LOA & China Dossier

Last Tuesday we were thrilled to receive an email from our agency, informing us that we received our Letter of Approval from the Ontario Ministry. Yahoo!!!! A major step forward in the adoption process!!

While our file was at the Ministry, I worked on gathering all of our paperwork for our China Dossier. It worked out so well -- as soon as we received our approval, I was able to courier our dossier to our adoption agency.

As we speak, our entire package is being translated. This will take about three weeks. Then -- off to China the paperwork goes!! We are in disbelief at times at how quickly time is flying by and how fast the process feels this time around. Maelyn keeps us busy and it most definitely helps!

We are crossing our fingers that we will receive a referral for our little monkey before the end of the year -- soooooooooooo excited!!!!

China dossier paperwork...

Packaged and ready to go...

The Shared Sickness

Yup -- this past week has been about sharing in our house. Unfortunately, the only thing we have been sharing is our germs. :)

Starting last Friday, Paul started feeling sick. Poor guy was sick on his birthday! Then, on Sunday morning, I thought Maelyn felt a little warm and I took her temperature. It read normal, so we thought nothing of it and moved on with our day. At lunch time, I went to pick Maelyn up and I was shocked at how warm she felt. I was certain she had a fever, so I once again took her temp -- but it read normal again. I had a hunch, so I ran upstairs to get a second thermometer that we have and when I took her temp again -- it read 103.2...ahhhh!! I felt like the mother of the year -- how could I have missed it?!

We quickly got some Tylenol into Maelyn and settled her on the couch with a pillow, blankets, juice and a movie. She actually signed in relief -- as the guilt seeped through me -- ouch!

Poor thing had a high fever for two days. Then, just when we thought we had beaten the bug, I came down with a high fever. As of this afternoon, I am finally feeling better and I think that we are all on the mend. I hope so -- we are heading to Ottawa tomorrow to visit family.

Fun with M & M

Today was the much anticipated visit with Emily, Jason and Madisyn. We haven't all been together since we welcomed Madisyn home at the airport in May. Maelyn was so excited to see her friend!

The Daddy's played with the girls while Emily and I were able to chat and catch up...

How can you resist such a cute face?!

Paul and Madisyn looking at pictures...

The girls were jumping around to the music and giggling..

Silly M & M!!

Enjoying a gluten-free chocolate cake! :)

We loved being able to spend time with our friends and we cannot wait to be able to get together again. We share such a special bond and their friendship is very important to us. Maelyn had a fabulous time playing with all of their toys, especially the trains. She didn't want to leave at the end of the night!

I am looking forward to many more get-togethers with our families -- we love them to bits!!

Celebrating 5 & 34 Years

Paul and I celebrated five years (I know, I can't believe it has been five years already, either) of wonderful marriage on August 12th. This past year has definitely been the most challenging year of our marriage thus far -- learning how to be parents and redefining the roles in the household have been challenging. However, we have finally found our groove and we have survived! :)

I am lucky to be married to such an amazing man -- one who often breaks the mould of what one would 'expect' from a husband. Paul is such a kind, considerate, and equal partner kind of a guy -- not to mention an amazing father. I am very blessed to have him in my life. :)

Today is yet another celebration -- Paul's birthday!

We celebrated by spending the day at the zoo, just the three of us. It was so nice to be able to spend time together, even if it was a little warm outside. Unfortunately, Paul is feeling like he is getting a cold, so we took it easy as we toured the zoo and headed home by early afternoon.

Ooooh -- loved this new exhibit!! We could have spent hours watching the penguins swim...

Going for a ride on the zoomobile...

Happy Birthday, Daddy!! Enjoying a gluten-free chocolate cake (made from scratch...my first one!)

Adoption Update

Picture this heart-stopping moment in my life this past week....

I was finishing up paperwork for our China dossier and I started working on the citizenship paperwork. I realized that I needed to make more photocopies of our passports and marriage certificate. I gathered the paperwork together to head out the door to get the photocopies done, when I realized that I couldn't find my passport!!!!

Needless to say, my heart started thumping and I found myself unable to catch my breath. How was this possible? This type-A lady is very, very meticulous with all of the paperwork -- you have to be when you are keeping track of so many forms!

I started scouring the house, calling Paul to ask him if he had seen it, and trying my best not to lose my mind in front of Maelyn. Who, by the way, chose that very moment to have a tantrum over not being allowed to change into another outfit for the day.

I was hyperventilating, going through piles of paperwork for the fourth time and then it hit me....

Could I have possibly left it on the photocopier at Staples when I had made the first copies of our passports? No -- not possible. I was there almost two months ago! There is no way I would have left it there and not realized for so long!!!

After a fifteen minute wait on the phone, the gentleman on the other line confirmed that yes, I had in fact left it there and someone had been gracious enough to turn my passport over and they had put it in the office. The relief I felt was instantaneous, but I also felt embarrassed!

Unfortunately, it also gives Paul a free pass the next time he goofs up -- sheesh!! :)

Onto adoption news...

We heard from our adoption agency yesterday that the Ontario Ministry is now working on our file (finally!) and we should be getting our approval within the next two weeks. The next big chunk of paperwork to be handed in is our China dossier, which along with our homestudy, will go to China. Throughout the summer I have worked to have all of our China dossier documents ready to go, but found out yesterday that China has changed two of the forms. I will work on those this weekend and then I have to courier them to our adoption practitioner to have them singed. Once I get them back, I can send the entire package to our agency.

