Happy Halloween

Tuki LOVED the Holiday this year.....












The darn hood kept getting into her view. She was not a fan!!














A smile that was obtained through antics by all bystanders.














E also joined us in trick or treating.














Once she realized that candy was the prize at each household. This hand in the bucket was her behavior each and every time she was back in the wagon.




















She was constantly hauling out each piece and looking at it excitedly.





















I finally convinced her to wait until we were done. Then she had a treat. Notice the position of her hood.

Today in Haiti

Read this post from a blog posted at left. The family is in Haiti for a week or so. They are experiencing the effects of Hurricane Noel.

http://josiahstephen.blogspot.com/2007/10/rain-has-not-stopped.html

and

http://providenceinhaiti.blogspot.com/2007/10/lapli-ap-tonbe-anpil-its-raining-lot.html

TWENTY-THREE MONTHS TODAY

E and Tuki on the day of our state CC meet.

Only 1 month left until she is 2 years old and no longer eligible to fit in the category of age that is tracked in months.......................

Geography 101

"the fact that geography is a factor in determining whether she lives or dies...and what kind of life she will live."

Written by Greg and Terri, visiting Dr. Jen in Haiti (linked on the side)

The quote is the very idea that is and has been pounding in me since the day, year 2000, I returned from visiting 3 countries in Africa. It is ever present in my mind and I seem to sift every action and word that others and I make through this thought.

Why do I adopt internationally instead of domestic....for me this is the number one reason why. I believe only people who have not traveled outside of the USA to a developing country will condemn those of us who have, and have chosen to bring a child from another country into our family. Will it change the situation for the majority of the people, NO, will it change the situation for a few, YES, and it has and will continue to change me, and move me into more action and perhaps others that become more aware ... hopefully a global view of this world.

Do children in the USA deserve to be adopted, YES, but I was called, led, impassioned whatever you want to call it, to international adoption... other people have other callings.

Am I saving the life of child, I don't really know, saving them from a life of little to few choices, probably. Do I want them to feel grateful to me for that, NO, but I do hope that they grow up to be content and grateful kids that want to make a global change in this world for others and the environment. Will that happen, I guess I will have to wait and find out as they mature and become adults.

Am I robbing them of their culture, people and heritage, perhaps, but yet I am confused as to the reoccurring discussion by other adoptive parents and others in general..."we are robbing them of their heritage" (developed world perspective), yet when I have traveled to these countries (third world countries), many, certainly not all, want so desperately to come to America, England, etc., to have choices, education, food, care for their children, have no children, etc., The same reason many of our ancestors came to America.

But even though I don't understand this discussion, I am/will purposely be exposing my children to their culture and heritage so that my they can choose how important it is/will be to them. Another choice that they will have.

I am grateful each and every day that I was born in the USA, I could have been born literally anywhere in the world, I could have been living the same life as some of these people do, in other countries, in which every day is a struggle. But I PRAISE GOD, I wasn't. Is it fair, NO, but it is what it is, and believe me I am grateful and I try hard every day not to abuse this situation. I am not dismissing the beauty that also exists in Haiti, Guatemala, Uganda, etc., but for many, every day is a struggle. We take so much for granted, so much, it makes me sad, angry, guilty, overwhelmed, and ashamed, and yet I am grateful too.

I am not really sure what I am saying, or even if I stated it well, but I am for sure just sharing some intense inner thoughts.

Be grateful for what you do have and let the other junk go...........

A Day to Remember

Tuki decked out in our school colors.........

Friday night was jam packed with parties. First, there was a party at two of the runner's (sisters) parent's house. Tuks and I stayed for a about 1 1/2 hours and then on to my BIL birthday party. We stayed there for several hours because Tuki and cousin N played, and played and played....We arrived home around 9;30pm, 3+ hours past Tuki's bedtime. She crashed as soon as her head hit the pillow.

Then today was our state CC meet. We arrived at the head coach's house to eat pancakes, then came home, prepared Tuks travel bag, relayed Tuki care info to E, then off to the meet in the team bus. The girl's raced, we placed 19th, E, neighbor A, and Tuki show up AFTER the race(in order to allow E his dignity, I won't get into the details as to why they were late, HI E!!!), then we hang out at the meet until after our school's boy's team races. I come home with Tuk's and her guys and we have pizza for supper. Tuki didn't have a nap all day, and so she really fought the bed at night..overly tired, but she was amazingly adaptable and happy all day.

