Bring Makayla home

Family blog

2010-11-14T18:42:00.000-08:00

Now that we are home, I'm going to be blogging from our family blog. I'm going to leave this blog up, because its helpful for people to look at different posts about different area's in the adoption process!
Click here to visit our family blog!

2010-11-09T16:14:00.000-08:00

I need to decide what to do with this blog. Do I want to keep it or just post on my family blog now that our princess is home. There is definitely more pics and stuff on the family blog.

Today Arina had an ENT appointment and a swallow study.
First, the good news.. although her nasal airway is extremely small, he thinks its ok to try and sedate her without general anesthesia. Of course they'll be ready if she tries to pull anything, after all, she does have that extra chromosome that screams naughtiness!
The bad news.. she aspirates just about everything you put in her mouth! She aspirated nectar thick. They tried honey, but she just cried because she couldn't suck it out. They wanted to put an NJ down right then. I called my ped, and she wants to consult a few people before going forward with a tube. We hate to take a baby that is eating great, and create an oral aversion by taking her food away. And since we've only had her a week, we don't know if she gets frequent pneumonia from aspirating.
I'm torn, on one hand, I am the one that said she needed a swallow study. She sounds horrible when she eats, and super junky afterwards. On the other hand, I am enjoying feeding a baby again, and although we knew when we adopted another DS child, that these things can happen, I really don't want a tube for her! So the next couple of days will be some real soul searching on what to do for our princess!
Also, I want to get a double stroller, but I'm torn as to which kind to buy. I was leaning toward the jogging ones, they seem to be the lightest. Any double stroller is going to be bulky, but the front and back ones seem heavy and hard to handle. Also, I need to find one that will have room for all Jax equipment. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated if you have one you really like!

Arina "Rocks"

2010-11-05T21:19:00.000-07:00

We took Arina to her ped today. Poor baby is probably thinking we are a little crazy right now. She got 3 different x-rays, 8 tubes of labs, 4 shots, and a TB test. They tested her for everything from HIV to Hepatitis.
Her chest x-ray doesn't look too bad (I'm used to seeing Jax x-ray) Her heart is not enlarged, but the shape is suspicious. She needs an echo stat, but it needs to be sedated, and since we know she has airway issues, we can't sedate her until we talk to ENT first. So we were able to squeeze her into ENT next Tuesday, then we can know if we need to do general anesthesia in the OR. They will also do a hearing test when they do the echo. Trying to get this girl fine-tuned!
She also needs a swallow study, she chokes like crazy when she eats, and I'm guessing she needs thickened milk.
But she is fitting in just fine. And the boys love her "trick"!

Baby Arina is home!

2010-11-04T15:17:00.000-07:00

Daddy and baby came in at 10:28 last night. We didn't take any pics with our camera, as we were a tad busy.
She is an angel! She never fusses, you put her in her crib and she goes right to sleep! Her brothers are fighting over who gets to feed her, hold her, push her, whatever!
She hated her bath this morning, I'm not sure if she has never been in a bathtub, or if it was a bad experience at the orphanage, but she screamed the whole time!
I can't even explain how I feel. Its been 8 years since I gave a baby a bottle, fed them baby food, and sat them in a shopping cart! We are enjoying every minute of her!
Sorry for the first part of the video. Ray was coming, so I threw my video camera at my niece and told her to tape!
And sorry its so long, I don't know how to split it up.
Oh and the cutest thing. You'll see in the video Tanner is crying, I ask him whats wrong, and he says "I'm just so happy". It was the cutest thing ever!
The video looks better on our other blog, its not cut off like it is here.

Orphan no more!

2010-11-01T18:45:00.001-07:00

Update from This morning:
They are coming home tomorrow! I'll let everyone know what time the flight comes in so if anyone wants to come. It will be evening, hopefully around 7.

Arina is no longer an orphan! I guess she hasn't been since court, but when she has to stay in the orphanage, she still seems like an orphan. She's outa there!!
It was so cool that the Browning family was there to meet their babies for the first time! I so remember that day, in that very room. Seeing Arina for the first time, and thinking she was so tiny!!
I got a phone call bright and early today, while I was still asleep. From a friend that Ray saw on facebook and asked her to call me and tell me to go skype with him. I had to wake the boys up, but as soon as I told them their baby sister was on the computer, they jumped right up.
They were loving seeing her, so close, making her sweet faces, and nodding at her hands. Oh I can almost feel her in my arms!
We are hoping he can find the right milk to give her. They give her porridge at the orphanage, so Ray didn't know what to give her. My ped said whole milk should be ok, and if she seems super spitty or gets diarrhea, then we could try soy. Wish daddy luck, as this is a little out of his league, he usually will let me decide that kind of stuff!
He's thinking he may be able to come home Wednesday. His facilitator thinks they can do the Embassy stuff in one day. She couldn't guarantee, so until I know tomorrow morning (5pm his time) I will wait to change his flights so I don't have to pay to change them twice.
Oh I can't even describe the feeling of knowing that daddy has her, and that soon she will be here. There's no euphoria like it!

Happy Halloween

2010-10-31T08:47:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween to everyone!
An update on Daddy and Dzia Dzia.
They are getting tired of being there. You know how hard it is to live out of a suitcase, and away from family.
But tomorrow is gotcha day! Her passport came Friday afternoon, so tomorrow they leave at 7:30 to go down and get her out of the orphanage. I told Ray that once he gets her out, time will fly. He'll have her to take care of, and her embassy stuff to do. So before he knows it, they'll be flying home.
Us on the other hand, time still goes dreadfully slow! Again, I know that down the road we'll forget about how hard this has been, but right now, when I can almost feel her in my arms if I think really hard, its hard to stay sane!!
I will let everyone know here and on facebook about the day and time they come home. I know a lot of people want to come to the airport, and how great would it be to give her a huge homecoming! Plan on Thursday, unless some other delay comes up. I'll let you know the time!
This time tomorrow, we should be skyping with daddy and baby!

