Wednesday, May 31, 2006

Perfect card

Tod gave me the most perfect card yesterday. Read it, and see if you don't agree:

Tuesday, May 30, 2006

When Tod and I first stared talking about adoption we expected to have our lovely daughter 9 months after we finished our paperwork. HOWEVER, the WAIT times between DTC and Metcha Day have gotten longer (and longer). This was the timeline our agency gave us today: (Which is why WE HAVE NO CLUE WHEN WE WILL BRING BABY MAGIC HOME - although you'll notice here, if we are LID in early June, we'll be matched in May. LID later in June, matched in June). And this is why I wanted to get done as fast as we could... LID is everything!

Prediction of Matches between May & October of 2006
Wait time from LID to Child Referral

Month of Match LID Estimated Wait
May 6/7 – 6/15/05 11 mos.
June 6/16 – 6/23/05 12 mos.
July 6/24 – 6/30/05 13 mos.
August 7/1 – 7/10/05 14 mos.
September 7/11 – 7/19/05 15 mos.
October 7/20 – 7/31/05 16 mos.

Turned 30 today

Well, I turned 30 today. I am so happy about it; thanks to the adoption plans, this has been a LOVELY milestone. I had hoped to be DTC today, but we are still in critical review, so we'll hopefully be DTC next week. I'll CERTAINLY post it when we are.

I haven't been posting much b/c although very busy, I haven't been able to type effectively!! I took a chunk of my index finger off in a quilting accident (it happens!!), and typing has been slow and painful. I'll get back to posting more soon.


Wednesday, May 24, 2006

We're IN!

Dossier received at CCAI: 5/23/2006
Now, we wait.

Also, for those of you near-by, or who need to bbe reminded: PArty at Chez Carley this Sunday 4:00 pm. Come eat our yummy food, and chat with our brilliant friends. Fun for all. Help us celebrate until we pass out or fall asleep!! Birthdays, graduation, and DTA oh MY!!!

Monday, May 22, 2006

Done. And done.

I'm done I'm done I'm done!!!! I passed my defense this afternoon!!!! I'm done I'm done!! WHOOO-HOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

AND, we were DTA TODAY!! (Dossier to agency)!! China here we come!

Friday, May 19, 2006

Our paperwork gained a whole pound!

Just a VERY quick update on the status of our dossier. It is on its way home form the Chinese Embassy AS I TYPE!! In fact, LOOK at this:

May 19, 2006 8:04 AM On FedEx vehicle for delivery RALEIGH, NC

It is sitting SOMEWHERE in Raleigh!!! It weighed about 1 pound when I sent it, and it is now at 2 lbs! How many extra pages is that I wonder? Now I just need it in my hands, and I can get it turned around to our agency today? tomorrow? WHOO-HOO!!!! What a wonderful week!!

For those of you who are also adopting from China, have any guesses when we'll get our referal??? I'm hoping we'll have it in March? Would that be too much to ask???? (Ok, honestly, I'd love it in Decemebr, but that is NOT happening...Maybe February?)

Monday, May 15, 2006

Nothing new to report

So I won't. Other than I finish in a week and I am TOTALLY freaked out about it...now "They" can't find my paperwork that states I am finishing next Monday. If that can't get sorted out, there are going to be MAJOR issues. Namely, TECHNICALLY I can't defend...and TECHNICALLY I can't get paid. TECHNICALLY they can kiss my a#! I'm done as of Monday. Paperwork or no.

Wednesday, May 10, 2006

Let the stalking commence

I am officially stalking the Fed-Ex guy. Our paper work went out today to be authenticated (the envelope weighed 0.85 pounds...that's ALL paper weight, my friend. And it cost over 25 dollars to send!). Exciting. I hope to have everything back by next Friday. The next step?? It's sending it to the agency! Well, I have to go over EVERYTHING one more time...then it goes off to the agency. And now I'm totally second guessing little things. I am afraid something isn't going to be correct...or that our pictures aren't good enough (honest!! there are so many rules!!). Anyway, for now, it's out of my hands! Literally.

As for everything else, Tod's still doing great. He's back at yoga, so he's slowly building his strenght back up. He's still so tired when he gets home he often naps, but he's doing great. His last cardiologist check-up went well, and they have another one scheduled for August, so Dr. J thinks there's nothing to be worried about yet with Tod's arrythmia. So, I try not to worry about it either. See, this is me, not worrying.

