One more thing...

In my previous post I listed 50 things about myself that folks may or may not know about me. I forgot one more that I'll add.

51. I proposed to Dan. Yes it was me that asked. Dan and I had dated about 2 and a half years, much of it a long distance relationship. He was on the East coast, me in the Chicago area and he got this great job offer out in the SF bay area. He took the job and I was still in Chicago. I felt like we had dated quite a while and we needed to see if our relationship was really going to work. So Nick and I moved out to CA, Dan and I were married and we are still together 18 yrs. later. Truthfully, I was scared to death to get married again...but I took a chance.

So now I think that I'd like to see a few more of these posts with "50 (it doesn't have to be that many) little facts about yourself" on blogs. We might get to learn some new things about each other. :)

100th post

Well I looked at the number of posts yesterday and realized I've hit 100, really 101 to be accurate. So to celebrate my 100th post, I thought I'd do something different and instead of talking about Grace, or the adoption wait, or whining about something, I'd talk about me. Here are 50 things about me you may or may not know. I hope I don't bore you all too much.

1. I've been married for 18 years to Dan.
2. I take a size 7.5 shoe.
3. My middle name is Elizabeth (a family name).
4. I am 1/2 Swedish, the rest German, Irish and a little bit French Canadian.
5. I graduated from Purdue University in the state of Indiana. I majored in nursing and worked for a year on an adult neuro-rehab floor, then 17 years in Neonatal ICU's (also floated to Peds ICU's).
6. I loved nursing, but should have majored in Art or Design in college.
7. My eyes are green.
8. I'm 5'6" tall (I always wanted to be 5'8").
9. I am an intuitive person.
10. I'm not a camper. Camping to me is staying in a hotel.
11. Being a SAHM is the hardest thing I've ever done--I have so much respect for my Mother who did this in the 1960's, 70's and 80's.
12. One of my favorite vacations is to travel to Napa, CA-stay in a B&B and go wine tasting! Wish I was there right now, we have close friends that live there.
13. I cry easily watching movies.
14. If I won the lottery or a lot of money I'd donate most of the $ to children's charities.
15. I'm the oldest of 4 children and I definitely have an "oldest child" personality.
16. My ex-husband and I have a very civil relationship.
17. I love to sing! I have an average voice.
18. My 2 favorite cities in the U.S. are Chicago and San Francisco, I've been fortunate to live near both of them for many years.
19. Some of my interests are: reading (about China and adoption), gardening, interior design, calligraphy, card making, and wine(yes-- wine).
20. I'm "wound pretty tight" a lot of the time, but people tell me I have a calm demeanour and voice.
21. My favorite season is Fall, second favorite is Spring.
22. I'm an organized person (most of the time) and a planner.
23. I was in the top 5% of my class of 675 students in high school.
24. My favorite foods are: shrimp, garlic, fresh green beans and peaches. Not all mixed together though.
25. I wear glasses now and am new to wearing them.
26. I grew up in a very "Leave It to Beaver" family...my Mom stayed at home and Dad was home every night for dinner at 5:30pm.
27. Some favorite movies of mine are: The Sound of Music, Lost in Translation, When Harry met Sally, My Fair Lady, Little Miss Sunshine, and Memoirs of a Geisha.
28. Some memorable hairstyles that I had were the "Marcia Brady" mid-70's "do," the "Farrah Fawcett" late-70's "do," and of course the big hair 80's hairdo. I will have to find some old pics of me then and post them. I was pretty good with a curling iron I will confess.
29. I'm an accessory (purse's, shoes, and jewelry) addict. I admit I have a problem.
30. I've had a blast in my 40's and look forward to turning 50.
31. The trip to China and adoption has truly been a life changing experience for me in so many ways, and I will never be the same.
32. I love biology, anatomy and physiology and never tire of reading about those subjects.
33. My celebrity crushes are on George Clooney, Ewan McGregor, Brad Pitt, Johnny Depp, Jude Law, Jon Bon Jovi, and Harrison Ford (in his younger days).
34. I grew up in the Lutheran Church and I now belong to a Presbyterian one here where we live.
35. I want to learn how to knit (my Mom knits beautifully), and plan on taking a photography class.
36. I'm not very athletic, in fact I'd describe myself as kind of klutzy--but I'm a strong swimmer and I can water ski.
37. I miss the medical profession but doubt I'll ever return to it.
38. I was NOT the nicest teenager--very nasty to my Mom for a time period. Sorry Mom.
39. I was a "girly girl" growing up.
40. I'm a great friend!
41. I think my last name (the married name) is funny (the humorous kind of funny).
42. Some favorite books of mine: The Good Earth, To Kill a Mockingbird, Diary of Anne Frank, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and The Little Prince.
43. I'm not opposed to plastic surgery someday. Hey, I'm a little shallow but I'm also truthful. :)
44. As an adult I've lived in North Carolina, Ohio, Illinois (2 different times), Northern California, and Wisconsin. I've enjoyed every place that I've lived.
45. I never in a million years thought I'd be a parent (again) in my 40's and now probably early 50's when this second adoption is completed.
46. I've been pregnant 4 times (sadly, I've had 3 miscarriages).
47. I have amazing parents and siblings that I am close to.
48. I love little kids, I don't really have a favorite age or developmental stage of children. I do have a least favorite age group-2 yr. olds. That's just my opinion.
49. My sister Betsy and I are 18 months apart to the day in age. When we get together no one can get a word in. My husband Dan says she and I have our own language. Betsy and I laugh until we cry when we are together. Having a sister is the best!
50. I met Dan at our 10 year high school reunion. He was married previously and had been divorced for a few years. I had been divorced 3 days when we met. I almost didn't go to the reunion because my best girlfriend (who was supposed to go with me) had a baby the day before. So I went by myself. I remember I was scared to death to go alone and of course grieving my divorce. I met Dan at the reunion, actually re-met. We went to the same high school, had many classes together and had many mutual friends, but never dated. He and I both went to Purdue University at the same time, but again never dated. I did have a crush on him then. Our paths crossed many times as young people. At the 10 year reunion he followed me around like a puppy, I had been burned pretty badly by my ex and didn't want to date anyone ever again (ha...so I thought) and certainly not get married again. We became friends and dated for 3 yrs. before we were married. It's the best thing I've ever done. Dan is the love of my life and the person I was supposed to be with forever. It just took me a little while to find him.


