Friday, April 28, 2006
I've Been Tagged
I've been tagged by David & Debbie a few weeks ago (I am just getting a chance to spend time on blogging and updating my adoption documents)
6 Weird Things About Me
1. I get Pavlov's dog syndrome anytime I smell, see or someone mentions pickles. I love pickles. My favorite is Sour Dill. I also have about 10 jars of pickles in my refrigerator. I'll be back, I have to go grab a pickle to snack on.
2. When I am washing dishes, I have an OCD problem of drying my hands constantly.
3. I have 15 bottles of lotion/body oil and a zillion tubes of chapstick around my house, in my car, on my office desk, in my purse because I can't stand having rough skin or dry lips.
4. I have to sleep with a body pillow. My husband calls it the "I have a headache tonight" pillow because it interfers with his ability to be intimate. I don't do it intentionally. It is comfortable. When we travel, I have to usually ask the hotel to bring extra pillows into the room so I can snuggle. By the way, I slept with a Winnie The Pooh until I was 13 years old.
5. I have never been able to memorize the 7 through 9 multiplication table.
6. I'm only comfortable getting blood taken from my left arm. I get very anxious when they try to take if from my right arm. It is just within the last year I have gotten over my fear of needles.
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Well, we are under a tornado watch and thunderstorms are heading our way, so I need to shut down for the evening. I don't want to chance having my electronics fried.
6 Weird Things About Me
1. I get Pavlov's dog syndrome anytime I smell, see or someone mentions pickles. I love pickles. My favorite is Sour Dill. I also have about 10 jars of pickles in my refrigerator. I'll be back, I have to go grab a pickle to snack on.
2. When I am washing dishes, I have an OCD problem of drying my hands constantly.
3. I have 15 bottles of lotion/body oil and a zillion tubes of chapstick around my house, in my car, on my office desk, in my purse because I can't stand having rough skin or dry lips.
4. I have to sleep with a body pillow. My husband calls it the "I have a headache tonight" pillow because it interfers with his ability to be intimate. I don't do it intentionally. It is comfortable. When we travel, I have to usually ask the hotel to bring extra pillows into the room so I can snuggle. By the way, I slept with a Winnie The Pooh until I was 13 years old.
5. I have never been able to memorize the 7 through 9 multiplication table.
6. I'm only comfortable getting blood taken from my left arm. I get very anxious when they try to take if from my right arm. It is just within the last year I have gotten over my fear of needles.
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Well, we are under a tornado watch and thunderstorms are heading our way, so I need to shut down for the evening. I don't want to chance having my electronics fried.
Thursday, April 27, 2006
My Friend Got Her Referral!
A lady I work with, who is also the person who convinced Scott and I to adopt from China, has been on pins and needles all week. About at 1pm Central today she receieved the referal pictures of her daughter via e-mail. Her daughter's SWI name is Mei Mei and she is absolutely beautiful. I am bawling as I type this. Mei Mei was born September 17th, 2005 in Guangdong Province and is at the Yangx SWI . I would share her picture, but I haven't received permission to post it.
Her husband and son are excited. They called their son at school and asked the principal to get him out of a class. They told him he is officially a big brother.
Her husband and son are excited. They called their son at school and asked the principal to get him out of a class. They told him he is officially a big brother.
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Grocery Shopping...bought a Barbie?
I went in for a few things: dog food...check. sugar-free fudge pops...check. gallon of milk...check. half and half for coffee...check. Chinese New Year Barbie...ummm....how did that end up in my basket?
I should have bought two (since we hope for twins or siblings), but at $20 a pop, it would have cost more than the few grocery items I needed. " Damn the boutique grocery stores for putting enticing goodies by the frozen food aisles!" (I am not kidding). At my local super grocery store chain, they put the toys across from the frozen food aisle because they know busy parents shop in that area for Orida fries, Hot Pockets, and ice cream!
But Chinese New Year Barbie is absolutely beautiful! Well, we know over the years, Mattel will come up with other "Chinese New Year" or "Chinese" Barbies and we will purchase a few more. Not that referrals are THAT long, but the container says for 6+ years. We will hold on to them and present the Barbies to our daughter(s) as a gift. Scott was thinking maybe we should save them for their "quinceneda". This means sweet fifteen in Spanish. We plan on giving our daughter(s) a sweet 15 in honor of their Mexican/Spanish heritage. [So they can be more confused than they may be at that age. You know what? At least my girl(s) will be able to dance a Chinese folk dance, a Texas two-step, a Cajun waltz and a Mexican tango !]
