One is Done!

Okay, so remember that Birth Certificate of Jeff's that I started on it's rounds July 23rd? It has finally arrived back in my hands with all it's pretty little certification and authentication pages attached. It is ready to go to China! I was glad to have it safely in my hands but it seems like a very small thing in light of all the things that still must be done and are out of my hands!

Our social worker was up last weekend, mostly to chat with Nikki and make sure she is on board for this whole thing. Now we have only one more meeting with her on the 10th to be finished with our home study update. She said she should be able to finish it up very shortly thereafter and we can get moving on the BIG item, our approval to once again be parents from the USCIS who will issue the much sought after I-171H Document. You will be hearing lots about that particular item as is the biggest piece of the puzzle. (USCIS is the most recent reincarnation of what we've always known as the INS--Immigration.)

There has been one glitch in the proceedings that will hold us up for hopefully only a week or so. I forgot how easily I become anemic when I don't take regular iron supplements. I apparently inherited this tendency from my mother who has struggled with it for years. Last time we adopted I was so anemic when I had my physical that it caused the doctor to hear a heart murmer! He dosed me up with iron for three weeks and I was back in the normal range. So this time around I should have started on the supplements weeks ago but forgot! When I had my blood test last week, sure enough, I am pretty low on my red blood count, though not as bad as last time. So I am once again taking mega doses of iron with the hopes that it will only take the three weeks to get back to normal again. Since the doctor can't sign off on the physical until the blood tests are clear, this will mean our home study update can't be formally finished until I give her a clean bill of health. Please pray I get back to normal as quickly as last time!

Mara had her 2-year well child checkup this week. She is quite healthy! Finally she has grown a little, not quite an inch in height and about 2 pounds in weight. She has matured so much since her last visit in March. Then she cried all the way through her visit. This time she was happy and curious for almost all of the time we were there. She didn't talk to the doctor but she didn't shy away from him either. She let him do all the things he needed to do without one fuss. As we were leaving she spied a skeleton in the next exam room and wouldn't leave until she had the opportunity to check it out. That sounds gruesome doesn't it? Of course, it is just one of those learning tools, not a real skeleton, and it had sunglasses on which intrigued her greatly. She took hold of it's hand, cocked her head to one side and said "hi baby" just like she does to her stuffed animals and dolls. I've always thought skeletons are creepy so her very matter of fact attitude cracked me up. Maybe she's destined to be a doctor.

We have orientation next Saturday and we were so excited to hear from another couple who traveled to China with us last time that they have also decided to adopt again. They are a Denver couple so will be at the orientation with us! It would be so neat if God put us in the same travel group again. Not only would we love to spend the time with them again, but it would be fun to have both of our children have friends from the same orphanages living so close.

This week we are very saddened by the disaster in the Gulf Coast area caused by Hurricane Katrina. It is hard to believe the circumstances have become so desperate in a U.S. city. I have become aware that while I expect to hear these types of tales from disasters in third world countries I never expect to hear such sad stories within our borders. It is humbling to realize it can happen here. We were very relieved to hear that two families from our travel group that live in affected areas of Mississippi are safe and have food and water. They went without power for a few days and have some damage to their homes, but nothing major in relative terms. Still waiting to hear from Mark and Jacqui, assuming they are okay in the northern part of Alabama.

Can't believe it is September! I don't like winter so I'm not so happy when fall starts bearing down on us. Even worse, it is time to look at my finances for the month and pay some bills. I really hate that. So I better quit playing around on here and get busy. Onward and upward!