'Regularly Scheduled Maintanence"

It's time for my "regularly scheduled maintenance" tomorrow. I should be home before the kids get home from school hopefully. Let's all hope my hiney doesn't hang out too badly! I'll post when I can. Thanks!

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High Fashion Folks!

I got to hang out with a wonderful friend who is quite crafty today. She pulled out her jewelry making things to fix my jewelry that broke earlier today, and then she showed me how to make some bracelets. Like them?

Seriously, my lousy picture just doesn't do them justice. Thanks, Rachel! Oh, wanted to remind everyone about our 100 Good Wishes Quilt. Just click on the left sidebar for more information.
Smiles,
Heather

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Happy Thanksgiving!

I'm thankful for......

Also, thankful for my mom's wonderful cooking! I ate way too much but enjoyed it. I would be posting pics of the Dominoes playing fun we had, but was having too much fun playing Dominoes! Besides, my aunt had fake fall leaves in her hair since Allyson "decorated" her, and she would absolutely kill me if I posted that.

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Ebaying Again!

Just thought I'd share that I'm ebaying some of those HOT gifts that are supposed to be the "IT" gift this year. I got a hold of some zhu zhu pets so if you have a friend who wants to buy them for Christmas, you can refer them to my ebay sale! I have several for sale along with other odds and ends. Every little bit helps out our adoption, right?

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Oh my....Could it Be?

First things first....these lovely cookies were made by Allyson. She made them all by herself AND cleaned up the mess. They are pumpkin spice cookies with cream cheese frosting. Pretty cool, huh?

Now, even more good stuff. My agency coordinator sent me an email asking me to fill out the I800 and mail it in to her for her to file! She said that I could "get my official referral very soon"! Is it possible? Surely she isn't getting my hopes up for nothing. Surely she knows something, right? That would be way quicker than I thought it would happen.
Maybe this will make recovery time go quicker. I don't think I mentioned that I've having wrist and thumb surgery next Tuesday. I've had the same surgery done on my left wrist/thumb. It's just outpatient, but my hand and arm past my elbow is hard splinted for a LONG time. This means, my hair won't be pretty and Allyson may have to unbutton me so I can go to the bathroom. For a Rheumatoid patient, surgery is really just maintenance. You know, you have your roots done, your teeth cleaned, your wrist and tendons repaired, your yearly checkup at the "ladies' office". Just part of my regular maintenance. Now, I think I'll go enjoy a cookie and read that wonderful email one more time!

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My Merry Maid

Yesterday, I had Allyson clean the bathrooms. She took several hours, but did a great job. She included the baseboards and floors as well. Last night, I got a good chuckle when I noticed that she even folded the toilet paper ends as such. She cracks me up!

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Sore Loser....Mom, That is

My six year old beat me in a checkers game. Yes, I'll admit, I was indeed trying to win.

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Good Fortune?

We enjoyed some yummy Chinese the other day.
Don't know if you can read them, but our fortune cookies cracked me up. Mine was, "Your dearest wish will come true". Eric's was, "You will step on the soil of many countries". Eric's response? "No kidding."

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No More Boob Talk!

I was pulled aside by our school's administrator and was told that someone said Grant and another child, who is often in trouble, were supposedly talking about boobs in the boys' bathroom. The administrator wasn't exactly sure what to think, but didn't necessarily think Grant was having that conversation. So last night at bedtime, I asked Grant if he was talking about something he should not have been with this other child. He wasn't sure what I was talking about at first. I asked again, and he said, "Oh yeah. I was talking about boobs". Ker-plunk! My jaw hit the ground. When did he turn into a 15 year old boy? They say it happens fast but this is ridiculous!
I prodded him a bit more. He then said very matter-of-factly, "I told them my dad has boobs". Ker-plunk! That was Eric's jaw hitting the floor. You can imagine how excited Eric was to find out he had boobs. You have to know, Eric works out and lifts weights every day and has had that routine for years. He thoroughly enjoys working out. Weird, huh? I pantomimed to Grant so I could be sure we were talking about the same thing. Unfortunately, we were. He said, "I can't remember what they are called. You know, not muscles." To which I replied, "Ohhhh, Yessss! You mean pecs?". He said, "Yeah, that's it, pecs!". PECS, Grant, PECS! On his way out the door to work this morning, Eric reminded Grant that he has PECS not boobs and that there should be no boob talk at school! Ahh, the things kids say! At least he is still 6 and not 15.

