Pneumonia

Yes, what I suspected was confirmed with a chest x-ray today. I have pneumonia. It is early stage (man, I'd hate to see late stage) and so I'm assigned to the bed for three days with no work, a new strong antibiotic and to continue on with Mucinex, Motrin, Advil and that really nifty cough syrup. Man, that stuff puts me in a FOG!!!! It's crazy. The chest x-ray was a comedy of errors. I called dr's office (she has two) that was close to me. They said I could come there in the afternoon or into town this morning. Knowing that the "in town" location had an x-ray machine in office, I opted to go there. So here I am (feeling pretty funky since it's the first time I've been out since last Thursday) puttering along when my phone rings. It's the doctor's office telling me, "Ooops, the x-ray machine is broken here. We tried to reach you at home but your hubby said you'd already left." *sigh* So I return home and lay on the couch only to be called a little while later for them to say, "Can you drive to the other office's x-ray location and get an x-ray now (11:00) and then come back here at 3:00? Sure, I have nothing better to do. The saving grace of it all is that she was able to have the results there to look at before treating me and the x-ray tech was very nice and very quick!!

I'd like to type more, but I feel a nap calling. Josh and Dad are at baseball practice so this really seems to be a good time. It is also the first time I haven't coughed so hard that I thought my ribs were coming out (that good old cough syrup, I'm sure!!). I think the next worse thing about pneumonia are the full body sweats where you feel like you're melting into a puddle. Man, is this what hot flashes feel like?? Whew!!!

So, thanks to all of you who have called, emailed and commented. I'll fight this a little while longer, but I'm definitely on the right track now.

Can you literally "cough up a lung?" and A Dream

Ok, so you nurse/doctor types, can you really cough up a lung? :-) Of course, I know you can't but I'm almost certain mine have flipped up into my throat a couple of times the last few days. I want to think I'm getting better -- HA -- but I just don't think so. I rotate between periods of full body, teeth chattering chills with a fever to be replaced (after 2 Motrin and 2 Tylenol) with full body sweats that last for several hours. Intersperse this with coughing while holding my head so it won't explode and you get the picture. I haven't had anything this bad in a long time. I didn't wake up until 11:30 today and then slept again until 1:30. The cough medicine makes me crazy-headed/dizzy/spacey but doesn't often fully alleviate the cough. I have a newly found appreciation for those folks who have bladder control issues. I'm drinking so much more than normal and coughing so hard ... well, you get the idea. *sigh*

So, sadly, I didn't make church today. I really like going to church and feel like my week just doesn't start off right if I don't. I wasn't able to teach my Beth Moore class this week. I sent the video materials in thinking they might want to go ahead and watch the video, but they opted to wait. This is a class that Satan has really attacked; we've had illnesses, bad weather, holidays, etc. so that a class that was 7 weeks has taken us almost twice that long. We will prevail though.

I had the most wonderful dream about Ellie last night. One of the most incredible side effects of the meds is that I dream all night long, but I dream that I'm awake and going about things. One night I made adoption fundraiser plans all night. When I got up, I wrote them all down and had some great ideas. Might as well get some work done while I sleep since I'm not doing much while I'm awake.

Anyway.... I saw her and my mom and me and we had just met someone and my mom said, "You haven't met Ellie yet, have you?" and Ellie, who was just toddling around, stuck her hand up to the person. She was dressed in yellow capri type pants and had short, straight black hair with a a yellow headband. She and my mom were standing on the sidewalk at an intersection. All very perplexing. You folks who feel the need to interpret this, jump in on the comments and tell me what you think it means -- if anything. She was just so cute, had a round face with the most smooth complexion. Odd... she's been strangely absent in my dreams before now. I've thought many times, isn't it odd that I don't dream about her. The same was true with Joshua though. I didn't dream about him much and I thought I would. Maybe she's being born, or is close. God keep her safe until we can bring her home.

Death and Taxes

I'm not sure which is worse, but today I feel like one and am working on the other. You can guess which is which.




I am happy to report that I do see improvement today over yesterday. I had a long talk with the Healer, the Great Physician and the One who Made me last night and explained how very much more agreeable I might would be toward others were I to feel a smidgen better today. So, I've tried to be nice to those around me today -- they might not agree.

I spent the day in bed -- literally -- with my laptop working on LISTS upon LISTS of things that needed to be done and making packing lists for trip 1 and trip 2, recommended travel agents and travel insurance providers, where to stay (and where NOT to stay), local things to see, do and where to eat (and where not to), printing out some common Russian phrases. Oh how I know I'll end up like the mom on my yahoo list who posted that the only foreign word she spoke over there was a Spanish word and she wondered why they looked at her funny until her kids burst out laughing. This WILL be me, people -- imagine Russian with a southern drawl -- it just isn't funny, is it? DAH??? (yes, in Russian, I think). I've gone back through the emails I've been putting in a special file over the past few months that held little tidbits, treasures worth remembering: like remember to bring Kleenex or wipes as there is no toilet paper -- and likely no toilet either. "Go before you go" is our new catch phrase. I've made lists of items I'm hoping I can collect from folks in our church/community to take as donations for the children in the orphanages. These things include:

• clothes


• pacifiers


• infant fever reducers


• poly-vi-sol infant liquid vitamins


• snacks for the older children


• shoes


• donations for the babies in the hospitals (blankets, socks, hats, etc.)

It's amazing to see the referral photos of these babies in westernized items and know that our baby will be clothed and wrapped with items from families who came before and were generous and kind. I want to repay that to someone down the line. But, more than that, I want to help those I have to leave behind -- even if in some tiny, small way. I remind you again -- if you have time -- to visit a missionary's blog who is working there. John's site, click here, is a tragic reminder of the life we have as citizens of the US and what a tragedy it is for us to turn our backs on others in need. I was particularly upset by his recent story of helping the men in Kyrgyzstan. I'm certain John would not mind me re posting a sentence or two that grabbed my attention:

he also had a street ministry working with the homeless.. We asked him what are the contributing factors... His response took us off guard... We have seen and heard a lot, but still could not get our minds around the answer.... A large percentage of the homeless on the streets of Bishkek are Kyrgyz men that had gone to Kazakhstan seeking employment and then were kept as slaves. They have had there documents taken, then have been forced into labor, and kept in cages. When and if they do escape and make there way back to Kyrgyzstan, they have no money and no paperwork, so they are not able to get a job.. they have also suffered so much abuse that they are emotionally scared for life.