The last auction

2010-10-28T11:56:00.001-07:00

For all of those that won in the last auction, right before we left the country, if you've paid and I didn't get a chance to send the items out, I'm doing that right now. I'm sorry for the people that had halloween bows in their item. Its been so crazy I haven't had a chance to get organized. There's only a few that haven't paid, if you still want the items, leave me a comment and I'll put up a new chipin to pay. Also a couple of people recently asked about purchasing bows. I'm also getting around to answering those emails, and pulling my bow stuff out of storage so I can make some more. Please be patient with me!

The bummer post

2010-10-26T18:59:00.001-07:00

They say that adoption is not for the faint of heart. Especially international adoption. Much more paperwork, money and headaches involved in international adoption. We were just joking last night that when you are in the process of adopting, everything will break in your house or car. We did have our fair share of that, having car repairs, and to replace our garbage disposal and dishwasher. We are really super strapped right now. We had to pay for a second set of airfare that we weren't expecting. It cost me 3 times as much to fly my sister home than it did to fly her here. Ray didn't get a paycheck last week, and won't get one again until he goes back to work. He should bring a lot of money home with him, he took way more than he needs. We would rather be safe than sorry, when he's so far away. But it doesn't help me at home now!
I always said I saw myself doing this again in a couple of years. I would love to add one more girl, try and even it out in my house a little more. But you know that going overseas made me realize that I can't leave Jax like that again. They say, oh your kids will be fine, and yes, my other kids were fine. But Jax is not fine, and I can't take that risk again. My facilitators were joking that if I do this again, I have to do married adopting single, which means only one of us has to travel.
I also know that when she is home I will forget all about this part. All this stuff people say, I do know is true, but it doesn't make it easier right now. I still have my whiny days, like today!
Arina's region doesn't offer the red passport anymore. I know that soon no region will, when the supply runs out, no one will be able to get one. But it still sucks right now because many people do get them. These red passports you get the same day, or the next day. These new passports, have to go through Kiev, and then back to her region. The soonest they think they will get the passport is Friday. Which means the soonest daddy will be able to leave is next Wednesday!
This really sucks, because I've had a long couple of days at home.
Now I'll freely admit that I would never survive as a single mother, never! I depend to much on my hubby. Yesterday we woke up to two inches of snow on the ground!
Seriously, snow!
I know, it stinks. Its way to early for snow. It all melted by the afternoon, but that brought on a whole new problem. It was a huge storm. Lots of rain before the snow started. The wind was blowing so hard, that I thought for sure I would wake up to a blown over fence, since my hubby wasn't home to fix it. The fence was fine, but everything was soaked. It melted so fast, that it filled the window well in the boys room, and was leaking water into their bedroom.
At least I thought enough to remember that Ray had a shop vac, that would soak up water. So I sat outside for an hour, vacuuming water out of their window well, so it would stop leaking into their bedroom!
Daddy will miss Halloween, and also Carter's birthday, which is the day after Halloween. Again, I know these are the sacrifices that we agreed to make when we committed to her, but it also adds to a bad day.
Last but not least, its snowing again right now, so we will wake up to a not so pleasant surprise. Yuck!!
I want her home so bad, that every extra day is seriously making me crazy. It seems like its been forever! Its been a year November that we lost that first baby girl that we wanted. And its been 12 years that I've wanted a girl. These last few days are taking months in my mind!

Tomorrow will be a better day, and my pitty party will be long forgotten. Thank goodness!

Back in Ukraine!

2010-10-25T11:45:00.000-07:00

Daddy and Dzia Dzia (grandpa) made it safely to Ukraine last night. Ray says his dad is in heaven! His family is from Poland, Dzia Dzia is polish for grandfather, and he loves being in a country so close to his. I guess the driver spoke some Polish so they talked a little to each other. Today they didn't do much, as the birth certificate place is closed on Monday. So they did some site seeing, I guess they walked a LONG way, talked to some teenagers, one was a hip hop dancer that wants to move to the states to persue his dancing career. They exchanged emails and facebook info!
Tomorrow bright and early at 5:30, they will head down to Arina's region. Get the court decree, her birth certificate, apply for her passport, and I believe get her busted out then! Wahoo, I can't believe it.
Just think, she has no idea that this is her last night sleeping in a crib alone, with no family. Tomorrow she will have two men wrapped around her little finger!
Carter has been asking me the cutest, 7 year old questions.
The first one he asks a lot is, if she is crying in her bed, can I go in and get her out?
And the other is, can I get her dressed by myself sometimes?
Too cute!!

Daddy's coming!

2010-10-21T17:43:00.001-07:00

Grandpa's passport came today! Its a good thing because I already booked their flight for Saturday, and Ray was going to leave whether grandpa was ready or not. Today the 10 wait is over, and we want our baby girl home.
They will fly out Saturday, and hopefully home that following weekend. We hope they are home by halloween, but I'm not so sure. I was thinking halloween was two weeks away, so I bought her and Jax the cutest Mickey and Minnie costumes, and we probably won't even get to use hers. If all goes smooth, they should be able to fly home Friday, right now their flight is scheduled for Sunday (Saturday was booked)
I'm trying to not be bummed that I won't be taking her and Jax to the boys school in their matching costumes, I'm just trying to think that in about a week and a half, I'll have her in my arms for good, and I can dress her up all I want.

(oh and by the way, you'll die when you see the Christmas outfits I bought for her and Jax! Now I just have to find the big boys something to match!)

(oh, oh, for those who mentioned from the videos in the previous post, Arina is OBSESSED with her hands! Its true, that is her favorite toy. She puts them in front of her face and moves her fingers. Thats probably the only real toy she's had in the last year)

Videos of our baby girl!

2010-10-17T16:08:00.001-07:00

I finally got around to downloading these videos.
Still praying grandpa's passport comes by Tuesday so they can leave Wednesday to bring her home!

Kisses in the wind

2010-10-14T15:35:00.000-07:00

KISSES IN THE WIND (The Waiting Child's Lullabye)

I hold you in my heart and touch you in my dreams.
You are here each day with me, at least that's how it seems.

I know you wonder where we are... what's taking us so long.
But remember child, I love you so and God will keep you strong.

Now go outside and feel the breeze and let it touch your skin...
Because tonight, just as always, I blow you kisses in the wind.

