Makes me feel like Dancin'....Dancin'

Whooo HOOOO!!!




Finally a break of sorts. Most everyone in the adoption community knows this little tid bit. But I thought I'd put it out there for everyone who's following our journey and is NOT engrossed in the adoption community on a daily basis. Yesterday, USCIS announced their new fee schedule. On this new schedule you are allotted one extension of your Orphan Petition, free of charge. This is such a relief. Seriously, the idea of just having to fill out some extension form without forking out more money really is a stress buster. And since we just redid our fingerprints on Friday, hopefully we won't have to do anything else besides extend our Petition. This is really good news. So for all of us that are affected by this news, now is the time. Please take a moment, push your chair back, and do a little dance!!!

We are RE-DONE

Fingerprints-Check-Check-AGAIN!! We left pretty early this morning to get to the USCIS office when they opened. When we got there 10 minutes after they opened, the parking lot was packed, the lobby was packed. I asked the guard about this. He told me that they had 182 appointments for fingerprints today alone. We were not one of them. He told me they opened the doors almost an hour before. BUT that was not the listed hours that were on our form. I was a little nervous that we were in for a very long wait. But for some reason I think the pink form we had, must have put us in an expedited line, because again they said "good luck on your adoption" and we were in and out in a hour. Whew!! Done again. We then had plenty of time to go to an early showing of SpiderMan3 and take a walk around the mall before Jon collapsed in bed after not having had any sleep. While we were there there was this cute little Asian boy around 16 months sitting behind us. He kept tappin us on the shoulder, smiling and flirting. He was sooooo cute. Maybe it was a sign!! Stay tuned....we'll revisit this day in about 6 months, but by then hopefully we'll know about our child. Tootles!!

Book club verses some zzzzz's

Today I thought I would take a little nap before the book club. I jumped into bed for a 20 minute nap.....and oops 3 hours later I had missed the book club for adoptive parents...DARNIT. Of course now at 11:15pm I am WIDE awake.

I don't know how it would have gone since I only read one of the two books up for discussion. But I had planned on going anyways. The one book I did read though was Secret Thoughts of an Adoptive Mother. I read this one in a couple of hours and I really liked it. The author really goes through a lot of emotions that a lot of families-or at least some of the things I think about and just don't say. I'm still waiting for the library to get the other book for me. Oh well at least I'll be reading them and next time I'll try not nap. But our bed is ohhh so nice, it sucks you in and then that's all there is, you're off into never never land.

Tomorrow we'll be getting our fingerprints re-done. Our USCIS office didn't give us an appointment, just gave us their hours like last time. So basically we go there and wait...and wait...and wait. I probably should've done that appointment pass thing, but I was afraid that it would take too long to get an appointment and our fingerprints expire at the end of June. Plus work gave me Friday off(YAY!!) We're going to try and get their early. We'll see. Hopefully no "match" problems like last time. I told Jon not to cut his fingers at work tonight. He told me that I should have NEVER said that because now he's going to be paranoid and something's going to happen and he'll chop off all his fingertips. Wouldn't that be our luck.

2 posts, one day!!

We're getting all sorts of culture. Val would be so proud that Jon and I went to yet another show, MAMMA MIA . That's two shows in two months, we're not yelling redneck anymore.....we's sophisticated folk now. My MIL couldn't use her tickets so asked us if we wanted to go. OF COURSE!! The seats were amazing, three rows from the stage. I sorta felt rich we were so close. I could actually see the sweat coming from the dancers. I wasn't sure what to expect since I didn't know much about the show. But it was so high energy and the singers were amazing. It really was a fun show to watch.

I am dumbfounded though that Jon didn't know who ABBA was. Now seriously I am NOT a music buff, but even I know who ABBA is. I kept turning to him during the show asking

"do you recognize this song"

"what about this song"

"seriously, you have to recognize this song"

I had to stop because I could tell he was getting annoyed with me.

Anyways great night, great fun!!

NOPE...the wait's not getting to him either..

So I have been informed that it's been over a week since I last posted! Thanks Sarah...I've been slacking.