Read his blog and you'll have some idea why I want to help those little kids as much as I can. Someone on the adoption list I'm on pointed out that while we can't help everyone of them, by adopting one we are opening a spot , a door really, for another that might have had the same fate as these men.

Oh, WOW! I really got off task. So, I've spent the DAY working on my taxes. I'm stilling missing an envelope of receipts from a trip I took in February (does this suprise ANYONE???) and still need to verify some data, but I'm pretty much done. We are getting a small refund, but it is going directly into the adoption fund. We are excited to just not have to pay this year. It's the first year since I have been working for myself that we didn't -- yay!!! And, it is a blessing from God, a little more of His help and re-assurance that He has this all under control -- thank you, God. Oh, and if you are reading my blog, tonight, God, could I please please be well (and maybe even nice?) tomorrow?

We're Moving On Up

One of my favorite 70s shows when I was growing up was The Jeffersons. I can still sing the theme song, "Well, we're movin' on up, to the east side, to a de-luxe apartment in the sk-y-y-y.' Go ahead, take a moment to sing through it. We'll wait.

Well, the Lathams are not moving up to the east side or to a deluxe apartment, but as of today, we are moving up on our agency's adoption list. I know that two families received boy referrals (which won't affect us at all, but I'm still very happy for them!!) and that one family received a girl referral. I've yet to get confirmation that there is another girl referred, but I think there might be.

You ask where that put us on the list, and unfortunately, there is not a simple answer. There are a couple of families in front of me who are specific in the ethnicity they want their daughter to be. So.... if they don't accept the referrals (which, I assume will be offered to them each time there are referrals available no matter what ethnicity they are), then we are higher on the list. Basically we are somewhere between #2 and #5. Much depends on the decisions of other families. There are lots of ways the scenarios can play out, so I can't be more concrete. The one thing I'm certain of, and what I told my friend Susan today, God had our daughter picked out for us before time began. He knows who she is and when she will enter our family and there is nothing we can do to speed that process up. The way I feel today (still extreme yuck!!!), I'm really glad that I didn't get a referral today. It would be sad to be so sick and so contagious that I couldn't share the excitement!! What is has made me reallilze is that we have to get a "To Do" list going -- just in case. We will probably travel within 10 days of getting the referral and there are multiple details to work out.

I'm now looking at the calendar and thinking that there is a remote possibility that we will be in Kyrgyzstan for Mother's Day. I can't think of a more appropriate place to be after all this time. However, if I'm not, it will be fine as well because I'll be really really close!

To whine a bit more on my "funkymunkyitis", I'm now certain that the downhill slide Dr. H. was referring to was into my grave. I don't DO sick well (does anyone?). I've taken to my bed/couch. I don't feel like doing anything else. I've seen all the re-runs of Reba I think I can stand. My fever has not gone away since Tuesday, not matter what I take. I'm congested, have a horrible cough (which is only made better by the cough syrup that knocks me out), and my head and body hurt. I think I have the flu, but that's not what he said. Oh well... maybe tomorrow will be better.

Joshua got an Electronic Banker Monopoly game in his Easter basket and he's wanted to play since he got it, but I've been too sick. I was feeling so guity about it that I told him tonight we'd play. I was the "banker" while he and Kevin played. Didn't last long before I broke down. UGH!! We'll try again soon.

And, let me BRAG where it is due, I have had the MOST INCREDIBLE caregivers during my illness. Kevin and Joshua have gone now to buy groceries. One night, Kevin kept cool rags for me to try to help break my fever, and he continues to pull "single" parenting responsibilities throughout it all. He reminds me to take my medicine and lets me sleep while he tries to stay quiet and keep Josh quiet. He's gone to the store to get me Sprite and ice cream and is just generally taking very good care of me. What a great husband I have been blessed with!!! Josh, well, his favorite thing to do is look at me and go, "You sound AWFUL --- and you look awful too!!" :-) I'm sure I do.

Ellie, we are getting closer!!!

Dossier - Delivered

It is there!! I can now breath easily (well, technically, I can't due to congestion, but ...)


Status: Delivered Delivery date: Mar 27, 2008 13:44

It's Official -- I have FUNKYMUNKYITIS

Having had a horrible night in which I really thought I was going to die (ok, maybe that's a little dramatic, but ...), I determined that I had WAY too many other symptoms to just have bronchitis. I had a fever that wouldn't break, some, er, gastrointestinal issues, a chronic cough, sore throat, sweats and just horrible fatigue.

So, I went back to the doctor this morning ony to be told that I don't have bronchitis but some type of viral infection (he told me that name, I didn't pay attention) that, surprisingly enough, has all the same symptoms I'm experiencing. He told me I could stop the antibiotics, which were probably exacerbating my gastrointestinal issues (by the way, why do boys think these types of things are hilarious??? Joshua has laughed and laughed at my "symptoms"), gave me yet another cough medicine and told me to continue to take the cough pills but to double up on the and add mucinex to thin up the "gunk". He says I'm on the "downhill slide". I'm hoping it's not into a grave -- haha!!

So... in a few days, hopefully, I'll be back to "normal" -- whatever THAT is!!

On the adoption front, our agency got some referrals yesterday but they were boys (as far as I've heard anyway). I'm hoping there were girls too and I've just not heard. That could move us up a few spots. We'll see. I'm really hoping for summer travel, though, because of school being out. We are really close to having enough $$ to fund Trip 1. After the next concession stand event (next weekend) and with our tax rebate/stimulus check, we will be within $1,000 of having enough for Trip 1. If we can get that yard sale planned and executed, that might take care of Trip 1. The families who got their referrals yesterday will travel April 6. That's 10 days' notice, which is all we will have as well. Upon return, we will have 6 weeks to raise an additional $6,000 for Trip 2. It will come; I'm sure of it. We are still waiting to hear from a grant and from The Abba Fund. Hopefully, one of those will come through. Where God guides, He provides.