May God hold you in His hand until I can be with you.
I promise you, my darling, I'm doing all that I can do.

Very soon, you'll have a family for real, not just pretend.
But for tonight, just as always, I blow you kisses in the wind.

May God wrap you in His arms and hold you very tight.
And let the angels bring the kisses that I send to you each night.

Home sweet home!

2010-10-13T08:16:00.001-07:00

We are home, after a long 24 hours of flying, having our lugguage not make it on our flight from Germany to Chicago, but we are home! Auntie Boo brought Jax to the airport to greet us, how great that was to see his little face as soon as we got off the plane!
Being home if bittersweet, I hate that Arina is ours, but she is now thousands of miles away. Ray is really hating it, he's thinking now he wished he would have stayed for the ten day wait, because he hates that we left her there. Daddy and grandpa will hopefully fly out next Thursday to bring her home, it all depends on how fast grandpa's passport comes.
Our last day with her, she was still in the sick unit, but playful as ever. They don't keep her as bundled in there, because she had that fever on Sunday. Its nice to be able to see a little more of her. I pulled her tights off because I was dying to sneak a peak at those piggies!

A lot of our pictures have this face, she doesn't like the flash on the camera, and it flashes a couple of times so by the time the picture is taken, she looks like this!

Our tiny couch that is our play area while she is in the sick unit.

Daddy is so worried that she is going to wonder where we went. Every day for the last week and a half, at 1:00 we would be there. I just hope she is young enough that she'll just forget!

Soon baby girl, daddy will rescue you and bring you home to us!

Introductions!

2010-10-11T10:56:00.000-07:00

Sorry, I'm at the airport and don't have a picture to post.

Introducing to our family...Arina Marie Rugg!

Sitting in an airport all night until our 5am flight, wish us luck!

My poor baby is sick!

2010-10-09T07:38:00.000-07:00

These pics are from yesterday. I call this her boy outfit! With no bows in her hair, in this she really does look like a boy! That day daddy showed her how he wrestles with her brothers at home. Kind of give her some lessons on how they like to play! She was all for it!

Our sweet baby is sick today! When we got there they took us to a whole different part of the orphanage. They said she had a fever. We were only allowed to stay for a half hour. A half hour of cuddling my baby that I could tell didn't feel good. My nurse/mommy feelers were out, and she doesn't sound junky, and her breathing was ok, so hopefully its nothing big. I kind of feel like the finger is pointing at us as who got her sick. Unfortuntely, it may be true. Although we are not sick, she has never stepped foot out of the orphanage. Her little body is not used to the little, everyday bugs we all are exposed too. I think the first few months of having her home might be one sicky after another. My poor baby!

Court is scheduled for Monday,and if you don't already know it, I can say her real name then. Then the next day we are headed home!

Pictures tomorrow, I promise!

2010-10-08T06:41:00.000-07:00

We got to our hotel. Its right on the river which will be nice because its something we haven't been able to see here because its just too dang cold to walk around!
I'm still hoping for court Monday, I know our facilitator was running around today with our interpol, so we should be good to go!

Thanks to nasty people, I have now taken anonymous comments off my blog, and have them moderated. For those anonymous commenters that are nice, I'm sorry, some people have to ruin it for everyone. This is the most I can do without making the blog private, which I don't want to do.
I post most comments, even if they are nasty, but when you start talking about my children, that is going to far, and it will be deleted everytime. I know its the same person because I can tell in the way they comment. Go somewhere else, we don't need you here!

Who cares!

2010-10-07T08:49:00.000-07:00

You know, these nasty comments don't really bother me that much. I chose to leave my blogs open, and I chose to be brutally honest, so I get the know-it-all comments a lot!

I would love for these people to fly over here for a few weeks, and then open their mouths and make a comment again. Its not like we are in Paris, or London, where people speak English and there are a lot of Americans there. I have seen two American missionaries here in her region, and that is it! Nobody else speaks English, which makes everything much more difficult.

And for some clarifications for the judger's who speak when they don't know the process... we are not leaving her here and flying home for the weekend. First of all, I'm not going to do a full day of flights, just to be home for a few days and come back. Second, and again brutally honest, I don't know if I could come back after going home! We were hoping to get our court date Friday, so that we could leave Saturday to come home. And the reason we are leaving her here is not us, its the system. They have a 10 day waiting period after court, which MOST families fly home during. So we fly home for the 10 days, and then Ray and his dad are going back to pick her up, and I'm staying home with the boys. We hate to leave her here, but we have no other choice, and I know she is well taken care of at her orphanage.

Yes, I will be going home to my comfy house, and so will she soon. We are fortunate Americans, and we will definitely appreciate what we have a lot more when we get home. So you can't tell me that you wouldn't want to go back to your comfy home either! Because I know that would be a flat out lie!

I'm not depressed, because really depression is something long lasting, I'm homesick. And it is hard sitting in a tiny room, with no toys, and play with a baby for two hours. We just want her home to play with. We are trying to teach her to laugh, she is very stoic. She is not used to be tickled, or playing paddycake. She's just never done those things. Just wait until her brothers get a hold of her, she'll learn real quick! She is always falling asleep on us, again, not used to being cuddled. But we can't let her sleep, so we are constantly trying to keep her awake. Man, its difficult sometimes!

Interpol is in, but it still needs to go to the SDA. So we are here another weekend, with court (tenativelly) scheduled for Monday. I think we are going to go to the hotel tomorrow for the weekend. Just because they have bowling, and pool, so we can keep ourselves busy while we wait. A getaway within a getaway! (Although I wouldn't call this whole trip a getaway!)

Groundhogs day!

2010-10-06T07:32:00.001-07:00

(this picture is supposed to be with the bow pictures, but a lot of the stuff on this computer is in Russian and I can't figure out how to move it!)

Everyday is the same. Sleep late, because we stay up late talking to family, and its not like we have somewhere to be! Go see the baby from 1-3. Although I love seeing her, its getting harder to entertain a baby for two hours. I'm tired of the visits, I just want to get this done so we can go home. Its much colder in her region than in Kiev. We think its because its right on the river, at the largest part. You can't even see across, it looks like the ocean. We each only have one sweatshirt. We may give in and buy an expensive one here. Thats all we've been able to find so far.

