6 YEARS AGO

We decides to take the leap and adopt. Our log in date was
July 2007 for China... as young as possible non SN.
 We wanted a perfect little girl
Wow, when I think about the things that opened our eyes.
During our home study and  parenting classes the wait time
had grown by years so China was letting parents adopt
domestically and still wait in line for their child from china.
I also started researching a lot of special needs that some
children have..   I thought wow, I can do this and that.
We wanted to switch to special needs from China and we were
told that we could not because our agency did not have excess
to the special needs listing. :(   sad, sad, sad
Feeling confident about Special needs children we decided to switch
countries and go with India....
In this process we delt with two job losses and a very long wait.
And were denied for all grants. (except our church)
Our first daughter came home 8/2010    Sooo Blessed
At 3 years old she only ate baby cereal but she was potty trained ?
Soon we found out she has Cerebral Palsy (not mentioned in medical file)
Even thou we were home my heart was back in India with the children.

My eyes were opened (I could of fit two or three more in my suitcase.)

We started our second adoption still in debt from our first one (crazy ?)
We brought our second daughter home from India 12/12
and received every grant we applied for and came up with the
extra Court Bond and Education Bond ??  crazy right !!   nope. 
 
We have an awesome GOD, who has opened our eyes and hearts to
the little ones who needs families.  I am still amazed at what has
changed for/in us these past 6 years.  

Praying for more blessings from GOD !!

PAYCUT

The words, Sequester and furloughs do not get my attention
but if you say "20% pay cut " That grabbed my attention.
Yes, my husband works for the government....OUCH  !!!

Well, he will still have a job (just work less) and it does not
effect our Health Insurance (praying) and they will get a 30
day notice before it goes into effect (heads up)  I think we will
be ok, We do live in a seasonal town. We both have worked in
the restaurant business, I hope one of us can get a job to make
up the difference..............What is Gods plan ???

I start my SB-BHP in March and then I need to figure out when
to take my BHP, CPR and BBP classes........Around the trip to Europe
with Austin (which now I wish we were not going, Financially).
Maybe, I could land a great job in August when both girls go to
school all day.          I'll just keep praying for Gods will.

Second visit from our social worker is tomorrow. Almost 3 months
already.  Hrutuja is doing great, She now cries when she gets hurt and
comes running to me to hold her. She sleeps all night, dresses herself
(sometimes helps Rohana get dressed) It is really funny to hear/ see the
girls mother hen each other and they take it very well.  We are working
on letters, number, shapes, colors, matching, counting, singing, coloring.

There is no competition between them ?? ODD ??       SOO BLESSED 

C o C

Certificate of Citizenship ???
Rohana came home on a I-600. We received a Social Security #
for her a couple weeks after we returned home with her. We had to
finalize in the US to get a US birth cert for he to apply for her CoC.
And when I went to change her name on her SS card, I was told it will
take a few extra weeks because the CoC is so new that the Departments
do not exchange info that quickly.........
Hrutujas adoption was finalized in India so when we got to Boston, Ma
and went to Immigration they said  we will receive her CoC in the mail
in about 50 days. I had to contact them because the 50 days came and
went. We did receive it this past Monday and I went in yesterday.
(I had contacted the SSA before to check what I needed to bring with me
and they said I needed her CoC) I  was asked if we could wait until we
get a US birth cert for her ??????? I said"seriously, she is already a Citizen,
her passport says she is a citizen, we have a Hague Adoption Certificate,
A CoC for her, she has been home since 12/12 with no SS#
and we need to file our taxes !!!
She the lady said "she would put into the computer and see if it will take it."
Then she realizes the the CoC only says " Hrutuja", and says "that's not right"
I am thinking really ?? Me"If our government sent it to us like that then it has to
be acceptable !"............ Remember to come back in to change the name when
you get it corrected.......Yep, not my first adoption.... so maybe 4 weeks from now
she will have a SS#... Then finalized in court then get US passport and renunciation.


Got to love the merry-go-round and roller coaster and excitement that
comes with adoption.... But the children are sooooooo worth it !!!

SMART

Today, I was getting ready to cook the girls their noodles for lunch
when Hrutuja insists on turkey & cheese and Rohana agreed.
So I said "ok" and made both girls turkey & cheese sandwiches.
Rohana ate hers quickly and went back to finish watching her
daily movie. Hrutuja was just kinda picking at it. But she kept
saying she wanted it. A little while later I went into the kitchen
to see how she was doing and her turkey and cheese was all
gone she just had a little of the bread left. At first I thought 
she fed it to the dog, well maybe she really ate it.
She said "all done", I agreed because she ate most of it so I opened the
trash can to put her left over bread in and found her turkey and cheese.
ALL OF IT ! ??      She is sooo smart

We were told that she sleeps with a night light so we put one in the
girls room. Then I discover that she gets up during nap time and
during the night to get toys and play with them on her bed.
Home for 2+ months and she still wets the bed every night so
we put pull ups on her (she calls it a diaper)

She is still such a blessing.  I so want to adopt again !!

WINTER STORM NEMO

Up to 3 feet possible ????
I am very thankful to get up this morning and realized we
still have electricity, but the storm is not over yet.
I tried to open our kitchen door but it would not open
because it had a LOT of snow up against it and on
the deck. That is where all the snow shovels are, ha,ha

MAINE

Portland set a record snowfall reading of 31.9 inches, the National Weather Service said, and blowing snow reduced visibility on the coast. The weather contributed to a fatal crash.

Vehicles, including state police cruisers, were stuck in the deep snow, state police said, warning that stranded drivers should expect long waits for tow trucks. About 12,000 homes and businesses lost power. Nearly all had their lights back on late Saturday night.

In Rangley, the weather didn't stop a massive snowmobile parade. Organizers said 157 snowmobiles showed for the event, which raised close to $7,000 for cystic fibrosis research.

TWO MONTHS

Hrutuja has been with us for 2 months. That went by fast !
As I sit here and think " time needs to go by faster!"
Need to get to our 6 month post placement report,
And 68 days till Austin and I go to Europe for 13 days !!!
And I an so anxious to get to Spring and Summer.
Oh,and my School-Base  BHP Class,  I have plans !? #

Yesterday, David and I enjoyed an afternoon out by ourselves.
(Yay, Trip done, my shoveler is back !)
Totally enjoyed having a conversation without hearing mom, mom or
having someone tap you until you pay attention to them, Do not take
this wrong, I love my children.  Adult conversation is just awesome.