tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90201556803394153112024-02-07T17:51:25.106-08:00The Rhoden's Bulgarian AdoptionThere and Back Again: The Rhoden's Bulgarian AdoptionE.S. Rhodenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17694638251891620800noreply@blogger.comBlogger52125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9020155680339415311.post-10518964796611870382014-12-02T10:10:00.002-08:002014-12-04T09:17:39.266-08:0013 Weeks…and a DaySamuel has been home 13 weeks…and a day! It's hard to believe that it's been that long.<br />
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He has adjusted beautifully.<br />
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Truth be told, I waited to post because I thought maybe something would come up. It hasn't. He is a happy, healthy, sweet, active, hilarious, and yes, spoiled, little boy.<br />
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He is still sleeping well, eating well and playing well. He still LOVES balls. He is not one to sit still for long but when he does he intends to get in a good cuddle. He is now saying "MomMa" (or more recently "Ma") and "Da" fairly consistently, along with his already perfected names for his sisters (Mi-A, and LilY).<br />
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His motor skills have improved dramatically. He was unable to climb the stairs unassisted just 6 weeks ago or so. Now, he can hold to the railing and step up in a typical fashion. He has not had any sensory issues. He has played in sand, shaving cream, wood chips, stones, etc.<br />
However, "Winter is coming" so we will see how he likes the snow.<br />
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We have been working on his speech by sounding out words and encouraging repetition. He understands everything we say to him and he is most often able to communicate his needs back to us.<br />
Halloween was a hit; he was Olaf to his sisters' Anna and Elsa.<br />
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He has two blankets which he calls "B". He is saying short phrases like "take a bath" and "I get it". </div>
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The weather has turned cold and he is not a fan of being stuck indoors so Santa is bringing a pop-up soccer goal for Christmas morning. He will play with his blocks a bit now and he loves one 90s pop-culture kiddy hit DVD called, "WeeSing in Sillyville." (Lord help Me!) </div>
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He plays well with other children, although they are generally older because they are friends with his sisters. </div>
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He doesn't go to other adults to be held. We had heard this might be an issue but it has only happened once, about a week after he came home. He heads straight to me, G or the girls if he has problems. Sometimes if he is off playing he will suddenly look up and yell "Ma" just to make sure that I am around. When I yell "Samuel" back, he looks at me, smiles and then goes about his business. </div>
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BHS </div>
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I mentioned in my last post that Samuel has Breathe Holding Spells. There are 2 types: one for stress and fear, the other for pain. </div>
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He hasn't had many Breathe Holding Spells due to stress lately. He has had several due to pain or injury. </div>
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When I posted something about it on Facebook I had several friends message to tell me their kids do the same thing, but only when they get hurt. </div>
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He will hit his head on the table (or under the table as it were) and then cry and pass out. He is only out for a second, then he cries for a minute and he is back to doing whatever it is he was doing before. </div>
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The Pediatrician informed us that he should grow out of BHS around age 6 and he won't suffer brain damage or the like. It freaked us out when he did it the first few times but now we know how to handle it and what to do to try to prevent it. Usually we can stop them if we catch them in time. He went 2 months without one but then had 3 in one weekend. It's just weird how they work. </div>
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I should point out this is not an "adoptive child" issue. Apparently 25% of all children have these. It's not a temper tantrum. It's the nervous system's involuntary response to fear, stress, or pain. It sends signals to shut your body down for protection. </div>
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Now, I will say…the orphanage did not tell us he has these until after he was home a week and we spent an evening in the ER thinking he had a stroke or seizure. When we emailed to get more information from them they told us he had 2 episodes recently in the orphanage. They even took him to a specialist after the 2nd episode. They said the specialist told them he was fine and that he was "forgetting to breathe when he got mad."</div>
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When I picked him up from the orphanage they told me and the director of our BG agency that he would hold his breath when he got mad or did not get his way. They told me to pinch him or blow in his face to make him breathe. But, they said it so nochalantly I just assumed it was a temper tantrum. </div>
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No exactly. </div>
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So, lesson learned for all you "in-process parents": make sure to inquire about any recent illnesses or injuries that occur between visits. Ask if the child was seen by a doctor at all during your time apart and for all the details you can get from them. </div>
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Not sure if they were really NOT worried about it or if they thought we wouldn't adopt him if they told us…hmmmm</div>
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Doesn't matter now of course. He is a happy little boy and I can't wait to see what he does on his first Christmas especially since he has not paid a minutes' attention to the tree or presents yet.</div>
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<br />E.S. Rhodenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17694638251891620800noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9020155680339415311.post-68631805396460396642014-09-11T18:54:00.000-07:002014-09-11T18:54:20.443-07:002nd Trip<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Sorry it’s taken so long for me to give an update but I now have a VERY busy toddler at home. So, I will take this opportunity while he snoozes to give you the rundown on the Second/Pick-Up trip.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">So travel dates were from August 12-23. Yes, you need 11 days total to get everything done. I traveled to Bulgaria first. I flew from Dulles to Sofia via Heathrow. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I will take this moment to tell you that British Airways was fabulous. Absolutely NO complaints. The plane did leave an hour late from Dulles due to weather concerns but that was no fault of theirs. I did miss my flight from Heathrow due to this delay. When I got to London, the BA team had already switched my tickets over to Lufthansa. I would be delayed by 5 hours getting to Sofia because I now had to make a stopover in Munich. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Both of those flights were fine as well. I slept for the better part of them. Once I arrived in Sofia I found my checked luggage delayed because of the change in flight plan. Luckily I had everything I needed for Samuel and myself for 3 days. The translator picked me up at the airport and we immediately traveled the 6 hours to Silistra. We finally reached the hotel around 1 am. I fell into bed and slept until 8 the next morning. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">We were meeting the Director at the orphanage around 10 am. We had some paperwork to attend to first then they showed us into the play area where we waited for him to come in from playing outside. We chatted to the Director as well as some of the caregivers for a bit. They were so kind and obviously thrilled that Samuel was finally getting to go home. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">When they brought him in he was sweaty and a little dirty from playing outside, but like a normal little boy, grinning from ear to ear in his filth. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Now, I know one question I’ve been asked many times is: Did he know you? Did he remember you? </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Honestly, I’m not sure. He smiled and walked over to me. I was smiling (I think) and he grunted for me to pick him up, so I did. The caregivers were all pointing to me and saying, “Momma,” over and over. He just looked and me and smiled, dirty face and all. I’ll take it. It wasn’t an emotional episode. I didn’t cry, though his caregivers did. I just kissed and hugged him as much as he would let me. He seemed happy and extremely healthy. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">They took him to bathe him. I was allowed to go along of course. They put him in a utility sink and rinsed him off with soap, using a spray attachment. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I then noticed how big he was. He seemed half this size at the February visit. I noticed when I held him that he was heavy but in the bath I could see that he had chunky legs and arms and a portly belly. (I’ve always wanted to use that word) </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">We dressed him in the outfit I brought for him; basic t-shirt, gingham shorts and a pair of sneakers. The caregivers did give him some kind of suppository that was herbal and supposed to help with motion-sickness. (It didn’t work btw) </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">We then said quick goodbyes as they herded us out the door. His caregivers were smiling and crying and they gave us a special sent-off with some leaves and water. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">So, to be quite frank, it all happened so quickly my brain had yet to process anything. We were in and out within 30 minutes. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The drive back to Sofia was not too bad for the first 3 hours or so. He slept in my arms. Note: They did not have a carseat for him. I had to hold him or he had to sit buckled next to me. When he woke, he was feeling the affects of 24 months of not riding in a car. He “tossed cookies” once, then again right as we were getting into Sofia. Thank God I had extra clothes for us both. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">We arrived at the apartment in Sofia smelling pretty rank. My checked luggage had still not arrived at this time. The translator offered to go to the grocery to pick up necessities. Sam and I unpacked and looked around the apartment. They had some toys there so he played with them for a bit. Once the translator returned we were able to wash clothes and start cooking dinner. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">First thing on the agenda was trying to wash the puke smell off of Sam. BIG MISTAKE. He started crying the moment the water started running. I quickly washed him down with good-ole’ Johnson and Johnson and then began what my late mother called, “The ritual.” Johnson’s classic baby lotion head-to-toe, then Johnson’s baby powder head-to-toe. Now, he LOVED that part. Who wouldn’t right? It’s a massage. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Dressed and getting sleeping, (It was around 8 pm at this point) I decided to attempt to put him to sleep. Now, because I am not going to walk you through each sleep period of the trip I will just go ahead and say that the first night he slept in the bed with me from 8:30 until 7 the next morning. He was exhausted. I held him and rocked for about 15 minutes before he conked out. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Now, he only took 1 nap at the orphanage from 2-4 pm each day. I am of the old-school mentality that 2-year-olds need either A) 1 long nap a day, think 3 hours, or B) 2 shorter naps a day, think 1.5 a piece. We started out with B and we are already on A. All kids are different. We started out with him sleeping in the bed with me but he moved around too much and nearly fell off the bed several times. He easily transitioned to the pack-n-play they provided in the apartment and slept much better in it. I still rocked him while standing for a good 10 minutes or so, then laid him in the bed. He would do a little fussy whine for only a few minutes before going to sleep. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The next morning, Friday, we had his medical appointment and his BG passport application appointment. We did both. Found out he is a perfectly healthy 32 pounder. Yep. He just turned 2. He had the TB skin done. I did not hold him down, the translator did that. He cried for a moment but that was it. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">After that we went back to the apartment and tried to keep a routine. We ventured out several times over the weekend to visit the park or the grocery. I finally got my bag on Saturday! </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">So because we did nothing of importance until Monday I will walk you through some of the “issues” we had/have. Some of these apply to right now at home as well. Don’t hate me...but they’re aren’t many. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">EATING: The boy is Mikey. You know, “Give it to Mikey, he’ll eat it.” He has had no stomach issues from food. His bowels are very scheduled, if you know what I mean. He drinks plenty of water and milk. He also likes chamomile tea. He eats fruits, vegetables, meats (all but pork) and yogurt. He can eat with a spoon and a fork, though I admit to feeding him more often for bonding purposes. He sits in his highchair, bib-on, and when the food is gone, he announces “gone-gone” with his hands out in lotus position. That brings us to...</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">LANGUAGE: He is doing the jabber more than anything. He does say “Molly,”</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">(our dog) but that word is inclusive of all the animals he sees. So the squirrel in the tree is, “Molly”. He says “Mon-kee” for, well, I think you can guess. He calls Lily, “Lala”. He has bonded very well to her and when we get in the car to go pick them up from school he repeats, “Lala” on the way. “Gone-Gone” from above. He says something that sounds like, “I’ll get it.” It is usually when he is getting something so I am gonna give him that point. He understand everything we say. We did learn some BG phrases for basic instructions which we still use along-with their English counterpart. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">He does not say “Momma,” or “Daddy” yet in connection to us. He knows who we are though. If he is told to give something to “daddy” he will give it to G. He simply doesn’t call us by those names yet. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">EMOTIONAL RESPONSES: We are blessed that he was very loved and adored by his caregivers. We have only noticed typical toddler behavior with regards to tantrums and/or defiance. When we were in BG we had several instances where, when told no, he would throw himself down on the floor and bang his head on it. The first few times I picked him up quietly and put him in the crib in his room and made him lay down. I never said anything to him. That worked. He realized he wasn’t getting the attention he wanted from the negative behavior so he stopped. He has only does that once since we brought him home. BTW my bio kids tried this stuff. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Sometimes when he knows he has done something that he should not do...like throw all of my folded clothes all over the room while my back is turned...he will give this “head down-eyes out the top of the head-pooty lip” look. When I explain to him why he should not have done what he did, he then comes up to you and digs his head in-between your legs and hugs. G and I think this is his, “I’m sorry.” </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">He does have something called Breath Holding Spells. We learned this only a week after being home. He had one, passed out cold, freaked us out, and we ended up at the ER thinking he had a seizure. Long story for another post. He has not had a second one...yet. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">We are trying the “make a big deal about it when he hurts himself thing” right now. He looks at us like we’re cray-cray. Sometime he comes to us after he bumps his head or falls but usually he just gets back up and goes on with life. I know the adoption “experts” say to make a big deal about it because, I’m assuming, the idea is that he wasn’t given attention at the orphanage when he hurt himself. Not sure if this is accurate in his case. He was overly babied the times we saw. So that is a work in progress. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">MOTION: In BG we traveled mainly by car for all the appointments. I brought children’s dramamine with me and gave him a half of one 30 min before I knew we would be driving anywhere. He was fine with the dramamine. Same with the trip home. No stomach upsets on the dramamine. He did not like the carseat, of course, when we first came home. But, within a week he was fine with it. He likes <i>The Wonder Pets</i> (God help me!) so I make sure that is playing while we drive and he is good to go. He jabbers most car rides either trying to tell us something or to tell <i>The Wonder Pets</i>, not sure yet. