Saturday, May 31, 2008

Honey, Now WHY Didn't You Get That Sink Fixed???

Honey, Now WHY Didn't You Get That Sink Fixed???

Honey, Now WHY Didn't You Get That Sink Fixed???

Polite in the Pool

J & B started swimming lessons this week and are doing great! J is picking up where he left off last year and loving every second. B, on the other hand, never hides his irritation when doing things that weren't his idea. But I have to give him credit for one thing—no matter how exasperated—he never loses his manners. Take a look!

Polite in the Pool

J & B started swimming lessons this week and are doing great! J is picking up where he left off last year and loving every second. B, on the other hand, never hides his irritation when doing things that weren't his idea. But I have to give him credit for one thing—no matter how exasperated—he never loses his manners. Take a look!

Polite in the Pool

J & B started swimming lessons this week and are doing great! J is picking up where he left off last year and loving every second. B, on the other hand, never hides his irritation when doing things that weren't his idea. But I have to give him credit for one thing?no matter how exasperated?he never loses his manners. Take a look!

Thursday, May 29, 2008

What's That At the End of the Tunnel?



Could it be a light? After all these months?

Where do I begin... how about with we have a first decree for the guardianship case.

(I'll give you a few seconds to jump around screaming woo hoo and it's about time!)

What does this mean? It means that in the next couple of weeks, we should be ready to start our adoption case. Which is fantastic news. It really is. Although I find myself these days trying to remind myself that it's great news. Hard to get too optimistic when it's been this long and we're not even logged into the court. But we're moving forward and forward is definitely the right direction.

Lots of huge news this week. Marina and Lora got their first rulings and will be heading to Taiwan in the coming weeks! I'm so happy for them and for Sarah and Allie. They'll be able to be with their babies in time for the big first birthday.

Please keep Lucy in your thoughts. I'm so saddened to think how difficult it is that every friend she's known keeps getting plucked out of her life. She's one of the oldest kids there and my heart breaks that I can't just go get her.



What's That At the End of the Tunnel?



Could it be a light? After all these months?

Where do I begin... how about with we have a first decree for the guardianship case.

(I'll give you a few seconds to jump around screaming woo hoo and it's about time!)

What does this mean? It means that in the next couple of weeks, we should be ready to start our adoption case. Which is fantastic news. It really is. Although I find myself these days trying to remind myself that it's great news. Hard to get too optimistic when it's been this long and we're not even logged into the court. But we're moving forward and forward is definitely the right direction.

Lots of huge news this week. Marina and Lora got their first rulings and will be heading to Taiwan in the coming weeks! I'm so happy for them and for Sarah and Allie. They'll be able to be with their babies in time for the big first birthday.

Please keep Lucy in your thoughts. I'm so saddened to think how difficult it is that every friend she's known keeps getting plucked out of her life. She's one of the oldest kids there and my heart breaks that I can't just go get her.



What's That At the End of the Tunnel?



Could it be a light? After all these months?

Where do I begin... how about with we have a first decree for the guardianship case.

(I'll give you a few seconds to jump around screaming woo hoo and it's about time!)

What does this mean? It means that in the next couple of weeks, we should be ready to start our adoption case. Which is fantastic news. It really is. Although I find myself these days trying to remind myself that it's great news. Hard to get too optimistic when it's been this long and we're not even logged into the court. But we're moving forward and forward is definitely the right direction.

Lots of huge news this week. Marina and Lora got their first rulings and will be heading to Taiwan in the coming weeks! I'm so happy for them and for Sarah and Allie. They'll be able to be with their babies in time for the big first birthday.

Please keep Lucy in your thoughts. I'm so saddened to think how difficult it is that every friend she's known keeps getting plucked out of her life. She's one of the oldest kids there and my heart breaks that I can't just go get her.



Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Hey, Check It Out!

When I was in Taiwan, they gave me the disposable camera that I had sent back in October. I just got to getting the photos developed and this was the gem in the pack. Look, she's holding a photo of us and one of Jeff and J!


It's small things like this that keep us going.

Hey, Check It Out!

When I was in Taiwan, they gave me the disposable camera that I had sent back in October. I just got to getting the photos developed and this was the gem in the pack. Look, she's holding a photo of us and one of Jeff and J!


It's small things like this that keep us going.

Hey, Check It Out!

When I was in Taiwan, they gave me the disposable camera that I had sent back in October. I just got to getting the photos developed and this was the gem in the pack. Look, she's holding a photo of us and one of Jeff and J!


It's small things like this that keep us going.

Monday, May 26, 2008

Our New Puppy!

