Little Prince surpassed himself by waking up (and shouting for mummy!!) at FIVE AM!!!! I persuaded him it was still the middle of the night and managed another hour before he demanded to get up at 6am. He came in bed with me for a snoozy snuggle, before disappearing off downstairs at 7am ish. He watched tv and played with his toys, with only occassional visits to check if I was getting up yet!! I finally gave in when Mr Messy rang from university town to say that he was just leaving the hotel to go and see Little Miss Sensible for half an hour, before setting off to get Drama Teen. I dream of having a lie in lol.
I found a few more decorations I'd forgotten to pack away, and now the house is completely de-Christmased until later this year lol. And apart from the Christmas tree that is Mr Messy's job to move. Fraulein and her friend got up late morning and went for a short walk round the village, there isn't that much to see lol. I've not really done much apart from showered and tidying up and playing with Little Prince. I've spoken to Little Miss Sensible, who says its strange to be back at university and that her room is cold, she thinks The Boyfriend turned her room heating off, but doesn't know how to turn it back on again lol. Apparently she met her dad wearing her pyjamas under her clothes and went straight back to bed when he'd left - wish I could do that lol. Little Prince spoke to her a bit on the phone too, but didn't want to chat for too long. He has been complaining of a headache all morning, I hope he's not coming down with something else - he is so happy that its almost time to go back to school!!!
Sunday, 6 January 2008
Sad Saturday
Little Miss Sensible worked 9am till 2pm, which was a complete bummer as she went back to university yesterday too. So we didn't get to see much of her at all. We had planned for me and her to take Little Prince out for the day, but she'd forgotten she was working. Oh well as a poor student she needs the money, and it does show how responsible she is :-) When she got home from work we did take Little Prince to Toys R Us and let him chose a present (from LMS paid for by me lol). He must have examined every single toy in the whole shop, and rejected them all!! Until he decided he wanted an Aqua Draw :-) He used to have one of those but we had to get rid of it due to a potty training accident!! I'll leave the details to your imagination lol.
I cried lots when we got home and loaded LMS's stuff into the car and waved her and Mr Messy off. Little Prince kept stroking my cheek and saying "I feel like that too" but he didn't actually cry. He was extra huggy and cuddly, which is always nice, usually he is too busy and active for many cuddles. Later on Fraulein and her friend rang up to say they needed picking up from the station, so off me and Little Prince set to get them. By the time we got there (40 min journey) the girls were shivering outside the station, but they had been asked to ring BEFORE they got on the train, not once it had set off as had happened - perhaps they'll listen next time lol?!?! I was not in the mood for cooking so I took them all to McDonalds on the way home. Little Prince wasn't spectacularly well behaved and seemed to be playing up quite a lot more than usual. Once we eventually arrived back home it was his bedtime, so I got him ready and in bed pretty quickly. Fraulein and her friend disappeared off to her room and I was left to take down the Christmas decorations on my own. I hate taking the decorations down, especially on my own, but I always seem to end up doing it!!! At one point (mid job) Fraulein did come down and ask if I knew where Drama Teen's High School Musical DVD was - I didn't unfortunately. Despite it being obvious I was in the middle of a job, she disappeared back upstairs without asking to help - not happy!! I know, I know I should have just asked them to help, but I was in a bad mood and preferred to play the martyr!!! It was 11.30pm ish by the time I'd got all the decorations down and packed back into their cupboard, apart from the (artificial) tree, as I can't get the box upstairs on my own. Mr Messy will put it away when he gets back later on Sunday. Forgot to mention (I think!!) that he is staying over in university town, before setting off on Sunday morning to pick up Drama Teen after her skiing trip.