Interpol still hasn't come in. So still no court. We are considering going to a hotel because the apartment is freezing! And I think I may just be more comfortable there. We can use our own computer, which means we can skype again with the boys. We haven't been able to skype since we've been in her region. I really, REALLY, want to go home this weekend, I don't want another weekend here. So please, please pray that interpol comes in tomorrow. It leaves us wondering why they send families to the country before all the paperwork is finished!

Its hard to explain to you my emotions right now. I don't want to leave my beautiful girl, but emotions thinking about home just take over my heart. I feel like I've abandoned my boys, and feel like I've taken risks when I have children at home. I don't know why I'm feeling this, but this routine everyday is literally making me crazy. My appetite is gone, and I just want to go home. People keep telling me I'm the strongest person they know, and that I can do this. But I'm not so sure I feel the same. I crack a little more each passing day with no court.

Anyway, here's some pictures finally. I gave in and downloaded then on to this computer. I'll just have to leave them a note to delete all of our pictures when we leave. One day it was actually nice enough to go outside for a bit. So here's some of her orphanage.

Trying out our bows and beanies from home!

We call this the cabbage patch face!

Time is ticking by

2010-10-03T07:33:00.000-07:00

Sorry, no new pictures today. We are staying in an apartment where we have to use their computer, not our laptop, so I'm downloading all my pictures on somebody elses computer. Some people in Ukraine will rent out their apartments for adoptive families for extra money. So we basically kicked these people out of their home for a few days. I tried deleting my pictures off that I have taken so far, but they keep coming back. The majority of stuff on this computer is still in Russian so reading it is impossible.

We had our third visit with our baby girl this morning. Again she is bundled so much that she can barely move. Her clothing today: A long-sleeved sleeper jammy, thick tights over that, the thick, pink pants and top over that, and socks over her feet. 3 layers, and that is indoor clothing! She is still very quiet, but today she was extremely cuddly. I think she is realizing that we cuddle with her and she is loving the attention. It breaks my heart to leave her for 10 days. I don't want her to think these people that came and loved on her just up and left, but once she's home for a while she won't even remember that.

And I'm sorry that I never said what happened with Jax. Last Thursday, I believe, he was making strange noises from his trach. When at Auntie Boo's he did it again, but it got louder and louder. Then he acted like he couldn't get any air and started thrashing around. She tried suctioning him, but it got worse and he turned blue and limp. Somewhere during all this her son called 911. They used saline and was able to get him breathing again. They took him to the hospital but he was fine and came home that night. They were saying it was a plug, which is just weird to me because I've never experienced that with him before. The next day she took him to my ped, where he did it again but not as severe. She sent him straight up to the ENT to see if there was scar tissue in his trach. That all looked fine but she admitted him overnight to make sure he was ok. He is home now and doing fine, but it still just makes me want to go home and never leave my boys again.

I must be such a pansie! The boys are fine at home. When I talk to them on the phone, none of them cry or say they miss me, which is just fine with me because it helps make being gone a lot easier. Me and Ray definitely are having a much harder time then they are. That is why we decided to come home for the 10 day wait. We really don't have the money to fly again, but we'll have to dig it from somewhere because I need to come home. Yeah, Sunday is ending, only 2 more days until court, then we go back to Kiev for one night. Then we have to be at the airport at like 2:30 in the morning Thursday to fly home. I can't wait to see my boys, go to movies, and our favorite places to eat. Is so cold here right now, that we can't really explore because we freeze. We didn't bring near enough warm stuff. It was 80 in Utah when we left, and the other day they said it was 80. I can't wait to get back to that weather!

First full visit

2010-10-01T08:03:00.001-07:00

See, she does have hair, quite a bit actually!

Today has been a much better day. We found a pizza place close to our apartment, and tomorrow we will wander a little farther and see if we can find the Mcdonalds we saw on the drive in! We go to the orphanage every day at 1 to see the baby. The orphanage staff is very nice, and they take great care of the kids. Its clean and bright and lots of toys around. I haven't seen any other children. They pretty much bring her to us and then we go to a playroom. There are a couple things I want to get checked out quick. She is very spitty, so she needs to be checked for reflux. I could tell from my picture that I had that she has a very flat nasal bridge. Well in real life, its nonexistent, and she sounds like a bulldog when she breathes. I'm sure some airway issues and sleep apnea exist with our angel girl. But she sits, almost by herself. And she can get up on all 4's. Look at her go!

What you've all been waiting for!

2010-09-30T10:06:00.000-07:00

Sorry these pics are dark and not the greatest, we only had minutes with her before they wisked her away and us away to do paperwork. She's actually smaller in person than she is in pictures. She only weighs 13 lbs, but with all those layers on, she looks huge. Her little features are just tiny. They said she has a hole in her heart and something else that I never did get clear in English, just stuff cardiology will check out when we get home.

Seeing her was the highlight of the day, of course, but we are still struggling just being here. Jax was naughty and spent the night in the PICU, but I believe he's going home today, but that just makes things worse. Our facilitator was fantastic and had paperwork expedited so we can get home as soon as possible. We ran around having things notarized, and our court date is Wednesday. Then I think we are both flying home, because here they don't waive the 10 day wait. Who's coming back, we don't know yet, emotions still need to be worked out before thats decided.

Oh and we are going to leave her real name instead of Makayla. We can't say what it is until court is over, but when we saw how beautiful it was and how well it fit with Marie, we decided to leave that part of her history alone.

SDA appointment done!

2010-09-28T11:20:00.000-07:00

Our airplane from Chicago to Germany.

Is this staircase straight out of a horror movie or what?

The view from our apartment window.