Our New Puppy!

Our New Puppy!

The Fanciful Fours

If twos are terrible and threes are—well, what aren't the threes, the fours are truly the year that I will need to stay on my toes. Because what does a fresh-faced 4-year-old do when he's grown tired of spending day-after-day waiting for his little sister to come home? What doesn't he do?

He builds log cabins with his mom.


































He does a little face painting with his pal. Note to self: remove markers from area when cooking dinner and not paying attention







And that's right before...



They throw Mommy's money down the toilet. Literally.

Can't wait to see how much damage three kids 4-and-under can do!

The Fanciful Fours

If twos are terrible and threes are—well, what aren't the threes, the fours are truly the year that I will need to stay on my toes. Because what does a fresh-faced 4-year-old do when he's grown tired of spending day-after-day waiting for his little sister to come home? What doesn't he do?

He builds log cabins with his mom.


































He does a little face painting with his pal. Note to self: remove markers from area when cooking dinner and not paying attention







And that's right before...



They throw Mommy's money down the toilet. Literally.

Can't wait to see how much damage three kids 4-and-under can do!

The Fanciful Fours

If twos are terrible and threes are?well, what aren't the threes, the fours are truly the year that I will need to stay on my toes. Because what does a fresh-faced 4-year-old do when he's grown tired of spending day-after-day waiting for his little sister to come home? What doesn't he do?

He builds log cabins with his mom.


































He does a little face painting with his pal. Note to self: remove markers from area when cooking dinner and not paying attention







And that's right before...



They throw Mommy's money down the toilet. Literally.

Can't wait to see how much damage three kids 4-and-under can do!

Saturday, May 24, 2008

Long and Whining Road

So I think that maybe on this long and whining—oops...I mean winding—road, I've gotten people confused about what's happening. Here I will try to sum it all up and make it as clear as possible (which is hard to do since I don't totally get it myself).

•We received our referral on September 21, 2007.
•We accepted on September 24.
•We went through all of the paperwork craziness for a month and our file was sent to Taiwan and arrived on October 26th, 2007.
In my head, we were logged in the first week of November.

•Weeks went by and we got a call mid-December (maybe the 18th? it's somewhere in the archives of long-ago posts). They told us that because Lucy's birth mother had passed away after giving her up, it was no longer legally binding and they had to have a family member sign to become her guardian and give her up. We were told this would happen within a week or two. We then decided to let go of any hope until after the first of the year.

•Sometime in late January, the birth mother's sister came forward to sign. We discovered it's because the biological grandparents are so selfish and self-involved that they couldn't put their granddaughter ahead of their hatred of each other and go to the courts at the same time to sign.*

•We got a call in late March that told us that a social worker had paid a visit to SLC to talk to the director. We were told that this was a crucial step and that the guardianship was held up until this had occurred and now things were moving.

•When I visited in early May, we were waiting for word that the guardianship case was done. That word never came.

•Last week, I was told that a first ruling is expected next week (that would be the week of 5/26) and we would wait for a final ruling on the guardianship case. In adoption cases, the final ruling is after a ten day waiting period. I don't know if it's the same with guardianship cases. After the final ruling, the biological aunt would be registered as the guardian and then our file would be sent to the court. So if we did the math and were a bit realistic... we could hope that our file is in court in the beginning of July (as opposed to early November last year as I so naively thought).

So... adoption cases are said to be 4-7 mos. I've seen some get rulings within two weeks and some wait six months. BEST case scenario (at least the way it looks) is that we would travel in August. Worst case scenario would be next year in February or March. If it turns out to be the latter, perhaps one of you could go pick her up for us and bring her directly to the insane asylum where Jeff, the boys and I will be residing. I'll be the one in the straight jacket.

Long and Whining Road

So I think that maybe on this long and whining—oops...I mean winding—road, I've gotten people confused about what's happening. Here I will try to sum it all up and make it as clear as possible (which is hard to do since I don't totally get it myself).

•We received our referral on September 21, 2007.
•We accepted on September 24.
•We went through all of the paperwork craziness for a month and our file was sent to Taiwan and arrived on October 26th, 2007.
In my head, we were logged in the first week of November.

•Weeks went by and we got a call mid-December (maybe the 18th? it's somewhere in the archives of long-ago posts). They told us that because Lucy's birth mother had passed away after giving her up, it was no longer legally binding and they had to have a family member sign to become her guardian and give her up. We were told this would happen within a week or two. We then decided to let go of any hope until after the first of the year.