And, on the camera front, I recently had to send my digital Canon EOS Rebel back to the factory as it is making poor quality photos. I'm hoping to have it back in 10 days or so -- repaired and back in the quality photo business, just in time for baseball season to start. Anyone interested in Joshua's baseball schedule can check out the blog we've set up for his team at Joelton Padres 2008.

And for those who are wondering what "funkymunkyitis" is - well, it just what I call The Crud.

Tracking the Dossier

I went online to check the status of the dossier. Here's what I found:


Date/Time Activity Location Details
Mar 26, 2008 9:09 AM At local FedEx facility SAN DIEGO, CA
Package not due for delivery.

Now, I'm not quite sure why it isn't due for delivery, but it states it will be delivered on the 27th, so, I'm comforted by simply knowing it is in the right city and state.

Yay!! Tomorrow, I can rest.

Blech! Bronchitis

So, I had to break down and go to the doctor today. The cough and fever were so funky that I couldn't get out of the bed. Those who know me know that this is not a place I frequent so I must have been ill to sleep until 10:00 this morning.

Apparently, I have bronchitis with some allergy stuff mixed in. I have some antibiotics and a cough pill and I should be on the mend. HOWEVER, right now I'm still running a fever and I'm off to take some Advil and a wee bit of a nap.

Sorry - no photos of me! :-p

The Dossier is "In the Mail"

Well, I can finally check another item off my "To Do" list. The Latham dossier has been dropped off at the Fed-ex/Kinkos office today and should be delivered within three days to AO in San Diego. I had the most peculiar feeling as I was stuffing it in the envelope thinking about all that work and my passports, not to mention a check for $1600 to cover embassy registration and visa applications, and worrying that it would get lost and I'd have to start all over. She asked if I wanted insurance and I explained that if they lost the package, money would never be able to replace it. She gave me the tracking number and said, "Here, you can track it all the way there and if anything looks suspicious, you can give us a call." To which I replied, "Like, if it shows up in Guam instead of California?" She smiled. I'm sure she thought I was a bit crazy. If she only knew ...

This is where I left my dossier.

Tracking document -- this will get some use in the next few days

On another crazy note, I'm a bit superstitious about seeing turkeys. For a long spell I saw a lot of them when I was working (probaby was turkey season!) I'm not sure AT ALL why, but today as I was working they were all over the road!!! I'm hoping that it was a good omen (which, of course, I don't believe in at all, which is why it's crazy!!) that my dossier is going to get there safe and sound. Nonetheless, the turkeys were really cool to watch. All in all, I counted over 20.

So, it's official, I'm crazy! :-)

The Dossier

It is READY to mail and will go out some way tomorrow. I say some way because it is legal sized and I don't know if the USPS has legal sized express mail. I'm too tired to look so I will wait until I arrive there in the morning.

Realize that this is the dossier that just won't get "right." I had police letters that I needed two sets of and had one. I had employments letters that I needed two of and had one. I took them all for county certification and realized at the State offices that we had stapled the employment letters together as one document and they needed to be separated. A rush trip back to Robertson County and it was too late to go back Friday afternoon. So.... good thing. Monday morning as we are leaving for Atlanta and I plan to run by to have that one document done, I realize that the Robertson County documents have the county spelled wrong on the State's cover sheet. SO.... back to the state for new authentications where I spend much too much time trying to explain to the lady why it cannot have staple marks in the blue cover (they think I might have taken it apart and put something else in there). Finally, she just gives up and does what I need.

It is now FINISHED (hmmm... ironic to write that here at Easter. If you don't know what this refers to look in John 19:30 in The Bible) and ready to go. For those of you who might not be familiar with what all is required (paperwork wise) for this dossier, here are photos.

It includes things like a homestudy, certificate of assets, police clearance letters, employment letters, medical forms for all members of the family, statements agreeing to provide post placement visits, applications to foreign governments, applications for visas, photos of our home, her room and of us and our extended families, copies of marriage licenses, copies of passports and statements agreeing to register our child at the embassy. Many trees have given their lives to help bring this little girl home.

I am hoping this is the week that referrals will come in for some of my online friends who have been waiting for a long time, particularly for those in spots #1 and #3 who have become dear friends!

Happy Easter! He's Alive!

My favorite Easter song is called, "He's Alive." I was SO excited this morning when it was sung during a drama presentation at church. And what better phrase to capture the essence of the day that celebrates the resurrection (coming back to life) of Jesus Christ? Church was lovely as both sets of parents were with us and the choir/drama group finished their production that ended Friday night with Jesus on the cross.

I'd like to say it was a perfect day but as I sit here updating the blog I have a SPLITTING headache that has plagued me now for three or four days. It is sinus, of that I am sure, but I've been too busy to be bogged down by sinus medicines so I've just endured knowing that if I could just make it to tonight I could "dope up" and take some decongestant and a Tylenol PM and sleep. As luck would have it, it's 10:00 and I still need to make a schedule for work tomorrow. Ha! to me.

It was a nice day in that my parents and Kevin's mom came over to eat Easter lunch. Now, I really LOVE holidays where I get to cook. I'm meticulous about planning ahead and having everything looking just right and having just the right things for the table -- blah, blah, blah. This year -- I was glad they had a chair to sit in and food to eat -- that's how tired I was and how bad I felt. Cloth napkins? Ha, be glad we have paper. Matching glasses? Ha! Be glad they are clean. Clean house? Double ha!! No time in the midst of remodeling a room, storing things for a garage sale and bringing home the "leftovers" from the lunch fundraiser yesterday. In reality -- everyone ate too much, seemed to have a good time and didn't care for squat if it was paper or cloth, matching or not matching or if the house was spotless (except me, just a little).

Josh informed me last night as he saw the small baskets I had with little bags of candy in them for the parents, Kevin and I (as table ornaments -- yeah, there was a little OCD still happening), that I didn't get him anything. I explained that the Easter Bunny would bring him a basket. (There's a post -- how to have "EB" co-exist successfully in a Christ-centered holiday -- it CAN be done, folks, without compromising the spirit of the holiday). He said he knew THAT (duh!) but that I always got him something too. *sigh* Another late-night Wal-mart guilt trip where I bought him some shampoo, bubble bath and some plastic eggs to fill for a "one-man-show" Easter egg hunt today. Who would have thought that a ten-year-old would still want to hunt eggs? If you could have seen the wistful longing of him watching the neighbor's have an egg hunt for their grandchildren yesterday, you would have done the same thing. My dad got the thrill of helping me hide eggs. As I watched him I thought of all the years he hid those eggs for me. I was so happy he could now hide them for his grandson. However, I DO think we are still missing two eggs. I'm sure they'll turn up at the first mowing of the yard!

