Another birthday and a surprise

It is official.  Summer vacation is almost over.  Neil received his registration packet on Monday.    As part of ASB, he will have to go and help work registration.

Tuesday was Robert's birthday.  Bob Baker (an old friend of Robert's) and I have been coordinating over Facebook to surprise him.  I was so excited.  After planning for two months and texting/Facebooking, the day was finally here.  Robert, Neil and I went to Ventura and walked around.  We got some information about day trips in Channel Islands.  I know that Robert wanted to go Wednesday (today) but Bob and I had already planned on either them fishing or going paddleboarding.

The reservation was at 6:00 at Le Chene.  When I made the reservation, I stressed that it was a birthday/reunion.  I should have added a SURPRISE!  When we got there, Bob was in the bar as we had planned.  The maitre'd said "Ah yes, the other person is in the bar."  

Well, after a few minutes, Robert realized who it was.  We had a great dinner and then came home.  Bob came over for a bit.  We then decided that we would go to Malibu and do some paddleboarding.  Lack of sleep (because of a couple of glasses of wine with dinner) combined with a bad equilibrium resulted in me only staying out for about 30 minutes.  I came back in.  A little later, the guys went out.  I really wanted to, but I knew my stomach couldn't handle it so I just watched.

After that, we went to the same restaurant where we were when we got the referral last month.  Robert and I asked Bob questions.  He and Lynda (his wife) adopted their two children from Bulgaria about 12 years ago.  It is strange how Robert and Bob were friends in the 80's, became reconnected, are both in a beverage industry and both involved in international adoption.

I have one more week to do lesson plans for AP.  I think that once I found out we weren't going to be traveling, I went into shut down mode.  Not good.  Gotta get back on track.

Decisions, decisions, decisions

Sunday was Neil's 16th birthday.  It is so hard to believe that my boy is 16.  We went to a 5k run in Long Beach for Robert's running team.  I was walking with Marsha and we came in last.  A little bit later we went to Oggis and then Neil opened his presents.

I e-mailed the agency yesterday.  I think we've made a decision, but we're not completely ready to solidify it.  For right now, we're going to see how long we will have to wait.  When we find out, we will make a formal decision as to whether or not we stay with this referral or go back on the list.

Another hiccup

Yes, another hiccup.  The court hearing didn't go as I had hoped it would.  We got word today that the prosecutor didn't feel they had exhausted all of the resources.  As a result, Princesa V is not available for international adoption.  We can either wait or we can go back on the list.


I don't like hiccups.

Waiting 1.5

Here we are waiting to hear if Princesa V. is officially available.  The court hearing was supposed to be yesterday.  I'm hoping while I was at my first yoga class, the hearing was going on and the decision was an affirmative.  I'm hoping to hear soon.

Yesterday we heard from the accountant.  We had received a request to pay additional to the state.  After looking at everything, the state decided that wouldn't be necessary.  YES!!!

So today's plan is to get some groceries, do AP lesson plans, get a review ready for Spanish 2 and get everything else going.

Should be a good day.

The leap of faith

After talking to the doctor on Monday we decided to take the leap of faith.  We agreed to meet nuestra princesa.  We are now waiting to find out what happens in Russia on July 20th.  We are hoping that on July 20th the judge will make nuestra princesa available for us to meet her.  If so, we will be leaving August 14th.  Neil and I will be missing the first week of school.

Other than finishing up the pool, not much else has been going on.  We've decided to stay local this weekend so as to not get caught up in Carmageddon.  Yes, they have closed the 405 freeway.  We will stay on this side.

It's been a while

Yes, it has, but that is going to change now.

First things first.  The situation has been remedied.  It was a stressful two months, but the Friday before Memorial Day became the day that everything was settled.  Many lessons were learned.  School ended.  Neil did a great job in his spring semester of his sophomore year.  Baseball ended, thankfully.

So now, to pick things up.

The fourth was very quiet.  We went to see a movie and then bought things to barbecue.  We ate at home and pretty much just relaxed.  We've been enjoying our new, or rather renewed, pool.  We will be getting the safety fence in next week.  We decided to not go and see the fireworks.

On the 5th, we took the paddle boards out to Malibu.  It was exciting for me because it was the first time that I had ever been out past the surf on something other than a big boat.  Robert had to walk the paddleboard out for me.  I didn't stand up on it as much as I should have.  I was really nervous even though I was wearing a life vest.

As we were driving to look for some place to eat lunch, I notice that my phone had a missed message.  It was from the agency!  Last week Diana had told me to expect the call any day.  We went to Coral Beach Cantina for lunch.  After I ordered, I went out to call.  Diana told me that Princesa V. would be available later in the month.    Then she e-mailed the pictures and the medical report.  I opened the e-mail on my phone.

She is beautiful.  She has big cheeks and blue eyes.  She has light brown hair.  She is absolutely beautiful.

I spoke with the IA doctor earlier this evening.  There are some questions that I asked the agency.