Our agency will then have our homestudy and dossier translated, which takes about fifteen days, and then our entire package will be sent to China. China will take about a month to review our file. Once I file is approved, we are ready and open for a referral!!

I have also been working on the first step in the citizenship process for our little monkey. The first time around, Paul completed this paperwork and I hadn't realized how involved it really is! I finally figured out exactly what was required and am just about finished the sponsorship forms.

Wow! When we received the email yesterday asking us to start sending in our China dossier package, it really started to feel real! I cannot believe that we are lucky enough to be able to experience this amazing adoption journey for a second time! I can't wait!!!!  :)

Some random pics -- what is a post without pics, right?

Playing cards with Daddy...

Playing Daddy's favourite game of pretend -- bedtime!

July Cuteness

This year we really enjoyed spending time at my Mom's trailor. Maelyn was so comfortable being there and she really enjoyed spending time in the water.

We love spending time with our neighbours and have gotten together often this summer to hang out.

Bennett, jumping on the trampoline...

Katelyn -- what a cutie! :)

Love that smile!!

Recently, Lianne took the girls away to a resort for a night and being that the resort was not that far from our place, she very kindly invited us out for dinner. We were thrilled to join them!

We had a delicious dinner and then went for a walk around Orangeville. Maelyn absolutely loved every minute of attention she received from her god-sisters and I loved watching them all walk hand-in-hand -- it warmed my heart! The evening was topped off with an ice cream -- thankfully Bryanna was gracious enough to share her ice cream with Maelyn, who loved her berry-flavoured treat. :)

It was a peaceful kind of an evening -- one that can only be had in the company of good friends, who are more like family.

Three of my favourite ladies..

Bryanna's lovely pose...hehe!

Maelyn copying Brya... :)

How could you possibly resist such a fabulous trio?!

Travel Group Reunion BBQ

July 1st we celebrated one year home from China. A few weeks later, we were able to get together with our China travel group and see how we had all fared over the past year. :)

It was fantastic getting to see most of the families that we shared such an amazing adventure with -- although we truly missed the two families that live out east and obviously weren't able to make it to the BBQ.

It was wonderful being able to see how much the kids had all changed over the past year and to be able to catch up with our friends.

It was very, very hot that day -- water play was a great way for the kids to cool off...

Maelyn and Jennie hangin' out...

Max -- what a cutie!

Maelyn and Gabrielle riding around...

Eating yummy rice crispy treats...

I love that we are able to get together as a group every year and celebrate the importance of our travel to China. I especially love the tradition of our group get togethers and the fact that Maelyn will be able to celebrate with 'her group' as she gets older.

Crohn's

This year has been quite the year for me, medically. I haven't been at my best, but I have received a lot of valuable information about my health.

Just before we left for China I experienced a lot of stomach pain, unlike any pain I had experienced in the past. At the time I knew that something wasn't right and I made appointments to follow up with the doctors once we returned from our trip to China. After months of not-so-nice symptoms and sparing you from the many details of such symptoms and ensuing tests, I was finally diagnosed with Crohn's.

Looking back over the years, I have most likely had Crohn's since I was twelve years old. It has taken me twenty years to get a diagnosis -- but we now feel empowered that we know what we are dealing with. Crohn's is an autoimmune disease where the body attacks itself (especially in the small intestine), and causes the intestine to be inflammed.

Over the past six months I have been on a variety of medication to help reduce the inflammation in my small intestine by suppressing my immune system, but we haven't yet found a medication that works well with my body. I have had a few setbacks and hospital stays, but I still feel like we are getting there -- one step at a time, right? :) In trying to avoid the more invasive next steps, such as transfusions to further suppress my immune system or surgery, I have been visiting and working with a naturopath. I am crossing my fingers and my toes that the more natural remedies work for me.

The reason I decided to post about Crohn's is to get it out there -- especially so that when I am battling symptoms, my family and friends have an understanding that I am trying my best to ensure that I am getting healthier. When the symptoms hit, it can be days before I feel like I am able to participate in activities or even eat a meal.

On one hand, being diagnosed with Crohn's was a blessing -- finally explaining why I have been such a sickie my entire life. It has also made me realize that I need to be a more active participant in my own health -- especially for the sake of Maelyn and our new little monkey. On the other hand, I now know that I need to slow down a little and ensure that I reduce daily stress -- ha! Any of you who know me knows that slowing down will be the most difficult part for me! :)

I feel grateful that I am able to work towards a healthier me -- health is everything!

Maelyn has been taking it all in stride, of course. During my most recent and longest hospital stay, I put in desperate phone calls to the god-mothers to get advice on how I should handle Maelyn and having her visit me while I was in the hospital. I was worried that it would stress her out to leave me there once the visit was over. AM and Lianne both told me to simply explain (in kid-like terms), that Mommy's tummy wasn't feeling well and that the doctors wanted me to stay until I felt better. Paul explained this to her and when she saw me, she said, 'Mama's tummy owww.' Then she kissed my stomach and rubbed my face and hands. Then she said, 'All better now, Mama?' She completely melted my heart. In the end, she handled it like a trooper -- much to my relief. Thank goodness for god-mothers and their timely advice! :)

Now, whenever we drive past the hospital, she talks about my tummy and feeling all better now. At night, when I am rocking her, she will talk about the hospital stay, too -- looking at me lovingly, kissing my forehead and saying, 'All better now, Mama.'

Yes, Maelyn -- you have a way of making me feel much, much better!