Waiting...

This stinks. We are waiting to see when our Dossier is DTC. If this is how it is going to be....it's going to be a looooonnnnnng wait. UGH!

The WIGGLES!!!!!

We took Stinker Doodle and his best friend, Jake Jake (Jake's Jake's parents went, too!) to see the Wiggles. I was really surprised they came to our town. We took the boys 2 years ago to Tampa to see them. Check out Stinker Doodle's Capt. Featherswords hat! The boys had a great time!!!!!

Agency Picnic

Today was our agencies Welcoming Ceremony and Reunion picnic. We had a very good time. We got to meet other families that had adopted and have their girls home and other families that adopted from other countries. The funny thing was, people kept asking us where we adopted Stinker Doodle from!!!!!!! We would politely explain that he is our biological son...they would apoligize about it after. But, it was kind of funny. The thing is, we were the only family there waiting...I guess it is too hard for those that have been waiting. Maybe next year, we will be those people. This is new for us. We did take a great picture with Lisa!

Dossier papers to our agency

ALL of our papers are done on our end. We overnighted all of our part of the Dossier paperwork. I spoke to our social worker, she was working on getting our homestudy completed. Looks like we are getting close...I can't wait.

USCIS papers came TODAY!!!!

I was so excited to see those papers. Everything is a go with Immigration. Very, very happy...

Letter to the CCAA

WOW! That was hard. How do you write a letter and request a child? Ted and I had a difficult time putting it into words. The problem is...Ted writes one way and I write it completely different. We really had to work together to get it done. I am very proud of our letter...I hope they like it.

Call to USCIS

I know...I know...don't call them! However, we had not heard anything and since it was mentioned that I might have to go back and take another day off to do fingerprints...I think I should call and find out. The nicest lady answered the phone and said they apperaed to be Ok. Very cool!!!!!!

Homestudy

Since my test results have come back somewhat OK, we decided to schedule our Homestudy. It went great. Stinker Doodle "gave the tour" to our social worker. He even took her outside to show her the playhouse in the back yard. He told her all about the neighborhood and all the kids that live nearby. It was very cute! All went well. We sat and went over all our paperwork and determined what we need to collect. We are very close to having our Dossier ready to go to China!

Test Results

Well, nothing serious. I am not going to die (yet!). I have what you would call a "fatty" liver. I am overweight and it is affecting my liver function. The doctor says I need to exercise more, eat better and lose weight. My Doctor wrote a letter describing my ailment and that it should not hinder my duties as a Mom. It doesn't now!! However, T and I have stopped eating fast food and bought a treadmill since all this liver stuff had started. We will see how we do about getting "healthy". It's the least we can do for our children. Wish us luck!

UGGGHHH!

We switched Stinker Doodle to a new pre-school. We felt it was necessary. However, he's been there a few weeks and he has his first case of Strep Throat. Stinker Doodle's teacher called and he had thrown up at school and had a fever. He never complained about his throat hurting. A good lesson for Mommy. My poor baby....

Soccer Star!

Stinker Doodle started playing soccer. Itis his first time and he is the youngest on the team. He is making Mommy proud!

Ultrasound

Yes! I have a liver and gall bladder and all that stuff. We will not know results till next week. I have to go back in for more bloodwork, too! I really hate needles....

Big Decision....

We have decided to cancel our Homestudy visit today until we know my health status. We can't continue this adoption until we know for sure. Hopefully, we will be back on track soon. I hate doing this.....

Doctor Appointment

Talk about throwing a wrench into our plans...had a follow up appointment with my Doctor today. Seems I have some issue with my liver. My liver function results were elevated. He thinks it is nothing to worry about...However, it does not look good on my medical papers. I am so upset! I have to go for an ultra-sound of my liver and stomach area at the end of the month. T's results came back fine. What do we do now????

