Tea Twice is Nice!

When I first found out that Brian and Sean were both having a Mother's Day tea I got a little worried. The worry was soon replaced with happiness when I found out that Brian's tea was at 9:30am and Sean's at 10:45am. I was afraid that they would both be at the same time and I had no idea how I would choose which one to go to!

Brian's was a lot of fun. They had a couple of cute songs about Moms and had poems hung up in the front of the room. They did not have names on them and it was fun to try to guess which one was written by your child! I have to admit that it was harder than it looked - who knew so many first graders had the same handwriting! Brian's' said-

My Mom has blue eyes.

My Mom has yellow hare (hair).

My Mom loves granola bars.

My Mom makes the Best cakes.

My Mom is a good drower. (drawer)

Brian did get a bit frustrated because he was one of the last kids picked to read his card. He read the first few lines and then didn't want to read any more. I am not sure if he was shy or if he was mad. His teacher said that he did fine when they practiced. I think it was a little case of stage fright and that he doesn't like being the center of attention.



He read so quickly and held the card up in front of his face, so I didn't get a picture of his really reading it. With a little coaxing he was kind enough to pretend like he was reading it for Mom! What a nice boy! On the outside it says, 'I love you Mom!' with flowers and a picture of Brian and I wearing Raven's uniforms! The inside of the card said - 'My Mom Is Very Special. On Mother's Day She Really Likes A Lot Of Jewelry.' All I have to say is, That's my boy! After the readings the kids served us bagels and donuts with juice. We read our other cards and they gave us the little flower pots that they made us.

Sean's tea was very nice too. They got up in the front of the room and sang a few songs. Then they too served the Moms. We had muffins and cookies and coffee cake bread. It was yummy! I also got a card and a votive candle holder!

Sean and his best friend Reilly

I am always amazed at the way the Sean sings. He does such a great job and puts his whole heart into it! He always does all of the hand motions and has a big smile! Great job Sean!

Paper Pregnant!!!

It's here! It's finally here. In my mailbox! It's here! Did I say, It's here?

I got a letter from our agency today. It is the one I have been waiting for. The one that has a copy of our home study so that we can submit our I-600A form to USCIS. It was in there with the I-600A form and instructions to file the form. Only that wasn't all. There was so much more.

Also in the envelope was a letter addressed to us. It started - " Congratulations! We are pleased to inform you that your home study has been approved and your name is on the list of approved families waiting for a match of a child from Korea." I almost fell off the chair. I thought our home study had to be in Korea before we were officially on the list. But this letter says that we are on the list! Wow! In the adoption world we are known as paper pregnant!

The letter went on about immigration and filing the I-600A form and ended with - "We rejoice with you that you are closer tot he time of receiving word about your prospective child. Please be assured that we are committed to doing all we can to bring you and your child together." Yep, my eyes did fill with a few tears. I am so excited!

So, I have to admit that this adoption thing has taken hold of me and made me a little crazy! After getting this letter I wanted to know, okay needed to know, if our home study was in the batch that went to Korea today. I called the main office. The woman I spoke to the other day was out of the office and some one else took the call. She was very nice and admitted that she didn't know too much about home studies going to Korea.

I asked if she knew if ours went today. She said it didn't and was in a pile that needed additional paperwork. Ugh! She said the other woman would be back on Monday and I could call and ask her about it. She didn't know what was missing and didn't know if it was something I needed to do or the agency needed to do. I have lived a life of things happening on Friday afternoons and holiday weekends. I am getting used to it and should have expected it this time too! She didn't even know if any home studies went to Korea at all.

I later found out that the director of the Korea program is also the director for the Ethiopia program. She has been in Ethiopia and will return next week. I don't know if she needs to see the home studies before they make it to Korea. Hopefully the problem will be resolved and we can be HSTK (home study to Korea) next Friday! But no matter when it gets there - WE ARE ON THE LIST! Paper pregnancy is wonderful!

Swinging Fun!

It was a beautiful day today - the perfect day to swing! Justin had his first ride in a swing - other than his baby swing - last weekend at the park. I got out the baby swing we had from Brian and Sean and hung it on the swing set. Justin loved it! He was laughing ans squealing! The boys took turns pushing him - one gentler than the other! I got some great photos of the boys. I should have I took a ton of pictures!

Brian having a great timea genuine laughbeing sillyI love this one!upside down!Sean swingingserious facemischievous smiletrying to kick me!what a faceJustin swinginghair blowing in the breezeBrian pushingbelly laughsdon't look down!peek-a-boo

I love the crossed feet

Our Home Study Made it to Oregon!

I had an emotional ride on the adoption roller coaster and things haven't even really begun yet! I was told last week that our approved home study was sent to us and to Oregon on Friday last week. Our agency is only about 45 minutes away, so mail usually only take 2 days - and sometimes 1 day. If it was mailed to us on Friday, and today is Wednesday, then it should have been here! Even I can do the math for that! I called to check on it, because I have done enough reading to know that files get misplaced and things get lost in the mail. So, I called our NJ office and J confirmed that everything was sent on Friday.

