OOOOPS!

Well, I have an update of sorts, but it has nothing to do with our adoption! I'm sure almost everybody who reads this is probably familiar with our cat story. We were once a normal 2 cat household - one boy (neutered) and one female (spayed). Then, last summer Scott started feeding a hungry stray cat (I called her P.K. for Porch Kitty because I was bound and determined that was ALL she was going to be). When we noticed her belly growing and her incredible appetite, we realized she was pregnant. So Pregnant Kitty took up residence in our garage (after a vet visit to make sure she was free of disease and to confirm that our suspicion was correct). She gave birth to 4 cute kittens that we desperately tried to find homes for. In the end, we ended up keeping one kitten and P.K.

While we were not thrilled to now have 4 cats, and our female cat was REALLY not thrilled by our new additions, our daughter is absolutely in love with the kitten whom we call Lovebug and enjoys dressing her up in flowered collars, pink princess clothes, and hats. One item of business was getting the 2 new cats spayed, but we were told we would have to wait a good 6 months until after the mom stopped nursing to be able to do that. Wouldn't you believe I was just ready to start the process of surgery for everyone (including our female monster puppy)?!

I started noticing a few weeks ago that P.K.'s belly is getting rather large. Of course, she hasn't been out and the only boy cat in the house has been neutered for some time, so I reasoned it must be too little exercise and too much food (she's not the only one around here with that problem!). I even mentioned to Scott that she looked pregnant, but of course she COULDN'T be we agreed. Until I came home from church tonight, and Scott said, "Lovebug is a girl, isn't she?" I ran straight downstairs to look at that cat. It was very difficult given that "she" is an extremely fluffy cat, but I felt something. I asked Scott to look. He said, "No that's a girl." I said "Feel this!" We just looked at each other! Suddenly everything made sense - and not in a good way! We thought the 2 of them acted kind of funny together being mother and daughter and all, but neither one of us gave it much thought. I told Scott if he hadn't said that, very soon we would have found a pile of kittens and been totally stunned! I'd have been thinking immaculate conception or I'd have been going back to yell at that vet that neutered our male cat long ago! THIS would NEVER have occurred to me! I've even had this kitten to the vet, and no one ever corrected me when I told them she was a female. I even think I remember it being confirmed that "Yep, this one's a girl!"

I have never laughed so hard in my life! Don't get me wrong - this is not what we wanted!!!!!! Not by a long shot!!!! I just made a comment on another blog that I think I am done with new animals for a long time! But this just completely cracked me up (I laugh during really stressful situations - it's how I cope!)! This whole situation is completely ridiculous! We don't even want to tell our families, because they are going to think we are completely crazy! We aren't telling the kids either as we are very much considering making some inquiries at some cat rescue organizations tomorrow. But Woogie is upset that Lovebug is not a girl. She really wants her to be a girl. I keep telling her it's still her same cat that loves her. I don't think she's satisfied with that. I guess it will take a while to get used to this. And Legoboy just wants to know why mommy can't stop laughing...

Just To Clarify

Our adoption was NOT finalized. BUT the one that had to be finalized BEFORE ours was! YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hallelujah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The adoption before ours was finalized!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

While this is an important positive step for ours and several other adoptions, I am most rejoicing for a precious little girl and a long suffering family that will soon be reunited - this time FOREVER!

Two Steps Forward, One Step Back

Or is it one step forward, two steps back? I'm not sure anymore, but that is our update for the week. I'm afraid it might be May before we know if Myli's paperwork is acceptable. I have to wonder if it's not, how long it will take after that to make it so! I can't believe we might actually come up to the anniversary of matching with Myli on June 14th. When we got that far, we really thought we were home free! How little did we know...

The news is in...

And it isn't good. No progress has been made for us to bring Myli home. I think we're now tentatively hoping for the end of next month for Scott to travel, but this is also the 5th or 6th time frame that we have received. Needless to say, there is no breath-holding going on over here, but there were a few tears. It's been a frustrating day, but a few things have really helped. There are not words to describe how much the support from other PAP's in my agency meant to me today. There hasn't been much good news to go around, but still there is such a great beauty, strength, and humor about this group of women! It's so humbling! And I am so grateful!

