Berry Picking

Yesterday evening, we went Mulberry picking in our sideyard. We have quite a few mulberry trees, they are quite tall so we don't get as many berries as we had wished for but we still got quite a few. K had so much fun picking them and once she realized how good they tasted, she went to town eating them, I think she ended up eating more than we picked.

Our Berry Stained hands

K holding the Mulberries and Uncle & Momma's berry stained hands

Playgroup and Story Time

So, Saturday was our adoption playgroup that meets once a month. There were alot of new families that attended this time and K had lots of fun playing with the kids like ususal. I spent most of my time helping K get onto the playground because the steps start at her chest level, a good foot off the ground and there's no way for her to get up unless someone lifts her up there and then she has a blast. K also went down the 2 story high twisty slide. Once she realized she could do it on her own, she went down it at least 50 + plus times. Which totally amazed the other parents since most of their kids wouldn't even go down it. After playgroup we went to the Thomas the Train story time they were having at Toys R Us. They read stories, got to play with the big train sets, colored and got Thomas the Train trading cards. K also made her very first purchase, she bought Uncle N a birthday present since he's birthday is this coming week. She took her purchase up to the counter, paid with her dollar, got change back, dropped her change all over the floor, picked it up and then got her own bag and receipt. She was so proud of herself! As for today, K is crabby but I guess Momma is too. I told my Mom about my idea of adopting again from Vietnam, she looked at my like I was crazy, I showed her the picture of the child and I know the thought crossed her mind, even if it was for a split second, if there was anyway we could make this happen. And then both of us got back to reality knowing there is just know way. I know if this is suppose to happen that I'm not in control and I truly believe if this child is suppose to be in my family that God will reveal away for us to make it happen. Here are a few pictures from Friday and Saturday.

Adoption costs

I just got some figures from the Adoption agency. It wouldn't be so bad but the flights and the in-country travel is what does you in. I know that when I went to get K in Vietnam that I didn't pay any where near $3000.00 in in-country travel and that was just in 2006 and we had to be in 2 major cities, this time I would fly into one city and that is where we would stay the whole time. I really want my Mom and K to travel with me again just in case I got sick like I did when I got K. If my Mom wouldn't have helped out when I had food poisoning, a bout of flu and some funky infection, there is no way K and I would have survived. So basically if I want this adoption to happen, I would need a miracle. Right now my heart is so discouraged and breaking because without some rich long-lost family member dying and leaving me a huge inheritance, I can't afford to adopt this child who captured my heart.

US visa $380.00
Flight - $ 5500.00
Vietnam entry visa $195
USCIS I-600 A $670
In Vietnam travel $5800
In country adoption related expenses $1500

GRAND TOTAL $13545.00 if my Mom, K and I would travel

US visa $380.00
Flight - $2500.00
Vietnam entry visa $65.00
USCIS I-600 A $670
In Vietnam travel $3000
In country adoption related expenses $1500

GRAND TOTAL $8115.00 if I would travel by myself

I think I maybe......

I think I maybe crazy! With everything going on in my life that is wrong (and trust me my life is a wreck!), I'm suddenly entertaining the idea of going back to Vietnam to adopt again for a special needs adoption. It would be a race against the clock since my doisser would have to be in Vietnam by July 31st and I have no idea where I would get the money for travel and immigration costs (because it's a pre-identified child, the rest of the fees are waived because they want to find this child a home). But I have to say that when I saw this child's picture, I fell in love. I keep trying to convince myself that I'm nuts for even thinking that this could happen but then I think about that sweet child's face and my heartbreaks thinking that they won't be part of our family.

A few pictures

I know ya'll just come here to see pictures but there is a post below this one with an update

200 Have or Have Nots

Started my new job on Monday, working my butt off but enjoying the work. There's no air conditioning in the warehouse so by the time I get off work I'm drenched, it's usually between 90-110 everyday in there. I love the people that I'm going to be managing, so that's a good thing and the work we do isn't hard. We package items and put together displays that go to stores like Sam's, Walmart, etc. Hopefully once we are in a routine I'll get back to blogging regularly again but these 10 hour plus days in extreme heat are getting to me. Plus it's been 6 months since I've been on a job where I'm on my feet for more than 10 hours straight so my body is trying to get use to it again.

