December 26th, 2009

Reflection... I'm sitting here thinking how much transition Andrés is going through right now. He's never had a Christmas with commercialism at the forefront. He's eating "crazy" food, hearing new words all day long, different smells, and unique sights...it's amazing how well he's doing with the changes. I'm almost a little scared...it's been too easy. (Knock on wood!) The biggest issue thus far was a conversation on the concept of gratitude and the proper etiquette of opening up a gift. If he's never had gifts to open then I guess this explains why he needs a little lesson!

We've been on the low this holiday season. Spending time at home and not running around. It's nice. He seems content, too! It works for me!

Everyone passes through bad moments, I'm sure we'll have some soon enough. The thing to remember is that this time will proves how resilient , strong, and tough Andrés is inside! He's a good boy. I wouldn't trade this experience for anything! It's amazing where life takes you. A year ago I'd never paint this picture! Anyway... It's pretty "cool" to know that this is where I'm supposed to be in life. It's just "right".

December 4, 2009

OH YEAH!!!!! Got an email from BVS today saying my letter of offer from Colombia was FEDEXed today!!!! I should get it Monday. This means that things are really rollin'. I can finally forward my I800 and 846W. There actually might be a chance I can go to Colombia on the 13th. ~WOW~ Great way to start the weekend.

December 3, 2009

Good news! Andrés will be spending 3 weeks here during Christmas break. His flight comes into Buffalo on Dec 19th around 10:30am and he has a return flight on Jan. 13th, 2010. If my paperwork is approved in time I can return with him to finalize the adoption. If not, he goes back alone and waits for me. Speaking of paperwork, I'm still waiting on the 1800A. The good news is it hasn't been returned with errors. The bad news is the approval isn't in the mail yet.

So... Christmas is a big thing. I wonder what I should buy him. Any suggestions? I'm thinking a guitar, camera, DS, and some drawing stuff. His ticket here was over $1,000.00. It wouldn't fly if I told him that being with me is his Christmas gift, would it? (LOL)

It appears that I've covered my bases with getting time off from work to go to Colombia. The good news is we'll be covered with my insurance. The bad news is that I'll be taking an unpaid leave of absence. Yeah... if I'm really gone for a month that is an easy $3 grand. I was hoping to get at least my family sick and personal days. A weeks pay would at least cover the basic bills. It's not fair that adoptive parents are still treated like second class parents in the world today. Non adoptive parents get to use their paid sick days. They totally deserve them, but so do I! GRRR. Maybe I should move to DC and lobby for Adoptive parent's rights.

I feel blessed that so many people are giving me their "handmedowns" for Andrés. Most of these clothes are almost brand new. It is a huge help! Those little details make a big difference. The cool thing (at least for now) is that he's just as happy with used clothes as he is with new clothes. :-)

While he's here I'm looking forward to taking him for a spin on the snow mobile. Maybe doing a little snowboarding and REAL tubing. Not in the stupid city of Niagara Falls. (Where I fractured my foot last summer.) I wonder if there are any cool things playing at Shea's he loves music. I'll have to check it out.

Well, thanks for reading... I'll try to be better at updating this. I didn't think anyone actually read it!

November 11, 2009

Wow! It's been over a month since I blogged! So...I've been talking to Andrés via phone. He seems happy. Most of the documents needs have been signed off by NY state and waiting to be sent to Colombia. Some documents expire...so I have to request more. Always something! I asked for Andrés to come here for Christmas. Still waiting how it's going to roll. Besides that... not much new to report.

October 9, 2009

1800A rejected yet again. :-(

October 2, 2009

WOO HOO! I was finally granted permission to speak to Andrés! Got an e-mail with his foster mom's cell number yesterday. I'm planning to call on Sunday. I was told me he was happy to know he will hear from me, he misses me and he is doing horrible in math class. That's my boy! Math. I'll buy him a calculator tomorrow! (LOL)

September 27, 2009

Starting to getting "impaciente" with this process. I know in the long run it's worth it, but why does it have to be so complicated! I'm glad they keep this program on the "up and up" for the safety of the kids, but really... it's too much. Oh well... as always, I'll just take everything day by day and go from there. Next step: I800 and DS 230.

Spetember 14, 2009

I want to talk to Andrés!

September 10, 2009

Paperwork. Yeah! Just getting this stuff notarized, certified, and appostiled. It's a date game. Things expire so I'm sure I'll have to re-submit some of this stuff. People are so nice when you mention adoption. I didn't have to wait in line very long!

August 27, 2009

Today I had my "crazy girl" eval, as I affectionately call it. I "passed", if you will, with flying colors. Got my second homestudy back. Just waiting for the Gov't to deny my first i800a so I can send in the "good" homestudy. Sounds wrong to say that I'm waiting for it to be denied!

Not much else to report. Still dying to give Andrés a shout out. I really wish I could hear his voice...

