Chuck-E-Cheese Day

Fun Friday

Today we met up with our friends Shannon and Linley at COSI Columbus. The girls got to play, and the mommies got to catch up..........



After our afternoon nap, Mark, Lucy, & I took our yearly trip downtown to The Jazz and Ribfest. Mark and I started the tradition years ago, and this was Miss Lucy's 2nd time. The weather was gorgoeus , the food YUMMY, and the beer cold. Lucy and Mark got their pictures taken wih a local TV personality (for some reason she was obsessed with showing him her shoes...not new or anthing by the way...) and Lucy wore herself out dancing and playing in the fountain. A great night was had by all!!

UNBELIEVABLE!!

Okay, so nothing is going on in life right now that is really picture worthy. The family pulled out and headed back to Wisconsin Tuesday afternoon, and we have been playing "catch up" ever since.........
So, anyway...here is the "unbelievable" part. Based on or LID (when our dossier was logged in to the China Center of Adoption Affairs ) of 10/11/2006, if we had not accepted Lucy from the "waiting child" list, we had a projected date of referral (where the CCAA matches you with your child) of....WAIT FOR IT.......March 27, 2012. That's right people....2012. Six years for our first child!!! like I said before...UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!
When we started our adoption process back in February 2006, we didn't even know the "waiting child" program existed. All we knew was that we were going to adopt, and it was going to be from China or Guatemala. I finally realized that Guatemala was NOT going to be an option, because I knew in my heart I could not handle the required 2 trips. How could I go and see my child, and then turn around and leave them there until the paperwork was complete to retun and pick them up. It would have killed me! I know there are plenty of parents who have done this, and my hat is off to them...it was just something I personally knew I could not do. So, China it was!! We DIDN'T HAVE A CLUE about the wait increasing...........
We found our social worker through a friend of my aunts, and set up our homestudy. During our homestudy, our social worker Amy asked if we had considered the "waiting child" program, as her son was from China adopted from the SN (special need) list. We were intrigued........why would we not check it out..we could do that... We filled out the medical needs checklist of the special needs we would accept, as well as the age of child preferred. Our agency responded that they would keep our list on file, but rarely did they get files of children under age 1 (as we had requested, like I said, didn't do much research..stupid me, I know!). Low and behold, 3 months later we got the call!! They had an 11 month old girl, and asked if we we would like to see her picture. OF COURSE!! I shook for 4 hours straight!! If it hadn't been for Therese... I would not have been able to function at all!!
Anyways...for those of you still here as I ramble..this is how we became a family! I must say (and this may anger some people..) that I hate to see so many people swithching to the "waiting child" list because I fear that they are not doing it for the right reasons. I am by no means righteous, and I know there are SO MANY wonderful SN souls over in China that need a forever family to love them, but I am so afraid someone will mistake this program as the "easy" way out. On the other hand, there are also SO many families I know would be great for this program. I try not to advocate for either...although my friends may disagee, LOL.
So, to all you waiting parents out there...my prayers are with you. Please know that truly, GOD has his hand in everything, and the right child is out there for you. We could not have been given more of a perfect match. We are so in love with OUR LUCY!!

What a crazy week!

It really has been one CRAZY week. It started last Monday with Lucy waking up moody, and this lovely attitude kept up throughout the week. We were mean to friends on playdates, and spent a LOT of time in time-out. The night terrors started again, and by Thurday we threw in a cluster of nosebleeds. I personally have NEVER had one, so Lucy's can really throw me for a loop. (Especially at midnight!!) Needless to say, none of us have had ANY sleep. Ahhhh...the joys of parenting! My brother sent his family down for a long weekend, and my sister-in-law and I decided to try to get all the cousins in for pictures as it has been a year this month since all of them were photographed together. I also wanted to get some shots of Lucy alone as she was officially 2 1/2 this past weekend. Saturday and Sunday were spent in our pool with the family, and we had a birthday party Saturday night. When the cousins pull out on Tuesday, we are just going to veg out at home for a day or two trying to get our bearings back........

