No, we didn't go back a number on the waiting list!
Silly!!
That's how old I am.... today. Officially out of the 20s.
Blah blah blah.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Egypt
(Wouldn't this princess look cute riding around the Sahara on a camel?)A has promised me that one day we will go. My entire family is crazy obsessed with the country, its history, going there someday.
Well, not since the 1940s has someone from my family set foot in this country. I have come the closest in that we flew over Egypt on our way to and from Ethiopia. That is all about to change, as my mom's sister and brother are going there next week. My aunt is being sent to Cypress for her work and decided she wanted to go to Egypt while she was at it. My uncle, her brother, decided he couldn't pass up the opportunity and bought a plane ticket with the very last of his money from my grandparents' estate.
My Grandad would be so proud and excited. You see, it is he who instilled this love of Egypt in us all. Right at the end of World War II, my then 19 year old grandfather was sent around the world to the Allies' Northern African front. The man actually slept on the Great Pyramid (you can imagine the security guard's surprise when he happened upon him during an early morning round) and saw King Tut's mummy in the tomb.
My uncle leaves tomorrow to meet my aunt in Cypress. Their tour of the country will be an Egypt lover's dream... How I wish I could hop on a plane and join them!
Masalama!
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Have You Seen This Bear?
Name: Beary
Occupation: R's Favorite Friend, Playmate, and Confidante
Last Seen: Accompanying Daddy and R on a trip to the post office
Missing Since: June 9, 2009
By the grace of God, I just found (and bought) a replacement "Beary" on eBay for $3 plus shipping. Now all I have to do is distract R for the next 4-7 days until he arrives so she doesn't realize he's missing. This is particularly difficult at bedtime. (The above picture is actually taken from the eBay listing.)
June Numbers
(R says, "We're one step closer to bringing my baby sister home! YAY!")We just got our new official number for June, which is #29. Apparently there are some referral packets out, which may or may not affect our place. However, I'm not going to mess with official/unofficial numbers because I think that just might make me crazy.
Side Notes:
1. My missing classroom materials have been found! They were in a random workroom between two classrooms down the hall from my new classroom. Thank goodness!
2. Took R to the doctor today after days and days of coughing and runny nose. I woke up last night around 2am and listened to her cough in her sleep for an hour until I fell back asleep. As my friend M had already told me, she has seasonal allergies, and the doctor recommended an OTC medicine for her, which she'll take once a day before going to bed. I have no experience with allergies (besides cats and incense at church!) so this is new terrain for me!
Monday, June 8, 2009
Update
As I unpacked the room today, I discovered that a lot of my materials are missing. Like about $2000 worth of class sets of books, writing materials, and all the books that I have gathered over the past 8 years of teaching to create my personal classroom library. Oh, and a ton of my bulletin board supplies.
Peachy.
Peachy.
My New Classroom View...
...is a brick wall and roof of the lower level of the building.
Niiiice.
Today is a hard day.
Back to unpacking and, uh, "organizing."
New pictures of R coming soon. I just downloaded pictures last night for the first time since mid-April!
Niiiice.
Today is a hard day.
Back to unpacking and, uh, "organizing."
New pictures of R coming soon. I just downloaded pictures last night for the first time since mid-April!
Thursday, June 4, 2009
My Own Personal Funeral
That's what it feels like as I deconstruct my classroom, box everything up, and take down bulletin boards.
Change is hard. Really hard.
And scary.
I've been in my current district for 6 years now and in that classroom for 4 and a half. (We moved to a new building my second year in the district.) It's comfortable for me. Everything is the way I like it. Even my room number, 160, is nice. I'm on the first floor, and courtyard is the view out the window. My desk is where I want it, and until I started packing it all up, my stuff was exactly where it should be.
I'm moving to the second floor and my room will now be 213. That's a crappy sounding number to me. And the room is set up opposite what mine is now. Even the file drawers on my desk will be on the left instead of the right, like they are now.
And my new team.... Well, the team I'm on right now is dysfunctional for sure, but at least I KNOW that dysfunction and can work around it. The new team is another story. There are people up there who haven't spoken to one another all year long.
