NOPE

Nope! I'm not listening. I refuse to hear any bad rumors. How can something that seemed so promising for a while now no longer be the case???? Enough already :(

Remember Me

To Honor and Remember! Don't forget to go to my last entry and send some of these every day heros a digital card.

In support of our troops

LET'S SAY THANKS!

I posted this site last year too. In honor of Memorial Day why not take a minute to also pay tribute to those many brave Men and Women serving overseas? They are making such a sacrifice for us. Many may not agree about the current conflicts but regardless our people are over there. It's easy to forget what they are enduring as we sit in the comforts of our own lives but why not send them a note and let them know that we have not forgotten them. Let's let them know how proud of them we are and how much we appreciate the chances they are taking for us? If everyone sent at least one card just think how many days we could brighten.

Xerox is sponsoring this site. It only takes a minute. You can digitally send a card with a message that you select to our troops. These cards are then printed and sent to our troops serving overseas by Xerox. Go ahead and check out there site. It's really EASY and its FREE! It's cool and you will feel better after you do it. Let's say THANKS :o

Jon and Kate plus 8

I just recently found this show on the Discovery Health channel. It's pretty cool. This amazing family are the parents of multiples times two. They have a set of twins and a set of sextuplets! Wow is all I can say. It's fun to watch this show and see how they do things although sometimes I think she is a little hard on her husband. All of their children are beautiful and part Asian. It comes on Tuesday nights at 10:00 and 10:30 pm. (eastern time)

Whoa Nellie

The Rumors are just so promising right now and I am trying SO hard to not let myself get sucked in. I know that it is way to early to count on anything right now. I know the rumors can and probably will change several more times before we finally get to see what happens. I also know that I have been disappointed multiple times in the past when the good rumors didn't end up panning out. I still can't help wondering and hoping! Double digits??? If they (CCAA) are able to issue referrals for LID's up to the 15th or 16th? That's 15 days! If they can do that this time then maybe another 15 days next time. That would bring them up to November 30th. December is predicted to be a small month so maybe I would be next?? Is it possible that I MIGHT have my referral in August???? Then with referrals currently coming out at the beginning of the month and if I were to get my referral in early August... Could I possibly travel by the end of September???? Before the start of the dreaded trade fair????

Time will tell. Bring on the referrals the suspense is killing me :)

And now a little Shoppy

Just thought I would post pictures of my Referral Day celebration shopping last time :) Now bring on the next batch! I'm ready :)

Bathing suit and Hat from Babies R Us

Dress from E bay Shoes from Babies R Us

It's your day!

Happy Mothers Day to all of you Mothers and Moms in waiting out there! I hope your day is as special a you are!

I also want to take the time to wish my Mom a Happy Mothers Day. I love you and my life is better because of you! Thanks for all you do and have done for me and for all of your Love and Support during my journey to Abby. This wait has been much easier to handle with you standing beside me!!!! You are an awesome Grandmother and I can't wait for Abby to get to know and love you :)

Today I also find myself wondering if I am a mother yet? I think there is a good chance that Abby has been born by now. I have thought that before but now that I am starting to get so close to the end of our red thread I really believe it. I had a dream about a month ago that I had finally received my referral. It was my most realistic dream to date. I actually saw her face in this one. I can vaguely still picture it. (It is probably a mixture of all of the cute babies I have already seen on all of your blogs) In my dream I was holding her referral photos and I remember saying the province that she was from. Who knows what that was though because I surely would not be able to name one province in China now if you asked me too :)

Memory Keeper Box

I just had to share. I found this at Hallmark tonight. It's pretty cool. I am going to use it for Abby's Gotcha Day memories. It was only $14.99.

It has 2 storage sections. It also comes with 20 photo sleeves for journaling. I'm thinking I will keep the clothing that she has on that day in here and any other special memento's from that special day. I also thought it was pretty special that the box matches the back of a ladybug and even more of a coincidence that the little girl pictured on the lid is Asian. Do you think Hallmark knows about the ladybug China adoption connection?

I also found these cute book labels at Hallmark to place in all of Abby's books :)

LID 17 MONTHS TODAY!

First off THANK YOU to everybody who offered me their opinions and feelings on my move or not move dilemma. The general consensus seems to be for me to try out my current living situation first and then go from there. I think that is what I will do unless a better or unable to pass up wonderful opportunity presents itself. I really appreciated all of your thoughts though.