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">He likes the stroller. We are walking to and from the park all the time. He doesn’t have any problems with that.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">PLAYING: He plays constantly. He loves balls. He even sleeps with his mini soccer ball. G has big plans for this kid and they all involve Premier League Soccer. He would rather kick a ball on the field than play at the park. And this is really cool park. It has everything a kid could want. Nope, not him. Just give him a ball. He enjoys blocks and stacking things. He also likes this game called, “Grab Momma’s Coffee.” That’s not my favorite game. He walks and runs easily by himself. He is learning to climb stairs right now and it’s amazing how far he has come in just a few weeks. It’s no wonder he sleeps like he does. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">SLEEP: So I said before but he naps for about 3 hours in the middle of the day. He wakes up between 6:30 and 7 and then goes back down for his nap around 10:30 or 11. He then goes to bed around 7 or 7:30. He woke up in the middle of the night for the first 2 nights in the US. After that, he was on our time-zone. He does not want to be held anymore. He did for the first week or so of being home. He loved falling asleep on G’s chest. Now he likes to lay down and play with his stuffed animals for a few minutes. He has an adorable bedtime routine, If I do say so myself. He has to have his bed arranged just-so. He has two blankets, and 3 stuffed animals. They all have to be in certain spots before he will get comfortable. So he will move them around in his bed until he is satisfied they are right where they should be. He also has a Woo-Bear, a battery-operated, womb-sound-maker-thingy. Both of our girls used it and now he has to have it turn on and turned up before he will get settled. (Lily named it Woo-Bear many years ago) If he wakes in the middle of the night all you have to do it turn Woo-Bear back on and he is golden. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">So...back to the trip. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Monday came along and we went back to the doctor for her to check his TB skin test. She signed off on the paperwork and we went back to the apartment to hang out for the remainder of the day. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Tuesday we had no appointments but G’s flight was arriving later in the day. The translator picked him up at the airport around 2 and by the time Sam awoke from his nap, daddy was there. He ran right to G. Go figure. He took to G very quickly so I was able to take a breather for the first time in a week. G put him to bed that night very easily. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Wednesday we had no appointments until the afternoon so we walked around the city for a bit before heading to the US Embassy for the Exit Visa Appointment. It took a good 2 hours so be prepared. Luckily their are toys there for the kids to play with as well as a huge garden to walk about in. We crossed paths with another adoptive family as we were coming in through security. They were headed out and assured us it was painless. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Thursday, again no appointments, but we had friends from Romania who drove down late that night to spend the day with us Friday. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Friday, we received all the paperwork to exit the country along with his passport. We could officially leave BG which was a huge relief. We spent the day with our Romanian friends doing the “tourist” thing. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Saturday we spent the morning packing up and getting ready to head out. Sam did not like the look of packing. He was very confused why all the bags were being packed. He particularly did not like that all 4 of his balls where going in the big suitcase and he could not play with them. The translator picked us up at noon and we headed to the airport. No problems getting through check-in and security. We brought Sam’s stroller and only each carried a backpack and G’s carry-on. So glad we brought the stroller, especially in London where we needed to get around quickly to make it through security and to our connecting gate very quickly. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Sam’s first flight was fine. He turned 2 end of July so he had his own seat between us. He was fine during take-off and then he enjoyed a snack and beverage while we had our adult beverage (wink, wink). He fell asleep in G’s arms pretty soon after that. He slept for the remainder of the flight to London. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">We made it through the mess that is Heathrow, and boarded the next flight. He did basically the same thing on that flight. He ate then started fussing a little so G held him until he fell asleep. We were able to lay him down between us and he slept the entire length of <i>The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. </i>The last 4 hours of the flight were “busier” but he still did a great job. He didn’t scream or cry too much, just fussed and whined occasionally. He was very tired by the time we got to Dulles. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">We apparently timed it perfectly with immigration. We walked right through to the officer, who then directed us to his supervisor who quickly opened our document packet and went through the papers. They sent us next to declarations were we had to “present” our son. They looked at us and laughed us on. I should mention that Samuel smiled at everyone we came in contact with. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">We then had to take the shuttle to the car park. He enjoyed riding on the bus. He had no idea what to think of the carseat the first time we put him in it. Luckily he was so tired he didn’t put up much of a fight. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">We came home to a lovely door sign and a banner designed by the girls, (helped by my aunt and dad ;)</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">It was beyond wonderful to be home with our son. The trip was relatively easy and everything went according to plan. It was long (12 days from start to finish) but painless. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">It was all still surreal. It is really JUST setting in that he is HOME and OURS. </span></div>
E.S. Rhodenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17694638251891620800noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9020155680339415311.post-20264618091539477572014-08-02T11:55:00.002-07:002014-08-02T11:55:18.506-07:00Trip 2So, took awhile to get the HS updated and we had to call our local congressman to get our fingerprints done in a timely manner but once that was finished USCIS was quick to get our approval notice to us. The agent got the HS on Wednesday and sent the approval on Thursday. We got our approval on Monday. Sent the approval on to BG and waited. Waited. Waited. Two weeks later we were told they were unable to get a VISA Appointment in July. Another month before we could travel. We missed his birthday, July 30, which meant, 1) We missed his 2nd Birthday, and 2) That we would have to pay for his ticket back because he could no longer sit in our laps.<br />
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We travel August 12-23 to bring him home.<br />
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So, here's where it gets complicated….<br />
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I will head to BG on Aug.12. I will get there on the 13th and drive, with the translator, directly to Silistra. We will stay the night there and pick him up at 9 the next morning. So technically his "gotcha day" will be August 14. He and I will travel back to Sofia that day. We have his medical appointment on Friday for his TB test. He and I will spend the weekend together and then start with more appointments Monday. During this time…my Aunt J will fly up to DC on that Saturday to be with the girls when G leaves on Monday night for BG. He will get to BG Tuesday afternoon and be with us the rest of the trip. My dad will fly up on Thursday to help my Aunt J out with the girls. They will stay until Monday evening after we get back with Samuel.<br />
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G and I will bring Samuel home on Saturday the 23rd.<br />
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Now, we are being told by our agency and the State Dept. that the Embassy in Sofia is behind on their system and having difficulty handing out VISAs in a timing manner. AKA, we may have to pay change fees for the airlines. Hopefully this issue will be resolved by the time we leave. We are being told it should be.<br />
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Also I wanted to mention that we went through a non-profit called AFC Travel for our airfare. www.afctravel.com<br />
The woman that helped us was very kind and was able to book our tickets for much less than the listed fare. We were able to get a humanitarian fare which is less and the change-fees are much less.<br />
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We will also be flying British Airways so I'm sure I will have a nice flight. If I don't, you're sure to hear about it.<br />
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<br />E.S. Rhodenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17694638251891620800noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9020155680339415311.post-89028524403829839082014-06-24T18:26:00.000-07:002014-06-24T18:32:07.615-07:00He is ours!So Samuel is our son, officially! We received word from the adoption agency in BG that all the paperwork has been signed and sent to the US Embassy.<br />
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So I am happy to present photos of our son, Samuel George Joseph Rhoden!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEr0oUSpYg8Es4RWqnsW1ruMRkQOW0fVigPoL0kWx7j2jL705qn6oAgBf_yYdPtVSpCht3M_-9ml61mnKJWeifK1qxhyphenhyphenNN3N8p9xJBw0upA-tsscUotDEV0HFDgyKHWV13vbIdTLjhlOL4/s1600/IMG_0402-5x5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEr0oUSpYg8Es4RWqnsW1ruMRkQOW0fVigPoL0kWx7j2jL705qn6oAgBf_yYdPtVSpCht3M_-9ml61mnKJWeifK1qxhyphenhyphenNN3N8p9xJBw0upA-tsscUotDEV0HFDgyKHWV13vbIdTLjhlOL4/s1600/IMG_0402-5x5.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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This photo was taken at a local studio and is being used as his Visa and Passport photo. He was NOT happy about sitting still long enough to snap the shot. In this shot, I am actually squatting in front of him, holding his knees down so that he can not run away! I'm fairly certain this was the only photo they were able to successfully take. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg76oLOQykvRBNOXNkEwsV9pMTZyfUQDZl_mesKKdKTSBYZ8C5hszMTtwY-2LAU6z7jrsF-N3tSr5gqTErfTaA3pWY5e-mLL9o3T3ptRru_CVdLBpJVw8JjiulSiz8ugD7GzL8KRHhfNS8h/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg76oLOQykvRBNOXNkEwsV9pMTZyfUQDZl_mesKKdKTSBYZ8C5hszMTtwY-2LAU6z7jrsF-N3tSr5gqTErfTaA3pWY5e-mLL9o3T3ptRru_CVdLBpJVw8JjiulSiz8ugD7GzL8KRHhfNS8h/s1600/photo+1.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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The first day we met. He didn't know what to make of the phone. </div>
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We brought a set of stacking cups and presented them to him as his first gift. He played with them daily</div>
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I will upload more later. As we stand we are waiting for our home study update to be completed and our biometrics taken in order to travel. LONNNNNNGGGGGGG Story. I am tired but will update later on the subject. </div>
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Outline of our entire process:<br />
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January 2010: This was the first officially step towards adoption.<br />
July 2010: Completed homestudy<br />
October 2010: Received our USCIS approval<br />
December 2010: Mailed dossier to BG<br />
April 2011: Registered with country of BG<br />
Spring 2012: Homestudy update<br />
Spring 2013: Homestudy update<br />
Dec 2013: Official referral<br />
<span style="color: red;">February 2014: 1st Trip </span><br />
<span style="color: red;">May 2014: Started on 3rd home study update </span><br />
<span style="color: red;">May 27, 2014: Court Date </span><br />
<span style="color: red;">June 23, 2014: Official word he is ours! </span><br />
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Total time from start to referral: 4 years give or take a few days<br />
Total time from registration to referral: 32 months<br />
<span style="color: red;">Total time from 1st Visit to Court date: 3 months</span><br />
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<br />E.S. Rhodenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17694638251891620800noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9020155680339415311.post-87135475800866982652014-03-01T09:00:00.002-08:002014-03-01T09:00:58.112-08:001st Trip So sorry it's taken awhile to post this. I've gotten a lot of emails and calls asking about the trip so I figured it would be easier to write about it.<br />
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So we took the first trip February 15-22.<br />
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We left Saturday the 15th from Dulles and flew direct to Munich. We had a short layover in Munich then flew on to Sofia. We left DC around 5:30 Saturday night and got into Sofia around noon the next day. We did not sleep at all on the flight, nerves and excitement won out over Benadryl and wine.<br />
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We flew United and boy, I thought Delta was bad. The food was awful (inedible) and the service terrible (they don't do you any favors). We both agreed it's almost worth it to pay more to fly KLM or Lufthansa. They know how to treat people! We know because of my own experience with international KLM flights and then we flew Lufthansa from Munich to Sofia (and vice-versa). They provided the best chocolate croissants as the snack on an hour-long flight. United gave us peanuts. Literally and figuratively.<br />
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So, enough complaining about cheap American airlines. We got to Sofia and had no trouble retrieving our bags. We had to get some BGN lev at the airport so we went to one of the expensive kiosks and exchanged about $100. Then we requested a yellow cab. They immediately took us to our hotel, the Hilton Sofia. The cab ride was about 13 lev. ($9) The Hilton Sofia was very modern and nice. Not particularly different than the States. We had Hilton Honors points so we were able to save some dough by staying there. Plus, everyone speaks English. The restaurant was good but very expensive. We found an awesome Sushi place up the road about 15 minute walk called Happy Sushi. It's near the US Embassy so it's in the nice part of town.<br />
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We ate and went to sleep around 4:00 pm Sunday afternoon. We slept all night and got up, packed and ate the awesome breakfast. Best breakfast ever. Our wonderful translator picked us up at the hotel at 7:30 and we were off to Silistra. We stopped for lunch but made it to Silistra around 4. We went straight to the orphanage.<br />
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The orphanage is very clean, and well-organized. They led us into a playroom where they promptly brought "Sam" in to meet us. He is beautiful. We were both struck by how well he walks for an 18 month old. He has dark brown hair, massive dark brown eyes, and lips any OC housewife would pay thousands for. He has very cute, large ears. (My husband pointed this out) He weighs around 25 pounds. He is happy and healthy. He has an amazing smile with one dimple. His laugh is more a silly chuckle.<br />
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He immediately picked up a ball and began playing with it. G caught the ball and started to toss it around him. Sam loved this. He seemed to be fascinated by G. He is a man after all. They played ball for awhile. I sat on the floor to observe but not push my desire to get my hands on him. About 15 minute into the visit, Sam came to me and gave me the ball. From then on it was a game for 3. The translator was talking to one of the caregivers, "D" that has taken charge of him since he was brought to the orphanage at only a few days old. She seemed very happy that we were actively playing with him and that he was returning the initiative. She wanted to hear about his sisters and DC. She wasn't pushy at all, just curious.<br />
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Within the first 30 minutes he came and sat in my lap. Of course I melted. Something about a boy. G and I spent most of our first visit struggling to hold back tears. Especially when D said we were a beautiful family and she couldn't ask for more for him. (Sniff, sniff) We brought a set of stacking cups for him and he loved them! He has great coordination and fine motor skills. It took all of five minutes for him to understand stacking the cups in order of size. G played a "stick a cup on your head" game that Sam thought was hilarious. The two-words to describe Sam: All-Boy and spoiled.<br />
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He likes to be flipped, tossed, do roll-overs, etc. G and I were exhausted after our play date. Momma's gonna have to work out more to stay up with him.<br />
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The nurses and caregivers all adore him! They call him "Go-goo," "Go-she," "Prince Lalev" and "Little Prince." They chat easily to him in BG and he responds with a smile. He likes to get his way. He threw several fits while we were there because he wasn't allowed to go somewhere or do something. G handled him easily.<br />
