100th post

I don't have time at the moment to post 100 things about me as I know some others have done for their 100th post. I'll try to do that sooner or later, but don't have time today! I can guarantee that #1 is wanting out of IBESR! For those of you unfamiliar with Haitian adoption, IBESR is the office known as the "black hole" as it can feel like your paperwork goes in and never comes out! Ours went in Sept 17th, and well that hole is starting to feel deeper and deeper each day. But, sooner or later someone will dig us out, right? There are so many of us who want out, and it will be amazing if we all get out on the same day or same week. There will be a lot of blogging celebrations going on when that happens.

Anyway, here is another sweet photo of our angel, Avery. Seeing her little smile makes our day so much brighter. She looks healthy and we are so thankful for that.

No Words

I have no words when I look at this photo. I look at Avery sitting in her empty crib. Her loving family, still looking down upon her each day. She looks sad and lonely. Please bring her home.

Conversations with My Four Year Old

Preston: "I don't want any other sister in the whole world."

Me: "Why not?"

Preston: "Because, I love the baby we're adopting"

Me: "How do you know you love her? You have never met her."

Preston: "I love her, I just do"

One Cup Joe

Does anyone have one of those Keurig one cup coffee makers? I have always wanted to try one, and my friend Beth posted a link to a blog that has a great giveaway going on right now for one of these nifty machines. If you want a chance at winning, here's the link. Plus, the creator of the blog feeds a family of 6 on $60 per week! I haven't read her money saving tips yet on how in the world she does this, but I'll be heading back there shortly to see what advice I can use!

Good luck! I figured it's worth shot! I never win anything...so you all don't have to worry about me taking the prize!

Snow Day!

We had quite a snow storm last night...as evident from the photos! Even work was cancelled! Yippee! Unfortunately, I didn't realize work was closed until AFTER I got there. Silly me for thinking I would be expected to work under these conditions (using a little sarcasm here!) That's what happens when you live in the south and get blasted with 0.3 inches of snow! Unfortunately, the boys were unable to make a snowman or even a snowball for that matter! But, they did enjoy getting a rare glimpse of the white stuff!

Look Whose Fabulous!

Thanks, Amanda for passing on the award to my blog! My first blog award! :)

I will pass the award onto Five of my Favorite blogs that I visit on a regular basis...in no particular order. I really have about 8 favorites...but I don't want to mess up the system, so I stick with 5!

My adoption journey

A Mom's Life

The Unit

Our Haitian Adoption

Five Frozen Chamorros

Now, the next part: Five things I am thankful for (or addicted to?)

1. Salt and Vinegar Chips: Can't live without them...oh yeah, dark chocolate, Starbucks too!

2. My job: I love my job! I have never in 10 years been able to say I love my job, I am at peace with my career, and hope it stays that way!

3. My family: Well, duh, that's a given. My husband and my boys are my life. My parents are amazing (my mom watches our kids for us every day and has since they were born!) My dad will do ANYTHING for ANYONE, and aways has. My sisters are wonderful! We all live 5 minutes from one another and we wouldn't have it any other way! My in-laws are the best! Yes, you read that right! They are!

4. The beach: We love the beach. My boys turn into little surfer dudes every summer when we go. It's so refreshing, so relaxing, can't wait to go again this summer!

5. Avery's birthparents: I don't know them, have never met them (but may in the future), I barely know their names....but they have given up a precious little girl for something better, something they knew they couldn't provide in Haiti. We are so thankful for them and their ability to be unselfish in their decision for the well-being of their daughter.

Still nothing new.

We've been quiet on our blog because I envisioned our next post as "WE ARE OUT!!!" of IBESR that is. However, January is now half over, and we still have not heard a word. Theoretically speaking, it is quite possible we could hang out in IBESR for another 8 months. It's happened to other families, and it could happen to us. How I will handle that... I just don't know. So let's not go there.

Anyway, Sarah over at Five Frozen Chamorros just got really bad news about her file. Their file is not as far along as it should be or as they were told it was. So, now they are having to deal with the reality of taking a few steps backward...AGAIN. Just we they thought their boys were coming home VERY VERY soon now they are back to wondering when that will be.

Everyone keeps asking, what takes so long? Other countries (even third world countries) move ten times faster with the paperwork than Haiti. Can anyone explain why or how these other countries are able to bring their children home in months and some Haiti families wait YEARS? Anyone? I get that Haiti is a poor country. When I went to visit, the living conditions were much worse that I could begin to imagine. It is sooo HOT there, I don't know how anyone gets work done. But, those reasons alone seem like enough to bring those children home!!!!!!!!!!