Getting back to the real topic at hand. Scott says, go buy another one and if we get one child, we can sell the extras. So, next paycheck, I'll go back to the supermarket and buy another one. If you are in the Austin, TX or Carmel, CA area and want me to buy one, I may be bribed. Of course, if you live in CA you won't get it until we visit Carmel which will be either in July or December of this year. But a good home made dinner or outdoor grilling may bring down the price (GRIN). Oh! Okay. No bribing necessary because you can also go buy it at Wal-Mart.Com.
Lori, Scott and I are purchasing one for you as a gift. [ Lori, her husband, and son, received their I-171H yesterday! Yipee! Scott and I are s-o-o-o-o happy for y'all!!! Congratulations!! ]
What is strange about this Barbie doll is the eyes are hazel, not dark brown. The skin is really light. Her hair is jet black. She has really long "Barbie" legs. The doll is really a "doll". I hope my daughter doesn't get a complex about Chinese Barbie (sound famililar??) I think this thought occurs to all parents who buy their child a Barbie.
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
It Has Been While
I can't believe nearly four weeks have passed since I last blogged. Time passes by so quickly. I am still working two positions. Management is trying to find a replacement for my old position.
I found out today from a co-worker who is adopting through our adoption agency just got a stork alert. She said she should be in the batch referrals received. Yipee!
We are still waiting for our I-171H. I'm starting to stalk to the mail carrier again. If I don't get something by Friday, I'm calling USCIS.
On another note...
Really think twice about adopting a dog from a shelter. Man! My German Shepherd has had nothing but problems; anxiety problems. Today, she knocked down my Le Cruset $75 2qt enameled cast iron pot and broke it. Thank goodness she wasn't under it when it fell or that our chihuahua wasn't under it. It could have killed either of them or hurt her seriously. AND I'm glad it didn't crack the tile. She then got so nervous she crapped and peed on the game room carpet. She is on anti-anxiety medicine, but it can take only one thing she deems as very bad to set her on a path of nervous distruction. I am so mad. As I walk around my game room I looked at destruction she has caused over the last year and observed what has to be replaced: the curtains, the carpet, the doors need to be sanded, puttied and painted because she pawed at them when we used to lock them. Where is Cesar Milan, the dog whisperer, when we need him? What is her problem? I can see why she was returned two times to the shelter. But Scott and I said we would stick it out. She is such a sweetheart on her up days.
Scott has started an open line of e-mail communication with his biological father. They are keeping the conversation light. His father hasn't asked for them meet. I'm glad they are trying to hash things out. It has been 12 years since they last talked.
I found out today from a co-worker who is adopting through our adoption agency just got a stork alert. She said she should be in the batch referrals received. Yipee!
We are still waiting for our I-171H. I'm starting to stalk to the mail carrier again. If I don't get something by Friday, I'm calling USCIS.
On another note...
Really think twice about adopting a dog from a shelter. Man! My German Shepherd has had nothing but problems; anxiety problems. Today, she knocked down my Le Cruset $75 2qt enameled cast iron pot and broke it. Thank goodness she wasn't under it when it fell or that our chihuahua wasn't under it. It could have killed either of them or hurt her seriously. AND I'm glad it didn't crack the tile. She then got so nervous she crapped and peed on the game room carpet. She is on anti-anxiety medicine, but it can take only one thing she deems as very bad to set her on a path of nervous distruction. I am so mad. As I walk around my game room I looked at destruction she has caused over the last year and observed what has to be replaced: the curtains, the carpet, the doors need to be sanded, puttied and painted because she pawed at them when we used to lock them. Where is Cesar Milan, the dog whisperer, when we need him? What is her problem? I can see why she was returned two times to the shelter. But Scott and I said we would stick it out. She is such a sweetheart on her up days.
Scott has started an open line of e-mail communication with his biological father. They are keeping the conversation light. His father hasn't asked for them meet. I'm glad they are trying to hash things out. It has been 12 years since they last talked.
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
Being A Father
Scott has been thinking about his own father since he wanted to be dad. His dad hasn't been a part of his life since Scott was 22. Well, actually since Scott was 4 years old. They've seen each other off and on. His mother never kept Scott or Scott's sister away. His dad chose to show up when he pleased. Scott says his dad did something that made Scott dislike him.
Scott has known where his father lives since January. Scott mom is a prominent psychologist in the Carmel, CA area and she has her own website. Scott's dad e-mailed her. His father had changed his name to a French name. Strange, aye? Sounds like he is running from something. Anyway, Scott googled him and ran across a poetry site. His father did write about Scott in a few poetry pieces. Scott has been monitoring his site. Scott told his sister about it and she anonymously e-mailed their father. Then the poetry started rolling in about Scott and his sister. His dad plays the victim and never points the finger at the consequences of his own actions.
