Sunday, April 22, 2012

Another Referral-versary

I wonder if we could get this word (referral-versary) into a dictionary.  We've now had 10 of them..  It sounds like there may be some movement again, but it is still difficult to keep on waiting.  Our motivation for the odd jobs around the house is decreasing, as our energy level is decreasing with all the waiting we're doing... Please continue to pray for patience for us...

So what did we do to "celebrate"?  It was a particularly hard day on April 17th, so we went out for supper, and had a good time, trying to relax, and not think of everything else.... We also picked up Hilary's sister and a friend from the airport.

Hilary did a little more during the day as she spent some time learning how to, and sewing little dresses for our girls.  I think she did a great job.




Sunday, March 18, 2012

"Happy" Referral-versary to us....

Sadly, it has been 9 months since our referral. In even our "worst case" scenarios, we expected to be home with the girls by now.

The last few weeks have been increasingly difficult as we know the girls are growing older without us. We are blessed to have all the support that we have but we also want the girls to feel that support and start making friends and meeting cousins and that kind of thing already...

So, what did we do on this referral-versary? We went to a parenting class. It was a course/seminar based on the Neufeld Attachment parenting style (not sure if that's the correct way to state that :) ). We both found it very interesting, and will definitely apply some of what we learned to our parenting style. I'm also hoping to finish the book I started reading a while back, "Holding on to your kids", at the suggestion by one of our friends who has also adopted.

Thank you all for the prayers. Hopefully the next post will be a celebratory one!

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

The Dueck List

As promised, I will post a copy of the list of items we have on our list (I use the term "we" very loosely, as Hilary has done most of the list prep.... I hate lists, but apparently they are something that keeps some people organized)

This may bore half of you, and interest half of you, but we'd love feedback.  I know that a number of other parents in the adoption world have posted their lists, and we have compiled ours by taking much of what they have listed, and making it our own....  Enjoy.



Clothes
Hilary:
  o   Belt
  o   Shirts
  o   Undergarments
  o   Socks
  o   Jeans
  o   Capri’s
  o   Tank Tops
  o   Sweaters
  o   Bathing Suits
  o   PJs
  o   Slippers
  o   Runners
  o   Flip Flops
  o   Bandanna
  o   Court Clothes
  o   Skirts
  o   Light Jacket
  o   My Edge
  o   Knee Highs
  o   Hat
  o   Shawl

Sheldon
  o   Belt
  o   Shirts
  o   Underwear
  o   Socks
  o   Jeans
  o   Shorts
  o   Tank Tops
  o   Sweaters
  o   Swim Trunks
  o   PJs
  o   Slippers
  o   Runners
  o   Sandals
  o   Court Clothes
  o   Light Jacket
  o   Hat

 Girls – 24m, 2T, 3T, 4T sizes
  o   Shirts
  o   Sweaters
  o   Pants
  o   Socks
  o   Underwear
  o   Bathing Suites
  o   PJs
  o   Slippers
  o   Flip Flops
  o   Runners
  o   Dresses
  o   Pull-ups
  o   Hats
  o   Belts
  o   Bibs

   Toiletries
  o   Adult Shampoo
  o   Adult Conditioner
  o   Girls Shampoo
  o   Girls Conditioner
  o   Girls Leave in Conditioner
  o   Tooth Brushes
  o   Tooth Pastes
  o   Floss
  o   Combs
  o   Brushes
  o   Hair Ties
  o   Hair Elastics
  o   Hair Clips
  o   Coconut Oil
  o   Cocoa/Shea Butter
  o   Lotion
  o   Towels
  o   Deodorant
  o   Hand towels
  o   Face Cloths
  o   Razors
  o   Shaving Cream
  o   Anti-Bacterial Soap
  o   Hand Sanitizer
  o   Hair Dryer
  o   Curling Iron
  o   Ear Plugs
  o   Face Cleanser
  o   Face Cream
  o   Hair Removing Cream
  o   Pads
  o   Panty Liners
  o   Make up
  o   Tweezers
  o   Nail Clippers
  o Glasses and Cases
  o   Sunglasses
  o   Kleenex (travel size)
  o   Toilet Paper
  o   Baby Wipes
  o   Q-tips

  Medical
  o   Adult Tylenol
  o   Children’s Tylenol
  o   Tums
  o   Pepto Bismal
  o    Sun Block
  o   Aloe Vera
  o   Adult Gravol
  o   Children’s Gravol
  o   Malaria Meds
  o   Band-Aids
  o   Scalp Fungus Cream
  o   Ringworm Cream
  o   Scabies Cream
  o   Polysporin
  o   Adult Vitamins
  o   Children’s Vitamins
  o   Medicine Droppers
  o   Thermometer
  o   Vicks
  o   Cough Medicine
  o   Anti itch Cream
  o   Immodium
   
