tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54452049271704547982024-03-13T15:13:16.332-04:00Bringing Sterling HomeHinz57http://www.blogger.com/profile/00487826933504438244noreply@blogger.comBlogger61125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5445204927170454798.post-49298649879032793062011-11-02T10:29:00.002-04:002011-11-02T10:29:35.085-04:00It's Been One Week!!!November 2, 2011<br />
It's Been One Week!!!<br />
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We've been home one week already! Crazy! The time has flown by and we are all adjusting to our "new normal" quite well.<br />
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I did want to give a quick update and tell you about our Christmas Angel (from Reece's Rainbow!) So, bear with me while I ramble for a bit.<br />
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First, before I get to the good stuff and the stuff you want to hear, I am going to ask you for money.<br />
Every year Reece's Rainbow has the Angel Tree Project. As an extension of this project, they are hosting the Christmas Warrior Project this year as well. <br />
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This tells you a little bit about the Christmas Warrior Project:<br />
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"As an extension of our <a href="http://reecesrainbow.org/sponsorship/angel-tree-2010/prayer-warrior">Prayer Warrior project</a>,
and an enhancement to our annual Christmas Angel Tree Project, we are seeking
passionate folks to be one child's Christmas Warrior this year.<br />
Our <a href="http://reecesrainbow.org/sponsorship/angeltree2010" target="_blank">Christmas Angel Tree Project
</a>is our biggest and most important fundraiser of the year. All of our orphans
with Down syndrome from ages 0-5 are posted on one page for people to sponsor
and donate for their adoption grants. It runs from <strong>November 1- December
31</strong>, 2011. Those who give more than $35 recieve a beautiful photo
ornament of their sponsored child to hang on their Christmas tree. These
ornaments make fabulous gifts for your friends, family, and fellow Down syndrome
advocates, while providing a life-saving gift for the child who is in desperate
need of a "forever family" of their own."<br />
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Brian and I have signed up to be Yegor B's Christmas Warrior! I will be working on a couple of fundraisers to raise money for Yegor's adoption grant. <br />
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OUR GOAL IS TO RAISE $1000 for Yegor by December 31! I know Christmas is coming up and many of you are strapped financially; but, every penny helps bring Yegor closer to a family. He has been on the Angel Tree 3 times now and his grant isn't even at the $3000 mark. PLEASE help us to raise his grant up so that a family will have a great start up fund for his adoption. It's incredibly sad to say (but it's true) families look mostly at younger children and children with strong grants. If we can raise Yegor's grant money we increase his chances of finding a family.<br />
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If you donate $35 you get an ornament for your Christmas tree that will come to you with Yegor's picture on it! This comes from Reece's Rainbow. I will also make you a personalized necklace using the photo of your choice! (You will need to email me your photo!)<br />
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I know that many of you have donated and helped us to get to where we are with Sterling and we REALLY appreciate it! Let's work together to get Yegor taken care of!<br />
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To donate click here: <a href="http://reecesrainbow.org/yegor-b">http://reecesrainbow.org/yegor-b</a> then click the yellow DONATE button at the bottom of the page!<br />
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Thanks with LOVE-<br />
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From Erin, Brian and Sterling <br />
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Yegor is 4 and needs a family NOW!</div>
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Now that we are done with that I can update on Sterling! I'm going to use a Q and A format with the questions I get asked ALL THE TIME! I'll be sure to add some new pictures too!</div>
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How has he adjusted?</div>
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Amazingly well! In some ways I'm glad that developmentally he isn't super aware of what happened. He knows we feed him, keep him clean, dress him, let him play and love him. His basic needs are being met and that keep him happy. He is very easy going, he loves to go "bye bye" and he is good with people. Everyone that has met him LOVES him. He is fine with the dogs (he and Hannah are inseparable) and he walks around like he owns the house. We have spent time doing some behavior training and he knows what timeout is and he knows what "no" means. (Not that he always cares - total toddler!) We are lucky his transistion has been so easy. It's not to say we don't have meltdowns - we do - but they are almost always typical toddler meltdowns. The only real issue we have is with food.</div>
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How is he sleeping?</div>
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Amazingly well! We went with the crib to be sure he was safe. Developmentally he is about 15 months old so its a fit developmentally too. He sleeps between 10-13 hours each night. He is NOT a great napper. I will put him upstairs when he gets tired (red eyes, crying, fussy, rubbing his eyes, etc) but at the orphanage he taught himself to keep himself awake so he rarely naps...at least I know he is resting a bit.</div>
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How is he eating?</div>
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Amazingly well! He eats anything and everything. The only thing he won't touch is apple juice (but he will eat applesauce...) He isn't a picky eater and will eat and eat and eat. Our only issue is that he flips out and melts down if he isnt eating and you are or if you dont feed him fast enough or when he wants to be fed. That being said, he has made HUGE improvements in this area. He self feeds finger foods but doesn't have the fine or gross motor to use silverware yet. The good news is he KNOWS what to do with a spoon (if you give him a spoon with food on it he will try to get it to his mouth) but he just can't get it there yet. That will come soon. We are also working on throwing. When he has too much in from of him he will pick something up in each hand, realize he can't pick something else up and throw the first thing to get to something new. (BTW the dogs LOVE this and lay under his chair when he eats!)</div>
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Does he like the dogs?</div>
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Yes! He is in LOVE with them and they with him. A match made in heaven. I've had Hannah since she was 9 weeks old and we often refer to her as "Meth Lab". She was seriously CRAZY and still puppy at 6 years old. Nothing calmed her down...until we came home with Sterling. She is so different and she won't leave his side. I'm so relieved and grateful that both Sterling and the dogs adjusted to each other so well.</div>
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How is Sterling medically?</div>
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OY! The short answer is fairly healthy! Yesterday we went to the pediatrician and the opthalmologist. His strabismus is significant in his left eye and the ophthalmologist prescribed "patching" for him. Starting today he will be "patched" over his good eye for 2-6 hours a day to strengthen his "lazy eye." </div>
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At the pediatrician we received a referral for a cardio; she is not expecting any problems as she said his heart sounds great and she can't hear a murmur (let alone anything of more signifigance.) But since a "congenital heart defect" is listed in his adoption records she want to refer to be safe. We also received a referral for a urologist, a script for his 5 year old neck xray, and a whole HOST of scripts for outpatient lab work including Thyroid panels, a CBC, blood allergy testing, and parasite screenings. On a positive note, she is not concerned with his tonsils or adenoids (yet.) He has no sleep apnea, he doesn't snore and he doesn't really have any tongue protrusion. So at least we get to skip that visit!</div>
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What are you going to do for school for Sterling?</div>
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I called our developmental testing center downtown this morning. They only screen on Wednesday mornings. (Alas - today is Wednesday - thanks Murphy!) So we have to wait until next Wednesday. Once he is screened they will set up a testing schedule for him (hopefully much sooner than the anticipated wait.) Sterling will be going to a school for kids with special needs called UCP (<a href="http://www.ucpcfl.org/">http://www.ucpcfl.org/</a>) and we are trying to get him into the PK4 class (which will still be way too much for him) but they won't bend with me here. Until he is cleared through the school boards developmental testing center we will have to pay for his schooling. Once he is cleared, he will be covered under ESE pre-k. Luckily he can receive all of his services at this school too and they will bill insurance directly so that helps a lot!!! He will be starting there on November 14th (hopefully - still need to call them back!)</div>
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How are YOU?</div>
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Brian and I are great! I am still at home with Sterling. Brian went back to school (and coaching) Monday. He is glad to be back. We have FINALLY adjusted back to Eastern Standard Time (thank goodness!) and are finally sleeping well. Everything is going great here! I'm super busy with calling doctors, Cigna, labs, schools, the developmental testing center and I still need to do his whole register with the consulate thing. We also need to get him a US passport and I need to get him registered with Medicaid, SSI and Social Security... So I am BUSY!</div>
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Like I promised - here are some updated pictures since we've been home.... If you are HAPPY to see Sterling home PLEASE drop us a line AND also help us find a family for Yegor by DONATING to his grant! Help us get to the $1000 mark and find him a FAMILY!!! (If you think you are Yegor's parents even better! Send me an email and I'll help you with the next steps!!!) </div>
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Notice how often the dogs are near him....</div>
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</div>Hinz57http://www.blogger.com/profile/00487826933504438244noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5445204927170454798.post-45601555350679916872011-10-25T14:32:00.000-04:002011-10-25T14:32:09.461-04:00WE'RE GOING TO DISNEY WORLD!!!October 25, 2011<br />
We're Going to Disney World!!!<br />
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Well, not anytime soon. We need to get adjusted first; but we ARE COMING HOME!!!!<br />
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The medical visit is done, the passport is in our hands, the visa is in the passport and the flights are booked. <br />
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For people on EST this is our schedule (In EST)<br />
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We leave the apartment at 8pm EST<br />
We take off for Germany at 10:35 pm EST<br />
We land in Germany at 1:35am EST<br />
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We will leave Frankfurt at 8:20am EST<br />
We will LAND AT HOME 6:20 pm EST<br />
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We are flying Lufthansa and would LOVE and WELCOME lots of PRAYERS for SAFE TRAVELS and SMOOTH flights! I am a PHOBIC flyer. It makes me physically ill and I cry the whole time. Even with my script on the last flights, I was still a mess. I know I will have Sterling with me, but Im already starting to freak out. We are VERY excited to be coming home and start our life as a family. I am so proud of myself for getting over here but I need help and prayers to get home...<br />
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All that being said, I have a WHOLE GROUP of people to thank...<br />
During the 10 People in 10 Days Posts I purposely left out a WHOLE GROUP of people so that I could save them for THIS POST about COMING HOME TO DISNEY WORLD!!!<br />
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MY DISNEY FRIENDS!!!! My online group Liners :-) has been so INCREDIBLY SUPPORTIVE.<br />
They were there when we first decided to adopt and have been there through it all. I am so excited to have been able to share our journey with them. I know of one family that is even looking into adopting through RR because of our trip! :)<br />
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So, to my Liners :-) THANKS SO MUCH!!! For the help, the support (donations, gifts, prayers, kind words!) and all of the love and pixie dust you have showered on us! This group helped raise over $1000 towards our FSP and made our trip and our adoption a possibility! THANKS!!!!<br />
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The next time I blog we will be HOME!!!! <3<br />
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PS Thanks Carrie for the Bible verses: Brian has written them down so I can read them over and over on the plane!<br />Hinz57http://www.blogger.com/profile/00487826933504438244noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5445204927170454798.post-1474191966361771632011-10-20T14:47:00.002-04:002011-10-20T14:47:49.078-04:00More WaitingThursday, October 20, 2011<br />
More Waiting<br />
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I didn't get a chance to blog yesterday. I'll give you the short version here. We woke up (with Sterling's help) around 07:00. We got up, dressed, had breakfast and got ready to leave. We THOUGHT Nicolai would be picking us up in the morning but when we hadn't heard anything by the time 11:00 rolled around we called Tatyana. She told us Nico would be to Sumy to pick us up between 14:00-15:00. Well, that didn't happen either. Nico showed up at 16:40. We packed the van and we were off to Kiev! Sterling was asleep within 5 minutes of us leaving the apartment (we withheld his afternoon nap purposely) and he slept for two and half hours. Perfect! We woke him up at 19:30 (purposely) and he stayed awake - although VERY drowsy for the rest of the ride. We made it into Kiev around 21:40ish and asked Nico to drop us by TGI Fridays - we were both craving American food. I stayed in the van with Nico and Sterling (to feed him a snack) while Brian ran in and grabbed dinner to go. While Brian was in the restaurant Yulia (one of the facs) called me on Nico's phone. Bad news - no passport on Friday. The soonest we could get the passport would be Monday. So, they canceled our embassy appointment that was scheduled for today and we were to have embassy Friday and Monday. Bummer, but I trust God is keeping us safe. By 22:15 we were in the new apartment. Sterling was fed and put to bed - he was asleep by 22:40. No crying, no screaming, no refusal. He just passed out. A great day for him! He was a trooper and I'm super proud of him. He was so well behaved. :) Brian and I ate after he fell asleep and then we crashed ourselves (both exhausted).<br />
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Little man woke us up today at 8:00. That means he slept for 9 hours last night! YAY! We got up and got dressed. Little man played in the apartment and we just relaxed (since our embassy appointment had been cancelled). We wanted to go to TGI Fridays but they dont open until 11:00. Unfortunately - little man was tried and cranky by 11:00 so we fed him lunch and we put him down for a nap. Today was the first day he let me rock him to sleep. He hasn't been super fond of physcial touch so today was big. He was napping GREAT - until he fell off of the bed. He didn't cry - he barely woke up...but I picked him up to lay him back in bed and THAT woke him up (really??) So, we tried to let him go back to sleep but NO DICE. We were going to walk to TGI Fridays but he was still tired and we didn't want to push it. By 17:30 he was EXHAUSTED and C.R.A.N.K.Y but this Mama is no fool. We fed him dinner and managed to keep him awake until almost 19:30. That was a stretch even so who knows when we will be getting up tomorrow! <br />
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Luda called around 20:30 to check on us. We inquired about the NEW embassy appointment and Luda said she had no idea what we were talking about. PANIC! She told us she would call Yulia to find out. We were worried that the embassy appointment never got changed - but it turned out there was just a lack of communication. No big deal. We have embassy visit #1 tomorrow at 10:00. <br />
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Because we now know when our embassy visits will be, we have booked our flights home! We will be HOME Tuesday, October 25 @ 18:05. Praise God! From here, all we need is prayer for: 1) an easy medical appointment and 2) SAFE TRAVELS HOME!!!!!<br />
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We are so excited to be returning to the states but sad that we will not be able to go through London to see our friends one last time!<br />
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Sorry I havent blogged ! Its been busy with a toddler around!!!!<br />
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<br />Hinz57http://www.blogger.com/profile/00487826933504438244noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5445204927170454798.post-21198975010753477972011-10-18T14:54:00.000-04:002011-10-18T14:54:30.687-04:00Gotcha Day!<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tuesday, October
18, 2011</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Gotcha Day!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This has
been one of the longest days of my life…and currently I wouldn’t even come
close to saying the best. Probably – if you were to ask me now I would say the
opposite. But that’s because I’m annoyed, tired, hungry and incredibly emotionally
spent. Go grab a cup of tea or something this one is going to take a while.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The day
started out great. Tatyana and Valentin picked us up around 09:30 and we headed
out for the day. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we were leaving, Tatyana
told us she got our court decree by train yesterday. Tatyana and Valentine took
us to the Foreign Passport office in Sumy first. But, the guy she needed to
talk to wasn’t there. So, we went to the Birth Certificate office instead. On the
way there we noticed that it was snowing…it started out as flurries but pretty
soon it was really coming down. This was the first time Brian has ever seen
snow fall. </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> Tatyana
told us this is really early snow for Ukraine. The first snowfall normally is
in November. </span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> Snow on the ground....</span></o:p></div>
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Yes, it stuck...</div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ok so focus
back on the birth certificate office – this is where the day started to go
downhill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They told us it would be a 30
minute wait… an hour later Tatyana decided that we needed to be productive
while we waited. Tatyana and I got dropped off at the tax office while the men
went and got the Adoption Certificate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remember how we left the birth certificate
place because they were taking too long…well the lady at the tax office was
clueless too. Apparently adoptions in this region are few and far between.
Nobody we encountered today really knew what to do. After another 30 minute
wait at the tax office trying to explain what the lady needed to do, Tatyana
and I met the guys outside. Their story was just as interesting. When they
left, Valentin jumped the curb instead of staying on the driveway. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had to RUSH to the birth certificate
office (they close at noon for lunch) and they made it with 2 minutes to spare.
When they got there the lady gave them a hard time because I wasn’t with them
and she needed my signature, so Brian took the liberty of signing for me. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the end we got the new birth certificate
with our names on it. We then RETURNED to the Foreign Passport office so
Tatyana could ask them a question…no red passports. Luckily the passports from
Sumy take only three days processing so we *might* have our passport in Kiev on
Friday. But this set back in timing may have cost us…we will see. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">After all of
this we didn’t get on our way to Bilopillya (I can use all our city names since
Sterling his now with us) to go to the orphanage until well after noon (BAD!). We
found out then that it was going to be Gotcha Day. I should mention here that
my stomach was in knots and nerves all day. This was the norm all day (and it
still hurts.) On the way to Bilopillya, Valentin was pulled over by the police.
The guy must have diplomatic immunity of some sort because he flashed them some
card, told them he was transporting Americans and the policeman let us go
(after rolling his eyes.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We first went
to the Foreign Passport Office in Bilopillya (don’t know why). Tatyana got out
and went in. The three of us stayed in the car (Brian, Valentine and myself.) A
police man came out and let a car through the gates and waved Valentin to move.
Valentin pointed and said to us, “Policia…Mafia…HAHAHA” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That gave us a giggle.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We arrived
at the orphanage and began paperwork central. Well, Tatyana began paperwork central.
We were in a HUGE RUSH because the Foreign Passport office in Bilopillya closes
at 16:00. The doctor had to get copies of his medical and shot records, Tatyana
and Nina (assistant director) did bank stuff and release stuff. They asked us
to give all of Sterling’s clothes to his nurse (Oksana) so she could change
him. We did so. Close to an hour went by and we were told the director (WHOM WE
HAD NEVER MET) had to sign off<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>on us
taking Sterling today. Apparently, they were under the impression that we had
to have the passport before they release him. In the beginning the director was
adamant that we not take him today. Then there was a huge discussion over the
bank accounts. Long story short, they wanted to know who was getting the money,
the institution or the orphanage in Sumy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They were under the impression it was there choice – which it is not. We
found out too that you NOT obligated to return any of the child’s account money
to the orphanages – you CAN keep it. We knew all along we were donating though
and when Tatyana asked who we wanted to get the money we told them the institution.
It’s the only place we know and they are so underfunded. After we said that the
director eased up on the bank account thing. Then he went into this tirade
about how kids with Down Syndrome are too much work, they are aggressive, they
can’t learn etc. He questioned WHY (really … again?) we wanted a child with
Down Syndrome (if I weren’t trying to be nice so he would let us take him I
would have given him a piece of my mind, especially since he was already ours.)
I humored him, promised to send him information on how to teach children with
special needs and hook him up with an American contact. Only then did he stamp
the release.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He then tried to talk our
ears off and Tatyana pretty much walked out on him and told me to follow –
leaving Brian and Valentin to fend for themselves. LOL. We went back downstairs
to collect the bank cards, get jackets and get Sterling. But Sterling STILL
hadn’t been dressed or delivered. OY! We eventually got him (with a haircut...butchered)
– but it was a COMPLETE RUSH at this point (well after 15:00 – So no good
gotcha day pictures) to get to the Foreign Passport office. We arrived, dropped
Tatyana off to start paperwork and took Sterling to get his passport photo. The
first round of passport photos. He was cooperative and although we made a lot
of efforts – his passport picture didn’t come out so great. We rushed back to
the passport office to drop off the photo just in time – Brian went in to meet
Tatyana and Valentin took me to the bank. They wanted a picture of Sterling too…to
close his account out. That took a while and he was starting to get tired there.
Brian finally showed up and we left. Thank God! </span></div>
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Look at my face...I'm like, "Get me OUT OF HERE!"</div>
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Tiny little steps...Valentin is point to Brian telling him to put the diaper bag in the trunk.</div>
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The FIRST passport picture.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I had Sterling
asleep in my arms within 5 minutes of us leaving. He slept the whole way to
Sumy. I was assuming we were going home and they would let him sleep. But – I was
wrong. We weren’t done. </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">L</span></span></div>
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You can see how tiny he is in this picture. And I must say - so angelic...</div>
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Cute!</div>
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Slept like a log...until the door was slammed....</div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had to go to the Sumy Foreign Passport
office too (they close at 17:00 – we got there at 17:00.) Tatyana raced inside
and we were good. Valentin opened his door and slammed it – thereby awaking our
little angel. Commence the nightmare from a horror movie. Have you ever awoken
a sound sleeping child and then expected them to be completely cooperative and
sit still for yet ANOTHER set of passport pictures (WHO KNOWS WHY!?????) Well,
let me assure you it was NOT pretty. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Commence meltdown of the decade. Seriously.
Full on screaming tantrum. They were aggravated with us because, “we cannot
make picture when he cries.” Well, I don’t know what they wanted me to do. It
was now past 5:30 he was starving and exhausted. We finally got one picture
(tongue protrusion and shading – they were not happy with us.) But Tatyana told
them we were done. So, we left the passport office in Sumy at 18:15. Sterling
was still in a MOOD and nothing would console him. When we got home Valentin
told us we owed him $100 for driving this all day…I told him that wasn’t enough
and we paid him $200. He was a sport and was so patient with an uber cranky
toddler.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As soon as
we got here I fed him and he was much happier. Mood change. Until we gave him a
bath. NOT A FAN! HATED it! Screaming, crying, flailing – absolutely hated it.
