Dear Mr. Fed Ex Guy...

The poor Fed Ex delivery people. They must think there is a contract out on their lives with all the talk that goes on in "Guatemalaadoptionworld" about stalking Fed Ex. So Mr. Fed Ex guy, do you feel like someone is watching you? That's me, but I mean no harm Mr. Fed Ex. guy, really! I just want to know when you deliver my DNA results to the US Embassy in Guatemala so they can make me an appointment to come and get my baby girl! Now you can understand that, right?! I see that your computers were last updated at 6:45 this morning, and my precious package was in transit through Miami. I would really appreciate it if you could deliver my package before the Embassy closes today, 'cause if you show up at your deadline of 6pm they will already be closed and you will have to re deliver it tomorrow. That's more work for you, and we wouldn't want now that would we? So if you will just do this one favor for me, I promise to stop stalking you, deal?! That being said, I cannot however speak for those who will follow in my footsteps in the coming weeks and months, sorry!

I Feel Like I'm Living a Bad Country Song Today...

My dog is sick ick ick
Husbands car won't start art art
My car's outta gas as as (hee hee, sorry!)
House is a mess ess ess
and the social worker is a comin' toniiiiiigggghhhht...

That's right folks, Milo the wonder dog has not been himself the past couple days. Just kind of lying around, no havoc wreaking, totally ignoring the cat even! I just returned from the vet and they suspect he may have a urinary tract infection so we're waiting on the results of that right now.

So, Greg gets up this morning, actually earlier than usual because he's coming home early to meet with our SW for our home study update. He goes out to start his car, and it won't start. He left his lights on overnight and the battery is completely dead. He tries to jump it to no avail, and gets out our handy dandy battery charger and wouldn't you know it, it won't even take a charge! So seeing his only option is to take my car to Wal-Mart (remember, I needed a vehicle to get the dog to the vet so I couldn't be without today) to buy a new battery (which I have to say, I'm pleased my pack rat husband kept the receipt from his last battery purchase because Wal-Mart has a lifetime replacement policy, so that takes care of the $80.00 we didn't have for a battery!). He was on his way home, about half a mile from our house when the steering suddenly locks up on him as he's rounding a bend. The car is out of gas and has stalled. It takes all his strength to steer the car around the bend (we must have been very strong before power steering!) and pull the car to the side of the road. Thankfully, he has a gas tank in the back of the car with enough fuel to get the van to the gas station to fill up. He finally makes it home, puts in his new battery and heads off to work 2 1/2 hours later than he started.

It's all very funny (well except for Milo, my poor little doggy). I've tried to contact the social worker to see if we might be able to postpone a few days, but I haven't heard back. Well, worst case he shows up and the house is still a mess ess ess, and Greg is late ate ate...

I'm not blue though, you wanna know why? Are you ready to sing the chorus to my song? Here we go...

DNA results are on their way ay ay
to the Embassyyyyyy!!!

Stuff and Things...

For your viewing pleasure:
some pictures, some video, and a little giggle at the end....

The sweater I crocheted for Ana:

The piggy bank I painted when Greg, Ian and I went to do pottery a few Saturdays ago:

The adorable hats Greg's mother's friend sent for the kids (the kids...doesn't that sound cool?):

Greg's recent attempt at making chocolate chip cookies.
He didn't feel the need to measure the ingredients, hopefully this was a lesson learned for him:

Video of Ian's piano recital:

I have never shared any of the video of our visit with Ana. Mostly because it was very hard to watch it for a long time (pictures are one thing, but video just puts you back there totally), but also because I act like such a goon on it! Anyways, thought I'd share a clip of our girl in action! Enjoy!

And last but not least, here's an Ianism for a giggle:

Last Friday night (the 15th) after his piano lesson, I brought Ian by my mum and dad's to wish my mum a happy birthday. Ian told me he wanted to sleep over their house, but I told him that it was not polite to ask. If they asked him that was fine, but we were not going to ask them. So we get there, and hang out for a while. Ian calls my dad into the other room. Usually this means he is trying to scam some of their favorite snack, Cheez-Its. Well my dad comes back in the room with a semi-smile on his face. I knew immediately that Ian had mentioned sleeping over. I pressed my dad, but he wouldn't tell me what they talked about. A little while later, this is the conversation that emerged:
My dad starts, "Ian wants to have a sleepover" to which my mum replies, "Well of course he can sleep over!" I said, "I knew that's what he was doing earlier!" My dad just smiled. So Greg goes into the other room and asks Ian about it. Ian tells Greg, "I didn't ask to sleep over! I asked Papa to ask mumma to let me because he's her dad and he can tell her what to do!" Greg came back with a big smirk on his face and told me what Ian said. We all had a good laugh, and even though I know I should have made a lesson out of it, Ian ended up getting his way. I just couldn't resist the thought of waking up without six year old feet in my face! Nothing like rewarding manipulative behavior huh?!

Orange!