I don't know how I'm going to deal with all that. My principal has told me that I've been moved up there because I'll be a "calming force" for the team. I literally laughed aloud when he said that. He looked surprised and said, "I really mean that." I know he does, but I'm anything but calm when I get upset.
I feel like I'm going to be stifled on this new team. That I will have to deal with conflicts that have nothing to do with me. That I'm being seen by my administrator as someone who can "fix" this new team's issues. That I won't be able to teach the way I want to anymore. That this team will just crush me.
Mostly though, that next year will just be plain miserable.
Somebody get me some chocolate.
Change is hard. Really hard.
And scary.
I've been in my current district for 6 years now and in that classroom for 4 and a half. (We moved to a new building my second year in the district.) It's comfortable for me. Everything is the way I like it. Even my room number, 160, is nice. I'm on the first floor, and courtyard is the view out the window. My desk is where I want it, and until I started packing it all up, my stuff was exactly where it should be.
I'm moving to the second floor and my room will now be 213. That's a crappy sounding number to me. And the room is set up opposite what mine is now. Even the file drawers on my desk will be on the left instead of the right, like they are now.
And my new team.... Well, the team I'm on right now is dysfunctional for sure, but at least I KNOW that dysfunction and can work around it. The new team is another story. There are people up there who haven't spoken to one another all year long.
I don't know how I'm going to deal with all that. My principal has told me that I've been moved up there because I'll be a "calming force" for the team. I literally laughed aloud when he said that. He looked surprised and said, "I really mean that." I know he does, but I'm anything but calm when I get upset.
I feel like I'm going to be stifled on this new team. That I will have to deal with conflicts that have nothing to do with me. That I'm being seen by my administrator as someone who can "fix" this new team's issues. That I won't be able to teach the way I want to anymore. That this team will just crush me.
Mostly though, that next year will just be plain miserable.
Somebody get me some chocolate.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Dents Add Character, Right?
Well, as I was coming home from picking up R yesterday after work, I got hit in the passenger side door by 2 kids on a bike. I was making a right turn, and all of the sudden they slammed into my car.
Good news is that no one was (seriously) hurt, just a few scratches on the boys on the bike. And R hardly even noticed it happened.
As I approached the boys as I pulled into a nearby parking lot after the accident, the driver was furious and literally threw his bike into the air. He and the other boy were starting to walk away, but I called out to them, "Are you ok?"
With that, the mood changed. I think they were both expecting me to scream at them. I was anxious about checking out the side of my car, so once they both said they weren't too hurt, I said, "I'm going to look at the damage on the side of the car now, and I'm just glad my baby wasn't hurt."
I asked them both what grade they were in, one in 10th, the other in 8th. I just said, "I teach 8th graders," which made the younger one sort of smile.
I guess handling it in a calm and kind way was what they both needed. I work with ED (emotionally disabled) students, and these 2 boys reminded me of a couple of kids I might see in my class.
I'm thankful that no one was seriously hurt and that I had the presence of mind to handle my interaction with the boys the way I did. Besides, like someone said to me, "You can't sue kids anyway."
I looked at the car, and there's some damage. However, Red is 10 years old right now, and although I love her very much, she's starting to show her age. One more dent isn't going to make that much of a difference!
Good news is that no one was (seriously) hurt, just a few scratches on the boys on the bike. And R hardly even noticed it happened.
As I approached the boys as I pulled into a nearby parking lot after the accident, the driver was furious and literally threw his bike into the air. He and the other boy were starting to walk away, but I called out to them, "Are you ok?"
With that, the mood changed. I think they were both expecting me to scream at them. I was anxious about checking out the side of my car, so once they both said they weren't too hurt, I said, "I'm going to look at the damage on the side of the car now, and I'm just glad my baby wasn't hurt."
I asked them both what grade they were in, one in 10th, the other in 8th. I just said, "I teach 8th graders," which made the younger one sort of smile.
I guess handling it in a calm and kind way was what they both needed. I work with ED (emotionally disabled) students, and these 2 boys reminded me of a couple of kids I might see in my class.
I'm thankful that no one was seriously hurt and that I had the presence of mind to handle my interaction with the boys the way I did. Besides, like someone said to me, "You can't sue kids anyway."
