Selflessness

So my hubby and I have decided on a fundraiser to help us with the cost of the adoption and travel to go pick up Mr. Hyeon-wu.  We are going to raffle off an iPad!  And some other smaller prizes.  Blake worked his magic on Craigslist and sold some things around the house (computer monitor, our Wii, and some computer speakers) and we were able to gather enough money to purchace an iPad.  We're excited about it but more about the raffle later.  Stay tuned.  Well, today Blake was driving through a city where an old buddy of ours from college is living and working.  Blake has lunch with him when he's down that way but really we don't see or talk to him and his wife very often, at all.  They were visiting today and Blake's buddy, Bruce, asked about the adoption.  Blake told him things were going good, got an important approval today, playing the waiting game, yadda yadda yadda.  Then Blake told him about the raffle and how we were hoping to raise a little money to help us bring home Griffin.  Bruce reaches into his wallet and hands Blake a $100 bill.  Ok, I'm tearing up again as I write this.  This is a guy who isn't wealthy and has struggled with his career.  His wife does well but $100 was VERY generous.

How do I wrap my brain around the generosity that this adoption is showing me?  From people I don't even know (sweet Peruvian lady at the fingerprinting place) to old friends like Bruce.  Blake and I have a hard time asking for help.  We have been through the ringer financially.  After our very expensive infertility treatments I was let go from my job in 2008 when I was 15 weeks pregnant.  Then in May of this year we had a failed IVF and you don't get your money back when those things don't work.  Not one penny.  Now we have this adoption (thank goodness for banks that will give loans in this economy) and after much prayer we're asking for help and it's really difficult for us.  I'm pretty sure I'm going to sob through this entire raffle...the entire month (or whatever) we're selling tickets. 

I don't know what I'm trying to say.  I guess I'm just so blessed to have old friends, new friends, family, and strangers like Bruce in my life.  I pray that he is blessed ten fold.

I600 Approval!!!

We got our I600 approval in the mail today!  That was super fast!  The quickest approval I had seen was about 4 weeks.  Ours was two weeks, one day.  AWESOME!!!  Such a blessing.  I actually called this morning because I was worried they were going to need some additional information for approval and I was so surprised when the nice lady on the phone said that we had been "recommended for approval" and we would probably be getting our approval letter soon.  As soon as I heard the mail woman I ran out (she probably thinks I'm crazy) and there it was.  Yay!!!

So what's next?  Well, I'm not sure how it all works but I know we need to be NVC in and out.  Then we need our EP (emmigration permit), VI (Griffin's visa interview), VP (can't remember what that is LOL), EA (drawing a blank), and then TC (travel call)!!!  Is there an adoptive mom that can help me remember what VP and EA is and what they consist of?  I know I've read about them but, honestly, I never felt I would ever get this far. 

Great day!  I pray things keep moving quickly.

Christmas!

Christmas was SO MUCH FUN this year!  Every year gets better and better as Kinley gets older and starts to 'get it.'  Next year will be even better with two kiddos in the house.  But, seriously, two kids...twice the toys.  I honestly can't imagine.  Kinley got an unbelievable amount of stuff this year and it's going to be even crazier next year!  Can't wait!

Here's the rundown.  Kinley woke up with a fever Thursday morning (the 23rd) and we were all packed up and ready to head to my parents so we could spend Christmas Eve at my grandparents' house with the fam.  We decided to give her some Motrin and see  how she did.  After a nap, some nuggets, and a reduction in her fever we decided to head out.  Kinley loves being at my parents' house and I knew she would be just as comfortable there than at our house.  We let Kinley watch movies all day and kept rotating Motrin and Tylenol.  She was pretty miserable.  The next day was Christmas Eve and we have always (except two times since I've been married) gathered at my grandlparents' house for a huge, delicious feast and gift opening.  I love this tradition and it means a lot to me.  I hate missing it which is the only reason I had my sick kid out and about.  Kinley got lots of goodies!  I mean LOTS!

Kinley loves Aunt Linda!

"Look what I got!"

She loves this inch worm riding toy.

Top 5 favorite toys of Christmas 2010 (and that's saying something)!

She can rock the guitar!

