Twas 5 days before Christmas

Twas 5 days before Christmas,

and all through the house,

not a creature was stirring,

except for the lady of the house,

she was cough, cough, coughing...

all through the house,

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

and the lady has great hopes that the tree doesn't burn down,

the dogs are stinky and need a bath,

but the lady of the house is too sick and doesn't give a rat's ass...

That's about all I can come up with. A poet I am not.

I have bronchitis and it is BAD.

I am so sick and haven't really been out of bed since Monday afternoon. I'm starting to wonder if I'll have a job to go back to...I've been out for 3 1/2 days so far. I feel guilty, really guilty, but I can't even climb the stairs without having to rest. I guess that's what my sick days are for.

Man, I hope I get better soon.

This sucks.

p.s. My Dad just called me and I seriously think I startled him, my voice is sooooo gone right now. No worries Dad, trust me the humidifier is on full force. I'll be better soon...

So, that's my week. How you doin?

Holiday Hoopla!

Kelly tagged me!

Here are the rules:1. List 12 random things about yourself that have to do with Christmas
2. Please refer to it as a 'hoopla' and not the dreaded 'm'-word
3. You have to specifically tag people when you're done.None of this "if you're reading this, consider yourself tagged" stuff is allowed.
4. Please try and do it as quickly as possible. The Christmas season will be over before we know it

Got the rules?

Here's my list:

1. My tree is dead. Already. I just got it last weekend. Not sure what happened there, it doesn’t seem to be sucking up any water. Today I noticed all the branches have turned downward. I hope it doesn’t turn brown before the big day.

2. Santa scared the crap out of me when I was a little girl. So did the tooth fairy. So did E.T. I mean HELLO, big fat jolly men coming into your house through the chimney, fairies floating around in your bedroom, ALIENS hiding in a closet with stuffed animals... To this day I don’t understand how it just doesn’t scare the crap out of all children. I still refuse to watch E.T. or any other scary movie for that matter.

3. My mom still says to me every year….”Sara, remember the time you did Silent Night in sign language on Christmas Eve? Can you still remember it?” Ummm, no.

4. My favorite memories of Christmas include playing Christmas duets on the piano with my mom (specifically March of the Toy Soldiers), watching Emmett Otter’s Jugband Christmas, counting down the days until Christmas on this stocking type thing…how’s that for a description…it had candy on it, we would get to have one every night.

5. Silent night at church with the candles. Oh, if you only knew how this goes down! Sandy B, Barb M., and my Mom all know about this.

6. Two years ago, I spent Christmas with my Dad in New Zealand. I think it was the first Christmas we had ever spent together and it was also the first time I saw him in his “work element”.

7. I love the movie Santa Claus, the original from 1984 with Dudley Moore. Rent it.

8. Munchkin is getting presents this year. Specifically, a 100 count Mr. Potato head set and a Little People camping set.

9. I can’t wait for Christmas this year. Two cutie nephews and their parents are coming over to my house early on Christmas morning.

10. This year, I will be holding my first annual Christmas Day Wii Bowling Tournament.

11. One of the Christmas presents I ordered didn’t show up. UPS says it was delivered. I’m pissed.

12. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

I now tag the following my brother who never updates, my not so secret pal, who probably thinks I've fallen off the face of the earth...and Liene, cause we share the same DTC date!

For M&M

Jack helping B put together my kitchen table sometime in November.

Thomas enjoying a fine lunch of sweet potatoes and cheerios. Notice the bib...it's a kitchen towel. :-)

Are you so excited to see me in January??

One year ago...

One year ago someone at the Chinese Center for Adoption Affairs entered my paperwork into their computer system and created the record that will someday be matched with my baby.

I thought today would be difficult, but it hasn’t been. A few people close to me remembered how important this date is and made it very special.

When I arrived at work this morning, I walked into my office and saw this…

Then I turned on my computer and saw this…

and then this email….

I know its a bittersweet anniversary, but keep your chin up. I just looked back at your Christmas pictures from last year in Boston. Take a look, that'll bring you a smile!

I have to work late tonight, but am picking up Chinese food for dinner and will celebrate one year down with B.

I am one year closer to meeting my daughter, but I am at least a year away from meeting her.

Oh how I look forward to the day when I do.

All children come from god.

For some the journey home takes a little longer.

Anonymous~

Mavrick?

When I called my sister tonight, my 3 1/2 yr. old nephew answered the phone and said...

"Talk to me Goose"

One step at a time

~~ My Adoption Timeline ~~

04/17/06 Attended China Adoption seminar
04/22/06 Sent application to agency
04/27/06 Received certified copy of birth certificate
04/28/06 State background check fingerprinting appointment
05/01/06 wait for next single spot to open at agency
06/01/06 still waiting
07/13/06 received call from my agency - paperchase BEGINS!
07/14/06 selected home study agency
08/01/06 1st home study visit
08/14/06 2nd home study appt.
08/16/06 3rd home study appt.
08/22/06 medical exam
08/24/06 4th home study appt.
08/28/06 Notarized home study report arrives
08/29/06 I-600A application submitted & fingerprinting
10/18/06 I-171H U.S. immigration authorization received!!
11/09/06 Dossier to China!
12/13/06 Log In Date!
01/13/07 Waiting
02/13/07 Waiting
03/13/07 Waiting
04/13/07 Waiting
05/13/07 Waiting
06/13/07 Waiting
07/13/07 Waiting
08/13/07 Waiting
09/13/07 Waiting
10/13/07 Waiting
11/13/07 CIS fingerprinting again to avoid expiration

12/13/08 Waiting

01/13/08 Waiting

02/13/08 Waiting

03/04/08 Homestudy update meeting with Idaho social worker

03/14/08 Mailed request for state background check/home study update

03/17/08 Medical appointment with doctor/home study update

03/17/08 Opened my mind and my heart to the SN program

03/28/08 Sent I-600A application to avoid expiration

04/13/08 Waiting

04/18/08 REFERRAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!

04/21/08 LOI!!

04/28/08 Pre-Approval!!!!!!!

CCAA update

Not much to say, the graphic says it all.

There are 364 days of LIDs ahead of me.

Maybe I should tattoo this on my butt. It's all I do.

Still Here

Clearly I haven't been blogging much lately. I'm not sure why, but I just haven't had the desire to keep up with it lately. I'll be back soon, just wanted to let everyone know that I am A OK.

Until then....