Does The Sky Really Open Up And Rain Babies?

It seems that every time I start down the adoption path I end up with a child. About 2 yrs ago I had really started investigating adopting a baby from China. While I was in the process of researching agencies I received a call regarding my nephew. It seemed that my sister was not going to be able to parent him. So, I put aside the agency research and started filling out all the paperwork needed to become a licensed foster home. Bash arrived almost a year ago. By the time we were settled into a routine I again started to toy with the idea of adopting a baby girl from China. But the Chinese Government was soon to change it's laws restricting single parents from adopting from their country. I looked into other countries and found Viet Nam. As everyone already knows I am at the very beginning stages of the paper chase/home study portion of that adoption. I received a call from my mother that my other sister is sick and is not able, at this time, to care for her 8 month old daughter. It is very possible that my niece will come and spend time with her Aunt in Las Vegas. It will be interesting to see how it all works out. My biggest issue is child care, but I have spoken with the director at my child care center and she has space. Now I will wait and see. I am going to continue with the VN adoption. It just seems funny that everytime I start down the international adoption path I end up with a child.

Just Sitting In The Mailbox

Those who know and love me know that I rarely check the mailbox. In fact it has become kind of a running joke with my mailman! I do really try to check it at least once a week but sometimes it eeks out to once every couple of weeks. So, I decided to check the mailbox tonight. Can't really remember the last time I checked that little box. Sitting in the mailbox is a packet from my agency stating that my preliminary application has been accepted. I can now fill out the real application and send in an even bigger check so that we can get this VN adoption thing moving. According to my timer it has been 11 days since I mailed the preliminary application in to the agency.

Sinusitis / Bronchitis

That is what was written on my paperwork when I left the Urgent Care this evening. At least it wasn't pneumonia. I have had that already and do not want it again. Who can I thank for the crappy lungs - Grandpa Henderson. He passed away from emphysema when I was in high school (I sure do miss him). I have absolutely no memory of him without Oxygen on or bent over huffing and puffing just from walking out to get the mail. But he and I shared lots of time together when I was little - we watched soap operas, I helped him in his wood shop, he always fixed me grilled cheese and soup for lunch. I loved him dearly and I just cannot believe he has been gone for so long. So here is to you, Grandpa - I raise my cough syrup and take a hit off my inhaler in memory of you. Love You!

Toys, Dogs, and Home Visits

Gianni and her son Jack came down from the Bay Area for a few days. It was a lot of fun. We always have tons of fun when she comes down. I took her, Jack, and Bash to Ceaser's Palace and the Forum Shops. They loved it - it is a really cool place. I tend to take all of the Vegas sites for granted. The best part of the whole trip was our time spent in FAO Schwartz. For those of you who don't know FAO Schwartz - it is a huge 3 story toy store. Gianni and I picked out things for our Xmas list for the kids and even our dads. Bash and Jack had a great time. The 3rd floor has arcade games, air hockey, and basketball. Jack practiced the wave board, I kicked Gianni's a#@ in air hockey, and Bash played a snowmobile arcade game. It was a lot of fun.

Bash doing very well at his arcade game

Me wiping the floor with Gianni at Air Hockey

We then went downstairs to the 1st floor to the Soda Fountain. There we made our selves sick with ice cream, root beer floats, and milkshakes.

Me enjoying the biggest shake I have ever seen.

Bash Helping me with the monster shake

Bash enjoying his chocolate ice cream - all over his face.

On Monday I received a call from every social worker known to man. I spoke with Bash's social worker in Oregon, his social worker in Vegas, and the adoption social worker. It was really weird and a little freaky. The social worker in Vegas wanted to schedule a home visit for Wednesday - ugh!!! I hate home visits - it is always very stressful! Gianni was a huge help - getting the house ready. I will be so happy to have this adoption completed and done. Then the stress will be much less. The home study went well. The house looked good. We decided to leave two of the dogs at home and take the other one out while the home visit was being conducted.

