We're in with the domestic agency...

We got our letter yesterday saying we are in with the domestic agency! Yippee! On December 4, we have an Orientation & Education thing with them from 9-4...it'll be a long day, but I think it'll be very valuable! Our old agency needs to send our current homestudy to our new agency, and guess what...there's a fee to do it! What a surprise...because it's going to be tough to load it into an envelope & send it...I'd be more than willing to pay shipping, but really, it shouldn't have a "fee" associated with it...that's annoying. The good news is that we have most of the stuff that they'll need for the domestic homestudy included in the international one. Ideally, the domestic one will go quickly, so we can get in the profile stage, so our info can be given out to potential birth mothers...then we're going to need major prayers! Heck, we need them now...:) I'm a little nervous about doing the profile...I want it to look good and sound good and make it so we're picked...I'm worried about that...:(

In other news, I've been told that I need to have my gall bladder out...interesting, but not surprising...I've been having it tested for the last couple weeks, and the last test came back that it was only working at 21%. They let it get to 35% before they take it out, and mine is not even close to that...so it'll be coming out.

A doozy of an update...

Ok, so this is going to be major! I'd drag it out, but I don't want to frustrate anyone...:) On Saturday, we met with a Domestic Adoption Lawyer. After talking it out with her, with a friend that has recently adopted, and eachother, we've decided to adopt domestically...right here from Ohio! Our MAIN concern is that the birth mother (*bm*) would change her mind and decide to keep the baby. This would leave us heartbroken, obviously, but that will heal. If we adopt internationally, and there are attachment issues, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, or some other lifelong issue that comes with being institutionalized for a year or more, we are going to live the same heartbreak day in and day out forever...We've also been told that if a *bm* would change her mind, the agency would most likely work long and hard and quickly to get us another *bm* so that the heartache doesn't last long. Also, with domestic, we'd get a 72 hour-ish old baby rather than a 12-24 month old baby. I think this would be good for all of us. So that is the update. We're researching our options for domestic agencies. The lawyer gave us the name of 2 of them, I've contacted them and we're waiting for a response...I'll keep you posted!

Just a short update...

I just wanted to do a quick update...there isn't much happening on the adoption front. We are in a holding pattern until I get some more paperwork in to the agency. Last week, we flew to Florida on Monday, as Ben's grandpa passed away. We were there until Saturday morning, rushed home from the airport, just in time for Luke's last soccer game. He was EXHAUSTED. We flew out at 7am, so we were up at 4am! He was a trooper, and didn't skip a beat! He started talking at 4am and didn't stop until he crashed in his carseat on the way home from the airport. :) Can you imagine the joy of the people around us on the plane! On the ride from Tampa to Charlotte (said by Luke as "Char" like I've burnt something, instead of like "Shar"), Luke asked me how he got in my tummy! YIKES! The lady in front of us was cracking up! I wasn't, but at least he was entertaining someone! I thought by adopting, we'd not have these types of questions...boy was I wrong. I tried to answer it by telling him "God put you in there" (I've heard that's a good response), but that didn't appease him...:( I tried many a time to change the subject, then resorted to bribery! LOL. I told him if he fell asleep, I'd give him a dollar. :) He's motivated by money, obviously...he PRETENDED to sleep, complete with snoring. Lovely.

So, once I get the paperwork in (it's financial stuff) we should be on our way. Oh, and somewhere back in an earlier post, I mentioned that we'd choose China if we could change if Guatemala opened back up and we can...So, for now, we're going with China...stay tuned. Also, on Saturday (I think) we're going to meet with an adoption lawyer that deals with domestic adoptions. I'm not sure how I feel about domestic right now, but I'm sure after talking to her, I'll have a better (or worse) feeling towards it. It might be the quickest way to get little sister at this point...we'll keep you posted! :)

Not much happening on the adoption front...

