Fun Family Weekend

I got lots of great online scrapbooking deals this weekend, most were just $1.60!! (can you tell??)

We ended Saturday with a visit to see Santa and Mrs. Claus at a farm near our home. Hope was so excited but once we reached the stairs to go up to their house panic set in and Kerry opted to sit it out while I took the other kids. Needless to say we got a photo with the Claus's minus two family members. The set up was super cute. We walked through a path with all kinds of pop ups and animated snowmen, elves and a real reindeer. Grace loved the dancing snowman.

Sorry, I tried to reposition the video. After all this we had hot cocoa and fresh spice donuts. (yum!) (well, the kids did, I can't eat wheat so came home and made some wonderful coconut flour chocolate chips cookies.)

Black Friday Shopping

Well, I was up and out the door late around 6am. If we would have been in Ohio this year my mom would have had me up and out around 5. Good thing we stayed home because both girls and one little man decided to stay up with night terrors until around 2am. Targ*et was packed, I was not expecting that at all. I waited in line for an hour for one item. I didn't mind, it was a great deal and I also got a $15.00 gift card!!

Next stop, the mall. Just as busy. We wondered aimlessly for about an hour and then headed to my favorite fast food stop. Pei We*i. Yummy!!!

We still were not finished and stopped at borders for hot cocoa and a snack. When I mean we, I mean myself, H and H. Yes, I took little H. She was great, she stayed awake the whole time and was such a good girl. We finally made it home around 2 and put jammies on and ordered pizza. Good news is I am finished with Christmas shopping!!

I really expected it to not be so busy. With all the doom and gloom you hear on the news, I thought things would be pretty calm and quiet. Not so here. It was pretty crazy and I was stuck in traffic at one point at 7:30 in the morning.

I would like to give a special shout out to my husbands wonderful company, who came through and did give us the adoption reimursement. Yeah GM!!

And this has nothing to do with the post but I thought this video of the girls was adorable. G has come a long way!!

More news....

We are throwing another wrench into the mix.... Anyone care to try and guess this news? Not to leave you hanging or anything but I will not be able to let ya'll in on anything until later....

Change of Subject

ASIA has some super cute boys ready and waiting for a family. Some have significant special needs and one little boy I have fallen in love with has a minor special need. (according to me)
This is probably their last chance at finding a family.

He is so cute!! He is almost three. Here is his description. I can't post a picture but you may contact Marci and ask for the password to view it.


Cal is a very lovely and cute boy. He has an outgoing personality and likes to play with toys and play with other children. Cal could walk at 1 year slowly without help and liked to watch television. At 15 months he liked to follow adults and talk and was fond of picture books. He liked to imitate adults to talk and sing. At 20 months he could identify his nose, mouth, eyes, ears and eyebrow. Now he is learning to talk, sing and put on clothes and pants without help. He had a chromosome test, which showed no abnormality.

Marci Siegel-Kittrell
Director of Social Services
Marcisk@asiadopt.org


As for our news, it may have to wait until after the Thanksgiving Break until an official announcement at DH's work. Some of you are right on the money though....

One more little hint....

We were kind of thrown a curve ball with this, it was totally unexpected, but here you go. If you can answer this question you will figure out where we are going.

During the War of 1812, President James Madison and the fledgling U.S. government were forced to flee ........?

Now if you come up with the answer please email me, because I need info. I will also mail out a prize to the first person that comes up with the correct response.

And because it's not all about the little ones, here's a picture of one of my sweet boys.

And another of the three amigo's.

Exciting News!!!!

But I can't tell what it is yet!! So frustrating. Anyone want to guess?

And no it doesn't have to do with the picture. I just bought new online scrapbooking stuff and had to try some out.

Ponderings

There hasn't been much to post about lately. Well, maybe that isn't true. How about I be honest and say I just haven't had the heart to post? That would be more in line with what I'm feeling.

We did hear from the benefits people at GM. They have gone ahead and approved the reimbursement for the adoption. We didn't qualify for all of it but that is ok. Something is better than nothing. Supposedly the money will be in the end of the month pay check. (we'll see)

Yes, I do seem a little cynical towards K's employer. They have continually treated our adopted kids as less than our bio kids. Not sure why, but I am angry. My two girls are just as much a part of me as the other three. Why should they be treated differently? When I had my first child we received a beautiful cookie arrangement and flowers. They added her to the benefits immediately and nothing else was said. With Hope we were given piles of paper work, and no insurance card for a while, with Grace it was worse. We had more paper work, letters from the benefits dept. stating that if we didn't provide a SS# she would be removed from the policy. Oh, and the most lovely official letter stating that Hope would be removed also. (two years after her adoption was finalized!!)

As of now we are still waiting to hear from them about Grace's benefits. I am sure they will kick it back and require something else.

Grace's recovery is coming along. I am a little disappointed in her nose. It has fallen completely flat again. Her lip which was redone has scared badly. The reason he wanted to redo everything was to remove the old scar and bump but it has come back. Her palate looks good from what I can see. She has some white matter on the roof of her mouth. Not sure what it is??? (any btdt palate moms out there?)