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It's amazing how different a boy is. With my girls I am the disciplinarian. They bat their eyes at G and he gives in to them. With Sam, G is not phased at all, and I find myself giving into his fluttering eyes. We told this to D and she laughed. She said she was sure he would be even more spoiled by 2 older sisters once he was home. I know this to be true.<br />
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The caregivers were all very concerned and anxious to see if we would accept the referral. We set their hearts at ease quickly and said we would send the papers that night (which we did)<br />
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We hated to leave him. We we able to see where he eats and sleeps before we left. He was a tired little boy and ready for bed.<br />
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We then headed to check in to our hotel. The one hotel in Silistra. We tried to eat at the restaurant in the hotel but after 1 hour and 45 minutes of waiting on our food decided to go to bed hungry. Long story. Breakfast the next morning was simple. Needless to say, my momma always said, "If you can't say something nice, don't say nothing at all."<br />
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The second day we were given a rare treat. We were given a tour of the facility by the director. She showed us all the therapy rooms, playrooms, the therapy pool, etc. We met in her office to discuss Sam and she was very kind and open regarding his family history and his background. His mother was labelled as mildly mentally retarded. He is not. His pediatrician, child psychiatrist, and his caregivers all agree he is on track for a child his age. We were able to send videos and photos to our pediatrician friend back home (thanks Dr. M. Snider) who said he saw nothing troubling or out of the ordinary. The director gave us a wonderful compliment: She said that Sam had 2 separate BG families that wanted to adopt him, but that the director and the caregivers did not like them. She said she and the caregivers like us and trusted us with him. She said our love was apparent.<br />
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We were able to play with him Tuesday and Wednesday morning from 9:30-noon, and then again from 4:30-7. We were able to feed him every meal while we were there. We were also allowed to put him to bed. (That didn't work; He screamed) He can use a spoon and drink from a cup. He is also potty-trained. Before you say anything: We are prepared for him to regress when he comes home. We will be taking pull-ups on the second trip and sippy cups.<br />
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He gradually began to expect us each day. D said he would wait by the door at the approximate time he knew we would come. He also began discriminating between us and the nurses. We were very surprised by this because we were told that he would not discriminate but go to anyone who would take him. He would chose us over the nurses for feeding, holding, etc.<br />
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On Wednesday morning we took him to get his passport/visa photo taken. D went with us. He sat curiously on my lap until the car started moving then he moved across the backseat from D to me to G. He enjoyed being outside and seeing all the colors and people. He walked along the street between D and myself while G and the translator took care of the photos. The driver and D took us to see the river after we were done.<br />
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Thursday morning was our last morning with him. He started babbling "ma ma ma ma ma" to me. Truth: we have it on video. He would play with my hair as he said it. The caregivers started calling us Momma and Daddy the first day. The only referred to us as such. He did say "da da da da" but he already said that for D so we couldn't tell who he was referring to.<br />
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We fed him lunch and then got him dressed for naptime. He was tired and fussy when we left. I cried like a sissy. (I'm not a cryer) G cried later because he said he knew if he cried it would make me cry even more. The caregivers, including D, hugged us and held us. They said BG blessings in our ears and promised to take good care of him until our return.<br />
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We ate lunch before leaving for Sofia. I slept most of the drive home while G and the translator talked. While I slept, we drove through the town where he was born.<br />
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We got back to Sofia around 7 that night. Garry and I ate and went to bed. The next morning we slept in before meeting with the BG adoption agency at 11:30. We had to go to the notary's office to sign papers, then we were done. We ate lunch at the sushi place I mentioned near the hotel, then swam and worked out to relax. We ate a quick bite at McDonald's that night. Yes the one and the same. We wanted to see if it was different and it was. The big mac and the fries were the only things on the menu we recognized. We also learned we would be in trouble if our youngest daughter was with us because they charge for each ketchup packet.<br />
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So, the next morning we left for the airport around 5. The hotel grabbed us a yellow cab. Only about $7 this time. We flew back to Munich (on Lufthansa, had a Pain au Chocolate this time) and had a 3 hour layover. We ate lunch and then flew back on the cursed United. (Attendants act like they are doing you a favor if you ask for water) Took awhile to go through customs once we were back but made it home finally around 5 pm. (Thanks Natalie)<br />
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My aunt watched the girls while we were gone so a big thanks to her for taking on THAT challenge for a week.<br />
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We hope to be back by July.<br />
We miss him. The days are hard. We just try to keep ourselves busy and pass the time. Imagine leaving your child in a foreign country for 5 months. Yep, it sucks.<br />
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USCIS has our petition to adopt paperwork so we are just waiting on that to go through right now.<br />
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I will update later with paperwork info.<br />
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<br />E.S. Rhodenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17694638251891620800noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9020155680339415311.post-76834978687249946392013-12-31T11:39:00.000-08:002013-12-31T11:41:35.804-08:00Our Referral…in Bulgarian. <div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
So, we are number 7 on this list. You can see why it takes so long to translate. I tried to import to Google Translate…what a debacle! Pretty sure it said our son was a donkey. </div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">So the best translation I could find was: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">WMO 267/27.11.2013 PROPOSAL MP</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">for male child aged 1 year and 4 months</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Data for family history.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Special thanks to Viviane for showing me where to find this. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Списък от преписки на кандидат-осиновители, по които са взети решения от заседанието на Съвет по международно осиновяване, проведено на 27.11.2013г.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">дата на вписванев Регистър</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">СТАТУС ЗА ПУБЛИКУВАНЕ:</span></div>
<div style="color: #008e2a; font-family: 'Microsoft Sans Serif'; font-size: 15px; text-align: center;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">за дете от ,,,, пол на възраст ,,,, години и ,,,, месеца,</span></div>
<div style="color: #874baa; font-family: 'Microsoft Sans Serif'; font-size: 15px; text-align: center;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">с особености в здравословния статус,</span></div>
<div style="color: #874baa; font-family: 'Microsoft Sans Serif'; font-size: 15px; text-align: center;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">с данни за фамилна обремененост.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Входящ № в МП</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Дата на входиране</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Държава по местопребиваване</span></div>
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<td style="background-color: #d2fdd9; border-color: transparent #000000 transparent #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px 1.0px; height: 132.0px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 72.0px;" valign="bottom"><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; text-align: right;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">1</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>3/30/10</b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>СМО 267/27.11.2013 ПРЕДЛОЖЕНИЕ МП</b></span></div>
<div style="color: #008e2a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-align: right;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>за дете от женски пол на възраст 2 години.</b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">16-00-312</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">2/15/05</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>КИПЪР</b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<td style="border-color: #cccccc #000000 #cccccc #cccccc; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 1.0px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 124.2px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 48.4px;" valign="bottom"><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
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<td style="background-color: #d2fdd9; border-color: transparent #000000 transparent #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px 1.0px; height: 124.5px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 72.0px;" valign="bottom"><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; text-align: right;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">2</span></div>
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<td style="border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 123.5px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 139.0px;" valign="bottom"><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>5/26/10</b></span></div>
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<td style="background-color: #e1f1f6; border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 123.5px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 544.0px;" valign="bottom"><div style="color: #008e2a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-align: right;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>СМО 267/27.11.2013 ПРЕДЛОЖЕНИЕ МП</b></span></div>
<div style="color: #008e2a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-align: right;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>за дете от мъжки пол на възраст 2 години и 2 месеца,</b></span></div>
<div style="color: #874baa; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-align: right;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>с особености в здравословния статус.</b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">16-00-289</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 123.5px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 148.0px;" valign="bottom"><div style="color: #008e2a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">4/27/10</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 123.5px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 173.0px;" valign="bottom"><div style="color: #008e2a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>ИСПАНИЯ</b></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: #d2fdd9; border-color: transparent #000000 transparent #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px 1.0px; height: 124.5px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 212.0px;" valign="bottom"><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #cccccc #000000 #cccccc #cccccc; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 1.0px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 124.2px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 48.4px;" valign="bottom"><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: #d2fdd9; border-color: transparent #000000 transparent #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px 1.0px; height: 124.5px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 72.0px;" valign="bottom"><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; text-align: right;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">3</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 123.5px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 139.0px;" valign="bottom"><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>5/27/10</b></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: #e1f1f6; border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 123.5px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 544.0px;" valign="bottom"><div style="color: #008e2a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-align: right;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>СМО 267/27.11.2013 ПРЕДЛОЖЕНИЕ МП</b></span></div>
<div style="color: #008e2a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-align: right;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>за дете от мъжки пол на възраст 2 години.</b></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 123.5px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 167.0px;" valign="middle"><div style="color: #008e2a; font-family: 'Microsoft Sans Serif'; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">16-00-296</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 123.5px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 148.0px;" valign="bottom"><div style="color: #008e2a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">4/28/10</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 123.5px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 173.0px;" valign="bottom"><div style="color: #008e2a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>ИСПАНИЯ</b></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: #d2fdd9; border-color: transparent #000000 transparent #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px 1.0px; height: 124.5px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 212.0px;" valign="bottom"><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #cccccc #000000 #cccccc #cccccc; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 1.0px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 124.2px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 48.4px;" valign="bottom"><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: #d2fdd9; border-color: transparent #000000 transparent #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px 1.0px; height: 124.5px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 72.0px;" valign="bottom"><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; text-align: right;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">4</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 123.5px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 139.0px;" valign="bottom"><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>5/27/10</b></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: #e1f1f6; border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 123.5px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 544.0px;" valign="bottom"><div style="color: #008e2a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-align: right;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>СМО 267/27.11.2013 ПРЕДЛОЖЕНИЕ МП</b></span></div>
<div style="color: #008e2a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-align: right;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>за дете от мъжки пол на възраст 2 години и 11 месеца.</b></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 123.5px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 167.0px;" valign="middle"><div style="color: #008e2a; font-family: 'Microsoft Sans Serif'; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">16-00-297</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 123.5px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 148.0px;" valign="bottom"><div style="color: #008e2a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">4/28/10</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 123.5px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 173.0px;" valign="bottom"><div style="color: #008e2a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>ИСПАНИЯ</b></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: #d2fdd9; border-color: transparent #000000 transparent #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px 1.0px; height: 124.5px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 212.0px;" valign="bottom"><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #cccccc #000000 #cccccc #cccccc; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 1.0px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 124.2px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 48.4px;" valign="bottom"><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: #d2fdd9; border-color: transparent #000000 transparent #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px 1.0px; height: 124.5px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 72.0px;" valign="bottom"><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; text-align: right;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">5</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 123.5px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 139.0px;" valign="bottom"><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>9/2/10</b></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: #e1f1f6; border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 123.5px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 544.0px;" valign="bottom"><div style="color: #008e2a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-align: right;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>СМО 267/27.11.2013 ПРЕДЛОЖЕНИЕ МП</b></span></div>