Well, there's my 50. I didn't think I could come up with that many and probably could have gone on and on, but won't. :)

14 months anniversary of our LID

"Traveling at such a slow pace, Do you think you can ever get there?" A fast steed asked a lame turtle. "Yes, as long as I keep going." said the turtle.

From Chinese saying Bo Bie Quian Li

Adoption Prescription

Grace

Grace's preschool photo--taken 2 months ago in November. She looks so grown up I think. In the last year she has matured by leaps and bounds both emotionally and physically. The time goes so fast...it seems like yesterday that she was a baby. I often wonder how we got her. I mean how did we get this girl? How was she picked for us? She is the perfect child for us in so many ways--personality(she is so much like me at age 5), temperament, interests. I think of the other 10 children from her travel group and each one is special and an individual and also absolutely perfect for their own families too. You read a lot about the "red thread" to China and it is real and quite strong. It is there for us for Lily too and for all the other families who wait for their children. There are days that I don't know how I can wait any longer for Lily. Somehow I do, and a lot of the reason is that I get great comfort from the fact that she is not ready yet for us. The child for us will come when it's the right time. We are so very blessed, and everyday I thank God for giving us this blessing of our Grace. :)

Wordless Wednesday

The Review Room

Well our dossier has been in the review room for approximately a month. Probably longer than that because no one really knows the exact time that it's being reviewed. No news is always good news...but it's awfully quiet out there. I have not heard or read about anyone being reviewed or asked questions from CCAA in our LID group of Nov. and I've been a little antsy about it lately. It sure would be nice to be out by Chinese New Year which starts Feb. 7. There will be a lot of celebrating in this house when we DO find out, it means we are an important step closer to our daughter! :)

Resolutions

A resolution is defined as, " a course of action determined or decided on." I don't make too many resolutions at the start of each new year. But this year I've made 3 that I believe I can stick to.

