A Surprise Update!

We were so surprised to get a surprise gift of two new fresh off the press pics of our darling new girl!! It is fabulous to see her smile.... sad because now we know for sure that she was taken from her nice stable foster family and returned to the orphanage to await our arrival. I don't know how much she knows.. or understands. It is sad that this happens, but I understand on some level. I disagree so many ways..

We are getting me packed and I am so done getting ready!! I need gloves and some new PJs.. and I am good to go! I nearly bust out crying every couple of minutes because I feel so blessed to have the two I do - Who could dream such great kids as EFP & EBB.. and now another. And in less than 10 days I will be holding my new daughter.. just the thought gets me weepy - with happiness. But also sadness... she will lose so much in order to gain a wacky family.. a Mommy who loves her to pieces already, a sister and brother who are beside themselves waiting for her.. a Daddy who is more then ready to wait on yet another Empress and a whole bunch of Aunts, Uncles and Honorary Aunties.. who are likewise waiting to accept this precious girl into our family. I sure had no idea 12 years ago when Imperial Daddy and I were married - that we would build a family that would be so beautiful.. so happy and so very thankful!!

6 Days until Beijing!!!!!

Countdown to #3

And awaaaaay we go!! I have airline tickets.. I almost have short tour in Beijing (to get acclimated to the time etc) and we know when we will likely meet our new family member and when our consulate appointment is..

Leave NY on 12/1 Arrive Beijing 12/2
Novotel Peace Beijing
Tour - Great Wall, Forbidden City, Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven. Tiananmen Square and Tea Show

EAT PEKING DUCK IN PEKING!!!

Leave Bejing on 12/5 for GuangZhou (Maybe meet new Empress?)
12/6 Family Day (Woo Hoo!)
Garden Hotel
Consulate appointment 12/15 - Swearing in 12/17

Leave Guangzhou  12/18 arrive NY 12/18 YEA!!

I will be blogging and on skype.. I will be missing my chillies.. and trying soak up all I can of this last adoption trip. It may be a few years before we take our family heritage trip.. so I want to remember everything!!

Now - to get everything done at work, shop for the things I totally forgot to buy for the trip, find my darn space bags, make a list of things to buy there.. and PACK PACK PACK... hug my chillies A LOT!!

So that is my update!

Homestretch or NOT!

This was my post: 

It has been the usual roller coaster these past few weeks... first a holiday interfered with the last steps of our Hague Visa process... then for some inexplicable reason we were asked (as were all parents waiting for TA) to provide an original of a document that we actually provided a year ago - our Letter of Intent to Adopt this specific child. FEDEX promptly lost it for 3 days. So here we are in the final stretch and we don't know if we will actually get our travel approval with our group or not. Infuriating!!  There are always problems, things never go according to plan (for me anyway) and this has one more indication that in spite of all my best efforts, if something can go wrong - something will.  The loss of the 3 days meant our "NEW" Letter of Intent did not get to Portland, OR in time to head to China with the rest of the families' paperwork ours got there a couple days later. So now we are (once again!) in the unhappy position of literally not knowing until they open the DHL (whenever it arrives) if our Travel Invitation is in the bag.  The clock is ticking and I have no idea whether I will be flying on 12/1 or having to delay travel till sometime after the new year. FRUSTRATING beyond what I can handle by myself. 

Some of the things I have noticed lately - is that my patience is wearing thinner than usual with bureaucracy of all kinds. I am still waiting to hear an apology from FEDEX.

This IS my post:

WE GOT TA!!!!! I am leaving for China.. either 12/1 or 12/8!!!!! I am obviously hoping for 12/1!!!

Bye Bye Going Home Barbie!

We decided to sell our Going Home Barbies.. to raise a little money for our third adoption...  if you are so inclined - the first auction is open (lasts 3 days) now:



Auction at EBAY for 1 Going Home Barbie
 (Circa 2006)

GUZ Letter & Exactly Who IS Traveling.....??

We got the letter that says that our letter with our I-800 approval has been sent to China. Yea. One more step in this journey of a thousand (bureaucratic) steps.  In the meantime - we are in the process of deciding that we should not all travel this time. Aside from the cost which is huge... the kids are still getting adjusted to school and their new routine. They would miss the whole month of December - which is a BIG deal in parochial school - and frankly, the best time of they year there.  While I will HATE missing all the fun with my children, I think they will do better if I go by myself (with a friend) and leave Imperial Daddy home with the Imperial Chillies and they can stay in school and participate in all the fun winter holidays.  It is a tough decision.. I know that it would be good to have at least one child with us.. it does help with getting the new child acclimated.. and I really do miss my kids when I have to travel for work and stuff.  But there are some very compelling reasons to keep them home and go alone. I wish I could figure it all out.. make exactly the right choice.. but it is rarely so clear.