As we sat at lunch today we discussed how our lives will be different this time next year with the addition of a high chair at the lunch table and a little one to hunt eggs (assuming she'll be walking by then). Poor Joshua's world is going to be rocked! I found it fun to read LANDLIFE today where this is the first Easter that Reed has been home with them. Reed's dad reflected back to his post from last Easter when they were waiting for Reed to come home. After looking back, it was amazing to see the difference a year can make. I also read about Anara's first Easter home over at A Leap of Faith and it gave me the perspective of a Kryg princess' Easter along with AP over at Holding on For the Ride. HOW BEAUTIFUL these girls were today!!

Here are some highlight photos I compiled into a montage of the day (sorry Mom, I just used this for the first time tonight and couldn't figure how to fix the pix of you and Josh -- I'll email them to you!). Josh was in RARE form today and every photo I managed to take of him, he was acting silly. Ahh... for the love of my boy. Double click the Green Triangle in the middle to play!

Happy Easter!

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Burgers and Dogs - Bringing Home Ellie

We've dubbed most of our fundraisers, "Bringing Home Ellie". Today we ran a concession stand at our church and community Easter egg hunt. We exceeded our goal and raised a over $500. After expenses, we will clear a little over $300. For two hours of sales, we thought that was excellent. We have a couple more concession sports tournaments to work in the next month and hope we will do as well on those as we did today. We had quite a few sodas and waters left so we should make more profit on those since we won't have to purchase as much.

Here are some photos from the day:

Initial set up

One of the signs we made telling people why we were selling.

Iris and Ben prepare hot dogs.

Sara and Makayla -- my girls from church
Dianne, Josh, Lisa and Mary working hard


Lisa making sure it all "adds up"

Dianne prepares burgers
Our youngest helper, my friend Emily, who has just lost a tooth!

Thank you to all who helped with this event. We are all really tired. As Kevin said, "I think this is going to be an Advil night." Now it's on to make Easter lunch.

Why is it called "Good" Friday?

We throw around phrases in our Christian life like, "Good Friday" and just assume that non-Christians, or even new Christians will understand what it means.

Last night as I was helping Joshua wash his hair (he still has this horrible ear infection), I asked if he knew what tomorrow was. He said, "Friday". I answered, "Yes, but there is more." He said, "Easter?" I said, again, "No." I told him it was Good Friday. He said, "What's that?" I told him it was the day Jesus was crucified. He looked at me with such innocence and said, "Then why is is called GOOD?" How that statement moved my heart -- and I'm sure Jesus' heart as well.

I explained to him that it was good in that because he died for our sins, we would one day be able to be with God for eternity and that had he not died, we would have been separated from God forever because of our sin. A simple explanation that sufficed for him and meant that now, he will always know what Good Friday is and not just look at it as a day off from school or work.

Because of my connections to people adopting from all over the world, I thought it would be interesting to look at what this day is called in other countries. Wikipedia states the following:

Good Friday is also referred to as Holy Friday. In the Holy Land it is also known as Great Friday. In German it is "Karfreitag", an Old German word meaning "Friday of lamentation", although this meaning is not obvious to speakers of modern German. In Armenia it is called "High Friday (Ավագ Ուրբաթ)". In Russia it is called "Passion Friday" (Страстной Пяток / Страстная Пятница). In Ethiopia it is called Friday of the Crucifixion (arib siqilat).

Great Friday: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece (Μεγάλη Παρασκευή / Megáli Paraskeví), Hungary, Macedonia, Malta (Il-Ġimgħa l-Kbira), Poland (Wielki Piątek), Lithuania, Romania, Serbia, [[Slovakia]Velky Piatok], Slovenia, and in the Eastern Orthodox Church generally; Sri Lanka (Maha Sikurada); Indonesia (Jumat Agung)

Holy Friday: Latin America, Spain (Viernes Santo), France (Vendredi Saint), Italy (venerdì santo), Portugal, Brazil (Sexta-Feira Santa), Philippines (Mahal na Araw or Biyernes Santo), Vietnam (Thứ sáu Tuần Thánh), Japan (聖金曜日)

Long Friday: Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Faroe Islands, Iceland

Day of Christ's Suffering: Chinese-speaking areas (基督受難日)

Sad Friday: Arabic-speaking locals

Good Friday (English language) but Aoine Chéasta Passion Friday (Irish Language): Ireland

Some interesting customs from other countries that are associated with Good Friday are:

• Day observed as a federal holiday in countries with a strong Christian influence such as Brazil, Canada, Germany and the UK -- EXCEPT in the U.S. where it a state holiday in some locations. (Isn't it ironic that a country founded on Christian principles is a country that doesn't recognize it as a federal holiday? Separation of church and state?)


• Ireland prohibits the sale of alcohol


• In Germany, comedic performances that include dancing are illegal on this day


• In Muslim-majority India, Good Friday is a national holiday. Newspapers are not published on this day.


• Eastern Orthodox Christians are not supposed to eat on this day and the next


• In Bermuda, kites are flown. The shape of the cross for the kite symbolizes the cross on which Jesus died.


• There is no horse racing in the UK on Good Friday.


• In Louisiana Cajuns have a tradition to not dig in the dirt on Good Friday.


• In many English speaking countries, hot cross buns are eaten on Good Friday with the cross on the top of the bun as a reminder of Jesus' cross.

However, you choose to remember Good Friday, I hope that it reminds you of the sacrifice made by Jesus on the cross for you. Remember, even if you were the only person on the earth, He would have come to die for you.

Blessings!

Not Enough Photos

There have just NOT been enough photos on my blog lately so this is a photo post with NO common theme! For those of you who are "constant readers" (or Stephen King fans and understand that phrase), it's time for some of those "Happy Photos" I talk about. I get to see some of the cutest, funniest and most unusual stuff during my work days. Some of these might have been on the blog before, but they continue to make ME smile. Hopefully, they will you as well. Enjoy!

