649 Down! 119 to Go!

Back in May of 2006 I started a paperclip chain. Each paperclip represented a family with an LID before ours waiting for referral with our adoption agency. My chain has now gone from 649 paperclips/families down to only 119 paperclips! We are definitely getting there! Since our agency received 22 referrals, I was able to take off that many paperclips this month!

I wish I had started this chain when we first became LID, then there would have been even more paperclips to start with!

Referrals!

Yesterday, (I'm a little behind posting) our agency received 22 referrals, all girls! This time CCAA made it to November 25, '05! Considering Nov 22 and 23 were big LID days this is sort of good! December of '05 is said to be smaller than November so, hopefully, things will move a little faster once they are completely out of November. Here is my prediction or WAG:
Finish November and up to December 5th in October '07
December 6-20 in November'07

December 21-31 in December '07

January 1-12 in January '08

January 13-23 in February '08 (US!)

So now, since Chinese New Year is on February 7, '08 and CCAA will be closed that whole week, I am thinking that we should get our referral the week of mine and Gary's 26th Wedding Anniversary which is Feb 11! Wouldn't that be the most amazing gift?!

Or, even better, CCAA mails referrals before Chinese New Year and we see Kaelin's sweet little face in the end of January! It feels so good to finally see a light at the end of this loooooooong tunnel!

Introducing Charlotte!

Our daughter, Marie, adopted this adorable kitty a couple of weeks ago! She is such a sweet little furball and so full of boundless energy! I guess this kind of makes me a grandma! He He!

Also, referrals are due to arrive next week, I strongly doubt that CCAA will make it out of November! But who knows, it could happen! And these are the days of our lives. Sighhhhhh.

Gifts From My Precious Panda Secret Pal!

Yesterday, I found a big box of goodies on my front porch from my secret pal! Inside there were so many cute things: 3 adorable rompers, a book called "I Love You Through and Through", a soft little "Peek-a-Boo Panda book, a starfish teething blanky, and two colorful sets of abc123 refrigerator magnets! I have know idea who my secret pal is, but I really appreciate her thoughtfulness and generosity! It won't be long now before all of these wonderful gifts will be put to good use. Thank you, secret pal!

Almost Forgot!

Wow! I just realized it is our LID anniversary today! We've been so busy lately that this time it almost got away from us! We truly think that there is a light at the end of the tunnel, finally. We are hoping that CCAA finishes November LIDs in October, then December LIDs in January, and finally JanuaryLIDs (US!) in February. So I am predicting that we get our referral on February 5! But don't hold me to that, it's just a very hopeful prediction.

I got back from visiting my mom tonight and her kidneys are starting to function again. She's not out of the woods, yet, but it was good to hear the doctor say she was responding to the medication. Thank God! She still has a long way to go and will be in the hospital for a while longer. The doctors and nurses never tell you anything is for sure, they always just say, "We'll just take it one day at a time!" I told her she has to get better because she has a granddaughter that is still waiting to meet her! Hurry up CCAA!!!!

Catching up!

Sorry, that I haven't posted anything in a while, but life sure can keep us busy! We just moved Sarah down to Memphis TN so she could start grad school at University of Memphis! We left on Thursday afternoon and drove as far as we could (packed to the hilt and towing her car!) Wow, was it hot! When we finally got there on Friday, it was 105 degrees, ugh! Mind you it was in the 70's when we left Michigan, so it was quite a shock! Moving was horrendous, but we managed to survive it and get Sarah all settled in. I think we all lost about 10 lbs in sweat! We didn't do too much in the way of sightseeing because of the heat and we were totally exhausted from moving. How can one little girl have so much "stuff"?! We did go down to Beal Street and have dinner on Friday night, the BBQ was really amazing! Then after we finished moving her on Saturday we went over and walked around the campus at U of M. It is such a beautiful campus. Sarah really thinks that she will like it there. We wish we could have stayed a bit longer but Gary had work bright and early Monday morning so we had to get home on Sunday. BTW it was a whopping 59 degrees when we arrived home! I just turned the air conditioning back on yesterday because it got up to 90! Good grief!

On the day we got home we found out that my mom had to go into the hospital because her kidneys are failing. We are waiting to find out if she has to go on dialysis. The doctors are giving her medicine to improve her kidney function, but it isn't working the way they would like. I have been spending a lot of time up at the hospital to stay with my mom. Her nurses are always so busy they can't always get to her so my sister, and dad, and me all take turns staying with her to tend to her needs. I will have more to report when I get back from the hospital this evening.

Happy Birthday, Gary!

Today is our fearless leader's (aka) "The Big Man's" 46th birthday! I met Gary when we were both 12 yrs old and, honestly, he hasn't changed a bit! (except for maybe that little bald spot on the top of his head and he has gotten a bit bigger!) I can't believe that was 34 yrs ago!

When we started our adoption we were both "only" 43! How depressing is that? We are having his favorite, hamburgers on the grill and corn on the cob for dinner, after he finishes 18 holes of golf, of course! It's so exciting to know that we will have our little Kaelin home to celebrate her daddy's birthday next year!

Target!

Sarah and I went shopping at Target and we just couldn't resist! How cute are these boots?! And, well, the onsie pretty much says it all! What fun!

Referrals are in!

Our agency received referrals! CCAA made it thru November 21, 2005! We are really starting to see the light at the end of of this loooooong tunnel! Congratulations to all of the families who saw their baby's face for the first time! Someday soon, that will be us!

Tag, You're It!

I have been tagged by my sweet friend, Susan R! So here goes.....


5 Things I was doing ten years ago:

1. Driving to and from cheerleading competitions/practice, wrestling tournaments/practice, baseball games/practice!
2. Working for my husband's company.
3. Teaching Sunday School.
4. Helping with an avalanche of homework and school projects every night.
5. Going to bed exhausted!

5 Favorite snack foods:

1. Candy, especially, big chewy sweet tarts!
2. Chocolate anything
3. Lay's potato chips
4. Cheetos (baked, not fried)
5. Vanilla wafers dunked in canned chocolate frosting!

5 Songs I that I know all of the lyrics to:

1. Happy Birthday
2. The Rainbow Song
3. The Barney Song
4. Theme from Sesame Street
5. The Star Spangled Banner

5 Things that I would do if I were a millionaire:

1. Pay off our mortgage
2. Pay off our kid's student loans
3. Pay off our family's mortgages
4. Buy my husband a golf course
5. Donate to many different charities

5 Bad habits:

1. Eating way too much candy
2. Not exercising enough
3. Snacking before bed
4. Waiting until my car is buried on E before I get gas
5. Never keeping my cell phone charged

5 things that I like to do:

1. Eat
2. Read
3. Watch movies
4. Shop
5. Kiss my husband

5 Things that I would never wear again:

1. Hair scrunchies
2. Leggings
3. A perm
4. Short shorts
5. A bikini

5 People I tag now:

1. Kathy C
2. Rhonda
3. Sharon
4. Wendy H
5. Lori H (I know you don't have a blog, but I pick you anyway!)