some good news and some sad news...

First - the Good News! As of 11:59PM tomorrow, the official fund raiser for bringing our Benjamin home will conclude! As of today, we have raised almost $1000.00! We will be drawing the names for all the prizes listed this coming weekend and we will be posting each winner on the web site!


As for the Sad News...After thinking about this for some time, I have made a very difficult decision. I have decided to take an extended break from this blog. I am still not 100% sure if I'll close it or make it private, but for now, I simply do not have the extra time to be an active member of the blogging community. Since our move to Washington DC, my life truly has a new meaning. I have met an amazing team of people who have become close friends. Many are stay at home moms - just like me - who share the same passion for family, life, and our children. Between lunches out, dinner parties, play dates, some much needed nights out, my expanding custom made jewelry line, a few other "projects" I have started, and my life as a mother and a wife, my life has taken a 180 turn since our move (plus having Keith come home every night makes a huge difference in our world). I do want to THANK YOU all for following us along in our journey in bringing our daughters home. I would have never been able to do it with out each and every one of you. You truly are one amazing support team. As for all you adoptive parents out there who are thinking about the adoption of a waiting child/special needs child who has been diagnosed with a mega colon and still want to contact me, please do so. I am always happy to answer every question you have.

As for Ben's blog, I am going to keep it up & running. After a two week period time of announcing our raffle winners, I will delete all posted related to it and start a journal of his adoption journey. We will also be using his blog for when we travel to China. Not sure if that one will become private, but only time will tell. As for now...this blog will remain as it is. You may find me posting and you may not...or you may one day find that it is private. I am just not sure, but one thing I am sure of is that for now I am saying "goodbye ~ until we see each other again..."

Today he turns 2!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY OUR SWEET BENJAMIN JAMES!

Soon, very soon we'll be traveling to bring you home and although today we are many miles apart...you are foremost in our thoughts & in our hearts. My promise is to you that next year, you will be celebrating your 3rd birthday ~ home with us.

(a little bit of this and a little bit of that)

As many of you know, I am currently STILL suffering from issues with our Internet/computer. I had to finally break down and take my notebook in to the geek guy for some repairs and a good cleaning...and we are finally getting a technician out here to check on our Internet connection. Still not sure where the problems are at, but I so need to get these issues taken care of and get myself back online...get a chance to post some new photos of the girls...and also get myself caught up on all my family & friends postings.

As for us, we are still paper chasing for our Benjamin. Things have been crazy lately here. We have paper work waiting to be authenticated through the NYC Chinese Consulate, we are also waiting for our fingerprint appointment through USCIS, and we are currently waiting on some of our paper work to be stamped the the US State's office here in Washington DC. The girls are getting very excited over the thought of their brother finally being able to come home. Francesca must ask us at least once a day, "When is Benjamin James coming home?" With things the way they are and seeing how things are going...we truly do not have an answer for her, but we are staying positive that this will all work out in the end.

As for our Benjamin's fund raiser ~ we have been feeling the love pouring in. Seeing how we are still trying to get together some extra funds for his adoption, we are truly grateful for everything that everyone has been doing to help with this little boy coming home. We are also counting down the days for Benjamin's 2nd birthday, which will be on the 15th. Never having experienced one of my children's birthdays away from them - I am really struggling with this. But I know deep in my heart, our son will be home with us for his 3rd!

I also some exciting news to report, but I am going to save that for another post. Hope you all had a great weekend and here's to another fab week ahead!

issues...and a little bit more

"issues"
Not sure if it is our Internet connection or our computer, but I am having some major issues with connecting to the interest and staying connected (and also it taking a year's time - or at least that is what it seems to me anyway - to more from one page to another) so if you were wondering where I have been...I have been right here just not online. Hoping to get these "issues" resolved soon and be back to being connected...

As for "and a little bit more"
we finally received our approved home study in our hands and it is being sent off to the USCIS office along with our I800A application. Hoping that this will be a speedy process so we can once again move forward in bringing home our Benjamin.

Hope you all are having a great week and here's to seeing you all again very soon...

(as for typing this message, Thank Heavens for Keith's iPhone)

Celebrating 10 YEARS!

HAPPY 10TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY ~ Keith! You truly are the love of my life and my best friend! Here's to a great weekend ahead!

(We are planning a night out with just the two of us ~ haven't had one of those in a very long time! Grandma came down to take care of the girls while Keith & I have a little "grown-up" fun that is way over due and since Grandma made a special trip down to our house, we figured we better do some exciting stuff while she is visiting...Hoping to have some photos to post by Monday!)

Life after school for Francesca

Yep - that is my "not so little & growing up way too quick" girl - fast asleep! It is times like this that I want to scoop her up & hold onto her forever...She is has always been and will always be my little girl!

Francesca is just loving her new school and after attending a recent Parent's Night, I must admit ~ I am truly impressed! In just the short amount of time since she has started...I can't believe how much she has learned already and all the is planned for their future school days!

But what the sweetest part of her day - according to Francesca is - when Mom comes to pick her up. As soon as she walks out of her classroom she tell me, "Mom I had such a great day at school today but I am so happy to see you because I missed you so very much..." Isn't that just the dearest thing ever to say...My heart just melts over my two girls...!

O-M-G!!!!! Never thought I see the day when I would be posting this!!!!!

After over four months of waiting, making several phone calls, and spending way more money than most people do...WE GOT OUR HOME STUDY APPROVAL from our agency!!! This could not have come at a better time! I have truly exhausted myself over this whole ordeal as well as made myself sick - literally! This was truly ONE BIG STEP for us and for our Benjamin! OH MY GOSH ~ I just can't believe it! It is FINALLY 100% done!