•Sometime in late January, the birth mother's sister came forward to sign. We discovered it's because the biological grandparents are so selfish and self-involved that they couldn't put their granddaughter ahead of their hatred of each other and go to the courts at the same time to sign.*

•We got a call in late March that told us that a social worker had paid a visit to SLC to talk to the director. We were told that this was a crucial step and that the guardianship was held up until this had occurred and now things were moving.

•When I visited in early May, we were waiting for word that the guardianship case was done. That word never came.

•Last week, I was told that a first ruling is expected next week (that would be the week of 5/26) and we would wait for a final ruling on the guardianship case. In adoption cases, the final ruling is after a ten day waiting period. I don't know if it's the same with guardianship cases. After the final ruling, the biological aunt would be registered as the guardian and then our file would be sent to the court. So if we did the math and were a bit realistic... we could hope that our file is in court in the beginning of July (as opposed to early November last year as I so naively thought).

So... adoption cases are said to be 4-7 mos. I've seen some get rulings within two weeks and some wait six months. BEST case scenario (at least the way it looks) is that we would travel in August. Worst case scenario would be next year in February or March. If it turns out to be the latter, perhaps one of you could go pick her up for us and bring her directly to the insane asylum where Jeff, the boys and I will be residing. I'll be the one in the straight jacket.

Long and Whining Road

So I think that maybe on this long and whining?oops...I mean winding?road, I've gotten people confused about what's happening. Here I will try to sum it all up and make it as clear as possible (which is hard to do since I don't totally get it myself).

?We received our referral on September 21, 2007.
?We accepted on September 24.
?We went through all of the paperwork craziness for a month and our file was sent to Taiwan and arrived on October 26th, 2007.
In my head, we were logged in the first week of November.

?Weeks went by and we got a call mid-December (maybe the 18th? it's somewhere in the archives of long-ago posts). They told us that because Lucy's birth mother had passed away after giving her up, it was no longer legally binding and they had to have a family member sign to become her guardian and give her up. We were told this would happen within a week or two. We then decided to let go of any hope until after the first of the year.

?Sometime in late January, the birth mother's sister came forward to sign. We discovered it's because the biological grandparents are so selfish and self-involved that they couldn't put their granddaughter ahead of their hatred of each other and go to the courts at the same time to sign.*

?We got a call in late March that told us that a social worker had paid a visit to SLC to talk to the director. We were told that this was a crucial step and that the guardianship was held up until this had occurred and now things were moving.

?When I visited in early May, we were waiting for word that the guardianship case was done. That word never came.

?Last week, I was told that a first ruling is expected next week (that would be the week of 5/26) and we would wait for a final ruling on the guardianship case. In adoption cases, the final ruling is after a ten day waiting period. I don't know if it's the same with guardianship cases. After the final ruling, the biological aunt would be registered as the guardian and then our file would be sent to the court. So if we did the math and were a bit realistic... we could hope that our file is in court in the beginning of July (as opposed to early November last year as I so naively thought).

So... adoption cases are said to be 4-7 mos. I've seen some get rulings within two weeks and some wait six months. BEST case scenario (at least the way it looks) is that we would travel in August. Worst case scenario would be next year in February or March. If it turns out to be the latter, perhaps one of you could go pick her up for us and bring her directly to the insane asylum where Jeff, the boys and I will be residing. I'll be the one in the straight jacket.

Adoption Community Loses a Child

As you've probably heard by now, Christian singer Steven Curtis Chapman—adoptive Dad to three beautiful girls from China—had to say goodbye to his youngest, 5-year-old Maria, after she was struck by a car at the family's home. Words can't express how tragic that is. Here's a video he recently made for an adoption blog.



I also wrote a piece about it for momlogic.com expressing how close the adoption community is and how we're all coming together in support of Steven and his entire family.

Adoption Community Loses a Child

As you've probably heard by now, Christian singer Steven Curtis Chapman—adoptive Dad to three beautiful girls from China—had to say goodbye to his youngest, 5-year-old Maria, after she was struck by a car at the family's home. Words can't express how tragic that is. Here's a video he recently made for an adoption blog.



I also wrote a piece about it for momlogic.com expressing how close the adoption community is and how we're all coming together in support of Steven and his entire family.

Adoption Community Loses a Child

As you've probably heard by now, Christian singer Steven Curtis Chapman?adoptive Dad to three beautiful girls from China?had to say goodbye to his youngest, 5-year-old Maria, after she was struck by a car at the family's home. Words can't express how tragic that is. Here's a video he recently made for an adoption blog.



