Do you hear the crickets churping?

That is what I feel the adoption world has been like lately. NO NEWS - not from our agency - not in the broader VN adoption world. I find that very stressful. I wish I could take solace in the "no news is good news" adage. Especially when our agency was supposed to have referral no later than Jan 07. Well...... it is the last week of Feb and no referrals.

Look at our time-line. We have been at this adoption thing almost 1 year. I really thought we would be close to traveling now. We are still 23rd waiting for a referral. This ticker may cycle twice.

On a much different note, we had Josh's 4th birthday party last Saturday. We had it at Kindermusik, and I can only describe the look on Joshua's face was one of total joy. I will post pictures of it soon.

Child Traffickers Arrested in VN

I was reading VVAI (I want to publicly thank the women who run that blog for the hard work they put into it.) and this article was mentioned. It is referencing the arrest of four child traffickers. I am glad to see that these individuals were arrested, and the authorities did not just overlook it. It also makes it VERY real that it is going on . I never doubted that it was going on but this is in your face proof of it. I don't know how or if it will affect the agreement between the countries. Yet again, we just wait and see what happens.

It's official --- I am not the brightest bulb in the pack!

I am not brand new to the blog world but have not ventured out past the adoption world (until today).

I really have not gone into much detail about what we have been dealing with in regards to Joshua. I have given glimpses but after all this is our adoption blog not our "the challenges we have with our son" blog. But the adoption is going slowly and our lives go on regardless. I know I have posted before about how premature Josh was. Yes, he is our miracle baby. Well life with a preemie four years later is challenging. No matter what the issues your preemie is facing - there almost always seem to be issues, it is always challenging. I am not talking about kiddos a few weeks early; I am talking about LBW (low birth weight) babies. Reminder, Josh was 1lb 8.8ozs at birth. A few issues we dealt with was on oxygen for 13 months, a grade 2 bi-lateral brain bleed (which resulted in a diagnosis of mild cerebral palsy at 8 months old), eye surgery, hole in his heart and list can go on and on. I must say that he is medically really pretty healthy besides the asthma. One thing we have been dealing with very early on (on top of the developmental delays) are sensory issues. The problem is a lot of preemie issues mirror Autism but usually preemies out grow the issues. Well, my question is at what point should the issues be outgrown by? The doctors seem to think he should be caught up by now. HaHa. I promise I am going somewhere by this ramble. By talking to a blog lurker (yes Christie I am talking about you) at a birthday party today, I think to search blogs of older preemie kiddos. Genius I know. I have found several good blogs that can give me insight as to what we have to look forward to and deal with over the next several years. I probably will start posting more about the issues with the little one b/c it feels good to vent (Jen and Jen are probably tired of hearing my rants/venting). Also, if anyone has insight on issues please comment and maybe what we go through can help others.

So as too the title of the post. Why had I never thought to search other types of blogs? B/c I am not the brightest bulb in the pack. :)

Standards of Practices for Agencies (for Vietnam)/Josh turns 4 on Monday

JCICS (an advocacy/policy group) finally released their Standards of Practice. It has/will be talked about by far more knowledgeable people in the adoption world (VVAI) than I, so I wont get into any specifics. But for those of our friends and family who read this blog, I will give the very thumb nail sketch version. The MOU (agreement between the two countries) need to be in the works by March. JCICS is wanting to get its members (agencies) to sign the Standards they have written which will be making the process among agencies pretty black and white. I guess by getting the agencies to sign this agreement, they can in turn go to the DOS and show the commitment on our side of continuing VN adoptions.


Joshua turns 4 years old on Monday (18th). Wow how the time passes. Little boo is bouncing off of every wall tonight b/c he got a steroid shot this afternoon. He has the croup. :( He was up coughing all last night. It is that horrible hoarse cough where you are wondering if he can breath. We went to get his inhaler and guess what the meds were expired. Thank goodness we made it through the night without it. He does not have to use it often, obviously. Even when we try to use the spacer, he fights it with all of his being. So, needless to say even when we have the unexpired med it does not do much good. Anyway, New Rx from doc today. I try not to go with Josh to the doctor alone. I can do it but it is VERY hard. I am actually able to talk to the doctor when Joshua has decided he has been there long enough and HAS to leave. When he starts asking for the elevator, my mom can take him. I know the doctor (who is VERY patient with Josh) sees Josh's name on his list and must think -- Oh NO. While waiting for the doc, Josh is all over the office. Will not stay in his room. Doc would see him and ask him oh so nicely to go back in his room. With no luck. But I must say that once the doc came in today, he let him examine him. Usually the stethoscope scares him. But since he got a medical kit for Christmas, he plays doctor. That did the trick.
***reading over the post I sound like such a wuss. People (as I prob would not knowing me) will think, omg she can't control her kid. I promise I am not a push over. Actually, quite the opposite. I have met my match with Joshua. I have learned to pick my battles with this little one.

**After reading Nikki's post on VVAI, I may be naive about these SOP making the rules black and white in the VN adoption world. Oh well, I am still new to this game.

Check this blog out

I read about this on another blog. Check it out ----- specialneedsbaby.blogspot.com. They found out about this medically fragile child in Liberia that would not make it long if not taken out of Africa. They are in the process of adopting him and are asking for donations. Like I said, you need to check it out and read their story.

I HAVE THE BEST FRIENDS EVER!!!!

Today 3 of the greatest friends went above and beyond for us. Meg, Jennifer and Mandy had a garage sale for Claire. Also, thanks to Tommy and Gene for collecting the big items from the different houses. I know there are many more people I need to say thank you to. For everyone who helped out in any way, The Thomas Family Says THANK YOU!

Words cannot express the gratitude I feel toward them right now. When they called me with the total of the day---- I was blown away. (I was not able to travel back to LA for it) Never in my wildest dreams did I expect it.

It is very hard for me to accept this generosity. Pride gets in the way for me a lot. But when Meg gets something in her head, I knew it would be a lost cause to fight it.

I hope they remembered to take pictures. I had asked them to take them for Claire's memory book. Meg had the brilliant idea of fanny packs. Do they even sell those anymore? I would love pictures of that. I doubt Meg could get Jen to wear one, but again when Meg gets something in her head. :)

Too cute not to share

During the SuperBowl half-time show, Josh picked up his guitar to play with Tom Petty. The kid has the greatest taste in music. It is really poor quality but still want to share.

My Arm Is Killing Me!!!

I found out yesterday that being a pitcher is not in my cards. Besides being ridiculed by Jennifer about my lousy aim, my arm is so incredibly sore. I must admit it is a bit embarrassing. We had the best time. Here are some pics.

I took a lot more pics but they were after a few drinks had been consumed, and they did not come out too well. I refrained in posting pics of the floats b/c the parade is a bit raunchy and not politically correct. I will say Brit Brit was referenced the most. It was a bit disconcerting b/c I saw gals in my high school uniform hiked way up to look like Britney for their float costume. (Yes, I went to an all girls Catholic High School. Please, no name calling.) When we saw the costume, Jennifer and I looked at each other in shock and then laughed saying we wish we would have thought to do that. :)

We had a kiddo to come back to Houston for or we would have traveled to NOLA for fat tuesday. There is always next year.

I want to wish everyone a very Happy and Fun/Safe Mardi Gras. Everyone needs to live the next couple of days with our motto in college. When things don't go exactly as planned just say "It's the Gras Bro (pronounced like bra in New Orleans)." Saying this will get you off the hook. :)