Me, well, I'm in the last throes of my dissertation. I hand it to my committee this week (Friday morning), and then defend May 22nd. Piece.of.cake. Oh, and then I go out for a drink...or 10. Maybe 20. I've never blacked out before from drinking...maybe I'll strive for that. And when they throw me out of the bar, they will be throwing out a newly nerded Ph.D.!

Tuesday, May 09, 2006

Cetification, check....

We got all our 11 documents certified (at the State level). Tomorrow our 14 docs go out for the LAST leg of their little journey before we send them off to CCAI... We ended up using a courier service. I went back and forth on this, but our service is cheap (a flat fee of 60 bucks!!) AND we should have everything back by Wednesday next week!!! I think the courier was the way to go.

On a total side note, Congrats to my little bro, who has finally picked a date for the wedding (or the weeding, as my Mom likes to call it!)!! I hope Baby Magic can make it.

Saturday, May 06, 2006

Warning, RUDE content!

Have you ever? Game - From a friends' blog but I'll put in my own answers.

Taken a picture naked? Does this mean I was naked when I TOOk the picture?
Made out with a member of the same sex? What the hell kind of game is this?
Danced in front of your mirror? Of course.
Told a lie? Sure, every time my boss asks: how’s it going?
Gotten in a car with people you just met? Not that I can think of. I’m not stupid.
Been in a fist fight? If siblings don’t count, then no.
Had feelings for someone who didn’t have them back? Um, yeah…or, well, he SAID he didn’t love me anymore…
Been arrested? Gads no.
Left your house without telling your parents? Nope. No point. No reason, and no where to go!
Ditched school to do something more fun? I’m sorry to say no.. But when college rolled around, I was a skipping machine.
Slept in a bed with a member of the same sex? Yes.
Seen someone die? Only once.
Kissed a picture? Yes. Way back when I was dumb and in love for the first time.
Slept in until 3? Yeah, back when I’d stay up until 6 am playing Civilization.
Laid on your back and watched cloud shapes go by? Yes, but not often enough.
Played dress up? Sure. But not anymore.
Felt an earthquake? Nope.
Touched a snake? Yes.
Ran a red light? Yes. I live in Raleigh, it's a pre-rec.
Had detention? Only once. It was for back-talking a teacher. Go figure. The jackass was wrong.
Been in a car accident? a few fender-benders. Nothing really serious. And none of them were my fault.
Pole danced? No WAY! I can't even imagine the embarrassment.
Been lost? In many ways.
Sang karaoke? A couple of times. Mainly in Thailand…Gewn Stephani I am not.
Done something you told yourself you wouldn’t? see answer to karaoke question.
Laughed until something you were drinking came out your nose? Can I just say, my nick name in college was GUSH…
Caught a snowflake on your tongue? Yup, and I can't wait to do it again with my daughter
Kissed in the rain? Once or twice
Sang in the shower? All the damn time
Got your tongue stuck to a pole? Hell no! I’ve done some dumb things with my tongue, but NEVER that!!
Ever gone to school partially naked? No.
Sat on a roof top? Yeah. A bunch when I was younger.
Played chicken? Maybe once. But I was NOT driving.
Been pushed into a pool with all your clothes on? no.
Been told you’re hot by a complete stranger? (Not lately.) I’ll do one better, I got PROPOSED TO by a total stranger!! He was hot too…but he was English, it never would have worked.
Broken a bone? Nothing major..
Mooned/flashed someone? Does my husband count?
Forgotten someone’s name? Yeah, like my number 6…
Slept naked? All the time
Blacked out from drinking? Nope.
Played a prank on someone? Yes. But not a mean one, and NEVER one where anyone would get hurt.
Felt like killing someone? Oh yeah, see the picture question.
Made a parent cry? I have no doubt I still do that…
Cried over someone? God, yes..I think my eyes are still red from that.
Had sex more than 10 times in a weekend? yeah, well, he was THAT cute!
Had/Have a dog? Oh, man YES.
Been in a band? In high school…and NOT in a cool band.
Drank 25 sodas in a day? No way.
Caused a fire? Um, yes, in the kitchen, but I put it out before it got bad!

Thursday, May 04, 2006

A quickie

Just a quick update between 16 hour days writing and working.... we FINALLY have every scrap of paper for our paperchase!!! Tomorrow everything goes to the state level for certification!! Next week (or maybe Friday), off for authentication, then DTA!!!! YIPPY!! Now, back to the grind for me.