Recognize these adorable babies? Peach and Mallory's mom showed us around a bit, and took us to Mcdonalds! Beautiful Aaron, also just adopted, and on his way home now!
We had our SDA appointment today. It was short and sweet. The picture they have of her isn't the same as ours, but she is the same age, so we still have no idea what she looks like now. They wouldn't let us trade pictures, but thats ok since they look the same. They said she has a heart defect, but when he tried to pronounce it, it didn't even sound remotely familiar. I don't think they know exactly what she has. But of course when we get her home, we'll have the cardiologist tell us exactly what is going on with her little heart. And thats about it. We go pick up our referral on Wednesday at 4, and since our region is so close, our facilitator will just drive us there on Thursday morning after he submits dossiers. So Thursday you should see pictures of our baby girl finally! And what she looks like now. Trust me, we are all dying to see her!!

Ok, I can breathe and elaborate!

2010-09-27T04:57:00.000-07:00

When I wrote my last post last night I was crying the whole time and trying to just get through it.
Our plane ride from SLC to Chicago was horrible! It was a tiny airplane that had turbulance the whole time. I was actually feeling pretty good in the airport, so I didn't take my valium that my doctor gave me. Well after we took off, and it was so shaky, I took one of my valium and chewed that sucker and swallowed it without any water! I'm going to make sure none of my planes home are that small, just can't do it. I talked to the boys one last time from my phone in Chicago. Then as I sat on the airplane, I bawled my eyes out. I still had two more plane rides to get through, and I was already exhausted and missing my boys. The flight to Germany wasn't bad, I highly recommend Lufthansa if you go out of country. They are super nice, and having the TV in my headrest kept me busy during that long flight! Our flight from Germany to Eastern Europe (tomorrow I can tell you exactly where we are, if you don't already know)I slept the entire time. I didn't even wake up for lunch. When we got here, everything was a whirlwind. We were dropped in our apartment with a phone and nothing else. We felt scared, alone, and exhausted.
If I didn't have the internet in our apartment I really would have lost my mind. One thing that made me absolutely crazy was not being able to pick up the phone and call my boys. I had to email my phone number to my sister. I will skype with the boys tonight, but not having that communication at first is super hard! Plus I needed reasurance from my friends that have been here, done that. Thank you for your words of encouragement!
I have to be honest that until a few hours ago, I was being so selfish. I was not even doing what I told my boys they had to remember. Which was that we can sacrifice being away from each other for a few weeks, when Makayla has been alone her whole life. Well I was ready to forget about the whole thing and jump back on a plane home. I wasn't thinking it was worth it. Now I'm getting excited for my SDA appointment tomorrow, and then on to see her!
Its getting better, but I tell you that it was much harder than even I imagined! If you are soon to travel to adopt, please remember that. Everyone that I talk to now that has been here a while is doing great, but they all said they went through the same thing. So don't let it scare you away, just be prepared for massive crying the first couple of nights!
Tomorrow is our SDA appointment, I'll update after that!

We're here, semi unscathed!

2010-09-26T07:44:00.001-07:00

We made it. Oh man I never want to see another plane again! I'm already homesick, tired, and totally freaked out. We have no idea how to get anywhere, and we are in a dilapidated old building. I miss my boys and could just cry. I need some sleep, then I will feel a little better about things!

Auction closed

2010-09-16T10:56:00.000-07:00

The auction is closed, and I'm in the process of emailing the winners. If you know your the highest bidder, you can go ahead and pay with the chipin on her blog. I will send the items as soon as they are payed for. Make sure the address on your paypal is right because that is what I use to send the items! Thanks again to everyone that participated!

Happy birthday baby girl!

2010-09-11T07:30:00.000-07:00

Happy happy birthday Makayla! Today is a big day, your first birthday. The birthday that your supposed to dig into your cake, and get lots of presents! All your birthdays from now on will be big celebrations. We are coming, baby girl! And you will have a family that loves you. Big brothers that will dote on you, and good friends that will play with you. Never again will you have to celebrate a birthday alone, with nothing!
Soon, just a couple of weeks, and we'll be holding you! We love you baby girl!

For Makayla's birthday, please go here and vote for Andrea with Reece's Rainbow, for People magazines hero of the year. This women has adopted hundreds of children! Every child adopted through RR is because of Andrea, and look how many children she's saved. You can vote as often as you like!

The auction is going until Monday night. Scroll down and bid away!!

2010-09-02T07:44:00.000-07:00

Sept. 28, thats the day that we will meet with the SDA to get permission to go meet our little girl! I can't believe it, its finally coming! I'm absolutely bursting inside to see what my little girl looks like. I have such an old picture of her, and its making me crazy! Not to much longer though, we are almost there!
For people that are asking, we are still selling the bows, just click on the picture on the side, and follow the directions. I'm going to have another small auction, hopefully tomorrow, and the yard sale is on Saturday!
Wahooo!!!

Last minute fundraisers

2010-08-24T07:23:00.000-07:00

I'm trying to do some last minute fundraisers, since I've let that lax and now I'm a little panicked! I am going to do another small auction, so donations to that would be greatly appreciated. also, if you live here in Utah, the yard sale is this Saturday if you have stuff to donate. We are selling lunch and sno cones. And of course, our cute bows! I'm hoping it does well!
Also, I was thinking of asking this new Pizza place if they would have a day were 10% goes to our adoption. I thought of them because they are new, their pizza is amazing, and it would help them as much as us. Because we would be spreading the word about this place and bringing in business. Any small donations are greatly appreciated!

Submitted!

2010-08-19T07:30:00.000-07:00

As you may have seen on our family blog. We were submitted today!
I can't believe in mere weeks I'm going to have a girl! I never thought that day would come. I still have back and forth days. Yesterday I was not afraid of flying over there at all. The day before, all I could think about is the plane crashing and leaving my boys orphans!

Being submitted has me a little freaked out about fundraising. I've been so busy that I haven't been fundraising like I should be. The yard sale is next Saturday the 28th. If you want to donate anything to that just email me. Or you can donate to the chipin to help us buy food for it.
Also, a couple of people wanted to donate some things, so we may have another small auction. If you have something to donate to that, also email me.
laceyrugg@hotmail.com

We are so close to the finish line!!

