Monday, December 29, 2008
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Monday, December 8, 2008
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Sweet Boys
Breakfast face!
I am too cute to handle.
I am also too cute to handle.
Hi Dad!
Love and brotherhood.
I am a lucky mom.
Friday, September 5, 2008
My Arms Feel So Full
We are home. I cannot thank enough the people who have been integral in this journey to Daniel, especially my mom who has dedicated so much of herself to his homecoming. Daniel had a tough transition at first which was compounded by him being very sick. Note to self, check baby's ears for infection before subjecting him to flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi three days after meeting him. Poor child. Anyway, he is feeling so much better, and we are seeing his beautiful smile. He laughs with Scotty, and he eats like a champion. He is cruising but not walking yet, and he thinks Bob is a very frightening alien who must be tortured if approached. Bob reacts with her regular deep breath (here we go again, she must be thinking). We are all so happy to finally have Daniel home and so appalled that he had to spend six months longer than he should have in his orphanage. I am still thinking about how to use my words, and I am not sure this is the forum for those thoughts any longer because they might seem to diminish the pure joy I want to express for the blessing that is Daniel. He is home, thank God.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
We are Here!
We are in HCMC and we are overjoyed to have adopted Daniel through our G&R ceremony the day before yesterday (whenever that was). This nation is fascinating. It is so different here, and yet so familiar as the people embrace each other and they embrace us. Daniel's caretakers loved him very much, and I could tell that they were very sad when he left. He has been missing them, also. We are eternally grateful to them for loving him during this long year. Scotty has been such a trooper, but his clock is way off, and he spends most of the night awake. By dinner, he has tears of exhaustion because his body just can't get used to the new time. We hope this week will be much better for him. Our trip was exciting, and we are having a GREAT adventure. Meanwhile...here is the beautiful amazing littlest person in in our family...
Friday, August 15, 2008
Thank You
It is with JOY and GRATITUDE that I write this post.
1) First, I must tell the many of you who have followed our story and posted your comments on this blog, you have made a huge difference to me. When I began this online journal, I had no idea that it would become a sort of lifeline for me to people who, despite miles and anonymity, clearly understand what happened. You understand how much I love Daniel even though it has been something very difficult to articulate or explain, and your support has been a blessing. Thank you so much.
2) I am thankful for Tu Du and my agency parents (home, approved, and waiting); thank you. I won't say why now, but you have brought Daniel home. How can someone thank another person for saving her child? You have.
3) I am thankful to my mom and my J. I'll tell you in person.
4) Senator Dole and staffers (especially C.A.). THANK YOU.
5) R. from C. P's office might not see this, but you have really been hanging in there with us. Thank you.
6) I am thankful for my big sister who has always given me the right words with the right (and beautiful) heart.
7) I am thankful for my little sister who is a shining light.
8) I am thankful for my brother who loves me.
9) I am thankful for all of my family: nephews, nieces, cousins, aunts, uncles, in-laws. Thank you for your work, your letters, and your prayers.
10) I am so thankful for my friends, old and new.
11-196)...
I can't wait to see you, baby Daniel. I am so thankful to your life mother, to your caretakers and to God for creating and loving YOU. I am infinity thankful, and I would journey to you for my whole life for you to know how much you are loved and wanted. I do not regret one moment that brings me to the place where I can finally hold you in my arms. I am thankful for you.
We waited 196 days for our I600 APPROVAL.
1) First, I must tell the many of you who have followed our story and posted your comments on this blog, you have made a huge difference to me. When I began this online journal, I had no idea that it would become a sort of lifeline for me to people who, despite miles and anonymity, clearly understand what happened. You understand how much I love Daniel even though it has been something very difficult to articulate or explain, and your support has been a blessing. Thank you so much.
2) I am thankful for Tu Du and my agency parents (home, approved, and waiting); thank you. I won't say why now, but you have brought Daniel home. How can someone thank another person for saving her child? You have.
