A Little Randomness for your reading pleasure.
~ My house plants are growing mushrooms. I'm not a green thumb, but even I know that this is a bad sign. Too much water? Too little TLC? I have no idea, but I thought you should know.
~ Gianna is having her next surgery on Sept 2nd. Her Daddy is taking her this time. I am having a hard time not going, but we agreed we would switch, and it's his turn. Unless I can convince him it's my turn again, which has so far proved unsuccessful.
~A few family members HATE that they have to sign in to my blog. They visit it less often. Since my blog is primarily for family, I have thought of going public again. Now that I have changed locations, and lost my "friends" from Iceland, Brussels, and Munich, I may just do it.
~The girls started art and geography yesterday. Now that Aria is in the second grade, she has to walk herself to her next class instead of an adult walking her there. She made to the door of her second class, and I went to check on her. The second she saw me, she started SOBBING, "I need to go home now." Poor little thing was as brave as she could be, but seeing me made her lose her resolve. I love my tenderhearted girl!
~Speaking of Aria, she also lost her first tooth. It was a NON-EVENT. She called me and said, "Mommy something white just fell out of my mouth." Simple as that. The "Tooth Daddy" gave her $5.
I remember when I got a quarter. I can only imagine what she will put under her kids pillow!
On the adoption front:
~We filed our I800 last week. It takes @15 days for approval, and then it is forwarded to a VISA center who cables China. Who really CABLES anymore? Uh, no one. My guess is that it is faxed or emailed, but the USCIS likes to use antiquated words like "cable". Whatever.
~We could get travel approval anywhere from the beginning of October to middle of November.
~Because there are holidays and trade fairs in October, and the Asian Olympics in November and December, the rumor is, that U.S. Consulate appointments will be bunched up. My PRAYER is, that we get travel approval in early October, as many agencies will not send families to China that month due to the additional fees. That leaves appointments available for folks like us, with AWESOME agencies, who let you travel, despite the madness.
~If that does not happen, it could very easily get UGLY and we could be waiting until December to get an appointment. The agencies who deny travel in October get travel approvals in September and book up all the November Consulate appointments... Let's just all pray- Okay???
~I may be traveling to China alone. We are weighing some pros and cons right now. I am at peace with it, and so is Greg. I don't want to bring a travel companion, although both my boys have offered. Because the twins need to bond with ME, no one else can do anything for them. So, I might as well be alone and nap when they do, and not worry about another person being bored in a hotel room in China!
~I have gotten many GASPS and horror looks when I mention this, and a few- "How can you take care of twins alone?" I would like to state, for the record, that I will in fact, come home to take care of not only two, but FOUR kids by myself. All age 6 and under. My husband travels. It's a fact of life. If I was worried about caring for twins, we wouldn't adopt them ;-)
~ I am almost done packing. Let me re-phrase that- I am almost done packing for a trip that could be anywhere from October- December. Greg says I am nesting. I say, that with Gianna's surgery, and a month long recovery, IF we get to travel on the early end of things, I don't want to be in panic mode.
~Who am I kidding? I will be in panic mode packed or not packed! Ha!
~ I feel the NEED to clean out every drawer and cabinet in my house. Like T-O-D-A-Y.
~I may be nesting.
~OR, just have a ridiculously dirty cabinets and drawers.
~I'll let you decide.
~ Gianna is having her next surgery on Sept 2nd. Her Daddy is taking her this time. I am having a hard time not going, but we agreed we would switch, and it's his turn. Unless I can convince him it's my turn again, which has so far proved unsuccessful.
~A few family members HATE that they have to sign in to my blog. They visit it less often. Since my blog is primarily for family, I have thought of going public again. Now that I have changed locations, and lost my "friends" from Iceland, Brussels, and Munich, I may just do it.
~The girls started art and geography yesterday. Now that Aria is in the second grade, she has to walk herself to her next class instead of an adult walking her there. She made to the door of her second class, and I went to check on her. The second she saw me, she started SOBBING, "I need to go home now." Poor little thing was as brave as she could be, but seeing me made her lose her resolve. I love my tenderhearted girl!