She is wanting to eat everything again so I know she is feeling better. The only draw back....she will not sleep anymore. I have tried putting her back in her crib with no luck. I feel like I am holding her 24 hours a day. She will not go to anyone else but me. Now, I know this is a good thing but the drawbacks are that if I am not within site of her, or within touching distance she will throw a tantrum. Not just an ordinary one either, she will go all out and bang her head against the floor or whatever is close and hit things including the other kids. Is this normal? I am putting this all out there in case some of you have any experience like this.

The kids and I are trying many different gluten free cookie recipes for Christmas. I think we found a keeper. This is from The Kid Friendly Allergy Cookbook. It's call "O wee o's". They are very good. The cookie is a little crisp with rich fudgy flavor, the frosting I made a little sweeter and tastes very good. I can only eat about three before feeling the sugar rush. They are so yummy!! I didn't put another one on top like the traditional ore*o's because I think they are too rich for that.

Just so you know, everything is not all doom and gloom, we do have some good news but I will save that for another day......

Weekend Fun

The weather here is starting to get cold. We had some snow on Saturday. After cleaning house we decided to to go to the mall and wonder aimlessly, not an easy feat with five kids, one double stroller and different idea's of where we wanted to wonder. No big deal though, turns out everyone and their grandmother had the same idea. We couldn't walk anywhere and ended up leaving after about an hour.

The weekend wasn't lost though, I did happen to score a wii fit at the local game stop after visiting (stalking) it for the past month.

Grace's lip and palate are healing well, now if she would only sleep.

One more thing the 13 year old with Christian World Adoption is still waiting. Please go take a look and pass the word along. Her time is running out.

13 year old girl waiting (Hope child 11, with CWA)

Older Waiting Children Available

There are some very beautiful kids waiting for their forever families with several agencies. The first one I am posting about is with CWA. She is 13 and ages out in February. You will have to visit through the link and watch her video. It is heartbreaking. She is crying and really wants a family. She knows that she ages out soon. I would adopt her in a heartbeat if we could but it just isn't possible right now. Please someone, open your heart and pray for this child. She really needs a chance to be a part of someone's family.

13 year old girl waiting (Hope child 11, with CWA)


The other kids are with Asia. They range in age from 3-10 with various special needs. The little girl Kylie is so adorable. Again, I would adopt her in a heartbeat if we could. I am hoping someone will read this and inquire about just one of these kids. Don't let finances stop you. There are many programs available to help. You could also apply for grants or fundraise. Nothing is impossible!! You will have to either call or email Marci at Asia. Her email is: http://us.mc568.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=marcisk@asiadopt.org http://www.asiadopt.org/

Waiting Child: Kylie
Sex: F
Age: 3
Special Need: Abnormal DST


Waiting Child: Jayne
Age: 10 Years
Sex: F
Special Need: Thalessemia, possible Hep B


Waiting Child: Chase
Sex: F
Age: 4
Special Need: Cleft Microblepharia (eye lids too tight)


Waiting Child: Shawn
Sex: M
Age: 6 1/2
Special Need: Repaired Tetra logy of Fallot, Thumb Deformity and Missing Left Thumb, Repaired Inguinal Hernia.

Far from wordless wednesday.....

Ok, I need to vent. I am so angry it isn't even funny. We are fighting right now with my husbands employer. here is the situation. We are trying to get her on benefits and apply for the reimbursement program he is entitled to. (about $5000 before taxes.)

Kerry traveled alone for Grace. Therefore we have to submit for a certificate of citizenship in order to have her new name on the social security card. I called the USCIS and MI is taking 18-24 mths to approve and send these out. So I went to the ss office and pleaded my case. They gave Grace a ss card but in her chinese name (Xin Jie) because she is not a full citizen yet.

We needed this in order to put her on the benefits and apply for reimbursement. Hi company will be ending the reimbursement program as of 12/31/08.
Our benefits people also said they need this # or they would n't pay for her benefits anymore after 12 mths. So here is the problem. They will not accept her chinese name on her ss card. Her chinese name is still part of her name and Kerry did legally adopt her. I am not sure what to do. Any attorneys here that can explain what we need to do? BTW, the lady in charge of this is claiming that there are two other people employed with them that traveled alone and did not need the C of C to get a new legal name on their ss card. Now we know this isn't true but what do you do??

I did call the USCIS and the SS office. They suggested I apply for welfare benefits. Are you kidding me???? I can get those for Grace but not employee benefits which we are entitled to???

I am fuming mad and really just want to go sit in a corner and cry. What else can go wrong????

Stitches Removed.....