I cried lots when we got home and loaded LMS's stuff into the car and waved her and Mr Messy off. Little Prince kept stroking my cheek and saying "I feel like that too" but he didn't actually cry. He was extra huggy and cuddly, which is always nice, usually he is too busy and active for many cuddles. Later on Fraulein and her friend rang up to say they needed picking up from the station, so off me and Little Prince set to get them. By the time we got there (40 min journey) the girls were shivering outside the station, but they had been asked to ring BEFORE they got on the train, not once it had set off as had happened - perhaps they'll listen next time lol?!?! I was not in the mood for cooking so I took them all to McDonalds on the way home. Little Prince wasn't spectacularly well behaved and seemed to be playing up quite a lot more than usual. Once we eventually arrived back home it was his bedtime, so I got him ready and in bed pretty quickly. Fraulein and her friend disappeared off to her room and I was left to take down the Christmas decorations on my own. I hate taking the decorations down, especially on my own, but I always seem to end up doing it!!! At one point (mid job) Fraulein did come down and ask if I knew where Drama Teen's High School Musical DVD was - I didn't unfortunately. Despite it being obvious I was in the middle of a job, she disappeared back upstairs without asking to help - not happy!! I know, I know I should have just asked them to help, but I was in a bad mood and preferred to play the martyr!!! It was 11.30pm ish by the time I'd got all the decorations down and packed back into their cupboard, apart from the (artificial) tree, as I can't get the box upstairs on my own. Mr Messy will put it away when he gets back later on Sunday. Forgot to mention (I think!!) that he is staying over in university town, before setting off on Sunday morning to pick up Drama Teen after her skiing trip.
Friday, 4 January 2008
Thoughts
I've just gone back and rechecked what the China Adoption Forecast website has had to say about when we can expect to receive our referral. In Sept 2007 their best guess was 14th August 2012. I've just run the numbers again today January 2008 and our referral estimate has pushed out to 3rd October 2013. So in FOUR months our referral estimate has gone almost FOURTEEN months longer!!! OMG!!!! That is unreal and very very scary. I feel a total sense of peace about our wish to change to an expedited SN request, but if any of the pieces don't fall into place (SW, LA, DFES, CCAA) then I don't know what we will do. As a family we can't wait that long. I think we will have to reassess where we are in the process in another 12 months and see what we can do. Hopefully, fingers, toes and everything crossed we will have or be very close to receiving our SN expedited referral by then, but if not - who knows?!?!?!
Today's Stuff
Today was a busy day - see what happens when I get better lol. I had to drop Fraulein (and her friend who is visiting from Germany) off at college this morning for a revision lesson. They were then going to go into town to the local cinema and needed a lift home later. When we got home Little Prince said he didn't feel well and went all shivery and cold, hope he isn't coming down with another bug, he is so desperate to get back to school and see his friends. Got a call from Little Miss Sensible not long after we got in to go and pick her up from The Boyfriend's house, as he was about to set off on his skiing adventure. She seemed subdued, pale and quiet when I picked her up, but hadn't been crying, which I had expected so was quite a surprise. I'm sure the tears will come later!! We got back home and luckily the deliveries I was supposed to be waiting in all day for hadn't arrived (stand for the ginormous Chav TV and various wires and surge protectors for the same TV). A couple of hours later I had to go and pick up the hire car we've got for the weekend, Mr Messy has to go over to LMS's university and drop her off tomorrow and then stay overnight and go straight to Carlisle to pick Drama Teen up from her skiing trip on Sunday and I have to take Fraulein's friend back to the airport on Saturday too. My car, a beaten up old Discovery isn't reliable enough and is way too thirsty to take on long journies, so we've hired a car for the weekend just to make sure we have two reliable cars. I ended up with a Ford C-Max and I'm not impressed, I just touch the brakes and nearly put my head through the steering wheel, and its all adjusted for a midget, I'm not that tall and I can't see the dials through the steering wheel!! I should get the manual out and adjust it all, but it seems a bit too much faffing when the car is going back first thing on Monday!! I've told Mr Messy he can drive it, I'll drive our other car lol. Anyway after picking up the car, I went to the supermarket to get LMS's shopping that she needs for uni, and to kill time till I had to pick Fraulein and friend up. Just as I finished the shopping I got a text from them saying they would get the bus, so I could go straight home. Which meant I got to spend a little bit more time with LMS, before she goes back to uni tomorrow. Its started to really hit me that she is going again, and I keep crying, but don't tell her or she'll get upset too :-( When Mr Messy got home he put together the TV stand and I've just helped him put it in place, he is all excited, but its just a TV stand and I don't really 'get' why its so good!?!?! It must be a boy thing?!?!