I thought I'd do a quick update...even though no one has access to this blog yet! :) I'm almost ready to put my life out there...Right now, we're just waiting on the home study to arrive so I can mail our INS paperwork and a chunk of money! I also completely forgot that I need to have Child Abuse Registry letters come from Michigan for both Ben & me! UGH! I've got the forms filled out and they'll go in the mail tomorrow...it said that it takes 5 days to get them back, but we'll see. The Ohio ones took A LONG TIME! So once those are sent, I'll get the dossier together and then we'll just be waiting....and waiting....and waiting....It's fine. I know going in there will be a happy ending and Luke will get to see the Great Wall of China (and so will we, but he's very excited about it already!).

In other news, Luke's doing great in school! He loves his teacher, Miss Taylor, and has a little girlfriend...:) I volunteer on Thursdays, and it's SO cute to watch the kids! He got his interim report last week and he got all check marks...on the "Needs to work on part" there were no check marks!! So he's doing pretty well! He loves their "specials" (ie gym, library/media, art, music & computers). I think his favorite is art, and last week they learned about van Gogh! It was so funny listening to him tell us about him at dinner! He's still a little sponge & soaks up everything he hears!

As for Ben & me, we're keeping busy! Ben's getting into his new territory at work which has it's challenges, but he's liking it. I've been working part-time from home (at this point it's VERY part-time) and knitting my scarves to sell! Thanks to my sister for all the sales she brings me! We're hoping to use that money to take with us to China! By the time we go, we're hoping to have a nice chunk! If you know anyone interested in a scarf, please let me know! :) I knit them for both toddlers & adults and have lots of colors!!

That's about it for now! Hopefully, next post will be a little more exciting! :)

I think we've decided on a country!

Finally! It's been since we started this process, February 2008, that we've been trying to officially choose a country. Well, let's face it, it's still not official, I've got to get a physical with a "clean bill of health." I've got to go to my OB, rather than my Primary Care Provider to get it, but I don't think it'll be a problem. :) If all goes well, then we're going with China. Poor Luke has been through the ringer on this...for show & tell, he wanted to take pictures of "the cool Russian buildings" from where his sister is coming home...Today, I told him that I'm almost certain that she'll be coming from China, an he looked at me like I'd lost my mind...again. :( But he's been adjusting well to all of this, I think he's at the point where he just wants a sister. Home. Now. While we all feel like that, I think that Ben & I had a lot more to take into consideration that just getting her here...price no object. So as of this posting...it'll be China. The good news is, once we get our homestudy finalized and our INS paperwork in, we aren't going to be changing. I hope. :)

Hurricane Ike and this weeks events...

So Sunday afternoon, about 2 hours after I got home from grocery shopping for the week, we got the reminents of Hurricane Ike...A HUGE wind storm. The meteorologists say winds were over 75 miles per hour! About 4:05 pm, we lost power. UGH! We thought it was fun at first, digging out the candles and flashlights...thinking it would definitely be on when we woke up in the morning. We redid sleeping arrangements...Luke slept in our bed with Ben & I slept in Luke's bed. Let me just tell you, Luke will be getting a new mattress! :) When we woke up on Monday morning, we still didn't have power. :( There was no coffee to be had...very bad news, especially after sleeping in Luke's bed...listening to the neighbors generator going all night! We made our way north into the "city" of Delaware, only to find huge trees down, completely uprooted! It was crazy! We ended up getting breakfast (read: coffee) at Tim Hortons...we thought for SURE the electricity would be on by lunch...um...nope...ok, dinner...um...nope. We had Arby's for dinner. Another healthy meal! Luke had a soccer game, and we were optimistic driving home because new traffic lights were working...Well, we were WRONG...still no power! At this point, I was ready to be done! It's not like we were dying to watch tv or do laundry or anything major, it was the fact that we couldn't even if we tried! I would have done anything to cook a meal! So FINALLY at 4:28 pm on Tuesday, we got power back! I cooked dinner on Tuesday night and we all loved it. It was pasta & sauce...we could find no cold/frozen food near us! We had to throw out all the cold stuff I got at the grocery store 2 hours before the power went off...:(