3) I am thankful to my mom and my J. I'll tell you in person.
4) Senator Dole and staffers (especially C.A.). THANK YOU.
5) R. from C. P's office might not see this, but you have really been hanging in there with us. Thank you.
6) I am thankful for my big sister who has always given me the right words with the right (and beautiful) heart.
7) I am thankful for my little sister who is a shining light.
8) I am thankful for my brother who loves me.
9) I am thankful for all of my family: nephews, nieces, cousins, aunts, uncles, in-laws. Thank you for your work, your letters, and your prayers.
10) I am so thankful for my friends, old and new.
11-196)...
I can't wait to see you, baby Daniel. I am so thankful to your life mother, to your caretakers and to God for creating and loving YOU. I am infinity thankful, and I would journey to you for my whole life for you to know how much you are loved and wanted. I do not regret one moment that brings me to the place where I can finally hold you in my arms. I am thankful for you.
We waited 196 days for our I600 APPROVAL.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Monday, August 11, 2008
Day 193 Waiting for I600 Approval
Scotty prays for you every night, Daniel. We want you home with us.Friday, July 18, 2008
Friday, July 11, 2008
A Break
I am going to take a blogging break. I will post if we get good news. Please pray for Daniel who we love as big as the world.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
160 Days
nothing.
Daniel is still in his orphanage, and we are still in limbo. My heart is just squeezed up tight all of the time.
Please let this end.
Daniel is still in his orphanage, and we are still in limbo. My heart is just squeezed up tight all of the time.
Please let this end.
Sunday, July 6, 2008
July 4th Weekend: Thankful
I am one of those cheesy people who gets teary eyed at the national anthem during every Olympic medal ceremony. I love all of the other old, beautiful, patriotic songs, too. I am proud of the ideals on which my country is founded, and I am grateful to the men and women through history who have worked for and fought for the preservation of those ideals. I am so LUCKY to have been born in a country and during a time that MY voice, a woman's voice, a mother's voice, a teacher's voice etc. can be heard along with all of the other voices which make up our representative democratic system.
I am not always proud of the ACTIONS of my country. Nor am I in favor of all of the battles that have been fought by the brave and dedicated men and women who stand above others in their service. As an American, I am lucky to be able to disagree. I can sit at a table with friends and family, who hold all different beliefs, and engage in debate where we can grow from understanding varying points of view. I do not take lightly the sacrifices that others make to ensure that my right to express myself is preserved.
One powerful lesson I have gained from this adoption process is the lesson of how to access and petition my representatives. What a privilege it is to have elected officials to whom I can express my beliefs. I feel like I have abused that privilege by never having used it before.
What frightens me is that this process has also taught me that abandoned, our democratic rights can be obscured, lost in red tape. I have been afraid to speak at times, for fear that Daniel would suffer for my speaking. I have felt as if my representatives, at times, were representing what Thoreau would call the government "machine" instead of me, their constituent. I do not feel that any person is deliberately trying to harm children. I believe that all involved are really trying to do their jobs, and well. All are trying to follow their consciences. However, not all voices are being heard. Daniel and I are not being heard. This is a larger lesson. Who is being served by many innately political processes? How does this problem of representation affect the indigent, the immigrant, the unemployed, the soldier, the student, the uninsured child? I want to be more vigilant about speaking, and I would encourage all to be more vigilant, because we likely disagree about some issues. Those varying viewpoints are what give our nation the balance necessary to maintain the democratic foundation which we typically take for granted.