Still, I forced a hairwash (the orphanage stench HAD TO GO) and bathed him
FAST. Then into PJs (3T bottoms way too big – super droopy). He was very tired –
rubbing his eyes and CRANKY. I tried to put him down but NO DICE. So, I’m
thinking that nap was just enough to ruin his bed time. ;) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So, it is
8:30 he is exploring in his PJs and is SO HAPPY right now. Smiling, toddling
everywhere just happy with FREEDOM. Today was not my favorite day. Everyone was
pushed to the limits including my 5 year old…who did NOT need that today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m so glad he has calmed down and is happy
again. Hopefully he stays like this for tonight and can get some sleep.</span></div>
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Whatcha doin'?</div>
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<Raspberries></div>
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I'm NOT tired...no way!</div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have one
thought for you: BEING A PIONEER IS NO FUN! Today would have been so much
better if everyone knew what they were doing. Since we were the FIRST people to
adopt here – it was a nightmare of a day. Brian and I haven’t eaten all day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nikko is picking us up tomorrow to take us
back to Kyiv. We are needing LOTS OF PRAYERS now that our passport will be
ready by Friday since we stayed well past closing today. We would also appreciate
prayers for us as we settle into our “new normal” and begin our life as
parents. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tomorrow,
the 5 hour car ride should be interesting…LOL. <br />
But I hope we can get some GOOD pictures for you!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Thanks for
all of the prayers and well wishes! It is SO GOOD to have him OUT OF
THERE!!!!!!</span></div>Hinz57http://www.blogger.com/profile/00487826933504438244noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5445204927170454798.post-33384198218552802422011-10-17T13:52:00.001-04:002011-10-17T13:52:46.569-04:00The Quarantine is OVER!!!Monday, October 17, 2011<br />
The Quarantine is OVER!!<br />
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We were so HAPPY to see our little man again today! And, we are happy to report that he was just as THRILLED to see us!<br />
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We were so afraid that we would see some regression after not being able to visit with him for a week, but much to our surprise he was his charming little self. We missed him so much and it was AWESOME to be able to love on him again. We missed him so so so much!<br />
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Um, yea - I'm not attached or anything...</div>
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He was SO HAPPY today. You can see from the pictures we got lots of smiles. <br />
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This is my FAVORITE Sterling face BY FAR. It totally melts my heart!</div>
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And when he giggles he just throws his head back....</div>
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And lets it go...absolutely precious!</div>
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He has figured the Bumble Ball out - we think!</div>
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And he now loves books! But he still has a short attention span!</div>
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He still explores everything with his mouth. Today Brian put Sterling's hand on his goatee so Sterling could feel it. His vision isn't great and he is still very much a toddler so he learns about things by putting them in his mouth. He has never been around men much - so he has never seen a goatee. Much to Brian's surprise (and so glad I got a picture) this is how Sterling "explored" Brian's goatee. And YES that tongue landed! It was NOT a kiss and it was HILARIOUS!!! </div>
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As we neared the end of our visit we started putting things away. Brian zipped the backpack up so Sterling couldn't take everything out. Sterling then decided it was time to get his back and go...only he couldn't lift it. Imagine in this picture the sound of much grunting and groaning!</div>
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Yes - his shirt today said 9-12 months (and yes for the most part it fit fine...) Don't go out buying clothes this little. He fit into our 2T and 3T shirts fine.</div>
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For those wondering this is what "boy's tights" look like. They are standard over here. And SUPER cute!</div>
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Daddy was so surprised (and excited) he was wearing a pair of Air Jordan's today! LOL!</div>
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Our hour visit flew by and before we knew it, it was time for us to return him to his caregivers for lunch. We THINK tonight is his last night in an orphanage EVER!!! Praise God! <br />
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According to one of our facilitators our day tomorrow should go something like this:<br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000;">"So, my understanding of your schedule for tomorrow is as follows:<br />your first step is to get court decree from the court. (probably Tatiana is going to pick it up without you on the way to Sumy - I do not know). <br />Then you go to Vital Record Office to change original BC for post-adoption BC. <br />Then you need a Notary to certify the copy of new BC.</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;">You need to go to Tax office to change identification number for post-adoption name.</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;">Then you go to the orphanage to submit court decree and a copy of new BC, to sign lots of papers and pick up the boy. </span><span style="color: lime;">(The child is staying with you from then.)</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;">You go to Passport Office to scan the picture of the child and submit the paper-work.</span><br />
<br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">On Wednesday Nikko will pick you up and bring to Kiev. Then you may move your Embassy appointment or to submit all the documents on Thursday and wait for passport in Kiev. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000;">All mentioned above is the prospective schedule for tomorrow, and you need to realize that it may be changed or delayed depending on different circumstances. I really hope you will be able to fulfill this plan tomorrow. Good luck to you!"</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">As you can see our day tomorrow will be pretty packed! We are pretty stoked about the part in green!</span><br />
You can also tell from her response that there is no guarantee our passport will arrive on Friday for us to be home on Sunday. We will need lots of luck and prayers for that to happen.<br />
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So, tomorrow you SHOULD see pictures of our Gotcha Day!!! <br />
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One funny thing for today, we finished up our chocolate shopping. Now that we are done I can tell you we are coming home with 82 bars of chocolate. I'm sure it's a record of some sort, but we won't be able to get it again (unless we ask people who are coming!) Here is a picture of our stash!<br />
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I promised another top 10 today. Today Brian and I collaborated on what we mill miss most about being here.<br />
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The Hinz Family Countdown of the Top 10 Things We Will Miss About Living in Ukraine!<br />
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10) Having a Cleaning Lady - it's been fun for sure, but it won't be happening at home...sadly<br />
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9) Celentano's Pizza - Seriously it is very good and the toppings are fresh.<br />
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8) Sleeping In - Yea I'm pretty sure that life is over. Brian is a great husband though so maybe he will let me pull it off every now and then.<br />
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7) The Inexpensive Cost of Food - Being here made us realize how much we spend (and waste) on groceries. We will be much more mindful at the grocery store now.<br />
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6) Having the Ability to Walk Everywhere - We have missed our cars. But it is nice to not need one. No gas. No distance constraints. If we wanted to go somewhere we just walked. I like the end result of the weight loss too. Life here is so much "simpler" than back home. We really do take a lot for granted. <br />
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5) The People - Really they have been so nice. The ladies at McDonald's, the restaurants and the stores have all been pleasant and have tried to communicate with us. The ones that do speak English (broken) have been really patient with us. <br />
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4) More Specifically We Realized That We Will Miss Alexei - Despite his not speaking English and his (at times) crazy driving, I almost cried today when I realized we might not see him again. He has kept us safe and delivered us diligently to our son. We wish him many blessings. <br />
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3) Spending Time Together - Being together 24/7 has its challenges but it really has helped us to grow closer. When we started this process we, at one time, talked about Brian going back during the 10 day wait and me staying. We are so beyond happy we didn't do that. <br />
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2) Having Time to Read Devotionals and Really Grow Closer to God - I'm sure some will argue that this should be number one. But we CAN do this at home. It's been nice readin devotionals daily and reading the Good Word. Without the hustle and bustle of life going on it made it easier to focus on taking time to do this.<br />
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1) Being Sterling's Birth Country - It really nice that we have had this time to explore and take pictures to share with him when he gets home. I want to take some pictures (With the good camera!) of him in Sumy tomorrow or Wednesday before we leave. They belong on his walls. <br />
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I'm all teary eyed after writing this. We so badly want to come home but at the same time we are sad to be leaving here. It is a beautiful country with an amazingly deep culture and history. You can't often point to a building and say it's over 1000 years old. And you can't do it in America at all. I am so very glad we got to have this experience and that God chose us to be Sterling's parents. It really is too much for words.Hinz57http://www.blogger.com/profile/00487826933504438244noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5445204927170454798.post-72361418015460562532011-10-16T07:42:00.001-04:002011-10-16T08:10:47.358-04:00A Little Humor<span style="font-size: large;">Sunday, October 16, 2011</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">A Little Humor</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I skipped writing a blog post yesterday - and despite the guilt I had over not providing fodder to my readers, It felt great. I had written over 30 blog posts consecutively since we left the USA. I like writing the blog - but I really enjoyed the break.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Today, Brian and I are going to humor you. We are giving you several top ten lists....for fun. They are not meant to be serious...I warn you because someone is going to tell me I should miss my family and friends. We do miss our family and our friends....but...there are other things we miss as well.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Without further ado I give to you....</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">THE TOP 10 THINGS ERIN MISSES ABOUT HOME</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">10) An Oven - Do you know how annoying it is to make the same foods over and over? I can't wait to be able to have a little variety in my cooking! We have an oven...but we don't know how to use it and when we turn it on the whole apartment smells of propane...Yeah - we dont use it!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">9) Target - For when you want out of the house and you don't know what you want to do or where you want to go.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">8) A Sink - We have sinks. But we can't drink the water, can't brush our teeth with the water, and can't wash fruit with the water. Enough said.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">7) Starbucks - I could really go for a decaf non-fat, no whip Grande Salted Caramel Frappuccino right now.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">6) My bathtub - Bath is my detox/destress time... I miss HOT water too.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">5) Warm Days - I miss wearing shorts, sandals and tank tops. Last night it was -2* C. Yea that's like 28*.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">4) My truck - I miss being able to get in the car and go somewhere. Anywhere. We walk everywhere here. My legs look great. But, I miss being able to get out and about.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">3) TV in English - We have now seen: ALF, South Park, NCIS, CSI, CSI NY, Family Guy, Kill Bill, Terminator, Hawaii Five-0, Biggest Loser and many other shows in Russian. I have a new found respect for ESOL students.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">2) Milk - I am a HEAVY milk drinker. A quart a day....its a wonder I'm not huge. I get this milk drinking habit from my father. I have a love affair with milk. The milk over here is different. When I get home I want a glass of milk.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">1) Tijuana Flats - If you aren't from Central Florida this won't make sense. This is a Mexican restaurant chain in C. FL. With a HOT BAR and amazingly delicious food. I've already told our ride home we are stopping there for dinner before we even go to the house. 'nuff said.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">THE TOP 10 THINGS BRIAN MISSES AT HOME</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">10) The Dryer - Having clothes hanging around your house is not attractive. Looking at underwear while eating dinner is strange. We have a drying rack outside...but its too cold for that.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">9) Menchies and Jeremiahs - Again if you aren't from Central Florida you dont know what these are. Jeremiah's is italian ice....honestly the best italian ice ever. And Menchies is one of those Fro Yo places where you can decorate your own yogurt and pay by weight. Delish!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">8) Chick-Fil-A - Brian loves to stop for Chick-Fil-A breakfast in the morning. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">7) My Radio - Lets just say there is no Mike and Mike in the morning here and they certainly don't have any country stations that we can find...</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">6) Survivor - He's an addict...seriously...and Brian is devastated that he is missing Coach, who is back on Survivor this season.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">5) Mountain Dew and Dr. Pepper - If you know me well, you know I don't drink soda. I don't like soda. It's too sweet and I'm not a fan of bubbles. Brian is the complete opposite - it's an addiction. He is so over Coca-Cola I'm not sure he will touch one for a long time once we get home.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">4) NFL/NCAA Football - That is self-explanatory. (I should mention we have seen basketball, ping pong, tennis, and hockey...all in Russian.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">3) Bacon and Steak - or how about a filet wrapped in bacon! We eat chicken...lots of chicken. Brian is craving other meat...</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">2) Tijuana Flats - See note above. (I literally could drool right now.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">1) ESPN - Sad since he can read it online that he needs to list it as his number 1. When we stop by Flats on the way home - he can watch us eat. HAHAHAHA....</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">OK...I hope that helps you understand the serious withdrawls we are going through. I read on someone's blog (before we came) that they missed Mexican. No kidding. I didn't know I could miss an entire type of food this much. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">As we were compiling the lists of things we miss about home, I nonchalantly said, I'll tell you what I WON'T miss about this place. And that started a whole new Top 10. I should say, that just because we have OPINIONS doesn't mean we don't respect this country. Someone said something to that effect last week. It's not true. Until you have been in these shoes (and walked the obligatory mile) you cannot even begin to FATHOM what it is like to be over here. The culture shock is huge. Just because families in country VENT and offer OPINIONS as to what it is like to be over here, does not mean that they don't RESPECT the culture or that they won't raise their children with a deep fondness of their Mother Land. Brian and I have already discussed how we are going to do this. Now that that warning has been stated I give you:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">THE TOP 10 THINGS ERIN WILL NOT MISS ABOUT THIS COUNTRY</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">10) Being 7 hours ahead of home - I'm way past "jet lag" and into something else. My laptop time is home time and because of that - I haven't really adjusted. It isn't odd for me to go to bed at 02:00 and wake up at 13:00 (which I do at home too btw - not anymore since I'm now a mother) but I'm pretty sure it has to do with the fact that I want to talk with people at home and to do that I have to stay awake long enough to speak with them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">9) Being with Brian 24/7 - I love him...really I do...but everyone needs breathing room (and a break!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">8) Walking Everywhere - I mentioned I miss my car right? (I do like these new legs though - and I have vowed to walk with Sterling everyday after school!)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">7) Stomach Aches - Nerves, food, stress - who knows what is causing them. My whole family has stomach issues but over here my stomach aches have been worse. I'm sure it's a combination of stuff - but I will not miss them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">6) Wearing the same clothes every day - seriously I'm leaving a lot of my clothes here. I need new jeans anyway and the shirts I brought (I packed smartly) are just solid colored Gap long sleeve tees for layering. Won't miss them. I'm coming home with less than I brought here. I never want to wear these shoes again either. And I mean NEVER.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">5) Walking up 4 flights of musty stairs - enough said.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">4) The gas stove - I LOVE gas stoves. Any cook will tell you they are SO MUCH BETTER than electric. But, not this one. It's 15 inches wide and it won't heat at a simmer. And I've already mentioned we can't get the oven to work. I miss my dependable electric right now.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">3) Cold Weather - I was born and raised in the Orlando area. I am a rarity - not many natives exist. That being said, I did my stint in cold weather. After college I moved back to Florida to avoid the cold. Sure, I love visiting it and I love snow. But if its cold and its not snowing then the cold is pointless. I want my sunshine back.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">2) Eating the same food over and over and over and.... - you get the idea. I can pretty much guarantee I won't touch McDonald's, pizza, grilled cheese or an omelet for weeks after getting home.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1) Lady Gaga - Our neighbor (he/she - we don't know!) plays Lady Gaga CONSTANTLY. Brian joked that they only had the single of Poker Face because thats ALL we heard for the first week. Then it was Bad Romance. Now it's Poker Face again. Seriously - I'm not a Gaga fan to begin with and this hasn't helped.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">THE TOP 10 THINGS BRIAN WILL NOT MISS ABOUT THIS COUNTRY</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">10) McDonald's - In Brian's words, "I like McDonald's but not this much." I should say that they only reason we were going to McDonalds in the beginning was for free WiFi. Well, they did something and we can't get WiFi there any more. I only go now for the fries. And the coffee. The coffee everywhere else is either really weak or really strong.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">9) Lady Gaga - Seriously...enough is enough.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">8) Wearing the same clothes over and over and over and.... - We pretty much want to burn everything we brought with us.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">7) Being 7 hours ahead - It's hard to talk to your friends and family when you have to wait until 1 am for them to get off of work.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">6) The Wahl - When you plug it in and turn it on it's like a herd of elephants is taking over the apartment. It is literally the loudest thing I have ever heard. - rock concert loud. We should take a video of it...I'm not sure it would do it any justice. Sterling needs a haircut and we were planning on Wahl-ing him before we left. Not going to happen. I'm sure it will scare the pants right off of him. So forgive me if both of my boys come home looking a little shaggy.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">5) Being Followed Around the Supermarket by the Policemen and the Workers - I should say this only happens at our little corner market. At the bigger markets they leave us alone. But at the small one, they know we are American and they aren't very fond of us. This one guard literally stalks us from when we walk in the gate until we pay. Annoying.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">4) Our downstairs neighbor's constant home repair - This is the lady who yelled at us in the stairwell. We really wish we knew what she was doing. But there is CONSTANT drilling and banging. With walls paper thin it gets old fast. And its ALL DAY - even around 23:00 we will still hear drilling. UGH!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">3) Seeing fresh fish (and I mean FRESH fish) sold everywhere - It's a little disconcerting to have fish eyes stare at you while you're buying meat from the deli. It's also a little strange to be at the fruit stand and have: a bushel of apples, a bushel of grapes and oh look a bushel of whole fish.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">2) Not being able to read the menu at a restaurant - This is so tricky! We either resort to pointing (if the menu has pictures or the food is on display) or taking a pictures of what we want to show the workers. If we can't do either, and they don't have a menu in English, we leave.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1) The cold weather - No, really. It's cold. He may not be a FL native but he has lived in FL since he was 6 months old. Last night to bed he wore: 2 pair of pants, 4 shirts, 2 pair of socks and his gloves. Our apartment doesn't have heat...</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Stop by tomorrow for THE TOP TEN THINGS WE WILL MISS ABOUT THIS COUNTRY.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Hope you got a laugh...it's about time for a little lightheartedness up in here!</span>Hinz57http://www.blogger.com/profile/00487826933504438244noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5445204927170454798.post-46287479481938436742011-10-14T13:12:00.001-04:002011-10-14T13:12:37.235-04:0010 People in 10 Days: Day TEN - Benny Factor<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Friday, October 14, 2011<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">10 People in 10 Days<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sterling’s Celebrity Benefactor<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We received an update on Sterling
today from our facilitator. Fortunately it’s the same update we have been
receiving all along. For now, Sterling is still chicken pox free (praise God!).
We will be able to visit him on Monday for the first time in a week. I cannot
wait to see him and love on him. I’m sad that, to him, we just disappeared. I
hope it doesn’t affect the progress we have made so far.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tatyana will be here early Tuesday
morning to pick us up and in her words, “we will be doing paperwork all day.”
If it means I can get my boy out of that mental institution on Wednesday then
let’s go! I was originally going to leave him in there until the last possible
minute, but seeing as how the place gets shut down and five days of quarantine start
over every time someone breaks out in Chicken Pox – I want him out of there so
we don’t get held up in country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Hopefully, we will be able to get his passport QUICKLY so we can head to
the capitol and head home!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Today is the last day of our 10 day
wait! Normally the family would be SUPER EXCITED; but, since our 10 day wait isn’t
officially over until Tuesday when we get our court decree, Brian and I are
still practicing patience. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Because it is the last day of our 10
day wait – today is the last day of the 10 People in 10 Days feature. I really
did save the best for last. Without this person, this adoption would have never
happened.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Today, Brian and I thank:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sterling’s
Celebrity Benefactor<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">(This person
wishes to remain anonymous, so I will call them Benny Factor to make writing
easier.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Many of you may not know that
Sterling had a celebrity benefactor. Benny donated over half of Sterling’s
adoption costs. Before we had even committed to adopting Sterling, Benny had
donated $10,000 into Sterling’s adoption grant. When we committed, we had no
idea where the money in Sterling’s grant came from. We were just incredibly
grateful that the grant was going to help us bring him home. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Once our paperwork was turned into
Reece’s Rainbow, I received an email from Andrea Roberts (Director of RR)
regarding his grant. She told me who Benny Factor really is and requested that
we respect the request to keep Benny’s true identity private. We were granted
permission to tell our families and a few close friends, but other than that,
we have not mentioned Benny’s identity to anyone. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We asked Andrea to get a message to
Benny thanking Benny for the incredibly kind gesture. We explained that we were
teachers and without the financial aid of the grant, Sterling’s adoption would
not have been a possibility for us. We heard nothing back from Andrea – but I
know that she did pass the message on.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We went on with the adoption process
- home study updates, paperwork, fundraising, etc. We never forgot about Benny
Factor and we were struggling with a way to honor this person for their gift of
a family. One day after our dossier was submitted to the government here, I checked
my email at school. In my inbox was a message from Andrea – letting us know
that Benny had capped off our FSP and that we were fully funded. I’m glad I eat
lunch alone because I started crying right away. I immediately emailed Brian
who was just as shocked as I. Benny had already done SO MUCH for our adoption.
The last thing we expected was another donation!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In August, Brian and I figured out
how to honor Benny. My hands are tied in explaining how, but once Brian and I
decided how we were going to honor Benny we sent word to Andrea and asked her
to pass it on. Imagine our surprise when we got a forwarded response from Benny
thanking us!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was definitely not
what we were expecting! The response was very personal and I am SO HAPPY that
we made the decision we did. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">At times I wonder if Benny
understands exactly how much that grant meant for us. Without that money, we
would not be here. We would not be gaining a son. Sterling would not be gaining
THIS family. Actually, the likelihood that he would have a family at all is
slim. He would have been transferred to the older child page and his status
would have eventually changed to reflect the fact that he was
institutionalized. The children on that page need families so very badly. So
many families look at the younger children – that a lot of the older children
go unnoticed. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As I was reading my devotion last
night (I read Our Daily Bread) the reading for the night was Psalm 37 v 23-26.
I took note of v 23-24 especially. They say, “If the Lord delights in a man’s
way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord
upholds him with his hand.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have said all along that I know
this adoption is God’s will. After reading these verses I was even more sure of
it. EVERYTHING fell into place for us. Paperwork, apostilling, family
responses, timing and, most importantly, money. There is no doubt that God sent
Benny to us. We will be forever grateful. Words CANNOT and DO NOT do our
gratitude any justice. I truly hope that one day our family can meet Benny and
offer our thanks in person. I would LOVE for Benny to get to meet Sterling so
that they too can see what an amazing little gift he is to us.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I wish I could tell you who this
person is. However, I am respecting his/her wish to stay ANONYMOUS. This means,
even if you ask, I will not tell you. There are a few people who know already.
