Dadsense

In response to her Momsense video that I posted earlier.
I also placed it in the sidebar, at the bottom of the videos.

Growing up...

I guess my 6 year old son is "maturing"
I am CONSTANTLY reminding him
to put the toilet seat down!!
Luckily his Dad does.

Also...

My 10 year old daughter's new favorite word is ain't.
She never used to say it,
but I catch her many times a day lately.

Update from Dept of State

The Department of State has posted an update to their website today concerning the July 1st deadline for dossier submission, as well as the upcoming Sept 1st one for a referral. They explain what is considered a referral and how the US Gov't will process applications after that date....

According to the DIA, a referral occurs when DIA sends a letter to prospective adoptive parents informing them that both DIA and provincial authorities have agreed to the match of a specific child. Any case where this letter has been sent to the prospective adoptive parents (PAPs) before September 1 will be considered as having a referral and will be processed to completion. DIA has reported that there are more than 1,700 applications pending as of July 1, 2008. According to DIA estimates and prior adoption trends, it is likely that referrals will be completed before September 1 for approximately 50 percent of these applications. The U.S. Embassy in Hanoi, Vietnam, will process to conclusion all adoptions that meet the Government of Vietnam's criteria and deadlines.

Now all we need is to become offical in the next 44 days...please say a prayer for us!! Ticker on the right.

My Fortune

We tend to have a stash of fortune cookies in a kitchen drawer. We get them and then don't eat them. Today, Abram was playing "store" with various things from the drawer and cabinets and Monopoly money. I bought a fortune cookie.

The fortune was...

You will receive some high prize or award

What could be a higher "prize" that a new child?!
Maybe the award for the fastest filing of a I-600?!

Woo Hoo Consulate!!

I was checking My FedEx to make sure that our Acceptance Paperwork was on its way to our caseworker when I noticed that our new medicals have left the Consulate after 7 days, including a weekend!!

Good Report

We were able to get a copy of all of our baby's paperwork sent to the Children's Hospital of Philadephia (CHOP) for evaluation by their International Adoption Health Program and Abigail Farber, MD, in particular.  I cannot say enough good about them!

 

I had thought of working with another group in Pittsburgh, but when I called this morning, their rates more than doubled and they quoted me 3-4 days to review the records.  CHOP did it for $100 less and in less then 12 hours from start to finish!!  I called them in the morning to get their information and policy.  They spoke to my husband, about some other information, while I was out getting the paperwork scanned.  I was home mid-afternoon and emailed it to them and I was emailed me back around 4PM that the doctor could speak to us at 9PM!!

 

She was wonderful!  Very understanding of the deadline looming and very helpful.  She says our son looks great!  She admits the information about him is 2 months old and very simple, but she is very happy with what she sees!  She said to keep her informed of any new information that we get, but otherwise, call before we leave and she will make sure we are ready.  She even expressed her concern of our older children's adjustment to the new attentioned getter that is about to enter our home.

 

I HIGHLY recommened CHOP and Dr Farber.

Playlist

I am going to try this out. I have begun to like some of the songs on other blogs. What gets me though is that I like to know where the playlist is so I can turn it off, if I want. Therefore, I am placing mine at the absolute bottom of the page, so scrolling to the bottom, or Ctrl + End will get you there. I hate having to try and locate it when I don't want the music.

Leave me a comment about it...good or bad.

Lang Son

Area: 8,187 sq km

Population: 707,000
Provincial capital: Lang Son town
Districts: Trang Dinh, Binh Gia, Van Lang, Bac Son, Van Quan, Cao Loc, Loc Binh, Chi Lang, Dinh Lap, Huu Lung
Economic Potentialities: Agriculture
Climate: Lang Son is endowed with temperate zone climatic conditions, thus it is rather cool in summer. Maximum temperatures is 28.5oC. Minimum temperatures is ranges from 12oC to 15oC. Lang Son is accessible from Hanoi by both rail and road.

Lang Son is located far north at the 0 km landmark of National Highway 1A, more specifically at Huu Nghi Quan (Friendship Gate). This is an important transportation link between Vietnam and China. The main ethnic groups found in that area include the Kinh, Tay, Nung, Dao, and Ngai. The annual average temperature is 21.5°C with an annual humidity of 82%. Famous tourist sites include Tien Pagoda, Tien Pond, Nhat Thanh Cave, Nhi Thanh Cave, Tam Thanh Cave, and Mau Son Resort.