Here are some excerpts from early American writers that are relevant to my current experience. These are important and timeless words. I am thankful to be an American.
from The Declaration of Independence
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.”
from the First Amendment of The Bill of Rights to the U.S. Constitution
CONGRESS SHALL MAKE NO LAW RESPECTING AN ESTABLISHMENT OF RELIGION, OR PROHIBITING THE FREE EXERCISE THEREOF; OR ABRIDGING THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH, OR OF THE PRESS; OR THE RIGHT OF THE PEOPLE PEACEABLY TO ASSEMBLE, AND TO PETITION THE GOVERNMENT FOR A REDRESS OF GRIEVANCES.
from Abraham Lincoln's, “The Gettysburg Address”
“It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”
I am not always proud of the ACTIONS of my country. Nor am I in favor of all of the battles that have been fought by the brave and dedicated men and women who stand above others in their service. As an American, I am lucky to be able to disagree. I can sit at a table with friends and family, who hold all different beliefs, and engage in debate where we can grow from understanding varying points of view. I do not take lightly the sacrifices that others make to ensure that my right to express myself is preserved.
One powerful lesson I have gained from this adoption process is the lesson of how to access and petition my representatives. What a privilege it is to have elected officials to whom I can express my beliefs. I feel like I have abused that privilege by never having used it before.
What frightens me is that this process has also taught me that abandoned, our democratic rights can be obscured, lost in red tape. I have been afraid to speak at times, for fear that Daniel would suffer for my speaking. I have felt as if my representatives, at times, were representing what Thoreau would call the government "machine" instead of me, their constituent. I do not feel that any person is deliberately trying to harm children. I believe that all involved are really trying to do their jobs, and well. All are trying to follow their consciences. However, not all voices are being heard. Daniel and I are not being heard. This is a larger lesson. Who is being served by many innately political processes? How does this problem of representation affect the indigent, the immigrant, the unemployed, the soldier, the student, the uninsured child? I want to be more vigilant about speaking, and I would encourage all to be more vigilant, because we likely disagree about some issues. Those varying viewpoints are what give our nation the balance necessary to maintain the democratic foundation which we typically take for granted.
Here are some excerpts from early American writers that are relevant to my current experience. These are important and timeless words. I am thankful to be an American.
from The Declaration of Independence
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.”
from the First Amendment of The Bill of Rights to the U.S. Constitution
CONGRESS SHALL MAKE NO LAW RESPECTING AN ESTABLISHMENT OF RELIGION, OR PROHIBITING THE FREE EXERCISE THEREOF; OR ABRIDGING THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH, OR OF THE PRESS; OR THE RIGHT OF THE PEOPLE PEACEABLY TO ASSEMBLE, AND TO PETITION THE GOVERNMENT FOR A REDRESS OF GRIEVANCES.
from Abraham Lincoln's, “The Gettysburg Address”
“It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Bob
I was in college when I met Bob. She was a little black fluff ball with a nose poking out. On our way home together for the first time, she threw up on me, and then she shivered in my lap and fell asleep. She was the SWEETEST puppy. I didn't have to potty train her! No joke. She literally never used the bathroom in my apartment, but she sometimes did in other people's. She and I went everywhere together. Since I got her the year I pretty much dropped out of college (don't worry, I eventually went back), she became my center, in a way, something to take care of when everything else was falling away.
Bob has an independent and free spirit. When we lived at the beach, she would bust out of my bedroom window and spend the whole day at the beach while I was working. I would find her on the front steps later, soaking wet, filthy, and satisfied. I used to take her for endless morning walks along the beach, and we were often all alone there. She would run through the water for MILES; she loved it.
She is a digger, big time, too.
My little sister, with a bag full of Cheetos, taught her how to roll over, and that has been Bobby's claim to fame ever since. Bob shows affection all of the time, but she never begs for it. She used to sit on my lap while I was driving when we went on road trips together. When she was a little younger, she would dance with me, two legs on the floor and holding my hands. She has lived with me in at least nine different apartments/houses. She has lived with the following pets, all of whom are gone now: Romeo, Twinkie, and Salvador. She loved them.
Bob is extremely gentle. She is expressive with her ears and eyes. I used to dream that she was talking to me. Her lips would move in my dream, but her voice was always my own.