Scott father finally found Scott's e-mail address from Scott's blog about fishing. Scott chooses to disclose his identity in his blog. His father must have googled Scott's name.
Scott finally e-mailed his dad and said he would like to start a dialogue with him. However, he set boundaries and said he doesn't want to rehash the past.
Scott said he can't ask his own children to forgive him if he can't even forgive his own father. I totally support him. I've had a rocky relationship with my father when I was growing up, but he and I have come to an understanding where we accept each other for who we are and don't try to change each other. My father and I are are now close. Scott says he has learned forgiveness from my relationship with my father. He also knows what type of relationship he wants to have with his children and it is totally different than his father or step-father's behaviour. He says he wants to be a very hands on father. He also wants to give his children hugs and say "I love you" often whether the child is a daughter or a son. Our families have these gender rolls where father's don't give their son's hugs or words of encouragement.
I know Scott will be a great father. He is definately ready. He says he can't wait to have our son or daughter with us even though he knows it is going to be the toughest job he has ever attempted.
Scott has known where his father lives since January. Scott mom is a prominent psychologist in the Carmel, CA area and she has her own website. Scott's dad e-mailed her. His father had changed his name to a French name. Strange, aye? Sounds like he is running from something. Anyway, Scott googled him and ran across a poetry site. His father did write about Scott in a few poetry pieces. Scott has been monitoring his site. Scott told his sister about it and she anonymously e-mailed their father. Then the poetry started rolling in about Scott and his sister. His dad plays the victim and never points the finger at the consequences of his own actions.
Scott father finally found Scott's e-mail address from Scott's blog about fishing. Scott chooses to disclose his identity in his blog. His father must have googled Scott's name.
Scott finally e-mailed his dad and said he would like to start a dialogue with him. However, he set boundaries and said he doesn't want to rehash the past.
Scott said he can't ask his own children to forgive him if he can't even forgive his own father. I totally support him. I've had a rocky relationship with my father when I was growing up, but he and I have come to an understanding where we accept each other for who we are and don't try to change each other. My father and I are are now close. Scott says he has learned forgiveness from my relationship with my father. He also knows what type of relationship he wants to have with his children and it is totally different than his father or step-father's behaviour. He says he wants to be a very hands on father. He also wants to give his children hugs and say "I love you" often whether the child is a daughter or a son. Our families have these gender rolls where father's don't give their son's hugs or words of encouragement.
I know Scott will be a great father. He is definately ready. He says he can't wait to have our son or daughter with us even though he knows it is going to be the toughest job he has ever attempted.
Saturday, April 01, 2006
Fingerprinted
We are back. The fingerprinting went well. I hope they are sufficient enough for the USCIS fingerprint analysis and it doesn't pull up any nasty unknown or forgotten criminal history. Here is the timeline of our trip.
4:00am Got up, showered, drank coffee
4:45am Left the house
6:05am-6:15am made a quick detour in New Braunfels at McDonalds for a breakfast sandwich and personal break
6:40am arrived at USCIS application support center in far North San Antonio. We were the 2nd couple in line. Note: When we turned off I-35 toward the USCIS fingerprinting office we noticed that the traffice on I-35 toward downtown was dead stopped and the signs had "X"s over two lanes of the three lane highway. There must have been an accident.
6:40am-8:00am Us two couples were the only people there for a while. The third couple arrived around 7:20am. When the door opened there were about 18 people at the door, but of those 18, I think only a few were having a process done. We were the first fingerprint couple. I should have brought a book. Scott waited in the truck since we were the 2nd couple. I ended racking up the data minutes on my cell phone (on my new pink motorola RAZR) reading CNN news for 30 minutes.
8:00am-8:10am filled out the paperwork they hand you at door
8:10am-8:15am wait. I was number 8 and scott was number 9 to processesed. There are two fingerprinting stations. The workers helped others out with various questions, so in reality we were the first to get fingerprinted.