Soon after getting off the phone today with the agency, I stumbled onto this song on a non-adoption related blog (hard to believe I could be interested in anything else right now, right?!). I've never heard this song before, but I hope that God intends this to be the answer to our prayers. "Through waves and clouds and storms, He gently clears the way, Wait because in His time, so shall this night, Soon end in joy, soon end in joy, Soon end in joy, soon end in joy"

Please, Lord. Let this night soon end in joy!

GOD WILL LIFT UP YOUR HEAD
traditional words by Paul Gerhardt
(trans. John Weswley, alt. by Jars of Clay)/
music by Jars of Clay

Give to the wind your fear
Hope and be undismayed
God hears your sighs and counts your tears
God will lift up, God will lift up, lift up your head

God will lift up your head
God will lift up your head
God will lift up your head
Lift up your head

Leave to His sovereign sway
To choose and to command
Then shall we wandering on His way
Know how wise and how strong
How wise and how strong

God will lift up your head
God will lift up your head
God will lift up your head
Lift up your head

Through waves and clouds and storms, He gently clears the way
Wait because in His time, so shall this night
Soon end in joy, soon end in joy
Soon end in joy, soon end in joy

God will lift up your head
God will lift up your head
God will lift up your head

© 2005 Bridge Building, a div. of Zomba Enterprises, Inc. (BMI) / Pogostick Music (BMI).

60 Things While We're Still Waiting

Well, there hasn't been any more news. I'm going a little crazy, so I'm trying to keep myself busy! I saw this on a blog a while ago and thought it might be neat to do. I had to do it a little at a time, so not all of the questions were answered simultaneously. If you're looking for something to do, please cut and paste away! It's fun to get to know each other better while we're waiting!

60 Things You Possibly Didn't Know About Me

1. What is in the back seat of your car right now?
Well, I'm ashamed to admit that until yesterday, there were Easter baskets, gifts, etc. left in there from our family get-togethers, but I knew I was going to work on this, so I cleaned it out! Now there's just a little grass sprinkled in the back. And my breastfeeding/birth/parenting library I use for a support group I lead. And some weird looking rope/cable that I have NO idea what it's for!

2. When was the last time you threw up
It's been so long ago that I can't remember thankfully!

3. What's your favorite curse word?
I've been saying, "My heavens!" a lot recently. Does that count?

4. Name 3 people who made you smile today?
The easy answer would be Legoboy, Woogie, and Meatball, but it was also someone who e-mailed me some pictures and Myli.

5. What were you doing at 8 am this morning?
Just getting up! I slept in today!

6. What were you doing 30 minutes ago?
Getting ready to go to the grocery store, and I still haven't left! LOL!

7. What will you be doing 3 hours from now?
Finishing up homework time, making dinner, probably still doing housework since I've spent too much time on the computer today, and getting ready to go to church (at least that's my plan, but you never know!)

8. Have you ever been to a strip club?
No

9. What is the last thing you said aloud?
Just a minute. To Meatball who is jumping at me saying "Mom! Mom! Mom!"

10. What is the best ice cream flavor?
Do I have to pick only ONE?! Pumpkin, Mint choc. chip, and anything with chocolate and peanut butter

11. What was the last thing you had to drink?
Water. Rarely drink anything else.

12. What are you wearing right now?
jeans that are too tight (not intentionally!) and a brown sweater, brown slip-on shoes

13. What was the last thing you ate?
This is embarrassing! A tootsie roll - that was lunch!

14. Have you bought any new clothing items this week?
No, and that's typical! I only shop for myself if I absolutely have to! I love shopping for my kids, though!

15. When was the last time you ran?
Last week with Woogie in the library parking lot. I'm finally getting old enough that I don't care what other people think!