I saw this on my friends blog and thought I would see how I would do, guess there's alot of things out there still left to do.

1. Touched an iceberg
2. Slept under the stars
3. Been a part of a hockey fight
4. Changed a baby's diaper
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Swam with wild dolphins
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a tarantula
10. Said "I love you" and meant it
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Stayed up all night long and watched the sun rise
15. Seen the Northern Lights
16. Gone to a huge sports game
17. Walked the stairs to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
19. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
20. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Bet on a winning horse
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Taken an ice cold bath
28. Had a meaningful conversation with a beggar
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Ridden a roller coaster
31. Hit a home run
32. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
33. Adopted an accent for fun
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Felt very happy about your life, even for just a moment
36. Loved your job 90% of the time
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Watched wild whales
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Gone on a midnight walk on the beach
41. Gone sky diving
42. Visited Ireland
43. Ever bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited India
45. Bench-pressed your own weight
46. Milked a cow
47. Alphabetized your personal files
48. Ever worn a superhero costume
49. Sung karaoke
50. Lounged around in bed all day
51. Gone scuba diving
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Done something you should regret, but don't
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Been in a movie
60. Gone without food for 3 days
61. Made cookies from scratch
62. Won first prize in a costume contest
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Been in a combat zone
65. Spoken more than one language fluently
66. Gotten into a fight while attempting to defend someone
67. Bounced a check
68. Read - and understood - your credit report
69. Recently bought and played with a favorite childhood toy
70. Found out something significant that your ancestors did
71. Called or written your Congress person
72. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
73. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
74. Helped an animal give birth
75. Been fired or laid off from a job
76. Won money
77. Broken a bone
78. Ridden a motorcycle
79. Driven any land vehicle at a speed of greater than 100 mph
80. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
81. Slept through an entire flight: takeoff, flight, and landing
82. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
83. Eaten sushi
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read The Bible cover to cover
86. Changed someone's mind about something you care deeply about
87. Gotten someone fired for their actions
88. Gone back to school
89. Changed your name
90. Caught a fly in the air with your bare hands
91. Eaten fried green tomatoes
92. Read The Iliad
93. Taught yourself an art from scratch
94. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
95. Apologized to someone years after inflicting the hurt
96. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
97. Been elected to public office
98. Thought to yourself that you're living your dream
99. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
100. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn't know you
101. Had a booth at a street fair
102. Dyed your hair
103. Been a DJ
104. Rocked a baby to sleep
105. Ever dropped a cat from a high place to see if it really lands on all four
106. Raked your carpet
107. Brought out the best in people
108. Brought out the worst in people
109. Worn a mood ring
110. Ridden a horse
111. Carved an animal from a piece of wood or bar of soap
112. Cooked a dish where four people asked for the recipe
113. Buried a child
114. Gone to a Broadway play
115. Been inside the pyramids
116. Shot a basketball into a basket
117. Danced at a disco
118. Played in a band
119. Shot a bird
120. Gone to an arboretum
121. Tutored someone
122. Ridden a train
123. Brought an old fad back into style
124. Eaten caviar
125. Let a salesman talk you into something you didn’t need
126. Ridden a giraffe or elephant
127. Published a book
128. Pieced a quilt
129. Lived in an historic place
130. Acted in a play or performed on a stage
131. Asked for a raise
132. Made a hole-in-one
133. Gone deep sea fishing
134. Gone roller skating
135. Run a marathon
136. Learned to surf
137. Invented something1
38. Flown first class
139. Spent the night in a 5-star luxury suite
140. Flown in a helicopter
141. Visited Africa
142. Sang a solo
143. Gone spelunking
144. Learned how to take a compliment
145. Written a love-story
146. Seen Michelangelo’s David
147. Had your portrait painted
148. Written a fan letter
149. Spent the night in something haunted
150. Owned a St. Bernard or Great Dane
151. Ran away
152. Learned to juggle
153. Been a boss
154. Sat on a jury
155. Lied about your weight
156. Gone on a diet
157. Found an arrowhead or a gold nugget
158. Written a poem
159. Carried your lunch in a lunchbox
160. Gotten food poisoning
161. Gone on a service, humanitarian or religious mission
162. Hiked the Grand Canyon
163. Sat on a park bench and fed the ducks
164. Gone to the opera
165. Gotten a letter from someone famous
166. Worn knickers
167. Ridden in a limousine
168. Attended the Olympics
169. Can hula or waltz
170. Read a half dozen Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys books
171. Been stuck in an elevator
172. Had a revelatory dream
173. Thought you might crash in an airplane
174. Had a song dedicated to you on the radio or at a concert
175. Saved someone’s life
176. Eaten raw whale
177. Know how to tat, smock or do needlepoint
178. Laughed till your side hurt
179. Straddled the equator
180. Taken a photograph of something other than people that is worth framing
181. Gone to a Shakespeare Festival
182. Sent a message in a bottle
183. Spent the night in a hostel
184. Been a cashier
185. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
186. Joined a union
187. Donated blood or plasma
188. Built a campfire
189. Kept a blog
190. Had hives
191. Worn custom made shoes or boots
192. Made a PowerPoint presentation
193. Taken a Hunter’s Safety Course
194. Served at a soup kitchen
195. Conquered the Rubik’s cube
196. Know CPR
197. Ridden in or owned a convertible
198. Found a long lost friend
199. Helped solve a crime
200. Responded to a NJP newsletter