On the adoption front, we're still trying to find out if China is an option for us...due to some "things." I don't want to post details here, don't be worried, they aren't bad things...just things...:) Is that a good description? The good news we got our birth/marriage certificates that we ordered last week. Mine was supposed to take 4-6 weeks, but it got here in a week! That's good news. Once they decided if we're going to go forward with China, we've got to get our INS paperwork in to get approved. Our social worker is putting the finishing touches on our homestudy and going to send us out a draft...I'm a little nervous to see our life in writing through someone elses eyes. Especially since Luke told her I eat bonbons all morning & sleep all afternoon! Let me just say, maybe he's a mind reader and that's what I'd like to be doing...but it's not what I get to do!

Our first garage sale, country changing & soccer...

Today, we had our first garage sale! It was SO much more work than I thought it was going to be...but it was worth it. We got rid of some stuff that NEEDED to go, and some people got some things that they needed...cheap! :) It was a family experience, as Luke sold bottles of water because the weather was hot & muggy! He sold 8 bottles and stole one! ;) Over all, we brought in nearly $200!

We've also give up on making a commitment to a country...it's so stressful trying to decide. We were 100% sure we'd be bringing little sister home from Russia, but then last night, as I was trying to drift off to sleep, I was having a panic attack...I don't "see" Russia as the right choice. There are pros & cons to both Russia & China, but I wish Guatemala would just open back up! It makes it such a pain. A couple of the reasons that are leaning us away from Russia are:

1. Length of time in Russia (2 trips; one 7 days, one 10-21 days) we can't pull Luke out of school for a month! China it's a 2 week trip...that's it. That's a HUGE reason. He's so interested in the adoption and bringing home his sister that I would feel HORRIBLE taking it away from him...:(

2. Cost. Russia is nearly double China...and one reason is the 2 trips that are required...

3. I'm scared of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. I know there are great doctors that can pinpoint it by looking at a photo or video of the child, but what if they miss it...It really scares me...

The MAJOR plus for Russia is that it's way faster than China...That is the only reason we'd pick Russia...I don't think that is a reason to choose it...Also, when I was younger, I always wanted to adopt an Asian little girl...now's my chance, so why am I wavering? UGH! I really think that China is where we'll be going. I've got an email into our agency that poses this question:

If we're going with China, and during the 28 month wait, Guatemala opens back up...can we switch back to Guatemala?

That's the million dollar question...if the answer is YES, we're sold. That way, I know that we'll be getting a little girl from one of those places...

On a less stressful note, Luke had a soccer game today! This is his second game, and it looks like he "gets" it now. Last week, he was more interested in the number of trains that went by than on the game...but this week, he SCORED A GOAL!!!!! :) It was VERY cute! He's also a really good sport. When anyone on his team scored, he cheered & high-fived them...very cute!

That's all for now...I need to sleep!!!

The first post...

So Ben & I decided we needed to start a blog to keep our family & friends up-to-date on the adoption. After our 10 yr. anniversary cruise, we thought we were set on adopting from Guatemala. We visited a couple of countries in Central America, and I just felt like it was the place for us...until yesterday, when that was pulled out from underneath us. Guatemala has decided to halt ALL International Adoptions. UGH. Now back to square one...we'd ruled out every other country for some reason, so we sat down & talked about it. Narrowed it down almost immediately to Russia & China. We talked it out, voicing our concerns and the benefits of each and FINALLY came up with a decision..."little sister" will be coming to us from Russia! We are all very excited and overwhelmed. We went from HOPEFULLY Guatemala opening up late next year to probably bringing her home by the end of next summer! :) There is lots of paperwork, but we can't do anything but sit and wait until our Social Worker finishes up our home study. Our first step is our INS (Immigration & Naturalization) paperwork. Once that is turned in, we can start our dossier preparation. Since we're going to Russia, we have two dossiers to do. One is to be turned in before we make the first trip (to meet little sister), and the second one need to be done shortly after we get back from the first trip, so we can prepare to go on the second trip to pick her up! More to come...