Babys Got A New Pair Of Shoes

Well, technically they are booties. And these aren't just any old baby booties. These were knitted by Jon's great-grandmother. My MIL gave them to us recently. She has several pair that she used for her kids and she had the foresight to keep a pair for Jon, his sister and brother so that they would have them for their kids. Now that is thinking ahead!!! These were knitted by our daughter's great-great grandmother and they have never been worn. The picture can't do them justice. They are adorable and I am so touched that she gave them to us. Of course we don't know exactly what age/size our daughter will be when we finally get to meet her. However, they have quite a bit of stretch so I'm sure we will get to use them at least a bit. Thank You Mil!!!

Collaging with Vicki

Yesterday, I went to hang out with my friend Vicki. No definite plans, just hadn't seen her in a while. One thing led to another and the next thing we knew, we were creating collages. Yes, collages. As in pictures cut from a magazine and pasted on something, collages. Vicki does quite a bit of this. I on the other hand haven't done anything like this in oh, about 30 years.
I can not tell you how much I enjoyed it. Doesn't hurt that Vicki makes just about anything fun. Seriously I not only enjoyed it but actually found it..... dare I say......Therapeutic.
Vicki said it didn't have to have any particular theme but I am way too "logical" (my code word for artistically challenged) for that to occur. I just started tearing out pictures that appealed to me. One picture led to another and I ended up with a collage. Check it out - I think I need a vacation.

Pop The Cork, We Are Paper Pregnant!!!!

We are now officially DTC!!! I found out yesterday that our dossier was sent to China on 2/23/2006. So now we wait. I was also "gently" reminded by our agency that the official wait does not begin until your dossier is logged in China (LID). In case you haven't memorized the China Adoption Handbook, referrals are sent based on LID dates not DTC dates. Details. It typically takes 10-30 days for your dossier to be logged in China. The catch is that sometimes it can take a while to find out your LID. Therefore, we are considering ourselves Paper Pregnant. So far paper pregnancy is pretty good. You get to celebrate it with Champagne, don't have to pee on a stick and the rabbit doesn't have to die (yes I know that is just a saying).

How long will we be pregnant? Who knows. My guess is anywhere between 8-12 months. As time goes on, we will have a better idea. I'm sure I will have a Mary-Mia and NyQuil inspired spreadsheet, crystal ball, magic eight ball and a dart board in an effort to get a better prediction.

New Families, Waiting Families and Still Not DTC

This will be old news to any of my blogger friends. However, for family and other friends that stop by, I thought you would enjoy reading about a couple of families that are in China right now. Yes, there are tear inducing pictures and even some Oscar worthy video but you don't want to miss reading their amazing stories. If you are curious, this will give you a better idea of what our trip might be like. Remember, I'm figuring this out as I go so don't rely on me to answer all your questions. Check out Will and Susan and their beautiful daughter Olivia. Also, Stacey, Mark and the adorable Ryleigh.

Also, the rumor is that the stork might be on it's way with another batch of referrals soon. Too many rumors to go into regarding who will be included in the next batch. Trust me when I tell you there are parents out there pacing the floor to find out if they are in the next batch. Hopefully we will know soon and it will include a large number of waiting families. I am going to be a total loon when we get to that point. Consider yourselves warned.

Speaking of me becoming a total loon, today is Wednesday and we are NOT DTC. Latest word from our agency is that the dossier will definitely be sent by the end of the week. How long does Champagne last???????

Oh My Gosh, I Grew Broccoli

Who knew? I'm embarrassed to say how long it has been since I actually checked on the garden in the backyard. From what I can see out the kitchen window, it looks pretty dead so I really didn't see the need to look any further. For the last few months around here, if it didn't need notarized, certified, authenticated, or over-nighted it went on the old "back burner". Exceptions were made for any notices threatening to turn off an essential utility (aka, internet and cable). Yeah, the "back burner" is buried at this point.
Anyway, check it out! I vaguely remember planting broccoli a few months ago but then forgot about it. So if you are in the mood for some broccoli, come on over. There isn't much more than what you see here so were are going to have to share.

No DTC yet or even DTB

I have no idea what DTB stands for (and right now my head hurts too bad to think of something clever.) But since reporting we are DTA and waiting for a DTC, seems like there should be a DTB somewhere in there. Anyway, on Monday the agency said they would be sending dossiers end of this week or beginning of next and they would let me know when they were sent. I told myself I would not call them, just wait until they notified me. HA!!!!! Called them today (held out until 3:30 pm) and they are planning on sending them Wednesday. I didn't mention that technically Wednesday is mid-week, not beginning of the week. That's fine, I can drink Champagne on a Wednesday.