2 YEAR ANNIVERSARY

It so hard to believe that it's been 2 years since we were Logged In to China. So much has changed in our lives, so much has happened to us and to our family. I sometimes question why our Journey to C has been so long, so hard but also such a sweet reminder that adoption is not for the faint of heart.

There are still questions that linger, like was the adoption agency really telling the truth about my paperwork? Especially since they lied about it being sent to China for over 5 1/2 months before it actually was. Did my paperwork really make it through the review room with no problems? Or did the fail to notify me? But over a year ago, I went to my favorite spot to pray, no it's not inside a church, its just a place that I have went over the years where I feel closer to God, I have went there whenever I needed God guidance or needed a serene place to think. So I stood there looking across the beauty of nature that was before me and I dropped to my knees and said God, if C's adoption is not going to happen then please crush my heart now into a billion pieces, otherwise please give me peace which I have not felt about C's adoption since I signed with my agency so I can make it through this wait without a constant doubt. And it was quite amazing but I felt a warm breeze blow over me and felt peace. I know that C's adoption will happen, even with all the people around me still very worried about the lies we have been told by our agency and their doubting it will every happen. But I know in my heart that C will come home, it maybe years from now but eventually I will be sitting by my phone and get the call and there will be the most precious baby girl that I have been waiting so very long for.

1 Day of Summer and playing with Tree Frogs

Here are a few of my favorite pictures from Today (aka June 20 and the 1st day of Summer). We had such a nice time playing outside and we found 2 little tree frogs. So Momma introduced K to frogs, she was a little scared of them but eventually she warmed up to them.

Quick Post

This is just a quick post since I've just been exhausted all week for some reason but they say when one door closes, a window opens. Well that is how my life has been this week....
The job interview I went to on Monday, they called me Tuesday and as long as I pass my physical and agility tomorrow, I'll start my new job sometime next week!! WHOO HOO! Otherwise, I applied for a job with the Diocese and they called me for more information, which is a good sign. I mean really never in a million years would I have applied for the job at the Diocese but I really believe that something divine had to do with me actually taking the leap and applying. I mean I'm not someone who goes to church every Sunday and I know in the last few years there have been many times when I have cursed God's name because of all the trials I have had in my life. Even if I don't get the job that's ok because after applying for the job, I have really felt a peace about everything that I haven't known in a long time. Otherwise, my Grandparents or K's Great-Grandparents have watched K all this week. I know that Grandparents are for spoiling but my daughter has never had so much sweets and sugar in her life. Just today my Grandma tells me that K and her had chocolate cake after breakfast this morning. I didn't say a word, just hung my head down and shook it back and forth. I have lots of pictures to post and to tell about K's chance meeting with Fredbird but that will have to wait till later. Gonna grab a shower and head to bed.