Even though we did, well not so good at state, it was really a pleasant day, and once again I appreciated E's and A's help in getting Tuks to a meet to enjoy the runners and beautiful weather. Tomorrow afternoon we will go trick or treating, so I will post more photos to capture the moooooooooment, whooooooment, boooooment!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's in their eyes

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BROTHER J

Panda in the dark blue, she looks to be doing better than a few months ago

BUT

Cheetah in the pink appears to be much less happy than a few months ago.

This confirms to me what I will be doing in the next few weeks. Assembling a new dossier for Cheetah. I was planning on re-using the same as Panda's. The word was Cheetah would then come home 5 - 7 months after Panda..BUT after reading this post by another adoptive parent:

"i hope you don't mind me poking my nose in here, but we struggled
with that same question when we tried to add our daughter D to
our file already in IBESR ~ we were told we could, then we tried &
couldn't & then were told we could resubmit the dossier for her after
we were out of IBESR...nope, then they said after courts...nope, then
they said after legalization...nope, then MOI...because everyone else
along the way wanted to see it...finally, we were able to resubmit it
14 MONTHS later...she has now been in for 3 weeks...

i guess what i'm saying is that i *highly* recommend you go through
whatever it takes to assemble a new dossier...i have kicked myself a
million times for not going with my gut & doing that instead of
listening to the "people who know" who kept saying "just a little bit
longer"..."

I have decided that I will be assembling and paying to set up a whole new dossier for Cheetah...I don't think either of us can wait 14 + more months for her to come home.

ASSEMBLING WE WILL GO!!!!!!!!!!

Pumpkin carving and a great weekend

This weekend started out Thursday night. I received a call from my daycare provider telling me that she was closing Friday because her son was running a fever from the surgery he had on Wednesday to correct his lazy eye. She had informed us of this Wed. date way back in August, so I had scheduled a Dr's appointment and stayed home with Tuks on Wednesday. Soooo since I had already taken off 1 day last week and we are nearing the end of the quarter, and I didn't want to use up all my sick days (saving them for when the girls come home from Haiti) for problems not related to me or Tuks, I was desperate to find someone who would watch Tuki on such a short notice, and THANK YOU A MILLION times to Gabi's Mom, linked on my side bar, for agreeing to watch her on Friday. Gabi's Mom runs a daycare in her home and had offered me via blog comments to watch Tuki if ever I needed it, and boy did I need it. SO THANK YOU AGAIN!!!! Another plug for blogs!!! Tuki had a great time there and she was able to spend time with a fellow Guatemalan baby.

Then Saturday, we had our CC sectional meet, and I am happy to say we qualified for state, but by only 1 point, too close for comfort, yet we did make so another week of coaching.

Today we went to church, both took a really long nap, and then we (I) carved pumpkins because trick or treating is already next weekend.














This is what she did while I was carving!!!!!!!




Her key that she uses in every key hole she can find.

















She crashed and burned her car.












Attempted to sweep the garage.


I kept the pumpkin guts because I wanted to cook the seeds, but then Tuks found the bowl.


Cooking. The watch on her arm is my old watch. She likes to wear it because I wear a watch for coaching..the only time I ever wear a watch.........


Separating


Clapping her hands between each handful to get rid of the stickiness.


More separating


In need of nourishment..this is hard work.


Howling like the dogs and hooting like the owls.

We're Going on a Pumpkin Hunt

we are going to catch a big one
What a beautiful day


along the way we may become distracted


or fall down a few times, but we're not scared


We can't go over it, we can't go under it


We've got to go through it, and
YEAH, it was a success...we caught two pumpkins along the way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In the News

Guatemala..............statement by Pres. Berger about adoptions
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/10/16/america/LA-GEN-Guatemala-US-Adoptions.php


Haiti............living conditions
http://blog.pennlive.com/missionsofmercy/2007/10/poverty_mosquitoes_make_an_imp.html

Where we are at............

1. One, possibly two weeks left to the CC season. I hope we do qualify for state, so that would make it two.

2. Six weeks in the IBESR step of the process for Panda's adoption.

3. A copy of paperwork will be re-submitted into IBESR for Cheetah, once the original exits IBESR for Panda and continues on down the steps to homecoming. So that means Panda will come home 5 - 7 months before Cheetah. It will allow me time to attach and adjust to each new girl and change at a time. Sad thing is Cheetah has to sit at the O longer.

