MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Isn't he handsome!! He is off to the kennel for the week. We already miss the guy! But he gets to play all day for 10 days, how can he complain?
We are off to Arizona tomorrow am - VERY EARLY I MIGHT ADD. We might actually be there long enough to go do something fun.







We are also starting the Ethiopia paperwork this week, although I think this week will be limited to ordering birth and marriage certificates and prepping some of the letters that need to be retyped. The update process of the homestudy and renewal/country change of the I-171H have begun since there is a looming deadline and hopefully everything can be finished (except the I171H) by the end of January. It will definitely be a challenging month!

Happy New Year to everybody!!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

What are you thankful for this year???

We have more space!!!

The giant table is now in storage (well, the garage at least). It worked so well in the loft - but it took over the entire dining room here... Someday the wood floor will be in, but not this year - we say it again...and again...an yes, again. Oh yeah and we finally got rid of the coffee table I constantly bumped my foot on - something soft with storage is much better... Although wish us luck with the cats and scratching (the reason we bought faux leather this time) - maybe they will do well and we can buy leather next time!!!

14 MONTH LID ANNIVESARY

Not too much to say - we were at 14 months officially waiting 2 days ago. It is what it is, right?

October Secret Pal

THANKS AGAIN TO MY WONDERFUL SECRET PAL - IT'S ALWAYS SO MUCH FUN TO GET A PACKAGE FROM HER... i think she is in Florida....hmmm who could she be??? The cats went a little crazy for the big mouse, must have tons of catnip...and since I just got my teeth cleaned for the first time in WAY too long and it went well - i deserve the candy...all the candy....all to myself!!! THANK YOU!!

Rethink Recycling!!!

I have really missed this thing - for a month!!! Who would steal one?? So happy to have a new one and in 2 hours it is 1/4 full. You never know what you've got - UNTIL IT'S GONE!!!

Time to celebrate

Sept 18, 2004
Time to celebrate tonight!!!

12 MONTH LID ANNIVERSARY

Come celebrate with me!!!
yeah right....

November 25, 2005

What can be said!! There is nothing good about the statement below from the CCAA website. 4 days were referred this month and it has taken 1 year to refer 4 months worth of LIDs. We are STILL in a 10 month line at this point. The rumor is they will go back to referring 2 weeks every month - but that still puts us at 20 more months. Maybe we will get a referral by January 2010!

The CCAA has finished the placement of children for the families whose adoption application documents were registered with our office before November 25, 2005

August Secret Pal

A HUGE THANK YOU TO MY SECRET PAL!!! You are absolutely my new best friend, not just for the cute summer clothes (which we don't have any of) but maybe even more so because gift cards for books and starbucks are highly valued in our house (i don't drink coffee - but i have an ice tea or iced chai at least once a day at work)! The journal was absolutely wonderful, with a great quote; Happiness comes from within. If you choose to be happy, no one and no thing can ever take that happiness from you. What a great thought!!!

11 month LID anniversary

ONLY 20 MORE MONTHS TO GO!!!!
so much progress - ugh - can you read the sarcasm???

DO SOMETHING!!!!

Ranger's almost 2!!!!

Feast for the senses

Ugh - only 7 days AGAIN!!

ok, at this rate we won't ever get to China. Referrals came out for LID dates between 11.15.05 - 11.21.05. This is the 3rd month in November. I know this is a big month, but this is crazy!! We are almost to our 11 month LID anniversary and there are still 10 months of people in front of us; this line might be more than I can take!!!

More catching up!