The dogs are a real source of stress for me in regards to the home visits. The are like my babies and I always worry that at some point in this process the social worker will make me get rid of the dogs. The reason for these fears - my male dog weighs 144lbs and my female great dane weighs 104 lbs. They are good dogs and very sweet but they are big and a lot of people are not comfortable with dogs that are so large.

Picture of Radar and I - look how big his head is.

Bash and Willow

So the plan was to take Willow to PetSmart and to keep Radar at home. Radar is deaf and usually will lay on the couch like a big couch potato and behave himself. Well that did not happen - he was very bad. Barking and not listening. The social worker was freaked out by his size. The only thing she wrote down for the whole visit was "Big Dog". So now I am worried!! Next time they are all going to Doggie Daycare!

On the VN adoption front - no news from LNI. They have not cashed my check yet. It's been almost 7 days!

BTW, in case anyone is wondering I am feeling much better since my last blog. Migraine is gone, I am in a very peaceful place regarding the promotion, I have decided that my sister has to deal with her own stuff and it is not my drama, and I sent in my application for midwifery school. All is good!!

All Kinds Of Stuff - Some Good, Some Bad

Today I have called in sick to work. A terrible migraine has hit. I think it is stress related. I have only had one other migraine and this feels much like that one did. Here is a list of the things that happened to me yesterday:

1. Found out that the promotion I had applied for did not go to me.
2. Confirmed that my boss may not be as honest and forth right as I would like him to be.
3. Still Remained #18 on GOL's "waiting to register list" after 10 days.
4. Learned that Bash may graduate out of the Day Treatment Center's program
5. Sent application to Los Ninos
6. Got really hateful, hurtful, nasty message from my sister.
7. Decidied I was applying for Nurse Midwife school.

Just a stressful day all the way around!

Long Day

Today has just been one of those days. It started with waking up late and rushing Bash to school. Then every single odd/difficult person came into be seen or have some crisis solved. My life is full of other people's crisis's. I guess that is just part of being a Nurse - problem solver to the world.

I went and had Bash's physical done for the adoption. He had to get 5 - yes 5 - injections. Poor kid! He did good - but I hated to have to be there. We took a trip to Mickey D's for food and playtime after the vaccine torture. Then we had to have ice cream and rent a movie. He seems to be surviving. I have doped him up with Tylenol and Motrin to help with any vaccine reaction and his poor soar thighs.

On the VN adoption front - I have decided to send in an initial application into Los Ninos International (LNI). After looking at more information and calling my agency I have realized that they have only had 4 referrals since last year. I am number 18 on the list waiting to register. The list to register also doesn't seem to be moving to fast - it has been a week and no movement. Beyond that I do really like GOL but I would like to feel like I am making progress. I spoke with Jean Erichsen today from LNI and I was very impressed with our conversation. I really liked what she had to say. So, LNI may be the winner for my adoption - only time will tell.

And for all of you out there who may have been worried - I did make it to the store last night! The long distance family crisis seems to be moving in the right direction but far from over. At least I will be able to sleep tonight.


Skylar and Bash

Dante as Elvis

Absolutely Exhausted

I wanted to sit and write an informative blog about why I had chosen Jane Grace as the name for my VN daughter. I have been thinking about it for days - what I wanted to write and which pictures I would post. But last night I found myself embroiled in a long distance family crisis that is still continuing as I write. It has left me drained and exhausted. I just don't have it in me right now. I had also wanted to get some house work done. The floors are a mess and the laundry is piling up. But I just don't have it in me. I also need to go to the grocery store, but the thought of having to go out in this ungodly heat is enough to make me want to just pull the covers over my head and hide. So here I lay in an empty house with 250lbs of dog on my bed in my Jammie's without my hair brushed watching LMN psycho female movies. Maybe when the sun goes down I will be able to head to the store - then again - maybe not!

One last thing - to my sis - We love you! You are not alone! Please let us help you!

Finally!!