4. Tuki can un-dress herself, and is starting to say more words and even mumble jumble sentences. I think when she is completely understandable she will be speaking in many full sentences. I still may get her working with a speech therapist once she turns two.

5. The tantrums have also accelerated. I thought 18 months was an increase, but nearly 23 months is even worse.

6. We are practicing sitting on the "big girl" potty..no tinkles yet. She has had several nights of dry diapers.

7. I plan to take her to our statewide Latin Adoptive Family Fiesta on December 1st. That means I won't be running the 5 mile race I always do that weekend, and it also means I will plan the family party for her 2 year birthday on December 8 instead of the 1st. Her birthday is Nov. 29th. But I think she will enjoy the Fiesta, so it is worth waiting on the family party. We will still have a small intimate party on her birth date.

8. WAITING is HARD!!!!!!!!!!!!
Especially when what is at the end of the wait is two more precious and wonderful daughters!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Panda

PANDA

Photos and comment about girls made by a visitor to the O--PAC2












Panda. OH MY GOSH. This girl has my heart. She has
personality plus let me tell you. She is goofy, silly, happy and
funny. She kept hamming it up for the camera and saying in
creole "take my picture, take my picture". Then asking to see the
picture on the camera. I just loved her. We gave all the kids
balloons and made balloon animals with them. Panda was sucking on
the balloon and I told "pas manje!" and she just laughed and laughed.
What a goof. her balloon finally popped and she she threw a royal
fit. A mad, kick her little legs fit. It was so funny. She quickly
got distracted. Whoever is adopting her sure is getting a prize.

Cheetah

Photos taken by a visitor to the O-PAC2, and the comments were also written by her.

CHEETAH


The girl in the picture, Cheetah - this girl is so sweet. She
sweetly held our hands, helped us blow bubbles for the kids and tried
ever so hard to blow up balloons for the little ones. She seems like
a very kind, quiet girl.

Medical Miracle for Haiti

Watch this;
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/living/2007/09/11/heroes.aaron.jackson.cnn

Then read this and I hope you choose to vote for Aaron Jackson;
http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2007/cnn.heroes/

If he wins he can use the prize money of 25,000 to help in the distribution of the anti-parasitic medicine throughout Haiti....The POOREST country in the western Hemisphere...our Hemisphere..our neighbors.

A Tag by fellow blogger

I have been tagged by Jen C and so here it goes...

Jobs I have had:past tense
1) Limited Term employee with the Department of Natural Resources
2) Wildlife Technician with the US Fish and Wildlife Service
3) Director and Founder of a Wildlife Rehabilitation Center
4) Veternarian Surgery Technician

but currently a science teacher, and loving it!!!!!!!!!!!!

Places I have lived:
1) Mississippi
2) Minnesota
3) New York
4) Wisconsin

Food I love:
1) Mexican food
2) Chocolate
3) Rice Krispies bars with Chocolate/Peanut Butter frosting
4) Really Good Salads

Places I would rather be:
1) On vacation--anywhere
2) On a beach relaxing
3) with all 3 of my daughters
4) belly laughing with friends

Movies I love:
1) The Christmas Story
2) Milagro Beanfield War
3) Gladiator
4) Sense and Sensibility
5) It's a Wonderful Life

TV Shows I Watch:
1) Criminal Minds
2) Greys Anatomy
3) Numbers
4) Desperate Housewives

Books I Love:
1) A Prayer for Owen Meany
2) Harry Potter Series
3) To Kill a Mockingbird
4) The Poisonwood Bible

I tag:
Kerri
Jane--who is out!!!
Lila
anyone else who wants to participate!!!!

Especially Cute Today

I always think Tuks is cute, but then there are some days I think she is especially cute...this morning in her Guatemalan dress that she wore to church!!

Panda's bed

Panda's bed!!!

A photo taken of the new O and look what is sitting on Panda's bed. I am so glad to know that she gets to look at the collage of all of us at home!!! I am told she knows who Mama is. Now I just need to send a big collage and toys for Cheetah too.

Good news

Ortega, Ammendments, & Campaigns
Latest and Greatest:
1.) JCICS is reporting that the Hague permanent bureau is supporting allowing in-process to continue. This is excellent news for in-process families!
2.) The Guatemalan papers are reporting about amendments being offered to the bill and that the executive branch is not happy that the bill will undergo so many changes. The UNE party seems to be the one most supporting significant changes, or at least they are the ones saying that the bill in its current form has many issues.
3.) It does not appear as though the amendments will be voted on before the Nov 4th election.