<div style="color: #008e2a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-align: right;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>за дете от женски пол на възраст 4 години и 9 месеца,</b></span></div>
<div style="color: #874baa; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-align: right;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>с особености в здравословния статус.</b></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 123.5px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 167.0px;" valign="middle"><div style="color: #008e2a; font-family: 'Microsoft Sans Serif'; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">16-00-578</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 123.5px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 148.0px;" valign="bottom"><div style="color: #008e2a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">8/5/10</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 123.5px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 173.0px;" valign="bottom"><div style="color: #008e2a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>КАНАДА</b></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: #d2fdd9; border-color: transparent #000000 transparent #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px 1.0px; height: 124.5px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 212.0px;" valign="bottom"><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #cccccc #000000 #cccccc #cccccc; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 1.0px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 124.2px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 48.4px;" valign="bottom"><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: #d2fdd9; border-color: transparent #000000 transparent #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px 1.0px; height: 124.5px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 72.0px;" valign="bottom"><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; text-align: right;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">6</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 123.5px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 139.0px;" valign="bottom"><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>12/6/10</b></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: #e1f1f6; border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 123.5px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 544.0px;" valign="bottom"><div style="color: #008e2a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-align: right;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>СМО 267/27.11.2013 ПРЕДЛОЖЕНИЕ МП</b></span></div>
<div style="color: #008e2a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-align: right;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>за дете от женски пол на възраст 5 години и 4 месеца,</b></span></div>
<div style="color: #874baa; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-align: right;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>с особености в здравословния статус.</b></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 123.5px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 167.0px;" valign="middle"><div style="color: #008e2a; font-family: 'Microsoft Sans Serif'; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">16-00-818</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 123.5px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 148.0px;" valign="bottom"><div style="color: #008e2a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">11/8/10</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 123.5px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 173.0px;" valign="bottom"><div style="color: #008e2a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>ИТАЛИЯ</b></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: #d2fdd9; border-color: transparent #000000 transparent #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px 1.0px; height: 124.5px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 212.0px;" valign="bottom"><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #cccccc #000000 #cccccc #cccccc; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 1.0px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 124.2px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 48.4px;" valign="bottom"><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: #d2fdd9; border-color: transparent #000000 transparent #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px 1.0px; height: 124.5px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 72.0px;" valign="bottom"><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; text-align: right;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">7</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 123.5px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 139.0px;" valign="bottom"><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>4/19/11</b></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: #e1f1f6; border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 123.5px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 544.0px;" valign="bottom"><div style="color: #008e2a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-align: right;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>СМО 267/27.11.2013 ПРЕДЛОЖЕНИЕ МП</b></span></div>
<div style="color: #008e2a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-align: right;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>за дете от мъжки пол на възраст 1 години и 4 месеца,</b></span></div>
<div style="color: #874baa; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-align: right;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>с данни за фамилна обремененост.</b></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 123.5px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 167.0px;" valign="middle"><div style="color: #008e2a; font-family: 'Microsoft Sans Serif'; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">16-00-959</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 123.5px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 148.0px;" valign="bottom"><div style="color: #008e2a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">12/28/10</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 123.5px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 173.0px;" valign="bottom"><div style="color: #008e2a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>САЩ</b></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: #d2fdd9; border-color: transparent #000000 transparent #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px 1.0px; height: 124.5px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 212.0px;" valign="bottom"><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #cccccc #000000 #cccccc #cccccc; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 1.0px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 121.2px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 48.4px;" valign="bottom"><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: #d2fdd9; border-color: transparent #000000 transparent #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px 1.0px; height: 121.5px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 72.0px;" valign="bottom"><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; text-align: right;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">8</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 120.5px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 139.0px;" valign="bottom"><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>12/27/11</b></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: #e1f1f6; border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 120.5px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 544.0px;" valign="bottom"><div style="color: #008e2a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-align: right;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>СМО 267/27.11.2013 ПРЕДЛОЖЕНИЕ МП</b></span></div>
<div style="color: #008e2a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-align: right;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>за 2 деца биологични брат и сестра на възраст съответно:</b></span></div>
<div style="color: #008e2a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-align: right;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b> 7 години и 7 месеца,</b></span></div>
<div style="color: #008e2a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-align: right;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b> 4 години и 1 месеца.</b></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 120.5px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 167.0px;" valign="middle"><div style="color: #008e2a; font-family: 'Microsoft Sans Serif'; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">16-00-744</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 120.5px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 148.0px;" valign="bottom"><div style="color: #008e2a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">9/27/11</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 120.5px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 173.0px;" valign="bottom"><div style="color: #008e2a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>ИТАЛИЯ</b></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: #d2fdd9; border-color: transparent #000000 transparent #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px 1.0px; height: 121.5px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 212.0px;" valign="bottom"><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #cccccc #000000 #cccccc #cccccc; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 1.0px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 121.2px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 48.4px;" valign="bottom"><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: #d2fdd9; border-color: transparent #000000 transparent #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px 1.0px; height: 121.5px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 72.0px;" valign="bottom"><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; text-align: right;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">9</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 120.5px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 139.0px;" valign="bottom"><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>12/27/12</b></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: #e1f1f6; border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 120.5px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 544.0px;" valign="bottom"><div style="color: #008e2a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-align: right;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>СМО 267/27.11.2013 ПРЕДЛОЖЕНИЕ МП</b></span></div>
<div style="color: #008e2a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-align: right;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>за дете от мъжки пол на възраст 9 години и 5 месеца.</b></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 120.5px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 167.0px;" valign="middle"><div style="color: #008e2a; font-family: 'Microsoft Sans Serif'; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">16-00-841</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 120.5px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 148.0px;" valign="bottom"><div style="color: #008e2a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">11/27/12</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 120.5px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 173.0px;" valign="bottom"><div style="color: #008e2a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>ИТАЛИЯ</b></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: #d2fdd9; border-color: transparent #000000 transparent #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px 1.0px; height: 121.5px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 212.0px;" valign="bottom"><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #cccccc #000000 #cccccc #cccccc; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 1.0px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 121.2px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 48.4px;" valign="bottom"><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: #d2fdd9; border-color: transparent #000000 transparent #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px 1.0px; height: 121.5px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 72.0px;" valign="bottom"><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; text-align: right;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">10</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 120.5px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 139.0px;" valign="bottom"><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>6/14/13</b></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: #e1f1f6; border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 120.5px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 544.0px;" valign="bottom"><div style="color: #008e2a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-align: right;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>СМО 267/27.11.2013 ПРЕДЛОЖЕНИЕ МП</b></span></div>
<div style="color: #008e2a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-align: right;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>за дете от женски пол на възраст 6 години и 3 месеца,</b></span></div>
<div style="color: #874baa; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-align: right;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>с особености в здравословния статус.</b></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 120.5px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 167.0px;" valign="middle"><div style="color: #008e2a; font-family: 'Microsoft Sans Serif'; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">16-00-304</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 120.5px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 148.0px;" valign="bottom"><div style="color: #008e2a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">5/17/13</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 120.5px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 173.0px;" valign="bottom"><div style="color: #008e2a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>ФРАНЦИЯ</b></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: #d2fdd9; border-color: transparent #000000 transparent #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px 1.0px; height: 121.5px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 212.0px;" valign="bottom"><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #cccccc #000000 #cccccc #cccccc; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 1.0px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 121.2px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 48.4px;" valign="bottom"><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: #d2fdd9; border-color: transparent #000000 transparent #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px 1.0px; height: 121.5px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 72.0px;" valign="bottom"><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; text-align: right;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">11</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 120.5px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 139.0px;" valign="bottom"><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>11/15/13</b></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: #fffdda; border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 120.5px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 544.0px;" valign="bottom"><div style="color: #ff45f6; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-align: right;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>ГОТОВНОСТ ЗА ДЕЦА С ПРОФИЛ ОТ САЙТ № 1425 И № 2040</b></span></div>
<div style="color: #008e2a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-align: right;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>СМО 267/27.11.2013 ПРЕДЛОЖЕНИЕ МП</b></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: #fffdda; border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 120.5px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 167.0px;" valign="middle"><div style="color: #008e2a; font-family: 'Microsoft Sans Serif'; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">16-00-324</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: #fffdda; border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 120.5px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 148.0px;" valign="bottom"><div style="color: #008e2a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">5/27/13</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: #fffdda; border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 120.5px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 173.0px;" valign="bottom"><div style="color: #008e2a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>САЩ</b></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: #d2fdd9; border-color: transparent #000000 transparent #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px 1.0px; height: 121.5px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 212.0px;" valign="bottom"><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #cccccc #000000 #cccccc #cccccc; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 1.0px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 121.2px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 48.4px;" valign="bottom"><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: #d2fdd9; border-color: transparent #000000 transparent #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px 1.0px; height: 121.5px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 72.0px;" valign="bottom"><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; text-align: right;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">12</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 120.5px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 139.0px;" valign="bottom"><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>11/21/13</b></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: #fffdda; border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 120.5px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 544.0px;" valign="bottom"><div style="color: #ff45f6; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-align: right;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>ГОТОВНОСТ ЗА ДЕЦА С ПРОФИЛ ОТ САЙТ № 1816 И № 2162</b></span></div>