If you are one of these people, please respect the benefactor’s wish to stay
anonymous and do not name them. It is the least we can do.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>Hinz57http://www.blogger.com/profile/00487826933504438244noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5445204927170454798.post-27282616438376373472011-10-13T14:27:00.000-04:002011-10-13T14:27:18.428-04:0010 People in 10 Days: Day Nine - We're All in the Same Boat<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Thursday, October 13, 2011<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Today is day 9 of our 10 day wait! Hooray! After tomorrow we won’t have to worry about the possibility of anyone contesting the adoption. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The timing of everything here has really stunk for us. Having court on a Tuesday in this region is HORRID. This is because your 10<sup>th</sup> day falls on a Friday and your 11<sup>th</sup> day on Saturday. There is no court on Saturdays, Sundays OR Mondays here so we will not get our court decree until our 14<sup>th</sup> day. This also gives us less than great timing (barring a miracle) for the embassy. Assuming we can get all of our paperwork done on Tuesday, we can have Gotcha Day on Wednesday and PRAYERFULLY receive our passport Thursday (long shot) or Friday. Either way we will not be able to do any of our embassy stuff until the next week. If we can do embassy appointments on Monday and Tuesday, we can leave this country Wednesday the 26<sup>th</sup> which means we won’t be home until the 27<sup>th</sup>. This means we still have 2 weeks in this country.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mind you, all of this is counting on the assumption that Sterling won’t get chicken pox. If he does, who knows what our timeline will look like. </span></span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">L</span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> I read A LOT of blogs before getting on the plane to come here. I noted that most families were in country between 31 and 37 days – right around 5 weeks. Right now, our best case scenario (noting that today is day 27) is that we will be in country 40 days – closer to 6 weeks. To be honest, I am less than thrilled about this. But, I also understand that everything happens for a reason. I TRUST that God’s plan is perfect.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Today Brian and I stayed busy. We got up, walked to the bank (closed for lunch), walked to Celentano’s Pizza for lunch, shopped at the Billa Market, walked back to city center and went to the MTC Store to add minutes to our internet modem, and went back by a bank to exchange money. While at Celentano’s we managed to tap into the free wifi and download 6 episodes of Royal Pains to hold us over until we can download some more (hopefully at that bakery we discovered) tomorrow.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Anyway, that is the status update for today. As promised yesterday I want to talk about each of the families that we have been in country with…briefly! I hope you enjoy reading about our new “friends!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We’re All in the Same Boat<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">At last count, we have been in country with no less than 9 families (not counting ourselves) and two more are landing here this weekend. I have to say, while in country, there is nothing better than having someone walking in the same shoes you are, that speaks English (yay!) and that understands what you are doing and why. Having someone to talk to, whine to, cry to and celebrate little successes with is so important.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you are coming here PLEASE reach out and find out who will be here with you! It is one of the little things that will keep you chugging along. I promise! Here is a little bit about each family we have been in country with!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Laurie and Bryan Maddex – The Maddex family was finishing up their stay as we were settling in. Their stay was FAR FROM NORMAL. Because they were the first case after the law changes there were more than a few hiccups. Their initial request to adopt Zeke was denied and they had to appeal. In the end they were here for over 50 days. They have been home, with all 4 of their boys, for a week or so now and everyone is doing just great! Laurie gives me the strength to keep going each day – if she can stay here for 8 weeks, I can handle my 6. I love talking to Laurie now that she is home. She gives lots of encouragement and she is always willing to answer questions and give advice. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To read the Maddex Family Story you can visit their blog here: </span><a href="http://addingtothemaddness.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://addingtothemaddness.blogspot.com/</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Cara and Doug Layne – The Layne’s have had their fair share of hiccups too! Cara and Doug are adopting two boys from this country. The little one, Eli is still an infant and will be heading home soon! Max is a teenager and he may have to stay through April. We are PRAYING that Max gets to go home with his family and join Eli and his sisters at home. Doug is coming back this weekend to get Eli (and hopefully Max.) . To read the Layne Family story and see pictures of Eli and Max you can visit the blog located here: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><a href="http://laynejourney.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://laynejourney.blogspot.com/</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Rachel and Scott Center – The Centers just got home! The Center’s story is a great one! No hiccups and a great trip. Rachel and Scott were brave enough to bring their whole family with them – this trip hasn’t been easy on Brian and I – and the Centers did it with their 3 kids! Amazing! They have added Zeph to their family and everyone is happy and doing well. Rachel was great fun to talk to and she is always willing to give advice and encouragement. To read the Center Family story and see pics of Zeph you can visit the blog located here: </span><a href="http://rilysilyfamily.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">rilysilyfamily.blogspot.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Matthias and Lindsay Handrich – The Handrich family is adopting Emory. What a cutie! They brought their little one, Emerald, with them as well. I really enjoy the Handrich blog and I love looking at pictures of Emory. I was so happy to see him on the My Family Found Me page and I’m even happier to see him with a family. To read more about Emory and the Handrich story you can visit: </span><a href="http://beautifulthings2011.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #114170;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">beautifulthings2011.blogspot.<wbr></wbr>com</span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jeremy and Laura Lunnen – Oh how I love Laura Lunnen. She keeps me sane here. We talk to each other nearly every day. She is the one I go to when I just need to vent. Of all the people we are in country with, the Lunnens are in a situation most similar to ours. They too are adopting from an institution that has never had an adoption occur until now. Despite getting here before us, they are several days behind us in process. They just won their court case (hooray!) and are now in the middle of their 10 day wait. They are adopting Seth, who has CP, and I LOVE looking at the pictures and watching the videos of their little man! He has made so much progress since they have come here. Thanks Laura for all of our little chats! To see Seth and visit the Lunnen blog you can go here: </span><a href="http://bringinghomeonelittleboy.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #114170;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">bringinghomeonelittleboy.<wbr></wbr>blogspot.com</span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Christie and Shawn Taylor – You read about these fine folks yesterday! An update – they received Jadon’s passport today and should be traveling home this weekend! They adopted from a region without a 10 day wait so are currently the envy of everyone here. </span></span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> I can’t wait for them to get home so Jadon’s new life can begin and they can be reunited with the 3 little boys they had to leave at home. You can read the Taylor family blog here: </span><a href="http://www.taylorvillethree21.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">www.taylorvillethree21.blogspot.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Erika and Mel Rogers – The Rogers family is also adopting 2 little ones! They are adding both a son and a daughter to the family. Ironically, I had originally inquired about “Oscar” (now Malachi) when I inquired about Sterling. I was so happy to find him on the My Family Found Me page! They are also adding Clare to the family. On top of these two little ones, Erika and Mel have many children at home. They have big hearts and I am so happy to see these two little babes head to a home where they will be loved and nurtured. To visit the family blog and see pictures of the little ones see the blog located here: </span><a href="http://arainbowfamily.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://arainbowfamily.blogspot.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">David and Stephanie Barnett – The Barnetts are pulling the hat trick! They are adopting 3 little ones from this country. They are adopting two boys, Teague and Trenton, and a girl - Maclayne. The Barnetts are currently in country for the last part of their adoptions! All 3 courts are done and all 3 Gotcha Days have occurred! Hooray! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can visit the Barnet blog by visiting: </span><a href="http://www.obedient2hiscommand.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">www.obedient2HisCommand.blogspot.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jake and Ashley Gibson – This is the most recent family to get in country. I wish I knew more about them and their story! Jake and Ashley are here adopting Carter, who is really darn cute! They have a lot of their journey left and we really wish them the best! To read the Gibson family story you can visit: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.homeiswhereitsat.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">HomeIsWhereItsAt.blogspot.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Shawn and Sarah Basile – The Basile family is on their second adoption journey through Reece’s Rainbow. In 2010 they adopted their daughter, Zoya. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have been in chat with Sarah several times and I know that she is thrilled to be adding another little pea to their family. Like the Woods family they arrive this weekend and could use prayers for save travel. To visit the Basile family blog visit: </span><a href="http://www.hopefulheartadoption.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">www.hopefulheartadoption.blogspot.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Anna and Jerad Woods – You read about Anna and Jerad yesterday. They are leaving tomorrow. Please pray for safe travels for them. I am so thrilled to see Blake find a family. I really cannot wait to read the Woods family blog and watch them bond with Blake. They are REALLY BLESSED to have lots of new pictures of Blake since they are adopting from the same orphanage that the Barnett family adopted from. To read the Woods family blog you can visit: </span><a href="http://www.homeonthekansasrange.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">homeonthekansasrange.blogspot.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">You can tell WE ARE NOT ALONE! 12 families (I hope I didn't miss anyone) in country at the same time is a testament to the amazing things that happen when God is involved. Despite the little ones that will be going home with these families there are nearly one hundred thousand orphans in this country. To learn how you can help or, even better, how you can adopt one of these angels, visit </span><a href="http://www.reecesrainbow.org/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">www.reecesrainbow.org</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>Hinz57http://www.blogger.com/profile/00487826933504438244noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5445204927170454798.post-89729230230743557622011-10-12T14:25:00.001-04:002011-10-12T14:25:56.732-04:00He Makes Me Smile!<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" bgcolor="#ffffff"><tr><td><a href="http://smilebox.com/play/4d6a63784e5463344d54413d0d0a&blogview=true&campaign=blog_playback_link" target="_blank"><img width="386" height="303" alt="Click to play this Smilebox slideshow" src="http://smilebox.com/snap/4d6a63784e5463344d54413d0d0a.jpg" style="border: medium none ;"/></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.smilebox.com/?partner=smilebox&campaign=blog_snapshot" target="_blank"><img width="386" height="46" alt="Create your own slideshow - Powered by Smilebox" src="http://www.smilebox.com/globalImages/blogInstructions/blogLogoSmileboxSmall.gif" style="border: medium none ;"/></a></td></tr><tr><td align="center">Create your own free slideshow</td></tr></table>Hinz57http://www.blogger.com/profile/00487826933504438244noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5445204927170454798.post-54818071444105598342011-10-12T14:11:00.001-04:002011-10-12T14:11:59.856-04:0010 People in 10 Days: Day Eight - My Reece's Rainbow Family<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Wednesday, October 12, 2011<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">10 People in 10 Days<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My RR Family<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ok, we have a small update on the
chicken pox issue. What we learned today is:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1)</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sterling has never had chicken pox</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2)</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sterling still does not have chicken
pox</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3)</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The ENTIRE institution is closed
until Monday<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">That’s it, now you are caught up!
Brian and I have been playing a lot of Uno and we spent nearly 2 hours at
McDonald’s today doing nothing. The WiFi there will no longer work on our
devices…any of them. Luckily, on the walk back to the apartment we found a
little coffee shop/bakery that has WiFi and what look like really yummy
desserts. So, we will start substituting the bakery for Mickey D’s. Thank
goodness. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Only part of adopting through RR is
the adoption part. RR does so much more – from advocacy and grant funding to
providing resources and support. My FAVORITE part of adopting through RR is the
connections I have made. I have made some amazing FRIENDS on this journey and I
wouldn’t give that up for anything.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So, today for the 10 People in 10
Days blogs our focus is on:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My Reece’s
Rainbow Family<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I think I mentioned before that when
you register with RR you gain access to the forums and the chat features. These
are, by far, the most valuable assets one can have. It is through these forums
and these chats that I have been blessed to make some really good friends!
These are people I talk to DAILY about EVERYTHING. They are all going through
what we are going through and I love having them there to support me!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jessica
Whiteaker<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It’s crazy to think that just 5 or so
months ago I didn’t even know Jess existed on the planet. Today, I would refer
to her as one of my closest friends. Weird, considering we haven’t even met.
But, for the past 4 or so months, we have chatted nearly every day (that’s been
hard over here!) about our situations.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jessica contacted me when I started
the necklace fundraiser. She wanted me to make necklaces of the little man she
and her husband, Wes, are adopting. Known by Danny on RR, the Whiteakers are
adopting a little guy with Down Syndrome too. What really made her easy to talk
to is that our stories are very similar. Jess and Wes also had trouble
conceiving and Danny will be their first child. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It was great having someone who has
struggled with infertility to talk to. We could gripe and complain and know
that the other person knew where we were coming from. We’ve also shared ideas
on bedroom décor, toys, clothes, strollers etc. I love having someone to bounce
ideas off of. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jessica and Wes live in Texas. They
are devout Christians and God loving people. I love that Jess and I can also
share our needs and prayer requests with each other. It is amazing that God
brings people into your lives when you really need them. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Although Jessica and Wes are adopting
from a different country than we are, the processes have been very similar. It’s
been nice to have been able to help Jess out since we have always been just a
few steps ahead. This week, Jessica and Wes are finishing up their dossier and
sending it off to Danny’s country! I’m sure they can use any prayers you have
to offer for their process. They will not be able to travel until after
Christmas – so they have a long time to wait before they get to meet their son!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Meeting Jessica and having her “by my
side” every step of the way has been an amazing GIFT. I can’t wait until they
are in country and I can follow their blog and their journey as they bring
Danny home!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">To read the Whiteaker blog you can go
here: </span><a href="http://the-white-acres.blogspot.com/2011/10/shout-out-and-prayer-request.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://the-white-acres.blogspot.com/2011/10/shout-out-and-prayer-request.html</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Anna Woods<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I can’t believe the Woods family is
leaving so soon!!! On the 14<sup>th</sup> they will be flying out of the USA
and headed HERE! I am so excited!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Anna and I met on the forum (or in
chat…) Ironically, Anna and her husband, Jerad, are adopting a little boy that
I inquired about. We had already committed to Sterling when I inquired, I was
interested in whether he would be adoptable WITH Sterling but when the RR
people told me, “Only if you want to do two of everything ,” I knew it wasn’t
meant to be. I prayed for little Blake to find his family and just a few days
later his little chubby cheeks were on the My Family Found Me page! YAY!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anna and Jerad live in Kansas and they have
two amazing precious little girls at home already, Autumn and Leah. Both are as
cute as can be. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Meeting Anna was a Godsend too. Since
she is adopting from the same country we are in, we were able to talk each
other through tons of paperwork. We have bounced ideas off of each other and
shared both successes and frustrations with each other as well. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We have always been one step ahead of
Anna, so I have done the very best I could to keep her apprised of her next
step. We used to be a lot closer in the process, but when the government here
shut down because they were waiting on an appeal, the Woods family was stalled
and we were not (because of the boys’ ages.) <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Anna and Jerad are also devout
Christians and I love having the ability to talk to families that are like
minded. It’s great to always have friends who can help pick you up when you are
down and who can celebrate successes with you.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I cannot WAIT until the Woods get
here! We were SO hoping and praying that we would be able to meet them in the
capitol city but it isn’t looking like that will happen. </span></span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">L</span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> Regardless, I cannot wait to see
their first meeting with Blake (in pictures) and watch their journey with him. Just
thinking about it gets me all teary eyed! Please say a prayer for Anna and
Jerad’s travel to this country and also one for the girls they are leaving at
home while they travel. It isn’t easy to leave your family behind<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- even if you are adding another member to
it!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">To read Anna’s blog on their adoption
journey you can visit the blog here:</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://homeonthekansasrange.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://homeonthekansasrange.blogspot.com/</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Christie
Taylor<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I think it’s fair to say that
Christie has had hurdle after hurdle thrown at her during her adoption. I can’t
go into detail (and even I could I wouldn’t because it isn’t my story to share)
but trust me when I say that she and her husband, Shawn, have shown amazing
strength, faith and courage on their adoption journey.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’m not even sure when I met
Christie. She is always just there. She is one of the most vocal people on the forum
and in chat. She is willing to answer any questions that get posted, offer
advice to anyone who needs it and lift people up in prayer anytime someone hits
a wall. She is amazing.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">She is also a crazy researcher! She
is the one who helps people find out information that they need during the
process. If she doesn’t know the answer off the top of her head (which she does
most of the time) she WILL find the answer. She is definitely someone to have
around when you need help.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Christie and Shawn’s journey began
long before ours; but, like I said they hit nearly every obstacle possible. We
THOUGHT that we would travel with them to this country – but God had other
plans. Brian and I came alone. Christie and Shawn traveled with the Rogers
Family. Despite arriving here nearly 10 days after we did, they are lucky to be
adopting from a region WITHOUT the 10 day wait. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So, I am more than PLEASED to
announced that Christie and Shawn gained custody of Jadon Andrew yesterday.
(Pictures of their Gotcha Day can be found on the blog – link below.) This is
GREAT for them because they left three little men at home while they came here
to adopt a 4<sup>th</sup>. Jadon will be joining big brothers Jared, Jackson,
and Joseph when he gets home.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I know Christie is going to have her
hands full but I hope we can manage to stay in contact! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">To read the Taylor’s blog and to see
really adorable pictures of Jadon visit:</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://taylorvillethree21.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://taylorvillethree21.blogspot.com/</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">These are only three of the many
families I communicate with on a DAILY BASIS! For some more insight come back
tomorrow…we will be focusing on a few more families.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tomorrow’s theme is “We are all in the same
boat!” I will be BRIEFLY talking about the families that we are in country with
and how it takes a community mindset for us all to stay sane!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>Hinz57http://www.blogger.com/profile/00487826933504438244noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5445204927170454798.post-76313460890738914022011-10-11T14:20:00.000-04:002011-10-11T14:36:44.980-04:0010 People in 10 Days: Day Seven - The Pearson Family and Sarah Ockenden<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tuesday, October 11, 2011<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">10 People in 10 Days<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Pearson Family<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Today is day 7 of our 10 day wait. It’s
hard to believe that its already been that long, but I still feel like we have
so much longer to be here.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We got some “updates” on Sterling’s
chicken pox situation. One of our facilitators *speculates* that Sterling has
probably not had chicken pox before. This is based on the fact that they
isolated him from his groupa when the situation began. She said they typically
do not isolate kids who have already had it. So, we are back to believing that
he is isolated by himself (or possibly with other kids who haven’t had it – but
they didn’t mention this.) She also said that if he DOES break out he will
start another 5 day quarantine until his “contagious period” is over. This goes
against everything I know about chicken pox – I’ve always been told once you
break out and the scabs form you are not contagious anymore. Regardless, that
is how they do it here. If he were to break out it COULD impact our “Gotcha Day”
depending on when the break out occurred. So, our best hope is that he either
HAS had it, has had enough of it to have antibodies, or doesn’t get it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">That is the only update we received
today. We did not hear about him personally so we will ask our “local” (she is
actually 300 km away – she handles the entire eastern part of this country for
Reece’s Rainbow) facilitator to call the institution tomorrow and check on him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Brian and I are fine! Today we
ventured out, walked for lunch and stopped by a children’s boutique. We didn’t
buy any clothes but we bought a game of Uno (for $5) to keep us occupied. It’s
the same as our Uno…but different. We had to punch the cards out (see picture)
and they aren’t laminated or anything so it’s like playing with cardboard
cards. They also came with a series of calendar cards...LOL. Still, we had fun and Brian took the series 2 out of 3 games. I’ll get
him eventually!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Enough about us! Time for 10 in 10!
Today we feature a family that was really amazing to us just before we came
here! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Today we thank….<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Pearson
Family and Sarah Ockenden<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When Brian and I booked our flights
we decided that we really wanted to be able to spend some time together before
our lives changed drastically. We agreed that we would spend a few days in
London. Neither of us had ever been and we were really excited about it!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When I announced this to friends I
had, not one but TWO, friends offer to let us stay with them so we didn’t incur
any additional costs. We were so thrilled! Both the Pearsons and the Ockendens
offered. What a blessing. In the end we stayed with the Pearsons.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For those of you who know me you know
my one phobia is flying…is just fills me with pure terror. The flight from
Orlando to London actually wasn’t bad. It was really smooth and although I
never relaxed – I didn’t hate it. Still I was ever so relieved to land at
Gatwick. Once Brian and I arrived and collected our things, I was even more
relieved to see Chas. We had made it! It was so early and Chas was nice enough
to get up around 04:00 just to drive the 90 or so minutes to pick us up at
Gatwick by 06:45. I was so happy to get into that SUV and head to the Pearson
home. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Pearsons live in (what I would
call) the countryside of England in a little village called Marsworth. Their
home is BEAUTIFUL! We took our luggage out of the truck and settled in to our
room. Then we both showered and headed out with 3/4ths of the Pearson clan to
London!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tracy and Chas were so amazingly
hospitable. They taught us how to use the trains and the tube system (which is
still confusing to me) on our way. Once we got to London they put Brian and I
in the driver’s seat. Tracy, Chas and their eldest daughter Charlie were great
company. It was so much fun hanging out with them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I had heard that Marks and Spencers
lunches were really good – so we stopped in for a few sarnies to go and ate in
Covent Garden. It was gorgeous! We were so lucky to have PERFECT weather while
we were in London – we didn’t see any of that typical London rain and fog.
After lunch we went to the London Eye. Brian is as horrified of heights as I am
of flying – but he was such a sport. He agreed to ride on it. It was so
incredibly cool. Even today it’s hard to believe that we did it!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">After the Eye we walked the South
Bank and stopped at the National Theatre for a photo op. They had these
GIGANTIC grass chairs on display so we HAD to stop and take pictures. That was
great fun. We continued on the South Bank and stopped at a pub right on the
Thames. We were across from St. Paul’s and next to Millennium Bridge. It was
very cool!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When we were done the 5 of us crossed
the bridge and headed to Oxford Street. Tracy, Charlie and I went shopping at
Primark on Oxford Street while the boys went for another beer. When we all met
back up we had dinner at the Spaghetti House before heading home to Marsworth.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">ALL of this happened on our FIRST DAY
in London – so to say Brian and I were exhausted when we got home would be an
understatement. We slept so hard that Tracy had to get us up the next morning
for our next adventure. We were meeting Sarah for the day! Chas drove us to the
local train station (Tring) and sent us on our way. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Brian and I had a lot of fun enjoying
each other’s company on the train. It was a beautiful ride. We met Sarah at the
train station in London and we were off!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Spending the day with Sarah was
great! We had lunch at Marks and Spencers again (I want one in Orlando…) and
then we explored some of London by foot. It such an amazingly beautiful city.
