pins and needles

I am on pins and needles today. Got little sleep. Can't wait to get our call.
The champagne is chilled! Oh please let it be today.......

anticipation

We can never know about the days to come
But we think about them anyway, yay
And I wonder if I'm really with you now
Or just chasin' after some finer day

Anticipation, anticipation
Is makin' me late
Is keepin' me waitin'

- Carly Simon


She says it best. This feeling is driving me insane.
I hope I am out of my misery tomorrow...

Bennett starting to bike

some numbers

4 years, 8 months, 18 days between the last two posts
4 years, 9 months, 6 days since our LID in China
(LID is "log in date" and is the measure of when you will get a referral)
0 the number of years to go, we are hoping it is a matter of months
1 son born in December 2008
3 houses lived in since we started this process of adoption
$123,456.78 dollars we have spent so far..... OK.... just kidding, but it feels like it!
$.10 the cost of the tea bag I am sipping on while writing this
3 the number of cell phones I've gone through since 6/18/06
0 divorces, Howard is amazing

There are, of course, more numbers (I am told an infinite amount) but this is what popped into my head this afternoon.

Testing 1 - 2 - 3

I had a heck of a time getting acess to this blog again. I'm in, and ready to get this started again. This is a test.

Thanks to all my friends at China Adopt Talk who got me back in the saddle with the blog.

no new news

Hello everyone! I hope our fellow educators are doing OK with the back to school craziness that seems to happen every year - no matter how long you have done this.

We have not had any new news about the adoption. We have heard that it is currently taking about 12-13 months to get the referral. UGH. I say that a lot. (I would prefer to curse a blue streak but mom might get pissed)

We are having another big push for "entries" for the quilt (see past bloc). We would really like to collect 100 and it is not too late. We want all who are special to us to be included.

The summer was wonderful and busy. How had to work summer school, all principals in the city are required to. I took the summer off which was needed and wonderful. I ran around a lot. MAE wedding was wonderful. She and T were happy and everything was lovely. The week in PA at her wedding resort was so much fun. SOOOO many thanks to Mo's mom and dad for renting all of us the cabin for the week. How and I went to CO to our friends D and P's cabin. How and P went backpacking and had a great time. I was so glad how had a bit of time off doing something he really wanted to do. Then it was back to getting ready for school.

I am having problems with my feet, a great deal of pain. (I actually went for a cortisone shot today) They are really bothering me and I am thinking about getting them operated on again before the baby gets here and I won't be able to do anything about it for awhile. I will go to get a second opinion - we'll see.

Our cat Brody is back with us after a month and a half at my folks house. He loved being a country cat and was happy to have company since we were away most of the summer, off and on. We are happy to have him back.

That's it for now. Mo

A Date

I first want to start by saying that I know it has been a long time since we posted. We have not had any new info on the adoption front until yesterday. Life has been very busy since the end of school but I'll get to that in a minute.

Yesterday we got a letter from our agency that the "official" log in date for our dossier to the China Center of Adoption Affairs (CCAA) is 6/18/06. That is to say that the chinese government office that handles the adoption got our papers on June 18th. NOW - they are saying that currently it is taking about 12 months to get a referral from that date. That time could increase or decrease. We certainly hope for decrease. We just need to be patient (there is that damn word again) and when it happens / it happens. Sigh.

On another front - How and I have been very busy with the summer. How is working summer school. This was not a choice, all principals here in the city work the program. It is nice because he has a bunch of Fridays off and some of the time he can work at his own office. How was just up in Cambridge, Mass. at a seminar given by Harvard for education leadership. He went with a bunch of people from his NYC group. He was there for seven days - missed him - but was busy (see next paragraph).

At the same time, I applied and got accepted to a program at The Cooper-Hewitt Museum (The National Design Museum for the Smithsonian). I applied with my friend D from Catalina and they flew her out and she stayed with me. The program (all about DESIGN) was great and we did some fun "city stuff" in the eveneings. My cousin got married which was a lot of fun, very nice. Went to mom and dad's with one sis and two nephews and had a great week. Going to CT this weekend with How's bro S. and his wife and two boys. Gearing up fro M3's wedding. Got to have a fun bachlorette night with her friends. M2 did a great job organizing that. Finally got her fiance T. to take me to Vietnamese which was tastey. Brody (our cat) is spending the summer with my folks as the cat sitter is expensive and he was angery the last time we left him. This way he has company. We have been busy.

On the horizon - How's 40th birthday. (He's not too happy about it so do not rub it in, like I have been doing) We'll let everyone know plans when we make them! Fun!

Still getting some fabric for the quilt. I will do another "push" soon as to remind people to send the fabric and notes. Love to all - Mo

showers everywhere

It's been raining a ton here on the East Coast. Showers here and there. Speaking of showers (I am not good at segways) I (Mo) have been to two bridal showers in the past two weekends.