<div style="color: #008e2a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-align: right;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>СМО 267/27.11.2013 ПРЕДЛОЖЕНИЕ МП</b></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: #fffdda; border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 120.5px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 167.0px;" valign="middle"><div style="color: #008e2a; font-family: 'Microsoft Sans Serif'; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">16-00-254</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: #fffdda; border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 120.5px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 148.0px;" valign="bottom"><div style="color: #008e2a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">4/17/13</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: #fffdda; border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 120.5px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 173.0px;" valign="bottom"><div style="color: #008e2a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>САЩ</b></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: #d2fdd9; border-color: transparent #000000 transparent #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px 1.0px; height: 121.5px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 212.0px;" valign="bottom"><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #cccccc #000000 #cccccc #cccccc; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 1.0px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 124.2px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 48.4px;" valign="bottom"><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: #d2fdd9; border-color: transparent #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.0px 2.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 124.0px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 71.5px;" valign="bottom"><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: #d2fdd9; border-color: #000000 transparent #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 0.0px 1.0px 2.0px; height: 123.5px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 139.0px;" valign="bottom"><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: #d2fdd9; border-color: #000000 transparent #000000 transparent; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px; height: 123.5px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 545.0px;" valign="bottom"><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: #d2fdd9; border-color: #000000 transparent #000000 transparent; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px; height: 123.5px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 168.0px;" valign="bottom"><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: #d2fdd9; border-color: #000000 transparent #000000 transparent; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px; height: 123.5px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 149.0px;" valign="bottom"><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: #d2fdd9; border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 transparent; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 0.0px; height: 123.5px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 173.0px;" valign="bottom"><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: #d2fdd9; border-color: transparent #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.0px 1.0px 1.0px 2.0px; height: 124.0px; padding: 0.0px 2.0px 0.0px 2.0px; width: 211.5px;" valign="bottom"><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
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<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
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E.S. Rhodenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17694638251891620800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9020155680339415311.post-74095253725593007992013-12-25T14:24:00.000-08:002014-06-24T18:31:31.433-07:00A Very Merry Christmas to All<b style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: red;">Merry Christmas to ALL!</span></b><br />
<br />
Today is a good day. We can finally announce that we have a referral. We have known for 2 weeks but could not share the good news until after Christmas. We shared the good news with our families today, including the girls.<br />
<br />
Outline of our entire process:<br />
<br />
January 2010: This was the first officially step towards adoption.<br />
July 2010: Completed homestudy<br />
October 2010: Received our USCIS approval<br />
December 2010: Mailed dossier to BG<br />
April 2011: Registered with country of BG<br />
Spring 2012: Homestudy update<br />
Spring 2013: Homestudy update<br />
Dec 2013: Official referral<br />
<span style="color: red;">February 2014: 1st Trip </span><br />
<span style="color: red;">May 2014: Started on 3rd home study update </span><br />
<span style="color: red;">May 27, 2014: Court Date </span><br />
<span style="color: red;">June 23, 2014: Official word he is ours! </span><br />
<br />
Total time from start to referral: 4 years give or take a few days<br />
Total time from registration to referral: 32 months<br />
<span style="color: red;">Total time from 1st Visit to Court date: 3 months</span><br />
<br />
Now, for the juicy stuff!<br />
<br />
Our son is 18 months old. He is healthy both physically and mentally. He has tons of dark brown hair and dark eyes. His skin is clear and fair and I have to say that he is well-fed ;) The photo we have is from his registration when he was 12 months old. He and I share a birthday month :)<br />
<br />
For those who aren't aware we cannot post any photos until after he is ours (second trip)<br />
<br />
We can't express the extent of our excitement but at the same time we feel numb. We know holding him for the first time will fix that problem. Also for those who are not aware, we will visit him for a week end of January or early February. Then we have to do the most painful thing I've ever imagined. We have to leave him there while we come back to the US and petition to adopt him. This process usually takes 3-4 months.<br />
<br />
3-4 months of being away from him. I know I've getting ahead of myself but only to say this: Pray for us. Not knowing him was hard, leaving him for 3-4 months, seemingly impossible.<br />
<br />
The hard part has just begun…We are willing but need prayer to get us through to the other side.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />E.S. Rhodenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17694638251891620800noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9020155680339415311.post-43586616803934471402013-10-10T13:49:00.000-07:002013-10-10T13:49:05.189-07:00FallFall is here.<br />
<br />
The girls have started school and are still getting adjusted, Mia in particular. Lily is enjoying her class and is adjusting to the more rigorous expectations. Mia is having a bit of a time adjusting to the rigorous expectations. They basically have a 1st grade curriculum in Kindergarten. We are having a difficult time determining what to do. Should we send her back to Jr. K where she will actually get a Kindergarten education but accepting she might be screwed up her whole life because we essentially held her back? Should we leave her "as is" in her class, knowing she will struggle all year? Or should we move her (or them both) to another school?<br />
<br />
Knowing what to do in this situation is impossible. The hours we've spent wondering what to do. We might just jump and hope something catches on the way down.<br />
<br />
We lost our sweet labrador, Patton, in September. He had been sick for a while with cushings and just getting older in general (11.5) so it was a blessing when he finally told us he was ready. He was my husband's baby though so he has taken it particularly hard. He was my "step-child" and a rascal of a dog. He jumped up on people, stole food, ate bags of frozen raw chicken, pans of brownies, chewed everything, would groan when we wanted people to be quiet, and would make sure he got in bed first to steal my spot. He was the best "big brother" though. From the moment the girls were born he was protective and totally docile towards them. He will be missed. Molly was very sad for a few weeks but has now seemed to grow accustomed to being the only family pet. She seems quite content in fact.<br />
<br />
We have had several visitors so far. My dad visited and we went to Mount Vernon, as well as several of the Smithsonian museums. Garry's mom also visited. My brother and sis-in-law will be visiting the Annapolis area next weekend so we plan to spend the day there with them. My dad will be back at the end of the month and Garry's mom in November.<br />
<br />
<br />
I'm almost done with my first of two classes this semester. I will graduate in December after 10 years of grad school.<br />
<br />
Garry is in the middle of mid-terms this week and next. His plate is very full.<br />
<br />
We've made good friends and love the area. We hope to make this our permanent home eventually. Some good friends of ours have asked us to their family Thanksgiving. We've very excited to spend the holiday with new friends :)<br />
<br />
Adoption update: We have been registered for 30 months with BG as of the 15th of this month. We are praying something comes before Christmas but won't be holding our breathe. Our HS expires in June so we will have to make some hard decisions if we have nothing by Christmas, as we will not be renewing our home study.<br />
<br />
We pray that is not the case but have accepted that sometimes what we think is God's will is just our desires disguised in religious ornament. It is hard to know the difference.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />E.S. Rhodenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17694638251891620800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9020155680339415311.post-13489088066763833802013-08-21T09:55:00.002-07:002013-08-21T09:55:29.273-07:00Loving the new home...<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTtxYqvX6SBQDzOsFyjHkAP1QKdqIOGRzAa_y3V1aRdJwxwmzX66MM1HJm2K_PXboC5PfaNf_uSPR6h1oUCb_e4W0nOiMQn_IDUAmHggpPuGXotJxzvWfmjhHyi6G34oeCyzZpxeIgKzQB/s1600/IMG_2065.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTtxYqvX6SBQDzOsFyjHkAP1QKdqIOGRzAa_y3V1aRdJwxwmzX66MM1HJm2K_PXboC5PfaNf_uSPR6h1oUCb_e4W0nOiMQn_IDUAmHggpPuGXotJxzvWfmjhHyi6G34oeCyzZpxeIgKzQB/s320/IMG_2065.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the M of Natural History with Gabriel Loh.</td></tr>
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No update for awhile. Sorry about that.<br />
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So far we've had a great experience in the NOVA area. We have gotten used to 1,000 sq.ft. ( It only takes a half hour to clean:) The girls have enjoyed the pool this summer. Though the temperatures have been milder for this time of year, we've been told countless time, "Don't get used to it" by friends and strangers alike. We love our village. It's so nice to have everything within convenient walking distance. Need milk, just walk downstairs. Book? The library next door has plenty. It's particularly pretty at night when all the lights in the trees are lit and the people are all out on the streets.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS7tOqYeIbGjDlOu4c5kuy11mcmL5dczIuJUzHiPjRmn6PaFkMoJqPQUfwHMfHCri0RB5YCcqaj3NYoQthyphenhyphenHNp7OKizPPozWMFYzABi7H_kz4Y3AhUom9c0-CUTLaess4j7KAuJwz4Pajm/s1600/IMG_2075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS7tOqYeIbGjDlOu4c5kuy11mcmL5dczIuJUzHiPjRmn6PaFkMoJqPQUfwHMfHCri0RB5YCcqaj3NYoQthyphenhyphenHNp7OKizPPozWMFYzABi7H_kz4Y3AhUom9c0-CUTLaess4j7KAuJwz4Pajm/s320/IMG_2075.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lily holding a grasshopper at the M of Natural History</td></tr>
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We live only a few miles from the Pentagon and the Memorial Bridge, which makes getting into DC a breeze, usually. We've explored the Natural History Museum twice, the Museum of American History, The Capital, The Senate, and several different parks. Our new destination is the Art Museum. That will be a mother/daughter outing for just me and Lily. We've had several friends visit already. "Aunt" Jessica from Tampa, and the Lohs from Memphis.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7dln17A2fVk2-KHiA8HHTcLBv_49bqa5Ii2o2SYoqSgOxq29nN2KzB2YH9huZTpm2FKXPVObebkJ7-oDQFI4CznHC_IFyk1UGjFMTv8CiJu-bTodBYtY9a3yBVHtb3PuD6DDaMgxaRsg-/s1600/IMG_1996.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7dln17A2fVk2-KHiA8HHTcLBv_49bqa5Ii2o2SYoqSgOxq29nN2KzB2YH9huZTpm2FKXPVObebkJ7-oDQFI4CznHC_IFyk1UGjFMTv8CiJu-bTodBYtY9a3yBVHtb3PuD6DDaMgxaRsg-/s320/IMG_1996.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At our yogurt place</td></tr>
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We are driving to Hershey, Pennsylvania this weekend to visit the factory and the amusement park. This will be our first "trip" out of town.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVuJJ28YtxwiDBl8g7mc3v6z3JVtMaJ9_bdO_ARk-Jhu835O-Brg-V_jVTev1pHvKauPBwq-Hx6PgTymrHpycElgQAhdlqcEawmLILVM16B94xiBwtnJtdP8zSuVJNJd2mdTT7fByL0w-s/s1600/IMG_2003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVuJJ28YtxwiDBl8g7mc3v6z3JVtMaJ9_bdO_ARk-Jhu835O-Brg-V_jVTev1pHvKauPBwq-Hx6PgTymrHpycElgQAhdlqcEawmLILVM16B94xiBwtnJtdP8zSuVJNJd2mdTT7fByL0w-s/s320/IMG_2003.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mia and Aunt Jessica</td></tr>
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The girls are starting school in a few weeks and really looking forward to making new friends. Lily will be 1 of 3 new girls in her class so we are thankful for that.<br />
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We've visited 5 or 6 different churches as well, but most of the Senior Pastors were out for the summer sabbatical so we will revisit them this fall, as well as try out several others.<br />
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No news on the adoption. We've been told "fall" by the people at "V". Hopefully this will turn out to be true. Here's hoping and praying.<br />
<br />E.S. Rhodenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17694638251891620800noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9020155680339415311.post-81313975706427060682013-08-13T07:40:00.003-07:002013-08-13T07:40:27.202-07:00A Must Read for all those Waiting...<br />
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http://wondermentetc.com/2013/08/02/dear-friends-of-waiting-adoptive-moms-some-things-to-know-also-were-sorry/E.S. Rhodenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17694638251891620800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9020155680339415311.post-1892610712208215552013-05-10T12:59:00.001-07:002013-05-10T13:00:29.193-07:00Almost there...So less than a month before the big move and I am soooooooooo excited. Did I say "So excited"?<br />
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We've gotten the house down to the bare bones and are selling a few pieces of furniture to friends for use in their apt-home transition while we home-apt transition.<br />
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I'm afraid we will have way too much to fit in our 1,000 sf.<br />
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I've just finished 2 of my 4 classes to graduate in December.<br />
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Hopefully it will work out that we will have a referral by then. Good timing I would say.<br />
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The girls are going to be busy this summer as well. We've found several church camps as well as gymnastics to keep them busy when they're not swimming or at the library next door.<br />
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We're 25 months-in on the 15th of the month. We've been told referrals have been coming for our same age/sex/health features at around 26-28 months. Let's hope so.<br />
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<br />E.S. Rhodenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17694638251891620800noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9020155680339415311.post-42490404195182200392013-03-27T12:46:00.002-07:002013-03-27T12:49:09.817-07:00Approval letter received!!!So we received our approval letter in the mail today and have scanned it on to BG. Our expiration is early April, but they've told us as long as they have the scanned document they will not pass us for a referral if try haven't received the physical paperwork yet.<br />