On The Mend...

Well I must be getting better. It's 7pm and I haven't had a nap or ice cream all day. In fact, I would even say that I put in an honest day's work today. Sure, from home and most of it was done in my pajamas but a full day none the less.
Also, Jon says I am getting better because I have started "busting his chops" (giving him a hard time) about things again. Funny, I can remember my Mom saying that when I was growing up she always knew when I was getting well because I would start talking back, or "sassing" as we say in the South. Apparently I did that once or twice while growing up.

We are DTA!!!!

No, that isn't a typo. I did not mean to type DTC (Dossier to China). I am just making up acronyms at this point to show some progress. We are DTA - Dossier to Agency!!!! In spite of the Dead Man Walking diagnosis on Friday, we (Jon) managed to get our dossier out on Saturday. I received confirmation from our case worker that they did receive the dossier this morning and the best part is she checked it over and everything looks fine. I was a bit worried that I may have missed something since my head was throbbing when we got everything together on Saturday morning. Our agency will be sending the next batch of dossiers either late this week or early next week. So, we should be DTC very soon. Hopefully I'll be done with the
antibiotics by then since we have Champagne chilling!!! Until then, I'll settle for DTA.

Speaking of antibiotics, I am still under the weather. Spent the weekend on the couch, drinking gatorade, eating ice cream and watching winter sports that I know nothing about. That's not as easy as it might sound - as it turns out, the antibiotics are not to be taken within two hours of diary products!!! It's taken quite a bit of work to squeeze in my antibiotics between ice cream treats. I woke up this morning, determined that I had to be better. That lasted a couple of hours - my body had other plans. I better get well soon. With this ice cream habit I am developing, I am going to be the first person ever to gain weight while being sick.

Week In Review

Haven't posted a thing all week so here it is:

Sunday - Woke up with a fever and feeling awful. Cancelled my non-super bowl plans with my friend Vicki. Bummer, I was really looking forward to some Vicki time. She makes me laugh.
Monday - Woke with a fever blister and still had a little fever. Took some tylenol and felt well enough to make it to two client meetings. Cancelled my dinner plans with my friend Kimberley since I was still not feeling great. As I write this, I think I should have skipped the meetings and kept the dinner plans.
Tuesday - Woke up with two fever blisters (yes, getting prettier by the day). Actually didn't feel too bad, worked from home.
Wednesday - Felt pretty good, taught a class for a client. Got to have lunch with my friend Leigh. I love her - she pretended not to notice the fever blisters. Fever blister number three made an appearance by mid-afternoon.
Thursday - Apparently a bus came into our bedroom and hit me sometime during the night Wednesday. Fever back with a vengeance and I had ZERO energy. Worked wireless from bed (between naps). Still holding at three fever blisters. No, there will not be any pictures. Use your imagination - it's worse than that.
Friday - Finally admitted that I might be sick and called the Doctor. Apparently there is something called "walking pneumonia" and I am the lucky recipient. My apologies to anyone that I came in contact with this week (especially Kimberley, Rick, Larry, Chris, Leigh, Lillie and the 12 people in my class on Wednesday). Of course Jon also but he has no choice. I was supposed to be flying to New York on Sunday. Unless I feel a million times better tomorrow, that's not happening. Therefore, one of my peers found out late this afternoon that he gets to fly to New York on Sunday. I bet I'm not on his Christmas card list next year.
Currently - Feeling sorry for myself with a Haagen-Dazs Vanilla and Almonds Ice Cream Bar courtesy of Jon. Hey, the medicine says "take with food". He was very sweet to bring me ice cream. I am a nasty grouch when I am sick. And I just dribbled ice cream and chocolate on his tee shirt that I am wearing.

I see STUPID People.....

(Olivia, Jackson, and Ivy if you are reading this- yes stupid is a bad word and you should not call people stupid. Just because I'm doing it doesn't make it OK. Please don't use that word and then tell your Mom or Dad that it's OK because Karen said it.)

Yesterday I had to make a quick trip down to Austin. I took the 6:45 am flight out, the client presentation went well and I even got an earlier flight home than anticipated. An earlier flight home on a Friday afternoon is total Jackpot for me. So, life was good.