Not much to post. But just in case you were wondering now Jon is having messed up dreams. He told me about his dream last night...

We were in a store and I saw a couple with a Chinese baby. I told him I was tired of waiting and that we're adopting too...then I proceeded to do something(in his dream) that I would NEVER do. I grabbed the baby!!!

Now apparently the Father of said baby was a big burly man.

And instead of Jon saying "Ann that's not a good idea"

He yells...."RUN!!!"

And so we run with baby in my arms and Big Burly Dad running after us!!

Nope no stress here.

Finally at the Minimum

Can you believe that we are at 14 months? I can't believe that we are still waiting. But we made it to this point and we're on the down slide now(hey haven't I said that before?)

The good thing about 14 months is that we are now officially at the minimum wait time frame. NOT that I think we're much closer as I anticipate at least an 18 month wait. But!!! Before when we were waiting, any time that we would get close to the minimum, they would change it. Then we would creep up on the new minimum and it would change again. NOW we are caught up....it didn't get away from us this time!!

I've heard stories of families waiting 20 plus months. I just hope that that doesn't become us. So now that we are at the minimum I am asking a favor from all of you. Please say a prayer for us that we learn of our child very soon.

Deep breaths!!

Breath in.....Breath out...okay, so, my anxiety ridden rant is now officially over. Thank you all for your support.

The best advice I got..you know the kind of advice that makes you go "okay, I get it",

"cry today, smile tomorrow, and move on".

So that's what I did.

Jon and I are never in a panic state of mind at the same time. Funny how that works out. He even asked me why I was getting so upset about fingerprints. I tried to explain to him that it's not the fingerprinting fee that we would have to pay a total of three times, but the principal of the whole ordeal. But the more I tried to explain to him, the sillier it sounded. If we have to pay the fee another two times, well we'll do it. I have learned that there is some discrepancy with USCIS offices. Some let the redo fingerprints count towards the refile of the I171H. Some do not. And you just never know how it's going to go when it's your turn. Our country coordinator even said that she has seen differences in the same USCIS office. So I'm still not sure if we're just going to let our fingerprints expire, then redo it all at the same time: Or redo them now in hopes that we won't have to redo them again in November. Oh well....moved on. Hopefully I'll sleep better tonight.

{{hugs}} to you all for your love and support!!

Need answers

Okay everyone. For those that have been there done that: I know I posted to the yahoo group, but I just saw something that again gave me a sinking feeling in my gut. We are about to redo our fingerprints. While I'm still trying to figure out how to do this: someone posted that when we have to redo the actual immigration form that we will AGAIN have to be fingerprinted, along with all the birth certificates, marriage licenses..etc..etc..etc.. Please tell me that this isn't true. And why wouldn't our fingerprints be good from June to November. I mean we're going to have to pay another $140.00 this month-or whatever the fees are now. And now we're going to have to pay that fee again in 4 flippin' months plus the increased immigration which is somewhere around $600. And if we have to submit all our certificates and licenses can they be copies of the ones we just got last year or do we have to have fresh copies of those too. I mean seriously we already had copies of all that, but they couldn't be more than a year old when we did all this stuff last year so we had to pay to get fresh certified copies of certified copies we already had. And obviously they'll be older then a year NOW!!! So please for those that have had to redo the actual immigration form(I 171H) tell me what the deal is!!

Seriously I am so angry right now. I could deal with having to redo our fingerprints, kinda sorta understand that. I can understand having to redo our immigration, it sucks, but I can sorta understand that too. BUT to have to redo our fingerprints a third effin time 4 months after we just redid them, pisses me off. No nice way to put that. It really pisses me off. It makes no damn sense and is just an effed up way to run things. Sucks the money right out of our pockets. Hey here's an idea, lets pay in excess of $140 each time to do our fingerprints 3 times. Because we all know that my fingerprints have this funny way of changing things up a bit every couple of months. Funny how they do that. Twists the knife on the fact we can't have children. Makes me want to give up. There have been very few moments that I have wanted to throw in the towel. But when I hear something like that I just want to say EFF YOU to them all.

