Preface: What you are about to read is a true and accurate account of this Monday, so help me.

As far as Mondays go, this one started off basic enough: chill in the air, snuggly child in my bed that I had to pry myself away from when the very early alarm sounded. Good hair day. Then it went downhill . . .

No creamer for my coffee. Ugh. We went out of town for the weekend and I completely forgot that I used the last of the nondairy goodness on Friday morning. Not the end of the world - I'm a big girl and black coffee will not kill me (gag, choke).

Awful odor coming from my basement.

Off to work.

Really? The check engine light is on and my front blinker just went out yesterday. No matter - I'm due for an oil change anyway so I will just have it looked at.

REWIND:

We spent the weekend in Springfield, Missouri where I attended an anesthesia conference and my wonderful hubby tried to entertain our two children in a hotel room and pool for two days. We returned home from our three hour journey last night, after stopping to pick up our fur babies from boarding, and were greeted by the stench of rotten critter upon entering our home. Clearly, something had made its way into our chimney never to find its way out again. Unfortunate . . . and stinky. Remembering a story of skunk spray odor being absorbed by tomato juice and coffee grounds, I set about placing bowls of coffee around our basement, close to the offensive fireplace stove.

Now it smelled of dead critter + coffee.

Monday morning for Eric (handsome hubby):

Woke to smell of dead critter and coffee and dogs barking. Why so early?!
Ah, dog vomit. Lovely.
Apparently the weekend food change didn't settle well.
Nothing like waking to a Monday morning blend of dead something, coffee and barf.

So, once at work, I googled "chimney" in my area and was happy to find an ad for a company that cleans, restores, repairs, and caps chimneys. They can fit us in. Hooray!

(This is where it starts getting good - hang in there.)

Two men from said company arrive to inspect our chimney flue and agree the odor is coming from within (ya think?) With the stove disconnected and nothing visible through their snakey camera thing from below, they headed outside to the chimney. The old, ineffectual cap was removed and the camera thingy was once again put to work.

Now, let me add that my Dad (thank God!) was present, as well as my mom, since my husband was off coaching volleyball districts. I left the chimney inspection supervision to him and went inside to feed my children snacks and check on other things.

A few minutes later, the kids and dogs follow me out to assess the progress, but find that a yellow jacket nest has been stirred up, causing one gentleman to almost fall from a ladder and the rest to do a neat little dance across the yard. Recognizing the dance as bad news, I simultaneously yelled to the kids to get inside while feeling the first sting on my collar. We ran for the hills while the men took a longer path around the house to the driveway where they continued to swat and slap at themselves.

For those who aren't aware, German yellow jackets (as identified by the exterminator I reached after making nine phone calls after 5pm on a weekday) are very aggressive and "busy." They do not, however, sting with an accent.

The exterminator was necessary to clear the yellow jackets so the chimney dudes could re-cap the chimney, keeping other critters from climbing / falling / flying in.

While we waited for him to arrive, the chimney dudes found the offensive creature back inside the house, stuck between the internal stove and the pipe that led to the chimney.

Unfortunately, to smell that bad, he was not alone. Brace yourself: maggots.

Both chimney dudes gagged and coughed and choked as they took the tiny corpse out to their truck in a miniature body bag. Major disinfecting ensued.

Meanwhile, my mom gets a call that my grandpa's heart started racing during cardiac rehab so she left to meet him at the emergency room (after applying a baking soda pulpus to my dad and my stings and offering everyone Benadryl, of course.)

Don't worry: he is fine.

Thinking this is enough, mentally and financially, for one day, I decided to face the music and got my checkbook. We all met in the driveway for the pay off when who, but three young Mormon missionaries, joined our shin dig.

Really? Now?

I tried to politely explain the mess of a gathering we were having, expecting them to offer to return another time, but I suppose they saw the opportunity to witness to us all and stayed anyway.

By now, my children were starving and getting cranky (as was I, let's be honest) and all of the laughter I had managed to cope with until this point felt close to turning to tears.

Recap: Squirrel, live maggots, yellow jackets' nest . . . it was like a plague here!

You really can't make this stuff up.