Tonight is the third night in a row that I have been up with Bob, who is panting incessantly. She never stops. She can't sleep. Tonight, though, I can tell she is in pain. She is wheezing a little, and when I lie down and put my arms around her, she twitches. She had a "brain virus" or a stroke last September according to our vet, and we thought she might be failing in health, but she made a full recovery. Now, though, she really seems sick. Bob has been with me for 15 years. I have a feeling that when I take her to the vet they are going to tell me something terrible, but I don't want her to be in pain. How do you know when?
Bob has an independent and free spirit. When we lived at the beach, she would bust out of my bedroom window and spend the whole day at the beach while I was working. I would find her on the front steps later, soaking wet, filthy, and satisfied. I used to take her for endless morning walks along the beach, and we were often all alone there. She would run through the water for MILES; she loved it.
She is a digger, big time, too.
My little sister, with a bag full of Cheetos, taught her how to roll over, and that has been Bobby's claim to fame ever since. Bob shows affection all of the time, but she never begs for it. She used to sit on my lap while I was driving when we went on road trips together. When she was a little younger, she would dance with me, two legs on the floor and holding my hands. She has lived with me in at least nine different apartments/houses. She has lived with the following pets, all of whom are gone now: Romeo, Twinkie, and Salvador. She loved them.
Bob is extremely gentle. She is expressive with her ears and eyes. I used to dream that she was talking to me. Her lips would move in my dream, but her voice was always my own.
Tonight is the third night in a row that I have been up with Bob, who is panting incessantly. She never stops. She can't sleep. Tonight, though, I can tell she is in pain. She is wheezing a little, and when I lie down and put my arms around her, she twitches. She had a "brain virus" or a stroke last September according to our vet, and we thought she might be failing in health, but she made a full recovery. Now, though, she really seems sick. Bob has been with me for 15 years. I have a feeling that when I take her to the vet they are going to tell me something terrible, but I don't want her to be in pain. How do you know when?
Thursday, July 3, 2008
The LOOOOOONG Weekend
Sigh. Days 154-157 upcoming.
Love to Daniel.
Happy 4th of July everybody.
We wish a happy journey and congratulations, moms and dads, to friends who are finally getting approvals to bring their "Tu Du" babies home. We desperately hope to join you all in celebration soon.
Love to Daniel.
Happy 4th of July everybody.
We wish a happy journey and congratulations, moms and dads, to friends who are finally getting approvals to bring their "Tu Du" babies home. We desperately hope to join you all in celebration soon.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Who can wait for bathing suits?
I love you so much Daniel. Scotty cannot wait to build sand castles with you. We never never stop thinking about you and wishing you here. I hope someone gave you more than a million kisses on your birthday, and I promise that we will celebrate your amazing miracle of a life again when you are home forever. I love you so much.Friday, June 27, 2008
2 New Readers This Year
J and G are readers this summer! That is such a cool developmental milestone...a whole new world.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
The Beach!
We are spending a week in my favorite place, and it has been wonderful. All of my siblings (except for amazing A who we are missing so much) are here with their children as well as some of my cousins and their children. The ocean is clear, and we have delighted, as always, in the beauty here. Yesterday, we had a birthday party for Daniel. All of the cousins, aunts, uncles and Scotty decorated a onesie for him. I will post pictures when I can. God bless Daniel, and we hope to bring him here soon to dip his little toes in the water and to bask in all the love this family has to offer.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Thankful Day 139...A Real Challenge
1) water to drink from a sink 2) Wrightsville Beach 3) white sand 4) the funny voices Scotty uses for his different toys 5) a surprise smile from a stranger 6) electricity 7) free boxes 8) sunshine through a thick canopy of leaves
The following cliches:
9) snug as a bug in a rug 10) sharp as a tack 11) cutie patuty 12) ignorance is bliss 13) as smooth as a baby's bottom
The following nicknames given to Scotty:
14) snuggle bug 15) noodle 16) butter bean 17) sugar bear 18) bear bear 19) bo bo 20) love bug 21) bug 22) funny bean 23) squee bunks (my mom's name for him) 24) noodle bear (don't ask me why)
The following nick-names for other family members:
25) meemster 26) pah pah 27) pop pop 28) grammy 29) granny 30) jo bo 31) boo 32) A 33) "Ig Bim"
These funny things:
34) C saying "show me the monies" when he wanted to see Penny, the dog. 35) J calling a delicious chocolate dessert "Happy Thanksgiving" as it has been called ever since.