16. What's the last sporting event you watched?
Wow! I'm not big into sports. Other than Woogie's gymnastics class Monday night, I'd have to say MAYBE I watched a minute or 2 of the Superbowl this year?

18. Who is the last person you emailed?
my husband

19. Ever go camping?
not since I was a kid, but the plan is to go this summer!

20. Do you have a tan?
Nope, I'm ghostly white. There's no sun around here in the winter.

24. Do you drink your soda from a straw?
Well, we call it pop around here, and I'd have to say usually, because when I do drink it, it's usually in a restaurant and they almost always give you a straw. If they don't , then I don't use one!

25. What did your last IM say?
I think this means instant message? I don't have anything like that. VERY low -tech :-)

26. Are you someone's best friend?
I think so... I hope so...

27. What are you doing tomorrow?
Laundry, dishes, vacuuming, making beds, cleaning the bathrooms (don't you want my life?!), walking on the treadmill, cooking meals, taking care of the kids, getting Legoboy ready to go to W.V. with Boys Club for a weekend missions trip. I think that about covers it. Oh, yeah - stressing about our adoption!

28. Where is your mom right now?
Well, the first time I worked on this, she would have been at work. She works as a medical biller/coder for a pediatrics office. But right now, she's probably at home - about 15-20 min. away from me.

29. Look to your left, what do you see?
a wall, kitchen table and chairs (with cups that still need put in the dishwasher), side of the fridge and cupboard

30. What color is your watch?
I don't wear one.

31. What do you think of when you think of Australia ?
When I was dating Scott, he considered moving there. Of course I didn't want him to. How different would our lives ended up if he had?! That and Crocodile Dundee.

32. Would you consider plastic surgery?
Doubtful, although I probably could use it!

33. What is your birthstone?
opal

34. Do you go in at a fast food place or just hit thedrive thru?
Drive thru if I can help it. Which means if there's not a play place!

35.How many kids do you want?
As many as God wants to give me. But then again the question says how many do I want - not how many do I think I could handle!

36. Do you have a dog?
unfortunately

37. Last person you talked to on the phone?
When I was first working on this, it would have been my sister. But now it's my mom.

38. Have you met anyone famous?
Steven Curtis Chapman! Oh, and Big Chuck and Little John. And Dick Goddard. I think that's it. Does anyone know who they are?

39. Any plans today?
Right now - read my Bible, brush my teeth, and go to bed. Aren't I exciting?!

40. How many states have you lived in?
Just this one.

41. Ever go to college?
yep. I got my BSN (nursing).

42. Where are you right now?
In my kitchen at the desk.

43. Biggest annoyance in your life right now?
The dog who eats EVERYTHING including the deck. The piles of oompah she leaves all over the yard. And the holes she digs. Meatball's destructive phase. He was using the hand vac and decided to suck up water with it today.

44. Last song listened to?
"What a Wonderful World" came up on somebody's blog today. Other than that, it would usually be Cedarmont Kids Gospel tunes!

46. Are you allergic to anything?
don't think so, although I don't get along too well with milk

47. Favorite pair of shoes you wear all the time?
easy slip-ons!

48. Are you jealous of anyone?
I don't think so

50. Is anyone jealous of you?
I hope no one is jealous of me.

51. What time is it?
Right now - 9:14 PM

52. Do any of your friends have children?
I think pretty much all of them do. Anyone without kids probably wouldn't put up with me for long!

53. Do you eat healthy?
Some days...

54. What do you usually do during the day?
Housework, take care of the kids, clean up LOTS of messes and lately - spend too much time on the computer!

55. Do you hate anyone right now?
No

56. Do you use the word 'hello' daily?
I would think so!

58. How old will you be turning on your next birthday?
33 - Did I actually type that?!

59. Have you ever been to Six Flags?
No, but I have been to Cedar Point and King's Island - Do those count?

60. How did you get one of your scars?
Being really stupid while I was cutting wax to make candles for Christmas one year. Only time I've ever had stitches (well except for my first birth...). I didn't tell anyone what made the candles red - just kidding!!!!!!!!