Thursday, May 31, 2007

My TA is here!!!!!

My Travel Approval (TA) or Travel Notice came today!!! WOOOOHOOOO!

They are estimating travel from referral to be 6-7 weeks, which would be the week of June 15 or June 22. Let's see how this goes!!!

Peace.

Wednesday, May 30, 2007

One tiny little red thread

So, I don't normally think about the "red thread" thing about the babies and parents... but, today when I looked at all my dates on my Agency's site one date stood out. That was the date my Dossier was received at my Agency - September 27, 2006. That was the day my daughter was found. Quite amazing, really.

I talked to my company's benefits department today. They said that I only have to fill out one form, and everything else is pretty straightforward with taking leave. One interesting thought was to take my vacation before my adoption leave, and that way it won't be confusing to take adoption leave, vacation, then additional adoption leave, if necessary.

I got updated medical packet yesterday in the mail for Mia. It didn't really say anything new, but it is nice to have.

My Dad's birthday was Saturday. I forgot to mention that. We had a group birthday celebration on Sunday to have dinner and cake for mine, Sis' and Dad's bdays. It was very nice. My brother was in town, even, and that was awesome. We took some more pictures, and I'll upload them when I go get my camera from Dad's. I left it there on accident.

It is very warm here today (90 deg), and I really should go home and mow my lawn. I imagine that won't probably happen, though! haha.

Peace.

Tuesday, May 29, 2007

Amost over it

My cold lingers, but I'm almost over it. Thank God. I went to my family Dr. today and she said my chest sounds good, but let her know if I'm still coughing when we go to China and she'll call something in for me.

I actually went to see her about my vaccines and meds to take to China. She wants to look up Polio and Maleria for me. She also wants to see what people normally take for the babies... and she said for me to look up Scabies med and what Antibiotic people usually take. They gave me a Hep A booster today. Looks like I did have Measles, Mumps and Rubella (sp?) a couple of years ago, so I should be ok, but the titers will tell us this week.

No news yet on travel... still waiting. But, Sis and I got some of our things packed and worked on figuring out what suitcases and carryons to take. I told her I'd like to be packed (mostly) by this coming weekend, so that we only have a few odds and ends to worry about when the travel information comes!

This weekend was Memorial Day Weekend, of course, and we are so thankful to our Veterans. I would have posted yesterday, but Sis can only get dial-up right now and that is horribly obnoxious! lol

The only other new thing is/was that I "borrowed" one of my friends Foster Dogs this weekend. His name is "Skippy" and he is an English Setter. Goregous and just a LOVE. He has started to warm up and seems to LOVE Maggi!! My friend takes him to get neutered this week (he's approx 12-14 mo old). I might just have to have him back after that. I really like him. But, boy, that is a lot!! 2 dogs, a cat and a baby!! OMG. But I really think Maggi could use a friend besides Manna, 'cause Manna doesn't like to be chased all the time!!! ;-)

I'll post pics as soon as I can from the weekend and Skippy. Or, Hippy Skippy as we called him, 'cause he was SOOOO calm and is wearing a hippy-type collar. haha.

Peace.

Thursday, May 24, 2007

Should

I'm sitting here tonight thinking about lots of things... like, the fact that I'm such a whiny baby when I'm sick. Oh, and that I could see my daughter's face in less than a month! I read one rumor today that someone got their TA (travel approval) from the May 2 referral group. Not my agency, yet, that I know of, but someone. Wow. I wonder when I'll get mine.

I go tomorrow to get my own titers done to see what I've been inoculated for. Tuesday I go talk to my Dr. about the trip.

I can't breathe. Ugh. It's all about *me*. Ok... no, it isn't. ;-)

The baby's room isn't done yet. (have you figured out by now that this is a recurring theme?) I'm back to feeling like this is all surreal again. I wonder why. I actually get to see her little picture every day, but I can't wait to hear more. Yet, I'm so stressed right now.

I'm extremely worried about sis and her situation. I know it will work out, but that doesn't mean I don't worry. I know it isn't *my* life and I shouldn't be so worried, but I can't help it. Should, shouldn't... someone used to tell me to stop with the *shoulds*. That I *should* (haha) just live and do what I wanted, and that by living by *shoulds* I was living on guilt or what others wanted for me. True. But, I haven't managed to get away from that...

None of that has to do with Sis... but more how I seem to handle situations sometimes. Like when I'm a whiny baby, and sick. ha.

Did I mention I can't breathe right now? God, I hope I feel better tomorrow. The whiny baby is going to bed soon. Or, at least I *should*!!

Peace.

Visas?

