I'm B..A..C..K!!

Well...I've been back for a while but been busy getting the rest of the adoption paperwork together. So, here's the last month of my life...bullet style (in no certain order):

* Got my fingerprints taken today for immigration. Now it's a 7 week wait for the "permission" from the government to bring Alina into the states. Waited it out once, can do it again. Once I get the "permission slip", a.k.a the coveted I 171H, that completes ALL the paperwork needed for my dossier...yippeee!!!! Then it's time to get everything apostilled and sent off to the agency where it will all get translated and then sent to the Kaz embassy in DC. Then, after they approve it, it's off to Kaz and then I wait to get my Travel Approval. I think I'm still looking at another 7 to 9 months before I can bring Alina home.

* Homestudy is done! Got that taken care of last week. I kinda had to be a squeaky wheel about it but I was not waiting 3 months like I did last time. Last time there was no child waiting for me. I was waiting for a child (the China adoption). I hate being a squeaky wheel but we all know what a squeaky wheel gets....

* Took care of my friend who had a mastectomy for a week and a half. She came through it rather well. She had some complications afterwards but is on the path to wellness now. As much as I love her, I have discovered that she is the most negative person in the world!! Spending a week and a half, day in and day out, has really opened my eyes to her true personality. Don't get me wrong...I still love her to death. What bothers me is that she CHOOSES to be this way. She knows that she is being negative, abrasive, and pushy and she has the attitude of, "If you don't like it then F**k you!!" Now, she's not like this all the time. It was just a little bit of a shock I guess. She started out as a mentor to me and we became friends. I've been with her through the death of her husband, her mother, and now her cancer scare plus many other things. She will always be my friend but don't know if I can spend another week and a half with her...hehehe!!! (PS her stepdaughter and her partner are also helping to take care of her).

* Going to the beach next week!!! Wooohooo!!! I really shouldn't but I'm doing it anyway. 4 days and 3 nights in Biloxi, MS!!! Yeah, I know. It's not Florida or the Keys..it's only Biloxi. But, when you haven't been to the beach in over 3 years, it's good enough for me and especially for my budget right now.

* Just made a TO DO list for the summer which includes getting all the little things done around the house PLUS fixing Alina's room. I'm not repainting (thank God) so I'm working with the colors that are already there (purples, lavenders, greens). I'm just "kid-a-fying" it.

* Bought Alina a bed frame, comforter, and curtain rods. The bed is a captains bed with three drawers under it. The comforter is sooo cute and so are the curtain rods. I'm making her curtains and I've order wooden letters that spell her name..gotta paint those and hang them. I'll post some pics when I get it all finished. I think it's going to be sooo cute!!!

* Hung my flat screen TV on the wall this weekend AND put my new media cabinet together. This cabinet holds 440 DVDs!!! It took me two days to put it together because my little battery powered screwdriver kept running out of juice..teehee! It looks pretty cool!

* Some friends and I have started to go to Swankies Taco Shop (weird I know) for Trivia night on Wednesdays. It's been really fun!! The margaritas are the bomb and the foods not bad either. I thought since this is my last summer of being by myself (hopefully), I'd better get out and do stuff while I can.

* Been to the zoo several times and will go again several times. It's Gili's (my surrogate child) favorite place to go. We went all by ourselves a couple of weeks ago. It was great to "play mommy" for a day. I also kept her one day last week. We always have so much fun!!

* Welcomed home Owen Walls who is our newest addition. He arrived fresh from China on May 15th. He is three and such a cutie!!! Most of my China mom's group meet Owen and his family at the airport when they got back from China. He seems to be adjusting well to his new family and life in the states.

That's about it. Thanks for dropping by!! I'll try not to let another month go by before posting again. I should do this every night. It's very cathartic for me but I bet it bores you guys to tears...hehe!!! Cheers....until next time!!