I get that this spiritual journey I am on may involve some testing, but really, I think God trusts me too much. This is when Matthew West's Strong Enough really resounds in me.

Thank you for the opportunities to be strong and faithful, Lord. Thank you for the support and love of those around me. Now, if you don't mind, I'd like a break. ;) Oh, and a heavy frost to kill off those things would be great too. Thanks!

On to Tuesday . . . if I can muster the energy.

Dossier, Be Gone!

It's actually gone.

Our dossier - every authenticated, legalized, interpreted word of it - is gone.

FedEx to Port-au-Prince.

Two days delivery time . . . well, one and a half. $90 and it's on its way.

The first installment has been paid to our Haitian attorney via his U.S. bank account, and upon confirmation of receipt, an additional lump sum will be made to start the process.

Still waiting on that I-171H.

I guess we're gonna get good at that: waiting.

www.gotchagiftregistry.com

Event Success

Well, the party is over. Thank you God!

Our spaghetti dinner (wonderfully prepared and donated by Sumer Galloway, Succotash and Matt Edmunds) and silent auction was a success. Thanks to the generosity and support of our family, friends, family of friends, co-workers and church pals, our attorney's fees are fully funded.

Wait.
Did you catch that?
Fully funded Baby!! Woo hoo

Now, our dossier heads out this week and our first payment to the attorney officially gets paid.

Wow.
I've got goose bumps.

We are a long way from bringing the boys home, but what a giant leap forward!

(the tables looked even better filled with yummy salads and brownies.)

I would be remiss not to name names:

Thank you to Kelly, our Adoption Finance Coach extraordinaire, for her guidance, professional opinions, support and electronic gift processing skills.

Heather, you are the most selfless, generous silent auction coordinator I could've ever hoped for. Thank you for advertising, organizing, transporting, storing, embellishing and coordinating our items. You may have a calling outside of anesthesia to fall back on :)

Mom, thank you. For listening during this difficult season, for running errands and picking up the tab, for making phone calls when plans changed and help fell through, for your hard work the day of the event (and getting the kids to take a nap so they weren't messes), and for your prayers on our behalf.

Dad, as usual, without you the lights wouldn't have been bright enough, the temperature wouldn't have been just right, and a million other little things may have been overlooked. Thank you for scrubbing pots and pans too. I love you.

Thank you Aimee for your wrapping skills and sacrificed Friday night helping me bring it all together and look fabulous! Matt and Sumer - saying "thank you" doesn't scratch the surface. Amy, Stefanie, Deb and Lowell, Jerome and Shaun and Katie - thank you for your support when I needed it most.

Thank you Mom and Dad Postnikoff for the hours and hours spent baking and wrapping and making the BEST poviticia around and for donating all the profits to our family.

Alan and Patti, as adoptive parents you understand some of the stress and expenses we are experiencing. Thank you for helping us out in so many ways. I miss you, as I expected, but especially during this season of the year. 

I'm a little teary eyed as I type this, but I love you guys! Thank you all for your friendship, support, generosity, and love.

Eric and I are blessed beyond belief to have such wonderful, supportive, and generous friends in our lives. Thank you for coming out to lift us up! Thank you to all of our friends who had other committments as well - your words of encouragement, interest in our journey, and ongoing support throughout this process is truly appreciated.

www.gotchagiftregistry.com

Fundraising Update

To date, we have received $780 cash gifts, $110 from sale of lanyards at CMH (thank you Heather and Jennifer), $25 proceeds from our coffee fundraising site and $97.50 from Wild Olive Tee sales proceeds = $1,012. 50! Yea :) Thank you friends.

We've already made $60 on the sale of one auction item!

We have spent the following:

Home study     $1,400.
Interpreter            300.
Psych Eval           260.
USCIS                 890. (so far)
Sec of State           60.
Education            198.50
Fingerprinting     105.
Attorney           1,000.  (retention fee)
                       $4,213.50

Too bad we aren't any where close to being done!

I wanted to update you so you understand that money is being spent as it is received.

Items from the gotchagiftregistry.com wish list have been removed as the item's due date arrived and funds paid out. What remains on the registry is what we still owe in the near future and to bring our boys home near the end of this process.