1. Complete Lily's 100 good wishes quilt. I've collected almost 100 fabric squares and wishes, so we are very close, I need to email or call a few family members and friends to ask if they'd like to contribute to the quilt. I will definitely post a pic of it when it's finished. Even though a referral for Lily is most likely a long way away, I feel like completing the quilt brings me closer to her.

2. Do a Lifebook for Grace. This has been a goal of mine forever and I'm going to do this! I have many good ideas for it, text wise. Grace is 5 and she's at the age where she would benefit so much with a book about her "own story." Grace is quite familar with her adoption story, but I think it's important for her to have a Lifebook.

3.Exercise. I have a really nice treadmill in the basement collecting dust. I used it faithfully for few years, but now it's a dust collector. For a while Grace even displayed some of her stuffed animals arranged quite neatly on it. If I resolve to walk on that treadmill 3 times a week, I think that's reasonable as far as keeping that commitment. I saw the photo at the top of this post and it made me laugh because there's a lot of truth in it.

Well those are my 2008 resolutions, I don't make crazy, unrealistic ones anymore. :)

Happy Friday and a couple of favorite pics!

Gracie (2) on the left with her BFF, Julia. They have the same birthday and are from same SWI. We met in our travel group.

Grace age 2, going down the slide.

I don't know about you, but I am so happy Friday is here and this week is finally over. It's just been one of those very long weeks. Let's see, we had problems with the furnace/thermostat of course when it's something like 5 degrees outside here in WI. That got fixed fortunately. Today Grace had a large cavity filled in one of her molars, and she cried throughout the whole procedure and I had to console her (help hold her down a little bit too). It was just one of those things that both of us were totally exhausted afterwards and extremely happy it was over. Grace has had cavities filled before and done very well with it all, but for some reason she just felt like crying and doing a fair amount of wiggling and resisting. And then I've been a "single Mom" all week while Dan is out of town for work. Grace has missed her Daddy so much this week, and I will say so have I. Thankfully it's the weekend very soon! :) Oh, and here are 2 very cute pics from the summer Grace was 2. When I look at them now, she was such a baby then.

Some things about our girl

Grace wearing my glasses in a Gracie way.

~ Grace has a wicked (in a good way) sense of humor and loves to laugh and make others laugh.

~ She has a kind and loving heart, and a gentle soul.

~ She loves school and her teacher and her friends.

~ She's learning to swim and she's naturally athletic. Gymnastics is her favorite right now.

~ She's a Daddy's girl. Hmmm I was one (and I still am) too!

~ She's a smart one. Is starting to read a bit on her own, she knows many sight words and she is very visual.

~ She has a strong spirit which will serve her quite well.

~ Grace has come so far in the last 4 years. 3 years ago Grace was identified as having a "significant speech delay," and mild sensory integration issues. She started with speech therapy 3 days a week and OT for sensory stuff, once a week. The sensory issues resolved pretty quickly. With much hard work on her part, Grace is "graduating" from speech this month. Her articulation issues are resolved, which were pretty monumental. We are so fortunate to have her in our lives. I have learned so much from her in so many ways. :)

Blogging with a Purpose Award

I was surprised and flattered to find out that Kim of Journey to Baby Lem gave me the Blogging with a Purpose Award. Thank you Kim you are very sweet, and you have made my day! Kim is a fellow Wisconsinite and she and her dh wait for their first child. You know I'm not sure really what purpose there is for my blog other than being a way to communicate to friends, fellow adoptive parents and waiting parents about what's going on in our life, in my head, and with this wait. The blog is therapy for me.

I'm supposed to nominate 5 people for this award, and that part was easy. I could have nominated many more. Here they are:

Angie, of A Mother's Place. Angie is a fellow Nov 06 LID friend and her blog is a calm oasis for me. She always has the "right" words. She is a Mom to 2 wonderful boys and she is waiting for her daughter from China.

Karen, of Morris, Party of Four. I adore Karen's blog and I'm not sure she knows that I read it faithfully. Karen has a deep faith and is an amazing writer. I love her writing style. She and her family wait for an adorable (and I mean adorable) daughter in China. Hopefully she will be home with them very soon.

