Monday, September 25, 2006

Referrals

I checked RQ when I got up this morning and the CCAA website has been updated. Referrals have been sent for people with LIDs through 8/9/05. That's 18 days worth so it's more than last month which is great. Of course, I wish they got further but it looks like we should get ours October or November based on this (no guarantees of course). I feel like I'm wishing the months away from referral time to referral time. Given that they're into August and we are getting much closer, I should probably get the nursery finished.

Sunday, September 24, 2006




New Friends




Jason and I went to NOAH which is a no-kill shelter that brings cats to the Plymouth Petsmart for adoption. There were so many cute, cute cats and kittens. One was an American Shorthair which I'd never heard of before; they are like the domestic shorthair except they have a face like a persian - all smooshed in. He was adorable but already spoken for. Jason and I spent some time with Beanie and Cecil in a small room and decided that we couldn't choose between them - they were both coming home with us!! They were wrestling and cleaning each other - too cute!! They are 16 weeks old, have all their shots and have already been neutered.
We bought a couple toys, one of which is a fishing rod with a feather on the end. When we got home, Jason started playing with them and the cats were doing backflips trying to get the feather. He keeps saying that these are the coolest cats ever which makes me very happy. We are changing their names. Jason named one (we need to get collars to tell them apart) J.J. which he says stands for Jumbah (boobah) Jr. I prefer to think of it as standing for Jumbo Jr. which is Dumbo's real name and in keeping with our tradition of naming pets after Disney characters. I'm naming the other one but haven't decided on which name yet. I'm going to look up some of the older Disney characters and see if any jump out at me.


Saturday, September 23, 2006

Rumors, Rumors, Rumors

Well, it's rumored that referrals were sent out on Friday and should hopefully be arriving at agencies early next week. Having an 8/30 LID, I certainly am not expecting ours but it is hard to resist the cry of AOA (All of August) that is resounding on the message boards. There is no clue to the cutoff date. Some say it could be 7/28 (very bad), some say a few days of August (okay but not great), some say mid-August (pretty good) and some are saying the end of August (best case*S*). 7/28-8/30 is a pretty wide range of estimates so it's anyone's guess. I usually don't wish my weekends away but I am anxious to see how far they match through.

I told Mike that I need to get another cat this morning. He asked if I wasn't sure I wanted to wait until after we go to China. Given the way that referrals have been going, I am positive I do not want to wait. If we were going next month, yes I'd wait. Given that we don't have a referral yet and probably won't have one until October at the earliest, I don't want to put off getting a kitty. Last week was so hard; I miss having a furry friend.

Saturday, September 16, 2006


Very Sad - Ariel 2/14/93-9/15/06

Friday morning around 4:15, my kitty, Ariel, got up on the bed and laid down. She wasn't laying the way she usually does and smelled horrible. She was crying an unusual cry. I brought her in the bathroom and she didn't fuss about me carrying her which was very unusual. She kept gagging. I called our animal hospital and was referred to another that had emergency hours. I put her in a tupperware box with a towel just in case she peed. I didn't want to put her in the carrier because she really hates it and I wanted to be able to pet her. I could tell she wouldn't be jumping out. After being at the vets for an hour or so and taking x-rays, we found she had congestive heart failure. Best case scenario - she could live a month, worst - she could die anytime. The doctor said even if she lived the month, she could very well still be in pain all the time. There was no real choice for me; how could I expect her to live in pain? When I went in to see her the last time, she had her back to the room in (she was in an oxygen cage). That was very typical of her because she does not like other people. I said goodbye to her, petted her, and signed the papers for them to put her to sleep. When I was rubbing her chin and ears the last time, she turned her head to look at me and meowed. My heart was breaking but I am very thankful that God had given her the strength to jump up on my bed; otherwise I wouldn't have woken up when I did.
Last night was very tough. When we brought a basket in that I'd gotten from Maureen, my first thought was that we had to put it away so Ariel didn't get in it. Then when I was sleeping last night, I'd reach out thinking she was there since she always slept with me. I felt pressure on my leg right before I fell asleep. I like to think that Ariel was telling me she was okay. When I think back over the past week, I realize she had slowed down a bit although she didn't really seem sick. Goodbye Ariel, I love you.

Tuesday, September 12, 2006




100 Good Wishes Quilt



What is a 100 wishes quilt? It’s a tradition in northern China for mothers to make a Bai Jia Bei (aka 100 Good Wishes Quilt) from squares of fabric given by friends and family to welcome the child. The friends and family also send a wish for the baby. It is said that the quilt contains the luck and energy from everyone who contributed a piece of fabric. The adoption community has taken on this tradition for our own daughters.
Above are pictures of the quilt I made for the baby. It turned out quite large. It was so much fun getting the squares in the mail and seeing all the different fabrics that were chosen. I ended up with more than 100 so I am planning on making a second quilt. If anyone would like to send a square and wish, please let me know. I'm thinking I may make this second quilt lap-size.

Monday, September 11, 2006

Hard to believe it's been 5 years


Where Were You When the World Stopped Turning? - Alan Jackson

Where were you when the world stopped turning that September day

Out in the yard with your wife and children

Or working on some stage in L.A.

Did you stand there in shock at the sight of that black smoke

Rising against that blue sky

Did you shout out in anger, in fear for your neighbor

Or did you just sit down and cry

Did you weep for the children who lost there dear loved ones

And pray for the ones who don't know

Did you rejoice for the people who walked from the rubble

And sob for the ones left below

Did you burst out in pride for the red, white and blue

And the heros who died just doin' what they do

Did you look up to heaven for some kind of answer

And look at yourself and what really matters

I’m just a singer of simple songs

I’m not a real political man

I watch cnn but I'm not sure I can tell you

The difference in Iraq and Iran

But I know Jesus, and I talk to God

And I remember this from when I was young.

Faith, hope and love are some good things he gave us

And the greatest is love.

Where were you when the world stopped turning that September day

Teaching a class full of innocent children

Or driving down some cold interstate

Did you feel guilty cause you’re a survivor

In a crowded room did you feel alone?

Did you call up your mother to tell her you love her

Did you dust off that bible at home

Did you open your eyes in hope it never happened

Close your eyes and not go to sleep

Did you notice the sunset for the first time in ages

Speak to some stranger on the street

Did you lay down at night and think of tomorrow

Go out and buy you a gun

Did you turn off that violent home movie your watchin

And turn on I Love Lucy reruns

Did you go to a church and hold hands with some strangers

Or stand in line and give your own blood

Did you just stay home and cling tight to your family

And thank god you had somebody to love


I think this song really touches me, not simply because I love country music, but because one of his lines tells exactly where I was when I heard the news. Five years ago today I was teaching kindergarten. We had just finished circle time and I was standing by the coat closet when one of my paras came and told me the news she'd heard in the office. I remember that when I was driving to work that morning I'd been thinking what a beautiful day it was and how blue the sky was. Who could have known the horror that lay just a couple hours ahead.


To all the families, friends of the victims - you're in my prayers and thoughts. God bless America.