Happy Birthday Linley

Our Little Angel

Just so everyone doesn't think life with a child is all joyous...we thought we would post the "other" side of Miss Lucy.

To hear the video scroll down to the bottom of the page and stop the music that is playing on this blog.

Maria Sue Chapman

If you get a chance, please say a prayer for the family of Maria Sue Chapman, as this is the the anniversary of their adoption day...the first one without their precious daughter. I cannot begin to imagine the pain that they are feeling, yet rejoice with them knowing that her beautiful soul is in heaven with our Lord, playing amongst the angels.

Goodnight Uncle Tom

When we came home from our fun day, Lucy just HAD to talk to her Uncle Tom and tell him all the fun things she got to do! Also, notice her "whammer hammer" (Wow Wow Wubbzy anyone??) that daddy won for her at the fair. (And don't get me started on the pink bow....she wouldn't even let me take it out to go to sleep!!!!!!)

Lucy's First Fair

Today we took MissLucy to her first fair. It was our county (Franklin) fair, and quite small, but for us, it was the perfect size! The weather was gorgeous, and the crowd small. We looked at rabbits, goats, and roosters, and enjoyed the giant slide and inflatable jumping house. What a perfect afternoon!

Indianapolis Children's Museum

Friday morning we all headed out early to the Indianapolis Children's Museum. It is only an hour from Emily and Becca's home, and an hour closer to Columbus. What a GREAT place! It puts COSI Columbus to shame! We didn't get to spend as much time there as we would have liked (we wanted to get out and home before traffic got bad!) but we had a blast nonetheless. Mom thought she wore me out for the 3 hour ride back...haha, wasn't she shocked!!!! I only slept an hour!! Once again...thank goodness for the DVD player!!

Mommy & Lucy Roadtrip

Mommy and I decided to take a trip to see our friends Jim, Emily & Becca in Lafayette, Indiana. It was a half day trip, and I did great! Mommy was nervous to drive with me alone, but the DVD player kept me entertained. We had lots of fun.... we ate at a pizza place where our drinks were served by train, and played at a beautiful park. Mom and Em had a chance to hang out and catch up, and I had a chance to dig into Becca's toys. Bathtime

Fun merry-go-round........didn't know they still had these.....Jim taking a break

Rolling down a hill

I am a mess!
Yummy!

New blog friend.......

Pull up a chair, and sit right down..................

If you get a chance, check out Lisa's blog at http://www.lostandfoundjourney.blogspot.com

She and her daughter Emme just came home from China, and she could use your prayers and positive vibes!

Thinking of you Lisa and Emme!

Happy 4th of July

What a busy day!! We were invited to a party at my former employers GORGEOUS new home (ahem I mean mansion!, and did I mention GORGEOUS?) in Arlington. There was a parade too, but it was raining quite a bit, so we skipped that. It was nice to see Doug, Sarah, Josh and Sam again. A little sad too.......I was their nanny when I left college and moved back to Ohio. Sam was only 8 months old when I started, and Josh was born shortly after. I had both boys until they started at school. Yesterday they didn't remember me. My fault for meeting with Sarah for lunch just once a year or so, and keeping in touch through e-mail despite them only living 7 miles away. Still...it was sad. I truly love those two boys like they were my own!! During my employment there, Sarah became a friend to me, and both she and Doug were there to support me through some tough times. Next was home for a nap, and then of f to the Poe's house to play at the park and watch fireworks. (The weather actually decided to cooperate for the first time in a week!) Lucy was excited-this was her first time to see fireworks as we were all still adjusting last year after returning from China, and didn't make it anywhere. It didn't hurt that they had fudgesicles and glow necklaces for the kids! Haha! Thanks to all who included us in their fun yesterday!

My 4th of July flag and cute dress

Doug and Sarah

Josh and Sam (They are soooooo big now!)

Lucy and Rich at the park

Daddy loves to do self portraits........I can't tell you how many of these we have! But heck..they are cute!

Happy 4th of July everyone! Bye!