Friday, October 31, 2008
FLOODING IN HANOI TODAY!
I just got these photos in from T. in Hanoi. This storm took everyone by surprise. There is no electric in most areas and unbelievable flooding.
STAY SAFE T.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Amy, Ryan, & Paisley were brushing their teeth this AM
Paisley thought her teeth were clean enough, but her toes needed some attention, so she decided to give herself a pedicure...
Amy called daddy into the bathroom, then she came out to get me. "daddy says he needs HELP!" Mike was still home since he was taking Ryan to see his surgeon for his post op visit later this morning. He ran to Target for nail polish remover. I did have a new bottle, but Meg used it all this week painting every ones nails black and orange! I finally DID get it off the bathroom counter top, but Paisley's feet are still a little magenta!Isn't it funny how neither of them said a word until the nail polish was spilled everywhere?
2 hours later, as I'm brushing Amy's hair for school, IN the bathroom, she says "something STINKS in here and I don't like it!" as she holds her nose. "Umm, that would be the nail polish remover, and if you had told someone your sister was in the medicine cabinet earlier than you did, your bathroom wouldn't stink!" AND, if MEG had hidden the nail polish like she was supposed to NONE of this would have happened.
Just another average morning at our house with the Poko Pack.
I forgot to add
Our paperwork is going to the DIA today, and waiting for a new match. I wonder who our new little love will be? Or when we will hear about him/her?
Does anyone else do this?
Today I'm sending our addendum to the state dept. for certification. I checked that envelope 3 times, taking everything out and looking it over. Is anyone else as crazy as I am? Even now, as it's sitting at the front door, all sealed and ready to go, I'm questioning myself. Did I write the check properly? Did I put my correct address on the return envelope? I am going crazy! I need to just put it in the box and forget it.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
AN HOUR AGO
Our Home Study Addendum arrived approving us for a much larger age range than before and a list of Special Needs we are comfortable with. We are ready for our new child, whoever he or she may be. It's already been scanned and sent to T. in Vietnam. I'm praying there is a somebody waiting for us VERY soon!
Did I mention what a wonderful Social Worker we have?? Bonnie is the BEST!
FATHER / DAUGHTER TALK
A young woman was about to finish her first year of college. Like so many others her age, she considered herself to be a very liberal Democrat, and among other liberal ideals, was very much in favor of higher taxes to support more government programs, in other words redistribution of wealth.
She was deeply ashamed that her father was a rather staunch Republican, a feeling she openly expressed. Based on the lectures that she had participated in, and the occasional chat with a professor, she felt that her father had for years harbored an evil, selfish desire to keep what he thought should be his.
One day she was challenging her father on his opposition to higher taxes on the rich and the need for more government programs. The self-professed objectivity proclaimed by her professors had to be the truth and she indicated so to her father. He responded by asking how she was doing in school.
Taken aback, she answered rather haughtily that she had a 4.0 GPA, and let him know that it was tough to maintain, insisting that she was taking a very difficult course load and was constantly studying, which left her no time to go out and party like other people she knew. She didn't even have time for a boyfriend, and didn't really have many college friends because she spent all her time studying.
Her father listened and then asked, 'How is your friend Audrey doing?' She replied, 'Audrey is barely getting by. All she takes are easy classes, she never studies, and she barely has a 2.0 GPA. She is really popular on campus; college for her is a blast. She's always invited to all the parties and lots of times she doesn't even show up for classes because she's too hung over.'
Her wise father asked his daughter, 'Why don't you go to the Dean's office and ask him to deduct 1.0 off your GPA and give it to your friend who only has a 2.0. That way you will both have a 3.0 GPA and certainly that would be a fair and equal distribution of GPA.'
The daughter, visibly shocked by her father's suggestion, angrily fired back, 'That's a crazy idea, and how would that be fair! I've worked really hard for my grades! I've invested a lot of time, and a lot of hard work! Audrey has done next to nothing toward her degree. She played while I worked my tail off!'
The father slowly smiled, winked and said gently, 'Welcome to the Republican party.'
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
I don't know what I'm complaining about...It's only been 2 weeks of waiting. I just looked at the ticker. Good thing I added it because ONE day seems like TEN when you're waiting for a referral.
My new HS/addendum is in the mail approving us for a wider range of SN/ages so We're ready on our end. we have the BEST Social Worker you can imagine!
I heard flights are going up quite a bit in Jan. Not good. I don't think I'll be traveling before that unless some miracle happens. Well, that's always a possibility.
Mike & I spent Christmas 2006 in Vietnam and I spent New Years Eve 2006 alone with Paisley there. I can do it again! Actually, that would work out pretty well since Mike wouldn't have to deal with all the kids going to school while he was in charge. Less Stress the better for him.