Check out the claw length on this guy. He looks like an old soul to me.

Good advice, eh?
Another political bumper sticker. They are ALL funny to me!

Beauty and the beast -- my dog and cat, Bear and Punch - you can figure which one is which!

Dog swimming in pool. FUNNY!

Take out.
Something struck this dog as humorous -- probably me!

No words needed -- obviously they were having a, um, problem.

How beautiful -- there was an entire field of these!

Stuart lived at one of the houses I inspected. Why was his name Stuart? Because he was Little!

Stuart posing.

Soooo me!!
Nothing better than puppy tongues!
I inspect for Geico. This was at someone's house that I was inspecting. The irony was too much to pass up -- the Geico Gecko!

Cat sitting in window of a house I inspected

A bumper sticker that I found amusing. Keep in mind I find ALL political bumper stickers amusing and will give equal laugh time to all parties!

Silly Joshua

An Adoptees Right to Open Records

One of the things I've not explored very much here in "Bloggville" is my role as an adoptee. I have come to a very comfortable place with this aspect of my life. There were times when I was not so comfortable. I know this is a difficult topic for my parents to read about, but I know it's not something that they are not acutely aware of. It is my hope that my story can be shared for other adoptive parents, adoptees, birth families and other members of the adoption circle to enlighten them about some of the feelings that those of us who are adopted experience and why, when they come to you, asking to search and find those with whom they are genetically connected, you can in some way understand.

The thing I remember most from the years before reuniting with my birth family is my birthday. For years I spent the day wondering if somewhere someone was thinking about me and wondering how I turned out. I spent the day wondering "why". The "why" of it all is what was the driving force for me. Don't let your adoptee fool you into thinking, "It's for the medical history." I can't tell you how many times I've heard that as an "acceptable" reason for wanting to find an adoptee's birth family. I'm willing to bet I used it a million times. It's safe and socially acceptable and no one is going to want an intense conversation about that reason. They will, however, want to spend a lot of time talking you out of your feelings if you say you need to know why. Apparently, our desires to know the circumstances surrounding our birth and subsequent adoption into another family are not legitimate reasons for opening what others consider Pandora's Box. Everyone seems to have a really good reason why having open access to your birth records and birth family is a bad idea. Ironically, the most common reason is to protect the birth mom. Paradoxically, it seems that the adoptees' rights are not an issue -- ever. So, much like abortion, the child's rights seem to have no consideration in the equation. When did age become the determining factor in equality of rights?

I had great adoptive parents who spent time doing all the right things for me to help me become emotionally stable and, as the current terminology would indicate, attached and bonded. There was never any question about their love, commitment or parenting (except maybe in my mind when I was a teenager, but that's really another story that neither side probably wants to re-hash! :-0). But, no matter what they did, there was always something missing. Even when I didn't realize it was missing, it was. There was always the questions rolling around in my mind, "Is that person I just passed on the street my birth mom?", "What if I marry my brother?", "Why did she not want me?", "Who do I look like?", "What time was I born? What did I look like as a baby?"

Visits to the doctor's office were always uncomfortable when the doctor would ask about family history and I had to answer, "I'm adopted. I don't know." WHAT??? So who's to say I'm not entitled to know my medical history? Everyone else is entitled to that basic information, aren't they? Since I was a toddler when I was adopted, I had no photos of me before I was about 20 months old. Stop and think about how you take for granted the photos you have of you when you were a baby -- how you pulled them out at the birth of your child to compare. I had none. The moment that rocked me the most when I was in the midst of my search and when I got my records was when I found someone who had baby pictures of me. I cried because I finally knew that my son looked like me when I was a baby. I remember staring intently at him in the hospital, wondering, desperate to know if we looked alike and thinking how completely unfair it was to not have that piece of who I am available to me -- to be robbed of that.

On the flip side, though, I do not believe in the concept of open adoption. I know I will be argued into the ground by professionals and by families who are currently existing in successful open adoption arrangements. I suspect the person who would not argue with me might be the adoptee who is in the midst of this arrangement. Our family attempted to participate in a fully open adoption of a toddler girl several years ago. It failed miserably for all involved. Our hearts were broken, the child was split between two families and cried constantly and the birth family was unable to let go and transition. I know that birth moms who feel that their lives are not such that they are able to keep their children do so, most of the time, with much angst and heartbreak. I know that were their situations better or different they would be able to parent that child. So then, why do we think that exposure of a child to a lifestyle where it would not be appropriate for their birth family to parent is a positive experience and won't cause some level of confusion in a child? I'm told it "cures" those "why" questions and fills that "hole" I spoke of early, but ... I have to wonder what other "holes" it causes and what other "whys" it causes. Is there not guilt of the adopted child for leaving the birth parent when they are in a situation that is not as optimal as theirs might be? Do the children feel responsible to help them? Do they not feel a bit of anger that the birth family is going ahead and leading their lives without them? I don't know and I'm definitely speculating at this point, having not experienced it. However, I do know that it would not have been a good answer for me. I think it would have definitely caused confusion, additional anger and even disrupted the family life that I had as an adopted child. As an adult, I would not be willing to trade off what I had for the opportunity to be in an open adoption situation. As a now parent, I would not be willing to trade my adopted child's emotional well-being for the promise of a "more emotionally secure child" which is what is promised through open adoption. I really am happy for those who can make open adoptions work, but I think those situations are very few and far between.

My fight for my records, the search by the state for my birth family and the subsequent reunion were not without pain, heartbreak and many tears. I'd be lying to say that it was the Cinderella story every adoptee thinks it will be. However, I wouldn't trade all I went through during that really difficult time for the truth, the information and the closure I have in my life now that I know MY story. I am reconciled to where I came from, where I went and who I am because of it all. And because of that, I can be the person God created me to be without spending time worrying about who I was and what was wrong with me and why I was given away. I can release the anger I felt and be at peace and offer forgiveness.

I do not believe in having closed records. I believe that the choice to obtain this information should be up to the adoptee. In juxtaposition, though, I do not believe in a fully open adoption. I think there is a happy medium. I think probably that happy medium should be determined by the adoptive parents until such time as the adoptee is able to voice their desires to have such information. It's a fine line, I know. I've walked it all my life and now am about to come around, full circle as I adopt my own daughter and begin to navigate the adoption waters from the other side of the fence.