Now on to today's milestone. It is just crazy to me that it has now been 17 months since my paperwork was logged in with the CCAA. Whats even crazier is that the lucky folks that just received their referrals had been logged in for 18 months. That makes it sound like I am so close but we all know that is not the case. I am figuring on at least a 4 more month wait for Abby's referral :(

Another thing that is crazy to me is how the time is passing. It is so hard to explain what I mean. To me it seems like it was just yesterday that I was posting for my 16 month LID anniversary and now I'm up to 17 months. This past month went by lickity split but it seems like the waiting for this month to end and see what happens next is taking forever already. By the same token though each day seems to be passing quickly? Just a crazy and unexplainable feeling of time moving both fast while dragging slowly at the same time. I wish I could explain it :)

My picture I posted is how I have been counting up my LID months accrued. Each month I add a ladybug. (I get them from Hallmark) (Ignore the dust on my table) Presiding over my ladybugs is a lucky Buddha that my Mom gave me last year. And of course you can't miss my lucky bamboo plant :)

Opinions Needed

I have been living in my condo for 6 and a half years. It needed a new paint job so I finally got motivated to start last night. Those vertical blinds just got away from me when I tried to take them down, taking out my lamp and just narrowly missing my TV when they fell. Luckily no serious damage occurred but I did end up ditching the blinds. I think it was time for new ones anyway.

I have been trying to decide if I should move or not before Abby arrives. My condo is on the small side. Just a little over 1100 square feet It has 2 bedrooms and 2 full baths. I'm on the 2nd floor. It's not real big on storeage so I am considering renting a small storeage place for over flow.

Why do I want to move? I am really worried that my condo just won't be big enough for Abby and I once she gets here. I know babies stuff has a way of multiplying. I already don't have enough room for all of her clothes :) I also really want a yard to take Abby out to play in. My condo fees combined with my current mortgage payment would easily allow for me to ajust to a higher mortgage payment. My condo has doubled in value since I purchase it a little over 6 years ago so there would be some good extra cash if I sold it. Plus it seems to be a good time to buy right now. If I move I would prefer to find a small home in my same neighborhood. There are several available right now.

Why not to move? I will have to get a homestudy update if I move before Abby comes. Cost around 300 dollars. With a yard comes yardwork do I really want all that and a new baby too? At least at first? I know a house will require a little more upkeep then my condo though I'm sure I would be able to handle it. Currently all my outside maintanace is taken care of and that is nice. There is also a park right across the street from me and I know we will be at my Mom's a lot too (big yard there). I am 15 minutes from work and her future daycare. I am used to it here, I like it here. It's a good safe security patroled established neighborhood.

So I guess I am just really hung up on the space thing. Do ye'all think 1100 square feet is enough space for me and Abby? Should I try it for a while and see how it goes? I wouldn't want to stress her out further by moving once she gets ajusted. Plus her room is pretty. We could try it for a year or not. Opinions???

The peanut gallary while I painted :)

6 Days is better then 2!

Yep! Rumor Queen has it as a R5 on her site! Referrals are on the way and the cut off date is November 1st! (Lot's of exclamation marks I know but this is good news!!!) Everyone was expecting another 2 day batch like last months referral batch but for once it didn't happen :) YAY for all of you lucky families with babies on the way :D I can't wait to see all of the referral pictures start popping up. In honor of your happiness I think I will do a little shoppy for Abby to help celebrate your dreams finally coming true!

So now just the month of November LID's to get through before my LID month December! November has been projected to be a monster month with lots of families logged in and waiting for their referrals. I am thinking it will take at least 3 more months for the CCAA to finish issuing referrals for Novembers LID's. December has been projected to be a smaller month of LID's but who really knows? (All of my guesses or statements are based on rumors anyways.) Now if December truly is a smaller group then maybe I will be lucky enough to be part of the first batch of referrals issued for Decembers LID's. (LID Dec 7th) Hey that is just 4 more months to wait until I finally get to see Miss Abby's face. Could it be? My baby might just be home before the New Year............Or at least I will finally have a picture of her :D

Bath Time?

I can't remember where or when I came across this photo. I do remember that this is a way of bathing babies at the orphanages though. If I recall the babies really don't mind it either??? Interesting to say the least.......

Wow?