Well... I got a little scare today. I'm home sick. (I hate being sick, btw.) I logged into check my email at work, and saw two emails for FedEx... UH OH. I was supposed to be there to sign for that package. It *should* contain our (mine, sis' and my friend's) VISAs!!!!!

OMG. I did contact someone from work and they did get it. So, let's hope it really does contain our Visas and that everything is ok. I'm just SO HAPPY someone was there and got it for me. Ugh.

No other news on the travel front...

I did do some laundry this week. Lots of kid and baby clothes. I think she might have more clothes than I do, already! ROFL. At least I crack myself up. haha. Sis has Maggi this week... I thought she could use the 'comfort puppy'. :) But I miss my little Maggi-Moo. Of course, being sick, I'm kind of glad I don't have to worry about her, too. (how selfish is that? what the hell am i going to do when the baby gets here?!)

Peace.

Wednesday, May 23, 2007

No new news

I haven't heard anything more about my daughter or the trip yet. Just didn't want anyone to think I was holding out on ya!! LOL.

On another note... birthday was no-key, low-key. And now I'm sick. Not sure why, but sometimes after I go through a stressful period of time (like the last month), I end up sick. UGH. I don't want to be.

Peace.

Monday, May 21, 2007

The Twin Thing

So, today is my birthday. As is my sister's (obviously)!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SIS!!!! I love you!!!! XOXOXOXO

We had a 'yard sale' Saturday. Technically, two yard sales. Let me explain. First, we got up at 7:30 and put our stuff out at Sis'. Wait, wait, wait.... no one (and I do mean NO ONE) came. It is now Noon. A friend of Sis' called and said that they were having a community g-sale in their neighborhood... so, what do we do? Pack up the car and take all our stuff there and start over. LOL. It did much better then, though, so it was worth it. But let me tell you, those first 4.5 hours were painful!! So, sis at least has enough to cover her tags this week. :)

One thing at a time, right?

I have no real plans for today. Let's see how it goes. Sis said she'd bake me a cake (hehe, no she didn't, but maybe if she reads this, she'll bake me a cake. LOL)

Peace.

Friday, May 18, 2007

Garage / Bake Sale Tomorrow!!

So, Sis and I are trying to be a little proactive... and have our own garage-sale / bake-sale. I have some great friends. Really. A couple have baked for us, and made us lunch already. A couple have gone through their own closets/cabinets and 'gifted' us stuff to garage-sale. This is nice because, well, Sis has been displaced. She already doesn't have anything. So, whatever she can't use, will be put in the sale.

We're making Lemonade and "Sweet Tea". We're making brownies, cookies, and sweet breads. Yum. You should stop by!! :) (if you are in the greater Dayton area! haha)

Otherwise, prayers are still most-definitely needed. I don't know how this is going to all work out, but it will. It has to.

Peace.

Wednesday, May 16, 2007

Prayers

My sister got laid-off today. She (and I) need(s) your prayers. Please. If you know anything about unemployment, it won't cover all her bills. And it is scary for her. And then there is China (which shouldn't be impacted... but...still need prayers.)

Peace.

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

Visa paperwork

I got our paperwork sent to get our Visas. Praying for a speedy return.

Thank you all for your warm wishes and thoughts for my first Mother's day. It was very nice, and I am very excited about the impending trip!! :) I put some pictures together for her to send in her care package, that I should have gotten in the mail already, but it will get done this week.

People say I am looking stressed these days. There is a lot going on. I just hope I can keep it all together!! lol.

Here are some family pics from the weekend. We did have a nice time! (I'm on the Left in the pics that I'm in.) Oh, and I had to add a 6 month pic of my little Maggi!!!


Peace.

Look at that goofy face!!!
Nice looking family, If I do say so!!!
Nice Mommy - Son moment. :)

Oh no! She ate the WHOLE thing!!!! (ok, she didn't. we shared!!)
Love ya Sis.

Monday, May 14, 2007

Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day (a day late) to all the Moms (and soon-to-be-Moms) out there!! :) I hope someone out there made you feel extra-special and loved!!

I had a great weekend. Sis and I spent most of the time with my nephew and it was really fun (apart from xBIL messing with Sis again). We went garage-saling and had a lot of fun. Thank goodness G-saling is so cheap!! hehe.

My nephew kept telling everyone that his Mom is a "hero" because she rescued 5 tiny, baby kittens and is hand-feeding them (they are *maybe* a week old)! And, of course, she is a hero (even when she doesn't feel like one). My nephew was enthralled, to say the least, and had a blast helping feed the kitties and loving on them. He's such a little man these days!

So, my dad took us all out to lunch yesterday for Mother's day. It was great! They got Sis and I each a hanging plant for outside that are just gorgeous. My nephew (who is 6) washed Sis' car yesterday, and I mowed her front yard. :)

My dad got me the greatest Mother's day card that says (it is worth putting here...)

