Happy 1st Birthday M!!!

Well, yesterday marked M's first birthday.  Of course, he is 13 hours ahead of us, so by the time we were celebrating his birthday was over in Korea.  We received an email update, the 1st one yet to tell us about M's development.  He isn't walking yet, and is a pretty small guy at just over 19lbs and 28 inches, seems he is already fitting into the ways of the C family.  He did receive at least one of our packages and it sounded like he was at somewhat amused by the car we sent.  Now, we have sent a car in both packages, so I wonder which one he got....the noisy dump truck or the noisier Lightning McQueen.  Either way I am glad that he has something that we have also put our hands on.  It helps me feel a little closer to him.  We had some cake and talked a lot about M this weekend.  I cannot wait until next year when we can celebrate together.  Our dear friend came to visit for S's birthday which was Thursday and brought her son, C, along. C is 9 days older than M, so I enjoyed some 1 year old life with C, constantly thinking that he & M are so close in age.  I look forward to the days when those two can play together.
We enjoyed a great day with some old friends and some neighbors and I did a pretty good job of not feeling sad that M wasn't with us.  I know he is being loved and well cared for, and while I wish he could be here with us, it is comforting to know where he is safe, loving and for him home.  Certainly, we will have many a birthday to celebrate with him, and well he is barely aware we exist.

Tomorrow is a big day here.  P & D head off to preschool/daycare and Tuesday T starts the 1st grade.  Summer is coming to an end which is OK, because now comes fall and football, things we love here!

Back from Texas!

I spent last week in Texas at a conference.  Before I talk about the insane heat of Texas, I would just like to reference my last post.  That day I had a really bad migraine and took something "stronger" to help my pain.  Then I wrote that.  I have gone back and read it and realized I had no recollection of writing that.  It seems I can be quite philosophical when I am not thinking.

Moving on...

So, I went to a training conference in Texas.  The temperature was between 106-109 all week.  Needless to say, I was grateful for the skywalk between my hotel and the conference.  That was ridiculous heat!  I got the kids some shirts at my conference.  I won't say cute is the best description, but I did want to support this mission, and I feel strongly about the message.  P was kind enough to model for me.

So glad to back home after my trip.  I am off work this week to enjoy the last week of summer before T heads off to first grade.  It is hard to believe that I have a 1st grader, let alone that P is in pre-school starting Monday and Baby MR (as he is affectionately called about here) is going to be 1 on Saturday!!  We mailed off our second package and it sounds like our first package has just arrived at ESWS last week.  Baby MR is going to feel very spoiled with 2 packages!!

Today we went to visit the new preschool/daycare P & D will be attending.  But before we went, I took the kiddos out to a local park to try to get some new pictures.  I have a GREAT photographer (who also designed my blog) but she is a busy, busy lady.  I will be guilting begging her to schedule some fall pics for the C clan, to include the adults and my adorable 3 legged dog, but for now I think I did a pretty good job!  Here are a couple of shots.  I must say it helps to have such beautiful subjects.  I believe today I photographed 3 of the 4 most adorable children on the planet.  I am looking forward to this time next year when I will have all 4 together for pictures.

 

Still here....and a soapbox chat

Shame on me, I disappeared for a bit.  Things have been busy.  S was out of town at training this week, work has been busy and overwhelming.  The big kids, T & P, went to visit GG and are on their way home now.  I am leaving Saturday for a training in Dallas. Whew, I feel tired typing it.
In other news though, we sent another package to M in hopes that it will make it in time for his birthday, August 20th.  I tried my hand at a bit of Hangul in a card included in the package.  It made me happy to step a little further into his culture, his world.
Time is moving and I am grateful for that, and at the same time sad.  I know that with each passing day we are closer to meeting him.  It also means another day and maybe a milestone we are missing.  I try to not rush the time, because it is time in the lives of all of our children, and I want to cherish it.  I am excited to hear another update when his birthday comes. I am still obsessively checking my email everyday hoping for any word and love to see the names of the social worker in my inbox.
I have been following some info about EP's currently and feeling so sad for families that are caught in that.  I keep reading and following and send my prayers that their wait ends soon.

OK, now a little off topic soapbox...
The work I do is intense and important.  I work with a very specific population of crime victims.  I unfortunately see some of the worst of humankind and it is hard.  It has made me realize that you never know the path someone has walked, where they have come from and where they wish they could be.  It also made me realize how lucky I am to have been chosen to be a parent.  The gift of parenthood is precious, and some people take it for granted.  I wish I could shout from the mountain tops to "be kind, love those around you.  Appreciate and respect the beautiful gifts in your lives that are other people."
I am working hard to have no doubt in myself and just give all I can give and do the best I can.  I want to do big things and leave a good imprint on the world around me.  I feel good about the journey I am taking and where I think it is leading.
I hope you are too.

New pics!! & Korean food!

So the sweet little cherubs returned unscathed (minus some bug bites) from a week with the grandparents.  Not sure I can say the same for the ole grandparents, but hey keeps you young, right Mom????

And in other news, we got some new pictures.  They could not have been better timed.  In fact, the morning we got them, I had been talking (read: whining) about how it had been a month, he should be going in for his WBC, blah, blah, blah...  We got 4 new pictures and of course he is even more adorable (if that is possible).  Unfortunately, he wasn't looking at the camera in any of them.  And, in what we think is a coincident, he is wearing the same shirt he was wearing last month.  I can tell you he has lovely, long toes and loves a pacifier.  We went shopping for his upcoming birthday package and bought him several outfits!  I learned that his first package hasn't made it to him yet, I sure hope that outfit will fit him at all!