The history surrounding it is awesome too. We walked to Buckingham Palace and
enjoyed the conversation and history lessons that Sarah provided (for example:
unless the Queen’s flag is flying – she is not at the palace!)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We had tickets for a Buckingham
Palace tour (courtesy of Sarah -<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>THANKS!) at 16:15 so we headed to find a restroom and check in. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The tour was incredible. I’d love to
go back…we had headphones on so there wasn’t much conversation but every now
and then we would take them off to talk to each other about something we were
looking at. The highlight of this trip was probably a tie between the Faberge
exhibit and Kate’s wedding dress. Both were gorgeous. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Once we were done with the tour we
walked to the store and then we headed back home! When we got home Chas, Tracy,
Charlie and Gaby (the youngest Pearson) took us out to dinner at the local pub.
A REAL English pub. Brian and I both had fish and chips. We enjoyed great
conversation along with a tasty meal. Another awesome day.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We would have loved to stay longer
(and I wish we would have spent just one more day) but we are ever so grateful
that we got to explore London with GREAT PEOPLE that we are lucky to call our
friends. We also FELL IN LOVE with Pearson Pups, Waffle and Donut. We were (and still are) very much missing our dogs but Waffle and Donut were there to give us love and snuggles when needed. Brian and I really enjoyed everyone’s company and we especially enjoyed
just getting to hang out with each other before we added another dimension to
our story.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Chas got up with us the next morning and
drove us to Heathrow for our flight out. I was really sad to leave Marsworth,
London and our friends behind. I’m so excited that the Pearsons will get to
meet Sterling when we go back through London (Sorry Sarah! I wish you weren’t
on holiday then!) I have to point out that the Pearsons were willing to do all of this for us DESPITE the fact that Charlie was heading to University the SAME weekend we were there. While Brian and I explored London with Sarah - they were packing Charlie to go off to school! And while we were flying here they were dropping her off at college! Like I said - GRATEFUL doesn't describe it! (And they did all of this after just returning from a holiday in Turkey!)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But it doesn’t stop there. Through
all this trouble this week both Sarah and Tracy have offered us comfort and
help. Tracy even offered the Pearson home again. We would have loved to have
taken the offer but the cost for us to drive to and from the capitol city for a
flight and the cost of the flight together would be close to $1000.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They have both also offered to help shop for
Sterling since everything we brought with us is too big (we expected him to be
little – but NOT 2T little!) Sarah is also sending us home with a car seat for
the long flight and some toys to keep Sterling occupied. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We really can’t thank these people
enough! They have been so wonderfully kind to us and we hope that one day we
can return the favor should they every venture to a place known as…Disney
World! <3<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Thanks so much Pearsons and Sarah!!!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Hinz57http://www.blogger.com/profile/00487826933504438244noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5445204927170454798.post-46197678149530997562011-10-10T16:35:00.000-04:002011-10-10T16:35:13.532-04:0010 People in 10 Days: Our School Families
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Monday, October 10, 2011<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">10 People in 10 Days<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Our Schools/School Friends<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Okay so, I really don’t feel like
writing a blog post tonight. That being said, I realize that I must. I have
people who read this blog religiously and they would be very sad if I didn’t
post. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Before I begin, I must tell you why I
don’t feel like writing. Aside from being tired and emotionally drained – I realized
last night that I am utterly homesick. It’s not where we are. We like our
little city very much. It’s clean and most everybody is very friendly. We have
most of the same conveniences we have at home. My homesickness has nothing to
do with our location being where it is…it just has to do with the fact that I
am not home. We have been in this country for 24 days. Apparently 3 weeks is my
threshold for tolerating missing my home. So, it comes as no surprise to learn
that, when faced with another 16 days here (at best!), I get a little
flustered. Well, last night I had a long talk with God, a good cry and today I
felt much better (for more information read Isaiah 40 v 25-31 and Matthew 11 v
25-30.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Today we woke up at our usual time,
got dressed, and rode the 45 minutes to the institution. The thought of bonding
with Sterling is one of the only reasons we chose to stay here during the 10
day wait. It’s also, at this point, what keeps me going.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So, imagine our surprise (and total
disappointment) to find out that our son (in fact his whole institution) is on
quarantine…for 5 days. Those are the last 5 days of our 10 day wait.
Apparently, there is “the epidemic of the chicken pox” in his institution. So,
for lack of a better more refined way of saying this, that sucks. Currently,
Sterling does NOT have chicken pox. We don’t know if he has had them already so
we HOPE and we PRAY that he DOES NOT get chicken pox. Aside from not wanting my
child to be miserable there is also the possibility that that could keep us
here even longer. I have no desire to be on the extended adoption program…I
miss home. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So, if you could please find a few
minutes to say a little prayer for us and for our little man, I would greatly
appreciate it!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">On with the show…today for the 10
People in 10 Days Blog we recognize:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Our Schools<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Brian and I are both teachers.
Parents send their children to us every day with the expectation that we will
care for, look after and teach their children. Teaching is a HUGE
responsibility. And it isn’t one that either of us takes lightly. We both LOVE
our jobs. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I teach at an elementary school in a
suburb of Orlando, Florida. I LOVE my school. We</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">are a new school and this is
only our 3<sup>rd</sup> year in existence. The principal that opened our school
did a magnificent job hiring (and I’m totally biased here because he and I
worked at the same schools before opening this one) so I am blessed to work
with people I have known for as long as 7 years. These are people whose friendships
I truly am honored to have. I mean, really, where would I be without Judy
Callan? She was there for my first year of teaching and I am lucky that she is
with me again. And she is only one. When the school opened – I counted that I
knew and had worked with over half of the staff at some point in my teaching
career. It makes my job fun and I LOVE going to school every day. We really
have a family mentality as far as staff goes.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Another thing that makes going to
school FUN is that I am on the BEST TEAM I have EVER been on. For once,
everyone just gets along. We have disagreements (everyone does when you have 6
opinions to figure in) but we always work them out and no one holds grudges. We
just work through everything. It’s a nice change of pace from teams I have been
on in the past. My team has been ultra supportive of my time away. When I chime
in on an email that is work related – I get told to get off work email and go
worry about my boy (thanks Paige!) What they may not realize is that I only get
to visit him for an hour to an hour and fifteen minutes a day. I would LOVE to
still be helping…I actually could probably help writing lesson plans and planning
projects and rubrics (especially now that I can’t visit!) but I’m not sure they
would let me… We will see where this post gets me! LOL.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My administrators have been great
through this whole experience too! It is hard to plan a sub and line everything
up when you are given less than two weeks notice that a teacher is leaving. I
think, actually, that they only had a week. I have had very positive responses
from them and I believe that they are genuinely happy for us (even if they aren’t
genuinely happy that I am away.) I can’t thank them enough for their
understanding and patience during this whole process. Adopting is founded on a bunch
of unknowns…and they were so willing to roll with the punches. For that I will
be forever grateful.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I can’t talk about school without
talking about my class. I think I can honestly say that in 8 years of teaching,
I have finally hit the JACKPOT on classes. I am currently teaching in a 5<sup>th</sup>
grade classroom for gifted and high achieving students. When I left, I only had
17 kids (I hope that hasn’t changed!) This group of kids is phenomenal. They
are a lot of fun. The personality differences make for an interesting group but
I’m sure we will have a great year. I hate that I had to leave them so soon in
the school year (only 3 weeks in) and I really hope and pray that the sub is
doing a great job of reaching them. The parents of my students were all very
supportive about our adoption as well. Before I left, I sent an email and a
letter explaining our situation. I can’t tell you how many emails of
congratulations I got. I really cannot WAIT to get back into that classroom and
back to teaching my kids. I’m not normally one to share my students very well
(I am a very possessive teacher) so this whole leaving them thing has been
hard.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Okay, enough about my school. I think
it is obvious but I will be redundant and say that I am thankful for the support
the teachers, administrators and parents have given me while we add Sterling to
our family.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This is the first time I am doing
this…and I can’t take responsibility for what happens…But I am handing this
next part over to Brian. I cannot put words into his mouth so he will have to
tell you how his experience with his school has been.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I teach at what I think is the best
high school in all of Central Florida. This is my 10<sup>th</sup> year of
teaching at the school and I couldn’t be happier. I work with tremendous people
and have made many friends over the years. They were all very supportive of me
and this adoption when I shared the news at the end of last school year. I really
miss the members of my math department. I miss seeing Lauren in the morning on her
way to her classroom. I miss eating lunch with my fellow math teachers. I miss
the pop-ins by Mike. I miss my pop-ins to Lindsay’s class. Now, I know what you
might be thinking. Is Brian friends with anyone besides math teachers? YES! I
miss so many people at school. I can’t wait to get back to work. On top of it
all, this is Homecoming week. I will miss seeing Teacher Dress Up Day. I will
miss seeing Suzie spirited up all week. I will miss all of it. My school is
truly my home away from home. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Of course I miss my students as well.
I know I was only able to work with them for 3 weeks before we left, but I have
a feeling that this is a tremendous group of students. They are eager to learn
and willing to listen to what I have to say. They show a lot of respect for me
and my teaching. When I shared with them the news that I would be traveling to
Europe for several weeks to complete a special needs adoption, they were all
very supportive. Of course, many of them did not want me to go, but I believe
they all realize it is a good thing. I have been in touch with a few of them during
our trip. I wish them the best and I know that when I get back, we will have a
great rest of the year. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is appropriate that this blog gets
posted today since today is the first day of girls’ soccer tryouts. I am the
Varsity Head Coach at my school. It is another reason why I love my school so
much. I have been coaching at the school since I began there 10 years ago. My
roles have included JV Asst. Coach, JV Head Coach, Varsity Asst. Coach, and
last year was my first year as Varsity Head Coach. I have been lucky enough
over the years to coach some tremendous players. I like to think of the program
as a family, where we support one another and work towards a common goal. Last
year, one of my former players, Courtney, returned to be my Varsity Assistant.
I enjoy working with her and I’m sure the girls do to. When I brought up my
international adoption to her, she was very supportive and gave me confidence
that she could handle things while I was away. (Thank you Courtney!) As it
turns out, she found another former player of mine to join our coaching staff
this year as well. Welcome Ashley! I broke the news to the team at our first
introductory meeting. At first, I think some of them were shocked that I would
be gone for so long and would miss conditioning as well as tryouts. However,
they all were very supportive. Some of them even hung around after our meeting
was over to ask some more questions. On top of that, I found out that one of my
players wants to work with special needs children when she gets older. I think
that’s awesome! I appreciate the hard work that they put in during conditioning.
I wish them all the best at tryouts. I can’t wait to be at practice with you
all and on the sidelines with you during games. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Finally, I want to thank my administrators.
When I brought up our international adoption to my principal, he was very
supportive. We talked about it for a bit and he assured me that everything
would be fine. He had experience with another teacher who had adopted
internationally. My assistant principals were great when it came to the news. They
were genuinely happy for me and are taking care of things at school for me
while I am away. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As you can probably tell, I love my
school. I work with great teachers, great students, and great administrators. I
enjoy going to work and can’t wait to get back. I will now pass the keyboard
back over to Erin. </span></span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">That’s it! We miss our school
families almost as much as we miss our real families. We are both blessed to
work at magnificent schools with amazing staffs. We cannot WAIT to get Sterling
home and share his smile with all of our colleagues!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Hinz57http://www.blogger.com/profile/00487826933504438244noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5445204927170454798.post-87815731370580157402011-10-09T13:47:00.002-04:002011-10-09T13:47:56.559-04:0010 People in 10 Days: Day Five - Our Families<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sunday, October 9, 2011<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">10 People in 10 Days<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Our Families<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We keep getting asked when we are
coming home. I’m glad everybody misses us! I really wish I could give a
concrete answer to that question, but I just can’t. Our court resolution will
be on Tuesday the 18<sup>th</sup>. After we get our decree we will spend the
day running around like mad men doing paperwork. “What paperwork?” you
ask.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, we will need to go get
Sterling’s new birth certificate, which will show us as his birth parents, we
need to go get his passport picture taken and apply for his passport and we
need to close out his bank account and donate that money to the institution.
That will mean at least two trips to his village (unless someone in the village
can do a passport picture…) Once this paperwork day is done and we actually can
go apply for the passport, I will have an answer (or at least a guess) to the
question of when we come home. It will depend on how long the passport takes.
My best *GUESS* is somewhere around the 26<sup>th</sup> of October. That is a
*GUESS*! I do not know. I know that coming home before then is UNLIKELY. We
will have an overnight in London as one plane arrives to London in the evening
and the other doesn’t leave London until the next morning. So, all I can tell
you is that we should be home before Halloween. I know that isn’t what you want
to hear (and trust me we just want to come home) but it is all I have to offer.
I did figure out today that instead of counting in weeks – days sound so much
better. So, we *could* be home in 17 days. That doesn’t sound too bad does it?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ten people in ten days continues. Today
is day 5 of our ten day wait! We are half way there (even though we really have
a two week wait…ugh). I realized the other day that if you are reading (the
number of people reading the blog every day has plummeted recently) you are
pretty much hearing the start to finish story of our adoption. That is very
cool. What’s even neater is that I have typed them all in Word first so I have
the ability to print them out and save them for Sterling’s book!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Today we recognize:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Our Families<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sounds like another cop out…I know.
But I can’t spend a day on each person and if I leave someone out I’m likely to
hear about it. So, we are going to do the best we can like this.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">After we had committed and there was
no turning back (at least – not in our minds) we told our families about our
decision to adopt Sterling. I think telling someone (especially a family
member) that you are adopting a child with special needs puts them in a
difficult situation. They don’t know whether to be honest with you or put on
the fake smile. I think it took time for people to realize that this is truly
what we WANTED to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were not
bullied, it was not a last resort, it certainly was not “cheaper” or “easier”
and I think when the shock wore off people could really see that.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’d be lying if I told you were weren’t
questioned. I’d be lying if I told you that people didn’t try to talk us out of
it. I’d be lying if I told you that everyone has accepted it. But I am NOT
lying when I say that everyone has at least figured out that this is what we
want and it is happening and I can also tell you that I am NOT lying when I say
that all but one of our family members is totally on the Sterling bandwagon.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A lot of the fear that surrounds the
adoption of children with special needs is fed on STEREOTYPES. You know, those
evil, falsities that perpetuate social misunderstandings. Unfortunately, they
abound. Once we were able to eliminate some of those stereotypes, some of the
fear subsided. Once the fear goes away it’s a little easier to let your guard
down and once that happens – love can grow. Until you fix the root of the
problem – you are pretty much on lockdown. Our parents grew up in the 40s, 50s
and 60s. Our grandparents grew up in the 20s and 30s (no I’m not kidding). The
perceptions that they had of children with special needs was very different
from the realities of today. But I can honestly say it has been a blessing
sharing lots of information about Down Syndrome with them. And, for the most
part, everyone has come around. The one holdout will melt when they meet Sterling
(I’m sure of that) – and I’m also ok with it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Our Moms<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--1mid_Etoec/TpHb_3eJdkI/AAAAAAAAAVs/wDmrutv4DGE/s1600/100_1961_0049_049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--1mid_Etoec/TpHb_3eJdkI/AAAAAAAAAVs/wDmrutv4DGE/s320/100_1961_0049_049.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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My mother and me on my wedding cruise (Both moms came along! We actually took 6 people with us!)</div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My mom was a public school employee.
She has been around hundreds of children with disabilities and she knows that
my deepest love has always been for children with special needs. She watched me
get my degree in special education while simultaneously doing multiple
internships, volunteer opportunities AND working at a preschool for children
with special needs. If I told you she wasn’t surprised by our decision – I would
be lying; I think it shocked her. But she certainly wasn’t bothered by it. I
think once the initial “wow” wore off she kind of knew I would pull a stunt
like this. ; ) It’s very…me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now she is
in full on excitement mode. She went shopping yesterday (with my Aunt Bonnie)
and I’m told they spent WAY TOO MUCH MONEY buying stuff for our little man.
Obviously she is in thrill mode right now. She will be driving from Tennessee
to meet us at the airport and we are excited that she is willing to do that (it’s
a long drive.)</span></span></div>
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Brian his Mama (teary eyed) at our wedding.</div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Brian’s mom I think was a little more
surprised. Remember Brian had never really had contact with children who had
special needs. However, his mom is probably THE MOST genuinely loving and Godly
person I know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As much as it surprised
her, the shock wore off quickly because she realized she was going to be a
Grandma! Sterling is her first grandchild and I tell you that boy has already
changed her. She went from being the least technically savvy person I know to
Skyping with us in a matter of 3 weeks. Who knew one little boy could bring
people into the 21<sup>st</sup> century so quickly! She too is in full on
excitement mode. Brian went to a private Christian school for all of his
education. His mom manages the thrift store run by the school. She has been on
the lookout for bargains to help us prepare for Sterling and she is so super
excited about him joining the family. She prints the pictures out daily (in
8x10s – so GLAD I haven’t had many pictures of me taken since I look HORRIBLE)
and she has started putting them into a picture book. She just can’t wait until
we get home with him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Our Siblings<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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I think the "twin" comment came about say...45 seconds before this picture...and was made by the woman in the back....And yes - my sister walked me down the aisle :)</div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I only have one sibling – a sister
named Lesa. An older sister. I think when I told her she was more surprised
than the moms. I remember an audible, “OK. Wow.” LOL. She definitely did her
fair share of questioning – but not in a bad way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the time, I think her questioning hurt my
feelings; but, now I think it came from an older sister standpoint. My sister
and I have a HUGE age gap! We are 13 years apart. (You wouldn’t know looking at
us – on my wedding day we were asked if we were twins…great for her...I wanted
to smack the lady!) I think her shock came from life experiences and from the fact
that she has 4 children of her own. We are also very different people. She
keeps telling me she couldn’t do it…but I disagree. She is just as strong and
stubborn as I am. She’d make one heck of an advocate. We had a few really good
chats that challenged both my thinking and hers (chats in which I became overly
defensive – that’s just me.) Now, she is all systems go. She is thrilled to see
Sterling with us and very stoked to see him come home. She thinks he is
adorable (which he is…) and I think, even though we were close before this,
this process might have brought us closer. We rarely disagree on things so
having differing thought processes on this whole situation made us talk more.
Neither of us readily enjoy opening up – to anyone. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have always sought her approval for
everything (I think that’s a younger sister thing) and I’m really glad she is
happy for us. </span></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xFcGKQ1lnqU/TpHcC1MYWVI/AAAAAAAAAVw/rkeK9rNTNK8/s1600/100_2017_0025_025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xFcGKQ1lnqU/TpHcC1MYWVI/AAAAAAAAAVw/rkeK9rNTNK8/s320/100_2017_0025_025.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Paul went with us with on the cruise too...the boys had too much fun!</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-icOIq3cqmpc/TpHbyFvrdJI/AAAAAAAAAVg/GBkKUSjH7PU/s1600/100_0342_0136_136.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-icOIq3cqmpc/TpHbyFvrdJI/AAAAAAAAAVg/GBkKUSjH7PU/s320/100_0342_0136_136.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> Brian, Mama Hinz and Paulie Jo (on the wedding cruise)</span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Brian has one sibling as well – a “little”
brother named Paul. I use the term little lightly (mostly for fun!) because he
is about 3 inches taller than Brian and weighs probably 50 more pounds. LOL. I’m
not sure Paul knew what to think. I’m not even sure Paul reacted. This is
probably because Paul is one of those go with the flow guys. He is a free
spirit. Paul is doing us the BIGGEST favor ever while we are gone. He is
watching our house and our dogs. You should actually read that as he is living
in our house and watching our dogs. This is saving us close to $3000 on
boarding them. Unfortunately for him – I’m not buying him $3000 worth of
chocolate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He too is super thrilled
about Sterling. He’s not an overly emotional guy - Emoticons are the farthest
reach of his emotions… So, I know he’s happy when he Facebooks “That’s my
NEPHEW!!! =-D” I don’t know how thrilled he is to have to stay at our place for
6 weeks (I’m sure he isn’t super thrilled when he has to drive 3 hours one way
for class on Tuesdays) but we very grateful that he was willing to do it. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Our Extended
Families<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--26yWUGLxD0/TpHbqrlaFiI/AAAAAAAAAVc/bAn72wx3uGU/s1600/_DSC0120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--26yWUGLxD0/TpHbqrlaFiI/AAAAAAAAAVc/bAn72wx3uGU/s320/_DSC0120.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Us with both of our grandmothers at our wedding!</span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Have come out of the woodwork!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have had a ton of support from our
extended families. Our Grandparents, Aunts and Uncles have been great! Everyone
is excited! My Aunt Bonnie went shopping with my mom yesterday (and spent WAY
TOO MUCH!) and for that we are more than GRATEFUL. Brian’s family was great and
helped us out so much with donations in the beginning. Our Grandmas are super
thrilled (and super cute) about having a new great grandson.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">You can see that without our family
support (in the many different ways it has happened) we would not be here! We
are so very grateful that our families that our families have been supportive
and we cannot WAIT to introduce Sterling to all of them!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br />Hinz57http://www.blogger.com/profile/00487826933504438244noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5445204927170454798.post-91679884846661397532011-10-08T12:52:00.000-04:002011-10-08T17:04:39.285-04:0010 People in 10 Days: Day Four - Previous RR Familes (Baumann, Cornish, Krulik, Nalle and Hinz!)<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Saturday, October 08, 2011<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">10 People in 10 Days<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Previous RR Families: Baumann, Cornish, Krulik, Nalle and Hinz (yes, really!)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Once you become a Reece’s Rainbow
family you gain access into the forum and the chat. Seems like a such a small
thing – but it isn’t. Within a week after committing to Sterling we had instant
access to hundreds of people who were taking the same path we were. It was not
only eye opening, but also reassuring. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As soon as I figured my way around
chat, I learned that many people included their blogs in their signatures. I
had just started this blog and had no idea what I was supposed to write about.
