Can we say CORNDOG!!!!!

The pirate had a corndog for lunch today. That is the biggest corndog I have ever seen!!! I 'm not sure if he is eating it OR singing into it !!!!!

Dr Seuss Day!

The pirate celebrated everything "Seuss" at school today. He had a lot of fun with his teacher and classmates.

Weather in Chengde

I checked the weather in Chengde...they had snow flurries overnight. It is still very cold in China right now. The high today was 31 degrees and the low was 16 degrees. I wonder if they let the kids out to play in the snow? Boy, will she have a drastic change in temperature when she comes home!!! It is in the low 80's here today....

I shouldn't talk about the cold weather...we are expecting a 30 degree drop in temperature on Wednesday!!!

The Pirates room....

is completely cleaned out for the arrival of the new carpet. So, I took some pictures for those of you who have not had the opportunity to see his room.

Goofy!

Busy Day # 2

Well, we got the purple walls and closet done last night. While we were painting, we were entertained with the music of very festive Irish people. It was pretty loud for Irish music!!!

Daddy got up this morning and covered all the stars with the green paint...Daddy argued it is blue. The pirate says, "Who cares? It's just pretty!" It looks like sea foam to me.... Anyway, we finished the walls and covered up our missed spots. I think it looks great! We will pull the tape off tomorrow.

The pirate and I went to go see the "Spiderwick Chronicles". It was really good. We came home and got pizza with Daddy for dinner. I think we had a very good day.

Busy day

Daddy had a hair cut appointment and then we went to the field for the pirate's first T-ball game. Well, the schedule was changed and we didn't know it...WE MISSED THE GAME! Man, I was mad! The pirate took it in stride. Uncle Cris came to see him play or rather sit in the car. The pirate was happy to see him. The next game is on Thursday at 6...I think??????

We came home and started painting. I am sad to see the stars go from the pirates baby room. However, the mermaid's room is going to be sooo cute! The pirate helped paint, too! Check out the pics......

Night out

Met my friend Kerri for dinner at Appleby's and then headed over to the movie theatre to see "U2 3D". It is Kerri's favorite band. It was pretty good. We thought it would be sold out. HAHA!!! There were 2 other people in the theatre with us!!! We clapped, sang and even held up our cell phones! We have been in the house too long...I know!

I came home and the boys had cleaned out the playroom. We want to start painting tomorrow after baseball. The house looks like a wreck...everything is in the front room with the dog. Don't worry...he has plenty of room. He is such a sweet dog....he loves the pirate so much!

Blog Name Change

The hubby and I were talking about starting a blog for our trip to China. Funny thing, I had started one already! I wanted to get it all updated and ready for our referral when it came. Then, I was going to show him what I had been working on to pass the time while we waited. Well.....he had a great idea for a name. So, I changed it tonight. I hope you all like our blog and hope you have fun keeping up with all the chaos in this house!
Arrrggghhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We got our PA!

We came home from school today and got an email from our agency. We have been Pre-approved (PA) from the CCAA. Yipppeee! It was very cool to see our names and her name in chinese. This means that they have pulled our file and are now processing the adoption. This is great news! This usually takes about 90 days....we will see!

Plus, the pirate and I went to the mailbox to get the mail. We finally got the referral from the CCAA. There were more pictures of our girl in the file. She has rosey cheeks and is very beautiful. We can't wait to see her in person.

Let's go CCAA...move those papers!!!!!!

Opening Day and The Birthday Party

Today was opening day for T-Ball. The pirate had two games. He played well. Then, we jetted off to a birthday party for a "very close" classmate of the pirate. He says she is his "girlfriend!" Yes...he is only 5 and already has a girlfriend. They ate pizza and cake, played mini-golf and raced on the go carts. They all had a lot of fun...and Mommy is tired!

Happy Valentines Day!

Exciting news.....

We noticed that our agencies tracking chart was changed today. It shows that we dropped out of our group and that we have a SN request sent in the the CCAA. Yippppeeee!!!!!!! That means our LOI has been sent. China knows now we have been matched with this child thru our agency. What is very cool about it all is that, these requests are being sent via the computer. Not snail mail anymore. This might move a little quicker...we will see.

Happy Chinese New Year!!!

The year of the rat....it has been good to us so far!

Of all times to get our news...the CCAA and the rest of China is pretty much shut down for the rest of the week. We will have to wait to get our Letter of Intent for this adoption sent over. The sooner we get our paperwork sent...the sooner she comes home.

Stinker Doodle insisted we have chinese for dinner tonight. Daddy can eat it every night. The boy wants what he wants...take out it is!

