Saturday, December 29, 2007

Good Morning Everyone! Welcome to the Saturday Morning Chat Group!

Good Morning Everyone. We had a pretty strong snowstorm come through yesterday and everything is white again. This is going to be a lazy weekend for us. What are your plans?

The chat room is now closed. Thank you for a great morning!

229 comments:

1 – 200 of 229   Newer›   Newest»
Unknown said...

Well I am working 3 days in a row and I am pretty sick. Michaels making me breakfast and then I am going to bed!

Unknown said...

I guess I am early this morning!!!

redmaryjanes said...

Hi Amy!

Glinda said...

I am being inundated by throngs of family members (my husband's family) on a whirlwind tour to usher in the New Year (four days of excess, drunken debauchery and very little sleep--my husband, not me).

I am on my way to the gym--just joined to beat myself into submission so I don't partake in any of the above!

Enjoy your day--wish we would get the snow you just did.

redmaryjanes said...

I'm sorry, my husband has put some new parental controls on our downstairs computer and it won't let me comment, so I've had to come back upstairs. I'm here!

redmaryjanes said...

Have a wonderful weekend Glinda. Your New Years Eve get together sounds fantastic! We'll be drinking some toasts over here.

Unknown said...

Hello everyone

Have fun at the gym Glinda!! I have loved your blog.wish we could chat more

redmaryjanes said...

How was work Amy?

Unknown said...

Im so ready to start defluffing myself..

Unknown said...

Work was pretty easy..Had a patient by the name of Sparkle..She was 17!! Lots of kids with colds

redmaryjanes said...

Yeah, me too. I've lost 15 pounds over the past year, but I'd love to take off 20 more. At least I didn't gain anything over Christmas.

redmaryjanes said...

Wow, a girl named Sparkle. Well, I can say I've never heard that name before. Eli is coming down with a cold. It's that fun time of year.

Unknown said...

Im so proud of you!!!!

redmaryjanes said...

I did Jenny Crain for a month which took off ten, but it is soooo expensive.

Unknown said...

Its yucky..I dont know Sparkle sounds so funny to me!!!

my hubby rocks..he just served me a rockin breakfast

Unknown said...

i just need how to figure out how to eat less and not be hungry

redmaryjanes said...

Oh, well go and eat. My hubs is brewing some coffee. I cannot believe that you have met the founder of LWB.

Unknown said...

im eating and chatting..it was an amazing experience..

redmaryjanes said...

What is she like? I can't imagine. What a meaningful life she has made for herself. I read that article she wrote about the tiny boy in China who wouldn't grow and needed surgery and how she traveled there just for him.

Unknown said...

shes just a humble person with a passionate heart..Oh I wish you lived in Atlanta

redmaryjanes said...

If I lived in Atlanta, I'd be going to the group that you meet with. It sounds wonderful.

Unknown said...

its the most amazing experience..it has changed my outlook on life

redmaryjanes said...

I will tell you that this whole adoption has changed my outlook on life. While I hate waiting, it has been such a growing experience for me. I also cannot believe the amazing women who I have met.

Unknown said...

hubby wants to know if dads are invited to the chat group! hahaha!

redmaryjanes said...

Of course they are, anyone can come. My husband is upstairs. He likes to know what's going on with everyone on the blogs. I talk to him about you guys and show him when big things are going in people's lives.

redmaryjanes said...

Good Morning Michael, what's up?

Unknown said...

BTW, thanks for telling me about the blog fairy..Verna rocks!

Hubbys blog at www.valtool.blogspot.com has been redone..Please go say hi when you can!

Unknown said...

hes eating breakfast, he will joing in another day but he says hello!

redmaryjanes said...

I just really adore Verna. She is such a gentle soul and will do anything for anyone. I am so happy that she got her referral for little Noah.

Unknown said...

is he not beautiful?????

redmaryjanes said...

Yes, he is...those cheeks! She should be able to get him soon. She, Becky, Steffie B, Gwen and I are all with the same agency. They changed their rules on SN adoption, so Gwen and Verna had their babies already assigned and were able to complete their adoptions while the rest of us have to wait 3-6 more months before we can see the SN lists.

Unknown said...

Neat!! So you are going SN as well?

redmaryjanes said...