36) turquoise 37) John Stewart 38) cauliflower 39) iridescent dragonflies 40) chaos 41) calm after chaos 42) imagination 43) (shame) Costco 44) my old friends who I have not seen for a long time 45) the Internet 46) G's ears 47) Willis who took care of Scotty when I went back to work 48) the edge of Folly Beach by the lighthouse 49) my Gran 50) my Granny 51) my Pop 52) my Uncle Henry 53) my Grandaddy 54) opals 55) fog 56) police 57) social workers 58) teachers in general 59) my teachers 60) Scotty's teachers 70) Peter Tosh 71) Paul Simon 72) Beethoven 73) Mozart 74) Van Gogh 75) kangaroos 76) grass 77) curly hair 78) little hands 79) little toes 80) movies at Harris Teeter 81) parks 82) almonds 83) Feta cheese 84) Diet Coke (yuck, I know, it is an addiction) 85) glasses 86) windows 87) the way paint changes a room 88) the day Scotty and I painted an ocean and a sailboat on his wall 89) today 90) yesterday 91) tomorrow
Movies:
92) The Sound of Music 93) A Christmas Story 94) Christmas Vacation 95) Forrest Gump 96) The Matrix 97) Goonies
98) silk 99) satin 100) cotton
Children's Books:
101) If You Give a Mouse a Cookie 102) If You Give a Pig a Pancake 103) Horton Hatches the Egg 104) Where the Wild Things Are (of course) 105) How Does a Dinosaur Say Goodnight? 106) all Curious George 107) all Shell Silverstein 109) Goodnight Moon 110) Stellaluna
111) Are you My Mother?
(older)
112) Anne of Green Gables (series) 113) The Giver 114) The Giving Tree 115) Tuck Everlasting 116) Little House Books
117) eyelashes 118) Santa Claus 119) moonbeams 120) onomatopoeia 121) hats 122) flip flops 123) polar bears 124) flamingos 125) light up shoes (Scotty loves them) 126) glow sticks 127) hoolahoops 128) HGTV 129) stars 130) courage 131) hope 132) love 133) faith 134) truth 135) strength 136) friends 137) family 138) democracy 139) Daniel's Life Mother
Daniel is going to be 1 this Wednesday. I can't bring myself to hope that we will hold him by then, but I do pray that we will. I know that someone else is longing to hold him, too. I hope she will find peace, and I hope that we can honor her by bringing him home. I don't need to say how much I am baffled by this eternal wait to give this baby a home. I struggle to remain hopeful and to avoid bitterness. The time we have lost is small compared to the important developmental time Daniel has lost. Studies reveal that negative effects of institutionalization include psychological problems, delays and problems in physical development, and lower IQ. The extent of those negative effects is directly correlated to amount of time spent in institutionalized care. Why do people continue to try to justify this child's institutionalization? He has a home waiting and parents who want to give him everything good for his health and his development. We love him so much. I want to avoid bitterness towards the powers that are committing this injustice that harms my child, but how does one do that? Any advice would be appreciated.
Tonight is 139 (Over 4 and 1/2 months in the life of an innocent child) waiting for an I600 determination.
