Yes, it's been awhile. We have had tons going on but luckily we have almost finished all of the required paperwork for the home study and have begun working on the dossier paperwork, which actually isn't that much stuff.
I did get my new passport with my married name so that part is taken care of. I think one of the last things we have to do is take the girls to get physicals. I am of course waiting for one to get sick so we don't have to make an extra trip. (Is that mean?)
Oh well, today is an amazing day!
One of my college girlfriends and her husband have just signed the paperwork required to adopt their precious baby girl. After struggling with years of infertility, they felt God lead them to adopt domestically from Utah.
They began the process in September of 2009 and as of today have a brand new baby girl. They are beside themselves with happiness and I know they will be the best parents and spoil her to the brink.
(as they should)
I can't wait to meet her!
There and Back Again: The Rhoden's Bulgarian Adoption
Friday, March 26, 2010
Friday, February 5, 2010
Lillisms and the start of many Miaisms
Lily gets in the bed in the middle of the night:
Lily: Momma, I wanna cuddle.
Garry: But I wanna cuddle
Lily: Uh uh, You not supposed to cuddle with boys.
Garry: But you can cuddle with daddy...and Pop
Lily: No Daddy, Pop doesn't cuddle, He snores.
Mia wants yogurt
Mia: I wont dat!
Me: Ok get your spoon and go sit in your chair.
Mia gets the spoon out of the drawer and goes to sit in the chair. The chair is on it's side because she likes to climb on the table.
I put the chair to the table.
Mia climbs in. Bangs her spoon on the table
Mia: YOYUR!!!!!!!!!! (YOGURT)
Me: Ok, calm down here it is.
Mia: Tant too! (thank you)
Lily: Momma, I wanna cuddle.
Garry: But I wanna cuddle
Lily: Uh uh, You not supposed to cuddle with boys.
Garry: But you can cuddle with daddy...and Pop
Lily: No Daddy, Pop doesn't cuddle, He snores.
Mia wants yogurt
Mia: I wont dat!
Me: Ok get your spoon and go sit in your chair.
Mia gets the spoon out of the drawer and goes to sit in the chair. The chair is on it's side because she likes to climb on the table.
I put the chair to the table.
Mia climbs in. Bangs her spoon on the table
Mia: YOYUR!!!!!!!!!! (YOGURT)
Me: Ok, calm down here it is.
Mia: Tant too! (thank you)
Top Ten
SO We met with our social worker (wonderful) and she gave us ALL the forms to fill out. ALL being the key words. Garry makes a good point. You don't have to do everything that is require for adoption when you're having a baby. There is something very wrong with that picture.
Top Ten Things you don't have to have/do when having a baby but must when adopting that you should have to do when having a baby:
1. Have health insurance. When the reality is all you have to do is cancel it after the adoption is final. (Not that this is problem for us)
2. Provide every address of every place you've ever lived for background checks. Not to mention the fingerprinting for FBI clearance.
3. Provide a 13 page family background questionnaire. (per person)
4. Have references.
5. Provide all financial information as well as a monthly budget.
6. Meet with experts in pediatric psychology (basically)
7. Read books on parenting. (To be fair I think some do this)
8. Provide photos of your home and everything in and around it. Provide photos of yourself.
9. Submit to a physical exam. (Enough said)
10. Pay out of pocket. (Can't use medicaid or insurance)
Just something to think about.
Top Ten Things you don't have to have/do when having a baby but must when adopting that you should have to do when having a baby:
1. Have health insurance. When the reality is all you have to do is cancel it after the adoption is final. (Not that this is problem for us)
2. Provide every address of every place you've ever lived for background checks. Not to mention the fingerprinting for FBI clearance.
3. Provide a 13 page family background questionnaire. (per person)
4. Have references.
5. Provide all financial information as well as a monthly budget.
6. Meet with experts in pediatric psychology (basically)
7. Read books on parenting. (To be fair I think some do this)
8. Provide photos of your home and everything in and around it. Provide photos of yourself.
9. Submit to a physical exam. (Enough said)
10. Pay out of pocket. (Can't use medicaid or insurance)
Just something to think about.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
So...
We are currently working out an interagency agreement I think and then the Home Study agency will be checking references.
So, just waiting on that. Well and we will hopefully start on the dossier this week or next.
Saw a 20/20 special on Haiti last night. Spent the next hour crying. Thank you so much 20/20.
Of course they followed an adoptive family who were worried sick wondering if their daughter was alive and well. Of course they documented the reunion. Viewership went up 5 points I'm sure.
I am thankful that the US is allowing those already pledged to families here to be granted temporary asylum until their adoptions are complete. But I can't help wondering how insincere that is. What about the other children? What about the ones not in orphanages? What about the ones who have just become orphans?
My heart goes out. I can't begin to understand what the government thinks (though I tend to think they don't)
As a mother I can't imagine...
So, just waiting on that. Well and we will hopefully start on the dossier this week or next.
Saw a 20/20 special on Haiti last night. Spent the next hour crying. Thank you so much 20/20.
Of course they followed an adoptive family who were worried sick wondering if their daughter was alive and well. Of course they documented the reunion. Viewership went up 5 points I'm sure.
