The weekend before the 4th of July we packed up the dogs and headed to my parents for the weekend. We were joined there by Lilly, Robert, Megan, and Mikey. Of course all of them were excited because they only get to be together a few times a year and the pool was calling. We started off with a crisis because Lilly was so excited she tripped and scraped her knee on the way into the house to get changed and we had a 10 minute "Drama Queen" moment as she was sure she was dying. Fortunately after 10 minutes she forgot all about it and into the pool they went. Friday night we also got to hear about how daddy and mama had a fight and after she left he said he hoped she got ran over by a train. My brother really needs to learn to shut his mouth in front of the kids. After dinner and time in the pool it was off to bed, the girls and Tammy in one room and me and the boys in another. Eventually they went to sleep.
Saturday was the parade in Londonderry, the kids playing in the pool, and fireworks at night. Mike, Tammy, Gram, and Gramp had dinner with us before we had to go to the fireworks, and Mike and Tammy went to the fireworks with us. It was cold and everyone bundled up to keep warm. After the fireworks Megan had a meltdown and Tammy called Terrie and we were off to drop them off with Mom and Dad. Unfortunately the entire episode was due to Megan being overtired and could have been avoided with a nap earlier in the day. It was a great display of fireworks, and ended just as it started to rain.
Sunday was the end of the weekend and even thought we had a great time it was good to go home and have a little quiet. I do not believe that having 4 children of your own would be as tiring as having 2 pairs of children who like to see each other, but don't very often. They will now have to wait for a few weeks before they spend time together with us camping.
And remember what I said about my brother learning to shut his mouth. On Sunday as Lilly was going down for a nap she told Tammy that her father said that "Uncle Scott is a know it all" along with a number of other things that a little girl her age could not have come up with on her own.
Of course at the end Lilly said "but I don't believe it".
Apparently we have had a positive impact on my niece and nephew, even with the way I feel about their parents.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Great Escape Weekend with Lilly and Obert
Over the weekend of June 23rd and 24th we took my Niece and Nephew (Lilly and Obert) for the weekend. On Saturday we took them to the Great Escape and spoiled them rotten. We started off with taking them on rides and then at lunch time we took them for a surprise, Lunch with Bugs. On Sunday we went to see Shrek III and bought Lilly a nightshirt and Robert shoes.
It was a great pick me up to do this with them after being so depressed during our vacation (thinking about our adoption). We got to see the joy on their faces as we did things with them as if they were our own children, of course we had to deal with the bad stuff also when they got over-tired but that can be expected. The biggest issue was trying to get Robert to eat anything, but with effort he ate at every meal.
If I can make it through 2 days with these two I can handle anything....
Monday, June 11, 2007
Summary of the last week or so
Our Adventures started when Tammy and I went away and stayed at the Great Escape Lodge in Lake George NY. It was a really cool place with an indoor water park to play in while we were not riding rides at the amusement park.
On friday night we went to the double feature at the drive in. Saturday had some afternoon thundershowers mixed with almost every Girl Scout in the NE at the park, but it was still fun. Sunday we rode rides all day as we discussed taking Lilly and Obert to the park and all of the fun things we will do with them, all the while wishing it was our own daughter we were taking.
Once we got home I spent a day or so relaxing at home before starting to work on the addition again. More wiring, my first window, and a little ground work. I think I have about 80% of the wiring done upstairs so I am making some real progress.
This last weekend was graduation and anniversary parties on Saturday, and then guess what more wiring on Sunday.
Nothing new on the adoption wait, other than it is going to extend.
On friday night we went to the double feature at the drive in. Saturday had some afternoon thundershowers mixed with almost every Girl Scout in the NE at the park, but it was still fun. Sunday we rode rides all day as we discussed taking Lilly and Obert to the park and all of the fun things we will do with them, all the while wishing it was our own daughter we were taking.
Once we got home I spent a day or so relaxing at home before starting to work on the addition again. More wiring, my first window, and a little ground work. I think I have about 80% of the wiring done upstairs so I am making some real progress.
This last weekend was graduation and anniversary parties on Saturday, and then guess what more wiring on Sunday.
Nothing new on the adoption wait, other than it is going to extend.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Harry Potter Theme Park
This has absolutely nothing to do with our adoption, but I was watching the news this morning and saw that Universal Studios will be adding a Theme Park within a theme park at Islands of Adventure. It will be based on the World of Harry Potter and is expected to open in late 2009.
So I guess this means that we will have to start saving for another trip to Florida as soon as we get back next spring and make plans to go again in spring of 2010.
Hopefully this will be our first family vacation with Kelly.
I know that Kelly will enjoy the Magic Kingdom more, but my wife will go nuts at this new park.
So I guess this means that we will have to start saving for another trip to Florida as soon as we get back next spring and make plans to go again in spring of 2010.
Hopefully this will be our first family vacation with Kelly.
I know that Kelly will enjoy the Magic Kingdom more, but my wife will go nuts at this new park.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
International Adoption as Last Choice
In a number of places in the International Adoption community people are talking about children feeling that they were the parents "Last Choice".
In our case I have to say that International Adoption was not our last choice, it was just another choice.
We started out our marriage trying to have a child the old fashioned way, and we tried that for quite a few years before we started talking about other options.
After talking about it for a while and talking to friends who had adopted we decided to work on an adoption from China.
There were a number of other options available, but this was the one that we thought best fit our circumstances.
Even with the long and difficult wait I still believe it is the right choice for us, but that does not make it easier as we sit and wait with no information.