I was working on another post but it had to be interrupted by some news I received today. You may be wondering why my site is all orange today. Well, in the Guatemala adoption world, the color orange signifies the issuance of authorization for the 2nd DNA test, and the color pink signifies the issuance of your embassy appointment (I think it is due to the color paper these forms are printed on). Well, I received an e-mail from Lab Corp today letting me know that Ana's 2nd DNA sample has arrived at the lab! So apparently we became orange sometime in the past few days. The woman, Pat, who has been a wonderful source for many anxious adoptive parents, said that it usually takes 7-10 days for the DNA analysis to be completed (though it can be quicker), then she will supply us with a tracking number so we can track it back to the US Embassy in Guatemala. I am so grateful for this information! So be looking for the blog to turn pink next!

Playing Catch Up

A little catching up to do. Greg is going to get the video uploaded of Ian's recital (I really need to learn how to do that!) soon so I can share that, but for now I'll just post a picture. The song he played this time was called "The Dance Band". Once again, he got up there with no music and played his piece, we were very proud!

My cousin Katherine flew in from NYC on that Friday night and spent the weekend at my mum and dad's house so we got to spend a lot of time with her which was really nice. Ian loves Katherine and was very excited to see her again! On Saturday, we went to Time to Clay to paint pottery. This happens to be Ian's favorite activity so he came with us and did pretty well hanging out with the girls (my mum, sister, Katherine and I). He painted a pirate and a lizard statue, but mostly liked hugging and kissing on his Auntie Shel and beloved Katherine! Anyways, the next morning, we all went out to breakfast at our favorite 50's style diner where my mum and I enjoyed sharing plates as usual, half each of a ham and cheese omelette and a waffle topped with blueberries, strawberries and ice cream (breakfast of champions don't you think?!). Thanks for visiting Katherine!

On to Valentine's Day! Besides receiving our newest set of Ana pictures (oh and for those who are wondering, we have not arrived at a decision on her name yet!) and the news that we had received our birth certificate finally, here's a little recap of the rest of our Valentine's Day. I woke up to Ian wishing me a Happy Valentines' Day and wanting to give me his present which was an adorable mailbox he went and made at Lowes with Greg the previous weekend. It has two mail slots and a little heart flag you can put up, so cute! Ian had his Valentine's Day party at school and came home with Valentine's from all his friends, so that was very exciting! When he came home, I gave him the present I made for him which was a fleece blanket covered in dogs (he loves dogs!!) that he has been dragging around ever since (all I can think of is Linus!). I was literally sewing up the last seam 5 minutes before the bus came in true Cammie form! We went on a date for lunch at Louie's Pizzeria and spent two hours eating and playing "I spy" his newest favorite game, it was so nice. Then we came home to start getting ready for our special Valentine's Day dinner we were preparing for daddy of home made pizza, cupcakes (decorated by Ian), and "kid's champagne" (sparkling cider). Greg came home with flowers for me and a gigantic cookie for Ian, we were both very pleased!

We immediately spiraled birthday marathon weekend. February is a big month for birthday's in our family. My brother in law Michael kicks off the month on the 1st, my mum's is the 15th, my sister-in-law's is the 16th and my sister's is today, the 17th. We celebrated all the birthdays by getting together and going out to dinner on Saturday night. It was really a great time, HAPPY BIRTHDAY EVERYONE! My dad declared that we are to try our very best to avoid any more family birthday's in February (so Mike and Michelle, watch it from April to June!)

So it's been a busy month so far. I'm hoping to keep up the momentum this week and hear that we are ORANGE (which means that we have had our second DNA authorized), and hopefully have it collected as well, so be on the lookout for that! Of course we've got an extra day to get through before hearing anything seeing as it's a holiday weekend! That's certainly one thing I will be happy to have back when this adoption is complete, looking forward to weekends again! When you are in process, nothing happens on the weekend, so even though they are supposed to be family time and we're supposed to look forward to them all week long, we really do look forward to getting back to business on Mondays at the moment.

Happy Valentines Day!

There will be more to follow later on tonight about our Valentine's Day, but I just wanted to quickly post the new pictures and update I just received! These will likely be the last pictures we receive from our agency before we go to pick her up! The next pictures you see of her will be taken by my camera, that is so exciting to think about, I sure have a lot of making up to do! Anyways, here's the e-mail followed by the pictures. I just can't wait to pinch those cheeks again!

Hi Cammie and Greg,

I hope you're doing well. I saw the baby last week and again yesterday. She's doing wonderfully. Her caretakers say she is good-natured and a happy baby. She's eating all types of liquified and soft, mashed foods. She can roll over on her and can hold her own bottle. She is very attentive and curious. She likes watching adults as they're having a conversation. She babbles often and tries to put everything in her mouth.

Here's the photos!

I Spoke Too Soon

Okay, why does it seem that every time I whine I have to turn around and eat my words? I just got an e-mail from our coordinator to let us know that our case has been registered. But beyond that, she also let us know that Ana's birth certificate had been issued and that the attorney is working on getting the passport. After that she will submit for 2nd DNA authorization, DNA will be taken and sent to a lab in the U.S., then sent back to the embassy in Guatemala, our pink slip will be issued within a few days after that. I believe getting the passport takes at the most a couple days, as does the obtaining the authorization, then the rest will depend on when the DNA is taken. We're getting closer folks! It's amazing what a little update will do to change a morning around, consider my funk lifted!