Bringing up a Daughter
can be a challenge and a joy-
a challenge
when you think
of all the things
you want for her -
security
and independence,
maturity,
self-confidence,
and love....

(inside)
...and a joy
when she turns out to be like you -
a daughter who has
so many wonderful qualities,
who means so much more
than you ever thought possible,
who gives love in more ways
than you ever imagined.

Happy Mother's Day
with Love.

say it with me.... Awwwwwwwww. Really made me cry.

Love you Dad.

Peace.

Friday, May 11, 2007

Mama Bear and Travel

Thanks everyone for your kind thoughts and encouragement. I guess I just wasn't expecting a comment in my own family like that regarding my adopting. I'm still not ok with it, but I'm trying to keep it in perspective. I'm really sorry that my sister has to go through this situation with him, and I realize that it is best that my daughter won't have as much contact with that as I originally thought.

So, onto happier thoughts... I had my first travel call today. It was informative, but I still feel a bit overwhelmed with the travel stuff. I'm hoping to get my sister and friend's paperwork done this weekend so we can get our Visa paperwork sent off by Monday.

They say we could still potentially travel the first week of June (?! yikes!) and up to the end of June. So, let's see!! I'm figuring June, and I'd LOVE to have Mia her before my nephew's birthday... but, wow, that would be Quick!! Let's see how it goes! :)

I'm headed up to see Sis tonight... and we're gonna hang out with my nephew all weekend. My dad also got us reservations for Mother's Day for lunch! I'm quite excited about that.

Peace.

Thursday, May 10, 2007

Ignorant people

So, last night, as you all could see, my (thank God) soon to be ex- BIL told my very smart and precious nephew that his new cousin isn't a blood relative and therefore not worthy of having her picture in his house. Out came fuming, mad Mamma.

The reason I was (and am still) so mad is because I was really never expecting Jake to do that to me. I know that is silly on my part, seeing just how he's treated my sister for years, but I had hope there. We will make our own family. It will be fine.

As for other ignorant people, I'm not *quite* as worried... I'm more expectant of that. I half-hoped that it would never happen, but it will. I know it. I've put myself in a unique position, and a happy one for me, and other people don't understand it. That is their stupidity, not mine. She will be MINE, all mine (mine, mine, mine, haha). My daughter. (and, this does not mean i negate her biological parents in any way, but she will be my daughter.)

I am SO thrilled to finally see my daughter's face. I cannot wait to have her here in my arms. And, I do not plan to always refer to her as my adopted daughter. UGH. She is just solely "My Daughter". The act of adoption makes us family... and just as much family as if she were born from my womb.

Peace.

Wednesday, May 9, 2007

I am FUMING, FUMING mad

** Edited, 'cause I was just too mad last night for you all to see my spewing explatives. (caution, i did leave a few in here)


You know. There are just people in this world who are (words cannot really adequately describe them) - ENORMOUS IDIOTS who shouldn't be allowed to have their own children or to live on their own. They are JUST THAT STUPID and MEAN.

My Brother-in-Law is the KING of these bastards. And I do mean Bastard. (sorry, I don't usually curse here, but I'm FUMING mad!!!)

It isn't bad enough that he has gotten TWO (2) DUI's in the past year.... or the fact that he's been arrested for assaulting several people, or that it is OBVIOUS he's been cheating on my sister... or the fact that he kicked her out with nothing and "PRETENDS" that he doesn't owe her anything (what F-ing planet is he ON, anyway???? ......oh, maybe that's the BEER talking when he refuses to acknowledge her HALF of the marriage!!!! OMG. He is a true drunk-ass bastard. His friends are just as bad, but I'm not going to list them here. They know who they are, and they are pathetic.

So, what has me so mad? I mean, all this stuff has pissed me off for a good 3 months now... but oh, no. Today he had the audacity to tell my nephew "C" that his cousin Mia is NOT A BLOOD RELATIVE and he is NOT ALLOWED TO HAVE HER PICTURE IN THE HOUSE!!!!!!!!!!!! WTF????? I swear I never saw that coming, but it doesn't surprise me, seeing he is the biggest IDIOT on the face of the planet.


I am positive God will take care of his awfulness. I'm just hoping some bad karma comes his way very soon. Forgive me, Lord. People like him, well, they belong in the stone ages. Oh, I forgot. They had ADOPTION back then too.

I swear to God, I'm seeing red, I'm so mad. I have absolutely NO sympathy for STUPID, MEAN people.

Peace.