I looked at the car, and there's some damage. However, Red is 10 years old right now, and although I love her very much, she's starting to show her age. One more dent isn't going to make that much of a difference!
Friday, May 29, 2009
Big Bag of Bummer
(How's that for some awesome alliteration??)
Yeah, two posts in one day. Lots going on. If you haven't read the post below, do so. It's stuff you need to know, especially if you are an adoptive parent or love an adopted child.
Ok, so what's my point?
My principal sent out the team list for next year today. Oh, lucky me, I get to change rooms for next year. I'm pretty fine with the people I'll be working with, but I really wish I would have had more notice on the change. This means that sometime between now and June 8, I have to take down everything and pack up my room and the thousand or so department books I have stored as as the department head. And of course I have to finish grading papers and preparing my students for the end of the year.
Also, I won't be working with my friend H anymore. She'll be down the hall from me but not on the same team. We were expecting this, but both were hoping it wouldn't happen. Not only is she one of my closest friends, we also work really well together. She teaches social studies, I language arts. For the past few years, we have integrated our curricula, which neither of us will really be able to do with our new teams.
I am dreading this next week.
(Have I ever mentioned I don't do well with change? I don't even like it when I change my students' seats!)
Yeah, two posts in one day. Lots going on. If you haven't read the post below, do so. It's stuff you need to know, especially if you are an adoptive parent or love an adopted child.
Ok, so what's my point?
My principal sent out the team list for next year today. Oh, lucky me, I get to change rooms for next year. I'm pretty fine with the people I'll be working with, but I really wish I would have had more notice on the change. This means that sometime between now and June 8, I have to take down everything and pack up my room and the thousand or so department books I have stored as as the department head. And of course I have to finish grading papers and preparing my students for the end of the year.
Also, I won't be working with my friend H anymore. She'll be down the hall from me but not on the same team. We were expecting this, but both were hoping it wouldn't happen. Not only is she one of my closest friends, we also work really well together. She teaches social studies, I language arts. For the past few years, we have integrated our curricula, which neither of us will really be able to do with our new teams.
I am dreading this next week.
(Have I ever mentioned I don't do well with change? I don't even like it when I change my students' seats!)
"Orphan" A Horror Movie
Have you heard about this crap? A and I subscribe to the magazine Adoptive Families, and we received the email below about this movie coming out this summer.
I think you should know. Here is the email we received:
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Adoption Community Call to Action for Orphan Film
Date: Fri, 29 May 2009 09:59:58 -0500
From: Adoptive Families
Readers,
There is a horror film being released on July 24, called /Orphan/, about a family who adopts an older girl who "is not what she appears to be."The film is currently being promoted, and the trailer is available athttps://co-nt04.madriver.k12.oh.us/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://orphan-movie.warnerbros.com/<https://co-nt04.madriver.k12.oh.us/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://cl.exct.net/?ju=fe341673766405747c1470%26ls=fdec12777063027d73107974%26m=feef16767c6c03%26l=fec11375776c027f%26s=fdfd15747367007d73147671%26jb=ffcf14%26t=>.
The adoption message is extremely negative, and plays into thestereotypes of adopted children, particularly older children, as damaged.Though we have not been able to preview the entire movie, the trailerleads us to believe the movie will send a horrific message aboutadoption. The adoption community is protesting the release of the film.We urge you to contact the makers of the film, as well as your localmovie theater chains, with your concerns. Feel free to copy or adapt thesample letter below.
To whom it may concern:I want to express my outrage about the release of the movie /Orphan/.The film plays into the stereotype of adopted children as damaged anddangerous. It discourages families from pursuing adoption, particularlyadoption of older children, who are especially in need of loving homes.As an adoptive parent, I am horrified by the line in the trailer that"it must be hard to love an adopted child as much as your own." Adoption has often been misrepresented in the media, but the previews forthis film are unbelievably offensive. I urge you to change thepromotional materials, and to consider holding the release of the filmaltogether.
Contact information:
Warner Bros.