Mommy and Emperor - Is he handsome or what?

Chillies being silly on top deck.... 

EFP "I know who that is! It is Lady Livery!!!"

EFP: "I asked for a crown because, after all, I AM a Princess!!" Yes, my dear you certainly are!

Imperial Daddy and Empress at ShangHai Delight.. soup dumplings YUMMO!

First Day of School 2010 (First Day of Kindergarten for EFP)

In a Catholic School in a galaxy far far away.................  two children began the 2010/2011 School Year..  this is their story.. (DA Dum.. )

Dressed for Success and Ready to Go!!

Seriously - how do I keep taking pics of closed eyes!!

My Handsome Little Man!

Sweet Boy... grew 5 inches this year!

Sweet Girl.. hard to believe she is 5!

My Darling Empress

I love this face.. oh, heck I love this GIRL!!!!

Now HERE are my Silly Chillies!

Such a happy little guy!

Now this is coloring I can sink my teeth into...

Already measuring! And she is only in Kindergarten!! My Little Empress Smartie Pants!

Last peek at the two best kids ever, anywhere!!

Scenes from the Summer

Happy Birthday Empress Sassy Pants!! 8.23.10

There is that PEACE Sign again!

Our little girl turned 6 on August 23rd...

When life hands you lemons............

I have to write a letter...  the point of which is to convince someone I am worthy.  This is not a letter I ever wanted to write.. yet, I have written just such a letter at least 3 times before. I  have written to convince people half way around the world that we are fine, capable people who will give a family and good home to children who had no such thing. So far it worked twice and we are waiting until the final confirmation of the third, to say, third time's a charm.   As I search to find the words to put into this letter.. I am trying very hard to determine what is it that makes a person worthy. Is it the rare but stand-out acts of compassion (which ironically may also be the three most selfish things I ever did) or is it the result of hundreds of small acts compounded daily.. the ordinary acts of a regular person... is it found in the acts that demonstrate we are principled and honorable - even if there is some scant evidence that begs to differ? Or, is it in finding oneself on a road less traveled and making the best of it with humor and finding that a less traveled road suited you perfectly.

I know a few things for certain..  but one of them is that I rarely feel "worthy" which probably accounts for the serious procrastination I have experienced in writing this letter.  Deadline looming.. thoughts scattered and other priorities crowding my brain, I have left till last this task.  Is there way to prove worth - or is this something you must prove over and over again.. but showing up, by sticking to it, by standing up or sitting down.. depending. Is it enough to merely try your best everyday in spite of the occasionally weary shoulders.. soldiering on when really a nap is strongly desired.

Is that it then? Continuing on when one wants very much to quit?  Asking for the strength to make it through one more day when one feels an almost unbearable urge to throw in the towel.   I have felt so overwhelmed of late..  for some obvious reasons (knowing a child waits for us is no easy task) and for some known only to our very closest friends and families.  Marriage is a challenge.. staying true through all the slings and arrows of daily onslaught, parenting is challenging.. particularly when sometimes, as the parent, you too want ice cream for dinner and a few days off!!  Friendships are really more like cement - and yet - they change and grow and sometimes you find yourself with friends you certainly don't feel worthy of, people so good and kind and yet so unexpected and wonderful that prayers of thanksgiving are almost not quite enough.


I never saw coming the road I am on..  I never knew that this place existed or that I would have to go there.. not alone, thank goodness, not alone.  Along the way - I discovered that in leaving the highway for this road less traveled, I fell in with a group of fellow travelers that daily demonstrate what worthy means - that true worth is measured in centimeters not miles.. small bit by bit.. one tiny act at a time.. and that one tiny act can mean a world to someone else. Among the common tag lines often used in the world I inhabit it "Adopting a child will not change the world, but for that child the world will change!" It is true, if a bit overused.  But what is doesn't talk about is how the act transforms the people who will become parents.. partners who become completely invested in the changing of the world for that one (or two or three or, dare I say, twelve!) child or children... where one realizes that whatever NEEDS doing MUST be done and by no one else.  So I write a letter to prove my worth for I need to be worthy for my children. Only that..  when my children have literally changed my world in every way possible.  It may be that I needed a new crisis to see things clearly to really try to sort through all the priorities until one or two things triumphed and all that remains are the very heart of my existence. My children, my partner in life.. our family and friends. I may not always feel worthy of the tasks I have been assigned.. I often fall far short of my own expectations.. and disappoint those I love.. there are lessons still for me to learn.  I humbly accept those lessons and try my best to become worthy of the precious gifts I have been given.. hoping that I can continue to provide the love and care they need, be a better mother, wife, sister, aunt, friend, colleague and become truly worthy of all I have been given.

