18 months & 10 years

Today is M's 18 month birthday.  I hope he had a good day with his foster family and I am REALLY hoping he had his well baby check which I will get to see soon.  Several months ago we sent some disposable cameras in one of our packages.  I am eagerly awaiting some pictures.  I am especially excited to get a progress report.  We don't know what kind of progress he has made since our last progress report in October!!!  A lot can happen in 4 months!

Still no movement on the processing of emigration paperwork front.  It seems so our luck that for 60 years this adoption program has been stable and reliable.  It comes in contact with the C family and....well there it goes!  In the past by this point many people have travelled to get their newest family member.  This year?  NOT. A. ONE family has received the ok to travel.  not one.  We are behind a lot of people in the line to travel, so I hope it gets moving soon.  I have to admit more and more I am afraid it will not and M will never be part of our family.  Truth is, this part of the wait has been hard on the attachment.  It has seemed so surreal for so long that it is hard to believe it ever will be.  I have wanted to adopt since I was a little girl.  When we were matched it finally felt real, like we were really doing it.  Now with so much time past, I have to admit that I feel how I did before we ever applied.  Like it is something we might do one day.  I hate to say that, but it is the truth.  It is a hard subject to bring up around here, because of the frustration and for the little people a lot of confusion.  One day at a time, and one day it will be real.  right?

On a more happy subject, S and I have been together for 10 years!!!  Not married 10 years, but together.  And anyone who knows me well, knows putting up with me for 10 years is a noble feat!  So in tribute to that, I will now focus on 10 things we have experienced/had/done in the last 10 years. (In some what of a order of events kind of way)
1. Dieka! Our dog.  Our first baby, the 1st Christmas gift I gave S.  She's an expensive pet, who is now minus 1 leg. She is 10 years old now and while she regularly drives me crazy, I will miss her when she is gone. 
2. Getting Married.  One of the most amazing days, so much fun, sometimes we wish we could just throw one of those parties every couple years.
3. Our 2nd, 3rd & 4th houses together.  I owned a townhouse when we met, but man we have exchanged some real estate in a decade.  We are finally in a home we both love and hope to stay for a long time.
4. T--not enough time to talk about how amazing she is.  Once upon a time, I wasn't sure getting pregnant would be easy, so S & I didn't waste time.  13 months after we were married, Princess T arrived.  She is smart, articulate, curious, sweet and adorable.
5. P--my handsome "mini S"  He looks just like his daddy minus the light hair and eyes and boy he loves his mommy.  He is all boy and at the same time sensitive and caring.  He is a deep thinker sometimes and is the one who asks most often when M will be home.
6. D--The spitfire.  This girl is her own little creature.  She follows in NO ONE's footsteps.  She defines terrible 2's and at the same time loves just as ferociously.  She is a lot like her momma and it scares me and makes me laugh at the same time.
7. this adoption.  This journey isn't over, but it is well on it's way.  We have learned so much and I am certainly changed for the better for it.  When M comes home, all the frustration will have been worth it....and I can't wait.
8. Education--S finished his bachelors last year.  All while working full time and being the most amazing dad and husband.  And he even worked a part time job through some of it too.  He is amazing.
9. Jobs--We have definitely had some challenging jobs and job changes.  I think we are stronger for the work experiences we have had.  I am grateful for all I have learned from the work I have done.
10. US--We are still us 10 years later.  Sure it looks different.  We are separated by 6, soon to be 8, feet, but I feel just as close to S as I did years ago.  I look forward to another 100 years together, even if we are separated be even more feet!

So with all of that, S deserves some credit.  For 10 years he has:
~made me laugh until I cry
~made me laugh when all I could do was cry
~let me cry when I needed to
~put up with my laziness
~put up with my messiness
~talked it out when all he wants to do is sleep!
~cared for me through 3 babies, several surgeries & I can't count how many migraines.
~there are a million other things he has done that make him my hero and I am so thankful for him.

And to reward him...I got him a Kuerig! Aren't I nice!!!?!?!  Plus, he needs that caffeine to keep up with this family!
Love ya babe.