I don't know. Sometimes I wish God would just tell me when our baby is coming and where we will find her. We can't see the SN lists until we are through the review room which should be in 3 more months. Then if we feel led by a particular child, we will go SN. I just don't know.

Unknown said...

I totally understand. I have a total peace, hoping Michael will feel it soon

Unknown said...

Where is everyone this morning?

redmaryjanes said...

Yeah, I just want the right baby for us. I know that God has a plan and that we are doing what He wants us to do. I guess all we can do is wait.

Unknown said...

Im so glad I have found joy in waiting

Rhonda said...

*knock knock* anybody home?

Unknown said...

Hello rhonda!

Unknown said...

Rhonda,
YOu were one of the first adoption blogs I found!

Unknown said...

Rhonda,
YOu were one of the first adoption blogs I found!

Rhonda said...

Good morning, everyone! :)

I've gotten NO sleep and I'm having a dinner party for 12 (including us) tonight...woo!

redmaryjanes said...

Good Morning Rhonda! That's a huge party.

redmaryjanes said...

So, are you loving the new house?

Unknown said...

I havent been to bed either!!!!! Nice to see you here!

Unknown said...

ooooh you gotta new house?

Rhonda said...

Love, love, loving the new house! :)

The party is for the A-Team (Josh's term for our adoption friends), so the usual suspects and one couple from PEI. We haven't met them yet, so it should be a lot of fun.

redmaryjanes said...

Rhonda's was one of the first ones I found too. I love how Heather designed the blog.

Rhonda said...

Yeah, we got a house in August and moved in September.

redmaryjanes said...

You guys always have a good time. I wish we had a big group here to hang out with. There are 3 of us, so it's fun. I guess we should host something at the house, I think people can relax more and be themselves.

Unknown said...

Awesome..SO whats everyone doing this weekend?

Rhonda said...

Heather is incredible at designing blogs...I'm always amazed at hers and everyone else's creativity. I can't do any of this stuff.

redmaryjanes said...

So Amy, how does your schedule work with being up all night. Do you always work nights? How many nights a week?

Rhonda said...

We were thinking of doing something at a restaurant, but with 12 of us, it would have been too noisy and nobody would have enjoyed themselves (as much).

Unknown said...

So RMJ where do you live? I know its somewhere up North where hunting is popular!

redmaryjanes said...

I can't make any graphics or do anything either. I have 4 headers from Heather that she did before she went into retirement. She does a really good job. I can move things in and out of the slots on my blog, but that's about it.

Unknown said...

I work 12 hour shifts, 3 nights a week. Every other Friday and Saturday night plus a different day

Unknown said...

who is heather?

Rhonda said...

I can do that as well, and I can post pictures, etc...but I have no idea how to manipulate images and create headers.

Rhonda said...

diggingaholetochina.blogspot.com

Unknown said...

thats another one I visit!

redmaryjanes said...

She is Headmeister Blog Design.

Rhonda said...

It's her one year LIDiversary today. I sent her a card in the mail, but I don't think she got it yet.

Unknown said...

I had no idea!!! I even posted on her blog today..haha!

redmaryjanes said...

You know, it just seems crazy to me that so many of us are in the double digits and it really feels like we are still nowhere.

redmaryjanes said...

You guys are way up there aren't you Rhonda?

Rhonda said...

*smirk* Don't get me started on THAT one. ;)

Rhonda said...

We're halfway to 16.

Unknown said...

you guys are too much

Rhonda said...

I'm sure we're going to hit the four year mark by the time this little hayride is over...if not more.

Unknown said...

i think i need to go to bed, michael wants to use the computer!

Unknown said...

see ya later this week in bloggyland

Rhonda said...

(halfway to 16 I meant we're at 15 months and 2 weeks)

Rhonda said...

Take care.

redmaryjanes said...

Good night Amy.

redmaryjanes said...

4 years? Well, if I do the math, that's what it comes to.

Unknown said...

good night friends!

redmaryjanes said...

Have a great week!

Rhonda said...

Sorry, deleted that comment...I had a typo and it didn't make any sense.

Anyways, yes, the wait is ridiculous. Though there are stronger words for it, but this is a public blog and family oriented, so I'll refrain myself. ;)

redmaryjanes said...