I'm the last person on the plane so I gladly take my middle seat between "Mr. Already Asleep" and "Ms. I'm going to stare at you over the top of my glasses". No problem, I'm on my way home, it's an extremely short flight, life is still good.

As the plane is landing, the woman strikes up a conversation. Don't remember how she started the conversation but something about her daughter. Then she asked me if I travel a lot. I tell her "some, but not nearly as much as I used to", trying to keep my answers short and simple.I used to be on a plane nearly every week.

When I was single, I think my Mom thought that I would meet my future husband on a plane - because that is where I spent a good portion of my time. Thanks goodness I didn't - I could write several posts on the crazies that I have met on an airplane.

Anyway, she asks me if I have any children. I reply "Not Yet". She gives me the once over (from over the top of those glasses) as if to say well you don't look that young, you better hurry up. For some reason I feel the need to answer that look. I tell her "actually we are in the process of adopting" The rest of the conversation went something like this:

Her: "Really"
Me: "Yes"
Her: "Are you adopting from this country or somewhere else" (I could also write an entire post on this question alone but I am really trying to stay focused.)
Me: "From China"
Her: "China?"
Me: "Yes"
Her: "Hmmmm, interesting"

At this point people are exiting and I really just want to get off the plane. When it is almost time for our row to exit, she says, "I have to ask you, are you going to tell her that she is adopted?"OH. MY. GOODNESS. She did not just say that. She repeated the word China earlier in our conversation, so clearly she didn't think I said something else. She is going to be Chinese, you stupid moron!!!!! I am screaming this in my head (at least I think it was only in my head, can't be sure).

I have about 1.5 seconds to figure out how to handle this. I figured I had three choices:
1. answer back with something intelligent (I had nothing even remotely intelligent and I'm not sure there is an intelligent answer to that question)
2. smile and walk away
3. give her an answer just as insane as her question

Basically, the old do I take the high road or the low road decision. I'll take the low road for $100, please. Yes, there will come a day when I am the responsible parental unit/role model. Yes, I will teach my daughter how to handle comments and questions will intelligence, dignity and grace. However, not today. I look at her and say "actually I was just thinking how interesting it is that I told you, a complete stranger, since we aren't even going to tell our family and friends that she is adopted." And then I smiled and walked away.

Oh, about a year from now.......

That is what I have been saying since October when asked "WHEN" or "HOW MUCH LONGER" the adoption will take. It's February and I am still saying "Oh, about a year". We've made lots of progress on our end but I can't say for certain that it has brought us any closer to our daughter. Emotionally closer absolutely, but physically closer, not so much. Forms, notaries, doctors visits, fingerprints, financial statements, homestudys, certifications, authentications blah blah blah and still I'm saying "oh, about a year."

Yesterday I visited my local UPS Store to overnight our 171H to the courier who will take it to the Chinese consulate for authentication. We have used the UPS store for our overnight shipping as well as many of the notarys that we needed. Not that I have anything against any of the other overnight shippers. The UPS Store is just up the street so it is really just a matter of convenience. And let me say they have been GREAT. They know it's all for the adoption and they check and re-check everything they do for us. (Then they wait patiently while I check everything over three more times.) Everyone in the store is very excited and have made me promise to bring our daughter in to meet them. Yesterday, this is the conversation I had with the woman at the UPS store.

Her: "Hey Karen, how much longer?"
Me: "Oh, about a year"
Her: "What, how can that be? You are in our notary book a hundred times and you've spent a fortune on overnight fees." (I love someone who exaggerates for dramatic purposes like me - In reality, it's significantly less than a hundred and slightly less than a fortune.)
Me: "I know"
Her: "What happened?"
Me: "Nothing, the process has just slowed down a bit in the last few months"
Her: "That stinks."
Me: "Yeah, it does"

It's not so much the waiting that bothers me (yet). It's not knowing how long we will wait. Yes, I know this is common with adoption whether it be domestic or international. We did LOTS of research and we signed a contract with our agency that basically said anything can happen. I get that. And we will wait as long as we have to and will jump through as many hoops as we have to. Our paperwork is not even in China yet so LOTS can happen with the timelines between now and whenever.
We will just keep a close eye on the referrals and get more and more excited every time they come in. Eventually we will have a better guess on when it will be our turn. In the meantime, I'm going to find another answer for "WHEN?".