After the mess was cleaned up and we said our goodbyes, we started the 2hr and 15 minute drive back home so Kinley could be at her house when she woke up Christmas morning.  Kinley's fever went back up and she must have been aching all over because she squirmed in her car seat for two hours and fell asleep right before we got home.  At 11:00 PM!  Poor girl was so tired Christmas morning but she pressed on.

My little pony and stickers from her stocking.

Kinley loves Miss Spider which is pretty cool since it's about an adoptive family.

What is this?

Not a very good picture but this is usually how she plays her guitar cuz that's how she rolls.

So this is what it is!  I love it!

Christmas morning with just the three of us was wonderful but I was really excited to be hosting Christmas lunch.  My mom, dad, brother, and his girlfriend arrived at about 11:00 and we ate at about 12:15ish.  I made everything all by myself, which I'm pretty proud of.  The menu was ham, my famous (ha!) mashed potatoes, corn, broccoli and rice casserole, mandarin orange and almond salad, deviled eggs, and rolls.  Yum!  I thought everything was pretty good!  Then to the good stuff, gift unwrapping!

Princess house shoes.

She loves ALL her instruments!  Thanks grandma and grandpa!

My very handsome little brother and his gorgeous girlfriend.

Such a happy girl!

What mom?  I'm just feeding my baby.

Kinley and Grandma reading books before nap.  And yes, Kinley is still in her pajamas.

By the way, my mom purchased Kinley's hat and some bows from a fellow adoptive mom's Etsy store. We love everything we got and the prices are amazing! You can check it out here.

The day after Christmas we traveled to eastern Oklahoma to spend the day with Blake's parents and his brother's family.  Brooklyn (our niece), Boston (our nephew), and Kinley had lots of fun playing an elephant game.  I wish I had a picture of the game but I forgot my camera that day.  Anyway, it was nice to see everyone and Kinley got LOTS of wonderful gifts AGAIN!  The grandparents really overdid it this year.  It's what grandparents do.  I get it.  And we love them!

Christmas was almost perfect.  Even though it was pretty much impossible, we would have loved to have Griffin home for Christmas.  I hate that I missed his first Christmas but I know in my heart that he is right where he needs to be right now.  I have faith that he'll be home soon enough. 

Besides, we both know that I'm training to be a cage fighter.

I was really excited when my mom told me she bought The Elf on the Shelf for Kinley.  I had been debating whether or not she was old enough and if she would 'get it.'  I knew she would at least enjoy looking for the elf every day.  And boy, I was right!  She gets the biggest smile on her face when she spots him sitting in our Christmas tree or hanging from the top of our curtains.  Fun times!

Well, as all of you Elf on a Shelfers know, when you get your elf you name him.  The first day we got our elf Kinley was napping and Blake and I were discussing what our elf's name should be.  I knew Blake would come up with something good.  He's the goofy one. And he did not disappoint. 

Blake:  You know who he looks like?
Me:  Who?
Blake:  Napoleon Dynamite's creepy brother, Kip.
Laughter!  Tears!  Ridiculous quotes from the movie!  More laughter and tears!

So Kip it is.  I'm hoping one of these days I won't regret naming Santa's little spy Kip.  I don't want to tell Kinley her elf is named after a guy who famously said, "Napoleon, don't be jealous that I've been chatting online with babes all day."

It would be par for the course, though.  My dad made we watch Animal House a MILLION times!

Yup.  Kip.  Without the mustache and glasses.

Blessings

I received a very special package in the mail yesterday.  A new friend from the Holt adoption forum I'm apart of sent me a beautiful Christmas ornament that she made.  It's very special to me because it will always remind me of her and her sweet Aiden and the Christmas we were waiting for Griffin to come home.  I feel very blessed to have found the Holt Korea forum.  I have 'met' so many amazing women who are supportive, encouraging, sweet, and very knowledgeable about the adoption process.  I would be so lost without those women.  I'm not exaggerating.  If I have a question, they have an answer.  I really should be paying them for all the advice they've given me.

I love it!!!  Thank you so much Leah!

Merry Christmas to Me!