So you may have noticed my last entry was mid-February. That's how long the government part works. Slow, slow, slow. They have no clue what the word "expedite" means.<br />
Tomorrow we will take the approval letter and home study to be notarized at the bank, then notarized downtown at the county clerks office, then send it via FedEx to Nashville where they will apostil the documents and send them on to our agency who will send them on to BG. Get it? Nay, me either.<br />
Man, I pray this is the last time we have to do this!<br />
I know there will be tons more paperwork to come but at least we will have knowledge of who he is and the hope of getting closer.E.S. Rhodenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17694638251891620800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9020155680339415311.post-85013100388943786082013-02-13T08:00:00.000-08:002013-02-13T08:02:44.487-08:00Update DoneSo, we've completed our end of the update, just waiting for our HS agency to submit it to USCIS. Please pray that things will move quickly and that our dossier will not expire before we can get everything to BG. Our expiration is 4/4/13. Knowing the US govt and their tendency to lethargically poke along, please pray our update is seen by someone who understands what asap means. To explain to those who don't know what happens now:<br />
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1. HS agency submits forms to USCIS<br />
2. USCIS reviews forms and gives us the ok to get fingerprinted. They send an appt notice telling you when your appt is for step 3. (usually 2-3 weeks)<br />
3. We have to get fingerprinted at the local immigration office. You don't have to wait until your appt date, if you don't mind sitting at the immigration office for awhile (like hours) until they can fit you in.<br />
4. Immigration submits fingerprint results to USCIS. Immediate.<br />
5. USCIS checks fingerprint results and give approval. They send officially approval letter. (2-3 weeks)<br />
6. Once letter is in hand you take approval letter, home study, and letters of original document to be notarized.<br />
7. Then if you live in TN, you take them to the county clerks office to be notarized A SECOND TIME for a fee.<br />
8. Then you FEDEX all those documents to the State Capitol to the federal clerks office to be apostilled for a fee.<br />
9. Then they FEDEX the documents back to you or on to your placing agency (whichever you prefer) for a fee.<br />
10. Your PA then reviews and copies all documents and FEDEXs them on to BG. (2-3 weeks)<br />
11. BG receives the documents and then has to translate them into Bulgarian. (1-3 weeks)<br />
12. After translation they are reviewed and the update is approved.<br />
13. You are officially registered for another 15 months in country.<br />
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However, if all of this is not done by your expiration date and your family comes up for a referral then you could possibly lose that referral.<br />
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We're told that BG doesn't understand why it takes us so long to get our paperwork done. They apparently go to the Dr the same day they want to, whereas we have to wait 1-2 weeks for an appt. <br />
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22 months registeredE.S. Rhodenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17694638251891620800noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9020155680339415311.post-89990607077470666412013-01-10T09:29:00.001-08:002013-01-10T09:29:07.059-08:00USCIS Update 2013So it's update time! We've had our home visit and turned in most of the required forms for our update. Hopefully all will go well and the update will be admitted and approved before our expiration date in April.<br />
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We've been waiting for 21 months this month.<br />
<br />E.S. Rhodenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17694638251891620800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9020155680339415311.post-13084539606614097502012-12-09T09:38:00.001-08:002012-12-09T09:38:57.406-08:00Christmas is here againWell just a few more weeks of school for the girls before Christmas break. Mia has this week at MDO and Lily has until the 18th. They've written their letters to Santa and gotten replies (God bless our mail-lady). The tree is up and the decorations are done. I'm actually thankful we wont be putting them back in the attic this year but donating them. We're busy trying to thin out what won't fit into 1100 sq feet in DC, which is alot. So if anyone needs a couch or chair or elliptical or ...well just message me what you need and I'll tell you if we have it to give away. Ha.<div>
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No word from BG. I am sure every pre-adoptive parent dreads this time of year. You can't help but think a child should be home with their family for Christmas. Not stuck in some orphanage wishing for a family for Christmas. I guess Santa can't deliver everything. <div>
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Pray for those children who wish for families and don't get them. I can imagine after awhile hope seems meaningless for them. Particularly the older ones. They remember it more. </div>
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Christmas is a double-edged sword for me. It's supposedly the "most wonderful time of the year,"... according to Andy Williams. But without those people you love it always hurts just as much as it pleases. The colors aren't quite as bright. The music isn't quite as heartwarming. The food isn't nearly as good. The weather isn't quite as cold. OK, that last one is a joke. It's never cold here. </div>
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But I think anyone who's lost someone important to them feels the same way. It's just not quite Christmas ever again. </div>
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But still we go through the motions and little by little begin to regain a tiny bit, albeit minuscule, of that Christmas spirit. </div>
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My Christmas wish is that those who still have the ones you love stop and consider what life would be like without that person. I don't care if you don't get on well or you fight every time you're in the same room. Just remember they're there. Never forget that and be appreciative of what you have. Life is never that same after they're gone. God Bless and Happy Christmas. </div>
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E.S. Rhodenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17694638251891620800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9020155680339415311.post-73526519294301673552012-09-29T19:08:00.000-07:002014-06-24T18:42:42.783-07:00Futbal...in pictures<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ5mbSDw3S6XmebSFki10GS7BoTUksAox5vCeGMPcFpwdLE_oiuqtTgCtjG8sF7We3qetOJp0bhsyRwmDece3bFFH-6ALTXw7C2AuqK3WA6n0NsxL1bQmfRUIUTMB5qdRE2GlxUJ8X-X-r/s1600/IMG_1844.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ5mbSDw3S6XmebSFki10GS7BoTUksAox5vCeGMPcFpwdLE_oiuqtTgCtjG8sF7We3qetOJp0bhsyRwmDece3bFFH-6ALTXw7C2AuqK3WA6n0NsxL1bQmfRUIUTMB5qdRE2GlxUJ8X-X-r/s640/IMG_1844.JPG" height="425" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">"I don't want to pway soccur"- Mia</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz1yegydeQ_2m2GssqoQHEpGUjcj-7Lh_2jjL_hCYG6W72IpMiy5LN_PfsrHbkLGLc0wdZG7cko9FHKj230Ztfm5Nm3urtsBUGf9f8z-_Ao33XH-dnBkix0zD1oIx4ggLg9Y-M6ngU6SzX/s1600/IMG_1864.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz1yegydeQ_2m2GssqoQHEpGUjcj-7Lh_2jjL_hCYG6W72IpMiy5LN_PfsrHbkLGLc0wdZG7cko9FHKj230Ztfm5Nm3urtsBUGf9f8z-_Ao33XH-dnBkix0zD1oIx4ggLg9Y-M6ngU6SzX/s640/IMG_1864.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">After the meltdown...</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQS1WUuLi4Hpfg2A_ZlP7c3s6v4YYFA8WrSHE08mKiB2n87Pf-Zj6w8X8TIF59QLQloyqLcLsgeBz1MA_VhvRfVMoAJ6LRLMM_rsap24S9DzGJ6uIkqiRMExLF-CGyMiHHvKgVLdCk3_jX/s1600/IMG_1870.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQS1WUuLi4Hpfg2A_ZlP7c3s6v4YYFA8WrSHE08mKiB2n87Pf-Zj6w8X8TIF59QLQloyqLcLsgeBz1MA_VhvRfVMoAJ6LRLMM_rsap24S9DzGJ6uIkqiRMExLF-CGyMiHHvKgVLdCk3_jX/s640/IMG_1870.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Daddy makes it better</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQOjfDt2iE630jvISNVsfHml4R1AS4f0eJJ4t59ePl_T_kRnnLxWqxzersKa_K74G5TpWzI0-fq80VUcZ9w4u2iIrSGibzLXFJWuwoZxM3ILgmP6JAtsYpJFtc7uqwfZnxHU8KfmKETAoz/s1600/IMG_1880.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQOjfDt2iE630jvISNVsfHml4R1AS4f0eJJ4t59ePl_T_kRnnLxWqxzersKa_K74G5TpWzI0-fq80VUcZ9w4u2iIrSGibzLXFJWuwoZxM3ILgmP6JAtsYpJFtc7uqwfZnxHU8KfmKETAoz/s640/IMG_1880.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">"This is awesome mom, I love it!" - Lily</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKzSABjqzSJc8HGnpIINXvnBqSTX4hfqzuosB4-0iHpRnpFArr3Nc32nFdCPYgQQ1R-JV5Ug1RFK3LcQSJ_hiUilu6Y61yYI71rG7Foc8UlMGiKLrvT2Dy-qVUlUbxcbQid2a4G23zRoPD/s1600/IMG_1883.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKzSABjqzSJc8HGnpIINXvnBqSTX4hfqzuosB4-0iHpRnpFArr3Nc32nFdCPYgQQ1R-JV5Ug1RFK3LcQSJ_hiUilu6Y61yYI71rG7Foc8UlMGiKLrvT2Dy-qVUlUbxcbQid2a4G23zRoPD/s640/IMG_1883.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am not moving from my daddy</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP0MvZXjqaRQ9gegFBaSvQGL8xF91Q7AHe3RTLV2GAMAJ7akUi3Iiw0EoWXesGUBngvXdf6na-CIjcH68XHhPdhcTl9y3KP7G9SR9JfiQdYmLpuAcBY52UOoSwFq5N0a5KNA8q96QGd5HV/s1600/IMG_1889.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP0MvZXjqaRQ9gegFBaSvQGL8xF91Q7AHe3RTLV2GAMAJ7akUi3Iiw0EoWXesGUBngvXdf6na-CIjcH68XHhPdhcTl9y3KP7G9SR9JfiQdYmLpuAcBY52UOoSwFq5N0a5KNA8q96QGd5HV/s640/IMG_1889.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sissy got me on the field</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvX4NK41elvNIajDXIOZqp5lNOpqF3qqh1ySvprN991JeEuK5E0kPifu7KnM2iGXgJxHSgxDI-WVG2RZFPhmOooaPUUq9boOSFonz9psChZjBs6r3h5TJdPg6xLmlowBB5jEvgmsfiibis/s1600/IMG_1898.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvX4NK41elvNIajDXIOZqp5lNOpqF3qqh1ySvprN991JeEuK5E0kPifu7KnM2iGXgJxHSgxDI-WVG2RZFPhmOooaPUUq9boOSFonz9psChZjBs6r3h5TJdPg6xLmlowBB5jEvgmsfiibis/s640/IMG_1898.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">But I refused to let go of her hand</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLs4A0YyUYwBfQ73_VOOtf-_piEz5f6F-rqS9pgF1ALHXVLuIhm8HnVw9EwbKbHbRmXInaWtDxzNk6DWsZgslAz-YT3zrL3y83ZRNQktM5J5SrQdocHS6NScrpZA95teOySHtmt0gOPVo_/s1600/IMG_1895.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLs4A0YyUYwBfQ73_VOOtf-_piEz5f6F-rqS9pgF1ALHXVLuIhm8HnVw9EwbKbHbRmXInaWtDxzNk6DWsZgslAz-YT3zrL3y83ZRNQktM5J5SrQdocHS6NScrpZA95teOySHtmt0gOPVo_/s640/IMG_1895.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Don't make me go back in there</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8IwNuWIwYKuUjX0LQkgKuoMHwt5H3dlp7IQSXBjxW0bEk0Rd1PuhpxMKKnZHHLkwtshFCNjzp_Pbwklv7tU6KMvkwdU7gWyiVJ4wMj88eKpmJv3JwAcX06uYArSaAX4IW0diXxhQPbP2D/s1600/IMG_1902.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8IwNuWIwYKuUjX0LQkgKuoMHwt5H3dlp7IQSXBjxW0bEk0Rd1PuhpxMKKnZHHLkwtshFCNjzp_Pbwklv7tU6KMvkwdU7gWyiVJ4wMj88eKpmJv3JwAcX06uYArSaAX4IW0diXxhQPbP2D/s640/IMG_1902.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Yes, Yes, I believe soccer is a spectator sport. The view is much better from up here.</span></td></tr>
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<br />E.S. Rhodenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17694638251891620800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9020155680339415311.post-57251454874909914602012-08-31T19:31:00.000-07:002012-08-31T19:31:40.201-07:00San Francisco<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">We had a great trip to San Francisco! Fabulous weather and good friends makes a trip worthwhile, even if Delta is an absolute pain to fly with.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Don't </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Expect</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Luggage </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Arrive </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So the story goes, they made me check my carry-on luggage in Memphis when I got to the gate because of "lack of overhead space". I asked if they were storing it beneath the plane and handing it back at the gate. Nope. Of course not. They were sending it on to my final destination...SFO. I explained to them that I had a 5 hour layover in Atlanta, to no avail. The poor guy after me had an 11 hour layover on his way to Germany. Nope, they didn't let him keep his either. Poor guy. I'm not sure who gave them more of an ear full. It's a toss-up between us. Luckily J was able to keep her carry-on so I could borrow something if need be. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I did get my luggage when I got to SF. I was exceedingly surprised since the last 3 trips I've taken with D.E.L.T.A they've lost my luggage.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqA8VoFnwHKF6olNqwWagMmBMu9OxOszZl5czLINIs5oFeFijOizP9vkbcRsLCqv_7QkZKLeq0JD0rT84VatU3GH_zlARUAQQK8LQqiS_QwsYf4_91w3VLO-hf5sPSeODis-2Q1eAFelPb/s1600/Image+17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqA8VoFnwHKF6olNqwWagMmBMu9OxOszZl5czLINIs5oFeFijOizP9vkbcRsLCqv_7QkZKLeq0JD0rT84VatU3GH_zlARUAQQK8LQqiS_QwsYf4_91w3VLO-hf5sPSeODis-2Q1eAFelPb/s400/Image+17.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Golden Gate Bridge. So the GGB Story goes like this. <u><b>Never Ever Ever</b></u> try to bike from the Presidio all the way to Sausalito with the expectation that A) A beginner can do it, B) that you will be able to bike back, and C) that you will not be terrified while doing A and B. </span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioV4QBiMfS0J6bfSi9ZSM-bvXGhVUq-vP6QTps5qOIuJ6D5HWfWLhsBBQiTmeGI8TA7mnkdcEKvX0TopEtRJUSs9ACgf_N8VYiMaI4GC8zGFhLw2_jyRnSaAriixm47xcLq6xX99MV0fkN/s1600/Image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioV4QBiMfS0J6bfSi9ZSM-bvXGhVUq-vP6QTps5qOIuJ6D5HWfWLhsBBQiTmeGI8TA7mnkdcEKvX0TopEtRJUSs9ACgf_N8VYiMaI4GC8zGFhLw2_jyRnSaAriixm47xcLq6xX99MV0fkN/s400/Image.jpg" width="298" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicP4zGhQvT2HJIJaTdttIq7HQV0yetArpkgPsCX_iJfDCD8ynbbGO47Wv3r-o7BimLvOhKlL2cNPZtND_dx3MieIfH_DPiJd_8xtj3f0erXxPA3wLQhRoPo70igBWabWpzLRyY-b9jksQl/s1600/Image+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicP4zGhQvT2HJIJaTdttIq7HQV0yetArpkgPsCX_iJfDCD8ynbbGO47Wv3r-o7BimLvOhKlL2cNPZtND_dx3MieIfH_DPiJd_8xtj3f0erXxPA3wLQhRoPo70igBWabWpzLRyY-b9jksQl/s400/Image+3.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">P and S took us to Sonoma Valley for the beautiful scenery and the wonderful wine. Mainly the wine. </span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHjOSBA8j4grJ-QYTU7O8H_2LZARaR91CV3DACdXG9S4q08rK8qd07gO4ZXrC_QSzvYMS15fid0pPgYk0_90DnC5sN3_9Z5zdSnRbQNagssyWldZ1pbOY36hRLtdN-n1w3_1RmrQzHsgpG/s1600/Image+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHjOSBA8j4grJ-QYTU7O8H_2LZARaR91CV3DACdXG9S4q08rK8qd07gO4ZXrC_QSzvYMS15fid0pPgYk0_90DnC5sN3_9Z5zdSnRbQNagssyWldZ1pbOY36hRLtdN-n1w3_1RmrQzHsgpG/s400/Image+5.jpg" width="298" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKHznMgit7f47EZwXJjfxccv3wAC457FKvLx2EgtNqtFitFA2wyQu0STTgHLdnGtikSjbCJyAKjiN9cNvXqP9EbawoxXu1FElVIge0N4BnoW77mKdHM2WcxKzmynzhJ9xtJKSLohOxtH6q/s1600/Image+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKHznMgit7f47EZwXJjfxccv3wAC457FKvLx2EgtNqtFitFA2wyQu0STTgHLdnGtikSjbCJyAKjiN9cNvXqP9EbawoxXu1FElVIge0N4BnoW77mKdHM2WcxKzmynzhJ9xtJKSLohOxtH6q/s400/Image+10.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Sausalito. Cute little town. Wouldn't want to live here in an earthquake, but cute little town. Drive here, don't bike. Replace brake pads before going.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Magners: The Irish Cider of the Gods ;) J and I have started a tradition. Every time we go on a trip we have to make at least 1 stop at an Irish pub. It's never an inconvenience I can tell you that.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQGCJ-LVMjCQu9Ixx-fpPohswgvuYh00fBd2lMG_f2bNaWp4yXBQvG42PIs9zYpNytdvJpvU60A4RFJO7D0rWt-mnDI5tIXcYAnZDW0RNL7IjcTgRFMv0ne83AiYbOr5Ub45hFcTbNKLLx/s1600/Image+12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQGCJ-LVMjCQu9Ixx-fpPohswgvuYh00fBd2lMG_f2bNaWp4yXBQvG42PIs9zYpNytdvJpvU60A4RFJO7D0rWt-mnDI5tIXcYAnZDW0RNL7IjcTgRFMv0ne83AiYbOr5Ub45hFcTbNKLLx/s400/Image+12.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Cutest little house. P and S did a great job fixing it up. Apparently it was just a shell when they bought it. </span> </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibeWLsZCy2-Yd1VItyj-fbQdjTxdrWYIzT0_yT1Fx_ZnZghOw4g2yuPq2SYWgRxkIlyV_YvltxR6BMJCAbr8rQUZ2n8C8vli0pkCTIcyavcL3VzI-LqpyC7Kiz4cBpf3jcQvG83lVGruvS/s1600/Image+13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibeWLsZCy2-Yd1VItyj-fbQdjTxdrWYIzT0_yT1Fx_ZnZghOw4g2yuPq2SYWgRxkIlyV_YvltxR6BMJCAbr8rQUZ2n8C8vli0pkCTIcyavcL3VzI-LqpyC7Kiz4cBpf3jcQvG83lVGruvS/s400/Image+13.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The view of Alcatraz and the Wharf from Coit Tower. </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">O'Reilly's Irish Pub. Notice we're not the only ones at a pub at 2 in the afternoon. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqLis1ZTW7jxunUuOaVBQSUqs_jGI_pAYS9TiPfmdjAXzdqYDh7_Uo6Th1lOdDGmyHlfiCrb-nWR_WskOvMtcSi4ccukmNQcDsGmJEfQNMCiX05sHK0wY0Ye5QHm5A7ClbvrlaRFZkeJXg/s1600/Image+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqLis1ZTW7jxunUuOaVBQSUqs_jGI_pAYS9TiPfmdjAXzdqYDh7_Uo6Th1lOdDGmyHlfiCrb-nWR_WskOvMtcSi4ccukmNQcDsGmJEfQNMCiX05sHK0wY0Ye5QHm5A7ClbvrlaRFZkeJXg/s400/Image+2.jpg" width="298" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Erin Go Bragh"</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzn2OXtvzNnH_oSwirYOPvQf0LE3lgLIEe6zTdfwxRWUR5_WDdDsqqYfwLX5TQ3Iu7KiaHk96CEHw1xqtQNYWqGAsWb9OkFIAIx5mZKxfWekTtYxn5cnR-3dZi9kbIoic1zsCBEM0GoZz1/s1600/Image+14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzn2OXtvzNnH_oSwirYOPvQf0LE3lgLIEe6zTdfwxRWUR5_WDdDsqqYfwLX5TQ3Iu7KiaHk96CEHw1xqtQNYWqGAsWb9OkFIAIx5mZKxfWekTtYxn5cnR-3dZi9kbIoic1zsCBEM0GoZz1/s400/Image+14.