Submission

2010-08-14T09:13:00.000-07:00

After I found out last week that we weren't submitted, Andrea emailed me. She said that it would be possible to have Ray travel alone. We would have to change some of our paperwork, which means more delays, but it would be a medical need travel. We would say that I can't travel because of a medical crisis with another child. At first I thought that was a great idea, that I could just stay home with Jax. But I can't do that. I need to go. I need to be at that orphanage when they bring her out for the first time. I want to see where she came from. I would go nuts with Ray over there playing with her and bonding for weeks while I'm home. No way. So we are set to be submitted Thursday! Finally!
Jax is home, and he's doing good. I really think these new meds and the vent will keep him healthier. Now I'm anxious to go get Makayla home!
We are still planning the yard sale for next Saturday. I just had a friend offer to sell sno cones, donating all the supplies! I really hope it goes well, I've had some friends say they made tons of money doing a yard sale, so pray its the same for us!

Feeling defeated!

2010-08-12T06:55:00.000-07:00

I feel like the world is crashing down. I wish I could relay to you through the computer just how I feel. I'm writing this, sobbing. I'm as low as low gets right now.

We weren't submitted today. The later it gets, the harder it will be for us to travel. Now I feel like I may not only have to stop our adoption of Makayla, but that I may lose my own beautiful baby as well!
I feel like He is just being cruel to me. Dangling girls in front of my face, but just out of reach. I see other families that have DS kids dropped in their laps, and we lose one after another.

Now I get to go up to the hospital looking like crap, and answering everyones question...Whats wrong? Is everything alright.
No nothing is right!

In times of stress!

2010-08-08T20:32:00.000-07:00

Not much to say right now. Just a lot to say on our family blog. Jax is being such a stinker! His health is really declining, and my ped is wondering if now is a good time to go out of the country. I just want my little girl home. There will never be a good time with him, and I'm not going to say wait until he's gone. I'm not even going to go there.
We did get that license sent off, so we should for sure be submitted this Thursday. Thats about all I can say, I'm concentrating on getting Jax better so I feel better about leaving him for so long. But I don't know if I'll fully be ok with leaving him!

Oh the joy!

2010-08-05T07:21:00.000-07:00

I was watching Sofia's video of her homecoming, its one of my favorites! Sofia is so close in age to Makayla, that I know its going to be a lot the same for us! I just cried this morning when I watched it. Soon that will be us. Family and friends with signs waiting for us at the airport. My boys running up to us, barely able to contain their excitement! She will be passed between them. There will probably be fighting about who gets to hold her first.

And suddenly this lonely orphan is surrounded by people who all want to love her! Oh I just can't wait. I can't wait to see what she looks like. Her picture is of her at only a couple of months old. She will be a year in a few short weeks. I know she is going to look so different. I can't wait to see what color those big eyes have turned to. Are they still blue, maybe brighter! Oh, its like being pregnant for 12 months!!
Our yard sale fundraiser is next Saturday. We still need some supplies for the lunch, and we can always use more stuff to sell! Any donation made to the chipin will go to help us buy the food for lunch. Come on, we are almost there, this is our last fundraiser. Lets make it great!

A new day, a baby girl!

2010-08-03T08:59:00.000-07:00

Today is a new day!
If you follow my family blog you may remember back in November I posted this picture!

It was the first time I went on Reeces Rainbow, and I fell in love with this baby girl! That's when we decided it was time to start the adoption process. We didn't go for her because at the time we weren't even considering international adoption. We didn't think it was possible with Jax! I credit this beautiful face for pushing our adoption process along.
The other day I was going through the kido's on RR again. Yes I still do this even though I'm in the middle of an adoption! I found this sweet girl.
Look familiar??
I went back to her a couple of times, thinking, can this really be the same baby girl I saw? She had the same name, Anastasyia. I know there are many with that same name. But I had to know, so I emailed Andrea. It is indeed the same baby girl! I can't believe she doesn't have a family yet. If she is still here in a year, I'm going back for her. But I really want her in a home before then. Look at this sweet face! She needs a home. And if your worried about adopting another special needs, or a special needs in general, she is the one for you! She is healthy! And here is what her profile reads.

This blue-eyed beauty was born at 38 weeks with a strong Apgar score. She is HEALTHY, with no heart condition. She can walk on her own and feed herself. She likes to play and throw balls. She understands what is being told to her and follows directions well. She can pronounce simple words. She likes to imitate animal sounds.

She is doing so good, she must be a good orphanage! I would love to see her go to a family. Please consider her! Click here to go to her profile!

The spin cycle!

2010-08-02T13:24:00.000-07:00

I feel like I'm spinning in circles! I have officially lost my mind! I have been running all over the valley today to get this license. I paid $65 to have it apostilled same day, and now I'm being told the license probably won't work because the notary wrote over the date in blue ink. So much for getting it to Ukraine in time to be submitted Thursday. I don't have time now to get it all done today, there's just no way!
I'm a bundle of tears, I'm rocking in the corner and my kids think that I have totally gone insane, which I believe that I have. I understand that her country is very finicky about paperwork, and they are constantly changing it. But 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15, thats how many days an email sat in inbox's and was totally overlooked! 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 is how long my paperwork sat, waiting for me to send a document that I had no idea needed to go. This is not about paperwork changing. This is about a major crack in communication.
I just wish for once I could get a little help from above. Why does everything have to be so difficult? I think I've had my fair share of trials. I don't believe for one second that we are only given as much as we can handle! Why is my faith wavering?
Now I need to make myself semi-presentable so I can take Jax in to the pulmonologist. Fun times!!

More outrageousness! Is that even a word?

2010-07-31T11:30:00.001-07:00

Ok, one of these days I'll have something good to post! I just found out that something was missing from my paperwork and I was never notified! After each Thursday I would ask, "how do I find out if everything is ok?"
No response!
It was just because I pushed again this morning that it was found! And the reason why I pushed again is because I found out that my friend, whose paperwork has been there as long as ours, had something missing too! Neither of us were told and we are both livid!
The only thing keeping me from a total meltdown, is that the document I need is easy to get. My social workers license expired in June, so we sent the new one. Well they want the old one because it was in affect when the home study was done. I do have a copy of the old one. So on Monday I have to run and have my social worker notarize it, run and pay the outrageous fee of $65 to have it apostilled while I wait, and then send it as quickly to Eastern Europe as it can go. Which will be well over $100. I doubt they have next day service overseas like that. I still don't know if that will be in time to have it submitted Thursday, which means its sits for another week, a total of 5 weeks in her country before even being submitted!
Ridiculous!!!

