I have always been fascinated by belly dancing. I once made it my New Year's resolution to take lessons, and I followed thru with it! Finally, a resolution I kept! I took it further and learned to sew circle skirts and harem pants. And somewhere in my basement is a box with my coin scarf, silk veil and finger cymbals. I dragged more than one friend to a belly dancing show.
I hope I shouldn't be embarrassed about this.
I hadn't thought about that stuff in years, but Shakira was on American Idol last night and once again I'm left thinking, "how do they do that? I searched for clips to stick on my blog. And here's what my quick search yielded.
Thursday, March 30, 2006
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Shakin' off the Funk
Lately I have been in a serious funk. Every China adopter has been, I'm sure. To know that your wait is going to be either long or really, really long, is rough. At first I thought we would be in China in September. I was so disappointed when that slid back to December. And now February 2007 is looking more likely. Truthfully, there's just no telling, and that's the hardest part of all.
The other day when referral dates where known, I cried so hard I gave myself a headache. And it's really hard to deliver mail while crying. Of course as soon as I get back to the post office my friend says, "Hey, how's your adoption going?" I lost it again.
Thank Goodness for my Jeff. He's been so kind when I snap at him and say stupid things. Conversations in our house have gone something like this:
Me: You know if we switch to Vietnam, we'd have a baby sooner.
Jeff: We have a plan. Stick to the plan.
or
Me: You wanna try and get pregnant this month? (Like this would be the magic month after 2 years of trying...ha ha)
Jeff: We have a plan. Stick to the plan.
Me: (whiney voice) But the plan has changed!
Jeff: The plan hasn't changed. It's just delayed. Stick to the plan.
He's so good for me, but I think my depression is starting to wear on him. So, as the title says, it's time to shake off the funk. I can't spend the next 7, 10, or 12 months like this. There willl continue to be dips in my mood everytime referrals come out ( if they stay at this pace) But I've got to get back to normal. I'm no fun to be around like this.
So now, to shake that nasty funk, we're planning hiking excursions, more get togethers with friends, mini trips to quaint towns in the area, local touristy things. And then there's still the never ending home improvement projects. We need to get out and do these things and not live from match day to match day. (I say "we", but really mean "me".) Poor Honey. I'll let you know how the plan works. Now I'm going to soak in the hot tub. That always helps.
The other day when referral dates where known, I cried so hard I gave myself a headache. And it's really hard to deliver mail while crying. Of course as soon as I get back to the post office my friend says, "Hey, how's your adoption going?" I lost it again.
Thank Goodness for my Jeff. He's been so kind when I snap at him and say stupid things. Conversations in our house have gone something like this:
Me: You know if we switch to Vietnam, we'd have a baby sooner.
Jeff: We have a plan. Stick to the plan.
or
Me: You wanna try and get pregnant this month? (Like this would be the magic month after 2 years of trying...ha ha)
Jeff: We have a plan. Stick to the plan.
Me: (whiney voice) But the plan has changed!
Jeff: The plan hasn't changed. It's just delayed. Stick to the plan.
He's so good for me, but I think my depression is starting to wear on him. So, as the title says, it's time to shake off the funk. I can't spend the next 7, 10, or 12 months like this. There willl continue to be dips in my mood everytime referrals come out ( if they stay at this pace) But I've got to get back to normal. I'm no fun to be around like this.
So now, to shake that nasty funk, we're planning hiking excursions, more get togethers with friends, mini trips to quaint towns in the area, local touristy things. And then there's still the never ending home improvement projects. We need to get out and do these things and not live from match day to match day. (I say "we", but really mean "me".) Poor Honey. I'll let you know how the plan works. Now I'm going to soak in the hot tub. That always helps.
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
3 months Logged In
3 months down. ???? more to go. How are we doing so far?
Diet and Exercise? Horrible. I signed up for a 1/2 marathon in the fall, but I think if I don't get crackin' soon, it will kill me. I'm eating nothing but comfort food lately....and lots of it.
Parenting skills? Pretty good. Jeff and I have been spending more time with my niece and nephew and getting lots of practice. It's so fun to see Jeff getting more and more comfortable with kids. This morning Jeff woke up and said, "I can still feel her climbing on me!" It seems my niece thinks he's a tree.
The Nursery? Excellent. See previous post.
Learning about China? Fair. I liked reading Wild Swans, and I'm waiting on my new book. My local college offers Mandarin in their evening classes, but it is PRICEY! We may have to settle for flash cards. Ni Hao!
Overall, we're right on track. We have an indeterminate about of time to finish getting ready, but we know there'll be plenty of it.
Diet and Exercise? Horrible. I signed up for a 1/2 marathon in the fall, but I think if I don't get crackin' soon, it will kill me. I'm eating nothing but comfort food lately....and lots of it.
Parenting skills? Pretty good. Jeff and I have been spending more time with my niece and nephew and getting lots of practice. It's so fun to see Jeff getting more and more comfortable with kids. This morning Jeff woke up and said, "I can still feel her climbing on me!" It seems my niece thinks he's a tree.
The Nursery? Excellent. See previous post.
Learning about China? Fair. I liked reading Wild Swans, and I'm waiting on my new book. My local college offers Mandarin in their evening classes, but it is PRICEY! We may have to settle for flash cards. Ni Hao!
Overall, we're right on track. We have an indeterminate about of time to finish getting ready, but we know there'll be plenty of it.
Bad News
If you're in the adoption community, you already know the latest news sucks. No sense writing more about it. I'm pretty unhappy, but am inhaling chocolate at unbelievable rates and it seems to be working. Thank the Lordy for Cadbury.
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
What a Day.
I've been in the weirdest mood lately. Slightly bummed and anxious.