Flag Day, Father's Day and another job bites the dust

Well first off I'm just in a foul mood now. I was suppose to have a full week of training but I got a call for a job interview on Friday for Monday (today) at 1pm. So I called my work on Friday and told them that I need a half day on Monday and told them I had a funeral to attend. I wasn't lying because I do have a visitation tonight. Well I showed up at work this morning and they go, oh well we called your temp agency and told them to tell you not to come in. Well I knew right then and there that I was on the way out the door. So instead of driving all the way home and driving almost the same distant back to the job interview I hung out at the Walmart's magazine aisle. I read so many books on how to knit, that I think if I tried, I probably could knit. I called home and they said the temp agency had called. So I went to my job interview and I think it went really well, downside is they have no air conditioning in the warehouse but hey it's a job and only about 15 min from my house. So I get home and check voicemail and the message from the temp agency was, that the water company was not happy that I took a 1/2 day and that I am to return all my badges before I can pick up my paycheck. I really wanted to go F*** You because they have lied to me about so much stuff concerning this job, including pay, work hours and I can actually name a 100 other things that the lied about. So I'm writing a really nasty note to them and also filing a complaint with the BBB and Department of Employment about their activities. So on to better stuff

Saturday was Flag day and also the grand opening of my Cousin's funeral home. We had a nice time visiting with family and just enjoying the day. Then yesterday was Father's day, we enjoyed a nice lunch with my brother (aka K's godfather) and my Grandpa before everyone went their separate ways for the day.

Grand Opening of my Cousin's funeral home

K with her Great-Grandpa

K with her Uncle

Tired

Too tired to blog, so just some pictures from the last few days....


K got her fingernails cut and then she decided she need to cut Grandma's fingernails. All I could think of was the stereotype of all Vietnamese people run or work in Nail Salons.

The other night on our way home from them picking Mommy at work, we stopped by the Lock & Dam and Museum that is right by my work. We had so much fun and can't wait to go back there. These are from this evening of us playing outside in the side yard, thank goodness the heat broke for a few hours but they are expecting bad thunderstorms and tornadoes again tonight

Kitty Cat Lunch

Well K and I have been taking it easy today. K helped me make her lunch today, which was a grilled cheese sandwich that looked like a Kitty Cat and he was walking on grass (aka spinach leaves) and there were red flowers (aka strawberries). K devoured every last bit of it and right now she's taking her nap. So I'm trying to get stuff caught up, returned a few emails and phone calls and now just waiting for her to get up so we can play some more.

Weekend

Friday went well at work. They already have me on the computers and doing actually work, yep it was only my 3rd day and I'm working my butt off. I asked them if they push most people like this and she goes no "your just exceptional at this". Sort of made me feel good but also bummed me out because in any other job that means "more work then everyone else just because we know you can handle it". Otherwise Friday night was the pre-sale to the yard sale we were participating in, needless to say there was no one there and then Saturday, well it didn't get any better! We at least made back what we paid for the space and just a little extra but I was hoping to at least break $100 and we didn't. Heck, we were actually one of the only people out of 30 families who actually made back what they paid for their space and a little extra, most people there didn't sell a single thing. So that made me feel a little better. At the end we had 2 families give us a whole bunch of shoes and size 2T winter & summer clothes for K. Most of the clothes they gave us were namebrand, TCP, Gymboree, Baby Nay, Landsend, etc. I was blown away that they just gave them to us but excited because they were such super cute brand new looking outfits. Otherwise I did get K's big Christmas present there. I'm still looking for a box big enough to put it in to pack it away until Christmas time, so in the mean time she's getting to play with it. So I officially have all of K's Christmas shopping done and it's only June. After the yard sale and a super unpleasant encounter with a really creepy rude guy and his non-pc language about K, I was never so thankful that K was asleep at the time and didn't wake up when I raised my voice at this guy. I mean I can handle adoption questions with the best of them but when you start saying derogatory raciest comments to my face about my child, that's when I draw the line. So after we unloaded all the unsold items at home, we headed to our Homestudies Family Picnic that they host every summer. We had a nice time, visited with our friends and made lots of new ones. K had so much fun playing with all the kids. On the other hand I was exhausted climbing all over the giant wooden playground with K, my muscles ached and it didn't help that it was 99 outside and that was in the evening when it was suppose to be cooler. As for today, we did laundry, played outside, moved K's playhouse and swing set into a shadier place in our yard and then watched Evan Almighty after UN came home. So I'm done with my work, so I'm headed to bed.

swinging on the swing

K kept playing peek a boo with me through the slats of the playground and it was so funny because all you would see where her bows.

climbing the playground to get to the slides

playing with the steering wheel

playing with the bubbles, she got so super messy and then get bubble solution in her eyes, it was a mess!