4000 Warner Blvd.Burbank, CA 91522
818-954-6000
Silver Pictures
4000 Warner Blvd. 90
Burbank, CA 91522-0001
818-954-4490
Time Warner Inc.
One Time Warner Center
New York, NY 10019-8016
212-484-8000
Thank you for your support.
The editors of /Adoptive Families/
This email was sent by: Adoptive Families39 West 37th St. 15th floor New York, NY 10018 USA
I think you should know. Here is the email we received:
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Adoption Community Call to Action for Orphan Film
Date: Fri, 29 May 2009 09:59:58 -0500
From: Adoptive Families
Readers,
There is a horror film being released on July 24, called /Orphan/, about a family who adopts an older girl who "is not what she appears to be."The film is currently being promoted, and the trailer is available athttps://co-nt04.madriver.k12.oh.us/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://orphan-movie.warnerbros.com/<https://co-nt04.madriver.k12.oh.us/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://cl.exct.net/?ju=fe341673766405747c1470%26ls=fdec12777063027d73107974%26m=feef16767c6c03%26l=fec11375776c027f%26s=fdfd15747367007d73147671%26jb=ffcf14%26t=>.
The adoption message is extremely negative, and plays into thestereotypes of adopted children, particularly older children, as damaged.Though we have not been able to preview the entire movie, the trailerleads us to believe the movie will send a horrific message aboutadoption. The adoption community is protesting the release of the film.We urge you to contact the makers of the film, as well as your localmovie theater chains, with your concerns. Feel free to copy or adapt thesample letter below.
To whom it may concern:I want to express my outrage about the release of the movie /Orphan/.The film plays into the stereotype of adopted children as damaged anddangerous. It discourages families from pursuing adoption, particularlyadoption of older children, who are especially in need of loving homes.As an adoptive parent, I am horrified by the line in the trailer that"it must be hard to love an adopted child as much as your own." Adoption has often been misrepresented in the media, but the previews forthis film are unbelievably offensive. I urge you to change thepromotional materials, and to consider holding the release of the filmaltogether.
Contact information:
Warner Bros.
4000 Warner Blvd.Burbank, CA 91522
818-954-6000
Silver Pictures
4000 Warner Blvd. 90
Burbank, CA 91522-0001
818-954-4490
Time Warner Inc.
One Time Warner Center
New York, NY 10019-8016
212-484-8000
Thank you for your support.
The editors of /Adoptive Families/
This email was sent by: Adoptive Families39 West 37th St. 15th floor New York, NY 10018 USA
Friday, May 22, 2009
FDL
We got our FDL from USCIS last night! So, yay, the government is ok with our adopting another child.
The last time around, we had to have the FDL before we could get on the waiting list, so it was way more exciting than this time. However, it is one more step closer to bringing our baby girl home, so I'm thrilled about that.
It expires in July of 2010. I REALLY hope our baby is home well before then.
The last time around, we had to have the FDL before we could get on the waiting list, so it was way more exciting than this time. However, it is one more step closer to bringing our baby girl home, so I'm thrilled about that.
It expires in July of 2010. I REALLY hope our baby is home well before then.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Friday, May 15, 2009
Thoughts
My friend V once said to me that she thought sometimes she took her kids for granted because she didn't have to struggle and wait and worry to bring them home. She has 2 bio children and one on the way. She said that in our situation, adoption makes a person appreciate having kids more because of what we have to do in order to bring our children home.
I've been anxious this week about our second adoption. These changes to the process, although everyone at our agency is assuring me that things will work out, freak me out and totally worry me. Is that my apprehension from a few weeks ago? When I was feeling overwhelmed with anxiety? I don't know. Maybe.
It's weird because I have this double perspective. I started reading others' blogs before we got our referral and remember the longing I felt to have my daughter home when I read ones about children who were home. Now I'm reading those blogs again, and maybe some of you think of mine in that way. On the other hand, I have this feeling of being part of that crowd who's going through paperwork and waiting... all that stuff that makes me crazy.
The bottom line is that the changes will add a few months to our wait, before or after(or both) we get our referral. We brought R home at 3 months, and that is not going to happen with this second adoption. On the other hand, R is everything I prayed for and more, and I have to remember that our second daughter will be, too! All this wait is just His way of bringing OUR daughter to us.