Ashley of Waiting for Lilly. Ashley is a dear friend and another LID group member. Ashley and I have many email conversations about everything. She has 3 teenage boys that she is a mama to now and she is waiting for her Lilly to arrive. She is a supportive friend and someone I will meet hopefully this year in person!

Gala at Story of Our Life. Gala's blog is as real as it gets as far as life, kids, job and husband. I have met and know Gala in real life and she has a kind heart. She is a sweetie.

And finally Verna, of Families Grow ~ Watch Ours. Verna is the blog fairy and she has done my blog and many others. Verna is a busy Mom to soon to be 5...she and her dh will be traveling to China soon to bring their little boy home.

Award Guidelines:

1. Awarded parties must nominate 5 people who have not received the award.

2. The blogs that receive the award must serve some purpose.

3. In their post about the award they need to link back to the original entry.

4. Awarded parties must post the award banner on their site. The banner must be linked to Eric Novak's site.

Thank you

I want to say thank you for the very kind comments, and I even received a few emails. I couldn't get through this wait without your support. No one really understands how difficult this whole thing is, not our parents, siblings or even closest friends. I was an infertility patient for many years and was on that hellish roller coaster too. Somehow this roller coaster is a bit different because I believe there is a child at the end of this road for us all. And when I say my heart aches, it aches for everyone concerned...waiting parents and more importantly the children who wait. Because that is what this is all about... those children who need families, where ever they are from --Ethiopia, Taiwan, Mexico, Korea, the Philippines, India, Haiti, China or from the United States. Take care my friends! :)

No words anymore

(hope)

There's a lot of sadness right now in the world of China adoption. And it's not really because the little box on CCAA's site closed...it's because if insane sounding rumors are trickling in, that talk of lengthening wait times to referral. I can hardly press the number keys on my keyboard...2011, 2012 possibly for our late Nov. 06 LID. My heart aches. This past summer I cried endlessly about this wait when I started to realize what was truly happening with adoption from China. This adoption program has gone from one of predictability and transparency to one of uncertainty and endless waiting. No one knows what is going on---other than we are on some out of control rollercoaster and we don't know when we'll be able to get off the ride. The only glimmer of hope that I still have and that keeps me still going is that CCAA has publicly said that things are slowing down, but if we are patient we will get a referral. I honestly don't know what to say anymore when people ask me about the wait. Because I have no words.

Hola! from Mexico

Here are some photos of our trip...can't believe we were there only a week ago. We will return someday soon I am sure. Ahh...now back to the real world. :)

It's gone now

On CCAA's website there was a little box with the title "Documents Processing." It was great because we could see how far they had gotten with referrals, and what LID month was having their dossier's presently reviewed. Our LID month of Nov 2006 is presently in review. Well CCAA has taken the box off their site and now it's replaced with instructions to "check with your agency for information." This was the only teeny-tiny bit of information that CCAA would give out publicly and now it's gone. Ughh. Also more rumors are coming in about possible increasing wait times. At this rate I will be using a walker and wearing Depends when this child arrives!

Feliz Ano Nuevo!

Grace with her hair braided. :)

The 3 of us having dinner in Playa del Carmen.

Main pyramid at Chichen Itza.

Gracie and me the last day of our trip.

Western Caribbean on the Mayan Riviera.

Hola! My Spanish is pretty limited I have to say, we celebrated the New Year in Mexico for a week after the Christmas holiday. This was my first trip to Mexico and I have fallen in love with another country and culture. Dan, Gracie and myself stayed about an hour south of Cancun in the town of Playa del Carmen, in a resort on the western Caribbean...the entire area is called the "Mayan Riviera." We relaxed by the ocean, swam, had margaritas (yum), Grace found many shells, did some shopping one day at the local market (brought back some silver jewelry for gifts), ate a lot of good food, relaxed some more, took a day trip to Chichen Itza (site of extensive Mayan ruins), went to a fun New Year's eve party at the resort and met many, many warm, friendly people from Europe, Canada, the U.S. and Mexico of course. Grace was quite the little traveler and charmed most everyone she met. It was a bit surreal arriving back to Wisconsin to the snow and cold, but it is great to be home! Here are a few photos, I will post some more maybe tonight or tomorrow. :)