Two weekends ago was my sister, M3's, shower. Mom, M2 and I all took Friday off from our schools and converged on S. Jersey to get ready. We had a great time visiting, cooking and decorating. My mom's two friends from forever came down from PA and had a slumber party Friday night and helped a ton with the shower, esp. Saturday. The shower was great, the weather could have been better, we had to be inside the whole time. M3 looked cute and I was happy so many friends and family were there to celebrate her upcoming nuptuals. She received very nice gifts and had a fabulous time - except for having to wear the crazy "ribbon hat" that my cousin B was good enough to make for us while the gifts were being open. (Thanks B and it was great talking to you for so long afterwards)

Last weekend I drove to NE P.A. to the area where my mom, dad and most relatuives live for my cousin Mar.'s shower. It was wonderful to see everyone there esp. my Grandmother's sisters. They were all there together and I know they had a great time that weekend. Mar.'s shower was great - nice and short! (You know how some of those things get) Yummy cake!

It was so sweet of everyone, during both events, to ask how the adoption was going. Although we are not doing work right now people asking helps keep things going along. Such beautiful wishes. Everone is also asking: "Is it too late for the quilt?" Answer: "NO" PLEASE send your fabric and note, we are still hoping to get 100!

Happy Father's Day - Esp. to Bob, Ed and Cap

Our weekend

Mo and I spent the weekend getting more acquainted with Brooklyn. On Saturday, M2 and the boys joined us for a fun day at Prospect Park. We enjoyed the Prospect Park Zoo - a small but well-maintained zoo as well as a playground that kept the boys entertained for quite a while. From there, we took the subway back to Dumbo and the Brooklyn Bridge Park. It was a very full day and the boys were suitably wiped out.

On Sunday, Mo and I spent a couple of hours down at Coney Island and Brighton Beach - our first trip there. I had the obligatory Nathan's hot dog and spent a little while in the batting cage - for which I payed dearly later. It was a very warm day and we were sans sunscreen - ouch. Walking into Brighton Beach was quite a cultural event - all of sudden, everyone was speaking Russian. We'll have to go back and eat at one of the waterside restaraunts.

We can't wait to share these experiences with our child.

the dossier is taking a trip

Well, we were told yesterday that our dossier is going to China today! This is a very good (fantastic) thing. The paperwork is out of our hands and any control is gone. Now, for those of you who me (Mo) the loss of control will be driving me a bit crazy. I am starting to let myself plan for the baby. Looking at room decor, thinking of names, etc. We cannot commit to anything yet as there is a 3% chance that a boy could be placed with us. We'll try to do planning unisex.

Besides that, work is keeping us both crazy. This time of the year gets so hectic. So much going on. How is getting over a spring cold. I think he gave some to me - that or I have some allergies. We are looking forward to the summer and the weddings of my sister and my cousin. Plus How is spending some time at Harvard for a meeting for school. At this point, I am not working. Should be a busy summer. Would love to see some friends and family - hint, hint.

100 Good Wishes Quilt

THANK YOU! We want to thank all of you who have sent us 100 good wishes quilt fabric and notes. If you have not gotten a chance, it is not too late and Mo and Grandma H really want to get at least 100 before putting the quilt together.

Thank you so very much.

for those new to blog

If you post a comment back, please do not use our names as other will be able to read your post. Please use our "user names".

Also, the other reason we are doing this is once we do get to China, we can use this to share photos and info.

new idea

How and I decided to "create" a blog so that we have an easy way to keep family and friends posted on our adoption from China. We are being a bit selfish as to be unburdening ourselves with the responsibility of keeping everyone up to date with the adoption news. -sue me

After our very long - horrifically long - process of the paperwork, we are finally done! We started in September. Mo sent the paperwork to the agency Friday. According to Fed Ex, they got it. Now we wait for them to go over everything. If all is OK, and it better the hell should be, they will send it the beginning of the week to China.

As we undertsand things, once it gets to China, it will be looked over again and translated. This is supposed to take about two weeks. Now - I said SUPPOSED TO. We have found with this process / adventure that things do not always happen when and how they should. We keep being told that it is somewhat the norm. ANYWAY. After the translation, the paperwork (dossier) will be taken to the CCAA (Chinese Center of Adoption Affairs). They will give our dossier a docket number and then the true waiting starts.

When we first started this, we were told that at that time families were waiting about eight months after getting thie number until they get their referral. I am hearing that now the wait may be as long as ten months. Ugh. For a "patient" person as myself (NOT) this waiting will be tricky.

We will get a "referral" which is a small photo of the child with some info. We then say "OK" and then travel about six weeks later. Again, this is how we understand things to be. SO, we probably will not be going to China for another (at least) ten months. Let's hope for sooner.

We will keep everyone pposted with any info we get along the way here but you are always welcome to call.

We thank everyone for their continuing support and love....