Well, that is it.  No more season long breaks.  Let's get real!!

Hiccups

It's been a stressful few weeks.  The "situation" has not been remedied.  I was honest with the agency and notified them with what was going on.    It was such a disappointment because I think we were supposed to get the referral the week of spring break.  I do believe everything for a reason so I'm trying not to dwell on it.  I just wish a decision would be made so that we could breathe.

I've decided that I'm going to call these obstacles hiccups.  Sometimes I can get rid of them by holding my breath, but sometimes I have to let them run their course.  Either way, they're annoying.

Yesterday my cousin called me.  He invited us to celebrate my uncle's birthday.  We went and had a nice time.  My cousins daughters are beautiful.  It was fun watching Robert and Neil play with them.  The only hard part was my uncle and one of my cousins trying to talk me out of what we're doing.  I know that my other cousin adopted and didn't have a good experience.  I know that they love me and don't want anything  bad to happen, but I also have confidence in what I'm doing.

As far as what else has been going on:
1.  Neil's team isn't doing well.  We're still looking for our first win.
2.  School is still going well.  We made it through state testing.  AP exams are next and then finals.

The unknown

Well, we made it through WASC.  It was a great three days and we are hoping for a six year.  Unfortunately our school also had a tragedy while WASC was there.  The 18 year old son (who was a senior) of two teachers passed away.  It was very sad.

Yesterday Neil had a game.  He had his best game ever.  He got a hit and scored the only run for his team. He also pitched two innings and did a great job.  I'm looking forward to more games.

We are starting Spring Break.  (Edited: This talked about the situation that has since been remedied.)

A phone call

Yes, I need to stay on top of this.  Here is the beginning to staying on top of this.  After months of waiting and waiting and wondering and waiting, we got a phone call yesterday.

My 6th period (Spanish 1) class had just started.  The bell had just rung and I had started reviewing what we had done Tuesday and what we were going to do.  As I was checking off homework, my phone started vibrating.  With my new phone, it only vibrates when I'm getting a call.

I knew it wasn't Neil, Robert, or Kathy.  I knew it wasn't Verizon.  I figured it was a wrong number.  After I finished, I could discreetly look, I checked my phone and saw it was the agency.  My heart started going rapidly.  Then I saw an e-mail.  I shot one back immediately saying I would call at 3:00.  Then I saw the red light flashing on my phone.  I couldn't wait until 3:00.

I called the agency and they said that we'd be getting a referral in a few weeks!!!!! I am so excited!!! This is so real!!!

Maybe my world is perfect.  I need to get through WASC, grades and the AP test.

Christmas, New Years and SNOW!!!!

I fell behind on this.  We had the cold travel around the family.  First Robert got it and then both Neil and I got it.

Christmas Eve

Rawley and Alissa came down for Christmas Eve.  I made mole, but I burned the rice. :-(  Rawley and Alissa gave Robert and I a sweatshirt from Stand Up Paddling and some other things.  I was so excited with such a thoughtful gift.

On Christmas Day, Robert's family came.  I met Steve's lady, Marilyn.  She is a super sweet lady and I hope that we get to see more of each other.  She was able to convince Steve to stay longer than he usually does.  It was also fun to have Alicia, Christopher and Turtle (Olivia.)  They now live in Arizona so we will hopefully see them more.  Neil loved playing with Turtle, Margaux and Ines (Andy and Yvette's girls.)  He used it as practice for his little sister.  Raquel was here with Porfirio.  Virginia and Richard were here with Villar and Randy who was on leave for 16 days.  Belen and Cita were here too.  I found out later that Cita moved to Arizona with her mom and Christopher.  Patty came with Emily, Beatriz and Steve.  Rawley and Alissa came back and Drew came over too.  Of course, Robert's parents were here.

New Years was quiet.  We stayed up to watch the ball drop.  I remember looking through the blogs and thinking that hopefully by next year nuestra princesa rusa would be with us.  I looked through some sites thinking maybe I should think about buying some real winter clothes (for us and for a baby girl) in the event we had to go to Russia in the winter.

The best thing happened on January 2.  It was very cold.  Early in the morning, Robert told me that it was going to snow over night.  Then at 11:00, Robert came in and told me it was snowing!!!!  It was unbelievable.  Throughout the day the snow fell.  The streets were covered and so were the lawns.  The kids were throwing snowballs at each other.  The Manns have a sloped lawn so all the neighborhood kids were "sledding" down their lawn.  Later in the evening (snow still falling) Neil went out.  About six of the kids were out and they started throwing snowballs at Neil.  He picked up a snowball and thought he was throwing it at one, but threw it at another.  It got him in the face.  At first he got upset, but two minutes later, we saw him walking with a shovel full of snow.  Walking towards Neil, he yelled "Oh Neeeeeeiiiiiiiilllllll" in a Jack Nicholson voice.  Too funny.

Unfortunately it didn't last long, but it was a wonderful day.