We also got an email from our Social Worker saying she will be coming to see us in a few weeks to start redoing our homestudy, and also saying we would need to redo our references. I queried this with her as it sounded a LOT more complicated than the DFES requirements for an addendum and letter of support from the LA, and she has agreed to contact the DFES and find out exactly what they want/need before coming to see us. I just wish that our sw and our LA Team Leader would actually listen to me when I tell them what is required, they both agree that I know more about the process then they do, but then ignore me when I tell them what we need to do and needlessly complicate matters!!! Hopefully the phone call to the DFES (must learn their new acronym!!!) will clear up matters and make it all simpler - fingers crossed!!
We also got an email from our Social Worker saying she will be coming to see us in a few weeks to start redoing our homestudy, and also saying we would need to redo our references. I queried this with her as it sounded a LOT more complicated than the DFES requirements for an addendum and letter of support from the LA, and she has agreed to contact the DFES and find out exactly what they want/need before coming to see us. I just wish that our sw and our LA Team Leader would actually listen to me when I tell them what is required, they both agree that I know more about the process then they do, but then ignore me when I tell them what we need to do and needlessly complicate matters!!! Hopefully the phone call to the DFES (must learn their new acronym!!!) will clear up matters and make it all simpler - fingers crossed!!
Thursday, 3 January 2008
Sad Goodbyes
I've just got back from dropping Little Miss Sensible and The Boyfriend off at his house. He is off on a skiing trip with university tomorrow, and when he returns he will be straight back into his studies. So we have had to say goodbye to him tonight. Little Prince was very sad. I'm very sad. And LMS is the saddest of all. She will now spend all evening/night (she is staying over) arguing and nitpicking at The Boyfriend because she is cross and very sad that he is going (and leaving her). Hopefully he will be patient and kind with her and they won't fall out too badly.
Have a good skiing trip The Boyfriend - you will be missed xxxx
Have a good skiing trip The Boyfriend - you will be missed xxxx
Yes its another catch up post!!
Today is the first time I've felt well since I got sick before Christmas!! Whatever that bug was it really knocked me for six!!! So here is yet another quick catch up post!!
Christmas Day - Little Prince woke us up just after 8am (wow!!!) thought it would be MUCH earlier than that lol. We had hyped him up the night before looking at the NORAD Track Santa website - he loved it :-) The kids all opened their stocking pressies downstairs, while we waited for Mr Messy to get up (he was very very tired). Once they'd opened them, and had breakfast we went to the lounge for the rest of the pressies. We spent most of the morning opening them - we take turns so we can all ooh and aah over each pressie. Little Prince was impressed with everything he got, but his mega mostest fave pressie was Yellow Power Ranger and he spent the rest of the day playing with it :-) Drama Teen was as impressed with her snazzy new mobile phone as with her Playdoh Octopus and Moonsand (yes she did ask for all those things!!!). Little Miss Sensible loved her colouring books (yes she did ask for them!!!) and Fraulein cried when she saw we'd got her an iPod Nano!! We didn't see The Boyfriend that day, but he did complain that it was embarassing to get SO many pressies, and his pile had been larger than the rest of his family's put together - whoops!!
Boxing Day - We went over to Wales for our neice's 11th birthday party. It was lovely to see everyone and catch up on what they've been up to. Its a pity we only get to see some family members at Christmas and birthdays.