In our adoption, however, I fear access to her birth family might end up being very difficult since she will be from another country. I want her to have the option - when she is ready -- to find her birth family and to know her story. It is not my story when she comes to us, it is hers. It is not my decision to make when the time comes, it is hers. I know I will understand that it has nothing at all to do with me or her father or brother and that it doesn't mean she is unhappy with us. I hope she can find her story and fill her hole. Don't let them fool you, they all have it -- the hole, the part that is missing. It may take years to surface, but, it will. I think it's just an innate part of being human, the need to connect ourselves with our past and our future. The Bible does it -- you know, all the begats. We all need to have the right to know our "begats" in our time and in our own way. It's our story.

Atlanta - A Whirlwind Trip

So we are now driving home from Atlanta where we did the whirlwind "do nothing exciting to report but got out of the house and got to eat at Cracker Barrel" tour.

Josh's ear is now draining. It's gross, really gross. I called the doctor today to make sure I should be concerned. I would have been concerned no matter what he said, but I guess he deals with crazy parents like me every day. I told him I was ok when it was creamy yellow, but now that it was turning pinkish-red, I was concerned. He called us in some antibiotic drops which my daddy picked up at the pharmacy this afternoon and dropped off at the house. When we get home, he's getting "dropped up" (ha! that's a ridiculous phrase). Hopefully, by tomorrow, this will stop. Not meaning to be gross, but I have NEVER seen any one's ears just ... well, drip. We solved it by getting some cotton balls at Walmart which he routinely sticks in his ears.

I'd like to report that we did something terribly exciting, but we drove there (stopping to eat dinner at Cracker Barrel -- does anyone recognize the fact that I LOVE this place? -- and then stopping at the outlet mall outside of Dalton, GA. I managed to get through the outlet with only a clearance outfit and "ellie"phant toy for Ellie. For those who fear that Josh has been slighted (that would be the grandparents :-0), he got a shirt today and another webkinz dog (which he slept with last night).

We checked into the hotel and went to bed. Josh wanted me to sleep with him and he was flippy-floppy all night and woke up several times because his ear was hurting. He ran a fever some and we had to give him some meds. It was a long night. I HAVE determined though that NO MATTER what the weight, there WILL be a white noise machine travelling with us to Kyrygyzstan. Due to the snoring factor of one of us, and knowing that we likely will not have an air conditioner to make noise, I fear I will get NO sleep. I am also taking some kind of knock-me-out-asleep pills as I get a wee bit cranky if I don't get a little sleep. (Hope Ellie is a good sleeper!!!) So, this trip was productive to that end.

While Kevin was in his mold class Josh got in the pool (head above water), we went to Walmart, ate lunch and packed up to leave.

That's it. Isn't it sad? :-) I was glad to get away from home for a bit though.

Speaking of the mold class, I was asking Kevin, "What in the world can you talk about mold for four hours?" I told him I could pretty much sum it all up in a few sentences: There is brown, black and green. It's all nasty and will cause your sinuses to act up. Spray it with bleach and it dies. What else could you need to know? I haven't asked him what else he learned, but he did say he enjoyed it. Ahh... opposites definitely attract. I'd rather watch mold grow than sit through a four hour seminar about it. I'm sure he feels the same way about scrapbooking so it all evens out.

So, now, back to reality. Many jobs to complete in the field and to get entered, a pizza fundraiser to wrap up on Thursday, food to buy for another fundraiser on Friday, a fundraiser/community Easter egg hunt on Saturday, waiting anxiously to hear from our grant applications, Easter musical for church on Friday night, Kevin's mom coming Friday, Easter on Sunday, cooking Easter dinner and having the parents over on Sunday, squeezing in a visit to the nurisng home to see Grandmother sometime during the holiday and I'm sure some house cleaning and laundry to keep it spicy.

I need a vacation. :-)

The Craziest Things Take Me Back

I am adopted. Several years ago I made contact with the members of my birth family on my birth mother's side. I also made contact with members on my birth father's side, but somehow I didn't manage to keep up the contact with them. But, that's not really what I'm writing about.


Kevin has a class in Atlanta tomorrow and since it is spring break, Josh and I decided to tag along. Hey, it's a free night in a hotel, away from home and it will involve a stop at the Cracker Barrel. Who would pass that up? As for Josh, there will be pool time and so he's all for it. Sadly, he woke up last night with what has turned out to be a RAGING ear infection and we had to make a stop at the doctor's office and at Walgreens for antibiotics. The doctor also gave him an antihistimine and decongestant to help dry him up. He just never got all the "funk" out from when he had strep back-to-back with the flu. I'm hoping spring is coming and these germs will all die soon. Oh, look, I'm off topic again!


Anyway, as we are driving there I thought about the hotel that Kevin booked, a Fairfield Inn/Suites -- because it was the only one in the area that had an indoor pool, of course. And I immediately went back in time some five years to a summer in Orlando, Florida to a Fairfield Inn and Suites near Disney World in a lobby where I first met several of the members of my birth family. I met Derek, his girlfriend/fiance' Nicki and her son, Robert and his wife Tammy and her son and Ricky. I still remember what I wore, what I felt and how very scared I was to go down to that lobby to meet those people. My sister was living in North Carolina at that time and wasn't there and my birth mom, well, she didn't come, but nonetheless, it was a momentthat changed my life forever.


Sadly, since then, my brother Derek has passed away and really that's what took me back there. I really miss him. Most days I go along just fine and don't think about him, but some days it really hits hard. He was just so good and so young and so much like me. We spent hours and hours on the phone talking and talking when we found each other. I get teary just thinking about it now and he's been gone two and a half years now. Sometimes Josh will say something and sound like him and I'll just stop and stare. Sometimes I'll throw out some crazy piece of humor and think, "Derek would have really gotten that and thought it was a riot." I've noticed Josh drawing a lot lately and Derek was an artist. His last job was at EA Sports creating artwork for video games. He was SUCH a kid at heart. Josh asked the other day if he practiced enough could he go to art school. I told him he could do whatever made him happy. I don't know if he has talent, but I know genetically he could. I know that whatever he wants to do in life I'll be behind him, supporting him. I wish Derek were around to share the ups and downs of our adoption. I wish I could just call him up and hear his voice.