I HATE journaling – and I’m not a fan of writing either. But, I figured the
best way to learn was to follow other people’s blogs. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This entry is going to seem like a
cop out. That isn’t my intention. It’s just impossible for me to retype
everyone’s stories here. Once we committed to Sterling and I started reading
other families’ blogs I became addicted. It was a way to learn about the
process, the country, the challenges and most importantly the “truth.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">During this time there were 4 or 5
blogs that I read all the time. These families – without even knowing it really
helped to offer a lot of reassurance during the paperwork phase of our
adoption.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I loved their insights and
their stories. They were there to answer questions if needed and they really
helped to put my mind at ease.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">These are the families and a QUICK
synopsis of each of their stories.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Baumann
Family<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have to start here. The Baumanns
are local to me. They live about 25 minutes away! I found their blog when I
searched the Reece’s Rainbow site for “Florida” in a hunt for Florida families.
I was SO relieved to see a local family. I left a message on Kim’s blog and
within a day or two had a response. Then I had an email! Kim has been great. She
and her husband adopted their son, Bryce, at the end of last year. Bryce has
been home for 11 months now and is doing well. He had his first “birthday” home
in May and he turned 4. Bryce is super cute and I can’t wait to get Sterling and
he together for a play date! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kim has
been a lot of help! She was always willing to answer questions, offer advice
and just give encouragement! I am really grateful that I happened upon her
blog! If you are interested in following the Baumann Family (or at least
getting a glimpse of Bryce’s handsome little face) you can visit the blog here:
</span><a href="http://ouradoptionjourneywithbrycevanya.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://ouradoptionjourneywithbrycevanya.blogspot.com/</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Cornish
Family<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Another family that popped up in the
Florida search was the Cornish family. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They have a unique story! Their oldest child,
Kristopher was born in 2004. A sister, Brianna, joined the family in January 2006.
In March of 2006 Brianna was diagnosed with Down Syndrome. The Cornish family knew
that was a call from God and in February of 2008 they fell in love with a
little girl with Down Syndrome in Ukraine – Aleksa. The problem is when they
went to adopt Aleksa they found out that she had been transferred to a mental
institution and their adoption request was denied. </span></span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">L</span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> Heartbroken but still determined,
they pushed on and Emma and Micah joined the family. Both Emma and Micah have
Down Syndrome and both were adopted from Ukraine. But there’s more! Lynae
joined the family (naturally!) in September of 2009. In early 2010 they adopted
domestically from the Florida Foster Care System and James became a Cornish
too! Still, they heard God calling and asking them to add more babies with
special needs to their loving home. Wesley, who has CP and is another little
Ukrainian Prince, joined the family in July of 2010. By nothing short of divine
intervention, during Wesley’s adoption the Cornish family ran into missionaries
who knew Aleksa (remember her?!) and knew where she was. So, 3 years after
their first inquiry into Aleksa – Aleksa joined the family as well! So,
currently the Cornish family consists of 8 kiddos (4 girls: Aleksa, Emaa,
Lynae, and Brianna AND 4 boys: Kristopher, Micah, Wesley and James)! Meredith’s
blog was so inspiring and so incredibly helpful during the beginning phases of
our adoption. Meredith continues to offer help and advice (we have “talked”
several times since we got here) whenever it is needed. I will always be
grateful for her prayers and her encouragement to us! To follow the Cornish
family blog (and to see an amazing family picture!) you can go here: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><a href="http://cornishadoptionjourney.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://cornishadoptionjourney.blogspot.com/</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Missy Krulik<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This one is interesting. I have had
no direct contact with Missy – ever! But, she is the first blog I followed from
the start of her arrival in Kiev to today. Brian and I would wake up every
morning and head straight to the blog </span><a href="http://oldhouseonwashington.typepad.com/ouradoptiononwashington/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://oldhouseonwashington.typepad.com/ouradoptiononwashington/</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to find out what was happening in the
world of this Ukrainian adoption. She was there during the entire paperwork
phase for us and came home as we were wrapping up. We laughed and cried reading
her blog. We read it passionately and with ferver. When she didn’t post I was
so upset! I LOVED that she blogged almost every day (she is the reason I blog
every day).) I LOVED that she was willing to share her thoughts and her fears
and that she was so honest with her readers. To my knowledge – she doesn’t even
know about us but her blog had a huge impact on us. It gave us a sense of
yearning to be here, a sense of “we can do this” and most importantly a sense
of direction. Danil has been home over two months and I still love reading about
his progress! If you love my blog thank Missy – she is the reason I write it!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Monier
Family<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Right as we were in the midst of
packing, planning our departure and leaving – Eric and Jenny were over here –
adopting Dima! Dima is 7 and has Down Syndrome. He is one cute and active
little guy! Jenny posted the other day that he has been home a month and that
just blows my mind! I remember when they left the country to head over here! I
LOVED reading Jenny’s blog too. Although she didn’t “blog” often, she took a
different route. Every day (or nearly every day) Jenny posted videos on her
YouTube Channel of Dima. So instead of a written blog – Jenny did more of a
video blog. This was really fun to watch. We read SO MUCH about what it is like
over here – but seeing it is very different. The Monier’s took a lot of our
fears away. It was nice to be able to see what everyone had been talking about
(and it was a lot of fun to watch Dima!) Eric is a pastor and Jenny is a
homeschooling Mama so their insight was very much valued during the phase where
we had tons of questions. I am so GLAD to have had the opportunity to follow
their story! Dima is now home with his brothers (and his Mama and Papa) but
Eric and Jenny still upload videos and still blog. If you would like to visit
their blog (and see Dima’s sweet face) you can do so </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">here:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://mondaymorningchristians.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">http://mondaymorningchristians.blogspot.com</span></a> </span>or</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> to see their YouTube channel and see
what kept us sane and excited during the last phase of our “paper pregnancy”
you can go here: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/MonierFam5?feature=mhee"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.youtube.com/user/MonierFam5?feature=mhee</span></a>
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Thank you Jenny for your insight and
your videos when we were going insane!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Julia Nalle<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Wow, what does one say about Julia
Nalle? She is amazing? She is wonderful? She is a warrior? All of the above!
Julia did the whole institution rescue (with MAJOR hurdles and hiccups along
the way) way before we had even considered that Sterling might be in an
institution. Of course we didn’t expect him to be in one (we were told by the
team on SDA day that he wasn’t and that they had checked…) So, when we found
out Sterling WAS in an institution I cannot tell you how many people told me to
get in contact with Julia. “Email Julia she can help you sort it all out.” “Email
Julia she’s done this – the hard way – she can get you through.” I’m not
kidding I think I had half a dozen people tell me the same things. And boy were
they right. Julia has kept us (my and Laura Reinke Lunnen) SANE over here. When
we have questions about institutions or about the process including
institutions – Julia is there. She emails, she Facebooks, she responds on
forum. She is awesome! The Nalle family adopted Aaron from Ukraine and she
opened up the doors of insight to anyone from RR who is adopting from an
institution! To read her story and to see Aaron’s adorable face (even if in the
most recent pics he was COVERED in hitch-hikers!) go here: </span><a href="http://covenantbuilders.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://covenantbuilders.blogspot.com/</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
Thanks Julia for your help and words of encouragement! We really appreciate it!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And now for
the funny one:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Hinz
Family<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">AND NO – I’M NOT TALKING ABOUT US!!!!
LOL! Can you believe that there is another Hinz family that has adopted from
Reece’s Rainbow!!!!??? I know – strange huh? The only difference is
pronunciation…they are the “Hins” family not the “Heinz” family! When we first committed
to Sterling, I did a search on the RR site for our name and I was SHOCKED to
see another Hinz family. Of course, I HAD to read their blog! Amy and John
recently adopted 2 little ones from Ukraine to add to their family. Dusty and
Sonya have been home for 4 months now and both are doing so well. They are
thriving under the loving care of a FAMILY! Amy has been great (we just “met”
recently) and I enjoy talking to her about the process. She has helped to keep
me sane and has been so willing to answer questions. She especially was so nice
to me the night before court and she stayed online and talked to me<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- giving me advice and encouragement I really
needed then! We are currently trying to figure out if our husbands are related
(LOL) but we are thinking not. (Even if Brian and John do favor each other a
little!) To see pictures and read the blog about Dusty and Sonya’s adoption you
can go here: </span><a href="http://www.godsarrowsinourquiver.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.godsarrowsinourquiver.blogspot.com/</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">SO – these are the families and BLOGS
of the people that “went before us.” Their words, their advice, their
encouragement and their prayers HONESTLY helped us to stay sane and “stay the
course” during our adoption. Thank you so much to all of you for playing a key
role (even if you didn’t know it!) in our adoption process. May God take care
of you and your little ones and bless you in your continued journeys! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Lots of Love from the Hinz family!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Hinz57http://www.blogger.com/profile/00487826933504438244noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5445204927170454798.post-13414558563470928122011-10-07T13:54:00.001-04:002011-10-07T14:29:16.138-04:0010 People in 10 Days: Day Three - Andrea Roberts and Michelle Zoromski<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
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</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Friday, October 7, 2011<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">10 People in 10 Days<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Andrea Roberts and Michelle Zoromski<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Once we committed to adopting
Sterling (which we did on May 14, 2011) we officially became a Reece’s Rainbow
family. If you have somehow managed to follow the adoption this long without
knowing or understanding what Reece’s Rainbow is or does let me sum it up for
you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Reece’s Rainbow is a non-profit Down
Syndrome Adoption Ministry that promotes and raises grant funds for the international
adoptions of children with Down Syndrome and other special needs.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The amazing thing about Reece’s
Rainbow (aside from the fact that they save orphans worldwide) is the community
network that exists as part of the system. I have been very blessed and have
made some VERY good friends along the way through this network.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Since our homestudy was already
complete when we committed to Sterling, there were some tweaks that needed to
be made to it. Since our social worker had never aided in an international
adoption, especially in a special needs international adoption (although
licensed to do so), there were a lot of emails and questions those first few
weeks.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">With the help of Andrea Roberts and
Michelle Zoromski we were able to able to get all of our paperwork completed
and get on track for our following through with our adoption.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">These are their stories!<o:p></o:p></span>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Andrea
Roberts<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Andrea is not only the director of
Reece’s Rainbow, she is also its founder. Aside from all of this (and the
responsibilities that go with it) she is also the mother of a 9 year old boy
with Down Syndrome – Reece! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Reece’s Rainbow started in 2004 as an
outreach program at a local hospital. After Reece’s birth a nurse at the hospital
asked Andrea if she would be willing to come talk to new parents of children
with Down Syndrome before they were discharged to share what she had learned
and experienced since Reece’s birth. She agreed. Fast forward to 2006, this is
when the program expanded to include advocating for the international adoptions
of children with Down Syndrome. Reece’s Rainbow is going strong; in the past 5
years (since the inception of the international program) the program has helped
to bring over 500 orphans home from around the globe.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Andrea has been instrumental in our
adoption. She is always available to talk to and answer questions. She has
offered advice, given encouragement and has made herself available to us nearly
all the time. She is always available on Yahoo Messenger and she responds
readily to emails. She has never let us down and she has never failed to come
through when we needed her. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Andrea, thank you for your devotion
and your advocacy to children with Down Syndrome. We are genuinely so very
grateful for your mission. Without you (and without Reece’s Rainbow) we would
not have even known Sterling existed! Please know that we will advocate for
Reece’s Rainbow for many, many years to come.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I’m sorry I don’t have a picture of
Andrea or Reece! There is one here: <a href="http://reecesrainbow.org/background"><span style="color: windowtext;">http://reecesrainbow.org/background</span></a>
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">But they are on vacation and I refuse
to use pictures on my blog without asking (this one is public so I will share the
page.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Michelle
Zoromski<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Michelle is the donations coordinator
for Reece’s Rainbow (and therefore is beloved by all!) I think she was the
third Reece’s Rainbow staff member I had direct contact with. She is also the
one that I have grown closest too. She is amazing!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Michelle has 4 children at home and
manages not only their care and schooling, but also their therapies,
extracurricular activities and the grants of every child on the Reece’s Rainbow
website. (I told you she was amazing!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Michelle’s story is more than unique.
Her oldest daughter Karly is in high school and is a cancer survivor! (I LOVE
to see the word survivor after the word cancer!) She is doing well and
continues to have clear exams (YAY!) She is the oldest of the Zoromski children
and I can only imagine that she is a great older sister.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NvsMDqUFj40/To87h46GHDI/AAAAAAAAAVM/2VRucCmJgV0/s1600/karlyandbraden+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NvsMDqUFj40/To87h46GHDI/AAAAAAAAAVM/2VRucCmJgV0/s1600/karlyandbraden+%25282%2529.jpg" /></a></div>
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Karly and Braden</div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">After Karly came Braden – and he
might be the cutest little thing ever (aside from Sterling of course – and Michelle
I’m sure you understand!) Braden is in 2<sup>nd</sup> grade and is very active
in Cub Scouts. He is a great big brother to his two little sisters and I’m sure
he will grow into a very tolerant and well rounded young man as he ages. I love
reading Michelle’s blogs on Braden as much as I love reading the ones about the
girls because they put into perspective the life of being the sibling of
children with DS. And, I can tell you from reading that Braden loves his
sisters regardless of that extra chromosome.</span></div>
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Cub Scout Braden</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J8ntC5Z3ADg/To87cQJOI0I/AAAAAAAAAVE/k5yY11PPZVg/s1600/bradenlilru+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J8ntC5Z3ADg/To87cQJOI0I/AAAAAAAAAVE/k5yY11PPZVg/s320/bradenlilru+%25282%2529.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Ru, Braden and Lil</div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Here is where the story gets
sad (apparently more people are going to cry today.) After
Braden, Michelle got pregnant again! With girl-girl twins! They did not know
ahead of time that the girls had Down Syndrome. Lydia had soft markers for Down
Syndrome but we all know that doesn’t necessarily mean much and it didn’t matter
to Michelle and Brian (yes…another Brian!) They were thrilled and they knew
they wanted the girls regardless of how many chromosomes they showed up with.
Unfortunately, during her 37<sup>th</sup> week at a routine ultrasound visit,
Michelle found out that one of the twins, Lydia, hadn’t made it. (This part
always makes me cry…) The girls, Lydia and Ruby, were born in May 2007. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">In Michelle’s
words (and yes used with her permission), </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“…</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">losing Lydia gave
everyone so much perspective. No one cared that Ruby had Down syndrome, we were
just so grateful to have her with us. That was Lydia's gift to Ruby.
Perspective.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Well,
if that isn’t enough to open your eyes (and your hearts) what comes next
certainly will. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Michelle
and Brian felt like Ruby had been robbed of a sister. A sister with Down
Syndrome. A sister just like her. So, after hearing about Reece’s Rainbow from
the pictures and stories of others, they began to follow one little girl. That little
girl was soon matched with a family and the Zoromski’s found “the one.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Lilya
was an orphan in Ukraine. An orphan that was a twin. A twin given to an
orphanage because of her extra chromosome while HER “healthy” twin went home
with the family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had found Ruby’s
sister! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Again
in Michelle’s words, “</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[Lilya was] a
twin without a family ... and we were a family missing a twin.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Lilya
has been home for over a year and is doing so well! She is all girl – she loves
to dance and sing – and she recently decided that she enjoys swimming! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is too cute for words (as is Ruby!</span></div>
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Ruby</div>
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Lilya</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-55SeAI7OXc0/To87e1veRyI/AAAAAAAAAVI/QWO1c0zTVmI/s1600/firstdayofschoollilandru+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-55SeAI7OXc0/To87e1veRyI/AAAAAAAAAVI/QWO1c0zTVmI/s320/firstdayofschoollilandru+%25282%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Lil and Ru on their first day of school this year!</div>
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<span style="color: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But, the story doesn’t end there! This
summer Michelle announced that she is pregnant – with a boy! (I’m sure Braden
is stoked!) And no, they aren’t having any testing done…I think they’ve more
than proven that their hearts are big enough for whatever God gives them!</span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Thanks Michelle for your commitment to
all people who have Down Syndrome – especially thanks for your support, encouragement
and most of all your friendship! </span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We hope one day we can get together
for a real-live play date with the girls!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: white;">(If you are interested, Michelle’s
blog can be found here: </span><a href="http://zoromski.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: white;">http://zoromski.blogspot.com</span></a><span style="color: white;"> )<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br />Hinz57http://www.blogger.com/profile/00487826933504438244noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5445204927170454798.post-32177479291961348462011-10-06T09:49:00.000-04:002011-10-06T11:53:00.071-04:0010 People in 10 Days: Day Two - The DeAngelo Family<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Thursday, October 6, 2011<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">10 People in 10 Days<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The DeAngelo Family<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The DeAngelo
Family</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <span style="font-size: small;">Marty, Megan, Emily and Susie DeAngelo</span></span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Once Brian and I started the adoption
process and registered to begin our Home Study we began research on adoption in
general. As the pieces began to fall into place and we decided to pursue a Down
Syndrome adoption, we registered with the National Down Syndrome Adoption Network
(NDSAN) and were placed on the waiting list for a newborn boy with Down
Syndrome.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was at this point that the
DeAngelo Family became not only a great resource, but also treasured friends.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">You see, Marty and Susie were blessed
with a child born with Down Syndrome in 1999. Emily (now 12) was a student in
Nichole’s class and Susie was both Nichole’s and my homeroom mom. As the mother
of two girls at our school, Susie is also VERY active in our PTA and with her
children’s teachers. I always admire how “together” she is. I really don’t know
how she balances everything she does! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Once we had committed with NDSAN I
jotted Susie a note and let her know the route we were taking and asked her for
more information and advice. She was more than ecstatic for us (and my note
even made her cry – apparently I’ve gotten really good at bringing people to
tears in the past 10 months!)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As the
story shifted from us adopting through NDSAN to us adopting through Reece’s
Rainbow her support and encouragement never wavered.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This is the DeAngelo family story.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
When Susie and Marty found out they were pregnant they, like any couple, were
thrilled. They had all of their prenatal visits and nothing was ever noted or
brought up as concern. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Imagine their
surprise when Emily graced the world with, not only her presence, but also her
extra Chromosome in July of 1999.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xY8logZ0bP0/To2v6uzAy-I/AAAAAAAAAUw/sqadkitn0kI/s1600/scan0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xY8logZ0bP0/To2v6uzAy-I/AAAAAAAAAUw/sqadkitn0kI/s320/scan0001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <span style="font-size: small;">Tiny baby Emily! </span></span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: small;">July 1999</span></span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Prior to Emily’s birth Susie and Marty
did not know that Emily was going to be born with Down Syndrome. But, while it
came as a bit of a shock, they grabbed life by the horns and they haven’t
stopped since! Emily was born with a heart defect (very common in babies with
Down Syndrome) and at (or around) 8 months of age had corrective open heart
surgery to repair the defect. She was a trooper! She did fantastic during
surgery and afterwards her growth and development blossomed. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m6eZOkIe6cg/To2v8tsH7LI/AAAAAAAAAU0/_Y1Pf1NMnN0/s1600/scan0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m6eZOkIe6cg/To2v8tsH7LI/AAAAAAAAAU0/_Y1Pf1NMnN0/s320/scan0002.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Emily at 2</div>
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Post heart surgery and growing!</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bhMeje8nwd8/To2uc_K94vI/AAAAAAAAAUg/AKYRFuaR3cw/s1600/IMG_1224+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bhMeje8nwd8/To2uc_K94vI/AAAAAAAAAUg/AKYRFuaR3cw/s320/IMG_1224+%25281%2529.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
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Emily at 9</div>
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July 4, 2008</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-it_lbVJjrTc/To2uEgxQLoI/AAAAAAAAAUQ/aYCxbmwv_Ds/s1600/IMG_9179.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-it_lbVJjrTc/To2uEgxQLoI/AAAAAAAAAUQ/aYCxbmwv_Ds/s320/IMG_9179.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <span style="font-size: small;">Emily today! (She's now 12!)</span></span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">July 2011</span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Several years after Emily’s birth,
Marty and Susie were blessed with another daughter, Megan. Megan is a fierce
advocate for her sister and is probably one of the most empathetic, accepting and
understanding 9 year olds I know. She is very world aware and she is very
protective of Emily. There is big love in this girl’s heart!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-efk0CioJRTE/To2vskXcDHI/AAAAAAAAAUs/_DdCE6bagGk/s1600/megandem.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-efk0CioJRTE/To2vskXcDHI/AAAAAAAAAUs/_DdCE6bagGk/s320/megandem.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <span style="font-size: small;">The sister happy dance after Emily won her Gold Medal!</span></span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Both girls are very active in extracurricular
activities. Down Syndrome has not ever (and will not ever) slow Emily down.
