A Day of Firsts!

#1 - Justin pooped on the potty today! We have sort of casually been introducing the idea of going on the potty. And it is pretty much still a fun game more than it is real potty training. Sometimes he is excited and other times he wants nothing to do with the potty. Today, I was changing him right before his nap and he asked to go potty.

He does this every once in a while, so I really didn't think too much of it. Then after a minute or two his eyes got really wide and he screamed, "Poop!" He stood up and I could not believe it! There was poop in the little frog potty! He was excited and kept yelling poop and pointing at it!

#2 - Justin peed on the potty tonight! He was again getting changed - for bed this time. As soon as his diaper was off he asked to go potty. I am starting to see a pattern emerging - stalling bed time by saying he wants to go potty. So, we got the potty and he sat. Then he got up, and then sat some more. After about 10 minutes I saw him looking down between his legs. He had that look and I just knew he had gone.

He jumped up and we looked in the potty! He was excited and kept yelling, "Yeah! Look at the water!" It was so cute and he was so proud! I took him to help me dump it in the big potty and he got to flush. He then walked back into the living room and peed on the floor. About 3 inches from the potty. Baby steps, baby steps...

#3 - Sean has a cold and a stuffy nose. This means that his nose runs a lot, and that he is extra whiny. The only thing that makes up for the extra crankiness is that he is also extra cuddly! Sean is our least cuddly kid. It is so hard to get hugs and kisses from him, but that also makes the ones you do get extra special! He wanted some tylenol before bed. I found some chewable tablets and he chased them with a sip of juice.

He then asked for something to help his runny nose. I could not find any liquid or chewable medicine. Only Brian's allergy medicine. They are really small pills that have to be swallowed. I told him this was not the chewable kind, but that he had to put it in his mouth, take a drink, and swallow. It only took him four tries and he did it! What a great kid!

Pregnancy and Infant Loss Day

Today is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Day. A day to remember losses. A day to quietly reflect. A day to be comforted by a united sisterhood. A day to remember that I am not alone in my pain. A day of empathy and understanding. A day to send caring thoughts out to those who have walked a similar path. A day of opening old wounds, so they can be further healed.

It has been almost three years since my last loss. We found out we had lost Justin's twin on December 7, 2006.(To read more about this click here.) This loss came after over two years of fertility treatments and 6 early miscarriages. Justin was born May 3, 2007. The time between December 7th and May 3rd was really hard for me. I was so afraid that I would lose him too.

Even after three years have passed, I still have days that hit me really hard. They don't happen as often now, but still my heart aches for the babies I never got to meet. The losses closed a door for me, but at the same time opened the window to adoption.

I am still affected daily by the pain of loss. Today, most of the anguish I feel has a positive effect on my life. I am grateful for each and every day. Grateful for the good and bad. Because to feel the bad, I have to have once felt the good. I was definitley changed by infertility and loss. Changed for the better.

LEGALS!!!

Finally! I feel so much better! We got our "legals" from Korea today! I already had all the I-600 and other necessary forms copied and signed, so I only had to copy the legals and get to the post office! Only 2 hours after opening my mail, they were off to USCIS in Texas!

After October 6th, I-600 and I-600A forms have to be sent to a Texas USCIS office. Before this date we would have mailed the forms to Trenton, NJ - just like we did with our I-600A. Since it is only October 14th, I assume that I am in the first batch to go to the new route! I really hope this new format doesn't add time to our wait. I am very leery of a brand new process.

I do see the need to streamline the I-600 and I-600A processes. All the states varied so much in their processing times - NJ was pretty quick and had I-600 approvals out in about 3-4 weeks, some states were taking months and months. I just hope things don't average out the difference - if my approval takes longer than a month I will go nuts! Especially since we missed the cut off by about a week!

This is our final step in the visa process. It is the last bit of paper work that I have any control of - well, until after we have Kathryn home! Everything else needs to be done on the Korean side!

*For more information on the process or any of the paper work mentioned above, please click on the "What's Next" link below Kathryn's photos on the side bar*

Springdale Farm Trip!

Sean had his class trip to pick pumpkins today! He was really disappointed by the size of the pumpkins, I think he pictured himself getting a pumpkin so big that he could barely carry it! He did search for the biggest pumpkin for a long time! Sean was one of the last kids to decide on the perfect one!

We took a hay ride around the farm and learned a lot about fruits and veggies. I don't know how much the kids listened to all of it, but I learned a lot! I never knew there were so many varieties of corn or egg plant! I had never seen broccoli growing or knew that it will grow long after the first frost! All the kids had a great time - and apple cider donuts were enjoyed by all after the hay ride!

pumpkin flower

starting to grow
getting bigger
Sean still searching for a bigger one on the hayride!

Fire Prevention Week

The boys brought home plastic fire hats from school for fire prevention week. Justin loves the hats and wears them all the time. Tonight he was a comedian, and kept pulling the hat down over his eyes! He finally flashed me a cute smile when he was tired of goofing around!

Ravens Game!

Well, the Ravens had a tough loss today, but we still had a great time at the game! The weather was ideal - upper '60s and sunny with a light breeze! After the game, the boys got autographs from Ray Lewis, Willis McGahee, Ed Reed, and of course Joe Flacco! They also saw Haloti Ngata, L.J. Smith, and Kelley Washington - but didn't get autographs.

On the way home, we stopped at a diner with Joe and the rest of his family and friends that went to the game. It was a quiet little diner and Joe only got asked for autographs a few times! And he stopped for a few photos on the way out! I don't think the boys are aware at all that they just got to eat dinner with an NFL starting quarterback! They think it is neat, but to them he is still just their really, really tall cousin!

Still No Legals!

I was really bummed to say the least today. The mail finally came, and again no legals this week. If you are new to reading, legals are the paper work we are waiting for from Korea. We need this to send in our final paper work on the US side to the Immigration office in Philadelphia. After we mail in our application, it takes about a month for approval. So, the longer it takes to get the legals, the longer it will take for approval. Which in turn, can mean a longer time until we travel.

Most people get their legals in about 2-5 weeks. Monday will be 6 weeks since referral for us. I was so sure they would have come this week. If they don't come next week, I will go crazy!!! And make a few phone calls!

The Moon

Brian had his first project due today. They are studying the solar system in science class. He chose to do his project on the the moon! It was really interesting to learn the facts along with him. I had no idea that no one has set foot on the moon since 1972 - the last person was Eugene Cernan! I had never even heard of him before!

Brian did a really great job and had a clear vision from day 1. I was a little skeptical about the glitter he wanted to put on the moon, but it turned out really great! We went to a craft store and he picked out the scrap booking paper - I think he made great choices!

Sean wanted in on the action too, so he got to use the scraps to make his own space scene!