For me, the most depressing part of the entire situation is I can't imagine going through this wait again. Unless the Haitian adoption process makes some big changes, I am pretty sure we won't adopt from Haiti again. And we would love to...but the wait is just getting to be much too frustrating to go through all over again. Without families willing to wait, the ones who lose out most are again the children.

Slumdog Millionaire

Is an EXCELLENT movie, in case anyone is interested. Very well done, intricate storyline, one of the best movies I have seen in a long time...I know I am always looking for feedback from movies people have seen. Movies aren't cheap, and there is nothing worse than wasting $40 on a bad movie. This is really a GREAT movie, and you will not be disappointed.

Sad News

A little one, Esperancia, passed away at the orphanage today after a very brief illness. I don't know any details, but I know she had an adoptive family who loved her and the staff and other children at the O adored her. I specifically remember this little girl, whom we inquired about adopting, but she was already spoken for by another family. I thought her name was beautiful. If you would like to donate towards her funeral, please visit: http://www.forhisgloryoutreach.org/. There is also a memorial posted on the web site as well. She was just such a beautiful little girl, not even 3 years old.


This week has been a rough week, not only for us, but for a lot of families who are awaiting some kind of news that paperwork is moving along. There are many of us whose paperwork continues to be stuck in IBESR. I read on another families blog that since we have biological children, we need a special waiver or dispensation before we can move forward. Apparently, that person is out of the office until next week sometime. I sure hope they are in the the signing mood when they return.


Here is a photo where Avery lives. This is the room that she shares with all the other babies her age at the orphange. It is just so heart breaking, knowing she could be home, comfy, warm, loved and having fun with her brothers. They are both just so ready to protect her, play and bond with her.

Happy Birthday, Daddy!

A day late...Cade and Preston wanted to wish you a Happy Birthday to the "Best Daddy in the World"! (That was their direct quote)

I am sure Avery will agree, once she gets home!

We have enjoyed 17 of your birthday celebrations together!! WOW! And from the photos, we don't look any different! Okay, that last sentence was slightly inaccurate...my hair is a little shorter now.

HAPPY 35th! We love you!!!

I would give my right arm for those abs again!!!

Nothing New!

Nothing new on the adoption front, unfortunately! I had it in my mind that we would get some kind of great news on Jan 1st to start the New Year...nope, didn't happen! Although, some fellow adoptive families have received some awesome news and updates over the past couple days! Yeah!!! Wish we were one of them...but maybe soon?! Please! There are some mission trips coming up in March to our daughter's orphanage, and I am confused about whether or not I should try to go again. I am assuming mission trip means work, not play! Don't get me wrong, I would love to help and improve the O as much as I am able, but I am not sure how I would react not being able to spend every possible second with Avery. Of course, then there is the cost of the trip, and the fact that I can't find my passport...and then there is that whole thing called "leaving" which is just horrible. Not sure I want to go through that feeling again.

Anyway, while I figure all that out, here's a few photos from Christmas and Campbell's First Bday (our niece.)

Also, Happy Birthday, Robyn, if you're reading this!

Robyn, Campbell, Aron

Happy New Year!

Is it me, or did 2008 fly by? In a way, I am glad that year is behind us, but I know I shouldn't be wishing away time. Sometimes is hard not to, when we want to hear news that our file is moving forward, and it easy to want to wish the days away that we don't have Avery home. I hope 2009 is a great year not only for us, but for many families whose files are still being processed, held up, in limbo, or floating in mid air! Our file continues to be in IBESR, and although we haven't been in THAT long (ONLY 3 1/2 months) it is disappointing since we heard all files would be signed out by Christmas. I knew that was too good to be true, but the rumors were flying and it's hard not to believe and get all caught up in it. Like I mentioned in an earlier post, some families have been in IBESR for well over a year and continue to wait...how frustrating.

We had a rather quiet New Year's Eve. We had shrimp, steak and for dessert...cannolies, YUM. I had a bit of a panic attack as Preston asked to try a piece of shrimp, which he LIKED (amazing...the boy likes NOTHING!) Anyway, he started to complain that his mouth and throat were itching. Then I had convinced myself that it looked like his throat was swelling shut! So for the next 20 minutes I peered down his throat making sure that air could still get through! You know you're getting old when the only type of excitement you experience on New Year's Eve has to do with your kid's throat itching from a piece of shrimp!

Now we are looking forward, to what we hope will be a wonderful year of progress, answered prayers and homecomings! Happy New Year!