Letter of Acceptance!!

We got LOA today... YEA!! Another step in the long long road to China!!  Next we file our I800 and wait for a few more steps.. Article 5 then finally Travel Approval... sadly, we are not likely to travel until December (no matter what) and NOW we are told we may not even be staying where we hoped to stay..

Can any area of my life be predictable, settled and smooth???

Summer Virus

EBB brought home a nasty little virus.. and so we have been in quarantine for a few days.. is there anything worse than a summer cold? We have hunkered down.. and  fought the good fight.. now EBB is getting better, EFP is a bit under the weather and Imperial Mommy is feeling like a dishrag. Luckily I have an appt with new MD tomorrow.. and am determined to turn over a new HEALTHY Leaf..

Until then.. here is a recipe I developed for the summer bonanza of Zucchini!


Bunch of Zucchini (I made 4 split lengthwise and had a little stuffing left over)
1 Large Vidalia Onion (rough chop)
12 oz of Portobello (I like baby bella) and or white mushrooms (rough chop)
3 Cloves garlic minced
1 Celery Heart minced
3 or 4 sausage (casing removed cooked and crumbled)
1/2 cup Parmesean Cheese
Italian Breadcrumbs (about 1/2 cup - may need more or less depending on how juicy the mix is.. use enough to bind stuffing together)
2 TBS Olive Oil (EVOO)
1 TBS Olive Oil mixed with Salt & Pepper
Salt
Pepper
Basil (fresh or dry)


Preheat oven to 350, place split Zucchini on sheet pan and brush with 1 TBS Olive Oil mixed with S&P Bake for 10 to 15 minutes or till soft.


Let cool - then use a spoon to remove the inside of the zucchini leaving enough of a shell so that zucchini hold its shape.  Rough chop all the zucchini and set aside.

Saute onions and celery till translucent, add mushrooms.. when the whole mix is combined and a little brown add garlic and then chopped zucchini saute for 2 minutes.  Remove from pan to bowl.

Crumble the cooked sausage into the mix along with Parmesan cheese, salt, pepper and basil and then breadcrumsbs..  adding breadcrumbs just until mix is soggy but not loose (should hold a shape on a spoon)

Generously salt and pepper the inside of the Zucchini Shells.. then place stuffing into shell being very generous.  You can sprinkle more Parmesan on top or put some shredded Mozzerella or Fontina on top..

Place back in oven for 20 minutes and, if desired, under broiler till cheese is melted or stuffing is brown on top.. serve and listen to the sweet sounds of cooking success!!

Delicious!! This recipe is a modified version of one my Mom used to make for Stuffed Mushrooms.. works well with Zucchini too. You can customize the recipe to your family's taste.. leave out sausage put in carrots or tomatoes...  use spinach and swiss cheese.. or even crab or shrimp for a Stuffed Zucchini Meal!! Happy Cooking!

Hooray for the USA!

Random pics...

Voila! Here she is!

FINALLY - we got our LID 06/25/10
and Three new Pictures... of course (poor neglected blog) we weren't permitted to post the first few till now so... without further ado I give you

Empress Sassy Pants

These two pictures above are the ones that started it all - I showed Imperial Daddy - and he said she looks just like EFP & EBB - maybe we need a #3!

HOT OFF THE PRESS & FRESH FROM PRC!

Couldn't you just squeeze those cheeks!?

797C (or the new 171H) is here!

Today we received our 797C or Notice of Favorable Determination of Suitability to Adopt a Child from A Country that is party to the Hague Treaty.. it is almost surreal! Of course I spent most of today sick as a dog.. with some sort of throat thing.. and almost even forgot to get the mail... but I had been forewarned by our nice USCIS Case Officer.. that it was on the way!! So we are now only a few steps short of our goal. 2 docs to one county - state cert and then Chinese Consulate. We could be DTC before the end of June.

Still trying to wrestle with how to have a garage sale.. how do people do that? Or do I just hire someone to come and look at my, pardon the expression, cr@p and pay them something to do it.... I would still probably come out ahead... and it would empty the basement and garage which NEEDS to happen. This has to be the year we sell and move. Anyway - I am not feeling well enough to do a full update right now.. we are all well and happy - anxious about traveling.. and worried about the state of the economy.. but we are prepared to welcome our new little one and I just can't wait to wrap my arms around her.