G had her post op appointment at the hospital today. They had to sedate her and remove the stitches. She did pretty well and didn't fight that much. I left the room to check on H who was screaming in the play room. They wouldn't let me bring her in the treatment section with G. I knew she would panic and told them so but it didn't matter. We set ourselves up in the recovery room they gave us and waited for G to be brought to us. She looked good and was making silly faces. Wish I would have brought the camera. She came around and ate the fruit cup, apple juice and some applesauce. Her nose is still a little flat but overall I am really impressed with the surgeons. I got a little peak at her palate when she was yelling and it looks good, no fistulas as of yet. The worst looking thing I would say is her hip where they took the bone graft. It looks terrible.

Anyway, I am not going to post her post surgery pictures in order to protect her privacy but will give you a little peak at her now after the stitches came out.

Please ignore the sweet potato's on her face, I am just happy she is finally eating something!!

I am also thinking of taking a break. We have a lot going on right now. Many worries and just some things I can't go into here. I may pop in now and then but I just don't have it in me to keep blogging right now. Not unless some prayers get answered and things change.

We're Home

Pre Surgery, still ok.

Wanting to go home, but still pretty good.

Finally. I left the hospital around 7 on Wednesday. They gave me the choice of staying another day but I thought G would sleep better at home. She did pretty well most of the night, I made sure she had her pain meds and lots of fluids. She woke about 6 and stayed up until 10:30 when we both crashed until noon. The afternoon was pretty rough. She has cried nonstop unless I am holding her STANDING up. I can't sit at all. I am so thankful that my mom is here to help with the other kids. I have no idea what I am going to do tomorrow when she leaves.

G has pretty much rubbed the tape off her upper lip. So far the stitches have not come out. She is very stubborn and has bent the no no's (arm bands) trying to reach her face.

We go on Monday for sedation stitch removal. That ought to be real fun. (insert sarcasm) I will also have Hope with me. Kerry has used all his days for the year. Anyone want to volunteer to come along???? (kidding)

Thank you for all you prayers, we have certainly felt them. All of the kind words have kept us going. This is one of the hardest thiings to have to watch a your child go through.

another update

She seems to be doing better after the transfusion. She is awake but not coherent yet. They have now given her just tylenol with codiene.

Thank you all for your prayers.

Please pray for Gracie

She has not woken up yet. They have been keeping her on morphine continuously. Her fever is still high and her heart rate is low. The gave her a transfusion around 2 am. I am hoping this will help her turn the corner so she can come home soon or at least wake up and try to drink something.

Thank you so much for your continued prayers!!

Another Update...

Gracie is still pretty much out of it. We were told by the surgeons assistant that she lost 20% of her total blood. She also has a high fever and is developing pneumonia. Please pray for her.

She is supposed to be released tomorrow but I don't think they will let her go home. She also has to come back on Monday to have her stitches taken out and will have to go under again.
I am not real crazy about the idea especially since she was under for 4 hours today.

Quick Surgery Update

Gracie came out of surgery after 4 hours!! The doctor informed us it was the worst lip repair job he had ever seen out of Ch*ina. Good news is he redid the lip repair, bone graft, palate repair,nose realignment, ear tubes and something else I can't begin to pronounce on 3 hours sleep.

More later......

New Look!!

I got an updated new look by Danielle. I love the new clean lines. What do you all think???

I will not be posting for a couple days, G has surgery tomorrow. We have to be at the hospital at 5:30 AM. (Seriously???, uuhhh!) I have no idea what to expect. The say we will be released on Wednesday if all goes well.

And finally a poem I borrowed from a fellow blogger. Remember to get out and vote!!

'Twas the night before elections, And all through the town
Tempers were flaring, Emotions up and down!
I, in my bathrobe, With a cat in my lap
Had cut off the TV, Tired of political crap.
When all of a sudden, There arose such a noise
I peered out of my window, Saw Obama and his boys.
They had come for my wallet. They wanted my pay.
To give to the others Who had not worked a day!
He snatched up my money, And quick as a wink
Jumped back on his bandwagon As I gagged from the stink.
He then rallied his henchmen Who were pulling his cart.
I could tell they were out To tear my country apart!
On Fannie, on Freddie, On Biden and Ayers!
On Acorn, On Pelosi' He screamed at the pairs!
They took off for his cause And as he flew out of sight,
I heard him laugh at the nation Who wouldn't stand up and fight!
So I leave you to think On this one final note,
IF YOU DON'T WANT SOCIALISM, GET OUT AND VOTE!

So much going on....

I have no idea where to begin. Some things I can share, other's I can not. First things first the kids had a great time trick or treating, especially because we had only five kids come to our house and they get to share the rest of our candy!!! I really miss the days of the cute costumes the boys used to wear. The ones chosen this year were pretty scary. I think next year I will go to our church Trunk or Treat instead!!

G has her surgery on Tuesday. We go Monday for the pre surgery testing. I am a little nervous. G's healing process is very, very slow. So I have no idea what to expect. Please lift her up in prayer. She is going to be in pain and not a happy camper. I will also be on my own, Kerry will be staying home watching the other kids. This will be a true bonding experience for us. I hope it goes well. She still prefers Kerry to me.

The other things going on, well can't really say yet. But it's all good. (I hope)