Tuesday, May 8, 2007

Swimming...in paperwork

So, I downloaded a couple of forms that my agency sent me today. Yikes, even more paperwork to do! I went to the bank at lunch and had a couple of them notarized. But I've got to go back through everything tonight and make sure I have copies of everything I need, in the correct order (according to the documentation my agency sent). Fun, fun.

Oh, and I have to have positive confirmation from my sister and friend whether they are coming with me or not. It is time to commit. God, I hope one of them (or both would be even better) will go!!! I'm pretty nervous to have to go alone. Not that I wouldn't have my agency support, but I really want my sis and friend to go. This is a big deal. :)

Peace.

That cute little face

I almost didn't want to post until I got another pic of Mia! LOL. But I did get a few things this weekend, that I'm happy to report.

Sis and I went garage-saling this weekend. As always, it was fun and an adventure. We found a super deal on a portable baby bed for her house! It is on wheels and we didn't have any trouble getting it in, at all. Woohoo!! We also found a couple more things for her house... a high chair, potty stool and, for her, an Entertainment center. It was a good day.

I can't wait 'til sis gets her furniture. She's going to really like spending time at her house then. The other thing that we did this weekend was get her lawn mowed. Sheesh, that's a job! But, she was blessed to find a decent lawn mower at a different garage sale, and that was fantastic. Her friend came over (with his lawn mower, too) and we all tag-teamed it.

Anyway, I'll post more info about Mia when I get it. I'm anxious to get more info, of course!!

Thursday, May 3, 2007

More Pics

Over the moon, I am, over the moon!!


Wednesday, May 2, 2007

I AM IN LOVE!!!!


My daughter:
Mia ElainaMei "Xian" Heaton
Birthday - 8/27/06 (she was 8 months old last week!!!!)


Chinese Province - Guangxi Province
Her stats as of January 12, 2007
Height- 24.02" tall
Weight - 13.86 pounds
Her full name is Guo Xian, surname first, which is likely part of Guangxi. Xian means "refined".

**added, OK, go ahead and make fun of me, but she has my Chin, my Eyebrows and my LIPS!!! hehehe.

I'm BEAMING happy.

Peace.

Added Beiliu information Aug 10, 2007, because I found it and it is a little piece of history for Mia.

"I got some information that may be of interest to some of you on our recenttrip. We askedsome questions of Guo Zhen's nanny and found out that the SWI has around 40 children withabout 10 workers. They try to keep the children in small "family" type groups. Guo Zhen wasin her own crib, but I don't know if all children have their own cribs or not. The name Guothat all of the children share in this swi has an interesting story. Guo is thesecond characterin the word for China. It refers to the country of China. Since these childrenhave no familyname, they are given the family name of Guo signifying that they are childrenbelonging toChina, and that all of China is their family."

Still waiting for THE CALL

I'm still waiting for THE CALL..... it is 1:30pm my time, and I'm definitely anxious!!!

I've gotten calls from Sis, Misty, Ellen, my brother Joe.... we're all anxiously waiting, I see!! hahaha. :) I'm so glad I have my family and friends, I'd be crazy without them.

I'm going to go mow my lawn...the backyard, 'cause it doesn't take too long. :) Oh, I guess that means I forgot to mention I came home about 15 minutes ago and will be home for the rest of the day panicking! LOL :D

Peace.

Tuesday, May 1, 2007

The Stork Says I'M IN!!!!

I just got a call (not "the" call) from my agency saying


I'M IN!!!!!
I'M IN!!!!!
I'M IN!!!!!

They have my referral and will be starting calls tomorrow around noon my time!!!! WOWOWOWOWOWOW!!!

Whew. What a relief to know I will finally get the call. I finally get my referral. What a day this has been. Thank you ALL so much for your encouragement and congrats today. :) A great day, indeed!!!!!

Peace.

They're HERE

OMG OMG OMG OMG


5/1/2007
MATCHES ARE HERE!!!

We are excited to announce that matches are here in our office! We believe that the matches include LIDs through November 1, 2005 as well as matches for our expedited Chinese descent families through May 16, 2006. We are very excited for our families who are receiving matches! As always, we will update this site when more information becomes available.
My agency is working on them NOW!!!!!! I'm going to cry.

Macey's Mommy

I just want to say, that I have some great blogger friends out there! One even posted about me today!! OMG. That was just TOOOO sweet. :)

Go check her out, she's got a great blog, and lots of great things to say. Plus, she's a single adopting mom, like me! Woohooo! Macey

Oh, and just so I have a record of this... 'cause I'm now in Mommy Documenting Mode!! Here is the link to the post that K so generously wrote!! Gives me the chills!!

she-has-baby-on-way

That'd be ME ME ME!!!

The excitement is thick in the air today!!! When, oh when, will I get *the call*??!!

Peace.