What an exciting day! My sister Lea Ann and my niece, Jamie, hosted a baby shower for Edison today. It was wonderful - the food was tasty, the presents were awesome - lots of family and friends were there! Thank you Lea and Jamie -- for everything!
Paul came to the shower and helped me open the presents. The girls asked if they could open the presents and I told them they could but that they had to change a dirty diaper for each gift they opened. I was just teasing, of course! They took me seriously and sat and watched. Paul and I even tried to get them to help and they wouldn't. I guess I know who does not want to change the dirty diapers!!
The menu consisted of: chicken salad croissants (the good homemade chicken salad with grapes and nuts); country ham on dolly buns; a vegetable tray; veggie pizza; two different dips with crackers and sweet tea to drink. For desert they served a fruit salad, cheesecake bits, and a chocolate chip cheese ball with Teddy Grahams and Ginger snaps.
After our delicious meal, my niece played a DVD she had made for us. It had all of the pictures we have received of Edison with some other photos of our dossier, our family and our trip to Guatemala when we got to see him. It was set to music and was so sweet. I loved it!
Next, it was present time! Have I mentioned that I love presents! We got some great things... a car seat, a stroller, a baby carrier, diaper bag, toys, books, diapers, wipes, clothes, a Rain Forest booster seat, mattress pad, sheets, towels, washcloths, lotion, baby wash, sippy cups, swim items, money and gift cards to name a few things.
Our friends and family have been so generous through this entire process for which we are extremely grateful. Right now, everything is piled high on the couch and I've already put the stroller together. I guess its time to convert our extra large laundry room back into the 4th bedroom we thought we would never need... I guess I've got things to do besides blogging...
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
I can't believe it ...
At 6:29 this evening, I was sweating in the blazing sun as my friend, Shannon and I sat watching our 10 year old daughters and her 6 year old son at soccer camp. My phone rang and I saw it was my co-worker, Philip Aldridge. I didn't think much about the call because Philip recently took over some of the China clients and has come to me with several questions. I said hello and he said, "Hey, Dana, it's Philip, I'm sorry to bother you." I told him that it was no problem and asked what he needed. He told me the three words I have waited 2 months, 2 weeks and 2 days to hear - You are out!!! "You're serious?" I asked. He said, "Yes, ma'am, Cinthya just called to tell me that your file is out of PGN."
I had cold chill bumps all over my arms - chicken skin as I like to call it. Philip and I talked a few more minutes and I asked him questions and took notes, but to be honest, I barely can understand what I wrote and I cannot for the life of me remember all that he told me. I did recall him saying that Cinthya had called him earlier in the week and said she thought our case was coming out this week but didn't want him to say anything until she knew for sure.
Of course, when something big happens, my family is spread all over the state of Kentucky. My husband is testifying in a trial in Middlesboro (will not be home until Friday), my oldest daughter is down on Frog Branch spending time with a friend and my youngest daughter was out on the soccer field. Of course the first person who found out was my friend, Shannon, who was sitting next to me when I got the call.
First, I yelled out on the field to Kensley and said, "Hey, Kensley" and when she turned around, I said, "We're out of PGN!" She jumped up and threw her fist into the air and had a huge smile on her face. Next, I called Paul and boy did I want to wrap my arms around him, give him a big kiss and just scream - He's ours! The best I got was to tell him we were out and to tell him how I wish he was there so I could give him a big hug and a kiss and he said, "I would take it!" He asked if Emily knew and said I could call her while he called his mom.
Okay, remember, Emily is down on Frog Branch where the cell phone reception is not the best. I called but she did not answer. I called my mom who was very excited. I think she cried and she just kept saying, "Hallelujah! - I was praying I would get this call from you this week." Next, I called my sister who was also excited and said she had a good feeling about us getting word this week. She also reminded me that I had 6 weeks to get ready and that I had a lot to do. We also discussed a shower date. After talking to her, I left a message for my pastor, and messages for my friends, Tawnya, Stephanie & Melissa. Nobody was home! Isn't that the way it always is?
At 6:53, another co-worker, Maria, called me and said, "Do you know?" "Know that I'm out of PGN? YES!!" She was thrilled as well. She said that Cinthya had called her a few minutes before and said, "Maria, this has been the worst day - everything that can go wrong has - except for one thing." Maria asked her what that one thing was and Cinthya replied, "Underwood is out!" While talking to Maria, Emily returned my call. I told her we were out of PGN and she asked about 3 or 4 times, "are you serious" and I kept repeating that yes I was serious. She then said, "Oh, my gosh, let me go jump around for a few minutes and I'll call you back later!" I heard tears of happiness in her voice.
A few minutes ago, I was looking at my blog and noticed that we have been in this process for exactly 9 months TODAY! How strange is that? Edison will be a little overdue but what a relief to know that we made it through PGN without any previos and he will be forever ours in 6 to 8 weeks! I'll say it again - Thank you God for the many blessings in my life!