When we signed up, we were told it would be 18 months, no explained the process of how the LID works or how the timeline didn't start until our paperwork was logged in. So, now it's 19 months since we started and we're pretty much still nowhere.
I guess I'm reconciled to the wait, but I don't understand it when I see pictures that people bring back of a 3 year old room in an orphanage. Why are there 3 year olds there? They should be with families.

redmaryjanes said...

It really blows my mind when I see new blogs with families who just are doing the paperchase and getting their LID's in. Those are some patient people. I feel good that we're where we're supposed to be for this baby, but I think we would have gone with another country if we knew the situation we'd be in now.

Deb said...

Hi RMJ we must be in for what you had last night....it is suppossed to storm here today...as for what I'm doing well.....cleaning and trying to find places to put MORE stuff! There never seems to be enought room after the holidays for new stuff. I think I may have to rearrange a few things.

Rhonda said...

I know what you mean. I'm really tired of hearing about this supposed 'speed up'.

I'm REALLY afraid of what's going to happen this summer with the Olympics. If we thought things were slow now, wait until then.

I have a bad feeling that things are just going to crawl to a standstill for a good many months...and I don't know what's going to happen afterwards.

redmaryjanes said...

Good Morning Deb. We're talking about the long wait.

Deb said...

We were told 7-9 months when we started. It has been 18months since LID for us and 2 years 4 months since we started the entire process. It's hard. I can't imagine starting from scratch at this point.

Rhonda said...

About two or three months ago I was contacted by email by a man who had a LID three days after mine and he was convinced that he was going to get his referral in 2008. I decided to email him back and tell him the 'straight poop' and explain what was going on with the program, but he never replied. I saw his name on RQ's site (I still have a love/hate relationship with that site...though lately it's mostly hate) last week and he was freaking out about the wait and that, basically, I was right.

I felt badly that I wrote him, but obviously nobody was telling him anything.

redmaryjanes said...

I don't know how I feel about the speed up. The only glimmer of hope with that is that I have heard there was a time when it was this slow before and it did speed up to a whole month of LIDS being processed at a time. I don't know it they had the backlog then that they have now. I think it's all their government policy. I don't believe there is a baby shortage at all. It's all about how many babies they decide they are going to release that year.

Rhonda said...

February 1 will be 2 years since we started the process. We were told 6-9 months (I think) at the time we signed up with our agency...then it crept up to 9-12...then, well, you've all lived through it, I don't have to tell you. ;)

Rhonda said...

Yeah, they used to do a month, and sometimes two at a time. If only they could do that now...

Deb said...

I seen the rumor that things may come to a standstill until the olympics are over....is it just because of flight inflation? I hope they continue to match even if people have to wait a little longer at least they will have a picture of their child to hold onto and things won't fall behind any further..does that make sence?

redmaryjanes said...

I think it's good that you told him the truth. He just didn't want to hear it and it wasn't what his agency was telling him.
If I depended on our agency I wouldn't know anything. My SW just told us it may be 24 months now instead of the 18, which means we'll have a baby by the next Feb, not this Feb. I know that isn't going to happen.
I find out everything from having this blog and I think mentally that's what keeps me from freaking out. I know what is really going on.
I think the RQ does the best job she can. I think she does help people who are really close to getting their children. I check her site to see what she's talking about, but I can't do the ups and downs with the dates.
Every month that 8 days are processed, I do the math again and see the 4 year wait for us and it depresses me.

Rhonda said...

I HOPE they continue to match.

Rhonda said...

In her own way, she tries. It just bugs me when she has these WILD rumours of (for instance):

she'll say there's a rumour of 20 days but in reality it will be five. She never goes after the person(s) to find out what happened, she never explains it...but every month she goes back to these same sources and the same thing happens again and again.

This is why I don't put any stock into what she says about the dates anymore. Once it's on the CCAA site, then I believe it. ;)

Rhonda said...

Our agency has been really good with providing us with info though. When things do appear on the RQ site, I question our agency about it. :P

I also have a guest-poster from our agency who answers questions every now and then from the readers...especially when 'big' things happen.

redmaryjanes said...