Attorney's fees total $14,000 total, some of which is already funded (as noted on the registry), and other items such as visa medical examination are "subject to change." I believe that means we could pay out the wazoo, should they choose to implement higher fees.

heavy sigh

It's all part of the process. Just like figuring out how to use family leave when the boys arrive home. Who goes to work? How do bills get paid? How are the boys' needs best met while encouraging a trusting, loving, attached relationship? While still paying the bills and not losing one's job, of course!

Three days until the dinner and silent auction. Again I say, do not let your lack of RSVP keep you from coming on Saturday night. Eat first, have a snack on the way in case the food is gone, but come!

www.gotchagiftregistry.com

Autumn

It's October, have I mentioned that?
Harvest moon, season's changing, pumpkins and mums . . . oh yeah, and volleyball. Bleh.

My husband is a high school volleyball coach which, to put it mildly, less than thrills me. Okay, it sucks and I despise it. There.

Every year I try to be a big girl and put on my "understanding wife" tee shirt when the honeymoon of summer togetherness is abruptly halted by sports conditioning, weekend tournaments, morning practice and little league. It's all fine and dandy for the 15-18 year olds learning teamwork and sportsmanship and flirting with their handsome coach. For me, it's udder abandonment.

This happens to be the second week of October when . . . yep! right on schedule . . . it's time for a pity party.

The past few seasons I have made a fervent effort to be visible with my children at his games. I believe it's beneficial for our family and the girls on the team to be reminded that we are a unit, a team of our own, and we belong to each other. The players typically fawn over our kids while I stand back and fill the role of chauffeur for "coach's" darlings. We usually bring daddy a drink and make no apologies for loving on him a bit before heading home prior to the varsity game starting (mama too).

This season has been different. We've been working on selling on our house since August 2010 and I've been armpit deep in adoption paperwork since March 2011. It's about to pay off! Our prior home is finally under contract and our official, translated, stamped / authenticated / legalized by everyone in every position dossier is packed up nicely in its Fed Ex mailer ready to fly! I've been a bit too busy this year to make appearances at games. I've barely kept my children fed while working every day, running to tae kwon do (my little guy kicked it at his 1st tournament last week: gold medal in his age / ranking division! Woo hoo GW! We're so proud), keeping 2 homes presentable and checking off my paperwork to-do list. Our "big fundraiser," the obvious attempt to unite friends, family, associates and acquaintances with generosity on their hearts and minds in one location for one cause is four days away. Four days.

Despite my attempts to delegate, say "yes" to anyone who offers to help, and plan like crazy, there have been a few minor issues arise already. Change of kitchen staff (thank you God for Deb and her willingness to help . . . or inability to say no, whichever), unexpected transportation of auction items (please protect us from potholes tomorrow night Lord), and of course the lack of RSVPs.

Really, is anyone good at RSVPing? I know I'm not, but I had to ask for a head count for dinner. Please understand if you come and the food is gone - you didn't tell me you were coming, after all - but please come anyway!!

 

Oh yeah, and there is a volleyball tournament that morning. Did you expect less? It's okay though. I'll coordinate dinner and auction table and chair set up, steam table assembly, food and auction item delivery and set up, sign placement, banner hanging, venue decorating, laptop and projector set up and presentation cuing, childcare coordination, manpower for breakdown . . . and manage a shower and a new dress in time for guests to arrive. I hope my husband makes it in time. Does it make me sound bitter to say that I hope they play lousy, are done in single elimination play, and arrive home early? I really could use my man by my side on Saturday - the earlier, the better.

 

Some of my biggest supporters will be noticeably absent, unfortunately. My dear friends, fellow Haitian traveler, "Mother to Haiti" calling, financial supporting MDs will be out of town on business. My M&M toting, anesthesia delivering, supportive sister will be traveling elsewhere, as well. My BFF from grad school lives in, and will remain in, Virginia during the event. The ultra-cool, "I wanna be like her" adoptive mom who runs a successful business while always having great hair is on the other side of the pond doing God's great work. Thank you Lord for our parents, siblings and besties from church who are by us giving us love!