Thursday - No idea I can't remember what happened!!!
Friday - As above!!!!
Saturday - Mr Messy and Drama Teen went to his mother's house and picked up Niece to take her shopping for her birthday (Boxing Day). She had told her mum earlier in the month that she was a bit fed up that her brother gets a big fuss for his birthday and her birthday gets swallowed up in Christmas. With all the sales on they had a great time, even Mr Messy!!!
Sunday - Friend's and their four kids (aged 10-16 years) came over to visit. So the house was full, noisy and a bit manic. Loads of fun though :-) Five mins after the friends left, and I was on the phone to a different friend, Drama Teen came running down the stairs yelling "They've crashed, they've crashed!!" They had apparently skidded on some mud or ice on the way out of the village and come off the road into the drainage ditch. LMS rang Mr Messy, who'd gone to fix a friend's computer and I set off to see if there was anything I could do. Luckily when I got there everyone was ok, apart from the youngest who was crying as she'd banged her head. I loaded them all into my car and brought them back to our house. Dosed the little girl with Calpol and put Shrek III on the DVD - they were all a bit shaken even though they weren't hurt, Shrek seemed like a good idea - cheer them all up and distract them a bit!! Rang a farmer friend to see if he could use his tractor to pull them out (he tried but couldn't find anywhere to tie tow ropes to so couldn't help in the end - but what a star for trying THANK YOU farmer friend). Then I went back out to their Dad who had stayed with the car, taking torches, cans of coke and thick coats. Returned home via the shop (for more coke supplies!!) and made all the kids eat something. The AA eventually arrived and towed the car out of the ditch, checked it over and pronounced it safe to drive. The ONLY damage was a light array that had popped slightly out of place!! Talk about Christmas miracles :-) I think all the fuss and palaver was too much for Niece who cried and was quite upset at bedtime, poor little mite.
New Year's Eve - I took LMS, Drama Teen and Niece to see Enchanted. Although the older girls had seen the film just before Christmas (I'd been too ill to go with them) they were happy to see it again. It was a lot of fun, just the right mix of Disney hokum and a spoof :-) Can't remember doing much else lol. Probably as I went to bed at about 8pm - still not 100% better lol. LMS went to a party at The Boyfriend's house and Fraulein went to a different party at her friend's house.
New Year's Day - The plan was for me to return Niece to Mr Messy's mum's house (who would then take her the rest of the way to Wales), and then visit my own parents, who I haven't seen for ages as they've been in Australia. Trouble was that LMS didn't get back from The Boyfriend's house (with the car) until almost lunchtime, by which time Mr Messy's mum had decided she had waited long enough and set off for Wales!! This meant that, despite all our own plans and things to do, that Mr Messy had to drive all the way to Wales to drop Niece off, over a 6 hour round trip!! Not a fabulous start to the New Year really!! He took Drama Teen with him to keep Niece company, which meant that she couldn't get on with her packing for her CLAPA Ski trip (tomorrow!!!). While they were out me and LMS emptied the huge cupboards in the lounge, ready for Mr Messy and The Boyfriend to move them around when Mr Messy got home, ready for the deliver of our Chavtastic 50" LCD TV!!! Despite being dog tired Mr Messy and The Boyfriend managed to move all the furniture round. Little Prince now has THE most expensive toy box in the world - the walnut cabinet we had custom made as a TV/display cabinet (that doesn't fit a widescreen TV!!) is now piled up with his jigsaws/train sets/lego!!! I supervised Drama Teen's packing and we even managed to get it all in the suitcase - do you know how much stuff a teen NEEDS to take on holiday with her?!?!
