Update

I was informed by a friend that I'm not doing so great a job at keeping updates updated! (and I thank her for the reminder!) So, here's where we stand.

Our last meeting with the social worker was last Wednesday. She told us that she should have the homestudy completed by Friday (4/1). When that is completed, Kyle and I have to take it down to the USCIS office in New Orleans, get fingerprinted and wait for approval from them (immigration). We will also have all of our paperwork together and sent off to the secretary of state (in MS) 1st, then to the embassy in Miami 2nd. Once all that is back in our hands, we send it to our agency in TX and wait for a referral. I am estimating that by the end of May or beginning of June we should know who our daughter is, medical background, and birthdate. We will get to go visit soon after that for a few days. Then, 3-5 months later, we will be able to bring her home!

We will also begin applying for grants after our homestudy is complete. Please keep praying for this. We are in huge need of financial help and haven't been hearing very many people actually getting these grants. But, they go to someone, so we are praying that God will guide us to at least one that can help out with the cost.

Keep checking back. I promise to be more faithful in keeping this up!

We completed our medical forms today. I have to go back tomorrow to get the kids redone. I took their letters up there, but forgot it was supposed to be on the dr.'s letterhead! I thought I was on top of all this, but that small detail slipped my mind!

We'll also get fingerprinted to send to the state for police clearance. AFter that, we'll just be waiting on the homestudy to be finished (which I wish the social worker would get done with), and our FBI/state clearance letters. Then, this paperwork should be done with!

It's getting closer!

I new I'd be a slacker on keeping this up-to-date. We are well underway with the paperchase of adoption. I sent our I-600A last week, but just found out it will probably be sent back to us. Seems the New Orleans USCIS needs the completed homestudy to accompany the application. we'll wait and see. The good news is we can take it down there in person and be fingerprinted the same day!

I send our FBI clearance off today and will take care of our medical forms, state police clearance, and witness statements next week. The only thing we'll be waiting on next week is our social worker to finish up our homestudy and the clearance letters to return.

I know waiting will only get harder as we go along. I'm so impatient and want everything done yesterday.

We're still not sure how the money is going to come, but are trusting that God will provide. I'm brainstorming different fundraising ideas, but not sure that they would be supported too well. I'm also hesitant about asking people for money, but we'll do what we have to do!

Well, time has passed and Ben is potty trained......halfway. I won't go into detail about which half, but it's the yuckier half of the two halves that have to go into the potty. I'm not fretting about it, I figure he'll get it when he gets it.



Adoption is coming along. We have a meeting to attend in 2 more weeks, then the process will really take off. I am getting very excited and impatient and there's still so much time left.



We are still trying to adjust to our new home. My hubby is looking at a job back in our old town, but I'm not holding my breath. It would be great if we went back, but maybe this is where God wants us for now? I still don't have a peace about it one way or the other.

The Potty Blues

Potty training. You would think that as complex as God, our awesome creator, has made the human body, that potty training would be a breeze. It seems simple enough. You feel the urge, you go to the potty. And, with my oldest son, Sam, it was almost that simple. 2 years and 2 months into his life, he learned this basic principle in about 2 1/2 days.



Ben, our 3 year old, is a COMPLETELY different story. He was born premature, so we have been acustomed to him being a little late reaching various milestones. For that reason, I didn't even begin trying the whole potty training process until just recently. He turned 3 last week, and I made a commitment to have potty training boot camp this week. Saturday went wonderfully. Sunday was a mess. With church and naptime, the day was almost over before we made any effort and no progress was made. Today, let's not even go there. I know it's a learning process, but if I clean up any more accidents, I may as well invest in some carpet cleaner stock.



We've put him in "big boy pants" full-time now, except for naptime and nightime. I've always heard that's best because kids don't like being uncomfortable in wet pants.



They didn't know my child.



He could have the entire contents of Niagra Falls poured onto his clothing and he would sit quietly and watch TV until he was discovered.



You gotta love him,though. The look on his face when he is successful in "going potty" is priceless. And for that reason, I'll press on.

Protected Identity

My husband has informed me that I need to use pseudo-names for our family.......so I submit to my hubby and will change the names of our children to protect their identity. For those of you who really know them, here are the changes:



Our oldest, 4 years old, will now be known as Sam.

Our middle, 3 years old, will be Ben.

And the baby, 19 months, will be Aaron.



There you have it. I didn't ask him if I'm to change his name to. HMmmmmm.......that could be interesting...........

Up and rolling

whoa. Time flies when you're having fun. It's been almost a year since I've written anything. So, instead of picking up where I left off, I decided to make a fresh start. Seems to fit my life better these days.



So, here it is. A new version of my ramblings about my kids, my hubby, and our crazy life.



Sit back and "Saddle up your horses, we've got a trail to blaze" (Steven Curtis Chapman)