It started because of work. My route was re-evaluated recently (along with every other rural route in the Atlanta area) and they determined my route was bigger than they thought. Evaluating a route is a complicated process and I'll spare you the particulars, but I am paid based on that evaluation rather than the hours I actually work. Therefore, higher evaluation = more money for Georgia.
Now the evaluation process is over, I have to wait 4 weeks to hear the official results. My union has a program that estimates it and my local office has a program that estimates it. Due to rounding there is a minute difference in the two programs. No big deal, right? Well...this particular minute is on the border between being the biggest route possible and being too big and in need of cutting. I won't know the future of my route for 4 weeks. Dang it. A giant raise or getting cut? This is stressfull for a girl who obsesses about money even when there's plenty of it.
So I spend all morning mulling this over. I'm stressed needlessly because there's nothing I can do. But to take my mind off of it a woman at work who knows I'm adopting comes over and wants a serious talk. Okay. She says she knows a 16 year old girl..... You all see where this is going, don't you? She askes if I'm interested in adopting this girl's baby. WHOA!! How do you answer that. My head starts spinning with possiblities. I'm thinking of all sorts of dumb things like, "Would we still use the name Zoe?" (she is having a girl)
After the initial thrill of possibly having a baby in 4 months (A NEWBORN!) I calm down enough to realize it's not all that great. My dear friend at work reminds me that 16 year olds change their minds.....a lot. Jeff reminds me of the potential cost of domestic adoption. And of course I remember the reasons we chose China to begin with. We're not that keen on birth mother involvement. And besides, in my head, my daughter is named Zoe. She is Chinese. And I will get her when she is about a year old. I actually like not getting a newborn. My time off work will be spent with a near toddler rather than an eating/pooping machine. (If any newborns are reading this...no offense)
But it certainly took my mind off my route evaluation.
It started because of work. My route was re-evaluated recently (along with every other rural route in the Atlanta area) and they determined my route was bigger than they thought. Evaluating a route is a complicated process and I'll spare you the particulars, but I am paid based on that evaluation rather than the hours I actually work. Therefore, higher evaluation = more money for Georgia.
Now the evaluation process is over, I have to wait 4 weeks to hear the official results. My union has a program that estimates it and my local office has a program that estimates it. Due to rounding there is a minute difference in the two programs. No big deal, right? Well...this particular minute is on the border between being the biggest route possible and being too big and in need of cutting. I won't know the future of my route for 4 weeks. Dang it. A giant raise or getting cut? This is stressfull for a girl who obsesses about money even when there's plenty of it.
So I spend all morning mulling this over. I'm stressed needlessly because there's nothing I can do. But to take my mind off of it a woman at work who knows I'm adopting comes over and wants a serious talk. Okay. She says she knows a 16 year old girl..... You all see where this is going, don't you? She askes if I'm interested in adopting this girl's baby. WHOA!! How do you answer that. My head starts spinning with possiblities. I'm thinking of all sorts of dumb things like, "Would we still use the name Zoe?" (she is having a girl)
After the initial thrill of possibly having a baby in 4 months (A NEWBORN!) I calm down enough to realize it's not all that great. My dear friend at work reminds me that 16 year olds change their minds.....a lot. Jeff reminds me of the potential cost of domestic adoption. And of course I remember the reasons we chose China to begin with. We're not that keen on birth mother involvement. And besides, in my head, my daughter is named Zoe. She is Chinese. And I will get her when she is about a year old. I actually like not getting a newborn. My time off work will be spent with a near toddler rather than an eating/pooping machine. (If any newborns are reading this...no offense)
But it certainly took my mind off my route evaluation.
Sunday, March 12, 2006
Cutie little Girl
Jeff and I are pursuing the adoption of a healthy girl from China. Although we are commited to the adoption of a NSN (non-special needs) child, I keep looking as the SN babies and stories and thinking about what I am willing to take on. It's more a pass time than anything else, but then this girl showed up. She was on my agency's list. A woman on my agency's yahoo group wanted to adopt her, but couldn't because of her insurance. So I kept checking the site and thinking. I called my friend, a pediatric nurse, to ask about her condition. But while I had her on the phone, I checked the site again. Only this time at the bottom of her info page it said, "I have a family."
How Redneck are We?!!
We have 5 cats......FIVE!
Since we started home improvements
they are slowly losing territory as we complete more rooms and close them off to the cats. Poor kitties. To make up we wanted to make their remaining space more kitty-friendly.
As redneck as it is, we saw this cheap cat tree at Wal-mart and had to buy it. Turns out, the cats LOVE it. Even the cats we never see climb up and hang out with us. In fact, they like it so much we went back and bought another one for in front of our bedroom window. My sister commented on our new redneck style of decorating, and I must admit it. She's right. But look at the happy kitties!!
Since we started home improvements
they are slowly losing territory as we complete more rooms and close them off to the cats. Poor kitties. To make up we wanted to make their remaining space more kitty-friendly. As redneck as it is, we saw this cheap cat tree at Wal-mart and had to buy it. Turns out, the cats LOVE it. Even the cats we never see climb up and hang out with us. In fact, they like it so much we went back and bought another one for in front of our bedroom window. My sister commented on our new redneck style of decorating, and I must admit it. She's right. But look at the happy kitties!!
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
It's all about Family
Here is my sister Deanna, her husband Jeff, and her children Jeffrey and Georgia. They are missionaries in Germany for 2 years, but are now able to come back and visit for a month. Since my parents live just up the road, the kids are staying with them while my sis and bro-in-law are staying with us. It's way fun to visit again. I'm looking forward to visiting with the kids more, but Jeff and I are getting nervous because this four year old girl has a way of wearing us out more than any three mile run.
Impending parenthood is all of a sudden very scary.
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