Latest CCAA stats

Referral matches have been completed for all families with log-in dates (LID) on or before:

March 2, 2006.

That means there are 114 possible LIDs before mine.

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GoGo has left us

The house is a little emptier this weekend. GoGo, my blue point Siamese, passed on.

GoGo was a rescue from the humane society and lived to an amazing 21+ years. I won't go into her decline, or how she was at the end. I prefer to remember her as the sweet-tempered, comfort-loving companion she was to me for a long time.

I don't know if my other cat, and the puppy, realizes that she is gone but I certainly do.

The vet's office was wonderful and supportive. They even sent flowers the next day.

Now, before you say it, or do it - No one bring me any kittens or other cute, furry critters. I want all of us (cat, dog, me) to settle into this new life. We will have another big change once BeachBaby joins the family.

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Christmas 2005

Everything has been so slow of late, so I thought I'd go back in time a bit. Try to harness a few good memories of this process.

Three (yes, 3) years ago today, I was a nervous wreck. Actually, I'd been nervous for about a week but December 23, 2005 was the pinnacle of future mommy freak out.

I was waiting to hear from Great Wall if they had accepted my application.

GW, and the other agencies that dealt with single adoptive parents, had a limited number of slots for 2006. At the time, China limited the number of single parent adoptions each year.

For the previous week, I'd been receiving emails from GW letting me know that they were preparing to notify those they had accepted. The email on December 22nd let us know that they had begun their calls and would be finished by noon on the 23rd.

To my ex-boss, if you are reading this, I confess - I didn't get a lot of work done on the 22nd. Okay, I doubt I got any work done; I just kept staring at my phone, and willing it to ring.

It didn’t ring.

I took a vacation day on December 23rd, and spent the morning with my phone clutched in my hand. I didn’t shop, I didn’t eat, I didn’t go out.

It didn’t ring.

After about 1 o’clock, I resigned myself to the fact that I hadn’t made the cut. I told myself it was for the best and that I would apply next year. Maybe this was God’s way of telling me the time wasn’t right. So, I got up, went out for a bit, and then came home for a little pity party.

At about 3 o’clock my phone rang and honestly I thought it was work calling. I wasn’t going to answer until I realized I didn’t recognize the area code.

The woman on the phone said she was from Great Wall. I’d been accepted.

I was in shock. I don’t think I sounded excited to her; I probably sounded like I thought it was a joke.

I had a honest-to-goodness Christmas miracle that year. Best Christmas gift of my life. Better than a Dancing Ballerina doll, or a new flat screen TV, or anything made of cashmere/platinum/ diamonds.

Next Christmas, I hope I can say that gift has been topped by something, someone, even better.

Merry Christmas to all,

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Latest CCAA stats

Referrals issued for families with dossiers registered on or before:

February 23, 2006.

Reviews completed for families with dossiers registered on or before:

March 31, 2007.

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My first gift from Practice Baby

I think my first gift to my parents was a clay ashtray. Oh how times have changed!

I look forward to my very first piece of macaroni art from Beach Baby. Especially if there is glitter involved.

The puppy is my only baby now (the cats are geriatric) and without opposable thumbs he's no good with macaroni pieces.

But Practice Baby did give me his first gift. A few days ago, he was outside on the lead enjoying the backyard. I went out to let him in and he gleefully trotted towards me with a large pinecone in his mouth. Hey, I don't have pine trees in my yard . . . oh no, that is NOT a pinecone!

Poor, poor mole. I don't know if the puppy found it that way or was the architect of its early demise. Either way, YUCK!

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Why it is taking me so long to start a family

This is an example of the speed at which I make decisions:

I have owned 2 chairs for a long time. They were originally Mom and Dad's; they inherited them from my aunt and uncle as starter furniture for their first apartment.

By the time they came into my home the upholstery was shredded, the trim was falling off, and when you sat in them you were lucky not to go through the seat.

So again and again I've said, "I need to get those chairs redone", "I really want to fix those chairs", etc.

They were permanent To Do list items. Right along with "move to a house by the ocean" and "get a personal trainer".

I finally sent the chairs off for repair and reupholstery and last week they came back.

It only took 20 years.

It takes a while for my ideas to come to fruition.

One of the chairs today

Me in the same chair a looong time ago.

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Nursery beginnings