The following cliches:
9) snug as a bug in a rug 10) sharp as a tack 11) cutie patuty 12) ignorance is bliss 13) as smooth as a baby's bottom
The following nicknames given to Scotty:
14) snuggle bug 15) noodle 16) butter bean 17) sugar bear 18) bear bear 19) bo bo 20) love bug 21) bug 22) funny bean 23) squee bunks (my mom's name for him) 24) noodle bear (don't ask me why)
The following nick-names for other family members:
25) meemster 26) pah pah 27) pop pop 28) grammy 29) granny 30) jo bo 31) boo 32) A 33) "Ig Bim"
These funny things:
34) C saying "show me the monies" when he wanted to see Penny, the dog. 35) J calling a delicious chocolate dessert "Happy Thanksgiving" as it has been called ever since.
36) turquoise 37) John Stewart 38) cauliflower 39) iridescent dragonflies 40) chaos 41) calm after chaos 42) imagination 43) (shame) Costco 44) my old friends who I have not seen for a long time 45) the Internet 46) G's ears 47) Willis who took care of Scotty when I went back to work 48) the edge of Folly Beach by the lighthouse 49) my Gran 50) my Granny 51) my Pop 52) my Uncle Henry 53) my Grandaddy 54) opals 55) fog 56) police 57) social workers 58) teachers in general 59) my teachers 60) Scotty's teachers 70) Peter Tosh 71) Paul Simon 72) Beethoven 73) Mozart 74) Van Gogh 75) kangaroos 76) grass 77) curly hair 78) little hands 79) little toes 80) movies at Harris Teeter 81) parks 82) almonds 83) Feta cheese 84) Diet Coke (yuck, I know, it is an addiction) 85) glasses 86) windows 87) the way paint changes a room 88) the day Scotty and I painted an ocean and a sailboat on his wall 89) today 90) yesterday 91) tomorrow
Movies:
92) The Sound of Music 93) A Christmas Story 94) Christmas Vacation 95) Forrest Gump 96) The Matrix 97) Goonies
98) silk 99) satin 100) cotton
Children's Books:
101) If You Give a Mouse a Cookie 102) If You Give a Pig a Pancake 103) Horton Hatches the Egg 104) Where the Wild Things Are (of course) 105) How Does a Dinosaur Say Goodnight? 106) all Curious George 107) all Shell Silverstein 109) Goodnight Moon 110) Stellaluna
111) Are you My Mother?
(older)
112) Anne of Green Gables (series) 113) The Giver 114) The Giving Tree 115) Tuck Everlasting 116) Little House Books
117) eyelashes 118) Santa Claus 119) moonbeams 120) onomatopoeia 121) hats 122) flip flops 123) polar bears 124) flamingos 125) light up shoes (Scotty loves them) 126) glow sticks 127) hoolahoops 128) HGTV 129) stars 130) courage 131) hope 132) love 133) faith 134) truth 135) strength 136) friends 137) family 138) democracy 139) Daniel's Life Mother
Daniel is going to be 1 this Wednesday. I can't bring myself to hope that we will hold him by then, but I do pray that we will. I know that someone else is longing to hold him, too. I hope she will find peace, and I hope that we can honor her by bringing him home. I don't need to say how much I am baffled by this eternal wait to give this baby a home. I struggle to remain hopeful and to avoid bitterness. The time we have lost is small compared to the important developmental time Daniel has lost. Studies reveal that negative effects of institutionalization include psychological problems, delays and problems in physical development, and lower IQ. The extent of those negative effects is directly correlated to amount of time spent in institutionalized care. Why do people continue to try to justify this child's institutionalization? He has a home waiting and parents who want to give him everything good for his health and his development. We love him so much. I want to avoid bitterness towards the powers that are committing this injustice that harms my child, but how does one do that? Any advice would be appreciated.
Tonight is 139 (Over 4 and 1/2 months in the life of an innocent child) waiting for an I600 determination.
