Adoption Update

Today in the mail we got our I-171H from Homeland Security. Part of the adoption process requires us to submit the I-600A form (Application for Advanced Processing of Orphan Petition) to our local USCIS office, which we did at the end of February. Once the I-600A was submitted we waited a few weeks before receiving a notice with an appointment time to have our federal fingerprints done. This was an interesting experience, the people that did our fingerprints were such stereotypical government employees. After our fingerprint clearance we receive the I-171H letter from USCIS (Notice of Favorable Determination Concerning Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition) stating that our fingerprints have cleared. Now that information goes with our file in the Philippines saying we are ready to adopt.

This doesn't help us with the "pile" we are waiting in for a match, but it makes it better when we finally get that match. We really need to start working on the things we are in control of; painting the basement, rearranging bedrooms, buying beds. Generally getting our home ready for our kids.

More missing teeth

We just can't keep teeth in our kids' mouths (or money in the tooth fairy's pocket). Liam lost another front tooth last Friday at school. It was lunch and I was there to help with a fundraiser. Liam walks over and opens his mouth and hands me the tooth matter of factly. Then all of his friends wanted to see it, so I took it for a trip around the lunch table.

Today Lance lost at tooth at breakfast. There were tears and a whole lot of drama. You would think someone stabbed the poor child for how much pain and anguish there was.

It's hard to believe they can be such opposites of one another and yet such good friends.

I'll try to take pictures soon of the toothless monster Liam.

Swarm Game

Our vantage point
Yesterday we got free tickets to go see the Minnesota Swarm. None of us had ever been to a Lacrosse game before, so we were excited. Oliver's family had invited us, so we went to the hospital to visit with Oliver than we headed to the game. It was only two blocks away at the XCel center, so we just walked over. There are 4 quarters in lacrosse and they are 15 minutes each and it is very fast paced. It held the kids attention most of the time. The only time we ran into a problem with kids was when Liam got thirsty. I told him there was no way we were going to spend $4 on a bottle of water, so he just had to suffer. I did hear often during the game how he was going to die from not having water, but he finally quit when I told him there is a Burger King on the way home and we can have an Icee there as a treat.

Liam and Oliver's sister
We did lose the game and it was a play off game, so that was a bummer. Lance really loved one of the moves. The guy was behind the net and he scored by throwing the ball in from over the net. They both had fun with watching the game and the excitement of the crowd.
Liam and Oliver's brother

My dessert disaster

I didn't want to depress you with my two usual posts, snow in late April or Oliver's condition, so I thought I would make fun of myself.

We had my brother in law and his family over on Saturday for a birthday meal. Both of them have birthdays in April and we are on the new budget that doesn't allow much extra money for fun gifts. I knew my menu long before, but waited until Sat. to put it together. I had to run Lance up to the hospital to visit Oliver, but I made the lasagna before I left. This is the recipe I was making for the dessert. I decided I would make the brownies before I left and let them cool while I was gone. I came home and thought I would just make the topping and it would fall together nicely. Usually I can follow a recipe.

I started following the recipe, the birthday girl was helping me, and I created a disaster. This was no fault of the birthday girl, she was just innocently following my directions. I guess I was distracted or blond and I had Michelle whip the egg whites in the double broiler not the yolks.

Okay, I threw away the 6 egg whites and the mints that we mixed in and decided to start again. This time I paid close attention and Ryan was the helper. I followed the directions, I thought, but instead of a mousse like substance I got this...

I threw out another 6 eggs and more mints. The picture doesn't even do it justice as to how wrong I went in the recipe. So I decided that I was not going to cry, but I was not going to try again. (Plus I was out of eggs) I took solace in the fact that I could use it for a blog entry and laugh about it. Michelle actually helped create the final dessert.
We took the brownies and microwaved them for a few seconds in a bowl and put this on them.
Then I went shopping with Michelle!

Feel free to make the dessert and tell me all about it. I guess I will stick to buying the boxed ones:)

Update on our friend Oliver

Today Oliver's mother was told that his epilepsy is evolving into a more dangerous situation. His seizures have become more frequent and more severe and they have to look at some new treatment options. He is going to be admitted to the hospital on Friday for more testing and to figure out which of the three treatment options is the best. There are very severe side effects to each of the treatments, I can't even go into them without crying because they are so terrible. We just ask that you keep this cute 10 year old boy in your prayers and thank everyone that has donated to Lance's walk. The doctors think there may be some major breakthroughs in the next 5 years, your donations will help those breakthroughs.
Thank you again

Why I Blog Blog

I was tagged by my cousin-in-law to answer these questions. If you read her blog you will probably find her answers more interesting, but here is my shot at it. I must admit I like the tags with the simple questions of "do you eat cold cereal or toast for breakfast?" over these deep thinking ones, I'm not really a deep person :)

1. Why did you start your blog?
I began my blog to keep everyone up to date on both our adoption process and the boys growing up. We have so many friends and family members that we keep in touch with by e-mail and I was never getting around to writing those e-mails, this way everyone gets the news.

2. How did you come up with your blog name?
This demonstrates how uncreative I am. I thought, "our family is growing in two ways, that sounds like a name for a blog". Little did I realize everyone's family grows, I thought we were the only ones.

3. Do your friends and family know about your blog and what do they think?
I really can't answer this question because I don't know what you really think. I guess the important family and friends know about the blog:)

4. How do you write posts?
This is how this one goes...oh no, I haven't blogged for a couple of weeks, something must have happened in our boring lives, what can I tell others about? I do try to put things in the blog that are about the boys or our adoption. I could just rant about other issues that I complain about on a daily basis, but then you would be really bored.

5. Have you ever had a troll or had to delete unkind comments?
Nope, not even that much interest in my blog. I guess I'll have to think of some creative tags.

6. Do you check your stats or care how many people read your blog. If you care how do you increase traffic?
My blog friend Rachel told me how to keep stats on my blog, but I don't understand them when I get to them and Ryan doesn't have the time to spend figuring out (and explain) my little blog things. I am not really a high traffic girl, so the level is fine. My attitude is that if someone wants to read it they can, if not, that's okay.

Now the fun part for me...I get to tag someone. I choose Pea and Rachel. Have fun ladies, make us proud.

Wordless Wednesday- Pillow Fight Battle Scar (from a sleep over)