August 24, 2009

Good news! Something had to be edited in my home study so...it didn't even matter that I forgot to mail it in now. Who would have thought! I was so mad at myself. My social worker told me to wait until the new one arrives and send in the new one with the rest of the stuff. OK... I'm back on track, I think...

August 22, 2009

OMG.... SOB! I'm sitting here organizing my paperwork and binder and what do I find, but two copies of my homestudy. How in the world did I forget to mail this with the 1800a? AHHH!!! I can't believe this is in my room right now and not on someone's desk in Chicago.

I'm going to swear a little more in private now.

August 21, 2009

FBI prints...FEDEXed to WV. I'm just crossing off the "to do list". As they like to say on the farm.... "git er dun"!!!

August 20, 2009

i800a is filled out and mailed in... whoa! Big relief.
$880.00, and 7 hours later... the first major step has been fulfilled.

August 17, 2009

Big paperwork meeting today. I needed this kick in the rear to get moving. I have so many papers to fill out. They are for real when they call this the "paperwork pregnancy". Well, at least I can have a beer while I fill out the same 20 questions over and over again!

July 22, 2009

We had a nice morning...breakfast at home. We talked about the future, which room he wanted for his "real" bedroom , what colors he wanted in his room, about school, about sports, about English, about schedules, and about how I find him in Colombia. His concept of me finding him was too funny. Here it goes:

Andrés says- "Linda...when you come to Colombia to get me... just make a right when you get into the town. Then go right at the fountain. Then turn right on the first street. If I'm not on that street playing then just go to the police station and ask the officers for me. They will know where I am."

OK.... how funny was that! The police station? What!

Details of the ride to the airport: Andrés was freaking out! He said "que trafico" "what traffic"...about 30 times on the 290. The poor thing was so afraid he was going to be late. When we got there he showed all the kids his "brag book" and started eating his lunch. I'm not sure why he was hungry...we stopped at McDonalds on the way to the airport. Nervous eater? Anyway... we were asked to be on the news. He was a ham. So cute...telling the reporter that he stayed with me and he had fun. It was all in Spanish, of course.

After the airport. I was ok... emotionally speaking. When he walked away to get in line for his flight my heart started to hurt. Literally there was a pain. I knew I signed up for this so I tried to focus on that. Walking to the car it felt so weird to be alone. Where was his hand, who had my keys, where was I going? I ended up going to lunch with my mom and dad... we were sad, but no tears until I got home and saw his dirty cereal bowl in the sink. I lost it. I'm talking all out crying, with hyperventilating and no vocal cord action at all!!! My phone rang at the most perfect time because I really needed a friend, thanks Mike! I told him I couldn't talk because I was too sad and he told me he'd stay on the phone and cry with me. We couldn't have timed that more perfectly. Once again, I have amazing friends!

So... I cried a little more after the call. After about 2 hours I felt healthy about everything. I'm planning a vacation with my mom to detox, relax and get ready for the next chapter in Andrés' Adoption Adventures. Some massive wine tasting is in order, I think!

July 21, 2009

Today was tough.

I told Andrés he could do anything he wanted since it was our last full day. He asked to go to McDonalds for lunch and to go to Chuck e cheese to play some games. We had a fun time. The prize thing is still too much to deal with though. It's like a cult over there...even some parents were a little too "into" picking out a stupid pink spider ring. For real people!

We had my parents, sister, brother in law and aunts over for dinner/dessert to meet/say goodbye to Andrés. We watched a movie about a tigre. It was so sad. Everyone was crying!

My family said good bye my house because I didn't want to have the waterworks show at the airport. Tomorrow is going to be so hard.

Andrés just brought me a magazine. YEAH!!! Let the midnight reading program begin!

July 20, 2009

The best part of today was reading before bedtime with Andrés. He was so cute trying to pronounce the words in my "People in Spanish" magazine. He reads all the pages. Including the ones with the ads on them!

July 19, 2009

How fun was today! We went to a Mexican restaurant with my friend Mike and his daughter Lily. Andrés loved the food so much he wrote a note to the cook! It was adorable... this thank you note on a napkin. I think Mike got a sweet picture of it!

After that we went swimming and Andrés played the keyboard with Lily. I took Andrés to my parent's to show off his new music skills. Fun day.

July 18, 2009

Andrés asked me to be his mom today! It was so sweet how he asked too! I was filling out paperwork at the exit meeting and he asked me what I was doing. I told him "my homework" which was about him. He wanted to know what I wrote about him. I told him I was telling the "people in charge" that he was a really "cool" kid. He gave me a huge hug and asked me if I would be his "mom"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ... I didn't cry, but the feeling inside was indescribable. :-)

After the meeting I took Andrés to see his first movie at the Regal. We saw Transformers. I guess it was a good movie for him. 1/2 the movie was just fighting about god know what with no dialog at all! We missed the ending of the movie. Andrés needed a bathroom break!

I'm rating today a 10 out of 10!!!