8:15 We were both called to the two fingerprint stations
8:30 Scott was finished with his fingerprinting
9:00 I was finished with fingerprints. I had a new worker, Faye, who had only been on the floor for one week. Both Faye and my husband's fingerprinter let us verify our personal data to make sure it was data entered correctly. Faye then started the fingerprint process. I was patient. she was patient. We both laughed while she did each fingerprint several times. I know how it is when you are first learning. She was apologetic and said unfortunately the electronic fingerprinting skill is on the job training. They don't get to practice in the classroom. The computer kept showing "broken ridges" and "too small" along with a red box around the error. Faye called them Christmas lights because the screen light up. When she was finished, one of the quality managers came to verify the pictures of my fingerprints. Apparently the computer doesn't catch all errors and only an experienced eye know what is qualified as a good print. She docked seven of the pictures as "poor". Faye tried again and then asked for quality approval. A different supervisor came and looked at them and docked five of them. By that time it was 8:50am. She finally asked for her trainer to do the reprints. He finished them in five minutes and asked another supervisor for quality approval. He thanked me being patient. He says new trainees can take up to an hour to do a set of electronic fingerprints because the software is so sensitive.
When we left, the waiting area was packed! I am sure glad we came early. Although Scott says it was a little too early for his taste. He said we could have left the house at 5:30 and still been okay.
Anyway, we drove a few blocks toward I-35 north & south access ramps and we looked at the traffic towards downtown and the traffic was backed up for miles! Oh well! There goes our visit to Mi Tierras restaurant. We would have taken the backway if we brought a map. So, we headed back toward Austin and stopped at a barbeque place in San Marcos. We were back at home by 12:00. We crashed into bed and napped for nearly two hours!
Now the wait begins for our I-171H.
By the way, when you submit your I-600A form, make sure you put your social security number on your cover letter. They made us put our SSN on the office form and data entried it with the electronic fingerprints. So, they match by application name and SSN. I was told it helps avoid delays with the orphan officer.
4:00am Got up, showered, drank coffee
4:45am Left the house
6:05am-6:15am made a quick detour in New Braunfels at McDonalds for a breakfast sandwich and personal break
6:40am arrived at USCIS application support center in far North San Antonio. We were the 2nd couple in line. Note: When we turned off I-35 toward the USCIS fingerprinting office we noticed that the traffice on I-35 toward downtown was dead stopped and the signs had "X"s over two lanes of the three lane highway. There must have been an accident.
6:40am-8:00am Us two couples were the only people there for a while. The third couple arrived around 7:20am. When the door opened there were about 18 people at the door, but of those 18, I think only a few were having a process done. We were the first fingerprint couple. I should have brought a book. Scott waited in the truck since we were the 2nd couple. I ended racking up the data minutes on my cell phone (on my new pink motorola RAZR) reading CNN news for 30 minutes.
8:00am-8:10am filled out the paperwork they hand you at door
8:10am-8:15am wait. I was number 8 and scott was number 9 to processesed. There are two fingerprinting stations. The workers helped others out with various questions, so in reality we were the first to get fingerprinted.
8:15 We were both called to the two fingerprint stations
8:30 Scott was finished with his fingerprinting
9:00 I was finished with fingerprints. I had a new worker, Faye, who had only been on the floor for one week. Both Faye and my husband's fingerprinter let us verify our personal data to make sure it was data entered correctly. Faye then started the fingerprint process. I was patient. she was patient. We both laughed while she did each fingerprint several times. I know how it is when you are first learning. She was apologetic and said unfortunately the electronic fingerprinting skill is on the job training. They don't get to practice in the classroom. The computer kept showing "broken ridges" and "too small" along with a red box around the error. Faye called them Christmas lights because the screen light up. When she was finished, one of the quality managers came to verify the pictures of my fingerprints. Apparently the computer doesn't catch all errors and only an experienced eye know what is qualified as a good print. She docked seven of the pictures as "poor". Faye tried again and then asked for quality approval. A different supervisor came and looked at them and docked five of them. By that time it was 8:50am. She finally asked for her trainer to do the reprints. He finished them in five minutes and asked another supervisor for quality approval. He thanked me being patient. He says new trainees can take up to an hour to do a set of electronic fingerprints because the software is so sensitive.
When we left, the waiting area was packed! I am sure glad we came early. Although Scott says it was a little too early for his taste. He said we could have left the house at 5:30 and still been okay.
Anyway, we drove a few blocks toward I-35 north & south access ramps and we looked at the traffic towards downtown and the traffic was backed up for miles! Oh well! There goes our visit to Mi Tierras restaurant. We would have taken the backway if we brought a map. So, we headed back toward Austin and stopped at a barbeque place in San Marcos. We were back at home by 12:00. We crashed into bed and napped for nearly two hours!
Now the wait begins for our I-171H.
By the way, when you submit your I-600A form, make sure you put your social security number on your cover letter. They made us put our SSN on the office form and data entried it with the electronic fingerprints. So, they match by application name and SSN. I was told it helps avoid delays with the orphan officer.