Insane!!!

2010-07-30T14:22:00.001-07:00

We weren't submitted again! We are getting to the point that we want answers. Only two families have been submitted the last two weeks, and we want to know why! This is not a small thing, we've invested a lot of money, time and our lives are basically at a standstill until we know more! I need to figure out school and there's the big thing of moving! We really wanted to be in California by Christmas, but if Ray doesn't transfer with his company, he can't get another job until we get home with Makayla. He can't say, "I can start now but then I will need to leave for around 5 weeks". No employer will go for that. I'm hyperventilating thinking of another winter in snow! I HATE IT!!
Why is our paperwork sitting for weeks and weeks??

Sorry for the delay

2010-07-30T07:55:00.000-07:00

Sorry, I don't mean to keep you waiting, but we are being kept waiting as well! We haven't heard yet who was submitted yesterday! I've only heard of one family so far, and I believe its a different facilitator than ours. Ours hasn't said yet who was submitted.
So on we wait!

Its Thursday

2010-07-29T08:37:00.000-07:00

Its Thursday again, the day we anxiously wait by the computer to see if we were submitted. If we aren't submitted today I'm just going to sob! Third time is a charm, isn't it?!!

The best big brothers ever!

2010-07-26T08:53:00.000-07:00

Makayla is going to be the most loved little girl ever! She is going to have 3 boys wrapped around her little finger so tight, that one little peep and they'll be there. I have never seen 3 boys so excited to have a little sister. They point out every cute baby girl they see and say, oh I can't wait until Makayla is home! The other day I had to go the the Childrens Place to return some shorts, and Carter insisted he come and pick out a dress for Makayla. Yes, a seven year old boy wanted to go shopping to pick out a dress! Yes, he does love his long hair, but he is not girly at all, he is definitely all boy!

And man does that boy have good taste! He picked out the cutest little dress ever! Of course he picked the hat that matches, and a sweater in case it gets cold!
Isn't it gorgeous?!

Oh I fear we are going to have a spoiled rotten girl on our hands! Yikes!

Some fundraiser updates. Our yard sale is going to be Aug. 14. So again if you live in Utah and you have stuff you were going to take to the DI, we'll come pick it up for the yard sale. Any donation would be helpful to help us buy our food for the lunch, and the cotton candy.
Also spread the word, we have a couple things we are selling that we need to get rid of and will use that money for the adoption. Ray has a 2006 Honda Rebel motorcycle. Its black, and its a small bike, a great beginner bike and gas saver! Also, we are selling our 2000 Honda Odyssey van. I don't have a picture of it yet either. It blue books for around 4500 but we are selling it for 2000 because of the cosmetic stuff. The front bumper is cracked, and both back tail lights need to be replaced, but those are easy fixes. It runs like a dream and has a whole new brake system! Email me with any questions! laceyrugg@hotmail.com

Whats wrong with this momma?

2010-07-22T16:39:00.000-07:00

I don't think our paperwork was submitted again today! Our dossier has been there two weeks now and still nothing. I'm frustrated! Why am I frustrated? I should be thankful that my paperwork is done. I should be thankful that I'm so close to bringing my baby girl home. So why am I frustrated about stuff that's out of my control?
I can't talk for other adoptive parents, but I'm totally irrational right now! I'm crying because all my cute summer clothes that I bought she won't get to wear! I'm crying because we won't be home to celebrate her first birthday, when I started this process I was sure we'd be home by then! I'm crying because I HATE snow, and I don't want to dress her in winter stuff, I want to dress her in summer stuff. And because you can't put cute bows in their hair under a beanie because its freezing outside! I'm wishing we were already in California so I wouldn't have to deal with snow. All of this stuff is so stupid! Whose the stupid mom that bought a bunch of summer stuff when she didn't know when her girl would be home!
I'm telling you, I'm one irrational momma right now!!

Still waiting!

2010-07-20T10:05:00.000-07:00

I'm finding that this waiting game is much worse than paperwork! At least with paperwork I feel like I'm contributing in some way! Our dossier should be submitted this Thursday. And hopefully a couple weeks after that we will have our date! I'm adding other adoption blogs to our sidebar, I've been really bad with supporting fellow RR adoptive families, so I'm trying to change that!!
We had our "girl" shower last Saturday. It was such fun. Girl stuff is way funner than boy stuff. That's probably just because I've been doing boy stuff for the last 12 years!
We got lots of clothes, and are filling up her closet and dresser nicely!

My sister-in-law gave me this cute basket. I should have taken a picture of what she did because it was so cute. She strung a clothesline and hung the clothes on the line! I'm going to use this as her toy basket. I know, its pathetic how little toys are in there right now! I'm just not sure what she will like. For already having a Down syndrome child I know very little about what they do at each stage. That's because to this day Jax doesn't eat by mouth, sit up, or play with toys. So I'm a first time Down syndrome mommy all over again!

My mom gave me this cute play mat. Again it will be great because I don't know if she'll be sitting up or not. My guess would be no. She's not even a year yet, and with no therapy I doubt she's sitting. But maybe now we can put Jax bumbo seat to good use! We were never able to use it for him!
Oh and these shoes! OMG!! You probably know that I have a major baby shoe fetish. Jax has so many shoes. I have held off on getting her shoes until I know a size. I got these at the shower and I can't wait to try them on her.
Just look at these MaryJanes!

Help this little boy!

2010-07-15T12:54:00.000-07:00

Look at this sweet boy! He is going to an institution in 6 months if he doesn't find a home! Someone just gave 20,000 dollars to try and get him a home soon! Thats a great incentive to help him. Please consider him or other children on Reeces Rainbow. Although the paperwork can be a pain, its so worth it, and we don't even have our girl home yet. But the experience so far has been fantastic, and seeing this whole new country will be even better! Here is his info:

Monroe (12)

BOY, Born February 4, 2005

SIGNIFICANT RISK, PLEASE ADOPT ME SOON!!