Aside from school and her series of therapies outside of school, Emily also
participates in cheerleading and Special Olympics. I can’t tell you how many
times I have seen Emily practice her cheerleading routines. All of the sudden
you will hear, “5, 6, 7, 8…” and you look over and there she is cheering wherever she happens to be! She is not just active – she is also good at what
she does! In fact, just this past weekend Emily won the Gold Medal at the
Florida State Special Olympics swim meet! She is one busy little girl! </span></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ATMu7xvceNE/To2t6CxiaSI/AAAAAAAAAUI/mm81WfQWQFY/s1600/IMG_0205+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ATMu7xvceNE/To2t6CxiaSI/AAAAAAAAAUI/mm81WfQWQFY/s320/IMG_0205+%25281%2529.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p>Emily cheers with Challenger league locally and she LOVES it!</o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KZfFV0e0Rhs/To2tewN6tZI/AAAAAAAAAUE/lwNLGCb6wso/s1600/emilywins%2521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KZfFV0e0Rhs/To2tewN6tZI/AAAAAAAAAUE/lwNLGCb6wso/s320/emilywins%2521.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This is when Emily realized she had won the Gold Medal this past weekend!</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-namKvwtzzMA/To2tdSlpYgI/AAAAAAAAAUA/c1bVpV-_ae8/s1600/emilygod.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-namKvwtzzMA/To2tdSlpYgI/AAAAAAAAAUA/c1bVpV-_ae8/s320/emilygod.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <span style="font-size: small;">Emily on the Gold Medal podium!</span></span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">YAY Emily!</span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Megan is just as active and is a
killer softball player! Megan actually reminds me a lot of myself as kid. She is more of a tomboy than Emily (who is ALL girl) and she is really feisty. She has great things ahead of her.</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WoMzF_3GsOI/To2ujcqKpqI/AAAAAAAAAUo/J1jxKLTgPJA/s1600/megansoftball.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WoMzF_3GsOI/To2ujcqKpqI/AAAAAAAAAUo/J1jxKLTgPJA/s320/megansoftball.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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So serious...</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rwUi5S5tZ5M/To2uhi3IY6I/AAAAAAAAAUk/zfKDsWFFRDk/s1600/meganbatting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rwUi5S5tZ5M/To2uhi3IY6I/AAAAAAAAAUk/zfKDsWFFRDk/s320/meganbatting.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <span style="font-size: small;">Look at that stance...red team better look out!</span></span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Susie is not only a busy mom with two
very active "tween" daughters, she is also a fierce advocate for people with Down
Syndrome; she also advocates disability awareness in general. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is precisely why, when the decision was
made, I went to her for advice and information.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Susie shared Emily’s story with us
and offered us a timeline of Emily’s growth and development. She gave us tons
of information on Emily’s speech (which is by far the one thing Emily struggles
with more than anything else) and her therapies. She would jot us handwritten
notes throughout the process (I still have every single one of them for
Sterling’s book!) letting us know how happy she was for us and that if we
needed anything she was there.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">One evening during the summer,
Nichole and I went over to the DeAngelo house to watch the documentary “Monica
and David.” If you haven’t seen it – you must. It is the story of two young
adults with Down Syndrome, their blossoming relationship and their eventual
marriage. It is an amazing film! Imagine three grown women sitting in the loft
of the DeAngelo house crying happy tears! I’m sure we were a sight to see!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">One weekend Nichole, the Comeaux kids,
Brian and I met Susie, Emily and Megan at Disney for the day. While I have had
experiences with children who have Down Syndrome, Brian never had. This outing
was Brian’s first glimpse at life with a child who happens to have Down
Syndrome. We had a great day! We spent the entire day at Hollywood Studios and
stayed through the fireworks show. Everyone had a good time – even Brian! When
we got in the car that night, Brian looked at me and said, “I don’t see
anything different. She’s just like every other 11 year old I know.” LOL. I
think he got the big picture that day. So without even knowing it, the DeAngelo
family opened the door for our adoption by allowing us (especially Brian) to
get little glimpses of their life for the past 10 months. </span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Susie has been in contact with me
over here and has already told me how excited Megan and Emily are that Sterling
is coming home! And we are more than excited to share a common bond with them!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We have a lot of LOVE and a lot of
THANKS to give to the DeAngelo family for their support and encouragement over
the past 10 months!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Hinz57http://www.blogger.com/profile/00487826933504438244noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5445204927170454798.post-41181201169663669982011-10-05T15:41:00.002-04:002011-10-05T15:44:29.690-04:0010 People in 10 Days: Day One - Nichole Comeaux<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Wednesday, October
5, 2011</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">10 People in
10 Days</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Nichole
Comeaux</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QQzJPWEcXGA/ToyjncC3bOI/AAAAAAAAATg/4BbGc8ai-KI/s1600/IMG_1123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QQzJPWEcXGA/ToyjncC3bOI/AAAAAAAAATg/4BbGc8ai-KI/s320/IMG_1123.JPG" width="238" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">I’m going to
be doing something a little different with the blog during the 10 day wait. Let
me explain how the 10 day wait works in this country. After your court decision
approves your adoption request the decision does not become legal until the 11<sup>th</sup>
day after the decision is made. This gives the biological family 10 days to lay
claim to their child and forfeit the adoption. Sterling’s parents have already
signed away their rights, but his extended family could still stop the adoption
if they wish to do so. Our ten day wait ends on Friday, October 14<sup>th</sup>.
Normally your court resolution would be on the 11<sup>th</sup> day; however,
since our 11<sup>th</sup> day is a Saturday, our court resolution will be on
Tuesday, October 18<sup>th</sup>. Government offices are not open in this region
on Mondays. So, we are at least 2 weeks away from taking Sterling out of the
institution. During those two weeks we will be visiting only every other day
(and not on weekends.)</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Now to
explain the blog for the next 10 days. Our visits with Sterling are almost always
the same. We will still post pictures and I will caption them directly instead
of writing a long blog about the visit (mainly because it is the same old stuff
and it is getting monotonous!) So, during the 10 day wait I am going to be
doing something different. Something I’ve never seen on another blog. I REALLY
believe in giving credit where credit is due. This adoption took the work of A
LOT of people. Many, many people helped us financially, emotionally and
mentally. During the next 10 days I am going to write about one person (or one group
of people) who helped to make this adoption happen. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They offered us different types of support but
together the 10 of them made this adoption a reality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will be sharing who they are, their stories
and explaining how they helped. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will
be going in the order they were instrumental CHRONOLOGIALLY (except for the
last one – who really was the driving force and the one who made it all
happen!)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So the first person is the one
who was instrumental with the start-up and the last people are the people who were
there as we were finalizing. If you aren’t listed it doesn’t mean you didn’t
help! These are the most influential/key figures in the adoption – I hope by
sharing these stories you understand how instrumental they were in our adoption
process.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">I know I’ve
already made a lot of people cry – but honestly, this part of the blog isn’t
going to help. I’m not normally one for spilling my heart (or for that matter
openly sharing my feelings at all) but I think it is super important to highlight that
an adoption is more than just parents gaining legal consent to parent a
child. It really does take a lot of people to make an adoption happen. I am
genuinely grateful to everyone who helped us in any way.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Nichole Comeaux</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bG1XRK8sMoE/ToyhylDbVKI/AAAAAAAAAS0/E_2844GVzmE/s1600/nichole.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bG1XRK8sMoE/ToyhylDbVKI/AAAAAAAAAS0/E_2844GVzmE/s1600/nichole.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The
elementary school I worked at is a brand new school. We opened in the 2009-2010
school year. Our school (at the time) was somewhat taking a different approach to
providing services to children with special needs. At the time, we were
offering no pull out services and our school had one teacher at each grade
level whom was certified to teach in an Exceptional Student Education (ESE)
classroom. I was teaching in our 5<sup>th</sup> grade ESE inclusion class. Of
my 21 students 11 of them had IEPs. It was a great plan. The only problem was,
with all of the curriculum we were supposed to be teaching it was hard to find
time to work small groups and hit IEP goals all in one day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a result of this, in October, our
principal decided to hire an ESE teacher that could come into each ESE room and
co-teach with us. That person was Nichole. Once she started Nichole and I
became fast friends – something that has never been easy for me. She looked
past all of my faults and took out the brick wall I keep up to keep people at
bay with ease. We have been amazing friends ever since and we are often seen
together outside of school (even though she left our school this year and made
it relatively impossible to hang out after school! </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> ) Since that first meeting,
Nichole and I have become very close and I have thoroughly enjoyed becoming “part
of the family” (as has Brian.)</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">About 2
weeks into her tenure at our school Nichole told me she was pregnant. At the
time, that came as quite a sting because it was right in the middle of Brian’s
and my infertility nightmare. But the sting didn’t last long and I was super
excited to be a part of this new baby’s life. There are lots of little things I
remember about that whole process (including eating jelly beans in my room
after school with Nichole while discussing ESE strategies!) Around November, I
asked nonchalantly how everything was going after Nichole had been for a
prenatal visit with the OB. It was then that Nichole shared that the baby (we
had learned by this point it was a girl) was showing soft markers for having
Down Syndrome. She and Scott had previously decided to not have any testing
done, in part due to their religious beliefs and in part because testing would
only put the baby at harm and they were keeping her regardless. It was a really
emotional time. Nichole help up incredibly well and never really showed her
emotions at school, although later she shared that she had been hiding a lot of
emotions during that time period. She saw several specialists and while none of
them would say definitively that the baby did not have Down Syndrome without testing
– that became the overriding thought . Despite all of the reassurances from the
doctors there was still some fear when the baby’s due date approached. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Well, Aurora
Simone Comeaux graced us with her presence a few days early and as you can see
she was not born with an extra chromosome. (Probably not what you were
expecting on this blog. LOL)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Aurora
joined older brother Clayton and older sister Audrey on May 30<sup>th</sup>,
2010. </span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PYJOih9cytE/ToyhnVpoToI/AAAAAAAAASw/5AoCDZ4LgT8/s1600/DSC_0782.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PYJOih9cytE/ToyhnVpoToI/AAAAAAAAASw/5AoCDZ4LgT8/s320/DSC_0782.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Having an
ESE background I have known a lot of children and families with
Down Syndrome but I had never known anyone personally who had gone through a
Down Syndrome (or possible Down Syndrome) pregnancy. It was a very emotional
time and quite honestly one that made our decision to adopt Sterling even
easier.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Throughout
the whole pregnancy Nichole and I had many discussions about the baby, about
Down Syndrome, about religion (she was instrumental – along with some other friends
– in us going back to church) and about raising children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nichole spoke openly about her religion and
how it was hard to believe that most (92%) of pregnancies of a child with Down
Syndrome are terminated. We talked a lot.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Well, Aurora
was born at JUST THE PERFECT time in the school year. Nichole would be able to
return to school in August and we decided to take on a new challenge together.
You see, our school was adding two ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorders)/IND (Intellectual
Disabilities) units the following year. Nichole and I signed up to take on
those positions.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">The
beginning of the year was horrible (and not because of the kids) but that is a
whole year’s worth of blogs on its own. In short we had some staffing issues
(read “nightmares”) and Brian and I were in the throes of infertility treatment
(waste of money) so I was an emotional wreck for the first half of the year. But,
Nichole was there for all of it. In October (of 2010) Brian and I decided to
stop all infertility treatments. My stress level was through the roof (not
conducive to conception) and the infertility drugs were really making me fun to
be around (NOT!).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was during this break
from fertility treatments that the idea of adoption first came up. Up until
this point I was not IN ANY WAY interested in adoption. I wanted MY OWN kid. MY
flesh and blood. Let me tell you something, that feeling lasted about 6 months.
By October I was exploring the possibility of adoption. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">I’m a
researcher by nature. I need facts. It’s just the way I work. If numbers are
involved – well even better! So in October I commenced my 3 months of research
on adoption. By Christmas, Brian and I were toying with the idea. Of course, I
ran it past Nichole. Who was more than supportive – but she told us not to
count ourselves out just yet. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Regardless,
Brian and I set ourselves up to complete our Homestudy since we were leaning
toward adoption. That way, if we found a child we would be ready to go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(I find it interesting that December is when
we started going to church again too – but that’s another story.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">I think I
first stumbled upon Reece’s Rainbow in late January of 2011 (hard to believe
that was only 10 months ago!) I was researching adoption and linked from
another link (you know how that goes) to get there. I was taken by the pictures
of all these children, without families, simply because of an extra chromosome
(or in some cases an HIV diagnosis.) I didn’t share the site with anyone. Not
even Nichole. I would lie in bed at night (after Brian went to sleep) and look
at those faces. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>HUNDREDS of motherless
children. It was heart wrenching and I cried myself to sleep on more than one
occasion. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">It was funny
though – I kept returning to one face:</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CJ0WFZ8BIog/ToygyMBmceI/AAAAAAAAASk/VA2CngJvKNs/s1600/sterling1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CJ0WFZ8BIog/ToygyMBmceI/AAAAAAAAASk/VA2CngJvKNs/s1600/sterling1.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">In late
February I shared the site with Brian – who went into immediate shock. He was
not so keen on the idea of a special needs adoption. (Little did he know – he is
so IN LOVE with Sterling now!)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lots of RR families
will tell you this is how it went down in their homes too. Brian and I talked A
LOT during that time period and slowly with the help of facts and research (and
tomorrow’s family!) he began to accept the idea. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, then he fell in love with Sterling
during the prep phase and he will advocate until the day he dies for these
children and for Reece’s Rainbow.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Back to
Nichole. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Once I
turned Brian, I eventually shared the site with her. Her faith, along with her
teaching background and the fact that she is a mother led her to be as taken by
these children as I was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For me, Reece’s
Rainbow became a daily obsession: which child had found a family, which child
had been added to the photolistings, which child had been transferred and even
(on occasion) which child had died. I’m sure Nichole heard more than she ever
wanted to know about those children (and about Reece’s Rainbow) but she never
showed it. It’s interesting how a friendship works.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The year before it had been her dealing with
life while I offered support; then the tides changed and it was reversed. It’s
all a very cool system of give and take that, as humans, we fail to recognize a
lot of times. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Well, come
about May, Nichole said to me something to the effect of, “If you are so
passionate about it – do something about it.” In hindsight, I think that is all
I really wanted. Or needed might be a better way to put it. I needed to hear
someone say that it was OK that we WANTED a child with Down Syndrome. Nichole
gave us that - the piece of mind that we weren’t adopting Sterling’s Down
Syndrome that we were adopting Sterling. That underneath all of the labels that
RR had for him was just a little boy who desperately needed a family.
(Ironically we were just a family that desperately wanted a little boy.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">It is safe
to say that without Nichole’s approval we wouldn’t be here. She was the first
person we told and by far (as we told more people) the MOST supportive. We had
other friends who weren’t so excited for us in the beginning (all of them are now
of course) but so many people showed shock and surprise (and even disapproval)
that, without Nichole as our ROCK, we would not have our son. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">So, THANKS NICHOLE!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">We LOVE you!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">PICTURES FROM TODAY!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Sterling babbles. In the beginning of our visits he didn't make a sound. Now he babbles incessantly. A lot of nothing but very cute. He also makes these gutteral sounds and groans. I'm sure they are noises he makes to keep himself occupied in the institution. HOWEVER - Brian and I are SURE he said his first word today. My mother and my sister will be thrilled. Why? Because the word was "book." He used it Monday too (we didn't say anything because we wanted to see it again.) We took the book out he pointed at it (he points with his thumb) and said, "bk". So frigging cute. With some therapy he will be talking soon. He also sometimes gets so excited during snack that he will SCREAM what sounds like "Da" if we hold up some food. Da means yes. So we are pretty sure there is more there than the institution has any inkling of. We can't wait to get him out of there! I will try to catch him saying book on Friday.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IJcJhKx9wic/ToyiSmmg-iI/AAAAAAAAAS8/pzYAccP_bGQ/s1600/IMG_1085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IJcJhKx9wic/ToyiSmmg-iI/AAAAAAAAAS8/pzYAccP_bGQ/s320/IMG_1085.JPG" width="239" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We brought a new toy today! This giraffe was a gift from our friend Kimber. It makes soothing noises. Giant hit! He LOVES this thing...</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6m49oKVBJlM/ToyibcoYCyI/AAAAAAAAATA/4Pl6xkMpAG4/s1600/IMG_1097.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6m49oKVBJlM/ToyibcoYCyI/AAAAAAAAATA/4Pl6xkMpAG4/s320/IMG_1097.JPG" width="239" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We tried on clothes today. 3T jeans...WAY TOO BIG! And yes, he is wearing a diaper here. He has no rear end and no belly to hold anything up (good thing we bought a belt.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Those jeans are just a tad long...LOL. The sweater is 2T and fits nicely! Thanks Clayton (and Nichole) for the hand me downs!</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Hy69S7fzdXQ/Toyikm2QgnI/AAAAAAAAATE/K5fODGIqO2I/s1600/IMG_1103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Hy69S7fzdXQ/Toyikm2QgnI/AAAAAAAAATE/K5fODGIqO2I/s320/IMG_1103.JPG" width="239" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DJLc8y86NF4/ToyjUAgfizI/AAAAAAAAATY/Hn-YlQmYejQ/s1600/IMG_1120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DJLc8y86NF4/ToyjUAgfizI/AAAAAAAAATY/Hn-YlQmYejQ/s320/IMG_1120.JPG" width="239" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This boy loves his snacks.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tnjqjq-EaDM/ToyjcfA9T8I/AAAAAAAAATc/c4tSYJtbeFk/s1600/IMG_1121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tnjqjq-EaDM/ToyjcfA9T8I/AAAAAAAAATc/c4tSYJtbeFk/s320/IMG_1121.JPG" width="239" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Is it that obvious?</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yClA3xsmAYs/Toyi80586fI/AAAAAAAAATQ/eB7dKfmXa8Y/s1600/IMG_1112.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yClA3xsmAYs/Toyi80586fI/AAAAAAAAATQ/eB7dKfmXa8Y/s320/IMG_1112.JPG" width="239" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">LOL</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PR3iTbj0kCU/Toyj4MhZKqI/AAAAAAAAATo/HuWH47b8X8k/s1600/IMG_1138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PR3iTbj0kCU/Toyj4MhZKqI/AAAAAAAAATo/HuWH47b8X8k/s320/IMG_1138.JPG" width="239" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">He prefers to sit backwards in any chair (or on any bench) we put him in.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0_6O5KUvhFM/ToykA5lWW6I/AAAAAAAAATs/mhXUBBjuwBg/s1600/IMG_1139.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0_6O5KUvhFM/ToykA5lWW6I/AAAAAAAAATs/mhXUBBjuwBg/s320/IMG_1139.JPG" width="239" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I love this smile. It melts my heart.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0-aPghJlfGk/ToyjxGUQkDI/AAAAAAAAATk/T7zXc6z-TGo/s1600/IMG_1134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0-aPghJlfGk/ToyjxGUQkDI/AAAAAAAAATk/T7zXc6z-TGo/s320/IMG_1134.JPG" width="239" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-M_lyQ4JrC80/ToyjG7nUHUI/AAAAAAAAATU/Vv1FE21JLBw/s1600/IMG_1115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-M_lyQ4JrC80/ToyjG7nUHUI/AAAAAAAAATU/Vv1FE21JLBw/s320/IMG_1115.JPG" width="239" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">See this cowlick in his hair that pushes his hair to the right side of his body? Yea - Brian has the same one - in the same spot and it does the same thing. :)</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-emBNPSzjy5M/ToymRIYL5CI/AAAAAAAAAT0/Z-kR26PAzpg/s1600/laughing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-emBNPSzjy5M/ToymRIYL5CI/AAAAAAAAAT0/Z-kR26PAzpg/s320/laughing.jpg" width="243" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Giggle Mania</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sL3f4mUf90s/Toyi1O1YrXI/AAAAAAAAATM/9l1WaiZXruU/s1600/IMG_1111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sL3f4mUf90s/Toyi1O1YrXI/AAAAAAAAATM/9l1WaiZXruU/s320/IMG_1111.JPG" width="239" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">He is so darn handsome!</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aUqQHb1diHU/ToymWBPTdKI/AAAAAAAAAT4/rX8sjqMD7dw/s1600/IMG_1157.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aUqQHb1diHU/ToymWBPTdKI/AAAAAAAAAT4/rX8sjqMD7dw/s320/IMG_1157.JPG" width="239" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This jacket (believe it or not) is a 5/6. It swallows him but at least we know it will fit him for a while! And can I say that he looks SO HANDSOME in real clothes and out of those orphanage duds???</span></div>
Hinz57http://www.blogger.com/profile/00487826933504438244noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5445204927170454798.post-44516957549158006652011-10-04T13:43:00.000-04:002011-10-04T13:43:10.873-04:00ONE LESS ORPHAN!!
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tuesday, October 04, 2011<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">One Less Orphan<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yaQMk3fHgwk/TotEoqqiu8I/AAAAAAAAASg/GBk2iDXmuBk/s1600/IMG_1083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yaQMk3fHgwk/TotEoqqiu8I/AAAAAAAAASg/GBk2iDXmuBk/s320/IMG_1083.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;"> No I am NOT wearing socks with my shoes. My feet were that white. The building was unheated and freezing.</span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As any international adoptive parent
will tell you there are 4 days we live for. In order they are: meeting your
child, court day, gotcha day and landing back home.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Well, we are officially half way
there. The judge and two person jury “approved” our “request” to adopt our son
and around 17:00 our time Sterling Patrick Hinz officially joined the family.