I agree with that. I've seen it happen month after month. They start out with a huge batch that are supposedly processed and it ends up with next nothing.
I don't put any stock in that either.

Rhonda said...

I'm just glad to see that one of my friends is getting her referral this month. :)

redmaryjanes said...

We should know pretty soon if there will be an olympic slowdown. If we pay attention to the blogs of people who have children referred, we should be able to see if they are being able to travel to pick up their babies during the olympics.
As far as matching or other processes, I don't think it should slow down unless people get a lot of time off. Because the babies they match won't be going home for months.

Deb said...

Yeah I hope they do too.
I agree that our blog friends keep us from going insane. I think the agencies just tell us what they think they want us to hear. Actually I think we all know more than they do sometimes. I take great comfort in the information I read on other families blogs, it's just easier to hear from others in the same slow boat.

redmaryjanes said...

Who's getting a babe??

Rhonda said...

http://thebonners.blogspot.com/

Rhonda said...

Yeah, I take a lot of comfort in reading the blogs as well. Just think, Josh didn't want me to start a blog...

I think I would have gone insane(r) by now.

redmaryjanes said...

It really keeps me going when I see the blogs that have gotten their babies and there have been quite a few this year. I believe it will happen for us, I just think it's going to be a long way down the road unless we go SN. I think China's number one focus is getting the SN babies out.

Deb said...

Well gals I'm off to get some stuff done. Thanks for the chat. TE HE I can hardly keep up with the conversatiion my computer is slow....hope you both have a great day!

Rhonda said...

I just wish they would focus on getting the babies out, rather than focussing on SN or NSN. Sticky subject, I know.

Rhonda said...

Take care, Deb.

redmaryjanes said...

Have a great weekend Deb.

redmaryjanes said...

I agree, just get them all into homes. I don't know why people get worked up over SN or not. They should all just do what's right for them and their families. I don't know what we're going to do. Our agency won't even let us see the SN list for 3 months until we're through the review room. We may go that way, we may not.

Rhonda said...

As a first time mom, that's not something that I want to do. It's all a personal choice (not that I need to explain it to anyone, of course). Though sometimes, I've encountered people in the SN route who question 'why not SN'. Not in person, mind you, on adoption boards. Some people are very adamant about THEIR choices and feel the need to vocalize it (until they hit you over the head with it).

Dannye said...

morning all, just a quick hello, happy new year, before jumping in the shower to start my day..

Verna said...

Hi all! Wow 108 replies and it's not even 9 am my time!!

Rhonda said...

...and I haven't even had my coffee yet.

redmaryjanes said...

Yeah, I have seen that too. I think you have to do what you can. Our SW told us we wouldn't be able to even adopt a baby who had a difficult SN because of the size of our existing family. And we agree with that. We wouldn't be able to handle that most likely. It's your experience and your baby and you should be able adopt a child that you are comfortable with without getting any judgement calls. I'm happy for all of the kids who come home.

Verna said...

Did you all hear about this Leigh Ann's Biggest Blogger Loser blog???
It's for weight control/loss.

redmaryjanes said...

Good Morning Dannye and Verna!
We're talking about the wait times and RQ and just about everything.

How are you girls this morning?

Rhonda said...

I was kind of annoyed, we wanted to change our documents to try to adopt twins (although rare) because we're in the process of updating our documents.

Since we're already through the review room, if we tried to make the change now we might have ended up losing our LID. Who knows what LID we'd end up with...

Rhonda said...

Hi Dannye and Verna

redmaryjanes said...

Twins would be perfect for you guys. And I'm surprised how many blogs I know of that have twins. I wouldn't give up my LID though for anything. It's so crazy now and I wouldn't want to be behind that big clog up from all of the dossiers that rushed in before the rules changed. I'm really glad to be ahead of that.

redmaryjanes said...

Verna,
Do you have any info yet on when you can bring Noah home? We're curious about people traveling during the Olympics.

Rhonda said...

We should have put that in our documents originally, but of course, we didn't foresee this backlog. As they say, hindsight is always 20/20. :P

Coulda...shoulda...woulda...

redmaryjanes said...

Would you consider concurrent adoptions? I know that people are doing it and China has blessed it on the CCAA website. I think if I wanted multiple children that I would do it.