I am thankful that the US is allowing those already pledged to families here to be granted temporary asylum until their adoptions are complete. But I can't help wondering how insincere that is. What about the other children? What about the ones not in orphanages? What about the ones who have just become orphans?
My heart goes out. I can't begin to understand what the government thinks (though I tend to think they don't)
As a mother I can't imagine...
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Coming soon...
So we made it back, alive, from Park City. We had a great time but really missed the girls. We're thinking this will be the last time we vacation for that long without them (excluding the trips to Bulgaria). Every time we saw little girls on the slopes we thought of them...we thought that's Lily (crying to go home or just play in the snow) and that's Mia (crying to ski faster and do the black runs at age 2)
It is so funny to think of the differences between two children who are biologically related. The girls look nothing alike and act nothing alike. It's strange to think that our son will fit right in, but hey, if the shoe fits.
So we have filled out most of the formal application for the home study agency and will then get to work! Woo hoo!
Lily: When I have a brother, he has to play with boy toys and he can't play with girl toys.
Me: Why is that?
Lily: (giving me the classic-out-the-corner-of-the-eye-look) Because he's a boy.
It is so funny to think of the differences between two children who are biologically related. The girls look nothing alike and act nothing alike. It's strange to think that our son will fit right in, but hey, if the shoe fits.
So we have filled out most of the formal application for the home study agency and will then get to work! Woo hoo!
Lily: When I have a brother, he has to play with boy toys and he can't play with girl toys.
Me: Why is that?
Lily: (giving me the classic-out-the-corner-of-the-eye-look) Because he's a boy.
Monday, December 28, 2009
Christmas Detox
Wow. What a Christmas! The girls were happy with their new doll house and soccer goal, not to mention the miscellaneous dolls, movies, books, etc. The swing set is, unfortunately, still sitting in the yard, waiting for our friend to put it together.
I thought many times about him (not our friend...but our future son). I wondered where he was, if he WAS yet... I wondered what he was doing and what his Christmas was like. I prayed that he would have enough Christmases with us post-adoption that he wouldn't even think about the ones before (if they were bad).
We received the final (signed) formal application paperwork but have to wait to send the fee. We had hoped to send it earlier but the case didn't come through when we thought it would. Hopefully it will be before February, but...if it doesn't come then obviously God has a reason.
We are all tired from the holidays. Our mom's (Garry's and mine) left this morning. My dad left Saturday. The girls are just relaxing today.
The house improvements look awesome. The bookshelves are perfect. It was great to free up some storage room in the attic and in his room (we had books in boxes in his closet).
Oh and I sewed pillows...yep...non-domestic goddess I am. My mom taught me.
Oh and the new light fixtures change the look of the house completely.
I thought many times about him (not our friend...but our future son). I wondered where he was, if he WAS yet... I wondered what he was doing and what his Christmas was like. I prayed that he would have enough Christmases with us post-adoption that he wouldn't even think about the ones before (if they were bad).
We received the final (signed) formal application paperwork but have to wait to send the fee. We had hoped to send it earlier but the case didn't come through when we thought it would. Hopefully it will be before February, but...if it doesn't come then obviously God has a reason.
We are all tired from the holidays. Our mom's (Garry's and mine) left this morning. My dad left Saturday. The girls are just relaxing today.
The house improvements look awesome. The bookshelves are perfect. It was great to free up some storage room in the attic and in his room (we had books in boxes in his closet).
Oh and I sewed pillows...yep...non-domestic goddess I am. My mom taught me.
Oh and the new light fixtures change the look of the house completely.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Tired Saturdays
This should be the name of all Saturdays. "Tired Saturdays." It's amazing how busy two girls can be. Here are the basics
6:15 am:
Lily: Daddy get up! Daddy I'm hungry. Daddy can you get me a string-cheese.
Garry: Why can't Momma get it?
Lily: Because she's sleeping.
7:15 am:
Mia: Tookie!!
Me: Mia you've had 2 cookies (Nutri-grain bars). You can have an egg or you can have milk.
Mia: Cacker!
8:15 am
Lily: Mimi come play in my room.
Mia: Otay
Lily: Don't play with my stuff. ok?
9:15 am
Me: Mia Clare get down off the table.
Mia: Si down, Si down (jumping on the table)
Me: Mia I'm not kidding you are going to fall and hurt yourself
Mia: Weeeeeee (as she jumps into my arms from the table top)
10-12:30
Workout while Mia sleeps. Garry and Lily run errands with Garry's mom. Get a shower. They come back. Mia wakes up.
1:15
(after she's already eaten lunch)
Mia: Cheeze!
Me: you just ate Mia you don't need anything. Would you like some water?
(I make the cup and hand it to her, she takes a sip, looks at it, takes it to open fridge where Garry is standing and sticks it in, then points to the cheese drawer
Mia: Cheeze!
Garry: At least she didn't ask for a tookie.
2:15 (rest-time)
Lily: Mia!!! Don't take my spot! You have to get on your side of the couch.
Mia: Arghhhhhh!