In our case I have to say that International Adoption was not our last choice, it was just another choice.
We started out our marriage trying to have a child the old fashioned way, and we tried that for quite a few years before we started talking about other options.
After talking about it for a while and talking to friends who had adopted we decided to work on an adoption from China.
There were a number of other options available, but this was the one that we thought best fit our circumstances.
Even with the long and difficult wait I still believe it is the right choice for us, but that does not make it easier as we sit and wait with no information.
Friday, May 25, 2007
Assorted Adoption Topics
First, We have hit a major savings milestone for the adoption. We finally have about 25% of the money saved to cover the remainder of the adoption expenses. This may not seem like alot, but when you are estimating 12,000+ to finish the adoption 25% is a pretty big milestone. So this is really good news.
So a big question running aroung the IA community right now is "What will you do if someone teases your daughter?" Well I have never seen a child that has gotten through school without being teased about something and I do not believe that I will handle my daughters situation any differently than I would a child that was not adopted.
A child will be too tall, overweight, skinny, short, ...etc. I spent my entire grade school existance being picked on because my parents did not have money.
So what will I do?
I will listen to her and try to explain why the other kids do this, but most importantly I will try to help her understand how special she is. I will also try to groom the self confidence that my mother helped me develop in my daughter so this will become an annoyance, not an earth shattering condition. So my reaction to others in the IA world is that this is a problem not related to IA, but one related to being a Kid and one that almost every child goes through at one point or another.
So a big question running aroung the IA community right now is "What will you do if someone teases your daughter?" Well I have never seen a child that has gotten through school without being teased about something and I do not believe that I will handle my daughters situation any differently than I would a child that was not adopted.
A child will be too tall, overweight, skinny, short, ...etc. I spent my entire grade school existance being picked on because my parents did not have money.
So what will I do?
I will listen to her and try to explain why the other kids do this, but most importantly I will try to help her understand how special she is. I will also try to groom the self confidence that my mother helped me develop in my daughter so this will become an annoyance, not an earth shattering condition. So my reaction to others in the IA world is that this is a problem not related to IA, but one related to being a Kid and one that almost every child goes through at one point or another.
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Sorry about the Delay
Well over the last week or so I have broken my resolution to try and post something on here every day. Between things at work being Hell, being depressed about the lack of information on the wait, and a general lack of time at home I just have not had the heart to post anything.
So what has happened over the last week or so...
Well I finally got my riding mower started after some minor repair work to mow down close to a foot of grass. Ran for about an hour and the motor had a piston or a rod go so I have to come up with $$$ to replace it. Not the best time, especially while trying to save money for completing the adoption and finishing the addition on the house. I also just paid for our pellets for our pellet stove for next season so there really isn't alot of money to go around right now.
At the same time I am having problems with a porcupine chewing on the addition and the back of the shed. I have not caught him in the act, and I have not had the time or $$ yet to go pick up a trap. Unfortunately that is probably the only way that I am going to catch him.
And the Bath Tub Faucets have decided that they do not want to shut off and that will require me to cut the tub enclosure to replace them which will probably be an all day job, and it will cost $$$. And I hate plumbing!!
A positive note is that the pool is open and running and just waiting for the sun to warm it up enough to go swimming. The new covers that I bought worked great and it is very clear and clean and will need a minimum of cleaning before swimming.
So all of this should tell you that life has been stress, lack of time, lack of sleep, body aches, and no money....
On the adoption front, rumors are flying about how long the wait will be and how far they will get this month. Unfortunately I am so fed up with the process right now that I almost wonder if we will ever finish it. I want to be a father so badly and we have no idea if we will even pass review, and if we do when will we actually see our little girl for the first time? It is weeks like this one that really makes you begin to wonder if the dream of having a child is ever going to happen..
Well I guess that is enough for today..
Next time I will probably talk about another couple topics flying around the IA community, What to do if people pick on your child and how to respond to I was your last choice for having a child.
So what has happened over the last week or so...
Well I finally got my riding mower started after some minor repair work to mow down close to a foot of grass. Ran for about an hour and the motor had a piston or a rod go so I have to come up with $$$ to replace it. Not the best time, especially while trying to save money for completing the adoption and finishing the addition on the house. I also just paid for our pellets for our pellet stove for next season so there really isn't alot of money to go around right now.
At the same time I am having problems with a porcupine chewing on the addition and the back of the shed. I have not caught him in the act, and I have not had the time or $$ yet to go pick up a trap. Unfortunately that is probably the only way that I am going to catch him.
And the Bath Tub Faucets have decided that they do not want to shut off and that will require me to cut the tub enclosure to replace them which will probably be an all day job, and it will cost $$$. And I hate plumbing!!
A positive note is that the pool is open and running and just waiting for the sun to warm it up enough to go swimming. The new covers that I bought worked great and it is very clear and clean and will need a minimum of cleaning before swimming.
So all of this should tell you that life has been stress, lack of time, lack of sleep, body aches, and no money....
On the adoption front, rumors are flying about how long the wait will be and how far they will get this month. Unfortunately I am so fed up with the process right now that I almost wonder if we will ever finish it. I want to be a father so badly and we have no idea if we will even pass review, and if we do when will we actually see our little girl for the first time? It is weeks like this one that really makes you begin to wonder if the dream of having a child is ever going to happen..
Well I guess that is enough for today..
Next time I will probably talk about another couple topics flying around the IA community, What to do if people pick on your child and how to respond to I was your last choice for having a child.
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