Some house pictures

This is Liam's bed. I just wanted to take a picture of all the stuffed animals that sleep with him. I think there are at least 25 of them, and most nights none of them even fall out.

This is the final product of Shella May's room. Sorry for the sun, we aren't used to that around here and I forgot about exposure.

This is another view of her room. It is kind of a small room, so it was difficult to get a good picture of the entire room.

We got news

Remember how just yesterday I wrote about just waiting? Well, we got an email from our social worker yesterday that adds to our wait. This week marked a month in our waiting for the Embassy appointment. I felt like that was taking too long compared to other people's time lines, so I wrote our agency and they proceeded to write the Philippines. The response was not what we expected. Apparently her paperwork never made it to where ever it was supposed to go. I hate to use the word lost, but it has been misplaced. No one realized this until the inquiry was made yesterday, but they are going to start looking for it now. We have a whole spectrum of emotions going on right now. We are confident they will find it and all will be okay, but the "wait" we have been in for the last month will start over when they find the packet and forward it to the right place.

In the meantime I started my spring cleaning getting ready for bringing her home. I'm not really much of a cleaner, but I have two rooms done to my satisfaction (which means they have gotten their annual dusting, haha). As a reward for my cleaning, I'll post some pictures when I am all done. Mostly for a keepsake of what my house looks like when I clean it.

Just Waiting

I haven't posted for a while for a few reasons. First of all we have been beyond busy. Soccer started for both the boys last week, and we know who the coach is. They are still in orchestra a few times a week and I was chairperson of the book fair at their school. (I'm glad that is over!) We have also been busy getting our house in order for bringing home our girl. We have painted walls and moved furniture and we are getting closer to ready. This weekend's goal is to clean this dirty house and then we will be all ready.

The other reason I haven't posted anything is because we are just waiting. It is much harder to wait these days than any other part of the process (sorry to tell that to my friends that are waiting at different stages). We have a code that we can check the Embassy website to see if she has a medical appointment yet. I must check it a hundred times a day even though I know nothing is going to change on it. I have been trying not to bug our agency, but this week I had to break down and email them twice. The first time I emailed I was kind of blown off with a "we'll get back to you" answer. Yesterday I was more forceful (or pathetic) and our social worker said that they have an email into ICAB asking about our status and they will let us know the response. Her packet has been at the Embassy stage for over a month now. I have an online group of other parents adopting and I compare their time lines to ours. Usually by the one month mark there is at least an appointment date, then a lot of people travel at the 2 month mark. So we will just sit and wait. We haven't started packing yet, so I guess we'll do that next to keep busy.

The soccer coach

Just wanted to let everyone know that Ryan has taken on a new role (and not by choice). Yesterday an email was sent out to all the parents of 1st and 2nd grade soccer players saying they didn't have enough coaches for the season. So, I told Ryan and he called a friend and they are co-coaching Liam's team. It will be a learning experience for all of them. I think their main job will be snack schedule, keeping the kids busy and making sure everyone plays. I'll keep you up to date on the win/lose stats as the season starts.

Why we needed one more thing in our busy schedule, I do not know. You should see our May calendar, there is not an inch of space to write one more thing on it. I'm keeping June emptier in hopes of going on a big trip!

One more step closer

By the time I understand the complete process I will have been home for 6 months. I read on my group page about the steps we need to do after referral and our social worker has told them to me in numerous emails when I ask questions, yet every time I get a new letter I question "what does this mean? I guess it is because it is not the timeline we were told to follow at all, luckily we are going much faster. I guess doing that paperwork twice was worth it.

So, today we got a letter from the National Visa Center saying they have forwarded Shella May's packet to the U.S.Embassy in the Philippines. I had kind of skipped over that entire step in my original interpretation, so luckily it only took a week to get past that stage.

Now your saying "what does this mean?" Adoption friends please correct me if I am wrong, this means that her packet is in the Philippines waiting for appointment dates. She has to go to Manila and have a medical exam and a visa interview. Once these appointments are completed and she has passed with flying colors (think positively) we will go to the Philippines. We are hoping for the end of May or early June, but we can't get there on wishes alone. I'll keep you posted as we find out new things.

Doctors, pills and shots, oh my

Okay it doesn't sound like the Lions and Tigers and Bears, but you knew what I was going for. On Monday I went to the International Travel Clinic to see what I need to get ready to go to the Philippines. It was very interesting...I got a shot for Japanese something, some pills to take for Typhoid protection and a prescription for anti-Malaria pills. Today I get to go back for my second Japanese thingy shot and a Hep A and Hep B shot. I should have the entire alphabet covered soon. Of course all the side effects of the pills are nausea, great I don't have a problem with a weak stomach already or anything. So wish me luck and good health.

I think it is very interesting that we lived in Japan, but never had the Japanese thingy shot. It must be an illness that attacks only visitors or something:)

We're still cooking

Just wanted to update everyone on Lance and Liam's progress in cooking meals for the family. With school back in session it has slowed down a bit, but we are still trying to have them cook once a week. Lance made pizza one day, it took 2 hours, but it was good. Last night he made Ranch chicken bites (thanks Heather for the recipe). He was much faster last night because he knew they had to be done before our favorite reality show came on. He is gaining confidence and really looks forward to cooking. I have to nudge Liam a little more. We will see what recipes they pick out next and keep you updated. I told them eventually I would like them meal plan the entire meal and make sure we have all the food groups, but right now we are just learning how to follow a recipe.

Another side note about food prep, last night I made brownies from a book called Deceptively Delicious (thanks Michelle) because I know we don't eat enough veggies. Lance saw me puree the spinach and carrots and was a little reluctant to take a brownie in his lunch today. He asked for a sample and I let him have a bite for breakfast. He said they were good and that surprised him, pointing to the book so that Liam would not catch on.