And, if you're someone who doubts God (for a while, a struggle I had), for me, adoption cured that. I know R was put on this earth to be my daughter, and I, her momma...
May I always remember the struggles and blessings that come from adoption.
May I always thank God daily for the blessings of my children.
May I never take them for granted.
I've been anxious this week about our second adoption. These changes to the process, although everyone at our agency is assuring me that things will work out, freak me out and totally worry me. Is that my apprehension from a few weeks ago? When I was feeling overwhelmed with anxiety? I don't know. Maybe.
It's weird because I have this double perspective. I started reading others' blogs before we got our referral and remember the longing I felt to have my daughter home when I read ones about children who were home. Now I'm reading those blogs again, and maybe some of you think of mine in that way. On the other hand, I have this feeling of being part of that crowd who's going through paperwork and waiting... all that stuff that makes me crazy.
The bottom line is that the changes will add a few months to our wait, before or after(or both) we get our referral. We brought R home at 3 months, and that is not going to happen with this second adoption. On the other hand, R is everything I prayed for and more, and I have to remember that our second daughter will be, too! All this wait is just His way of bringing OUR daughter to us.
And, if you're someone who doubts God (for a while, a struggle I had), for me, adoption cured that. I know R was put on this earth to be my daughter, and I, her momma...
May I always remember the struggles and blessings that come from adoption.
May I always thank God daily for the blessings of my children.
May I never take them for granted.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
18 Months Old!
My sweet girl is 18 months old today! I find it so hard to believe that my baby is moving more and more towards being a toddler!! I love this precious princess so much. Below is a picture taken today. R spends every Tuesday with her Nana, and there is a fire station behind her house. R currently loves the book Curious George and the Fire Station so Nana took R to see the fire truck today. ADORABLE!!
Here are 18 things A and I love about our daughter:
1. Her beautiful smile.
2. Her curly hair.
3. Her orneriness.
4. Her sweet kisses.
5. Her precious hugs.
6. Her perfect little feet.
7. Her little-girl voice.
8. Her enjoyment of everything, so purely and deeply.
9. Her car dancing head shake.
10. Her two-fist fist bumps.
11. Her infectious laugh.
12. Her "Itsy Bitsy Spider" dance.
13. Her lit-up face when we pick her up at daycare.
14. Her playing in her crib in the morning.
15. Her bath time routine.
16. Her pointing out of buses.
17. Her love of books.
18. Her sharing of her snacks with her stuffed animals.
A and I are so blessed to be this little girl's parents!
Here are 18 things A and I love about our daughter:
1. Her beautiful smile.
2. Her curly hair.
3. Her orneriness.
4. Her sweet kisses.
5. Her precious hugs.
6. Her perfect little feet.
7. Her little-girl voice.
8. Her enjoyment of everything, so purely and deeply.
9. Her car dancing head shake.
10. Her two-fist fist bumps.
11. Her infectious laugh.
12. Her "Itsy Bitsy Spider" dance.
13. Her lit-up face when we pick her up at daycare.
14. Her playing in her crib in the morning.
15. Her bath time routine.
16. Her pointing out of buses.
17. Her love of books.
18. Her sharing of her snacks with her stuffed animals.
A and I are so blessed to be this little girl's parents!
One of those days....
I'm at work. I just spilled soup ALL over myself. It is on my shirt, my pants, my shoe. It was some sort of Mexican soup, so there are rice and little pepper pieces everywhere. It looks like I threw up or something. I'm so embarrassed.
And what's this I hear about DNA testing possibly starting in Ethiopia? I could cry. I'll be selfish and say that is just one more hurdle to bringing my baby home. (I do understand that the government is trying to make everything as legal and correct as possible. I get that. In no way would I want to be the mother of a child taken illegally. I just wish that it didn't seem like every day I heard something new about Ethiopian adoption that is going to make our wait that much longer. I'm sorry. I am being so selfish.)
PS-- My apple is also rotten. Somebody get the WAAAAMMbulance, quick!!