Lang Son is a northern province which is located on the Sino-Vietnamese border over a stretch of 253 kilometers. Lang son town is linked with Hanoi via National Highway 1A.

The capital of Lang Son, 500 meters above serve sea level, is situated on the left bank of the Ky Cung River. Opposite the town and on the far side of the river is Ky Lua Market. The market is accessible by means of the Ky Cung bridge. Standing on the bridge visitors can see a high mountain peak resembling a woman with a baby in her hands. From time immemorial, the peak has been given the name of Vong Phu (Awaiting one's husband). Legend has it that Lady To Thi with a baby in her hands stood there day after day waiting for the return of the husband who had gone to war. She waited for so long that both her and her child were petrified into stone.

Ky Lua Market is a bustling market place for good exchanges. It also serves as a rendezvous for young people of different ethnic minority groups including the Tay, the Dao, the Nung, and the Mong living in rural and mountain areas.

Dong Dang, a township on the Sino-Vietnamese border is 14 kilometers from Lang Son town. There is a special market where buffaloes and cows are on sale. Just three kilometers to the east of Dong Dang is the Huu Nghi (Friendship) border gate. As long as living memory can testify the border gate has been a major point for the exchange of goods between the Vietnamese and Chinese people living on either side of the border areas. After a period of border conflict, the border gate has once again opened to traders and visitors of the two countries.

This information was found here

The Day Has FINALLY Arrived.....

We had received our At Risk Statement, so I knew that we were getting close, but when I called our caseworker, she said she had our CFC!! I was SO excited. I was driving and it was hard to concentrate, especially with the construction I encountered!

He is about 4 months old and was relinquished in Lang Son, Vietnam. That is about all I know right now, but all of his paperwork should be arriving tomorrow via FedEx and we are anxious to learn much more!

175 Days. Much longer than the 30 (to maybe 60) that we were expecting when we signed up last year, but as I expected, I DON'T CARE....We have another son!!!

Me when I heard the news!!

10,000 Hits

If that many people are reading what I am writing, I would LOVE to see more comments from all of you. Tell me how you found us and why we are interesting enough to keep you coming back. I hope I have some great news to share with you soon.

Free Rice

There is a clickable icon on the bottom of my sidebar. It is an easy and fun way to help others. It is a vocabulary "test". They give you a word and 4 meanings. You donate 20 grains of rice per correct word. It is pretty addictive!!

What a Relationship

Between this father and son..

as well as with their faith in the Lord.

A son asked his father, 'Dad, will you take part in a marathon with me?' The father, who despite having a heart condition says YES.

They went on to complete the marathon together. Father and son went on to join other marathons, the father always saying YES to his son's request of going through the race together.

One day, the son asked his father, 'Dad, let's join the Ironman together.' To which, his father said YES. For those who didn't know, Ironman is the toughest triathlon ever. The race encompasses three endurance events of a 2.4 mile ocean swim, followed by a 112 mile bike ride, and ending with a 26.2 mile marathon run along the coast of the Big Island . Father and son went on to complete the race together.

A Note...

Elizabeth lost another molar
Boy, they come out fast!
Wiggly to out in less than a day.

Happy 4th of July

Click the Play icon to do the puzzle

A Cool Video

I found this on Ginny's Blog and I HAD to post it.
Makes me smile

In 1969, two friends, John Rendall and Ace Bourke, purchased a lion. At the time, Christian the lion was a 35-pound cub. He had been born in a zoo. The friends raised Christian in their London home.

Within a year, Christian had grown to 185 lbs. Rendall and Bourke realized they couldn’t keep him much longer. A conservationist, George Adamson, living in Kenya, was recommended to them. Christian was soon in Africa. There he was rehabilitated and released into the wild.

In 1974, Rendall and Bourke decided to visit Christian one last time. He was now a wild animal. Adamson told them it was doubtful that Christian could be found. No one had seen him in nine months. The two were also told that Christian was the head of his own pride, and that being a wild animal now, he wouldn't remember them.

The two flew to Kenya, anyway.
This video was taken during their reunion with Christian

Another video of their story

A GREAT article about all of them