Room to Grow

A couple of people have sent me notes asking about the room. They will be sharing a room. Here is what I have planned although it is subject to change. Subject to change because as a bargain hunter, I've not been able to find the bedding at what I think is a reasonable price.

FURNITURE: Black - You can't tell from the picture, but what I like most about the bed is the tall headboard -- 55" high. I love the "Princess in the pea" feeling.

WALLS: Some shade of yellow.

DECOR: Primary colors (Camp 1830) although I tried to fight it as long as I could.

BATHROOM: The challenge is their adjoining bathroom. I just have not found anything that I like that works with the bedroom. The closest I've come is this shower curtain. It is a little too BRIGHT for my taste especially in their small bathroom. Just as I posted the picture, I came up with a bright idea.

I am going to cut the shower curtain and use the top as a valance over a solid red shower curtain. That will work! I can take the rest of the shower curtain and make a valance for their bathroom window. I'm liking this idea. All I need to do now is warm up my glue gun!


I found another shower curtain that I think looks better (not as bright) but I don't like that it is vinyl.

Feeling Empty

Yesterday I completed the biggest task on my to do list. The kids room that was once my den, my office, my mother's room, and then the guest room is now EMPTY thanks to the movers.

Well, empty with the exception of dust, the floor lamp I've been changing the lampshade on for 15 years and the television that is now sitting on the floor because the old entertainment unit is GONE! The 8 ft. bookshelf - GONE!

It's time for the fun part. I've ordered the beds and now it's time to paint and clean the carpet. I guess I should say it's time to hire someone to paint and clean the carpet.

WOOO - WHOOO! Hooray for me!

Hit Me With Your Best Shot

My father got all of his shots months ago and was too excited to do so in my opinion. Ive been really busy but procrastinating more than anything about getting my shots.

I couldn't get them done at my doctors office and every place else that I called wanted a $125 consultation fee, $60 office fee, and $95 for the shot (times 3). My dad paid $50 in Indianapolis.

I was also told that insurance would not cover it. I kept looking and was able to get my TwinRx Hep A/B shot for $15, no consultation fee and no charge for an office visit. Now I just have two more shots to go.

I do love the internet. I hope I got the full strength shot!

Don't You Love a Bargain?

I have been looking at children's bedroom furniture for awhile. I was at least happy when I finally decided that I wanted black wood furniture. I narrowed it down to three or four beds. Once I get to that point I start looking for the best price.

I decided on this bed.

• Furniture store price for one bed is $900 before tax and delivery. The sales lady told me that if I paid cash for both she would give me a 15% discount. Total for two beds = $1835
  
• Online searching I found the beds for $535 each with free delivery. No tax! This was a bargain but I kept searching.
• Online best price search found the exact bed from the same manufacturer for $385 each. White glove delivery that comes with full setup the total for the two beds is $965. Now, that is what I call a serious BARGAIN! Even better they only require 33% before delivery.

If anyone is looking for furniture check out www.furnituregeek.com.

DJ Play My Song

If I were a DJ I would talk in a deep voice and send this out to all of the waiting mommy's and daddy's. Granted the new pop princess isn't singing about adoption but the words fit.

Jordan Sparks winner of American Idol 2008.



Live Version

Starting Over

It's been 283 days in this process. I spent the first 240 writing like I nothing else to do. Now, my blog hasn't really been updated in a few weeks. Well, it's not because I had nothing to say, it's because I had too much too say and struggled with how to put it all in to words.

What does my header say? Follow me on the journey and a journey it has been. I just wasn't sure how much I wanted to share. I also felt like I needed to take a few steps back and take a lot of deep, deep breaths.

So here is a brief update. Many details will be filled in later.

1. I started the process in August of 2007. I chose my agency applied and officially went on the wait list January 5, 2008. I settled in for what was to be my 0-6 month wait.
   
2. On Wednesday, April 30,2008 my agency and I came to a big impassable fork in the road. We officially parted ways on Monday, May 5, 2008 -- four months into the wait.
   
3. I had some concerns early on (December), considered switching agencies but having just finished the paper chase and sending off the dossier, It was too much to think about starting over with another agency. Lessons Learned: An agency might be a great one but what's good for some may not be good for you. Trust your instincts.
4. I began the process again and had to find another agency. What was immediately evident was that I had learned a great deal over my months in the process. Earlier I didn't know any better, I really didn't know the questions to ask. It was interesting talking to agencies and hearing the things that some of them said. Lessons Learned: What matters at the beginning of the process is not what matters in the middle or the end. Trust your instincts.
5. So, believe it or not I talked to probably 10 agencies. Some didn't even exist when I started the process, some I would never have considered at the beginning. My needs were different, what mattered most to me was open communication. You will find that even bad news is better than no news or being pacified but people who don't think that you can "handle the truth." Lessons Learned: Ask all the questions that you need to ask and realize that the quality of the answer or NO answer speaks LOUDLY. Trust your instincts.
   
6. I narrowed my choice to two agencies. I abandoned those two and I selected a waiting children's program. I selected two amazing children and began the new process. Application and fees paid, dossier documents prepared only to find out that the children weren't actually available. I was offered (I think) four sets in their place, however they may or may not be any more available than the last two. Having learned my lesson, I spent no more time on that program. Lessons Learned: Ask more questions about how and when children are referred. We focus so much on our paperwork but are the children paper ready?
   
7. I stepped back took a couple of deep breaths and went back to my first choice. I started over. This is the right choice for me and I am only sad that I didn't choose them earlier. Application filed, fees paid, dossier documents prepared and sent off. Lesson Learned: Trust your instincts.

Well that's the update. At least it is what I'm comfortable sharing at this point. More to come I promise. I'm not going to change my process or wait time clock. But, let's consider today the new start.

Working the List

Still working and waiting. Update from April 29.

1. Clean the kids room down to the floor and walls. - Not yet. I'm close only furniture left to go.
   
2. Hold a garage sale. Let a hauler take away everything else. - This weekend. A couple of weeks ago. Made a few bucks.
   
3. Clean the carpet throughout the house. - Someday. Mmmmm
   
4. Paint the children's room and their bathroom. - Before I clean the carpet. Mmmmm
5. Clean their linen closet to the bare shelves. - Before I travel to Ethiopia. I did it!
   
6. Dry wall the garage it is an absolute child hazard as it is today. - Tomorrow. DONE!
   
7. Wishlist for shower. - Growing daily.
   
8. Begin purchasing things that they will need. (It's been hard holding off). Still hard. Shhh...I did buy a couple of things.
   
9. Plan the itenarary for me and my dads first visit to Ethiopia. - Can't even think about it. It's getting super close.
   
10. Visit a couple of my final choices for schools. Make a choice. - The list has narrowed.
    
11. Choose, order, purchase their bedroom furniture. - See below.
    
12. Decorate thier room - choose bedding, wall stuff all of that. - After furniture.