I had cold chill bumps all over my arms - chicken skin as I like to call it. Philip and I talked a few more minutes and I asked him questions and took notes, but to be honest, I barely can understand what I wrote and I cannot for the life of me remember all that he told me. I did recall him saying that Cinthya had called him earlier in the week and said she thought our case was coming out this week but didn't want him to say anything until she knew for sure.
Of course, when something big happens, my family is spread all over the state of Kentucky. My husband is testifying in a trial in Middlesboro (will not be home until Friday), my oldest daughter is down on Frog Branch spending time with a friend and my youngest daughter was out on the soccer field. Of course the first person who found out was my friend, Shannon, who was sitting next to me when I got the call.
First, I yelled out on the field to Kensley and said, "Hey, Kensley" and when she turned around, I said, "We're out of PGN!" She jumped up and threw her fist into the air and had a huge smile on her face. Next, I called Paul and boy did I want to wrap my arms around him, give him a big kiss and just scream - He's ours! The best I got was to tell him we were out and to tell him how I wish he was there so I could give him a big hug and a kiss and he said, "I would take it!" He asked if Emily knew and said I could call her while he called his mom.
Okay, remember, Emily is down on Frog Branch where the cell phone reception is not the best. I called but she did not answer. I called my mom who was very excited. I think she cried and she just kept saying, "Hallelujah! - I was praying I would get this call from you this week." Next, I called my sister who was also excited and said she had a good feeling about us getting word this week. She also reminded me that I had 6 weeks to get ready and that I had a lot to do. We also discussed a shower date. After talking to her, I left a message for my pastor, and messages for my friends, Tawnya, Stephanie & Melissa. Nobody was home! Isn't that the way it always is?
At 6:53, another co-worker, Maria, called me and said, "Do you know?" "Know that I'm out of PGN? YES!!" She was thrilled as well. She said that Cinthya had called her a few minutes before and said, "Maria, this has been the worst day - everything that can go wrong has - except for one thing." Maria asked her what that one thing was and Cinthya replied, "Underwood is out!" While talking to Maria, Emily returned my call. I told her we were out of PGN and she asked about 3 or 4 times, "are you serious" and I kept repeating that yes I was serious. She then said, "Oh, my gosh, let me go jump around for a few minutes and I'll call you back later!" I heard tears of happiness in her voice.
A few minutes ago, I was looking at my blog and noticed that we have been in this process for exactly 9 months TODAY! How strange is that? Edison will be a little overdue but what a relief to know that we made it through PGN without any previos and he will be forever ours in 6 to 8 weeks! I'll say it again - Thank you God for the many blessings in my life!
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Still Waiting - not so patiently anymore
We haven't received "the call". We are still in PGN - I guess that is better than getting word that our dossier was kicked out for a previo. I'm going to try to be a little more upbeat than I was for the last post.
So, our little man turned 13 months on Monday - so instead of being anxious about receiving news that we are out of PGN, I am going to be excited about any new pictures we might receive this week. I think I'm also going to ask some questions, like --- Is he walking????? What is his favorite toy??? Oh, yeah - I think I should probably send him a package -- with all the clothes that may not fit him when he finally comes home. I'm sure our attorney and his foster mom would be greatful for anything we would send - especially since they have had him for longer than they have most adoptees. I just hope that our attorney doesn't start asking for more money to cover her expenses for caring for him because a lot of attorneys are doing that now!!!
The process is really causing a hardship for everyone - for the attorneys who are paying to care for the children; the foster parents who are getting more and more attached, the birth moms who have to keep revisiting a hard decision, the children who get older and older; the adoptive parents who are continuing to wait, the adoption agencies who are stuck in the middle with ongoing cases that are not moving and the fact that the country is now closed to adoptions is not helping the agency any either.
So, I can't love on him, however, I am hopeful that we will get new photos and find out what is going on with his little life.
Okay, so I wasn't totally positive this time - but I'm trying!!
So, our little man turned 13 months on Monday - so instead of being anxious about receiving news that we are out of PGN, I am going to be excited about any new pictures we might receive this week. I think I'm also going to ask some questions, like --- Is he walking????? What is his favorite toy??? Oh, yeah - I think I should probably send him a package -- with all the clothes that may not fit him when he finally comes home. I'm sure our attorney and his foster mom would be greatful for anything we would send - especially since they have had him for longer than they have most adoptees. I just hope that our attorney doesn't start asking for more money to cover her expenses for caring for him because a lot of attorneys are doing that now!!!
The process is really causing a hardship for everyone - for the attorneys who are paying to care for the children; the foster parents who are getting more and more attached, the birth moms who have to keep revisiting a hard decision, the children who get older and older; the adoptive parents who are continuing to wait, the adoption agencies who are stuck in the middle with ongoing cases that are not moving and the fact that the country is now closed to adoptions is not helping the agency any either.
So, I can't love on him, however, I am hopeful that we will get new photos and find out what is going on with his little life.
Okay, so I wasn't totally positive this time - but I'm trying!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
We've been waiting how long ? ? ?
From the day we filled out our application for adoption (9/11/2007) to the day we picked up Edison's visa to come to the United States (9/11/2008) took exactly one year! Of my three pregnancies - this paper pregnancy was the longest and most stressful.
Guatemalan Flag