The big kiddos are going back to the grandparents for a bit this weekend, so S, D & I are thinking we might try to eat some Korean food.  See, there isn't too much in the way of diverse cuisine in our area, but my parents don't live to far from a, well, rather large area, with lots of FOOD options!  So in a slightly bizarre move, I reached out to another blogger I have gained some great info/knowledge/etc from to ask her recommendation, because she is familiar with that area.  So, "wise blogger" if you are reading:  Please don't think I am a weirdo stalker!!

thanks!

Not too much summer left, and we are planning an event to celebrate HM's 1st birthday although he won't be here.  I am wondering if anyone has any Korean birthday traditions we could incorporate, knowing the birthday boy won't be there!?!?!

Night all!

Quiet around here

Saturday the cherubs went to stay with G.G. & P-pa.  They will be there all week.  Man, it is Q U I E T here!  I have been mostly alone all day as S constructs stairs for our deck.  Just me and the animals, staying inside and staying cool.  I have caught up on some shows, read some blogs and even baked something!  I know that last part is hard to believe, but really I did...banana blueberry bread.  Not sure yet how it will taste, but it smells good.  I have been thinking a lot about H and how much longer we will wait until he can come home.  I have been reading a lot of other blogs of families with children from Korea.  Some are waiting and some have come home.  It helps to know there are other people waiting too, although I feel sad for all of them also.  And it definitely helps to read about families that have recently come home, their adjustments and joys.  I also keep thinking of H's birth mother.  Next week will make 11 months that he has graced this earth.  I hope she finds comfort each day, and I long for the day that we may know her and thank her, and share H with her.

Speaking of H, I struggle with what I want to call him.  We picked a name for him, and I like it.  The thing is there is nothing wrong with his given name, and we are keeping it.  Part of me feels like we shouldn't add to his name and part of me wants to be part in choosing it.  I don't know.  I like the flow of the names all together, but I am just not sure what I will call him everyday.  Maybe I will call him his Korean name, I like it.  I hear that from a lot of people, that his Korean name is unique and "cool."  All of our children have unique names, so why does he need an "Americanized" name anyway???  I know we have lots of time, but every time I refer to him as "H" it seems odd.  He is M now, not H.  Just my thoughts.

I hope this will be a good week.  Dieka is doing well, and I think she is feeling very little pain now which is all I care about.  She is still very hesitant to cross that invisible fence, although it is unplugged and she is usually wearing no collar.  So I think it is GREAT that I get to be the kind person that is dragging a 3 legged dog around the house, so she can go potty.  I'm sure my neighbors think I am the cruelest person in the world!!!! lovely!!!

We gained 4 feet & now we are losing 1

It has been a rollercoaster of a week.  Last Tuesday, T got a kitten.  She named him Sebastian (no Little Mermaid influence here).  She actually wanted to name him Buttercup, but if you notice his picture, it isn't exactly a matching name.  Anyway, I suggested something from a favorite show or movie, and Sebastian stuck.  He is from the SPCA, and actually quite sweet.
That is where the good story ends.

Sebastian

For good measure, here is Mayor Quimby, so he isn't left out.

We noticed this past weekend that our dog, Dieka, had a swollen wrist.  Based on her age and breed we felt confident this was more than a sprain.  Today at the vet, my fears were confirmed...cancer, bone cancer.  Those that know me know I regularly comment about Dieka's age and how little time she has left.  Really, that was me trying to prepare myself for a day like today.  But when it came, I feel no more prepared.  Dieka is a special girl.  She is OBNOXIOUS, and all that have been to my house know that.  BUT, she is definitely a great part of the C family.  She was a gift from me to S our first Christmas together, which makes her even more special.  She is a menace at times, getting in the trash, on the counter, barking at leaves blowing by at 6am.  And I am not done with those annoying things.  So, although we are trying to save our money for a certain trip to Korea next spring, this Thursday Dieka will undergo surgery to amputate her leg, in hopes of giving her more time to be a menace.  Tonight, we will explain it to the kids, and it makes me sad that they will experience this and the eventual lost, but I know that is part of growing up. 

So, I am hoping things go well on Thursday (and maybe hoping that she will won't be able to get on the counter anymore).
We love you Dieka!

In other news, we have applied for our i-600 I think, and are looking forward to celebrating a little someone's 11 month birthday next week.  Time is flying, and at the same time moving at a snail's pace.  I am hoping to get an undate soon, maybe even a video!?!?!?!

A great weekend

Ok, so the last picture is actually from Father's day, but I think it is such a great representation of the family.  We had a great weekend.  There were S'mores and burgers, birthday cake and great company.  Some minor inconveniences popped up here and there, but all in all it was a good time for all.  We were lucky to get to celebrate the birthday of a super sweet 3 year old and see some great friends that we adore and don't see enough.  Of course, we also got to see friends we adore and see all the time, WIN WIN!!
P received his first REAL golf club and went to the driving range for the 1st time Sunday.  He got a quick lesson from our friend B, and off he went. 
We have made it to July, which in some ways has come so quickly and at the same time has taken forever.  We have begun planning our celebration for H's birthday, which just happens to be 2 days after S's birthday, so celebrate we will!!
I think it is about time for us to start putting together another care package to sent off to H in time for is birthday.