Strange, how just the thought of a hotel can bring back all that.

A Better Place Award

Now, imagine my surprise when I went to visit the site of my secret pal (sshhhhh!!! it's a secret, remember!! I'm not supposed to know who she is) and found that she had chose my blog for one of her five people in the "You make the world a better place award." I am humbled and appreciate her friendship.

Rules are to link to Ukok's Place http://catholicconvert.wordpress.com/then choose 5 other bloggers for this award.

Ah... and there is the problem. Choosing only five websites??? When there are so many blogs I follow regularly? How to choose.

So, with no offenses meant and hopefully none taken for those I choose and those I must save for another time, I nominate:

Hilary at A Leap of Faith (aka Bringing Home Anara)

Anita at He Leads Us

Allison at In a Land Far Far Away

Verna at The Bigs and The Littles

Andrea at Holding on for the Ride

Certifications, Authentications and Fingerprints, Oh My!

As part of our adoption process, all the documents required for our adoption have to be notarized. We then take these documents to the local county clerks' office for certification and then the documents go to the Secretary of State for authentication. Today was the day I went to do the certification and authentication. In addition, today was our appointment for fingerprinting. In order to get the piece of paper (an I171H) that allows us to bring an orphan into the country, we are required to be fingerprinted (again).

I started at the Robertson County Clerk's Office and let me say they are the MOST friendly and efficient folks!! And, additionally, since their Clerk has a heart for adoption, she has determined that certification for adoption is (get this) FREE!!! It's one of the only things in this process that has been free!

After that, I headed over to the Davidson County Clerk's office. I got a parking spot right up front and walked right in with no waiting and was done in less than 10 minutes.

I headed over to be fingerprinted after that. Apparently, I have perfect fingerprints. I'm SO HAPPY to have something perfect about me. *smile* Processing time in the Memphis CIS is 8 weeks so hopefully, we will get the I171H right about the time we get our referral or have to travel.

I then spent 20 minutes driving around downtown Nashville trying to find a parking spot near the building where I had to get our documents authenticated. Finally, on what I had decided was my last round before I parked three miles away, I found a spot -- right in front of the door again. The lady working there was the same one who did ours for China. She is SO nice!! They were also not busy and I managed to get them done quickly. Right at the end, I realized one of the documents I had combined really needed to be separate. Unfortunately, it was one that was from Robertson County so I had to drive back to that office to get a new certification. I will go Monday and get it authenticated and put the package in the mail. I just didn't have the energy (or gas money, for that matter!!! at $3.19 a gallon) to drive back to Nashville.

And, the best of all is that after reading about how much folks in other states have had to pay for their authentications, I was very pleased to have walked away with all my documents having only paid $40.

Our fundraiser for this weekend (concessions at a ball tournament) was cancelled due to the storms that are expected. While this is disappointing in that we needed to have the fundraiser, it will answer a prayer that our family has been praying for just a little time to get some things done at our house. I'm behind in my paperwork and Kevin's working very hard on building up the floor in the office.

I'm EXCITED to report my friend Jennifer has received her daughter -- a big surprise to me as I thought she was still waiting in the Vietnam program. Congratulations to her and her beautiful daughter. Jennifer was my Secret Santa this past Christmas. Visit her blog here.

Fasting

This comes from a website I read about fasting and it's history and implications for we as Christians. During our 40 days of prayer at church, we have been encouraged to fast. My friend's mother recently fasted while in a day of prayer for her and her husband. Because of my concerns about our adoption, I am feeling led to spend time fasting and praying for God's continued blessing on our adoption along with the prayer requests that we have been asked to pray about in relation to our church, it's growth, staff and impact on our community. We are at a point in our adoption where we must have His intervention to continue and I feel the need to seek His provision at a very sacrificial level. During this time when we are coming upon Easter and His Son's greatest sacrifice for us, it would seem now is a very appropriate time to do so. The link for this article can be found here.

Fasting is a time honored Christian ritual. It is the voluntary sacrifice of food and sometimes drink, too. What is its purpose? How do we make a decision to fast? How long should we fast?
Abstaining from food is the typical kind of fast. (Daniel 6:18) There are occasions when people abstain from both food and drink, though this is not common. (Ezra 10:6) Typically, fasts are one day in length. (Judges 20:26) Sometimes, they are three days (Esther 4:16), or even seven days; “And they took their bones, and buried them under a tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days. (1 Samuel 31:13)

On three occasions in the Bible, people fasted for forty days. This is not a prescribed practice; these were very unusual circumstances. The first occasion was when Moses received the Ten Commandments. (Exodus 34:28) The next occasion was when Elijah encountered God before the anointing of Elisha. (1 Kings 19:8) The third occasion for such a fast was when Jesus was in the wilderness and tempted by Satan. (Matthew 4:2)

There are many reasons given in the Bible for fasting. The fasting itself is an act of sacrifice and when we fast and experience hunger, we are reminded of God and His sacrifice for us. While fasting denies the flesh comfort, it feeds the spirit strength. Fasts are voluntary, part of religious tradition or done in obedience to God. When you decide to fast, be clear with yourself and with God about why you are fasting, how long you will fast and use the time normally spent preparing and eating food to deepen your relationship with God. The fast should serve a purpose; there should be a significant reason for it.

Bereavement was once a common reason for fasting, though it is not so much anymore. The fasting may have been incidental in some cases but was often a way to feel closer to God during a particularly difficult time. “And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven” (Nehemiah 1:4)

Distressing or difficult times are reasons for fasting. Fasting is a way of communicating feelings of fear, anxiety, distress or grief to God. Self-denial is one way of expressing genuineness or sincerity. It’s also a way of making a spiritual contribution to relieving the situation, a way of showing God a willingness to do our part and asking Him to make up the difference. (See Esther 4:3) Fasting is sometimes used as a sacrifice when asking God to intervene in a situation. “But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom.” (Psalms 35:13)

Fasting can also be a way of expressing sorrow or regret for sin. God doesn’t ask us for this sacrifice but He is pleased by it. “And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water, and poured it out before the LORD, and fasted on that day, and said there, we have sinned against the LORD…”(1 Samuel 7:6) When this kind of sacrifice is made as a sincere gesture of sorrow or penitence, it is accepted by God.