I also wrote a piece about it for momlogic.com expressing how close the adoption community is and how we're all coming together in support of Steven and his entire family.

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Is This a Bad Reality Show?

So... we got an email. It said we should expect to get first decree next week. WAIT, before you get all excited—like I mistakenly did—it's the first decree of the guardianship case and not the actual adoption case. But that's good news, right?

Yes, it's good news. But when you expect to hear something about the guardianship case and you read the words "first decree," which often accompany the end of an adoption case, you can't help but get excited. And then to have to wait to get clarification... it feels like someone is playing a horribly cruel joke on us or a camera is following us on the new show America's Next Adoptive Parents or The Amazing, Never-ending Race to Adoption. I know "it will happen when it's supposed to" and "everything happens for a reason." But you know what, I don't care about that right now. What I care about is the little girl who needs. to. come. home.

So it comes down to this. YES... the guardianship case is coming to a close. YES...we are moving forward—albeit at a snail's pace. We're hoping to know we're logged in for our adoption case in the next couple/few weeks. And then our adoption case will start. (which, by the way—most people are quoted 4-7 mos for that)

Excuse me as I go curl up and cry.

Is This a Bad Reality Show?

So... we got an email. It said we should expect to get first decree next week. WAIT, before you get all excited—like I mistakenly did—it's the first decree of the guardianship case and not the actual adoption case. But that's good news, right?

Yes, it's good news. But when you expect to hear something about the guardianship case and you read the words "first decree," which often accompany the end of an adoption case, you can't help but get excited. And then to have to wait to get clarification... it feels like someone is playing a horribly cruel joke on us or a camera is following us on the new show America's Next Adoptive Parents or The Amazing, Never-ending Race to Adoption. I know "it will happen when it's supposed to" and "everything happens for a reason." But you know what, I don't care about that right now. What I care about is the little girl who needs. to. come. home.

So it comes down to this. YES... the guardianship case is coming to a close. YES...we are moving forward—albeit at a snail's pace. We're hoping to know we're logged in for our adoption case in the next couple/few weeks. And then our adoption case will start. (which, by the way—most people are quoted 4-7 mos for that)

Excuse me as I go curl up and cry.

Is This a Bad Reality Show?

So... we got an email. It said we should expect to get first decree next week. WAIT, before you get all excited?like I mistakenly did?it's the first decree of the guardianship case and not the actual adoption case. But that's good news, right?

Yes, it's good news. But when you expect to hear something about the guardianship case and you read the words "first decree," which often accompany the end of an adoption case, you can't help but get excited. And then to have to wait to get clarification... it feels like someone is playing a horribly cruel joke on us or a camera is following us on the new show America's Next Adoptive Parents or The Amazing, Never-ending Race to Adoption. I know "it will happen when it's supposed to" and "everything happens for a reason." But you know what, I don't care about that right now. What I care about is the little girl who needs. to. come. home.

So it comes down to this. YES... the guardianship case is coming to a close. YES...we are moving forward?albeit at a snail's pace. We're hoping to know we're logged in for our adoption case in the next couple/few weeks. And then our adoption case will start. (which, by the way?most people are quoted 4-7 mos for that)

Excuse me as I go curl up and cry.

Knock Knock...

Who's there?

8 months.

8 months who?

8 months and I'm getting kind of mad.

In lieu of punching something—which is how I feel today—I will share the signs that made me giggle while in Taiwan. Of course even having signs in English was a pleasant surprise and I can imagine what we'd do to the Mandarin language if we had to translate it on signs here. The last pic was of us with two college students who were doing a little research by talking to foreigners—but the questions on cloning, space travel and the unemployment rate definitely caught us off guard.


Knock Knock...

Who's there?

8 months.

8 months who?

8 months and I'm getting kind of mad.

In lieu of punching something—which is how I feel today—I will share the signs that made me giggle while in Taiwan. Of course even having signs in English was a pleasant surprise and I can imagine what we'd do to the Mandarin language if we had to translate it on signs here. The last pic was of us with two college students who were doing a little research by talking to foreigners—but the questions on cloning, space travel and the unemployment rate definitely caught us off guard.


Knock Knock...

Who's there?

8 months.

8 months who?

8 months and I'm getting kind of mad.

In lieu of punching something?which is how I feel today?I will share the signs that made me giggle while in Taiwan. Of course even having signs in English was a pleasant surprise and I can imagine what we'd do to the Mandarin language if we had to translate it on signs here. The last pic was of us with two college students who were doing a little research by talking to foreigners?but the questions on cloning, space travel and the unemployment rate definitely caught us off guard.