Ask and you shall receive.  We received Griffin's December well baby check today!  I was excited and really needed to hear some news about my son.  This wait is turning out to be much more difficult for me that I originally anticipated.  To be honest, I'm struggling to "bond" with this little person that I've never met and have very little information about.  I WANT to know him better and feel closer to him.  I knew getting new information would change that and it did.  I teared up as I read through his WBC.  Here's the low down.  He hasn't gained much wait, still in the >10% for height, weight, and head circumference.  But he's creeping (not yet crawling), saying single syllables, and he's repeating sounds.  He can say 'omma' which means momma!  How amazing is that?!  He's also doing all the gross and fine motor skills that he should be and is right on target developmentally.  Yay!  Good job buddy!

We also received our 'Notice of Action' for our I600 which is great.  Good to know they received it.  Now they just need to hurry up and process and approve it.  We sent our I600 to the USCIS last week with our legals. 

I600, Petition to Classify Orphan as Immediate Relative

Purpose of Form :  To classify an alien orphan who either is, or will be, adopted by a U.S. citizen as an immediate relative of the U.S. citizen to allow the child to enter the United States. The petition is filed by the U.S. citizen who is adopting the child.

I really needed this news today.  But there was one thing in the WBC that was a little worrisome.  Griffin is apparently wheezing.  Alright, foster mother, time to keep that baby boy at home and let him get well.  And I'm going to pray because that's all I can do.  Get better sweet boy.



All I want for Christmas...

We sent the first and possibly only care package to Griffin today.  It was both fun and frustrating shopping for him.  First of all, the last well baby check we have is from October so we can only guess how big he is now.  Second, boys stuff is limited.  Not much selection.  Not like shopping for baby girls.  It was still fun though.  As I've said before, I'm not much of a girly girl so clothes shopping for Griffin was pretty fun for me.  It was so hard for me not to go overboard!  I probably bought too much stuff but it'll be months before we meet him and we won't get to be with him his first Christmas.  I think I did pretty good, all things considered.  But the LARGE flat rate USPS box was stuffed FULL!  Here's what was in it:  2 long sleeved onesies, fleece pants, 3 sleepers, 6 pair of socks, sock monster (see picture), rattle, bendy ball, little blankie, disposable camera, lotion, toy cell phone (with my voice recorded), photo album, teething rings, linking toys, and chocolates for the foster family.  Here's a pic.

And here is a pic of the sock monster.  This is probably my favorite thing because Kinley has a bigger version that she sleeps with.  I hope the sock monster comes home with him. 

Sorry the picture is wacky.  It wouldn't rotate for me.



Now we just need to get some updated pictures and well baby check.  That's all I'm asking for for Christmas.  Pretty please, Santa?!

HurryUpWait

Well, legals just arrived at my house and left my house in the last hour.  When it's time for me to do something concerning the adoption I GET IT DONE.  I want Griffin home as quickly as possible so I feel it's my job to complete and mail all paperwork as quickly as possible.  I focus and move as fast as possible while also making sure I have followed all the instructions to the letter.  And now my chest hurts and I can feel that my blood pressure is up.  I'm not joking.  Breath...

Ok!  My hubby and I have been brainstorming and working on a little project.  We're planning on doing a raffle to raise money to help us bring Little Man home.  We are REALLY wanting to raffle of an iPad so in the last three days Blake has sold our 20 inch computer monitor, our Wii, and our surround sound for our old computer.  All on Craigslist.  That dude is a selling machine!  Blake not Craig.  Seriously, I'm really proud of him.  Anyway, we're trying to come up with enough money to get the iPad to raffle off...but then I'm thinking...why don't we just put that money in our adoption fund.  I don't know.  I haven't worked that out in my head yet.  I'll just pray that we can sell MILLIONS (haha...evil Dr. Evil laugh) of raffle tickets!

Couple other side notes...I've been doing a little care package shopping for Griffin.  I won't be able to get a package to him before Christmas but that's ok.  It's been fun buying boy stuff.  I'll post a pic of everything before I send it off.  Also, I've been redecorating here on my blog.  It's not exactly what I wanted but I unfortunately don't have hours to waste finding the perfect background or banner.

OH, OH, OH!!!  Blake just called and because of some nifty driving he made it to the post office on time and our legals will be arriving at USCIS tomorrow before noon!  I can't tell you how happy that makes me!

Wordless Wednesday