God's hand in our lives

Sometimes the realization comes at such a mundane moment. I have never doubted God's hand in my life everyday. But sometimes I seem to forget the timing of everything and am reminded of it in such a simple way.

I never get off of work early. NEVER. But today I did and I was feeling quite "beat" by this wait. I was tired and was going to go home and take a nap. I debated going to the library again(which is FARRRRR from where I live-but that's another story). I blew it off yesterday, but was invited to an adoption/book club thingy and needed to get the books. So I reluctantly went to the FARRRR away library to get the books I needed. They only had one. But that was okay. I went to check out and the woman checking me out asked me if I was doing a research paper(so I liked this women for thinking I was still in school). "no" I told her. Then she asked if we were adopting. "yes"(okay this is looking better). She then told me she was "jealous" and started to reluctantly ask me questions.

I could tell she was upset. She told me a little bit of her story and how she had researched adoption, but it cost too much....etc... I talked to her for about 30 minutes, all about adoption, how the money just works itself out...I told her not to give up on her dreams just because of finances..etc...etc...etc. I ended up giving her my number and email address so she could contact me with all her questions. I could tell she felt beat, but now she had met someone with information. She told me that she would email me if that was okay. I could tell she needed some support. As I left and was sitting in my car, I had this overwhelming sense of goodness. I knew that I was supposed to be there at that moment, on this day, to cross paths with her. And it also was a huge reminder to me that the timing of this whole thing will be right, no matter how long it takes. I don't know if she'll email me, I hope she does. And even though this meeting seems so incidental , I KNOW it was God's hand at work; if not for her, then as a reminder for me.

Born in my heart!!!

Isn't this beautiful. This was a gift given to me by my friend Lucia and her family as a Thank you for helping with their son's surgery. Although it wasn't necessary as a thank you gesture, it is a much appreciated and now cherished gift. I was sooooo excited to get a gift in the mail, so excited that I couldn't get the package open. Jon had to open that very complicated envelope for me. I love it and it means “Sheng Zi Wo Xin” (Born in My Heart). It's from China Sprout if anyone is interested. Isn't that so perfect.

When I first rec'd it, I didn't know what it meant. So, when I called to tell them Thank You I asked. When Lucia told me what it meant, I had to hold back tears. Perfect, I say, perfect for how I feel. It is now proudly around my neck where it'll stay. So again to my friends-Thank YOU!!

Think Blogger THINK!!!

Yay for me. I have been nominated for the thinking blogger award. That's so exciting. Anyhow when I started on the whole computer web log thing, I was mostly stalking others journeys. Then I started blogging last March, when we got onto the infamous waiting list. I've written about all the ups and downs. The joy and sadness all the while hoping and praying that we'll get word soon. But during my journey I still stalk A LOT of blogs...

I am supposed to continue this nomination thing to include 5 blogs that I love. I've tried to leave out those that have already been nominated, but the following are a few of the blogs I read frequently(trust me it was hard to narrow this down to 5)...

The Long Road to Taiwan: Here Jen talks about the journey to baby William. I love how honest she is about the wait and she always makes me feel not so alone.

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfish: I have been following Lucia for a very long time. She was actually living in Japan, when they adopted her daughter, and they were able to foster her before her actual adoption. Lucia is always uplifting and positive and a great support.

Waiting for Abby: What do you do when you wait. You blog, you shop, you talk about it and does she. I tune it to see how Jenny is dealing with the ever increasing wait in China. It's been hard, but she's dealing fantastically. She's so ready for her Abby.

Awaiting Ava: This is a relatively new blog to me, although she's been around a long time. I just feel connected to her. She's super funny and insightful.

And I waited for the last slot to go to my friendy friend Val: {muwahhh} over at

Happy Girl(s): She makes me smile everyday. And she posts pictures just for me(sometimes) okay maybe not just for me, but she makes me feel like she's posting them for me. Seriously, she's been a great support to me!!