And what's this I hear about DNA testing possibly starting in Ethiopia? I could cry. I'll be selfish and say that is just one more hurdle to bringing my baby home. (I do understand that the government is trying to make everything as legal and correct as possible. I get that. In no way would I want to be the mother of a child taken illegally. I just wish that it didn't seem like every day I heard something new about Ethiopian adoption that is going to make our wait that much longer. I'm sorry. I am being so selfish.)
PS-- My apple is also rotten. Somebody get the WAAAAMMbulance, quick!!
Sunday, May 10, 2009
In The Middle
Today, this Mother's Day, I feel like is in the middle.
My second one of being a momma.
Remembering how sweet and lovely the first one was with my little tiny baby girl with pretty curls (she was 6 months then-- check out these cutie momma and baby pictures!)... I cannot even explain in words how much I love this child, this perfect-for-my-family person, MY darling daughter.
Looking ahead to next year's, hoping that my second baby daughter is home with us. Loving her from afar and starting to feel the ache that comes from longing to hold your child even though you've never seen her face.
What will this year bring? With the changes put in place by Ethiopian government in regards to abandonment cases, I feel this year will bring waiting. Lots of waiting.
A testing of my patience.
And, I hope, a new, little member of my family.
To all of you who have become mothers this year, I hope today is the sweetest of days.
To those of you who are waiting to be moms this year, I hope that next year at this time you will be celebrating the day with your children.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Seriously??
Today a parent of one my students actually asked me to lie to her son. She said to me, "If he asks if you talked to me, just put your hand behind your back, cross your fingers, lie, and say you didn't."
Ok, well, first of all: I don't lie.
Second of all: What kind of parent asks a teacher to lie to a student?
I didn't agree to that, of course. It just gets me thinking about what type of people we are raising our children to be. When did it become ok, acceptable, even expected that lying is ok if it will make things easier?
What the heck? Am I missing something here?
Ok, well, first of all: I don't lie.
Second of all: What kind of parent asks a teacher to lie to a student?
I didn't agree to that, of course. It just gets me thinking about what type of people we are raising our children to be. When did it become ok, acceptable, even expected that lying is ok if it will make things easier?
What the heck? Am I missing something here?
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Monday, May 4, 2009
We have a number!...
..... and that number is:
I was really hoping that it was like 27 or something like that... HOWEVER, is it ok to confess now that #33 has been the number I actually picture every time I think of being on the list? Seriously, believe me or not, but that's what is "reality" for me. I hadn't mentioned it to anyone because I didn't want to sound nuts if I was wrong.
And it turns out I was right.
Wait time? Well, my friends, according to our case manager, that is 8 to 12 months. I just want to remind you all that when we got on the list for R, we were #4. So this is a little strange, and a referral seems VERY far away right now.
(Sweet girl, we hope to see your face soon. She seems like a purple kind of girl to me, so you get a purple post. R is totally my pink girl.)
33!!
I was really hoping that it was like 27 or something like that... HOWEVER, is it ok to confess now that #33 has been the number I actually picture every time I think of being on the list? Seriously, believe me or not, but that's what is "reality" for me. I hadn't mentioned it to anyone because I didn't want to sound nuts if I was wrong.
And it turns out I was right.
Wait time? Well, my friends, according to our case manager, that is 8 to 12 months. I just want to remind you all that when we got on the list for R, we were #4. So this is a little strange, and a referral seems VERY far away right now.
(Sweet girl, we hope to see your face soon. She seems like a purple kind of girl to me, so you get a purple post. R is totally my pink girl.)
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Come Monday...
.... We hope to be on that list! We didn't hear from our case manager yesterday, but I'm guessing she will call us Monday (it's actually our night for a paperwork call anyway) to let us know our number.
For now, R and I are off to go visit my dear friend L, who we haven't see in over a year. She's only met R once because she lives about 4 hours away. We are meeting her 1/2 way and staying overnight in a hotel.
So enjoy your weekend, and we will, too!
For now, R and I are off to go visit my dear friend L, who we haven't see in over a year. She's only met R once because she lives about 4 hours away. We are meeting her 1/2 way and staying overnight in a hotel.
So enjoy your weekend, and we will, too!
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