Wednesday - Me, Mr Messy and Drama Teen got up at 6am to take her North to meet up with the coach taking her on her skiing trip. We got to Carlisle in plenty of time, which was good as we had to hunt round for a parking space and ended up parked ages away from the meeting point. She was very happy to see all her friends and happily went off with them on the coach. Hopefully they will have some snow, as they are going as far North as Aviemore there is a pretty good chance I think :-) Trouble is I won't find out till she gets back as there is a 'technology ban' so I had to get her iPod and mobile back out of her bag and bring them home with me!! Sneaky little moo!!! She did admit she'd tried to smuggle her technology as soon as I asked and said she'd decided there was no point lying she'd just own up if asked.
Thursday - Not much happened today. Went to the supermarket to restock the cupboards that were getting a tad bare!! Especially after the invasion (and re-invasion) by our friends and their four ravenous kids :-) Got a phone call while I was out from one of my friends asking if I'd like to meet up for a coffee and chat, and jumped at the chance - sorry LMS (who was looking after Little Prince AGAIN!!). It was lovely to catch up with K, who has also been ill over Christmas so we hadn't really been up to much either of us lol.
Well there it is - caught up again. I'm going to carry on working on catching up with all my backlogged emails so hopefully you'll hear from me soon :-)
Christmas Day - Little Prince woke us up just after 8am (wow!!!) thought it would be MUCH earlier than that lol. We had hyped him up the night before looking at the NORAD Track Santa website - he loved it :-) The kids all opened their stocking pressies downstairs, while we waited for Mr Messy to get up (he was very very tired). Once they'd opened them, and had breakfast we went to the lounge for the rest of the pressies. We spent most of the morning opening them - we take turns so we can all ooh and aah over each pressie. Little Prince was impressed with everything he got, but his mega mostest fave pressie was Yellow Power Ranger and he spent the rest of the day playing with it :-) Drama Teen was as impressed with her snazzy new mobile phone as with her Playdoh Octopus and Moonsand (yes she did ask for all those things!!!). Little Miss Sensible loved her colouring books (yes she did ask for them!!!) and Fraulein cried when she saw we'd got her an iPod Nano!! We didn't see The Boyfriend that day, but he did complain that it was embarassing to get SO many pressies, and his pile had been larger than the rest of his family's put together - whoops!!
Boxing Day - We went over to Wales for our neice's 11th birthday party. It was lovely to see everyone and catch up on what they've been up to. Its a pity we only get to see some family members at Christmas and birthdays.
Thursday - No idea I can't remember what happened!!!
Friday - As above!!!!
Saturday - Mr Messy and Drama Teen went to his mother's house and picked up Niece to take her shopping for her birthday (Boxing Day). She had told her mum earlier in the month that she was a bit fed up that her brother gets a big fuss for his birthday and her birthday gets swallowed up in Christmas. With all the sales on they had a great time, even Mr Messy!!!
Sunday - Friend's and their four kids (aged 10-16 years) came over to visit. So the house was full, noisy and a bit manic. Loads of fun though :-) Five mins after the friends left, and I was on the phone to a different friend, Drama Teen came running down the stairs yelling "They've crashed, they've crashed!!" They had apparently skidded on some mud or ice on the way out of the village and come off the road into the drainage ditch. LMS rang Mr Messy, who'd gone to fix a friend's computer and I set off to see if there was anything I could do. Luckily when I got there everyone was ok, apart from the youngest who was crying as she'd banged her head. I loaded them all into my car and brought them back to our house. Dosed the little girl with Calpol and put Shrek III on the DVD - they were all a bit shaken even though they weren't hurt, Shrek seemed like a good idea - cheer them all up and distract them a bit!! Rang a farmer friend to see if he could use his tractor to pull them out (he tried but couldn't find anywhere to tie tow ropes to so couldn't help in the end - but what a star for trying THANK YOU farmer friend). Then I went back out to their Dad who had stayed with the car, taking torches, cans of coke and thick coats. Returned home via the shop (for more coke supplies!!) and made all the kids eat something. The AA eventually arrived and towed the car out of the ditch, checked it over and pronounced it safe to drive. The ONLY damage was a light array that had popped slightly out of place!! Talk about Christmas miracles :-) I think all the fuss and palaver was too much for Niece who cried and was quite upset at bedtime, poor little mite.