Dannye said...

doing well, happy I finally caught a saturday am chat..i always forget lately with my weird schedule...

Verna said...

No news yet. Hoping to be tacked on to the group leaving in mid January but who know. Could be Feb.

Here's the address of Leigh Ann's Biggest loser site

http://thebiggestbloggerloser.blogspot.com/

redmaryjanes said...

I haven't heard of that one. I am signed up for Sara's China's Wait Loss blog but I don't keep up with it. I love 15 pounds last year. But I'd love to get 20 more off before summer. I just don't seem to be motivated enough to get it done.

Dannye said...

kim, if i didn't tell you before, thanks for the blankets...they really helped...

redmaryjanes said...

Yeah, it's good to hear from you Dannye. Did you guys have a good Christmas? Did you mail off the blankets?

Dannye said...

verna, we can't wait to see Noah in your arms...he is such a cutie pie!!

Rhonda said...

Here's the lovely part of that equation...in Ontario, we can't do two international adoptions at once.

We can do a domestic and an international, but not two internationals. A friend of mine called up the Ministry in charge and was told "It would be a paperwork nightmare for our Ministry" (if two internationals were done at once).

We're not interested in doing a domestic adoption as they are open (contact with the birth mother/birth family). It works for some people, but that's not something we're interested in doing.

So, we wait...and wait...and wait...

redmaryjanes said...

We must have hit send at the same time. It was great to be able to send those to you. I have no idea how to get things to orphanages, so when people are willing to do it..I'm glad to help a little. Plus my best friend sent two of those and it was good to be able to talk to her about the baby and what's going on and it gave her an opportunity to help out.

Dannye said...

yes, Kim, the blankets are on their way (or are already there, not sure how quick it takes to get there)....

and Christmas although hectic was great...

i didn't get sick til the day after so yippie...still don't really have my voice (i think secretly hubby is glad...hehe) and still the runny nose, but basically feeling somewhat better

redmaryjanes said...

I think I just saw a blog where they are waiting for China and just adopted domestically in Canada. Waiting for Ainslee I think is the blog. Yeah, I don't want an open adoption either and that's huge in the US. It may be selfish, but I want to be the Mom, I don't want someone else coming in and out of our child's life.

Dannye said...

well i better get into the shower, my mom is waiting on me to go to Sams to shop....have a great one guys, and please stay safe this New Years (no DUI's and watch out for others doing so....)...

love you guys!! Here's to a huge speed up in '08 (hey a girl can dream and dream big right??)....kisses!!

redmaryjanes said...

The cold and flu bugs are bad this year. Eli has a runny nose right now, but overall we are all healthy.

Rhonda said...

That's pretty much it, I would think it would be confusing for the child. If it works for some people, great...but it's not something that would work for us.

Verna said...

RMJ, you do know that you are eligible to look at any of the remaining special needs children that Bethany has. Not sure what the needs are. I know I felt better just doing research. I definitely got a better hold on what we could and could not handle. Did you all see the article at Research China about the special needs kids?

Rhonda said...

I should head out, take care.

redmaryjanes said...

You and Steffie have better SW's than we do. Our SW won't let us see anything at all. I know that Stef has been able to see the list. Our SW said that we wouldn't qualify for a child with a more sever SN and that she would let us know if there was a child who wasn't chosen who would be a good fit for us. So, we aren't seeing anything or getting any feedback at all.

redmaryjanes said...

Have a great weekend Rhonda. It was good to talk with you.

redmaryjanes said...

Have a great weekend too Dannye~

Verna said...

RMJ, that kind of ticks me off because she is making that decision for you. We have a large family too and our SW let us look and Becky has a big family and has looked. I would call Grand Rapids. If you feel you are able to handle a certain need, you should be able to at least look before the files are returned to china. OK, the part that bugs me is that the SW has made that decision for you not that you feel you may or may not be able to handle the children. That is YOUR decision. OK, off my soapbox!

Verna said...

Gotta do more advertising for Robin. Have you all checked out her
http://redthreadstitches.blogspot.com/
site?
I'm so proud of me. It's my first business blog!

redmaryjanes said...