Friday, June 13, 2008
"O is for Ocean" and 1st Annual Preschool Graduation
The letter parade was fantastic, and today, Scotty graduated from preschool for the first time! He will graduate again next year since he misses the kindergarten cut-off by three days. Still, when they sang "We go together like shoo be doo be doo whap..." I laughed, and I cried when they signed "Somewhere Over the Rainbow". Well, I am easy to cry. How many times do kids actually graduate these days? Wow. He is going to think this is an every year kind of thing. Meanwhile, my mom has been making the grandchild circuit: 1 1st annual preschool graduation, 1 kindergarten graduation, 1 middle school awards ceremony, 1 elementary school graduation, and tomorrow she is attending the beautiful dance recital where my precious nieces will wind up the season of ceremonies and performances. My mom is a great MiMi.
Here is the song (and one version I have long loved) the kids used to drag tears out of tens of preschool parents...
God Bless Daniel.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Thankful
I am thankful for another year with my students. What a great job I have! Every day I teach, I am exposed to new ideas and amazing people I would meet no where else. I have passionate colleagues, and creative, positive energy is what makes education happen. Plus, I LOVE BOOKS! Every person should be able to be a high school English teacher for a day; it is such a riot. (The summers are a pretty fantastic perk, too.)
Friday, June 6, 2008
So Sad Tonight
Tonight when I was putting Scott to bed, he wanted to know "who is taking care of Daniel?" I said that Daniel has people who love him to take care of him tonight. I have been crying ever since. I told Scotty that we take care of Daniel by loving him and getting ready to be his family, and Scotty said, "but why is it taking so long, mom?" I just don't know. I don't understand this at all. I cannot understand why this little baby has to stay in an orphanage when we have been waiting for over six months to give him a home. We have been waiting over 4 months for an I600 determination. I am so terrified about what this will all mean to him when he gets older, because if I cannot answer Scott's questions now, how will I be able to answer the much more difficult ones from Daniel later? I have truly exhausted my resources, and I am no farther than when this journey began to knowing one single fact about problems with his specific case and what is taking so many months to allow him to have a home. I have been in regular contact with my senators and congressman (and other people's senators and congressmen, etc.). What can I do now? I cannot explain to anyone who is not experiencing this how much I love him. He belongs with a family. God, please let this end.
Monday, June 2, 2008
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Double Plus
123 days waiting for I600 determination. Our acknowledgement letter, February 1 read:
Dear Mr/Ms. [thegregs],
This office is in receipt of your Form I-600, Petition to Classify Orphan as an Immediate Relative. Your petition and supporting evidence will be reviewed by USCIS to determine whether the child named qualifies as an orphan. In certain cases it may be concluded that an administrative field inquiry or a request for evidence is necessary to make that determination. Most determinations will be completed in 60 days.
You will be notified by mail as soon as this determination has been completed.
We have waited more than double the time that "most determinations will be completed". We have waited almost 80 days longer than the "average" stated in the notes from the ASP meeting last week (which happens to be the exact same average stated in a letter to David Price two months ago. Is the average number of days a stable number?). Are these (at least) 30 cases over 100 days included in this average? Can we please see a ratio of cases approved vs. cases denied to understand why our children are being relegated to institutionalized care? No, I do not believe that my child should be collateral damage to the larger cause. He will be a year old on the 25th of this month. This is NUTS. I am exhausted, and I am sad.
You will be notified by mail as soon as this determination has been completed.
We have waited more than double the time that "most determinations will be completed". We have waited almost 80 days longer than the "average" stated in the notes from the ASP meeting last week (which happens to be the exact same average stated in a letter to David Price two months ago. Is the average number of days a stable number?). Are these (at least) 30 cases over 100 days included in this average? Can we please see a ratio of cases approved vs. cases denied to understand why our children are being relegated to institutionalized care? No, I do not believe that my child should be collateral damage to the larger cause. He will be a year old on the 25th of this month. This is NUTS. I am exhausted, and I am sad.
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