LET THE PAPERWORK BEGIN!!!

Got an email from our social worker today. We have many things to update for our file to be reviewed. So, here we go again....finger prints, background checks (Thank you Bryon!), passport photos...oh my!!!!
At least, it doesn't have to be done all over!

I keep looking at her picture....

Here she is....

Our little angel...she lives in Chengde, Hebei province. Her birthday is January 15, 2005. That is 2 days before her Daddy's. She looks so sweet and sad. Hang in there little one...Mommy and Daddy are on their way!!!!

Pictures coming....

"Let's move forward and bring her home..."

is all I remember reading today. I had my third grade class in my room at the time. It was almost 9 o'clock and we were glazing our pinch pots and cleaning up...when I checked my phone and email. Thank goodness for my iphone! I would have gone all day without knowing as our SW is pretty good at returning emails first thing in the morning. I couldn't believe what I was reading...I walked back into my storage room for a second to gather myself because the tears were flowing and I didn't want the kids to see me! Well, they did and were concerned something was wrong. They are so sweet....I called Ted to share the news. I had to repeat it two times to him! He didn't believe me either!!!! By this time, the kids knew and were very happy and had lots of questions.

So, I called Kerri and asked her to come over to read the email. Well, because...I still did not believe it. She looked at me and said, "I think you have a daughter!" I didn't want to wait to tell Stinker Doodle. So, she went and got him and he looked at me with the biggest eyes I have ever seen and just hugged me! He didn't say a word....then he lost his pants from jumping up and down so much with excitement!!! He went back to his class and announced he was a BIG BROTHER!!!!!!

At lunch, I called our Social Worker....because, I still didn't believe it! She confirmed it. YEAH!!!!!!

It was really hard to work the rest of the day because we needed to come home and tell our families. We had not said anything to them for fear of the biggest let down in the world. We didn't want everyone to get their hopes up.....like we had done for the past week. I called my Mom, texted my brother and sister and Ted went to see his Mom to share the news. The family seems very excited about this little girl coming home. I think they were all expecting a baby...not a three year old!

We went out for chinese food to celebrate our great news. Ted and I talked about why today to get this news...Ted did say we would get the news today. Well, it was two years ago that Mickey, Ted's Step-Dad passed away. Mickey is looking over us.....

Stinker Doodle is back!

He went to school today. He is feeling better. He still doesn't like the medicine.....

No news from the agency today. However, I did email her at the end of the day. We are just anxious for some news...good or bad.

Ted says we will here something tomorrow....

I should be a Doctor!

Stinker Doodle got up this morning and said his throat was sore. I took a look at him and noticed a rash all over him. Then, when waiting for the doctors office to open and make an appointment...he threw up! He has Strep...I know it.

Stinker Doodle went to the Doctor and she confirmed it....it is Strep!!! Nasty (Stinker Doodle's words!) medicine for 10 days...I don't think we are making it to baseball practice tonight.

On a side note...no news from the agency today.

I wish I knew.....

Stinker Doodle got up this morning, said he was thirsty and then went back to bed!!! I went and checked on him....he was so HOT! Took his temp...101 degrees. I gave him some Motrin and he felt better. He ran around and played all day. Then later on tonight, his fever came back. He then fell asleep at 6 PM and woke up at 8 PM. So, we stayed up and watched Grease , the movie. I think he liked it! We are staying home tomorrow and going to the doctor.

Stinker Doodle got a call from his T-ball coach. He is on the Braves and they have their first practice tomorrow night. I hope he feels better!

What a day....

Today was a busy one!

Stinker Doodle had a birthday party at the skating rink. He had alot of fun, but was cranky. Not like him! He fell asleep on the way home from the rink. I think he is going to have bruises from head to toe...he fell down so many times, I lost track!

Daddy had to be at work for an 80 year celebration at his school. He said it was a very nice celebration...many former students, teachers and administrators were there.

Plus, it was our 8th wedding anniversary. Happy Ground Hogs Day, honey!

February 1st

Today is the agency deadline for this little sweet girl. I wonder how many other families have shown interest in her and put their names in too? We will have to wait and see...

We met up with our friends for dinner tonight. We went to Appleby's...the boys favorite place! They had finished their dinner and were looking out the window (so I thought!) and playing. Stinker Doodle said "Mommy! Look at this bug!" Jake Jake said, "Yeah! Look at it!" Of course, I was totally grossed OUT! I looked...it was a LADY BUG! Of all places...a lady bug. You know the story in chinese adoptions, people claim to see them in places just prior to getting their referral. I know...don't get my hopes up!