Yeah, she's been very cut and dry. She said that the new rule really isn't new and that they normally don't refer SN babies to families who aren't out of review (and I know that isn't true because you and Gwen got your referrals) and she said that there are so many people who apply for each baby that the children with more in depth SN's would go families who didn't have as many children as we do because they would be better able to care for them.
I'm ok because Eli just turned 3 and we will be out of the review room in 3 months, but it does upset me about the new 'midstream' rule and the fact that our SW doesn't allow us the same privileges as others. I don't think they understand that there a lot of us who talk to each other.

redmaryjanes said...

Oh hold on Verna! Let me go take a look at that blog. You missed Amy, she was on earlier and was saying how much she loves you.

redmaryjanes said...

What a beautiful story. I would love to help out and do a post or put something on my blog if you are making a little sidebar banner.

Verna said...

I did read Amy's nice comments. SHe is sweet too. Her hubby is such a Peanuts fan that I did a Charlie Brown them for him for everyday use. I just love tweaking blogs as surprises but I guess you knew that ;) Especially for people who are a bit bummed.

Verna said...

I have learned how to do direct links from pictures. I am so happy to know that trick. It's so much nicer than posting a link. I'll send you an HTML to put in the sidebar so that you have a direct link in there.

redmaryjanes said...

That sounds great. I'll have to check out Michael's blog. They seem like a really nice couple.
So, how are all of you? It must be so hard to wait for Noah. Do you think the Olympics are holding things up for you?

Verna said...

Sending you that code for HTML sidebar entry:

We'd love to have it posted in lots of spots.

redmaryjanes said...

I'll do a post on it today and get it on my sidebar. There are so many great ladies who will want to help out. I'm sure it will be a big success for her.
How are you doing with Noah's? I just haven't been able to think of a new header. I know that I have numbers up to 18 months, I probably could go ahead and order up to 24 months because I'm sure we'll still be waiting.

Verna said...

At this point, I think the Olympics are a minor factor. I am more concerned for Chinese New Year. The Olympics could definitely be affecting the NSN lists though. I'm so bummed with the wait times but so thankful to be matched with our boy. Erin's BF was aware of the pitcher that had no hand. I was impressed that he knew about it cuz it helped Erin to know that Noah is not going to be slowed down at all. Just want Noah home! BTW, my concentration skills are being affected and I sometimes babble and don't get my thougths out in an easily understandable manner. SO bear with me. ;)

Verna said...

KIm, did I already send you to this Bethany post?

http://discussion.bethany.org/viewtopic.php?t=44668

Those red shoes are very compelling. I believe this boy is on the current list. His need is similar to Noah's but on feet too.

redmaryjanes said...

You can babble to me anytime. I can't imagine what it will be like when we are waiting for our child. I work with a man whose hand looks very similar to Noah's. It doesn't hold him back at all. He has a great paying technical job, a wife and his 3rd baby on the way. Noah's going to be just fine. And if I can ever get ahold of those cheeks, he'll be begging me to stop kissing them. He's so cute Verna.

Kim said...

Good Morning everyone...
Am I too late..
I am going to try and catch up...

Verna said...

If you have a heart for special needs, you could be matched sooner than you think. I am so mad at your SW because they do weigh the fact that you have asked for the list before, at least they did weigh it prior to the new "rules". OK, how did this happen? I have become a crazed maniac, advocating for the SN kids. I'll probably drive everyone over the edge crazy before we leave for Noah!!

redmaryjanes said...

Stef just send me an e-mail, so I told her to come over here and chat with us.

redmaryjanes said...

Hi Kim! You're not too late. We're typing like mad women.

Kim N Jeff said...

hello anyone still here?

redmaryjanes said...

Hi Kim,
We're all here. How are you guys? How was your Christmas?

Verna said...

Hi Kim. Hope your day is going well. It is snowing here -- AGAIN! We are whiter than I remember in years! It's very pretty!

Kim said...

Sounds like everyone is talking about the LONG wait..
I don't understand the whole thing..
But I don't dwell on it..
I know that Isabella will be here one day..
Just not when we expected her too..

redmaryjanes said...

Yes Verna, we did ask for the list and were told that we would be able to see the next one when it came in a couple of month. So, we waited patiently and when you and Stef started talking about the list coming out, I called my SW to let her know that we were still interested and she told us that the rules changed and we couldn't see the list until we were out of the review room. We should be in in 3 months, but until then she won't let us see anything.

redmaryjanes said...