Lily: Don't take my book! Momma she won't leave my stuff alone.
Me: You should share, Lily. Sharing is fun.
Lily: Sharing is not fun, Momma. I don't know where you got that.
Mia: Arghhhhhh!
3:15
(playing tea party in Lily's room)
Lily: Ok, now Mia you have this tea and this cupcake and I have mine.
No, Mia you can't eat my cupcake.
Mia: wgwgwuhghgrghrg
Lily: Well, that's not how it works. You have your cupcake and I have mine.
Mia: sdfsugbidugbggjoj
Lily: Well ok, I guess you can have a bite of mine.
4:15
Grocery store
5:15
Lily: Hey momma. Did you get me a gummy (piece of gum)
Me: I did but did you finish your dinner
(She runs over the table, shoves 4 grapes in her mouth at once and comes back)
Lily: yep
6:15
(Holding hands)
Lily: Ring around the roses, Pocket full of poses, ashes ashes we all fall down. Mia you're not supposed to fall until you say fall down.
Mia: down!
Lily: Momma she needs to stop falling down.
Me: Well Lily she's a baby, she doesn't quite get it. You have to teach her.
Lily: Well, I mean, I can't teach her, ...Patton can teach her.
Me: Well dogs don't usually teach people.
Lily: I lick like Patton.
7:15
Garry: Ok Lily get ready for bed.
Lily: NOOOOO
Garry: It's that time. Sorry. Turn the Grinch off.
Polly: Remember Lily Santa is watching you and you need to be a good girl.
Lily: Yeah, Santa is bringing me a swingset for Christmas.
Garry: Oh really?
Lily: yeah
Polly: Well maybe if you're a good girl, Santa will put it together for you.
Garry: Oh no, Santa will just be delivering it. Daddy will have to put it together...IF she gets one.
Lily: No, Daddy, Pop (my dad) will have to put it together.
8:45 bedtime...
No Joke
6:15 am:
Lily: Daddy get up! Daddy I'm hungry. Daddy can you get me a string-cheese.
Garry: Why can't Momma get it?
Lily: Because she's sleeping.
7:15 am:
Mia: Tookie!!
Me: Mia you've had 2 cookies (Nutri-grain bars). You can have an egg or you can have milk.
Mia: Cacker!
8:15 am
Lily: Mimi come play in my room.
Mia: Otay
Lily: Don't play with my stuff. ok?
9:15 am
Me: Mia Clare get down off the table.
Mia: Si down, Si down (jumping on the table)
Me: Mia I'm not kidding you are going to fall and hurt yourself
Mia: Weeeeeee (as she jumps into my arms from the table top)
10-12:30
Workout while Mia sleeps. Garry and Lily run errands with Garry's mom. Get a shower. They come back. Mia wakes up.
1:15
(after she's already eaten lunch)
Mia: Cheeze!
Me: you just ate Mia you don't need anything. Would you like some water?
(I make the cup and hand it to her, she takes a sip, looks at it, takes it to open fridge where Garry is standing and sticks it in, then points to the cheese drawer
Mia: Cheeze!
Garry: At least she didn't ask for a tookie.
2:15 (rest-time)
Lily: Mia!!! Don't take my spot! You have to get on your side of the couch.
Mia: Arghhhhhh!
Lily: Don't take my book! Momma she won't leave my stuff alone.
Me: You should share, Lily. Sharing is fun.
Lily: Sharing is not fun, Momma. I don't know where you got that.
Mia: Arghhhhhh!
3:15
(playing tea party in Lily's room)
Lily: Ok, now Mia you have this tea and this cupcake and I have mine.
No, Mia you can't eat my cupcake.
Mia: wgwgwuhghgrghrg
Lily: Well, that's not how it works. You have your cupcake and I have mine.
Mia: sdfsugbidugbggjoj
Lily: Well ok, I guess you can have a bite of mine.
4:15
Grocery store
5:15
Lily: Hey momma. Did you get me a gummy (piece of gum)
Me: I did but did you finish your dinner
(She runs over the table, shoves 4 grapes in her mouth at once and comes back)
Lily: yep
6:15
(Holding hands)
Lily: Ring around the roses, Pocket full of poses, ashes ashes we all fall down. Mia you're not supposed to fall until you say fall down.
Mia: down!
Lily: Momma she needs to stop falling down.
Me: Well Lily she's a baby, she doesn't quite get it. You have to teach her.
Lily: Well, I mean, I can't teach her, ...Patton can teach her.
Me: Well dogs don't usually teach people.
Lily: I lick like Patton.
7:15
Garry: Ok Lily get ready for bed.
Lily: NOOOOO
Garry: It's that time. Sorry. Turn the Grinch off.
Polly: Remember Lily Santa is watching you and you need to be a good girl.
Lily: Yeah, Santa is bringing me a swingset for Christmas.
Garry: Oh really?
Lily: yeah
Polly: Well maybe if you're a good girl, Santa will put it together for you.
Garry: Oh no, Santa will just be delivering it. Daddy will have to put it together...IF she gets one.
Lily: No, Daddy, Pop (my dad) will have to put it together.
8:45 bedtime...
No Joke
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