We are hearing it will be on Nov 14th. All parties in Guatemala seem to be agreeing that they must not allow the adoption law to become a campaign issue.
We are getting numerous reports from congress people and others that all the campaigns are being noticed. So keep up the good work!

copied from guatadopt

Guatemala Adoption Law Passed-NOT GOOD!!!

Please read the link to the left...5000 Orphans and respond to the requests!!!

Thank you!!!!!!

UPDATE ABOUT THE Guatemala ADOPTION LAW
Even though the discussion of the Ortega Law (Bill 3217), was not in yesterday’s agenda for the Guatemalan Congress, through a privileged motion, the Patriot Party tried to introduce the Ortega Law for its third and last reading in the agenda of the session. Many congressmen supported such proposal, but disagreed on certain details, which created a heated discussion between congressmen and congresswomen of the two political parties who will compete for the presidential elections in November. Shouting, feet stomping and mutual accusations took place. Pablo Duarte, a congressmen of Guatemala City mayor’s political party, put an end to the discussion, when he pointed out that this law is way to important as to be used for electoral purposes and that it would be better if it is discussed and voted after the elections, in November. After he talked, many congressmen left the building and the voting did not take place, and neither did the approval of two important loans. It seems that the Ortega Law will be included in next week’s agenda.

The arguments of the congressmen, screamed by the most vocal of them, were that the birth mothers are selling the fruits of their bellies, the lawyers are profiting from the adoptions and that who knows what life awaits those children who are being adopted by foreigners, who are taking away the future of out country and similar misconceptions. They did not mention that Bill 3217 has 86 amendments and even after that radical makeover, it is still unconstitutional in more ways than one and if it is passed, without the necessary funds and staff to do what the lawyers are doing now, the fate if the children will be terrible. Maria Reinhardt, who is the proponent of the most stupid proposal, that intends – without any state funding - to monitor, control and close down homes for temporary care of abandoned children, complained that the Hague people made the effort of coming all the way down here, to analyze the Ortega Law and that Guatemala owes them to pass the law according to the changes that they suggested.

The other proposal, 3635, was not even mentioned, not even by thee congressmen who presented it. The reason is that it is not known and nobody wants to pay the political price of supporting a proposal that does not have the support of the US DOS, the Hague, and UNICEF. That is too bad, because the Ortega law will be brought again to the congress tomorrow. We cannot just watch how the lives of the children of Guatemala are sacrificed and do nothing about it. JCICS, FOA and Families Without Borders are campaigning to bring home the transition cases, but only FOA is strongly supporting Bill 3635. Focus on Adoption is formed by the most experienced adoption agency directors, and adoptive parents. Many of the adoptions agency directors are adoptive parents themselves, and they know better than anybody in the US, what the future of the children would be, because they have first hand knowledge of the living conditions of the poor people in Guatemala, after countless trips to Guatemala and lots of time spent in the countryside of Guatemala doing humanitarian work, enduring the hardship that only the truly committed would. The FOA members have analyzed the Bill 3635 and concluded that it is a good law, that presents a reasonable alternative to the Ortega Law.



LAST NEWS

The dreadful Ortega law was approved by Congress in its third reading today, Wednesday October 3rd. 2007. The final reading and actual approval will be next Tuesday. ADA is meeting with all lawyers and adoption agencies representatives this Saturday to present the emergency plan. Constitutional challenges are being prepared and we are ready do to everything that is necessary to get the transition cases home and adoptions open for the children of Guatemala. The law could take thirty days to become effective, but it could take more time. It is still undecided.

There is no question that there is a way to make millions of dollars with adoptions. Simply by making them impossible, UNICEF is rewarding our president with a 28 million donation for this accomplishment, with the complicity of the congressmen. UNICEF is using the money of the taxpayers of the First World to eliminate poverty in our Third World country, by eliminating the children of the poor, because as the UNICEF delegate said: the underdevelopment of a country begins in the uterus of a poor woman. Genocide is not a crime of war. UNICEF is showing us how it can be done, without any risk for the perpetrator. We will not remain silent while they do it. That is a promise.

ADA asks of those of you who would want to help adoptions in Guatemala to join your efforts to ours. Contact your adoption agency and they will let you know what can be done.

copied from the ADA site