I finally completed the 2 million pieces of paper required by the Department of Family Services for a home study. I turned in Bash's home study today!!! Yea!!!! Monday he has his physical and then my part of the paperwork is over.

On the VN adoption front - Still #18 on the list waiting to register. I now check my voicemail religously waiting for a call from the agency saying that I have moved up. I am thinking of adding a count down to this blog counting down how long it takes to move through th VN process.

Beyond the adoption issues - everything here is the same. I have been fighting a sinus headache for the last week - and it is so so hot here. I hate July in Las Vegas. It amazes me all of the tourists that come here in the middle of summer and walk up and down the Strip. The best time to be here is Spring or Fall - Just in case any one was wondering.

Taking It One Step At A Time

Today, I got my finger prints done for Bash's adoption. I will have the the home study paperwork turned in on Thursday.

I spoke with Alison at GOL today. Just confirmed the #18 placement on the initial waiting list. She stated that they will call each time I move up the list. I like the communication so far. Once I hit the number one position then they will send me the registration packet and I will be able to start the paperwork. I did ask about what she thought the wait to actually have my daughter home would be - she said it varies could be a year even longer. I know they can't give exact time frames. I like that they are not promising anything. So many agencies will tell you 4-8 mos, etc. I am not into having smoke blown up my skirt - so to speak. So far, I am very happy with my choice. A year or more is good for me - it gives me plenty of time to get Sebastian's adoption finished.

It's Official

I received a voice mail today from my agency stating that the director has approved my initial application to adopt from VN. I am number 18 on the list waiting to register. Wow - things are happening! That is good.

In my other adoption story - I have almost all of the homestudy paperwork together for Sebastian's adoption. I am going tomorrow to get my finger prints done for DFS. I am hoping to have his adoption done in a a few months. The person that licenses the homes for Foster Care told me that they were suppose to have the adoption completed in 120 days from the time they recieve all of the paperwork. It would be great to have it all wrapped up before the holidays!

Filling In The Blanks

I know, there is not really that much written in my profile. So I thought I would fill in

some blanks. First off, I am 40 and a mother of 2 bio children. My son Dante - is 20 (not living

at home) and my daughter Skylar is 17 (is living at home). I will fill in more about those two as time goes on. I am currently a foster mom to my 4 yr old nephew, Sebastian (Bash). I am in the middle of completing his home study so that he can forever have a stable home with us. Bash has been with me for about a year now - it has been really good for both of us, but has had it's trying times as well. I will be so happy to get his adoption finished. I feel like it is really just a formality at this point. I also have 3 dogs Radar (140lb deaf Great Dane), Willow (104lb Great Dane), and Irie (10 lb Pomeranian). They are my babies as well.

Christmas 2006

From left to right: Bash, Willow, Skylar, Radar, Dante, Timmie, Irie

I am sure that everyone is wondering why I have decided to add one more to my "Chaos and Insanity". There are actually a few reasons. I had actually been looking at adopting a baby girl from China before I got news that my sister had lost custody of my nephew. I decided I needed to put the China plans on the back the back burner to get Bash settled. Now that he has settled in it is time to re-visit international adoption. China has closed it's doors to singles. This led me to have to consider other options. I knew I did not want to pursue adoption in the US. I am currently in the middle of trying to get this done and it is really just too much. I really did not want to look at Eastern European adoption for quite a few reasons. I may re-visit those reasons a little bit later. I really wanted to continue to look at Asian programs. I stumbled on to VN and have not looked back. Even with the increasing wait times for a baby girl - I am still more than willing to trudge through the long wait and the mountains of paperwork. The country and its people are so beautiful. It is amazing that a country so ravaged by war can be so beautiful and seem so peaceful. I can not wait to go! I want to take it all in - the people, their culture, and their country. I plan on bringing the whole family with me so that we can all experience the beautiful country where our special little Jane Grace was created.

I hope this has helped fill in a few of the blanks. I will add more as time goes on. I will also add more pictures of everyone.