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">J and Me at O'Reilly's Irish Pub</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Coit Tower. It is unfortunate that the only way to the top is by elevator. It was built in the early 1900s and it smells like it. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Presidio grounds. I fell bad for those men that got stationed in Biloxi, MS when they could have gone here. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">P and Little T at lunch. The best baby ever. I told G if I could be guaranteed to have one just like him I would have another.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGoXOv9giEPCExaZLGX7B4Isuynw8CqUaocpzY4mj0aF5x6Ow7TXmEXqCjjvDlQCiFZSjXUUr5auUCyEdJWzncVJNM3dflp0AKao9rPwHn-WQsRcx8LETx4nqt1jfQCzGdHp_X0jH5mth5/s1600/Image+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGoXOv9giEPCExaZLGX7B4Isuynw8CqUaocpzY4mj0aF5x6Ow7TXmEXqCjjvDlQCiFZSjXUUr5auUCyEdJWzncVJNM3dflp0AKao9rPwHn-WQsRcx8LETx4nqt1jfQCzGdHp_X0jH5mth5/s400/Image+1.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Vegan Mexican. Yes Yes, I know what you're thinking about the black beans. It was actually delicious. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkIj26G0U9Tv1CAq6RRXU84Sbjfw6Zf9MfdNQKseMdX7A_yR7olYy69J92vOLYmP7NzqqN24G_trFxBLyqUVrBN8wkJu6TPhJNCimBcLCF8GW21AFhVEf9pIzNUSKKRPaIenLbH16t3dKC/s1600/Image+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkIj26G0U9Tv1CAq6RRXU84Sbjfw6Zf9MfdNQKseMdX7A_yR7olYy69J92vOLYmP7NzqqN24G_trFxBLyqUVrBN8wkJu6TPhJNCimBcLCF8GW21AFhVEf9pIzNUSKKRPaIenLbH16t3dKC/s400/Image+8.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">St. Paul's: Where the movie "Sister Act" was filmed.<br />A bit of movie trivia: The church is actually in a very nice part of town. They made it look like it was in a bad part of town for the movie. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGZ9WJaYlbNeWBmEqizimctwpQqEdXDM9L1PlCHVrxabVRx2HsgTQ3jW4m60iVIjAiJjXSlbAUag71gaTzP05XSv_0BtEFq8BjGn7DoYgkZ-mg56n7lxedd8mPTxIGh6n2wMAt20PSRl2U/s1600/Image+9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGZ9WJaYlbNeWBmEqizimctwpQqEdXDM9L1PlCHVrxabVRx2HsgTQ3jW4m60iVIjAiJjXSlbAUag71gaTzP05XSv_0BtEFq8BjGn7DoYgkZ-mg56n7lxedd8mPTxIGh6n2wMAt20PSRl2U/s400/Image+9.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Breakfast at "Toast" with J. This is the first joint I've been to that gets the whole "must drink coffee in huge cups" thing. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnF1zR_GoA8CceT4jLFmACJUpguytsOu8heWYrdSaZaqziJK7zyog8FJgVZ3WcEP6rRrllU8cHS5euFTw7Z220_TzmrTxsLUviCHvbFibpVjJaQsg8B0-agllJzwbgtLw0dqc19B6eC1gj/s1600/Image+18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnF1zR_GoA8CceT4jLFmACJUpguytsOu8heWYrdSaZaqziJK7zyog8FJgVZ3WcEP6rRrllU8cHS5euFTw7Z220_TzmrTxsLUviCHvbFibpVjJaQsg8B0-agllJzwbgtLw0dqc19B6eC1gj/s400/Image+18.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Xander and T watching us leave the last day :( This is both precious and terribly sad. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsVMYuXhXLHpBLeGU9iXQ3dljr9O47g-TVwipFyQpto-NMh0jJ2rerK3sWZnDjBnqF3lz_AJGg1G0f_W5FDHRY-Govxt6_Dm4o6VzNdZMmDYX53FoLgZhN6r4W8-tvITzix26jR61OFPJL/s1600/Image+19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsVMYuXhXLHpBLeGU9iXQ3dljr9O47g-TVwipFyQpto-NMh0jJ2rerK3sWZnDjBnqF3lz_AJGg1G0f_W5FDHRY-Govxt6_Dm4o6VzNdZMmDYX53FoLgZhN6r4W8-tvITzix26jR61OFPJL/s400/Image+19.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Giant Roses. Not sure what they put in their soil but the flowers and produce are huge. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc2-savlLaaPFE0A6FHgAGE38cr7qU9SQi77KTJmPtHvOY_Ly8HT3LeOS4QhLXcEDhq3L8YbPQs3Y4izP52Wk7I1I_SxZsY8z9UI7_C3mWm5n2ONf2m8FxRxgWFZjI9gvNeTmwoqlisPJD/s1600/Image+20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc2-savlLaaPFE0A6FHgAGE38cr7qU9SQi77KTJmPtHvOY_Ly8HT3LeOS4QhLXcEDhq3L8YbPQs3Y4izP52Wk7I1I_SxZsY8z9UI7_C3mWm5n2ONf2m8FxRxgWFZjI9gvNeTmwoqlisPJD/s400/Image+20.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Garden in Sonoma. You learn something new everyday. Roses are planted around grape vines to act as a warning signal when bugs or disease strike. Both plights will affect the roses first and show signs which give the owner time to save the grape vine. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8lm5z5ERLxJcHRvb42AV0pif9L049tH9RA6LfxyJMDrwc7foldE7YlFw4Ec70JlewAp5LL61ZCHFYOaeM1sbkEjvG3Iy3c8TFGOxWtujZoQ6jxIsFUDH9dDs6DoNI74B49l25B5kvdu4k/s1600/Image+21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8lm5z5ERLxJcHRvb42AV0pif9L049tH9RA6LfxyJMDrwc7foldE7YlFw4Ec70JlewAp5LL61ZCHFYOaeM1sbkEjvG3Iy3c8TFGOxWtujZoQ6jxIsFUDH9dDs6DoNI74B49l25B5kvdu4k/s400/Image+21.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Sonoma Valley</span> </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP8pMDfUt-nHb-sP5r8LNyHEy7CeW2fsA0-IvHDnD4Hrf-TBRrfzW2bfvNr43CM2RjO8BWchaGFJVtUUnZtfEPntnQvYuOJOE7FxO70hWy3OU3fpKl2VZA9oS9GyyY9A-jzgDXkUUDMJkQ/s1600/Image+22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP8pMDfUt-nHb-sP5r8LNyHEy7CeW2fsA0-IvHDnD4Hrf-TBRrfzW2bfvNr43CM2RjO8BWchaGFJVtUUnZtfEPntnQvYuOJOE7FxO70hWy3OU3fpKl2VZA9oS9GyyY9A-jzgDXkUUDMJkQ/s400/Image+22.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Gorgeous </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibSuGLBA65Z6Ay63zMy0ABQnRedCh99RNUXn-w0B0vgMdiqgeONUsgcWhDnbjrIvg1hqt7ucBb9mklEw9CCTwbFRdJeoQci2P1vES36ZjHKTqvq6lpbZV1fBtwNUm-hAK7vsvL6iSjiA71/s1600/Image+23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibSuGLBA65Z6Ay63zMy0ABQnRedCh99RNUXn-w0B0vgMdiqgeONUsgcWhDnbjrIvg1hqt7ucBb9mklEw9CCTwbFRdJeoQci2P1vES36ZjHKTqvq6lpbZV1fBtwNUm-hAK7vsvL6iSjiA71/s400/Image+23.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">View from Alcatraz. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqRQ6ohRyEgulg0c-WwKFCeZA7P00M0OIYehZaw5gKfLyOZTij3yMLvMdk6vdXKLRc4YFBRJbvWtune1PXswvapuJI5YazCTNf1KSW-Zv8u3t3Psl3U68f9hElFnOLhDh68Xs08Honj_cl/s1600/Image+24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqRQ6ohRyEgulg0c-WwKFCeZA7P00M0OIYehZaw5gKfLyOZTij3yMLvMdk6vdXKLRc4YFBRJbvWtune1PXswvapuJI5YazCTNf1KSW-Zv8u3t3Psl3U68f9hElFnOLhDh68Xs08Honj_cl/s400/Image+24.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Old Washer</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihaswFhzWrW1F6_JfORo4AAw7-U5R7JWplG-o5rkC9uoOJSgigEw3Dye_gECpchM6QXRnwfe5tELoiG-jmuagg8noPh7GBnUOUx4vqqOnfFIzhNHFDg2yISBDLbuZd0LZz3Me-eiFn_w2F/s1600/Image+25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihaswFhzWrW1F6_JfORo4AAw7-U5R7JWplG-o5rkC9uoOJSgigEw3Dye_gECpchM6QXRnwfe5tELoiG-jmuagg8noPh7GBnUOUx4vqqOnfFIzhNHFDg2yISBDLbuZd0LZz3Me-eiFn_w2F/s400/Image+25.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Me at Alcatraz</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnTmBmf-lpwQmUFFxD1JDUvWWSZW4U3XHHbBeq56A6rO0fnzsOGc_o4Wm7gbvgEy3RnN-tEMk4GAFXQbV3ck25ioiPTmaTlsR3ETEIAEXKGxD1Fyy21lds6YWJpi155Qp7Cdzz7bnIBoQ6/s1600/Image+26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnTmBmf-lpwQmUFFxD1JDUvWWSZW4U3XHHbBeq56A6rO0fnzsOGc_o4Wm7gbvgEy3RnN-tEMk4GAFXQbV3ck25ioiPTmaTlsR3ETEIAEXKGxD1Fyy21lds6YWJpi155Qp7Cdzz7bnIBoQ6/s400/Image+26.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Alcatraz from our Ferry from Sausalito to Ferry Marketplace</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfi1bOlxt3SJhp7JoUAMJoynpAHeAiLAgP5mG9OB62zp8amf10RQNhHrWvSiIIOXriUge649ARbZUxZ1XKkz1qZN7VblAj28ZFewsf9YMkLHJ2yDTCIK5GV6q5wXZZXQBJASF8J8VoctS1/s1600/Image+27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfi1bOlxt3SJhp7JoUAMJoynpAHeAiLAgP5mG9OB62zp8amf10RQNhHrWvSiIIOXriUge649ARbZUxZ1XKkz1qZN7VblAj28ZFewsf9YMkLHJ2yDTCIK5GV6q5wXZZXQBJASF8J8VoctS1/s400/Image+27.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Biking from Presidio to Sausalito. Our little baskets were lifesavers.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVR3iKxK3D6vprkYXQ-HDovO33K7GR_z1aD1_g55cPk6gxivfbjmv6j7WN5hMJ7fHF2BQicIyQwF9oJUfIK5ddHG7F4EffRgEP2ZIXEvXk73tyBW7cG0g2M03nS7Sv12kCTlGh0qmOvI0C/s1600/Image+28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVR3iKxK3D6vprkYXQ-HDovO33K7GR_z1aD1_g55cPk6gxivfbjmv6j7WN5hMJ7fHF2BQicIyQwF9oJUfIK5ddHG7F4EffRgEP2ZIXEvXk73tyBW7cG0g2M03nS7Sv12kCTlGh0qmOvI0C/s400/Image+28.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Warden's House on Alcatraz, or what's left of it. There were only 3 or 4 wardens the whole time Alcatraz was open. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7USbmwU0hU-FFMAWuG6FjJoq052INyip6TYnbi7L1eY7R1gDhChbPAKgq1SoYr6FMGboVW-C7MAIY-KXd2o5B1Jpdgy3La3TMPoxrJ3glA5x0CB79dnxC0I-5C_Sm_8ykdU4u_IUrfsvU/s1600/Image+30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7USbmwU0hU-FFMAWuG6FjJoq052INyip6TYnbi7L1eY7R1gDhChbPAKgq1SoYr6FMGboVW-C7MAIY-KXd2o5B1Jpdgy3La3TMPoxrJ3glA5x0CB79dnxC0I-5C_Sm_8ykdU4u_IUrfsvU/s400/Image+30.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">"Stairs to Nowhere" Alcatraz. No one knew what it was for. I asked.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVn7zmxrX7lliUlyukRP7efb78yIKkS67QpcXyIyHmKhLoUqcKUr4bdiZSxWqlrFta0nTiZuF2LaLBDlItSo7E9ozhoXVwq8CHbmweetUS52jDI19-hxnrFYi2oDOmBDmLjIPE9HRroPPF/s1600/Image+29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVn7zmxrX7lliUlyukRP7efb78yIKkS67QpcXyIyHmKhLoUqcKUr4bdiZSxWqlrFta0nTiZuF2LaLBDlItSo7E9ozhoXVwq8CHbmweetUS52jDI19-hxnrFYi2oDOmBDmLjIPE9HRroPPF/s400/Image+29.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">My momma's favorite color. The yellow roses were huge and gorgeous.</span><br />
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<br />E.S. Rhodenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17694638251891620800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9020155680339415311.post-5580368677019516552012-08-21T11:36:00.001-07:002012-08-21T11:36:34.025-07:00The RoundupSo Lily has gone back to school. After her school closed last semester and moved all the kids to this campus we were less than thrilled because it meant an additional 20 minute drive for us - both ways - in traffic. Lily, however, was more distraught because her class was being divided up and paired with the other 1st grade class to make 2 classes. She has one girlfriend in her class from last year, as well as 4 boys. She also has a little friend from church in her class. She seems to like it so far, though she is less than enthused about the actual schoolwork. It took her about an hour to do 10 minutes of "homework" yesterday because she complained and whined the whole time. I hate whining.<br />
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But before we started back to school we were lucky to get a visit for our cousin, (my mother's sister's daughter) Cheli. It's been a good while since we've seen her and the girls were ecstatic!</div>
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Here are some shots from the first day of school. </div>
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Saturday was the first soccer practice for the girls. Our church has a young league that doesn't keep score and teaches them the basics. Normally they wouldn't be on the same team since Mia is 4 and Lily is 6 but they didn't have enough kids sign up to justify a 1st and 2nd grade team, so of course Lily and one other little boy are the biggest kids on the team. That's fine. Muscle power. </div>
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We can't find soccer socks small enough for Mia so she may just have to wear shinguards and short socks. Poor thing. Even her uniform is huge and it was the smallest size they offer. She swims in it. </div>
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They really can be sweet sisters when they want to. :)</div>
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Ahhh, Girls. </div>
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This was Lily's "warm outfit" the day it dropped below 85 degrees. I suggested she went a bit overboard but she assumed me that was not the case. </div>
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Here are some horseback riding pictures from her time at camp. They're a bit scrappy because they were actual hard copies that Garry scanned into the computer. She had her first real lesson yesterday so hopefully I will remember to bring the camera next week. iPhones don't produce the best quality photos for blogs I'm discovering.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfmPRJW6ksNdwudq3iTqTdmLyUYuSZojdAY_WiZyesSEjSnrnOXyw7sbppbuh0WYwdhd8QSMS6QCGITxKt7jOF8-DfqDzc1zJmj6UUevkX7I50cYRZ418VJnLdy2vJvsDPrRA3YhlsCVeP/s1600/2012_08_14_15_59_58.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfmPRJW6ksNdwudq3iTqTdmLyUYuSZojdAY_WiZyesSEjSnrnOXyw7sbppbuh0WYwdhd8QSMS6QCGITxKt7jOF8-DfqDzc1zJmj6UUevkX7I50cYRZ418VJnLdy2vJvsDPrRA3YhlsCVeP/s400/2012_08_14_15_59_58.jpg" width="261" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lily and her pony Pumpkin</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS2YHEEmF0apQfyqbcDzSD0n8iwdtEJ9q49T54gwG6q0TogmZFkWPVA_HgCC2QNDZWf8QVrfC0aHEQrhIQCuqWFZb_K3TiDdC6auFg25qvTOV3GHguD7jPTAJQ3RftvJWn9CCp7lc73VWZ/s1600/2012_08_14_15_59_59.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS2YHEEmF0apQfyqbcDzSD0n8iwdtEJ9q49T54gwG6q0TogmZFkWPVA_HgCC2QNDZWf8QVrfC0aHEQrhIQCuqWFZb_K3TiDdC6auFg25qvTOV3GHguD7jPTAJQ3RftvJWn9CCp7lc73VWZ/s400/2012_08_14_15_59_59.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She loved riding. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilqjxElr1KErA_fg8_MxEEx_fyTCdC8vQoI8q_GC53hwROq7rZLSLLLPhpA5Vi-jqAJipAoscul0oHjcyXz7L6VdWrTHlKG25U7qw9sZAFNom-st9IwTwxJJxj9A-KGz8RPjaCK0FKAzlh/s1600/2012_08_14_16_00_04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilqjxElr1KErA_fg8_MxEEx_fyTCdC8vQoI8q_GC53hwROq7rZLSLLLPhpA5Vi-jqAJipAoscul0oHjcyXz7L6VdWrTHlKG25U7qw9sZAFNom-st9IwTwxJJxj9A-KGz8RPjaCK0FKAzlh/s640/2012_08_14_16_00_04.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The smallest one, both on the horse and off.<br /><br /><br /><br />I'm headed to San Fran on Friday and Garry's mom will be flying in tomorrow for a visit (and to help Garry while I'm gone because we all know men are helpless when it comes to childcare.<br /><br />No news on BG. The are shut down in August I think (one of their many holidays) so I don't expect to hear anything for a while. </td></tr>
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<br />E.S. Rhodenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17694638251891620800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9020155680339415311.post-20715323352669784212012-08-07T21:48:00.000-07:002012-08-07T21:48:12.940-07:00Back to School, Back to School...So my dad won't think I am a fool.<br />
I got my lunch packed-up and my boots tied tight, I hope I don't get in a fight.<br />
Back to School, Back to School."<br />
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Sorry for the "Billy Madison" reference but I started typing the title and it just popped in my head.<br />
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So we have less than a week before school starts. Lily is loving horseback riding camp. She is already begging for a pony.<br />
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Apparently she has been training on a small shetland since she is a first time rider.<br />
"His name is Pumpkin and he is gray with blonde hair. I did his hair today."<br />
"Oh really?"<br />
"Yea, I braided it."<br />
"When did you do that?"<br />
"While I was riding him."<br />
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So, I'm paying for her to braid a horse's hair. Hmmm.<br />
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Today was a rite of passage for Lily. Her dad finally agreed to let her cut her hair short. Well, shorter. She cut 7 inches off. And of course she looks so much older. I asked her what she thought and she said "Now I look like a 1st grader".<br />
:( Makes mommy sad. Ok, I"m over it. Mia and I also got our hair trimmed. Here are some pictures to commemorate the occasion.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNB-lLd033UmsVC5qXhiQQ8LmLOEosZjzvwohzwlqN0G_jkGCVQg9aGHjtObPKXoNdxmpQBi0vdkon554KFXDxWbR-MNtAXt49BUUc4NItm1eB0SsbBkdUH2zsEMv57FmnJFGYi5E5Tq6L/s1600/Image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNB-lLd033UmsVC5qXhiQQ8LmLOEosZjzvwohzwlqN0G_jkGCVQg9aGHjtObPKXoNdxmpQBi0vdkon554KFXDxWbR-MNtAXt49BUUc4NItm1eB0SsbBkdUH2zsEMv57FmnJFGYi5E5Tq6L/s400/Image.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">7 Inches GONE!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbBhltAdK3WoSTydvEpp8Nk4uinAp3wNJMXlKe3eN6bBgeVzibKQzat6eDxLYA2KLpqIaxwWB4zM4SHWqntC14o8OoEqY1MwKmanXHAAxHIwZgV5DXuKUibG7N2y9K_HvPP147UWuMI6wN/s1600/Image+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbBhltAdK3WoSTydvEpp8Nk4uinAp3wNJMXlKe3eN6bBgeVzibKQzat6eDxLYA2KLpqIaxwWB4zM4SHWqntC14o8OoEqY1MwKmanXHAAxHIwZgV5DXuKUibG7N2y9K_HvPP147UWuMI6wN/s400/Image+3.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mia the "Princess"<br /><br /><br /></td></tr>
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So I went shopping for school supplies for the first time. I've never seen such chaos.<br />
I should say that I am not one to shop...ever. I enjoy shopping in bookstores and coffee houses (not the Amsterdam kind) and that's about it.<br />
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People are crazy when it comes to shopping. Especially back to school! I set a time limit to get in and out. 30 minutes. Didn't happen. It took 30 minutes just to get half of the stuff!<br />
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My question to all the teachers out there. Why do you require your students to have a certain color of notebook. You do realize that everyone is looking for the same color..which means...there are none left.<br />
"A blue plastic folder with pockets and brads"<br />
I had to ask someone what "brads" were. Just say prongs. They're prongs. Prongs is more fun to say anyway. So after 59 minutes I was able to check out.<br />