  Miscellaneous
  o   Bibles
  o   Mosquito Nets
  o   Yarn
  o   Crotchet Hook
  o   Books to read
  o   Plug Adapter
  o   Laundry Detergent
  o   Laundry Line with suction cups
  o   Clothes Pegs
  o   Post Court Gifts for Girls
  o   Satin Pillow Cases
  o   Water Bottles
  o   Duct Tape
  o   Black Markers
  o   Garbage Bags
  o   Flash Lights
  o   Head Lamps
  o   Disposable Gloves
  o   Hangers
  o   Bug Spray
  o   Notarized Copies of Passports
  o   Questions for Birth Family
  o   Questions for Orphanage
  o   Bungee Cords
  o   Measuring Tape
  o   Rain Ponchos
  o   Pad Lock and Key
  o   Dish Detergent
  o   Watch (wear)
  o   Shake Awake Alarm Clock
  o   Safety Pins
  o   Umbrella
  o   Phrase Book in Amharic
  o   Sewing Kit
  o   Pop Up Laundry bins
  o   Pop Up Cubes
  o   Wash Cloths
  o   Paper Towel
  o   Ziploc Bags
  o   Thank you Cards
  o   Disposable Camera
  o   Regular Camera
  o   Video Camera
  o   Rubber Bands
  o   Little Blow Up Tub
  o   Tide to Go
  o   Clorox Wipes
  o   Scissors
  o   Scotch Tape
  o   Sticky Tack
  o   Baby Carrier

  o   List of Phone # and Email
o   Friends and Family
o   Adoption Options
o   MOT
o   Weygoss
o   KVI
o   Drivers
o   Contacts
o   Ect.
  o   Plastic
o   Bowls
o   Plates
o   Cups
o   Cutlery
  o   Photo Albums
o   Girls
o   Birth Family
  o   Batteries
o   AA
o   AAA
o   Hearing Aid

Carry on Bags
o   Pens and Pencils
o   Paper
o   Laptop and Charger Cables
o   External Hard Drive
o   Snacks
o   Air Line Tickets
o   E-reader
o   Magazines
o   Passports
o   Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificates
o   Gum
o   Money (U.S. and small amount CDN)
o   Camera and Charger
o   Video Camera and Charger
o   USB Cable
o   Plug Converter
o   I Pod Touch
o   I Phone
o   Head Phones
o   Ear Plugs
o   Toilet Paper
o   Face Cloth
o   Ziploc Bags
o   Sunglasses
o   Empty Plastic Water Bottles
o   One Day Change of Clothes
o   Confirmation of Hotel Booking
o   Phone # and Email of Family, Friends, Contacts, Ect.
o   Mints
o   Baby wipes
o   Comb/Brush
o   Chap Stick
o   Carabiners
o   Travel Size
o   Deodorant
o   Shampoo
o   Tooth Brush
o   Tooth Paste
o   Kleenex
o   Hand Sanitizer


   Food & Snacks
  o   Sheldon’s Granola Bars
  o   Hilary’s Granola Bars
  o   Water Bottles
  o   Dried Fruit
  o   Gatorade Powder
  o   Gum
  o   Mints
  o   Hard Candy
  o   Soft Candy
  o   Cheese Powder for KD
  o   Instant Oatmeal
  o   Tea
  o   Hummus ( just add water)
  o   Beef Jerky
  o   Peanuts
  o   Pop Tarts (s’mores) 

   Fun Things for the Girls
  o   Coloring Books
  o   Crayons
  o   Note Books
  o   Seek and Find Books
  o   Children’s Music
  o   Dolls and Stuffies (that we’ve slept with)
  o   Beach Ball
  o   Hot Wheel Cars
  o   Bubbles
  o   Soft Frisbee
  o   Blankets (that we’ve slept with)
  o   Small Card Games (memory)
  o   Small Kid Games (fishing)
  o   Etch a Sketch
  o   Mini Lego Set
  o   Beads and String
  o   Dry Erase Board
  o   Skipping Rope
  o   Pencils that Don’t Need Sharpening
  o   Little People, cars, and animals



    If you are wondering how we are going to get all this into 4 suitcases, that makes 2 of us...  We'll have to see how it goes as it all gets closer, but we may end up with an extra container just to get us all the way over there...

   So what does everyone think?  Too much?  What are we missing?  What are we bringing that we don't need to....Ruth?  Darci?  Jessa?  Got any more ideas for us :)