I was not too worried about my copy, it was the one going to the main office that I was worried about. Since I knew I wouldn't be able to sleep without knowing one way or the other, I called the main office. I spoke to M and she said that she didn't have it but would check and call me back. About an hour later I was picking up Sean from school and when I got home there was a message from M. It said that she did receive our home study today and if no changes need to made, that it will go in the batch to Korea on Friday! I cannot believe it! I am beyond excited!

Vomiting, Diarrhea, Vomiting, Diarrhea...

The title pretty much sums up Sean's life for the past week. He has some strange virus that makes him only throw up in his bed when he wakes up! Can you say fun? You would think that I would have leaned after the first few nights to put a bucket in there with him! Nope it took me four nights to figure that one out! Because he felt better for the rest of the day I think that I figured he was better. I have washed his sheets and comforter more times in the last few days than I have in months! Luckily it was only one session of vomiting per day, but then the diarrhea started.

This was all so strange because I was accustomed to the 24-48 hours stomach flu. It was so bad that he had to wear a pull-up since he couldn't make it to the bathroom fast enough. I have had to wash more of his underwear and pants than I care to count! He also forgot to put a new pull-up on a few times and went on the couch and chair! So add scrubbing two - make that three cushions, to my list! But this not-making-it-to-the-bathroom only lasted until about lunch time. Then he ran around like his usual wild self. He never had a fever, never felt bad (except while getting sick), and always had an appetite! He wouldn't be Sean if he didn't comment on the poop though.

The first day he must have been embarrassed and tried to cover it up by putting a pillow over it. I did not see him do this and later sat in the chair. I didn't move the pillow until after I sat down and kept smelling poop. I checked the baby, the dog's feet and Sean's pants. I still couldn't figure out where it was coming from. It seemed to be all over the house and following me! A few minutes later, I walked by Sean and he said, "Mom I just want to tell you that you have poop on your butt!"

At first I thought he was joking, we are talking about Sean! I turned and pulled my pants around a bit - and sure enough there was poop on my butt! I asked Sean, "Did you poop somewhere?' He said, "Nope, not even in the chair!" Hey, I wasn't born yesterday! His attempt at reverse psychology wasn't going to work on me! As I walked over to the chair he ran upstairs, and thus leaving another clue to his guilt!

I lifted up the top cushion a bit and there is was! Yuck, yuck and double yuck! I took the covers off of both cushions and took them into the kitchen to scrub them in the sink! Just what I wanted to do today, especailly after just cleaning vomit from his bed! The only thing worse would have been if I had a stomach bug too! You can bet I had no sympathy for his illness and he got a stern lecture about telling Mom when he gets poop or any other bodily fluid anywhere in the house - or out!

I thought that he listened to what I had to say. Two days later he was yelling from the couch that he pooped on the cushion again! I guess I should explain that Sean likes to just take his clothes off for no reason at all. At any given time during the day, I can walk in the room and find him naked. I let him have his freedom and figure things are good since he is not doing it at school or out in public. I know how to pick my battles!

So, I grab a box of wipes and run into the living room. When I get there he is looking proud of himself and smiling. Hmmm. Maybe he misunderstood the talk? He says, "Look Mom! Look! I pooped a T-Rex leg!" You know, he was right. I could kind of see a T-Rex leg, although I probably would have said it looked more like Italy! I had to laugh and told him that it did look like a T-Rex leg! He clapped his hands and jumped up and down! Ugh!

Most of the time I have no idea what that boy is thinking or how his crazy mind works. He is one of a kind. And I have to say there is never a dull moment with Sean around! Anyone in need of some entertainment is free to borrow him! You will not be disappointed!

Justin's One Year Check-up!

Justin weighed in at 19 lbs 2 oz and was 29 1/4 inches long! He is a little on the small side for his age, but we think he is just perfect - and bigger than I was at a year! He had met or exceeded all of his milestones and the doctor said he is very healthy! Great job Justin!

Children's Day in South Korea!

Today is a national holiday in South Korea. It is Children's Day and celebrated with special meals, parades, wearing a traditional Hanbok [literally means Korean (Han) and clothing (bok)], and doing things for children. If things go as planned on May 5th 2010 we will be celebrating with our daughter! We hope that she will be home late summer or early fall of 2009, so 2010 would be her first children's day with us!

Nothing new to report about the adoption. We are waiting to receive our home study in the mail to file our immigration paperwork and we are waiting for the main office to approve our home study and then send it to Korea. We should get a letter giving us a date for HSTK. I am hoping maybe next week! Fingers crossed! I am getting anxious and the real waiting has yet to begin!

Lollipop, Lollipop

Another day in mischief land. Someone who will remain nameless Sean, decided that it would be a great idea to give Justin a lollipop. And since it was his first ever, I had to take pictures. I am actually pretty surprised that he hasn't gotten his hands on one before this! I have pulled gummy bears, jelly beans, Skittles, and gum out of his mouth before though. He did really enjoy the lollipop and made lots of great slurping sound effects. It was so great that he got a bright blue one too - it made for some pretty drool! I let him have it for a few minutes and then took it away before it got too small and was in danger of falling off the stick. He yelled for quite a while and kept saying, "Mom. Mom. Mom." I guess it was his way of yelling at me! Sorry Justin!

Who me?

You can't deprive this face of candy!so cute!sour blue raspberrymaybe PopTarts will be next?A little palate cleanserreally enjoying himselfwhat no blue drool in the dining room?