Praise God!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We were so very nervous about court
today. No one had ever adopted from the town/village that the mental
institution is located in. No Reece’s Rainbow family had ever adopted from this
region. Because of this, we had no inkling of what to expect and no one to give
us any insight. Talk about pioneering!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But, all the worry was for nothing. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tatyana and Alexei picked us up from
our apartment around 13:35 and we headed to the institution. We got there
around 14:15. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sterling was taking a nap
so we didn’t get to see him. The three of us went into the director’s office
and Tatyana and the director got LOTS of paperwork together. Every now and then
Tatyana would stop and tell us what they were doing saying, “This paperwork is
for his passport” or “This is so we can close out his bank account.” After some
discussion the paperwork was done and Tatyana asked the director to make copies
of some needed documents. Before the director left the room she “accidentally”
left out some files. So hopefully, we should 6 or 7 boys listed from Sterling’s
institution soon. And I’ll warn you now, some of them are pretty darn cute.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Once all the paperwork was done, the
three of us piled into Alexei’s car and headed off to the courthouse. When we
got there we checked in (gave them our passports for recording our numbers) and
headed upstairs. The courthouse was nothing like the courthouses back home. No
metal detectors and they didn’t even check our bags. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We waited in the hallway upstairs for
about 30 minutes while Tatyana, the director of the institution and the
Director of Children’s Services typed up our “recommendation” from the DCS and
the orphanage. Then we all headed to the courtroom.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Again, nothing like a courtroom at
home. We (Tatyana, Brian and I) sat on a bench in front of the judge. A podium
was between us though so it was hard to see her the whole time. We stood up
when the judge came in and then we sat down. The judge was making jokes and
seemed very amiable which helped us to relax a bit. She talked and then she
asked Brian to stand up, recite his name, DOB, address and describe his
profession. He did so. Then it was my turn to do the same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To respond we just stood up right where we
were and responded while Tatyana translated.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Then the judge read some more and
asked Brian to stand up and the questions started. Let’s just say my talks last
night with Meredith Cornish and Amy Hinz paid off. Luckily, Brian got asked the
questions we had “studied” for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These
were his questions:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1)</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Why do you want to adopt a child, why
one with special needs and why one from Ukraine? (Brian answered the first part
but not the second - we will come back to that.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1.25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">a.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">He explained our infertility issues,
the decision to adopt, the research done on Down Syndrome, the decision making
process, he explained our teaching backgrounds, how this led us to feel that we
could successfully adopt a child with special needs and he explained the
resources we would have when we got home to help us with Sterling. (For someone
who HATES public speaking he did fairly well…although afterwards he told me he
was shaking the whole time.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2)</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Do you have health insurance? Will
the child be covered? Will he receive therapies?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1.25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">a.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Brian explained that an adoption is
considered a birth. That as teachers we have medical insurance and that
Sterling would be covered under our policies. He also explained that therapies
would be covered not only by medical insurance but also at school.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3)</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Is raising a child with Down Syndrome
harder or different from raising a child without Down Syndrome? Would the
government provide any services, money or assistance?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1.25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">a.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Brian said yes it is different but
that doesn’t mean “worse.” He explained that you learn to take life at a slower
pace, that you are required to be more flexible and have more patience. He
again explained all of the resources and services that would be available to
Sterling and he explained that while we make too much to qualify for SSI
Sterling would get benefits when he got older and he<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>would have access to government assistance if
needed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">4)</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What will Sterling’s life be like
when he is over 18?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1.25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">a.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Brian hit the ball out of the park
and started by saying that kids with Down Syndrome in US have the ability to go
to college (dependent on the child of course) and that immediately got raised
eyebrows. LOL. He explained that he would have the ability to get a job, live
on his own, and function as a typical member of society in the US. They were
blown away by all of this…but it is the truth.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">That was it. That was all she asked
him. Then it was my turn. I got questions we HADN’T studied for. And honestly
it was better that way. I stood up and I was asked:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1)</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Why are you adopting a child with
special needs from Ukraine? (Yea you thought she forgot didn’t you…ha!)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1.25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">a.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I explained that we originally were
on the domestic Down Syndrome adoption wait list. I told the court that the
wait list was VERY long (probably the wait right now is just at or slightly
over a year…) and after 5 months we decided to look into international
adoption. I explained that we knew people who had adopted from Ukraine and that
we knew people who had adopted multiple times and had positive experiences. I
left it at that.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2)</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You have a sister that has 4 children (so they
DO read the dossier!) what does your sister think about your adoption? What do
her children think? What do your families think?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1.25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">a.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ok blindsided. I told her that our
families had been very supportive. That everyone was very excited for us
because they knew that we were excited to bring him home. I explained that my
nieces and nephews were happy to be getting a cousin (finally!) and that we had
received nothing but positive responses from our families. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3)</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The judge told me I was young (in the
year I turn 30! Hooray!). She asked what would happen if we ended up having our
own biological children.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1.25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">a.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I said “Nothing would change.
Sterling would still be our son.” That’s it. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The end. That was the end of the
questioning. She read a bunch more from his history and our dossier (boring and
incomprehensible to us anyway). Highlights from that reading:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1)</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sterling was given up at birth and
had been in the orphanage from birth.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2)</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sterling had never had any visitors,
any communication or any association or interest with his family since being
given up.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3)</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sterling has Down Syndrome
(surprise!?) and “crossed eyes.”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">4)</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sterling needs therapies (surprise!?)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Then she asked Brian to stand up and
make his request, “I am requesting to become the parent of Sterling Patrick
Hinz” and then for me to do the same. Then she recessed and she (the judge)
left with the jury (2 people) and the prosecutor (who MIGHT have been 21…on a
good day.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">After they left we were left in the
courtroom with the director of the institution, the director of DCS and
Tatyana. We shared our photo book with them and talked a lot. Mainly about
opportunities for kids with DS in America. They asked if Sterling would ever
talk (seriously) if he would ever function on his own and if we really thought
we could help him. They were so amazed at the answers we gave them. We talked about
therapies, about schools, I touted Emily DeAngelo’s Gold Medal victory in the
Special Olympics (that shocked them), the ogled over our house and the fact
that we had two “machinas” in the driveway. (Unheard of!) And then we continued
to offer facts and information about DS here in the US and blew them away. That
was fun!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">About 10-15 minutes later the judge
came in. (She was honestly very nice.) Tatyana asked if she wanted to see the
photo book, which she did – so we went over it again and again we explained all
of the above. The judge had lots of questions for us: Do we travel a lot? (lol
lots of cruise pictures in the book) How old is my grandma? (92) How old are
the nieces and nephews? Tell me about your house. And so on. Just easy stuff
she thought of while looking at pictures. She remarked multiple times that
Brian and I are “skinny” (did I mention I liked her?) and that we have a “good
looking family.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before she handed the
book back she asked what we thought of Ukraine and Ukrainian people - which we
answered honestly but nicely. (S*** is a beautiful city it is convenient to
able to walk everywhere. I explained our nearest market was 2 miles from home
and she gasped! LOL. I told her the Ukrainian people were very nice (aside from
the yeller in the stairwell.) <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The thing they found MOST interesting
about our photo book is that we have a turtle for a pet. They just could not
get over that! LOL. I explained that Tiki used to live in my classroom but the
kids were not nice to her so she had to move into the house. Which got lots of
giggles. She was also amazed at how much “you people smile a lot.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Then we sat back down. She read some
more. She then declared us the parents of Sterling Patrick Hinz and told us our
ten days starts tomorrow and his name would be legally changed and we would be
listed as his parents. His date of birth (8/8/06) and place of birth (S***)
would remain unchanged.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And that was that! <span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We are now the proud parents of a 5 year old! Lots of pictures tomorrow. We got permission to bring clothes for trying on! <3<o:p></o:p></span></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">ONE LESS ORPHAN IN THE WORLD TODAY!
God is Great! <3<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
Hinz57http://www.blogger.com/profile/00487826933504438244noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5445204927170454798.post-24532089633054147572011-10-03T14:50:00.001-04:002011-10-03T14:50:55.190-04:00Stuck in the rut!
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">October 3, 2011<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Blogs Do Get Old…Tomorrow will be our change of pace!</span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It’s hard to write a blog when the
same things happen every day. But I still feel the need to share this grin with all of you!</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The only thing that happened differently
today was that we got REAMED OUT by some lady in our apartment hallway. In
Russian. We have no idea what we did (or failed to do?) but she blocked the
stairwell and wouldn’t let us down to Alexei. Brian finally called Tatyana who
talked to the lady – to no avail. When Brian asked Tatyana what the lady was so
upset about – Tatyana said not to worry about it and that she would call the
landlady. So, we are assuming it has nothing to do with us. Still being yelled
at in Russian by a lady in her bathrobe while the yelling reverberates in the
stairwell is certainly a way to wake up. And it isn’t a pleasant one either.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We finally made it down to Alexei (15
minutes later) and were on our way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Tatyana told Alexei why we were late so he wouldn’t think we were tardy
for no reason. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Because we started late, we arrived
at the institution late. They must have rushed in bringing Sterling to us
because about 10 minutes into our visit he wet himself. </span></span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">L</span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> He is most certainly NOT potty
trained. I walked him to the director’s office and showed her his wet behind
and she walked him to the nurses’ station. One of nurses took him upstairs,
cleaned him off and put him in a diaper. Much better choice. We are fine with
him NOT being potty trained – we weren’t expecting him to be. We were also not
expecting to be given misinformation <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>–
during our first meeting we were told he was potty trained – but this is not
the first time he has wet himself with us. It’s just the first time I’m
mentioning it. I’d rather they just put him in a diaper (no pull ups in this
country) so that we can enjoy our visit without having to return him to them
for a 15 minute clean up. :/<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So between being late and the clean
up – we only got to spend about 45 minutes with our little man. He is still
CUTE AS EVER! His attention span is increasing (slowly but it is increasing). He
sat with me twice today and read/looked at books. That is a huge improvement.
He still wants to chew on them – so I have to hold him with one hand and page
turn with the other. We still played with the slinky and the bumble ball but I
can tell he is losing interest. Time to bring new toys!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We also supermanned today. I laid
down on the floor and put him on my shins and lifted him up and down. That got
big smiles but we didn’t get pictures or video. BOO! He wasn’t super snuggly today
either. That is probably our fault – we didn’t go to see him at all this
weekend. The institution runs on a skeleton crew on the weekends and it wasn’t
easy for them to accommodate us when we went last Saturday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He did let us hold him and when I put my arms
down he will put his up to be picked up (which makes me happy!) So, he let us
hold him and he sit with us – he just wasn’t as snuggly as usual.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tomorrow is the big day! We have
court at 1600 local time which is 9 am EST.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>PLEASE PRAY for us. Neither of us really loves speaking publicly in
front of adults and we will have to speak and answer questions. We know NO
DETAILS of what to expect other than people’s stories from their court
hearings. PLEASE PRAY for peace of mind, for the judge to understand our call
to adopt our little man and for a smooth and easy process. Hopefully by
tomorrow afternoon I will be telling you that Sterling is ours!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">After court we have a mandatory 10
day wait – it will not be waived (unless a miracle happens). During that time,
Sterling’s family can decide that they want him back and they don’t want him to
be adopted. It’s a long 10 days. During these 10 days I will be doing a special
blog (yes I will continue to post pictures of Sterling!). I will be doing a “10
people in 10 days” blog. I will be recognizing 10 people that have been
critical (in different ways!) to our adoption process. It’s our way of saying
thanks!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We have been in the country 17 days
today – that should be our halfway point! Thanks for all of your prayers so
far! Hopefully tomorrow goes off without a hitch! <3 </span></span></div>
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You can really see how tiny he is in this picture. I didn't even notice until now. For those of you who may have forgotten because he is so little he is 5! (And yes we have seen the birth certificate!)</div>
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Hold with one hand - page turn with one hand!</div>
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Hinz57http://www.blogger.com/profile/00487826933504438244noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5445204927170454798.post-51345956369028831882011-10-02T11:44:00.001-04:002011-10-02T11:44:41.832-04:00The Much Anticipated Food Blog!
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sunday, October 2, 2011</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Much Anticipated Food Blog<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I can’t tell you how many times I’ve
been asked what we are eating over here. It’s probably because people know I am
one picky eater. Seriously. At home there are very few restaurants I will eat
meat from and I will only eat salad from 3 or 4 restaurants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve had one too many cases of food poisoning
than I care to experience again and since being super cautious I rarely get
sick from food anymore. So, it stands to reason that my friends are asking
about food because they know I am really picky when it comes down to it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The first week we arrived in this
city (from the Capitol) Brian and I ate McDonald’s every day. If you know me,
you know I don’t eat stuff like that at home. But it was familiar and
convenient. Well, one’s stomach can only take so much McDonald’s before you
never want to see another one and I reached that point pretty quickly. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When we were delivered to our
apartment we were told “the” market is across the street. Well “that” market is
very small. It sells not very much and the meat department was questionable at
best. So, McDonald’s seemed like the better choice. Then you hit this feeling
that – if you don’t eat “real” food you might shrivel up and die. My body was
craving nutrients – specifically fruits and vegetables. I knew from reading the
blogs of other families that have been over here that there is a supermarket
chain called Billa (they actually have stores located in 10 different European
countries.) As result of my nutrient deprivation, I Googled Billa and prayed
there would be one in our city. And there was. The next day Brian and I set out
to find it; and, we failed. On Wednesday, we called our driver and asked him to
drive us there so we would know the way. When we got there it was like finding
an oasis in the middle of the desert (okay probably not THAT good but it was
close.) Aside from the European atmosphere and set up – it is just like a
Publix. We bought a few days worth of groceries and headed back.</span></span></div>
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This is the market across the street from our apartment.</div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">On an outing to the mall the other
day we discovered a THIRD market – underneath the mall. From the outside it
looked big and clean and Billa-like and we vowed to go back when we didn’t have
any bags with us (ALL stores here have lockers – you put any bags you are
carrying into the lockers and take the key with you as you shop. However, at
this market they have a bag check instead of lockers.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Yes, there is a supermarket under this mall...</div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Today was the day we went back to the
EkoMarket. It was okay. We found a lot of stuff that Billa had but the meat
department was as sketchy as the market next to us and the bakery didn’t have
the bread we know we like. We did some shopping there and then dropped off our
purchases at “home” and headed to walk to Billa. That walk took us about 20
minutes. Not horrible – despite the fact that it was cold and windy and neither
of us had brought our jackets. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We arrived at Billa – put our
shopping bags into a locker (you bring your own bags or they charge you) and
finished our shopping for the week. That’s right. We won’t need to go back to
the market for a week! YAY! We will need water for sure – but we won’t need to
shop for a week. And, we can now enjoy the advantages of cooking at “home.” On
a side note: Brian and I fell in LOVE with this pizza place in the Capitol
called Celentano’s Pizza. Well, on our way back from Billa today we stumbled
across one!!! We are thrilled to find one in our city! We have made a plan to
go there on Sundays. We can get a pizza for about $5 – and it is a real pizza
not like a nasty Domino’s $5 pizza. So yummy and so cheap!</span></span></div>
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Brian got a beer at Celentano's. 0.5 Litres for what amounts to $1.38.</div>
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Brian loves Celentano's!</div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Here are a few of things we have
eaten for dinner since we discovered the good market and have ditched McDonald’s.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">French Toast (they don’t sell syrup
here so we had to eat it with Strawberry Jelly)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Omelets<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Potato Soup<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Grilled Cheese/Grilled Ham and Cheese<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Pasta with Olive Oil, Garlic,
Tomatoes, Onions and Chicken (yum)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ramen (sometimes you just don’t feel
like cooking)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Pasta with Red Sauce (Brian ate this –
I won’t touch the red sauce here. It’s weird…)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hawaiian Rice with Sauteed Chicken
Breasts<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">That’s a sampling. I bought stuff to
make homemade Chicken Noodle Soup this week (as homemade as I can get here…)
and I made potato soup tonight. I tried to make banana bread but we can’t figure
out the oven so that was a fail. </span></span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">L</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Zd-OjFNsvts/Toh-y0wc7uI/AAAAAAAAAP8/JkxIrPyWN34/s1600/IMG_0347.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Zd-OjFNsvts/Toh-y0wc7uI/AAAAAAAAAP8/JkxIrPyWN34/s320/IMG_0347.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The potato soup I made for dinner (I can't figure out how to rotate the picture...) </span></span></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’ve also been asked how the meat and
produce are. The answer is FRESH. Another answer is dirty. The potatoes I
bought for the soup hadn’t been cleaned at all. They were still covered in dirt
from the farm (don’t worry they got scrubbed really well before being diced and
boiled).<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The carrots are black also. Anything
that comes from the ground needs a good scrubbing. The tomatoes are amazing –
all are vine ripe. The produce here is very inexpensive (see prior blog for
prices.) Shopping here is…different.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The produce section looks the same as
it does at your store but instead of putting it in a bag and throwing it in
your cart for the cashier to ring up – you ring it up on your own. That varies
by store. Some stores (the EkoMart for example) have a lady who stands and
weighs everything and then puts a sticker on it with the price and amount.
Other stores (like Billa) you do all of this yourself. At Billa they have
touchscreen computers that do this. You walk up to the computer, put your bag
of produce on the scale, find the corresponding number (potatoes are 58) and
touch the number. The computer then spits out the sticker and you stick it on
your bag. It is very efficient and saves lots of time at the checkout stand
because the lady only has to check the label (to make sure it is what you say
it is) and scan it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Other things are sold in a similar
fashion – from bulk barrels. Flour, sugar, couscous, rice, grains, some
cookies, pretzels, snack foods, raisins, dried fruit and nuts are all examples
of this.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My favorite foods here so far: the yogurt and the kefir, jelly filled croissants, the juice, the seashell cookies </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Brian's favorite foods here so far: the ham, Celentano's pizza (hey it's what he said!), the fresh bread, the pretzels sold in bulk</span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Some interesting things about the
markets here:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">They have rows upon rows of liquor (seriously...everyone here drinks and smokes...)</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">They have rows upon rows of chocolate
and candies<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZIhXOASyiS0/ToiAYkboy9I/AAAAAAAAARI/N1qyUbjNWC0/s1600/IMG_1061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZIhXOASyiS0/ToiAYkboy9I/AAAAAAAAARI/N1qyUbjNWC0/s320/IMG_1061.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The bakery really is a bakery –
buying premade and prepackaged bread is unheard of (although the bread Brian
and I like is indeed prepackaged)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">They have fish tanks in the stores
where you can choose your own fish from the tank</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2Qzw-ofj2mo/Toh_jEG2FEI/AAAAAAAAAQg/U5nECH_rdNI/s1600/IMG_1064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2Qzw-ofj2mo/Toh_jEG2FEI/AAAAAAAAAQg/U5nECH_rdNI/s320/IMG_1064.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">At Billa they have a keg in the
middle of the store and a beer lady that will bottle it for you straight from
the keg (I so should have gotten a picture of this – it is quite odd)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">You bring your own bags or you pay
(instead of if you bring your bags you get money off)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Markets don’t sell toiletries (some
have an attached section that does but they don’t sell toiletries in the market
itself.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The drinks here are made with REAL
sugar and NOT corn syrup. That means that coke, juice and tea all taste better!
YUM! (Jelly/Jam too! Real sugar not corn syrup!)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Just because a brand is familiar to
you doesn’t mean it tastes the same (For example: the ketchup at McDonald’s is
Heinz but tastes different. The Nesquick chocolate milk isn’t milk – its chocolate
water – think YooHoo!)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sour cream and milk are not the sour
cream and milk you are used to. Trust me on that one.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
They have a candy for everything...see the Starbursts we bought today to bring home to people! (Mojito, Banana-Milk, Tropical Sunrise and Cherry Cola Starbursts all in one package...odd!)<br />
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’m sure I’ll think of other
eccentricities later but that is it for now. If you have any questions about the
markets or the food just ask!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Hinz57http://www.blogger.com/profile/00487826933504438244noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5445204927170454798.post-69341396842319970292011-10-01T06:35:00.002-04:002011-10-01T06:35:50.161-04:00Deep Thought Provoking Reflections on a Saturday Morning<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Saturday, October
1, 2011</span><span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Reflections</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">As of today
we have been in this country for 2 weeks. It’s unbelievable really. In a lot of
ways, it doesn’t feel like 2 weeks. But, in others, it feels like longer. I
miss home. I miss my dogs. I miss my life. While we are getting into our
routine here, it is still overwhelming to leave the apartment and head out into
the city. A huge part of that is the fact that we don’t speak Russian. You
really take for granted the way you live when you are at home on familiar
ground.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">At home if I
need to buy Sterling a pair of shoes, I can run to Target and buy a pair of
shoes. If his size isn’t out on display, I can ask someone to check in the
back. If they don’t have his size in the store, I can ask them to call another
local store. None of that is possible here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It just doesn’t work like that. We have one “mall” near us. It’s not a
mall like we think of a mall. It’s more of an indoor flea market. I guess that’s
the best way to explain the layout. They sell everything. Or nearly everything.
But being able to communicate is key when trying to purchase things and that is
an area we are most certainly lacking in. Yes, I ‘studied’ Russian before I
left; but, a 3 week crash course on the basics certainly hasn’t helped me to
communicate what size pair of shoes I want to buy for my son or which kind of
ham I want at the market and whether I want it sliced thin or thick. It’s really
been a bit of culture shock.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">If you are
like most Americans (if you are even American) you probably haven’t done loads
of overseas/international travel. Our country is SO BIG. This country is the
size of Texas. That really puts things in perspective. I’m less than 10 miles
from the Russian border. At home (and I live in Florida) the closest I can get
to another country is 90 miles (to Cuba). So, it won’t come as a surprise to
you to hear me say that this is the biggest thing I’ve ever done. I’ve read
that phrase on other blogs. Many times. Most of the time, I’ve read over it
without really thinking about it. But, now I’m living it, and even typing it
doesn’t do it justice. </span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">This is, by
far, the biggest thing I have ever done. I’m not even talking about the
adoption part specifically. Just the whole process. Huge. I don’t know how else
to describe it and there was certainly no preparing for this feeling. If you
are getting ready to travel (Anna Woods – Jessica Whiteaker) be ready to have
this feeling hit you like a ton of bricks. It’s not fear and it isn’t stress.