So to all the nominees Congrats and if you feel like it, write your own post about 5 of your favorite bloggy blogs.

It gets me EVERY time...

I don't know why I feel compelled to look and check on our agency website(note: this post may sound very familiar). I knew this information. I spoke with the agency and I knew the average wait was 18 months. I've read the letter from Cathwel stating this information. So why is it that when our agency website actually states this, my stomach drops in horrid surprise like this is the first time I've heard this before. I surely could've upchucked right there. Seeing it in writing on the website, despite clear knowledge of the information, is like a sucker punch every time. Maybe because I feel like if they don't change the website there's still a chance that our referral will come sooner then what they're telling me. Yes, I know this is naive, but if it's not officially on the website that's how it feels, like maybe, just maybe we will slide in under what they're telling me, because well you know it says on the website......

But again they have updated the website(NOT LIKE I DIDN'T KNOW) and the average wait is now 14-18 months for an infant. A total Gut buster, seriously. I know it sounds irrational because I've been telling you all this for a while now. But sometimes I like to hold on to some glimmer of hope that we won't have to wait 18 awful months...which by the way would be ANOTHER...5 months til referral and lets not forget about court....tack on another....

Oh forget it!!

TILE...TILE...WE HAVE TILE

We finally have tile in the kitchen, front door, and dinning room. My stove is out of the garage and my kitchen is back together. We still have some finishing work to do, but it looks soooo good. I know I'm a geek, but I'm super excited about getting it done. Ohhh and if I stop by your house this week to eat....this is why...

The Lion King

My birthday celebration continued last night. My MIL got Jon and I tickets to see The Lion King here in town for my birthday. So with the money my folks gave me for my birthday I was able to get something nice to wear and off we were to a night of Theater. So Thanks to our folks!! It was so good. Seriously, the costumes were amazing, the singers phenomenal and overall it was an amazing show. If you have the chance to see this in your town, I would totally reccommend it. And get an aisle seat too. The animals come down the isles several times during the show. Trust me the costumes...SUPERB!! My first time at the theater. I loved getting dressed up and seeing Jon all gussied up too. We had a nice dinner before hand and actually stayed out past our bedtimes. See, for those that think I refuse to leave the house....I really do!! We actually have a life. And right now the guys are laying tile in our dinning room, foyer, and kitchen. Picture of that soon too!!

Cathwel Families UNITE!!

Hi All. We have started a yahoo group just for those that have or are in the process of adopting through Catwel. As many of you know adopting through Catwel is a birthmother program which affords many positives. The only downside is the wait has become much longer. We thought it would be nice to have a place just for us to share. So if you're interested.... It's called AdoptTaiwan-Cathwel. Enjoy and come share.




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13 divided by 100, multiply by.....

Oh who am I kidding. No matter how you do the math...it doesn't make it any better. We have posted 100 times and we are now at 13 months waiting!!! Yipee!! Do you hear the enthusiasm. If you don't it's because it's not there. But seriously this last month went by fairly quickly. I've noticed that I've had "butterflies" or is it "bats" in my stomach pretty consistently now. Maybe that means it's getting closer. So as we speak our album is seeing some light. It's a little dusty, it's been sitting there a while. But it can see the daylight. It can breath a little easier. Some of the weight..or wait(ha..ha...I make myself laugh) has been lifted. We're nearing the top. And soon, hopefully in the next two months. Two very scared hands will gingerly unwind the ribbon that's holding it together. She will gingerly open the cover of the pale green album and see us for the very first time. She will hesitantly begin reading our letter to her. Maybe that's why the bats are doing somersaults in my belly!!!

Just because.

That was then.......

This is now:

Just because I have nothing else to talk about. I am still amazed that this is the same puppy that we brought home. When we brought Sawyer(the puppy) home, Our Skylar(the boxer) was soooooooooo excited that she drooled like there was no tomorrow. We had to follow her with a rag to clean it up, seriously she's not normally like this. And it was odd, she would foam at the mouth she was so excited. And by the next day she wasn't drooling. But we often wonder if she'll be like that when we bring the baby home. So full of excitement that not only are we going to be dealing with being new parents, but then we'll have to follow her around with a rag to soak up the drool!!