Ok, so I finally started back to work. I am so thankful that I did - for so many reasons. To name a few, not thinking about China as much has been wonderful. Starting to think about Ethiopia, since it is now possible has been interesting. Paying off debt is always nice. But more than anything, to use my brain again - or at least what's left of it, has been the best part! The hardest part, on the other hand is my inability to balance everything. Stuff at home, exercise and work - it seems like time would be there, but my energy level isn't quite there yet. Which brings me to my need to get back to my trainer. My goal in December was to lose 20 pounds. Well I am almost there!!! I am for the most part within a pound. The biggest part of my goal was to make food and exercise a part of my life; since I don't believe in diets of any sort!!! And I mean that with passion!!! So, I do better on food - although I need to make my lunches - I am spoiled. Trying to eat balanced food 5 times a day isn't easy anymore. I am still working on fruit and yogurt as snacks during the week - but I forget them. And although I get cardio (walks or elliptical) almost everyday - my strength training is taking a beating! So, tomorrow I am vowing to get up at 6am and go for a half hour walk without the dog and try to do that 2 days a week....WISH ME LUCK!! Oh yeah, I had to add this picture from Ranger when he was roughly 4 months old - he spent most of his early months here with me on the couch while my 2 ankle surgeries healed - lots of painkillers with that one!

Still catching up!!!

So, this is what I came back to after such a wonderful vacation; sort of. Hobbes was so sick when I got back - he was under the crib, determined not to com out. When I finally got him out he was moving funny, so I looked under him and found what looked like dried blood. It was much too late to do anything at that point, so the next afternoon I took him to our local vet (who we love btw) and when trying to take his temp they found a HUGE abscess. And I do mean huge. He must have been bitten by one of the neighbor dogs a few days earlier before I got home. James said he was acting funny. The did surgery, and you can't see it but it turned out so well. He didn't look like he was going to make it for about 7 days and finally he was acting himself and 7 days later his stitches were removed. He was so sad and had to be closed away from everyone and wear that HUMILIATING cone... He's fine now - we do have the best vet!! Oh yeah, he is now back to being an 'inside cat'

Pictures from Kauai in May

wow, it's hard to believe we've been back for two months!!! BTW, we had so much fun!! I thought I might throw in some pics of the trip. One of our best vacations yet - ok, one of our only vacations, but still really great! We stayed in Kapaa for most of the trip, a busy yet quiet little town. Seemed like mostly locals. We got to spend a half day zooming on the Ziplines and spent a few days actually playing on the beach and it seemed like quite a bit of time driving around. I did get one day on the boogie board in Hanalai - which I loved the most! James and I got to spend 2 nights at the Marriott, which was really wonderful. My only regret, I DIDN'T GET TO EAT ENOUGH SUSHI!!!!

Carseat Cute!

The Name Game

So it's up in the air again.... We love the name we picked a year ago and it may mean changing the blog title (if i can figure out how). But I think with all this waiting going on and a potential for quite a bit longer and possibly and who knows a country switch - THINGS ARE VERY UP IN THE AIR!!
We have picked a new name, another that we both really like - and trust me that is beyond RARE. We will have to re-evaluate the China part at the end of the year or so, at the same time we have to redo our immigration paperwork and do a homestudy update. There are a few options, we stay with China and hope we bring her home by the end of 2008, we stay with China but change our petition to be open to twins as I believe we should qualify or we move to another country, possibly Ethiopia and request a sibling group AYAP and take the loss as a learning experience. I can't say where this goes, but I think at least I am content to wait a bit longer before making a decision and we know baby Wheeler is at the end of the journey. I think we both are pretty set on China, but I think we are both struggling with the time frame that they are projecting at this time. So let's pray for a speed up in China....

Secret Pal Gift

It is always so wonderful when I find a key in my mailbox for the 'package box' - since I never order anything anymore I know exactly what it is; something from my secret pal for Delaney. I can almost imagine her bathing with her new squirties, stacking cups, watering can and wind up toy. Then putting everything in the new toy bag and getting cozy in her bath towel.
Thanks to my secret pal - you are THE BEST!!!

7 MONTH LID ANNIVERSARY

The long road just keeps getting longer and longer. Today we have been LID for 7 months; honestly it hasn't been that bad - yet. This is a time when we should be full of happiness and excitement and all I feel right now is a sense of numbness. It seems that our sense that the time was right - was wrong, or at least I wish we had started 6 months sooner. Do I regret our decision - not in any way. Do I kind of wish we had picked a multi-country agency so we wouldn't lose a fortune if we switch - YES. Now, that's not to say we don't love our agency, they are the reason we chose China. They are as wonderful as any agency could be and much better than most; in my humble opinion. But nobody could have predicted this wait - nobody. It seems we might be a part of a record wait for China adoption. I don't want to be part of this record!!! It's taking so long, I don't like the crib we bought anymore (stuck with it - no big deal) and I am rethinking her name, that we picked so carefully together. This sucks, I can't even imagine anymore. It seems right now I am going to stay at least a little sad, some days very sad. I know in the end she will be here; but knowing that doesn't relieve the pain of today, of yesterday or last week. I think I need to make a list of positives and redirect the pain.