~Speaking of Aria, she also lost her first tooth. It was a NON-EVENT. She called me and said, "Mommy something white just fell out of my mouth." Simple as that. The "Tooth Daddy" gave her $5.
I remember when I got a quarter. I can only imagine what she will put under her kids pillow!
On the adoption front:
~We filed our I800 last week. It takes @15 days for approval, and then it is forwarded to a VISA center who cables China. Who really CABLES anymore? Uh, no one. My guess is that it is faxed or emailed, but the USCIS likes to use antiquated words like "cable". Whatever.
~We could get travel approval anywhere from the beginning of October to middle of November.
~Because there are holidays and trade fairs in October, and the Asian Olympics in November and December, the rumor is, that U.S. Consulate appointments will be bunched up. My PRAYER is, that we get travel approval in early October, as many agencies will not send families to China that month due to the additional fees. That leaves appointments available for folks like us, with AWESOME agencies, who let you travel, despite the madness.
~If that does not happen, it could very easily get UGLY and we could be waiting until December to get an appointment. The agencies who deny travel in October get travel approvals in September and book up all the November Consulate appointments... Let's just all pray- Okay???
~I may be traveling to China alone. We are weighing some pros and cons right now. I am at peace with it, and so is Greg. I don't want to bring a travel companion, although both my boys have offered. Because the twins need to bond with ME, no one else can do anything for them. So, I might as well be alone and nap when they do, and not worry about another person being bored in a hotel room in China!
~I have gotten many GASPS and horror looks when I mention this, and a few- "How can you take care of twins alone?" I would like to state, for the record, that I will in fact, come home to take care of not only two, but FOUR kids by myself. All age 6 and under. My husband travels. It's a fact of life. If I was worried about caring for twins, we wouldn't adopt them ;-)
~ I am almost done packing. Let me re-phrase that- I am almost done packing for a trip that could be anywhere from October- December. Greg says I am nesting. I say, that with Gianna's surgery, and a month long recovery, IF we get to travel on the early end of things, I don't want to be in panic mode.
~Who am I kidding? I will be in panic mode packed or not packed! Ha!
~ I feel the NEED to clean out every drawer and cabinet in my house. Like T-O-D-A-Y.
~I may be nesting.
~OR, just have a ridiculously dirty cabinets and drawers.
~I'll let you decide.
Thanks for the tidbits. Everytime I read your blog, your travel date gets earlier. I like that since we also filed our I-800 last week. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for early October, but preparing my heart for later. I do hope it's not as late as December, but God knows when we'll go.
ReplyDeleteI guess if we see you in Guangzhou, we'll just smile and wave! Don't worry, I won't offer any help! :o)
You know, if this was your first trip, I'd worry about you going alone. But you have done it before, you know the ins and outs. The only downside is that no one would be there to "run out" and get you something if you need it and the twins are sleeping. But that is what hotel staff is for.
ReplyDeleteI'll be praying.
You may not be watering your plants too much, BUT you may have someone helping when you don't know it. Just a thought.
ReplyDeleteI know that you don't have dirty cabinets and drawers! I'M SURE IT IS NESTING!!!!
I have all the confidence in the world in you. I know for a fact that you can do anything you set your mind to.
by the way, He already knows when you are going and it He has it all figured out.
Love as always
O.K. at the risk of being accused of interfering I am going to butt in. Signing in is a small price to pay to keep your information from all the weirdo's out there. And how long would it be before they or someone else logged on? WE we worried about the openness of the blog before and were relieved when you tightened up the security. There, I've said it, now I probably have some in the family mad at me but that's just the way I feel.
ReplyDeleteTwo more comments -
ReplyDeleteI'd keep your blog private, if for no other reason than to avoid any possible problems with the adoption process.
Second, give your plants more direct sunlight. All the humidity in the air will keep them moist enough to grow those shrooms!
Happy nesting. I can't believe you're packed. I'm packed....for a weekend trip to iowa this weekend. I'll be packing for China in October or November or December (say it won't be so!!!) Praying that all things move along smoothly......and that we get to see each other in China! If you end up traveling alone, once we get to Guanzhou, we can help you out!!! We're bringing all of our four children. Many hands make light work!!!
ReplyDelete