball team.
We always had our girl name picked out.....just in case. But deep down, I think I knew that I was meant to be the mom of a lot of boys.
They are protective of me, in a way that only a boy can be with his mom....even now, as young as they are. That special bond between a mom and her son is undeniable.
By the time I was due with our 5th, I thought it funny that some were still anxious to see what it was going to be. Had they not figured it out by then?
God obviously had a big plan for us. A plan that was far beyond anything we ever imagined 15 years ago....
....entrusting us with His children. Knowing that we could bring them up to be Godly men.
What an honor, when you look at it that way. He trusted us with the lives and souls of His boys.
It is an honor I feel blessed to have been given. I will do my best every day to make Him proud and reassured in His decision.
How could I not.....I mean, just look at those faces.
Head over here to see more Sunday Snapshots....
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