New Year's Eve - I took LMS, Drama Teen and Niece to see Enchanted. Although the older girls had seen the film just before Christmas (I'd been too ill to go with them) they were happy to see it again. It was a lot of fun, just the right mix of Disney hokum and a spoof :-) Can't remember doing much else lol. Probably as I went to bed at about 8pm - still not 100% better lol. LMS went to a party at The Boyfriend's house and Fraulein went to a different party at her friend's house.
New Year's Day - The plan was for me to return Niece to Mr Messy's mum's house (who would then take her the rest of the way to Wales), and then visit my own parents, who I haven't seen for ages as they've been in Australia. Trouble was that LMS didn't get back from The Boyfriend's house (with the car) until almost lunchtime, by which time Mr Messy's mum had decided she had waited long enough and set off for Wales!! This meant that, despite all our own plans and things to do, that Mr Messy had to drive all the way to Wales to drop Niece off, over a 6 hour round trip!! Not a fabulous start to the New Year really!! He took Drama Teen with him to keep Niece company, which meant that she couldn't get on with her packing for her CLAPA Ski trip (tomorrow!!!). While they were out me and LMS emptied the huge cupboards in the lounge, ready for Mr Messy and The Boyfriend to move them around when Mr Messy got home, ready for the deliver of our Chavtastic 50" LCD TV!!! Despite being dog tired Mr Messy and The Boyfriend managed to move all the furniture round. Little Prince now has THE most expensive toy box in the world - the walnut cabinet we had custom made as a TV/display cabinet (that doesn't fit a widescreen TV!!) is now piled up with his jigsaws/train sets/lego!!! I supervised Drama Teen's packing and we even managed to get it all in the suitcase - do you know how much stuff a teen NEEDS to take on holiday with her?!?!
Wednesday - Me, Mr Messy and Drama Teen got up at 6am to take her North to meet up with the coach taking her on her skiing trip. We got to Carlisle in plenty of time, which was good as we had to hunt round for a parking space and ended up parked ages away from the meeting point. She was very happy to see all her friends and happily went off with them on the coach. Hopefully they will have some snow, as they are going as far North as Aviemore there is a pretty good chance I think :-) Trouble is I won't find out till she gets back as there is a 'technology ban' so I had to get her iPod and mobile back out of her bag and bring them home with me!! Sneaky little moo!!! She did admit she'd tried to smuggle her technology as soon as I asked and said she'd decided there was no point lying she'd just own up if asked.
Thursday - Not much happened today. Went to the supermarket to restock the cupboards that were getting a tad bare!! Especially after the invasion (and re-invasion) by our friends and their four ravenous kids :-) Got a phone call while I was out from one of my friends asking if I'd like to meet up for a coffee and chat, and jumped at the chance - sorry LMS (who was looking after Little Prince AGAIN!!). It was lovely to catch up with K, who has also been ill over Christmas so we hadn't really been up to much either of us lol.
Well there it is - caught up again. I'm going to carry on working on catching up with all my backlogged emails so hopefully you'll hear from me soon :-)
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25th May 2009 - See New Child again & Court Date
23rd May 2009 - Fly back to Ethiopia
26th March 2009 - Fly to Ethiopia :-)
3rd March 2009 - Dossier Arrived at Orphanage
26th February 2009 - Dossier sent to Ethiopia
22nd December 2008 - Dossier back at DCSF
28th November 2008 - Certificate of Eligibility ISSUED
6th October 2008 - PASSED Approval Panel
7th July 2008 - Homestudy Update Started
28th Feb 2008 - Told LA we wished to change country
LID (Logged in Date) with CCAA 16th August 2007
Documents to China 10th August 2007
Passed Approval Panel 5th March 2007
Homestudy started 6th June 2006
First Contact with our LA 1st Jan 2006