Yeah, we've been chatting about the wait. We all know it's going to be a while, but we're in it for the long haul. I need to see some more babes come home, that's what keeps me going.

Kim said...

Yeah Kim... When you had posted that.. I called my agency because we really didn't know that much about SN until after I started reading blogs and etc..
And my agency doesn't even do SN..
If we want we can find another agency..

Kim N Jeff said...

I kinda skimmed thru the previous posts... I guess I'm looking at the wait as it is what it is and we can't change anything... Our agency has the policy that you can switch to sn only if you go thru another home study.. We get to see the kids on the list but don't get to apply until we have everything done.

Kim said...

That is what keeps me going too...
I loved the pictures of all the babies opening presents at Christmas...
When the kids get older the little excitement isn't like when they are little...
Don't get me wrong.. I love it but it has that certain something..

Kim N Jeff said...

We got all the snow yesterday... Should be heading your way very soon...

Verna - thanks for the new look by the way! Love it :)

Kim said...

Kim - how did Shadow do.??
What is everyone up to this weekend..??
Does everyone have their Christmas stuff up still ??
We took ours down and I cleaned like a mad woman yesterday.. the walls and baseboards.. it is sparklin...LOL

redmaryjanes said...

We were pretty upset when the rules changed, but there is no use in switching agencies because we will lose all of our money that we have already paid and we would lose our LID. So, it isn't worth it at all. We're just going to have to hang in there. I keep in mind that I want my child, not just a child. I really believe God has our girl and we have to wait for the right time to bring her home.

Kim N Jeff said...

Speaking of snow... We were way too busy yesterday and didn't get to snowblow... Jeff is out right now... I should probably go help him :)

Hope you all have a great weekend! Anyone have any good New Year plans?

redmaryjanes said...

Kim,
The new blog is so cute! I love it, Verna did a great job.

redmaryjanes said...

I keep my Christmas stuff up until after New Years.
I have to play find that smell today. We had crab legs and shrimp on Christmas Eve and I thought we got everything out of the house, but there is a lingering seafood smell somewhere. So, I have to find it before it gets really stinky.

Kim said...

I am with you there Kim...
That is why I stay positive.. I really wanted Isabella home before Nick is out of high school.. but doesn't look like it..
Oh well..
That just means she will be even more spoiled...
Like I said on my post yesterday..(8 month LID) .. we should have had our paperwork let us have twins if their were any available..
But who knows.. maybe we will adopt after Isabella somewhere else.. Time will tell

redmaryjanes said...

My husband is out getting some work done on the car and then we'll have to get the snowblower out here too.

Kim said...

SNOW.. we don't know what that is... we were lucky to go play in it on Christmas Eve...
No New Year's plans here..
Have fun in the snow Kim

Kim N Jeff said...

Shadow is getting back to his normal self... Doc said that he's not supposed to run around which is going to be hard now since he's up and moving around..

Our decorations are still up... We are actually having our family opening tomorrow... My niece has to go to her dad's side and with three familys involved it just makes it hard to see everyone all around Christmas Eve/Day.

redmaryjanes said...

Zach is a sophomore this year and we have the same worries, that he will be gone before Sophia comes home. He asked me about that a couple of weeks ago and I told him that he'll be the special brother who will pick her up and take her to the movies and babysit and be special to look forward to. It makes me sad though to think that they may never be under the same roof together.

Verna said...

So glad you like your blog, Kim. I loved doing it.

Kim N Jeff said...

If I could ship the snow to you I would! :)

redmaryjanes said...

Kim Bison,
How did you get so much time off?? I'm so jealous...I've had to work this past week.

Kim said...

Yeah.. Nick is the lovey,dovey one.. he is soo excited..
When I got those braclets (red silicone) with RED THREAD on them...
I gave all the kids one.. and I told them this is for Isabella.. well Colton is pretty reserved and I figured that they would leave them on for about a week and then take them off..
NOPE.. they will not take them off for anything.. Nick when he had surgery.. he told them he couldn't take it off.. it was for his sister in CHINA..

Kim said...