My thanks to Ann for nominating my humble blog as one that makes her think. I'm flattered since I really don't think I am at all that exciting. I wish I could write and share my feelings as well as so many of you are able to do. I love reading all of your blogs. It's there that I find peace, empathy, support, understanding, forgiveness, friendship, strength, knowledge and a sincere sense of belonging. This journey of a lifetime is just so much more special because of all of you! Many times I have felt like nobody really knows what I am going through. That nobody can truly understand the stress or it's effects on me. It would be totally unbearable if I was facing this alone. Luckily that is not the case. Maybe we have never met in person but I still don't think that makes us strangers. It's here where we can all relate, we laugh, we cry, we share shopping tips, we wait, we celebrate and most of all we support one another........ and for that I am Very Thankful :)


I could name any number of blogs because you all make me think. I read so many and still don't have them all listed in my side bar yet. Here's a few that I haven't seen make the nominations yet though.

Waiting for Sophie I'm sure everyone knows about this blog. Shana tells a story when she writes and her pictures are just beautiful.
Cherry Blossom Baby Another single Mom like me. She has been so positive throughout her journey and it has been wonderful to watch her dreams come true.
Eliza's Story One of the first blogs I started to follow. She also has had her dreams come true and I look foreward to reading each of Eliza's new adventures.
Pam in China A Mom of 2 adopted from China and living in China. It is really neat to see things from her perspective.
Starfish This woman also lives in China. She seeks out Orphans in China that need extra TLC in order to survive. She cares for them until they are ready to meet their forever families.

Serious Retail Therapy

I have been so bad lately! I can't help it. I hate not having any idea when I might finally get to see Abby's sweet little face. The rumors are starting again and it is sounding like the next batch of referrals will again only include a couple of days. It's early but still stressful. Usually the rumors seem to start off fairly good then turn pretty grim before leveling out some where in the middle. Last time the rumors seemed to turn bad and just stay there. To make up for past disappointments I have been doing a little shopping again. What better way to lift your spirits then by visiting E-Bay :) I may not be able to expect an eminent referral in my mailbox, but I can look forward to the arrival of won items. Hey it works! At least in the short term.

I absolutely love this dress. It is part of the Gymboree Tea Garden line. I would get it in every size if I could afford to.


Tiffany (Mom of Eliza) turned me on to Baby Nay. They have such pretty patterns. Thank goodness for E-Bay cause I would never be able to afford them in retail.

Target find for only 5 bucks!

Babies r us

It's reversible!

I don't know if Abby will be a paci baby or not but if she is I will be ready!

There has been more damage but I don't want to put my Mom in shock :)

Fun Stuff

My friend Mandy surprised me at work the other day with this neat ladybug stone. I know some of you are not into the ladybug thing in regards to China adoptions but I think it's a fun connection to believe in.



This is the card that came along with it.

I also came home last night after work to a package waiting for me on my stoop. Inside was this note from Melanie and..........

This adorable bib.

Tucked inside the ladybug is a little wash cloth :)

Finally My friend Nancy gave me this journal. I love what she wrote inside it :)

30 months???

This button is so appropriate right now. It was created by Julie, Mother of the beautiful Miss Tess. Her Cafe Press store is linked on her blog if you are interested in checking out this and more of her creations.

Rumor Queen today posted what we all already suspected and knew is an eventual possibility. She has written that a European agency is telling their clients that the wait for a referral from China may reach 30 months. Not a pretty thought to live with. If referrals continue to be issued in just a few day increments then this is actually a very believable rumor though. Please excuse me while I go be sick now.

It Happens again

I'm just sitting here now pondering today's terrible events that occurred at Tech today. I'm angry! Those poor kids. I am watching various kids being interviewed on CNN right now and you can just tell that they are in shock. I can't even begin to imagine what their loved ones went through today. It's just crazy! I feel like no place is safe anymore. This type of thing seems to be happening more and more these day's. It makes you stop and think. How can I guarantee Abby's safety in this world we live in today. Is violence becoming the norm? I see it every day at work in the ICU. When I first graduated nursing school back in 1994 we rarely had a gun shot victim. Now we see them almost weekly. It used to be that when we got one of these patients the area that the incident occurred was in an area you would expect that type of thing to happen. Now these incident's are happening everywhere. The victims seem to be getting younger too. Why are guns so easy to get? Why do so many young people have them? How about all of the young people today who saw this and more then likely other prior similar incidents on T.V. How is this increasingly common occurence shaping their future expectations of our world today? Something needs to change and SOON! How can we stop this? That is the million dollar question. Man, I just really hate guns!

Need a Smile?

I found this link to a smile on the CHI yahoo group. Love Without Boundaries put together this beautiful slide show sure to make you smile. They do wonderful things for so many children. Please go here to check it out. Click on watch to get the show started :)

Congrats Mom and Hugh!