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100 Good Wishes Quilt

For both of my kids, I cross stitched a large piece that had a meaningful poem or wishes for them. I've had them framed in each of their rooms and hope they will treasure this once they are older. However, my Rheumatoid hands will no longer allow me to cross stitch so I am trying something different for San'er. We would love to start a 100 Good Wishes Quilt, or Bai Jia Bei. In northern China, there is a tradition to welcome and celebrate a new life with a "100 Good Wishes Quilt." It is a custom to invite family, friends, and oh-so-faithful blog readers to contribute a square patch of cloth. The patches are sewn together into a quilt that contains the luck, energy, and good wishes from all the families and friends who contributed a piece of fabric. The quilt is then passed down from generation to generation. We would LOVE it, if you would contribute to this project. Here is what we would like you to do:

1. Choose a 100% cotton fabric that you like. It can be from a fabric store, fabric you already have, or something that is special to you, or maybe even fabric that has special family meaning. In China, these quilts were originally made from garments of family and friends, which would surround the child with luck/good wishes)

2. Prewash the fabric so it shrinks and is clean; then iron it
so that it is straight enough for cutting.

3. Cut one square measuring 8"x8" and smaller piece to include in our scrapbook with your wish.

4. Add your wish. The wish can be your own words or thoughts, a favorite poem or quote, a blessing for the new arrivals, a prayer for them, a favorite verse, or whatever. Place it on a card with a scrap of your fabric glued to the card. Your wish can be as simple or as elaborate as you'd like. If you feel creative and want to decorate it, that would be great too. For those of you who wish you can also include a picture of yourself so he can see who sent the wish. We'll have a special Wish Box or scrapbook for the wishes.

* You can send more than one piece of fabric for other members of your family

GOOD WISHES NOTE:

Wishes can be anything you wish for San'er's life.....good health, happiness, joy, adventure, remembering the good things in life, etc.

Please feel free to tell other family members and friends about our project. This is something that I think San'er will treasure as he grows older. I do not quilt so I will be finding someone to hand this project to, to complete for me.

You can private email (wwoodse@comcast.net) me for the address to send it to.

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Personal Assistant

Do you ever feel like your aren't really a mom? I think a better title would be "my child's personal assistant". After all, I pick up things they need at the store, schedule their appointments, make sure they get to soccer/t-ball/basketball/taekwondo.......... I make sure there aren't any scheduling conflicts. Allyson checks in with me not necessarily to see if she CAN do something, but if she has a scheduling conflict! Now, you have to understand something about this child. She HAS to be on the move. She seriously would rather be out at all times. This is kind of scary if this is a sign of things to come. Grant, on the other hand, would rather stay home. He doesn't want to go out to eat, to the mall, or anywhere! Hmmmm, I'm thinking ten years old is too young for a blackberry!

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Calling Your Senator Can Pay Off

Remember my H1N1 Vaccine post? Well, I ended up calling my senator who happens to be from our very small town. I found it VERY frustrating that the state was not getting this vaccine to those who were high risk and wanted it. I also found it frustrating that my tax dollars were vaccinating the public school kids, but my own kids would not be included. If other states can get it together, so can mine! I received several phone calls from the health department on my CELL PHONE. Yes, they are certainly persistent! Not only did he give me his home phone number, but he gave the health department my home and cell number! Thank you Senator for getting things moving! The health department took my information, and I honestly didn't think I would be hearing from them again. However, they called and schedule my H1N1 vaccine about a week later. I brought the kids when I went in and the nurse (who was so very nice!) asked if I wanted my kids vaccinated. Ten minutes later, both my kids had nice sore little arms and an inactive vaccine! Wow! Now I know immunizations are controversial these days, and I realize that the h1n1 vaccine is even more controversial. However, I CAN'T get sick. Better safe than sorry, right? Let's ALL stay healthy!

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Kazakhstan's Radioactive Legacy

Over at The Big Picture, there are pictures of Semey, Kazakhstan and the people living there. They have been affected by nuclear radiation due to the Soviet Union's atomic bombing practice with 456 bombs. This has affected three generations as they are still affected by it to this day. So sad. Some of the pictures are a bit disturbing. Sometimes, we get so comfortable with our own day to day, that we can lose sight of how other people have to live. We lose site of The Big Picture

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First Care Package

Our first care package has a pair of pj's, really soft bear, little snuggly blanket, picture book, disposable camera, "roaring" dinosaur, little truck, letter from us, and some teddy grahams.

This is one of the pictures we are including

Finally, the boys' bedroom. We are including these in the pictures as well.


This is the other half of the boys' room. Sending the care package makes things seem a little more real! Now, if I could only get a referral update!

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Is This the Face of Innocence or a Guilty Dog Pleading Not Guilty?

I came home to this face that says, "Who me? You think I made this mess?"!

Hmmmm.....maybe it was a very hungry burglar who only wanted trash to gnaw on.

She sure was eager to get out of the house when I got home.

Bad dog! Yesterday she ate an entire box of Golden Grahams that she pulled out of the bottom cabinet and chewed through the box and plastic bag. I just bought her a new bone too! I think she likes Golden Grahams better!

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I MIGHT have....

I MIGHT have dropped my kids off at school in my pjs.
I MIGHT have also walked into the post office and the bank in my pjs.
I MIGHT have let my kids take a cruddy lunch of pizza pockets, crackers, and candy to school. But, hey, we did get a lot accomplished this morning, and I stuffed some fruit in their lunchboxes too.
I'm just sayin', I might have.


Disclaimer: I don't smoke, don't take Prozac, and don't take my coffee black!

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