CATS HAVE DENTURES???

Little Miss Blue, the princess had 7 teeth removed today. This is her mood yesterday before the surgery but after she had gone to the vet and had her temperature taken, people messing with her and a dose of antibiotics. The poor girl might have an immunity disease that rejects her teeth...Can you even believe it.....
I can't wait to pick her up and see how she's doing. We can only hope that her biopsy comes back normal and this was just bad teeth - but highly unlikely; she's only 4 years old.

Today's Bloodbath!!

Can you imagine anyone wanting to hurt this beautiful, sweet and wonderful little cat?? Hobbes decided he wanted to be on the high window sill in my bathroom - Blue was on that window sill.... I was downstairs - all i heard was horrible screams; and I really mean horrible and heart-wrenching screams. I got up there, sprayed him using the water bottle. Then i saw spots of blood, on the mirror, on the counter, in the sink, on the toilet, on the wall and then i saw blood pouring out of Blue's paw and all over the white window sill in puddles. So here we are 15 minutes later, Hobbes has been put in the bathroom with food and a litter box until i can decide if he remains in this house or will be taken to an animal shelter. This seems to be only 2% of his personality and i have a couple puncture wounds with bruises this week to prove he has already been at it this week (i was protecting Blue and tried to pick him up and put him in the bathroom for a few minutes, he hates to be scruffed even though I do hold his back end while i do it). I can't take him to DDFL since he was already labeled aggressive when we got him at 5 months and they will euthanize him. Such a tough decision since I will take him out of the bathroom and he will be fine. Blue on the other hand is not a cat that likes to go into a crate and i avoid taking her to the vet, and thankfully she is quite healthy. What a WONDERFUL morning so far. Baby is on his way over and doggy will go to daycare for the day. Things will improve!!

A hard to WAIT day

Ok, I knew it would happen at some point and I am amazed that it has taken this long, but the wait is killing me this week!!!! I keep telling people that referral is a year away - but i know it is MORE THAN LIKELY going to be longer than that. I don't think my mind can comprehend a 2 year wait, so it looks like I may be saying 'it'll be about a year' for the next few months. At least we have gotten through the first 5 months unscathed and it seemed to go pretty fast. But it's still making me a little nuts...
On a happier not, we are one step closer to our vacation in Hawaii... I have plane tickets. As soon as James makes his reservations it will be complete. I can't wait to be away from the snow. I'M NOT SURE IT WILL EVER MELT!!! We are almost at a record, I think as of today we are in third for the most days with snow on the ground in Denver. It only snowed twice this week and that's all gone - nothing makes me happier! well, that might be going too far. But I do see ground again, and that is something. HERE COME THE FLURRIES again....

I can't believe it's been 2 years since our last vacation.
Man, has life changed! Hawaii can't come soon enough! Just to sit and read a book and hear the waves come in. Feel the clean air brush across my face, go snorkeling and see the beauty of the ocean up close and to just sit back and watch the world go by.
I'm ready!

I am beautiful!!!

If only I were as beautiful as Blue!!
And Hobbes, so fluffy and soft - if only he wasn't such a terror. But both managed to slide down the banister when we moved into the house - brilliance not a stong point!

I am so confused

"What is it you want???"
Ranger is only 16 months old and he gets confused so often. I think it's me - we just don't speak the same language. Regardless, he is so handsome!

Our 4-legged family

Doesn't Brella look cozy. She is the oldest; roughly around 12 years old. She has definately become her own cat in the last year - it must be similar to when a woman hits 40 or something. Only 3 more of the 4-legged family members to introduce.