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Orientation is Monday and school starts Tuesday. We've been trying to get the girls in bed earlier to prepare for the early morning wake-up calls. I think we should have started earlier. The girls have built up a resilience to late nights. Lily usually wants to be asleep by 8. That will end next week hopefully. 6:30 is going to come very early for her.<br />
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Mia has a few weeks before MDO starts again so it will be just the two of us for a while. I'll have to keep her busy. She doesn't like it when Lily is gone.<br />
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Hopefully we will hear something from BG by the end of the year. We're going to make sure we start early on our home study update and stay on our HS agency to do their part and get it done in time to have the approval letter back and send it off before our HS expires this time.<br />
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If not by next summer then we will be updated our address, as well as our home photos. But luckily the plane tickets from Boston/DC are much cheaper than from Memphis.<br />
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<br />E.S. Rhodenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17694638251891620800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9020155680339415311.post-69529710538602377402012-08-01T12:54:00.003-07:002012-08-01T12:54:22.901-07:00No News...Ready for school to start!So we have made it through almost an entire summer without killing one another. AMEN!<br />
The girls and I were on our own for the whole month of July basically because Garry travelled most of the time for work. We figure out the other night that we've never been apart that long! In 7 years of marriage we've never been apart more than a week until this month. Needless to say, I'm so glad it's over.<br />
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Lily has kept busy with theatre camp and art camp and next weeks horseback riding camp and Mia did have a few days at her MDO program. They are both ready to go back to school and see their friends though. Even my velcro child. Mia said the other day..."Momma, I want to go see my fwiends"<br />
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A break is on the horizon for me to. My BGF and I are headed to San Fran at the end of the month for some girl time. I love San Fran...especially when I hear the words, "current weather, a cool 69 degrees"<br />
It's been miserably hot here and I'm so tired of it. I feel like a bad mother because I won't let my kids go out, but when it's 100-115, it's just not wise.<br />
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Ready to leave the hot South. Can't wait until next summer. I told my husband I didn't care where we went, as long as it had seasons. It could be DC or Boston. Either is perfectly fine with me. Just getting the itch.<br />
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No word from BG. Of course. 16 months down.E.S. Rhodenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17694638251891620800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9020155680339415311.post-29558309575781036222012-07-04T13:23:00.000-07:002012-07-04T13:23:27.059-07:00The Post-Holiday DetoxSo we just got back from a 10 day trip to California. We're exhausted. It's truly amazing how jet-lagged you can get in just 10 days. As a bonus though the girls have slept until 9 almost every morning since being back on Memphis time.<br />
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We started in LA and made our way to San Diego to visit an old college-mate of mine who I haven't seen in 4 years. She and her gorgeous babies met us at Chick-fil-A the day after we landed. We then visited Sea World and the Zoo before heading back to LA for 3 days of Disneyland.<br />
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I will just say, I LOVED DISNEYLAND! I believe it's so much better than DisneyWorld if you have young children. (Mine are 6 and 4) The rides are quicker, the lines are shorter, the characters are more accessible, the weather is better, the park is laid out more efficiently, and the shade offered by additional umbrellas, tarps, and foliage was a welcome bonus. It is a bit more expensive per ticket and still cheaper to buy packaged tickets. We bought a 3 day park hopper and paid about 50 more per person for the tickets.<br />
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The flight was a 3.5 hour direct from Memphis so it was pretty easy...other that the truly horrible man sitting in front of my youngest. Every time she even slightly touched his seat he would turn around and give either Garry or me a dirty look. So naturally, I switched my eldest to sit behind him. This did help but he still had an awful attitude.<br />
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Needless to say Garry had words with him at the baggage claim. He told him kids were just a part of flying coach and if he didn't like it he needed to switch to first class. Usually I don't condone this type of in-your-face confrontation but this guy deserved it. Just a horrible human being. I have to admit I contemplated kicking his seat myself just to make him mad.<br />
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I digress...No news on the adoption. We haven't heard anything since being asked for the additional information 4 weeks ago. BG is back to doing what BG does best...being silent.<br />
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16 months we've been registered for those keeping tabs.<br />
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Oh and the (sorta) sad news for the time is that our 5 year old betta (fish) Winston died. Lily was a bit upset but as soon as Garry told her she could have another fish and put it in her room she was fine.E.S. Rhodenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17694638251891620800noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9020155680339415311.post-82478732836218895372012-06-06T13:35:00.001-07:002012-06-06T13:35:08.124-07:00School's Out and We're RunningSchool has been out for 2.5 weeks and already Lily is asking when she can go back. Meanwhile, if you mention school to Mia she screams and says, "No! You can't make me go to school!"<br />
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We had swim lessons in the afternoon for the last two weeks and this week Lily has Art Camp at our church. She's very creative and loves art.<br />
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Mia has 2 days of MDO this week so Mommy gets to breathe for 3 hours between dropping her off and picking Lily up. I guess I better get used to it...When we get Samuel I won't be away from him at all for like 6 months. Definitely need to invest in a jogging stroller.<br />
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I was looking at the calendar the other day and noticed that we will be home for 1 week this summer. Meaning a full week where we have absolutely nothing to do.<br />
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We leave for California in a few weeks for Disneyland and Sea World but haven't told the girls, SO I can't wait to to see their faces when we get on the airplane. We're not telling them about Disney and Sea World, just that we're going to California for vacation.<br />
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We haven't heard any news on the adoption.<br />
<br />E.S. Rhodenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17694638251891620800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9020155680339415311.post-23008427783627202722012-05-24T09:21:00.000-07:002012-05-24T09:21:00.259-07:00Stickin' It OutSo, we've decided to stick it out. Don't ask why...we're nuts...well on our way to becoming 2 eggs short of a dozen.<br />
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We recently had the opportunity to switch programs to a brand new Moldova program which promises a referral within 12 months from time of dossier submission. After looking at everything that it would involve, more paperwork, a transfer fee, more money, more fingerprints, a third trip, etc, we were reassured by our agency that the BG program is still functioning and that we were still on track to receiving a referral within the next year.<br />
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Now, time-wise that means the programs would be about the same, as long as BG does what it's supposed to.<br />
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Garry and I were led to the BG program many years ago. Until the program fails, well, we're committed, or stuck, I haven't quite decided which term to use yet. <br />
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So, pray for our sanity...because yes, despite what those who are on too much happy medicine tell you, adoption makes you crazy.<br />
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*We've been registered 14 months with BG<br />
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<br />E.S. Rhodenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17694638251891620800noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9020155680339415311.post-52258188029946375762012-04-17T10:08:00.000-07:002012-04-17T10:08:13.314-07:00The RealizationSo it's been awhile since I've updated but I've had loads to think about during that time.<br />
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We are all updated in BG, so we're back to waiting now.<br />
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So...what I'm about to say may seem a little rude. I don't mean to offend anyone or upset anyone, but being that this is my blog I should be able to say what I want. Correction, I will say what I want.<br />
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International Adoption sucks. No I don't mean the principle. No I don't mean the idea. I mean the actual execution of adopting. I don't mean this post to criticize governments or be a Debbie Downer. I simply want people to know the reality. It ain't pretty. If you can read this and still feel led to adopt internationally then I think you've had a "God calling" as such.<br />
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You should also know that I am not addressing this to those who have been unable to get pregnant and have adopted internationally by choice after going through a horrendous diagnosis. I DO NOT and WILL NOT pretend to have any idea how you feel/felt. The following is not for you and I would advise that you stop reading now.<br />
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Now that I am done with all the disclaimers, (occupational hazard of being an attorneys wife) we can move on.<br />
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1. The Pre-Adoption process<br />
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From the home study, to waiting for USCIS approval, from updating medicals and FBI clearance letters to fingerprinting. The "pre-process" of international adoption is ridiculous. Garry and I joke (but we're really actually serious) that everyone who gives birth should be required to complete the same requirements as those who adopt. I bet a million bucks people would be thinking twice about having babies.<br />
-Provide all health insurance information: 800,000 people down<br />
-Provide all life insurance information: 600,000 people down<br />
-Provide background checks from every state and country that you have resided in for more than 6 months- 700,000 people down<br />
-Provide your household budget as well as all monetary holdings: 500,000 down<br />
You get my point. Filing out paperwork vs birth control. Which is easier? and cheaper?<br />
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2. The Waiting<br />
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Waiting is a pain in the butt. We all know this. You never hear someone say in an enthusiastic voice, "I can wait to go the Hawaii!!!!!!"<br />
As Americans, in particular, we've grown up in a society of instant gratification. And although we "A"types complain about our governments efficiency, compared to the foreign governments of those countries, we're smooth as butter and they're like trying to rub nuts on toast.<br />
Basically we get everything in what? 10-12 weeks. I would like a passport. That will be 10-12 weeks. I would like a FBI clearance letter please. That will be 10-12 weeks.<br />
Foreign adoption is NOT, I mean NOT like this. To get something in 10-12 weeks is like raising Lazarus from the dead. It rarely happens. It took 4 months for us to get translated and registered with the country last year!<br />
Garry and I have known half a dozen people or more, just in our church, who have started and completed domestic adoptions within 6-9 months. No seriously, I have girlfriend that got a kid after being registered for a month! I should say that none of them have had issues with birth mothers or dead-beat dads coming out of the wood work. What we always supposed about domestic adoption is not true. We met with a guy from church who handles all the dom. adoptions for this area. He told us we could easily have a child in less than a year.<br />
However, we didn't want to go down the baby route again. My youngest had colic until 16 months and still doesn't sleep. Enough said on that.<br />
He said the likelihood of getting a 12 month old or even a 2 year old was far-fetched.<br />
Not to mention we have felt drawn to BG for a long time. It's not something that you just give up on because the road gets rough, and winding, and steep, and curvy, and holey (Is that a word?)<br />
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We still know we belong to this.<br />
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3. Trust (Faith)<br />
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I recently told my social worker, who is all-incompassingly encouraging, that I had complete trust in her and our agency. I know we made the right choice as far as that goes.<br />
I also told her that I had faith that God has obviously brought us to this place to teach us something and that He will eventually deliver.<br />
I did, however, tell her that I DID NOT trust the BGs. I have no reason to. They've given me no reason to. I don't know them. We've not friends that hang out at the local pub together. All I know is that foreign governments (all of them) change their minds like shoes. One day, you will be guaranteed that you will have a referral in 18-24 months. The very next day, you will be told to be prepared to raise that to 24-36 months. One day you're told that referrals are given based on compatibility with the adoptive parents and that how long you've been "registered" doesn't matter as much. The next day you're told that if you haven't been registered for at least 18 months then you will not get a referral. Shoes. Lots and lots of shoes.<br />
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What I find hard to believe is that there is not a single child in all of Bulgaria's orphanages that fits our sex and age range, as well as ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLL the special needs that we are open to. We're open to so many that USCIS couldn't print it on the approval letter.<br />
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Let me just say this. I know what some of you are thinking. It's not all about you. No, it's not. It's the fact that these kids are sitting day-in and day-out in these boxes with no one to love or care for them. So I apologize if I get a little worked-up. Bad girl! Why would you ever get ticked off about that.<br />
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I'm not just speaking on behalf of myself. I'm speaking on behalf of ALL those families that have entered this process voluntarily.<br />
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Also, be nice to your agency. Usually they have no control of what goes on 12 hours away. Imagine that. They're just the messenger. Don't kill the messenger.<br />
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4. Misinformation<br />
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We were told, by someone other than our agency personnel, at the beginning of this process that if we moved while trying to adopt that it would be a huge headache. They basically said, you're stuck until this happens. And lets face it..Memphis is not a place you want to be stuck. Ever. So we've been contemplating a move, now that Garry is on his own and can go where he pleases. We've been looking at two cities in particular and considered building houses in those cities (just one city, not in both) but never took another step because we were under the impression that a move would cripple our attempts to adopt and move us directly the bottom of the pile. Well, that's not true. So now we're here for another year.<br />
This is partly our fault because we didn't get a second opinion. ALWAYS get a second opinion! An important life lesson. Right up there with "Brush your teeth" and "wash your clothes".<br />
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I feel now like a weight has been lifted. We don't have to put our lives on hold anymore. We were stuck and now we're not. Amen to that.<br />
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Little baby steps. Tiny little baby steps.<br />
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To sum-up. International adoption is not for the faint of heart. It better be something you're 100% sure about before you even begin.E.S. Rhodenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17694638251891620800noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9020155680339415311.post-85721780070299498772012-02-08T14:07:00.000-08:002012-02-08T14:07:45.020-08:00Update done!Still waiting...no news...finally have all paperwork done and sent off to our agency for proofing then off to Bulgaria it goes for translation and such.<br />
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I pray we have something sooner rather than later.E.S. Rhodenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17694638251891620800noreply@blogger.com0