 

You know, there really isn't any reason not to come.

What? You didn't RSVP as requested?

Then you better eat a snack, just in case, but come to the Liberty Street Community of Christ Church on Saturday, October 15th from 5-7pm and hear our story. Look at our photos. Meet some great folks.

www.gotchagiftregistry.com

Oh, and if you have a bit to spare, bring your checkbook or your wallet - we've got boys to bring home :)

What a FABULOUS day!

Today was a great day.

I woke up happy and was excited all morning long (the Kit Kat and cup of coffee I had for breakfast didn't help. I know, Weight Watchers would not approve.)

Mid-morning I received a message from our lovely realtor that we are officially "under contract."
Woo Hoo!!

Whilst at work, a dear friend and fellow medical staffer gave me a call to say he had a couple bags of clothes in his clinic for the boys . . . and books, and sweatshirts, and snow boots :)

My sister forwarded me an email she had sent to her friends and loved ones in support of our adoption that nearly brought me to tears right in the OR.

My super sweet girlfriend Heather relieved me from work early so I could meet my handsome spouse for our USCIS biometrics profiling. (hee hee) 

(I only managed one photo before being threatened with phone confiscation. Geez people! This is a big deal here. Gotta document it!)

I got to see my Aimee for a few minutes at her place of work (I wish the lighting in my workplace made me look that good! What a lovely gal.)

So then, I get home and am preparing for an evening with my children when the doorbell rings . . .
expecting it to be a neighbor friend, my little guy goes to the door and announces a truck is out front. Lo and behold! It's FedEx. For me?!
The paperwork I sent to the Haitian Consulate in Chicago on Monday night is stamped, legalized and back in my hot little hand already!

So here we are, one week away from the big fundraiser, dossier complete and ready to ship to the attorney in Port-au-Prince.

Things sure are looking up -
towards heaven, in fact :)

Wow God!

A new month ahead

It's another Wednesday, but a long, long way from my last post.

My exhaustion and tears have been replaced by laughter again. Having one of my besties home from her vacation helps. (Aimee, are you REALLY going to leave me again soon?!)

We have gotten not one, but TWO offers on our house, one contingent and one non-contingent. The bank is happy. We are relieved. With a possible closing date of mid-November, I feel like I can breathe again.

(how cute are they fishin?)

Our paperwork returned from the interpreter (all hail Deb Blaz) and is now on a desk at the Haitian Consulate in Chicago. It is quite possible that by the end of next week, the dossier, in its entirety, will be on its way to Port-au-Prince.

And . . . our attorney contacted us this evening with his bank account information to wire him funds for his services . . . and it's Bank of America, our bank! Seriously?! How much simpler (is that a word?) can that be? We won't even be charged fees for the transfers! Hee hee

Now, lest you think our lives have turned all rosy, let me tell you that last Friday Eric's starter went out on his truck and the following day a window in my car broke. If not for the unbelievable ability of my father to fix anything, we would be out A LOT of money.

(that's my daddy)

We continue to feel the love, support and incredible generosity of those around us. The big fundraiser is a little over one week away, and as my mom puts it, it seems as if we are under attack. If it can go wrong, it is! My support system is being tugged on: the majority of my Haiti surgical team will be spread across the country at various conferences and meetings the weekend of our event, and a fair amount of the anesthesiologists that I work with will be at the ASA meeting. Fellow adoptive moms (who happen to co-own cool companies that have helped us raise funds towards are adoption) will in other countries doing wonderful things. I have invited surgeons, nurses, teachers, pastors, family and every friend that I have to come and join us in this official event supporting our adoption. My other besty lives thousands of miles away . . . but I'm happy and hopeful and eager.

(are those Wild Olive Tees? why yes!)

The items and gift certificates donated on our behalf are overwhelmingly awesome!

Tomorrow we make a trip into the USCIS for our final biometric profiling. That I-171H is on the horizon! As Colleen calls it, "the golden ticket" is not far off, I pray.

Plans for our next Haiti trip are in the works and I cannot wait to see and hold my boys again!

www.gotchagiftregistry.com