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After a week and a half of a heavy heart and finally coming to the conclusion that I would travel along sometime in September or even October, I received a very surprising email.

Let's back up.

At this time, I will have six days paid for my adoption - the trip and the bonding...I have been told that I can see if our school board will change this policy. I have MORE than enough sick days to pay me through 8 weeks of maternity leave, however, as this is not a physical birth, 6 days. Moving on....

I emailed our agency to make sure that I would be traveling sometime after school started. I didn't want to have to go through the process of trying to get a policy changed if I didn't need too at this point.

Email back states, "we received an email from China today with your family's LID. It is 2-19." Ok, so this is only two weeks sooner than 3-2, however, 2 weeks is 2 weeks!!!!!!!

Still, I most likely will be traveling right as school starts. As our agency said that families are usually traveling 6 months after their LID. 8-19. School starts 8-17. And then there is Kylie's birthday on 8-30.
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Email received while I am typing this...

We are confirming with China right now to see which LID is yours. Ugh. 2 weeks is 2 weeks.

Remember the snow day?

Here are some pictures I took on our snow day from a while ago. Yes, this much snow closed our school. Why? Wind. When there is wind with the snow, it is bad...very bad.

This is Kylie...freezing but loving it!

Just know that this DOES not happen very often. These two fight more than any other children I know. (They are 10 months apart.) But here they are displaying the best team work ever!

I told Kaycee that in China, she wouldn't have seen the snow. "I like snow." She signs back and laughs!

It was absolutely freezing. But you can't tell by John's face! He loved it until we had to go inside!

Where are the older boys? They were inside, where it was very nice and warm playing Guitar Hero...

March 2

It is supposed to be a good thing when you actually get your LID. It really is. I should be jumping up and down...

But I'm not. Actually I feel so heavy hearted right now, I can't even think right now.

Our LID is March 2. Yes, March 2 - yesterday. We were supposed to be DTC on January 24...what happened? I don't know.

4-5 months to LOA
and about 3-6 weeks later for TA...(There is a new form that has to be filled out and sent to immigration before you can travel.)
Then about 2 weeks later travel. Travel in September - October? Summer is just about out of the question now.

I am sick.

Happy Late Chinese New Year

I absolutely love True Children's Home newsletter. Each time I get it, I hold my breath as I open it...

Here is another wonderful surprise. Another picture of Noah.

Looking at more than just the sweet little boy in the picture, I notice that his pincher grasp (fine motor skills) and his ability to balance while in a squatting position (gross motor skills) look good! :)

Makes me wonder about something else...is he left handed? He looks like he is opening the tin with his left hand. Interesting! :)

Living on Faith

I attended a funeral earlier this week for a friend who died of cancer. Instead of mourning the death of him, we celebrated his life and the fact that we all know where he is now...He couldn't wait! He knew he would be healed - either here on earth or in heaven.

During the funeral, our pastor talked about living on faith. He talked about Noah being shunned by his friends and neighbors because he was building the arc. Noah was laughed at and made fun of.

But Noah knew he was hearing God speak to him. He knew what God wanted him to do. Noah did what the Lord wanted him to do and he was rewarded for it.

Do you think adoption is a little like this? You hear God speaking to your heart about these children? You see their sweet little faces and know that this is what the Lord is calling you to do?

I have heard all of the comments from many people as we adopt...how much does it cost? I can't believe you are adopting again. Don't you have enough kids...etc, etc.

And there have even been times when I listened. Yes, we do have enough, no we don't need anymore. We could be spending our money on other things.

But then I hear that Voice again. And I see those sweet, precious eyes looking out from the pictures again, and I know, and I will follow.

Yes, she needs sign language

I was asked again, "Why do you have to do sign language with Kaycee? She has hearing aids, right?"

There was even one time this comment was made, "Kaycee's hearing is so good she will not be saddled with sign language all of her life."

Saddled? Interesting that this would be the chosen word when it was from a special education teacher. Actually, this was the head of special ed in my area. HHHmmm...

ANYWAY...Kaycee has been very successful with sign language.

For example, yesterday we were talking about it being warm. I was not signing to her,
I was just talking.

Kaycee looked at me and signed, "Where worm." (I don't like bugs and those types of things, so when I sign bug, snake, etc, I wrinkle my nose. She has also learned to do this. And when she thought there was a worm, she was a little concerned.)

I signed back..."No, there is no worm. It is warm in here." Not getting there was no worm, I signed it was "hot in here."

Yes she says. Hauck...(She has a hard time with "t" at the end of her words.)

Sign language is very important to her language. Spontaneous, expressive signs range in about the 50 word range. I really should make a list.

Receptive signs - I really think she has the same vocabulary I do (in sign language.) 200 words? I really should make a list. :)

So as you can see, even though Kaycee has almost regular hearing with her aids, sign language has been a huge part of her communication.

So, yes, she needs sign language. Will she need it all of her life? Who knows? Probably not. She is actually starting to drop some of the signs that she learned early on where she now knows the spoken word AND can be clearly understood.

Noah on the other hand, will most likely need sign all of his life...if his audiograms are correct - he is not only missing the external part of his ears, one of them is missing the inside also. But we really won't know that until we have him home.

Speaking of this subject...still no LID. UUGGHH!!!! It has been over a month since we were DTC. Oh well. All in God's timing!!! :)

Out of the mouths of babes...

The other day Kylie (5) and I were talking...

Mommy, you have 3 daughters.

No, Kylie, I only have 2.

No, you have 3.

No, Kylie, there are only 2, you are my first and Kaycee is my 2nd.

Nope, you have 3.

Ok, so where is this 3rd daughter of mine?

She is in China with Noah........