It’s just a feeling of WOW. We forget how small we really are until we are
forced to put ourselves out there; and, once you’re out there that feeling of
helplessness (?) kind of takes over. </span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">A LOT of
people who read this blog know me personally. I am not helpless. Actually, I’m
strong and stubborn to a fault. I take on challenges willingly and I’m pretty
feisty. I can be downright blunt and honest when needed and I rarely take no
for an answer (especially when I’m fighting for something I’m passionate about –
just ask my coworkers).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, I can also
be very flexible. I’ve learned (with the help of good friends) to go with the
flow more than I used to and, overtime, I’ve come to realize that I can’t control
everything (even though that tendency is still there….) I’ve learned a lot
about life from teaching, from good friends and from great teachers. But
nothing has prepared me for this. It is an interesting journey. I’m SUPER HAPPY
to be here and I am also VERY EXCITED to be adopting Sterling. I just wish I
could help people, who either aren’t going to or haven’t yet taken this journey,
to understand how small you feel while you are doing it. The only thing I can
even remotely liken it to is being on a cruise. Brian and I are avid cruisers.
I LOVE that feeling of being in the middle of the ocean and being reminded of
how small I am and how the things I worry about at home are SO INSIGNIFICANT.
This is very similar. Yet still different.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Brian and I
have had the ability to see how LUCKY we are at home. This country is poor –
yet not even close to being one of the poorest. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, we are reminded every day that we are
“rich Americans.” We laughed at this in the beginning – we are far from rich.
We are both teachers, we have steady incomes, we have good benefits and we get
by with a little extra to do some fun things. But over here, we ARE rich. We
were told by our driver that the average teacher in this country makes
$250/month. PER MONTH. If you include benefits and retirement I make almost
that in a day. And I’ve only been teaching for 8 years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you include Brian’s coaching salary – he’s
over that. (The caveat here is – since we are teachers – we only get paid for
10 months of the year.) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another adoptive
Mama told me that the workers at her child’s orphanage made only
$60/month.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Imagine living on $60/month.
Like I said, we are FAR FROM rich, but being here certainly makes me thankful
for my blessings.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Everyday, we
pass this little old babushka by the market. She may or may not be homeless. We
don’t know. While passing her the other day, Brian saw her eating a fish.
Scales on. Head on. Tail on. A whole fish. She sat on the side wall of the
market, her fish wrapped in butcher paper, and ate a whole fish. Eye opening to
say the least. When I was a freshman in college I took a class in Washington
D.C. for 5 weeks during January term. (Elon is on a 4-1-4 schedule.) I remember
buying a chicken sandwich and throwing it away because the chicken wasn’t
cooked. I also vividly remember a homeless man digging my sandwich out of the
trash and eating it. I thought that was bad – and it doesn’t even compare in my
mind. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">I have lots
of little stories like this. Things we see people do and eat and say that take
us by surprise. I’m not going to lecture you on doing good or thinking of
others. But I do want you to realize that you have it SO MUCH BETTER than
MILLIONS of people on this earth. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I saw
this picture posted on another adoptive Mama’s Facebook page today:</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f01GzoSqjxY/TobsmwoSL0I/AAAAAAAAAP4/cgZvIouVJwE/s1600/whatif.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f01GzoSqjxY/TobsmwoSL0I/AAAAAAAAAP4/cgZvIouVJwE/s1600/whatif.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">It really
makes you stop and think. Trust me, I would wake up with lots of people and not
so many things (which is ok) but it definitely makes me want to thank God for
more of our blessings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think, in
prayer, it’s easy to ask for things (like health or safety for example); but, it’s easy to forget to be thankful for things you do have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two weeks in (and roughly 3 more to go) I
think that is the biggest lesson I have walked away with from this journey.
That I am lucky and blessed to live the life I live. And I think it’s safe to
say that that is the reason for this trip. I’m a firm believer that everything
happens for a reason. Yes, Brian and I are meant to gain a son out of all of
this; but I think we were also meant to realize that, in living our lives at
home, we were being ever so complacent about bigger issues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">If you get
nothing out of this blog but a few things, please let them be these:</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Be thankful to God (or whomever you believe in)
for the blessings you have in your life.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Strive to be more world aware.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Figure out how you can make a difference.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">4)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Kill the complacency in your life.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">5)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">ACT.</span></span></div>
Hinz57http://www.blogger.com/profile/00487826933504438244noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5445204927170454798.post-64781071110367230512011-09-30T07:37:00.000-04:002011-09-30T07:37:45.928-04:00Visit #8: The boy LOVES the toothbrush...<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Friday, September 30, 2011<o:p></o:p></span></span>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Visiting Day #8</span></span><br />
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Raspberries anyone??</div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Brian and I hit the jackpot last
night! We found an extra blanket in the closet. Fuzziest, warmest blanket ever!
As a result, I had the best sleep I’ve had in a while. And, I actually woke up
before the alarm clock. Hooray!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Same old story. Got up, got dressed,
went downstairs, drove to the institution. It’s definitely a rote routine at
this point. Kind of boring really.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We spent the day in “the little room”
again. Meany nurse was actually nice today and came in to check on us even.
That was nice.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sterling tried a new snack today!
Bananas. I’m not sure he’s ever had one. I WISH we would have gotten a video of
that snack because it really was priceless. I had to help him with the eating
though. We first tried to give him half of it but he got so excited with his
first bite (which was WAY too big) he dropped the half we had given him. So, I
had to keep the rest in the peel and hold it while he took bites. We both had
to try to keep his hands down because he would try to grab for it each bite (to
stick the whole thing in his mouth!) After each bite he would just grin – big
smile. Super cute. Bananas are a hit.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Then we played. Sterling found a hole
near the baseboards. He really didn’t like it there. He tried to fill it in
with his animals. </span></span></div>
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Climbing monster....</div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We also played with the slinky, the
bumble ball, and the stuffed animals. He LOVES that fox! He doesn’t like bubbles. I think he is
actually scared of them. </span></span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">L</span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> When I blew bubbles today he ran to Daddy. Oh well. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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What are you doing???</div>
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I don't think I like this...</div>
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Peace out! Where's daddy?</div>
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I LOVE this picture!</div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The big hit for today was the
toothbrush! I took the toothbrush so that I could just introduce him to it. I
also wanted to give his teeth a little brushing. They needed it. I wasn’t sure
how it would go over but seeing as how he loves to put things in his mouth I
thought all would be well. What I didn’t imagine was the pure GLEE from the
toothbrush. I think the videos say it all. We will need another toothbrush
though - one for him to hold and one for me to brush his teeth with. I love this
giggle. The one video ends with him just screaming in delight. (When he is
really excited he just screams. Sometimes – he just screams to scream.) (He
also throws his head back when he laughs which is too cute for words.)</span></span></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dycZRMM2BMSyYaD9_UbOQPsnft85EK9vra2non2x0PynAlii6JU8MeL5--YQ1WjV1KrRtj_mm2BxK-UICsQQA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We hung out for about an hour and
fifteen minutes and then we headed back. We had Alexei drop us off a McDonald’s
on the way home and we had lunch (yuck) and coffee. It is still cold here.
Today when we got up it was 6*. And the biggest surprise – people are STILL
ordering ice cream like there is no tomorrow. WAY TOO COLD for me to eat ice
cream. (I don’t really like it anyway but still.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We will not see Sterling again until
Monday. It is supposed to be rainy and yucky tomorrow and we learned that the
institution runs on a skeleton crew on the weekend. It was rough on them when
we went last weekend. So, we won’t be back until Monday. Then, Tuesday is
COURT! Still praying hard for a positive court decision!</span></span></div>
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Hinz57http://www.blogger.com/profile/00487826933504438244noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5445204927170454798.post-1404564476501059332011-09-29T12:32:00.000-04:002011-09-29T12:32:17.313-04:00Visit #7 (And more cold rain...)
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Thursday, September 29, 2011<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Visiting Day #7<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We woke up to another cold and rainy
day. It was gray, dreary and bleak; but, we had already told Alexei to pick us
up this morning. We begrudgingly got out of bed, got dressed and headed
downstairs. Alexei was there waiting. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The other day at the institution, our
backpacks got dirty. Nothing really exciting, they had just been put down in
some dirt. Well, we ended up tracking some dirt into Alexei’s car. Suffice it
to say, our bags are not allowed in the car anymore. They go into the trunk. I
realized today as we put our bags in the trunk he had laid down garbage bags in
the back of the trunk to protect it from the dirt. I find this utterly amusing.
It’s ok if, whilst in the course of driving like a bat out of Hades, you
crumple your car into non-existence; but all of Hades will freeze over if a
little dirt gets in the car. ;) I fear for my life EVERY TIME we get into that
vehicle (BTW – people who know me well…it is a CAR. A tiny CAR…it’s a little VW…SHOCKING
I even get into it to begin with!) but it’s fine to not wear seatbelts and
drive like a maniac possibly maiming yourself and others while most certainly
getting blood in the car…but dirt….<GASP>! OH NO!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My sarcasm is in full effect today…</span></span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">On the way to the institution we
drive through cornfield, after cornfield, after cornfield after….well, you get
the idea. It is very common for mental institutions to be tucked away in the
middle of nowhere. Well, this definitely hold true for Sterling. These are some
shots taken from the window of the car today (at who knows what speed)…imagine
this is all you see for 45 minutes…<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And then we know we getting close
when we see the sign for the village (and our speed slows dramatically – yay!)
Then we pass this stuff (also blurry – I told you he slows down…not he drives
the limit):<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">All to get to our son. Who lives down this gravel road.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Because it was raining out we were
stuck inside. And meany nurse was back. Going on in Russian about it being too
cold outside and we could sit in the little room. Which we were expecting and
trust me – we didn’t want to be outside. But she repeated it several times for
us. Just in case we missed it the first few.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I talk about this little room. Here
are some pictures of “the little room.” We measured it today – just for you.
For those of you who don’t know us personally, Brian is 6’1”. He can nearly
touch the sides of the room with his arms outstretched. The room is a little
less than 8 feet wide. Brian then measured it’s length – 18 feet. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In “the little room” we have:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a couch:<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">a table:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">and chairs:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sterling hates this room. He made a
break for it today. I SO wish I had gotten that on video. It was hilarious.
Luckily no one was on the other side of the door or they would have been
whacked. He sent that door flying open!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Speaking of being whacked by
something – every time we go the boy has new bruises or marks on him. Today he
had a HUGE goose egg on his head. And I mean huge. You might be able to see it
in some of the pictures (maybe not – all of the pictures today are horrible –
all are blurry). He also had a new bruise on his jaw. He is definitely rough
and tumble. And he is one heck of a climber. He’s got climbing down. I’m sure
this is how he got his bruises. </span></span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> He's also still learning to stand from a sit so I'm sure that doesn't help either! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Enough back story and on with the
pictures! Again they didn’t turn out so great (we will blame the lighting) and
none of them is particularly great. But, it’s what we have! Same old story
today! Snack, play, snack, play. There is obviously no taking walks on days
like today and I think that contributes to his behaviors in the room. Which, by
the way were MUCH better today. He even looked at books with us today! </span></span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> We are visiting tomorrow and aren’t
sure about Saturday just yet. Keep praying – we have court on Tuesday!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Enjoy!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Hinz57http://www.blogger.com/profile/00487826933504438244noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5445204927170454798.post-18176545592944254492011-09-28T05:30:00.001-04:002011-09-28T05:30:34.551-04:00A Rainy Day...
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Wednesday, September 28, 2011<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Lay around the house day <span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Today is rainy and gray. We decided
yesterday since the forecast was bleak we would stay home. If we go to the
institution on a rainy day they make us sit inside with Sterling in this tiny
little room. He doesn’t like it and his behavior is so vastly different from
the happy little guy we know, so we decided to stay home, go to the market, and
do laundry. Exciting huh?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We started laundry last night. They
have washers in country but no dryers. So we have clothes hanging all over the
house. It is cold and rainy outside so we can’t hang them out there. Hopefully
they dry soon because we have another load to do. Lucky for us we brought our
own laundry detergent. We brought the Purex sheets. They look like dryer sheets
but are detergent. You just throw them in the wash with the clothes. They are much
easier than trying to figure out this washing machines detergent holder. I
think we brought 10 or so. Should be plenty.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Our driver picked us up at 10 am and
off we went to Billa. We tried to walk it yesterday but went walking the wrong
direction. We also weren’t sure how far it was so we figured better to drive
this time. Now that we have driven it and we know where it is and how far it
is, we can walk it for sure. It’s probably about a mile to a mile and half
away. Mind you we can’t walk it after purchasing heavy stuff, but if we get
things as we need, it will be a nice stroll. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Billa is a “real” supermarket. Kind
of like Publix but smaller. We were so happy to have some choices! We figured
out how to bag and price our own produce. Here, you put your produce in a
produce bag and then go to a computer with a scale attached. You put your
produce on the scale and find (on the touchscreen) the correlating number for
the product you are buying. Then it weighs it and spits out a sticker that you
put on your bag. That way, the cashier doesn’t have to weigh or type in any
numbers. She just reads the label to make sure it’s correct and scans the price
sticker. Pretty cool, huh?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Produce here is inexpensive. Here is
a sampling of what we bought today:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bananas: 4 bananas cost us $1</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Onion: 1 onion cost us 15 cents</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Garlic: 2 bulbs of garlic were 15
cents</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tomatoes: 4 vine ripened tomatoes were
about 45 cents</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Clementines: 3 clementines cost us 85
cents</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Potatoes: 3 potatoes were 13 cents<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Rice, flour, couscous, sugar etc is
all sold in “barrels”. You scoop however much you want into a bag and weigh
that the same way as produce. Some pretzels, cookies and snacks are sold the
same way.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We bought ¾ of a pound of rice for 35
cents and a bag of poppy seed pretzels for 45 cents. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Once you make your way through the
produce you hit the dairy and eggs section. Good news, eggs here were
refrigerated. Not that it would have mattered. I think I had 5 or 6 different
people weigh in on the great egg concern and the verdict is they don’t have to
be refrigerated. Who knew? So we bought a dozen eggs and we hunted for milk.
Rachel Center (who is in country with me) sent me a picture of the milk she
buys. Found it…it still doesn’t taste like milk. We have now tried 4 or 5
different kinds of milk and can’t find the milk we are used to at home. The one
we got today (the one Rachel told us about) is definitely the closest. But it
tastes like really watered down milk. I did find (drum roll please) chocolate
milk – Nesquick. That I know will taste fine. I miss my milk. LOL. We also
think we managed to find sour cream for our potatoes. We will see…<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We weaved our way through the bakery
and deli where we bought bread, ham (the worker spoke English!) and cheese.
Then we wandered over to the meat department. This was trickier. We did buy
chicken breasts (for dinner tonight) and we bought what we thought was ground
beef for chili. But, when we got home and opened it, we aren’t sure it’s ground
beef. It may be sausage (smells like sausage). It may be lamb (which we doubt –
there was a picture of a cow on the sign).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Truth be told we don’t know what we bought. ;p But we will find out soon
enough. Good thing Brian is a willing guinea pig!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We completed our shopping getting a
few luxury items: a Hawaiian pizza from the freezer section, some potato chips
(the chips/crisps here are by far some of the best I’ve ever had) and we also
bought more juice, Coke for Brian, and water (a staple – seeing as how the
water here cannot be ingested. We even brush our teeth with bottled water.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">All in all our shopping trip was a
success!! And we won’t need to go back for a while. Brian is excited because as
soon as I post this blog I told him I would make him a grilled ham and cheese.
He is rather thrilled about that. Tonight we feast! Chicken and rice with
veggies! YAY! (Update: the grilled cheese (for me) and the grilled ham and swiss
(for Brian) were delicious!)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sorry we have no pictures today!
Tomorrow though we will be back at the institution to visit Sterling. That
court day is coming fast! Hooray! I think we are on par to be home the weekend
of October 22<sup>nd</sup>. Keep your fingers crossed!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Hinz57http://www.blogger.com/profile/00487826933504438244noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5445204927170454798.post-44687271594023188262011-09-27T09:23:00.002-04:002011-09-27T09:23:51.335-04:00We got our court date! (And visiting day #6)
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tuesday, September 27, 2011<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Visiting Day #6<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">FIRST THE
GREAT NEWS! WE GOT OUR COURT DATE! HOORAY!<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We will have
court one week from today on Tuesday, October 4<sup>th</sup> at 1600. </span></span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> YAY! That puts us on par to be home
the week before Halloween. We hope. We would love to have the 10 day wait
waived (or at the very least the ability to get the 2 day passport)! But we
aren’t sure. We will need to ask Tatyana what she thinks. So, if you are a
person who prays, PLEASE pray for a successful court proceeding and an
understanding judge. We are the FIRST PEOPLE EVER to adopt from this village
and institution. We can use all the prayers we can get.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is
getting very hard to get up in the morning; mainly because it is getting
COLD.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The low tomorrow night is 5*C.
That is 41*F. Yikes. So, we have been staying in bed as long as possible in the
morning. We meet Alexei at the street now too. It’s easier for him not to have
to come back to our alley. His driving is SO MUCH BETTER! I’m not thrilled to
not have a seat belt, but there isn’t much I can do about that.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We made it
to the institution in just about 40 minutes today. Today when they brought him
to us he recognized us! We got a big smile and then he wandered over for a hug.
The nannies that were standing around were all smiling at that! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sterling was so much happier today! I don’t
think he felt well yesterday at all. He still had a runny nose but his demeanor
was back to his happy little self. We got some cute pictures but not tons and we had a
lot of fun playing today. This may be the best visit we have had so far. He is really starting to “play” more and he is using
the bus now too. He knows to roll it but it seems like he has a hard time with
his coordination making his hands do what he wants them to do. </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">He is much
better about not throwing things too. </span></span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> That makes this Mama happy. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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So handsome!</div>
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Why yes Mama I LOVE the taste of grass...(This is now a game - he will pick grass or leaves from the ground and look at us because he knows we will fish it out of his mouth - then he laughs...)</div>
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He looks so much older in this picture.</div>
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I was rolling the bus at him and he just couldn't contain that giggle!</div>
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More bus rolling. I love this grin.</div>
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The bus fell and he went after it. In just 6 visits his mobility is SO MUCH BETTER. Today he stood himself up from sitting to standing on his own. We have never seen him do this until today. Which means that he knows how to but has regressed. Makes you wonder what else he can do...</div>
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We are still working on the straw. He can use the little ones with the juice boxes but he sucks with his tongue. Katina got him this cup and it is PERFECT for kids with DS. It has a REALLy FAT straw that forces his tongue back. I'll get it started in the morning to get the juice in the straw and he has figured out how to get it out little by little but his muscles really need some work before he can really suck up this straw. But I do LOVE that it forces his tongue back. I've also started putting my hands on his face while he does it so he can feel where his mouth should be. Mind you he giggles after every sip - apparently this is hilarious! :)</div>
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He LOVES his fox (IKEA). You pull the tail it makes music. Lots of fox snuggles today.</div>
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Yep - this is Sterling. He is getting better about putting things in his mouth but stuffed animals still go in...</div>
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The anti ground sitting nurse wasn't there today so the nurse that was gave us a blanket and we could sit on the grass again! YAY!</div>
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His hair is getting longer again and you can see how blonde it is in this picture, I SO HOPE they don't cut it before we leave. But that's a long shot.</div>
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After about an hour he gets tired. Today straddled my leg and put his chest on my thigh and laid his head on Brian's thigh and then just laid there. Too cute.</div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">After our
visit Alexei dropped us off and we headed out to run some errands. First we
went to the bank to exchange money. That was interesting. The first bank we
went to told us no. The lady sent us to a bigger bank next door. The lady there
told us no too. We heard that on Friday this country passed a new law that
banks are not allowed to change money over without a visa permitting the
individual to be in the country. The trouble with that is, you don’t need a
visa in this country if you are here for less than 90 days. So, we were in a bit
of a bind. We called Luda and she translated for us and also explained the new
rule to our cashier. It took about 20 minutes but we ended up leaving with our
grivnas. Last night, we ran out of minutes on our modem so we had to go add
more time for our internet. That took us to two different places. We waited for
a bit at the first MTC store to be told to go to the other store down the
street (We were at the phone store and we needed to go to a place that could
help with the modem.) Then we waited for a customer service agent at the MTC
store for about 20 minutes (luckily they had wifi!) Once our ticket number was
called, we had to attempt to communicate with the agent. That was fun! LOL – we
ended up calling Luda to translate AGAIN and when he found out what we
wanted<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(and that it was easy) we had a
good laugh. He showed us how to use the digital kiosk to add minutes on our own
and he almost died when we put 200 grivnas on our account (that amounts to $25.)
After that we went off to find the real supermarket. We walked a mile in the
opposite direction we normally go and no luck. So, we just went back to our
normal market (boo!) On another note…some of the food here is ridiculously
inexpensive. We bought an onion today…for what comes out to be about 15 cents.
No lie. We really want to find a bigger grocery store though. This little
market doesn’t have much in the way of selection and some of the stuff it has
stresses me out (for example the eggs aren’t refrigerated…) So when we got back
home to working internet, we looked up the directions to the Billa Supermarket.
We think it might be too far to walk (about a 30 minute walk – I think) so we
are going to see If Alexei will drive us. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We are not
going to see Sterling tomorrow. </span></span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">L</span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> It is supposed to be cold and rainy
and that means that they will keep us inside. Neither of us particularly likes
the idea of driving with Alexei in the rain without seatbelts either. So
tomorrow will be a laundry day and chore day (and a sleep in day – I need to get those in
while I can!)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’ll
probably do a short post on what we do, but it won’t be exciting. Unless we can
get Alexei to take us to the market…then we might have some stories. </span></span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Hinz57http://www.blogger.com/profile/00487826933504438244noreply@blogger.com4