When Christians seek guidance from God fasting may be an action that is helpful. The idea is to use the time we spend on food to spend with God instead. It provides extra time to spend in prayer, worship and listening. It is also a way of preparing for a spiritual event or change. It’s an act of submission, a way to get our desire out of the way in order to allow the spirit to work. (Acts 13:1-3)

Fasting can be a form of worship. “And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.” (Luke 2:37) Surrendering comfort as an act of worship is not necessary but it is pleasing to God if it is sincere. It is much like saying, “Thank you God for giving Your Son for me. Let me be a little uncomfortable for Your sake.” Here again fasting is an act of sacrifice.

Fasting is a way of communicating emotion to God; it’s a sacrifice that can be made for the sake of restoring a right relationship with God, or can be made coupled with a request for help. Fasting is a way to subdue our flesh for the sake of our spirit. Fasting must be done sincerely to be a pleasing sacrifice to God.

Fasting can be used for a variety of reasons but it must be done sincerely. Choosing to fast can be a way to communicate feelings like sorrow, grief, and regret but it can also be a way of worshipping God. Fasts can be a sacrifice when we ask God for help or guidance and they can be acts of obedience when God asks us to fast. Fasts are time limited and are done for a reason; be clear about how long you will fast and why you are fasting. Whatever your reason for fasting, use the extra time to grow closer to God. He will honor your sacrifice.

Here are some other great links for fasting if you are interested:

Prayer and Fasting - Focusing on God
Scriptures on Praying and Fasting
Fasting - The Key to Power

Artwork for Ellie's Room

So, I got my creative juices going and wanted to do something other than the traditional hanging letters to spell a name in Ellie's room. So, I've covered the letters I bought with scrapbook paper, put some embellishments on and considered mounting them on a canvas. It looks ok, but now I've got another idea. I will show you some "in progress" photos now and when it's finished I'll show you the final product.

When will our referral come?

For those of you who voted in the poll to the left and chose March 10, sorry!!! The highest date so far is April 15 (tax day!!) and that is a possibility. I'm still waiting word that the referrals I heard about back on March 3 have come through. Two of my adoption friends (#2 and #3) on the list are now referring to ourselves as Nancy Drew as we try to sleuth out when the referrals are coming and who is where on "the list". We are still #5 as best I can tell.

For those of you who might not understand how this works, I will go over it for clarification.

Once we signed a contract with the agency and sent in our first fees, we were put on "The List". After we were on the list, we started gathering the documents that will be part of our "dossier". This is a package of papers to include things like our homestudy, photos of our home, letters from our employers, police letters stating we are not criminals, etc. Once this document is complete (FRIDAY!!!! yay!) I will send it to our agency and they will send it for translation and legalization. This will be the document that will go to court. However, I am ahead of myself.

"Referrals" are made by matching a family to a child that is available for adoption. Children are not available for adoption in Kyrgyzstan (or to go to court for adoption) until they are three months old. We could receive a referral for a younger child, but her paperwork would not be able to go to court until she was three months old. Once we are matched with a child (our referral), we will get photos and medical information. After that, we are required to travel to Kyrgyzstan to visit with her for 14 days. We will travel to the orphanage each day and spend somewhere between 1-2 hours with her. After this time, we are allowed to accept the referral and the case can proceed to court (assuming she is three months -- if not, the court will not hear the case until she is three months). We will return home to wait. After going to court, there is a mandatory waiting period of 30 days. After that, 10 days are required to get a passport and visa for the child to come home. Typically, families with our agency return to pick up their child in about 8 weeks after the first trip.

We are just barely into our window. I'm still sticking with my original prediction of April 15. God is fully in control of when this will happen. Knowing that He has this taken care of, I'm ok with waiting. I know he has the perfect daughter/sister picked out for our family.

I got my weekly baby fix in at church tonight holding Caleb. I even managed to get him to sleep!! He's a finger sucker and just terribly cute when he does it. His parents, however, aren't AS excited about it as I am -- something about dentists and orthodontists, etc.!! *smile* Caleb is my "practice baby".

Please continue to pray for our journey and for Ellie and her birth mom. There are days I stop and think, "I know there are people praying for us and this adoption -- maybe right now." It helps me make it through whatever is going on and truly keeps us strong. We are continuing to have faith that God is going to provide the remaining portion of finances we need to make Trip 1 and then what's needed for Trip 2. We are so close now but it's sort of like the old saying that close only counts in hand grenades and horse shoes. It's pretty much all or nothing in this case. It's another thing that makes me stop some days and go, "You know, God is working on this. Just because I don't see progress in this area doesn't mean He isn't taking care of it." It's much like the nursery that you all haven't seen photos of yet *smile*. Just because I'm not mentioning it doesn't mean I'm not working on it. I am!!! It's just not quite ready to share yet. Here's a sneak peek of the stenciling I'm doing. Sadly, there's only one line (the last one) done.

Washing Dishes

When I was little (and I mean little) my job was to wash dishes. I remember have to have a step stool to reach the sink (my parents are laughing at this point!!). Washing dishes was my job until I left home (a LOT of years later).

So, in an effort to instill a little of the same "job ethic" and "responsibility" into Joshua -- and, let's be honest, a way to get out of doing dishes!!! -- I felt it time that he learn to become responsible for the dishes each day.

Tonight he started. I got all the expected reasons why he shouldn't have to do this: "I'll gag; that food on there is gross; I'll throw up." Imagine all this in a very whiny voice. I told him he could throw up and then he'd just have to clean that up too. THAT seemed to be the right answer as he stopped and said, "I don't want to have to do THAT!" to which I replied, "Then don't throw up." He found some rubber gloves (he couldn't TOUCH that stuff!) and started the process. A BOTTLE (I'm certain it was that much) of Dawn and multiple gallons of water later, he emerged with the dishes clean and the dishwasher running. He only had to re-wash one pan and, surprisingly, didn't gag.

We'll see if we manage to make a habit of it. Here's some proof of his work.

I'm such a "mean" mama!!! :-)