Well since I work in retail...
You get paid for the Holidays.. and I just work it so I use my reg. two days off and then the holiday pay and then the time off.. so I will go back on the 4 and work sat. and sun.. I don't ususally work sun .. but I will this week.. won't hurt me.. then I have mon. off like usual... MY usual days off are sun. mon...
Kim- I love your new look... Verna did a GREAT job...

redmaryjanes said...

That is so sweet. She is already their sister. It is the same for us, Sophia is already a part of our family.

redmaryjanes said...

Verna,

Did you send that to me? I don't see it in gmail.

redmaryjanes said...

So, how hot is it in Arizona?

Kim said...

Kimberley- what are you all doing for New Years..???
How is Zach and his friend doing?

Kim said...

It is only been in the high 60's.. one day the low 70's... to us that is cold...
It is only going to be 55 today..
We are going to go watch the UFC Fight tonight.. and I am hopefully going to find the right material today.. to try and start my grandfathers quilt for Isabella.. the one with his shirts and etc...
I just can't find the right material...

redmaryjanes said...

Too funny!
Ok, here's the scoop on the friend. The girl he had come over wasn't even the girl who calls all of the time. The girl who came over was his longtime crush S. He has been smitten with her for over a year now. Zach confides in Kate my stepdaughter, and she told me that he wants her to be his girlfriend but she has said she just wants to be friends.
We gave them their space while she was here and they mostly just watched television and played monopoly. They went for 2 walks.
He never has said anything to me about it since she left last weekend.
The girl who calls all of the time is at her family's home in Switzerland (must be rough huh?). So, his cell phone has been pretty quiet. We'll see what happens with that one.

A girlfriend and her husband invited us over for NYE, but then said that they are just going to spend a quiet night at home. We have two other invites, one for a big party and one from another couple we are friends with , but I don't know what we are going to do.

What are you guys doing?

Kim N Jeff said...

We are having a New Year party. Should be low key this year don't have the dj and kids are going to be here... So I'm thinking a litle Wii bowling might be in order... How about everyone else..

It's also my birthday so can't wait to see what Jeff has in store :)

Verna said...

RMJ-Yes, I sent that via my gmail acct. Do you want me to resend?

Kim said...

Well I am not to sure.. we usually don't do anything big.. just stay at home and watch movies.. Nick will proabably have his girlfriend over... I really like her.. she is very sweet.. good head on her shoulders.. she has been around lately.. I will have to get a picture of them two.. they are cute...
KIM- Happy Birthday early.... what fun...
I am thinking that we might have to get the kids the Wii for Christmas next year... John also wants that game with all the guitar and the bass, drums...
It is funny we love playing these games.. so do the kids sooo we get it for them...LOL...

redmaryjanes said...

Hey, Happy Birthday Kim! I guess we all know where we're going now! Party in Wisconsin!

Anonymous said...

Good Morning Everyone!
I am baking cookies as more guest company coming in today. I "stole" the cookie recipe (Cranberry White Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies)from someone and usually give them credit but lost the link.... If any of you recognize it let me know!! Thanks.
Alyson
LID 01/27/06

redmaryjanes said...

Verna, I don't see it in my gmail. timnkim@gmail.com

Please re-send and I'll close it and log back in and see if it shows.

Kim N Jeff said...

come on over you're all invited :)

redmaryjanes said...

Hey Alyson,
How are you?

Kim said...

Kim- I will be right over... LOL...
Good Morning Alyson..
YUMMY Cookies..

Alyson and Ford said...

New recipe - so far I have had good luck using them off the web.... No bad ones yet!
Life is great in NE Florida (I am sure it is warmer where LayDFrog is), just a little froggy fog.
Beginning to write down some goals for 2008 - any resolutions for you guys?

Aly

Kim N Jeff said...

Alright ladies.... I need to go out and help with the snow... It's been great talking with you all this am... Have a great weekend and if I don't talk to you before have a safe New Year!

redmaryjanes said...

Have a great New Year too Kim!

Kim said...

Kim - have fun in the snow for me... and have a WONDERFUL New Year's and Happy Birthday...

redmaryjanes said...

Resolutions:

I want to lose 20 pounds by summer.
I want to start reading regularly again.
I know there will be more, but there are two off of the top of my head.

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