Let's see....all I would need would be a REFERRAL this week or next, that this new child was already paper ready....and The Embassy would approve our I-600 within a week... YA, that'll happen...
Looks like I will be traveling next year.
I DIDN'T DO THIS....I WISH I HAD THE NERVE
This actually happened.
-------------------------------------------------------------
'Today on my way to lunch I passed a homeless guy with a sign that read 'Vote Obama, I need the money.' I laughed.
Once in the restaurant my server had on a 'Obama 08' tie, again I laughed as he had given away his political preference -- just imagine the coincidence.
When the bill came I decided not to tip the server and explained to him that I was exploring the Obama redistribution of wealth concept. He stood there in disbelief while I told him that I was going to redistribute his tip to someone who I deemed more in need--the homeless guy outside. The server angrily stormed from my sight.
I went outside, gave the homeless guy $10 and told him to thank the server inside as I've decided he could use the money more. The homeless guy was grateful.
At the end of my rather unscientific redistribution experiment, I realized the homeless guy was grateful for the money he did not earn, but the waiter was pretty angry that I gave away the money that he had earned even though the actual recipient deserved money more.
I guess redistribution of wealth is an easier thing to swallow in concept than in practical application.
Monday, October 27, 2008
4 days before HALLOWEEN
And we're only now decorating the outside of the house. Mike finally got home on time for once. So, tonight was the night! The box of Halloween lights came out of the garage, and with lots of grumbling and sighs, Mike just LOVES putting lights up, they were stapled to the house! The lighted ghosts and scarecrows are out, and the trees are twinkling with purple lights. All looks scary at the Poko Pack's house! Austin went screaming to his room when he saw the purple lights, where he stayed crying for a good 30 minutes, no amount of coaxing could get him out of there, until he figured out they were really pretty KOOL. Then we couldn't keep him away from them. It was a funny site. Mike on the ladder and the kids all lined up in the driveway on those fold-up chairs watching him like he was a spectator sport. I should have taken a picture! DARN! That would have been a good one! There they were, eating hot wings and passing a bottle of water around...no wonder they're all sick!
Tomorrow after work is PUMPKIN CARVING NIGHT! I'll be sure to take pics for that!
Sunday, October 26, 2008
OH! MY GOODNESS!
I didn't realize it's been so long since my last post. I've got some catchin' up to do.
My birthday was SUPER! My sister Pat took me out to lunch at Mariachi's It was fabulous! Margaritas in the afternoon mm~mm~good!
Friday was no school, and the dentist. NO CAVITIES for the 3 kids that went!! That was reason to celebrate. We had Chinese for lunch ( they're right next door to the dentist's office).
Friday at midnight, Amy came down with a temp of 104.7. YIKES! Even this old nurse was a little nervous! I kept thinking, OK, the ER is 2 minutes from the house. But, I got it down to a manageable 103.5 after working on her for an hour. In the morning it was gone, only to come back later in the afternoon....and again tonight. Looks like a trip to see our MD is in order for tomorrow.
Ryan looks fantastic, his nose is healing nicely, and he will be back in school tomorrow morning. He's been out 2 weeks now. I told him he was going to school tomorrow and he said " What? AGAIN??" I guess he though he was finished with school for the year :) Oh to be 5.
And OH the make-up work we had to do..............You should NEVER leave it till the last weekend.
No news on our new referral. We were hoping to hear something last week but didn't so it was a LONG weekend. Now we're hoping for news this week. Isn't that the way it's always been? Wait all week for news, hear nothing, then suffer through the weekend and get excited that you may hear something the next Monday-Friday? OH, It's a vicious cycle. I'm not complaining, really I'm not. There are so many heartbroken families that are having their dossiers returned to them this week. I am very blessed to be getting this child..whoever she/he may be.
Speaking of adoption...Is there anyone out there wanting to adopt a baby/babies or child/children from Ethiopia? If so, I know an agency that seems pretty good from what my friends tell me, and they have baby boys right now waiting for their forever families!! Lots of baby boys and not enough families! WOW how lucky some parents will be!! Of course they have girls too, but right now there are baby boys waiting. Email me privately please.
It's 9:30 AM in Vietnam, gotta go check and see if I got any emails from my agency!
Talk to ya later....
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
3 Years ago today we were celebrating Amy's 1st birthday at the MARRIOTT in Guatemala City. I remember it like it was yesterday. Meg had just been home from China 7 months and was with us. Amy's foster mom was there and her family, along with the attorney we used and our facilitator. They arranged a beautiful little birthday party for Amy Valentina.
The next day, my birthday, we were lucky enough to be expedited out by our Embassy due to Hurricane Wilma barreling down on South Florida.
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