USCIS Appointment

We had our fingerprint appointment for our I-600. What a mess! No wonder people hate going to the office to file papers. We got a letter stating we had a 7:30 appointment (we had a 2 hour drive) and when we got there the office does not open till 8 am. No one came out until 8:15 and stated that they were taking 8 am appointments first. HELLO!!!! When I stated we had a 7:30 appointment...he looked at me like "YEAH...right lady!" Of course, I had my letter and they let us in first. They weren't happy we had Stinker Doodle with us...but, when you have to be up at 4:30 am to make your fingerprint appointments...TOO bad!
Of course, T's prints looked good. Mine, she said I would have to probably come back because of my skin is too dry. I explained I had Psoriasis on my hands and that was the best I could do. I have been moisturizing like a mad woman. Figures something would throw a wrench in our plans..... we will wait and see.

Tu Tu's Birthday

My grandmother would have been 94 years old today. I sure do miss her...it's been six years since she left us. She would have been so excited about this baby. Tu Tu loved all things Hawaiian and Asian. You could tell when you walked into her home.

Happy Birthday Uncle William!!

It's been a busy week...

We have a lot of things going on this week. We both have our medical appointments for our paperwork. I know there will be some bloodwork appointments, too! I hate that part!!!!! We have been requesting copies of birth certificates, our marriage license, income forms, etc. So much paperwork!!!!!

Passports

We went and got our passports today. This is my first passport. I hope I get to use it a lot!!!!

Passport Pictures

We went as a family to CVS and got our passport photos taken. We are going to the passport office on Monday. It is very important we do this ASAP. Out of all our pictures, Stinker Doodle's came out the best! T looked mad on his first one...it looked like a mug shot!

Happy Birthday Pop-Pop!!

Hey you big....I'll be nice today. Love, Stinker Doodle

Happy Birthday Na Na!!!!

We love you...we promise not to tell anyone how old you really are!!!

Happy 10th Birthday Twilighter!

I can't believe you have been with us for 7 years. You will always be Mommy and Daddy's first baby. You have been very good with Stinker Doodle...he loves you very much!

Back to Work!

Today, T and I went back to work. Today was Stinker Doodle's first day at pre-school. I was a little nervous...but he did GREAT!

Interview & Stinker Doodle's 4 year old Check-Up

Today was our second couple interview with our agency. It went well. Stinker Doodle had his 4 year old check-up today. The doctor said he was doing great. Stinker Doodle has grown 2 1/2 inches this past year. He his getting to be soooo BIG!

Off to Seaworld

We promised Stinker Doodle we would take him to Seaworld. He loves all kinds of animals. We stayed for two days. The night at the hotel was interesting... The fire alarm was pulled and Stinker Doodle slept right through it!!!!

Our first Interview

Today was our first interview with the Adoption Agency. It went very well. I hope...

Happy Birthday Stinker Doodle!!!!!!

My baby is 4 years old today. He has grown into a little boy. Mommy and Daddy are very proud of him. NaNa and Mommy took Stinker Doodle to the petting zoo. He got to see a baby zebra. Then, we went to visit Daddy at school.

Stinker Doodle's Birthday Dinner

The night before Stinker Doodle was born, T and I ate at our favorite Chinese Buffet. Stinker Doodle was born the next day...10 days early! Boy, was I happy. He weighed 9 lbs. 6 ozs. BIG BOY!!!!! So, each year we go and have dinner at the restaurant. Stinker Doodle's NaNa who lives in Georgia came for Stinker Doodle's party (surprise!) and stayed with us for the week. She got to have dinner with us.

Stinker Doodle's Pirate Birthday Party

Today was Stinker Doodle's 4th Birthday Party. It had a pirate theme. He loves pirates!!!!! His friends came to his party and we played pirate games and ate pirate cake.

Happy Birthday Gra-Gra!

Stinker Doodle loves you!

Adoption Agency Application

We sent our application to the Adoption Agency today. Ted and I looked at each other just before we mailed it. I guess we were just making sure we wanted to do this.

We Made the Decision!

Today, we decided to adopt a child from China! After 3 years and months of fertility treatments we are done trying. All we want is Stinker Doodle to be a BIG BROTHER!!!!! We have decided to sign with an agency in Sarasota as it comes highly recommended by a colleague. This is a big step for us.