Some people have asked us what we're going to do with our dogs when the baby gets home. Umm...seems like such an odd question to me. We aren't going to "do" anything with our dogs. They're gentle and good around children. Always have been. But there are some people that are worried that we'll have such big dogs around our baby. I just don't know what to tell them. I debate with them. I stand by our position. But it scares them. They tell me horrific stories about what they've seen in their lives. And I tell them horrific stories about other things. We'll watch them when we first get home to see how they're going to react. But they've been around babies no problem. The worst things we'll have to worry about is Skylar licking the baby to annoyance and Sawyer...well he's so mellow, we don't worry. I've always had a dog and there will always be dogs in our home. And if we feel it's going to be a problem then , we'll just have to section off the house, one side for baby, one side for the puppies. It's simple!!!

Go Shorty it's my Birthday!!!

Yes today is actually my birthday. I am an April Fool's baby. No jokes necessary I have heard them all. One of my friends actually told me today that being an April Fool's baby really fits me...ummm....not quite sure how to take that. :0)

Anyhow, no pictures. I am on a picture strike until I loose the extra poundage.

Went to SeaWorld yesterday and aside from paying $3.19 for one coke, which by the way we shared because...well, we paid $3.19 for one coke and we just couldn't face the idea of paying another $3.19 for another coke. Jon did a double take on that one, thinking the guy was wrong or that he bought something else by mistake with the coke...

But they give you free beer....go figure!!

Did I just loose my train of thought...guess I did. We had a great time. I absolutely love SeaWorld. I swear I was dragging Jon around like a little kid. When we first came in the entrance I actually grabbed Jon's hand and ran him over to the stingrays!! Which by the way you can feed..for a small price...but feed none the less. Oh and in case you didn't know... stingrays' mouths are on the bottom of their heads, not the sides. And they don't particularly like it when you try to shove a dead fish into their gills....which looks like their mouth....but it isn't......oh so I've heard.......

We saw their new "Believe" Shamu show. Which is pretty cool. But if you're in a precarious emotional state, it's like a thirty minute hallmark commercial. If I wasn't in a stadium full of people that I didn't know...I would have been crying the whole time..all the while screaming ..."I BELIEVE....I BELIEVE!!!"

It was a great day, then I got to hang out with my family today. It was a great birthday weekend. So tomorrow I have to catch up on all my bloggy friends...see ya then.

It's coming....

...my birthday that is. I won't go there, where I said I would be a Momma in the next year. I said it, I can't take it back. But that was ohh so long ago. It was the beginning of our journey. I was so sure that the past year would be "the" year that I would become a parent. But alas a year has almost come and gone. A year of lessons learned, of hope lost, and found again. Weird how this journey unfolds. But as I am on the cusp of yet another birthday without a child, I am renewed....again. Our baby is a cookin'. And he's almost done. So as we slide into my birthday weekend, I know now....it's almost here. See ya on the flip side. Maybe I'll have a picture..

All aboard.....next stop....



.......................33!!!

Still gonna wait...

Most of you know that I am online with many a yahoo adoption group. They are a great group of families that know all too well what international adoption is all about. There's one family that is on the same time line that Jon and I are on. They got onto the waiting list just weeks after we did. They are actually living in Taiwan. So they have asked Cathwel(our orphanage) about their status and were told to expect another 4-5 month wait. Cool beans. I can wait another 4 or 5 months. I know that it's only 1-2 months less then what we were expecting. But this info came from the horses mouth, so to speak. And that's 1-2 months less. I can live with that. So here's to being hopeful.

And on another note...Jon and I have finally deposited the last of the adoption money into a secret, don't know the account #, have limited access to bank account. Now we can breath a little easier and can spend some money on much needed improvements to our home. The tile guy is coming in two weeks!!! YAY!! Now I know we'll have to redo ALL our documents, but that money should be easier to come by then the huge amount we had to save for the actual adoption...now if we just had a crib?