This picture is from today, I told her to smile for Mommy and this is what I get

Thursday

Well today has been a day of ups and downs. Work was ok, the trainer ended up having me make callbacks to contractors, then when one of the contractors called the manager to make sure they really had a new person, named Me, she's like yeah but she shouldn't be making calls. Needless to say she came back and was really snappy towards me and the trainer but then started praising me, it was just plain weird! Otherwise we are having a huge problem with my training schedule because my work schedule is actually Wed-Sun, well she wants me to train for a full Mon-Fri shift which at this point I can't do because I don't have a babysitter for K on Mon & Tues. So she got all nasty with me and was like look I need you to be Mon-Fri either next week or the next otherwise I don't think this will work out. I didn't say it but I really wanted to say F*** you. If you expected me to be there Mon thru Fri then you should have told me that when you hired me, not that you will only work Wed-Sun. Otherwise we have been tossing around the possibility of moving, our top choices are Florida, Pennsylvania and Nevada. My Mom and I are still trying to figure out what are next steps are.

Otherwise K was so crazy before bed tonight she had Mommy, Grandma and UN laughing to hard we were crying. K was pretending to ride a horse and it was the most silliest thing you have ever seen. Otherwise we are having a yard sale tomorrow night and a picnic with our home study agency Sat. evening and Sunday, well just a day of rest I'm pretty sure. Oh yeah, I finally broke down last night and turned on the a/c. Still have it set to 79 but it has made such a difference in the house and luckily with it being set so high it isn't running 24/7 trying to cool the house.

K dancing around while watching baseball

K being super silly

Training

It really wasn't all that bad, sat there for over 7 hrs reading a stupid manual that contained just a modpodge of information, none of it made any sense and it had no rhyme or reason where it fell into the book. It was the worst written training manual that I have ever seen. Otherwise I deal with insurance claims all day long, we are an insurance policy that people with water/sewers buy to cover the costs of repairs not covered by the actually water/waste water company. All the people there are super nice but it's a super long drive for the job I'm doing and for the pay. Otherwise I came home with an email waiting for me from another staffing company that wants me to start right away, so I'm going to call them tomorrow, if it's any closer to home plus it's better pay (they already told me how much it was), so maybe I won't be there for very long. Otherwise it's miserable hot today. K wore a sleeveless onesie to try and keep her cool, debating tonight if we are going to have to break down and turn on the A/C just to be able to sleep comfortably at night, otherwise I'm going to be exhausted at work just like I was today.

Mish Mash of Stuff

Well I can't believe it's already Tuesday, I mean seriously where did my weekend and first two days of this week go? This weekend we attended my Cousin's baby shower. K amazingly warmed up to the unfamiliar family members super quick, I know that my Cousin's love K but they are never around, so that's why they are unfamiliar, they travel to make their living (sort of like carnival folk but not exactly) and even though they have houses, they live primarily in an RV. But K was in her element, she enjoyed her 2 baby cousins, J (baby shower honoree, 3 1/2 weeks old) & N (8 mos old) that we there and enjoyed her adult cousins and aunts. After the baby shower, we headed over to our SP house and enjoyed a wonderful visit with her hubby B, doggies and our SP, C. Sunday, well we spent it around the house and worked in the garden. Monday well we played and tried to get some order in our house since it's such a wreck. Today, well we had PT in the morning and then we cooked lunch, after lunch K wasn't feeling well (I think she got overheated because of this awful heat we are having and she was running and hopping around like a crazy women) so I took a nap with her, keeping a cold wash cloth on her head and the ceiling fan going, it cooled her down so she could rest. Right now we only have fans going in the house because it's cheaper than turning on the air conditioner, so it's not like I was trying to get her sick or something by having a/c and fans. Then after she got up from her nap, we watched Blue Clues with UN and then we cooked dinner together, fried chicken and green beans, mmm. We spent the evening together playing while UN and Grandma did stuff upstairs. Tomorrow I start the water company job, I'm just a little nervous about it but heck that's to be expected. So hopefully I'll have a full report tomorrow on how it went.

Playing a baby shower game

walking with her Aunt to the car

Putting plastic cover on the tomatoes to make sure bunnies don't eat them