Monroe is a sunshine of a little boy! He is already 5 and blessed to still be at the baby house. He needs a family right away!

From a missionary who visited with him in June 2010: I met with the doctor in his Groupa House who brought me back to meet him. The Head Doctor wanted me to meet the children who needed equipment. While measuring him for a chair, she explained to me what was more important was that he get a family. He will be traferred in six months to the worst institution, restrained in a crib in a dark room. She broke into tears! Monroe has spastic cerebral palsy in all four limbs and is globally delayed. He is able to recognize the voices of his careworkers and understand simple directions. However, due to his spacitiy he is unable to do much of anything. No speech. With therapy he can improve but will always have limitations. I measured his head circumfeence and once home will check with a doctor regarding whether or not he is microcephalic as well. I will try to gather more information on him today. His temperament was sweet and his eyes twinkled. He needs a family fast!

From an adoptive family who visited with him in June 2009: Monroe has CP. It appears that he is unable to use his arms and legs and is not sitting up on his own. He has the most beautiful smile and I don't think there is much of a cognitive delay. He loves to be held and his whole face lights up when you come near him."

I heard that our paperwork was not submitted to the SDA, hopefully we will hear soon that its been submitted! Its such a relief to have the paperwork done but this is a different kind of pain, pain in the waiting game to find out when you get to go meet your baby girl!

Mountain Girl Silver fundraiser!

2010-07-11T16:14:00.000-07:00

Mountain girl silver is helping with our fundraising to bring Makayla home! Next week, July 12-19, 15% of all online orders will go to our adoption fund! You may remember them from baby Sofia's fundraiser! This jewelry is so beautiful, and I know you are going to kill me when I say this, but these would be great Christmas presents! You can have your childrens names engraved, and they have tons of stamps to go with it, even sports stamps!!
These dog tags are so cute. Mondo loves dog tags, so this may be a Christmas present for him.

These bracelets also come in kids sizes, so all you out there with little girls!! They also have kids necklaces!

This is a great way to help us and get great gifts too! Go over and order, just make sure its July 12-19th!!
Also, I put a separate chipin up, if you want to still help we need help with our final big fundraiser before we go. A huge yard sale. We are going to be selling lunch. Hamburgers, hot dogs, chips and soda's are all needed. Along with buns, and cookies for the dessert. So you can donate money to help us buy supplies, or even better if you work for a grocery store or know someone with the "in" that could donate supplies, that would be fabulous!!
We are almost there, lets run to the finish line!!

And the winner is!

2010-07-09T16:28:00.000-07:00

Ok, we drew the winner of the MP3 player. Drumroll please...
And the winner is..

We used the names that were on the paypal. I will be emailing the winner shortly. Thank you to everyone for entering, and thanks to Shari for donating the MP3 player!

Moving up!!

2010-07-08T09:25:00.001-07:00

If you go on Reeces Rainbow to the committed families, there are 6 boxes for varying places people are with their adoption. There's New commitments, homestudy in progress, compiling dossier, almost there, traveling now, and home!! One of the most exciting things is watching your profile slowly move through the boxes. We just moved again, to almost there! Just two more boxes and we are done with our adoption! Wow, what a journey this has been, and we haven't experienced anything yet. When we get to see a foreign country, and see orphanages there, then we can say what a journey it was. I can't wait to get there!
Tomorrow night we are drawing the winner of the MP3 player, so if you want in this is your last chance. Click here to enter!

Trying to relax!

2010-07-05T13:55:00.000-07:00

We had a nice weekend away knowing that our paperwork is done and we don't have to worry about wasting time not getting stuff done! Our dossier should be done being apostilled tomorrow. I'm not sure if they are closed today to celebrate the 4th holiday. I just wait for them to call telling me they are done! My sister may come here from Oklahoma with her girls to stay with the boys while we are gone. Her oldest starts kindergarten this year but she told me she's not too worried about her missing kindergarten. That surprised me! We aren't quite sure what to do with Jax yet though. I know that we can show my sister how to do everything, I just don't want her to get overwhelmed with her girls and my boys, plus all of Jax's cares. We are seriously considering flying to Texas and dropping Jax off with Bella's family! She offered to take Jax while we go, and I would trust Bella's mommy with Jax life! You can teach anyone to care for a trach, but the instinct to know the little, subtle things comes with experience! We are still deciding of course, and a lot will depend on how late in August our date is! I'm getting so excited, soon our girl will be home!

Still taking bids

2010-06-30T19:58:00.000-07:00

Ok, our dossier is out of my hands and being apostilled as we speak! I can go have a nice, long holiday weekend!
We are extending the MP3 player givaway for another week, so click on the top chipin that says MP3 player and buy tickets. If you already bought tickets don't worry that it says 0 right now. I had to do another chipin, I still have everyone that has bought tickets so far. One ticket is 10.00 or 3 for 25.00. However much you donate you will get that many entries. So lets say you donate 100.00, you will get 12 entries into the drawing! Click here to read about the MP3 player.
Spread the word, we are fast approaching our date to go overseas, so we are in a last minute rush to raise funds!
And of course the cute hair clips are always on sale. Click on the cute ladybugs to see which ones we have, and just leave a comment telling me which ones you want. You can pay in the second chipin down that says bring Makayla home!

Finally a good day!

2010-06-29T15:03:00.000-07:00

Ok friends, we are in business! I talked to my social worker today and she agreed to take our annuity off the home study!!
What does this mean? It means that this one document I needed for my dossier to be done I no longer need to worry about! So tomorrow I will pick up my new home study from the social worker, and go right to the capital to have the whole dossier apostilled! Then it can be mailed to Eastern Europe! I'll have to let you know the cost to apostille all this stuff. Utah has one of the highest apostille cost at 15.oo a document! Average is 3-5 dollars. Ouch!
So my guess is going to be 500.00 that it will cost to apostille my whole dossier. We'll see how close I am!
Any other guesses?

I want off this roller coaster!

2010-06-23T15:37:00.000-07:00

I've been so excited because we have only two more things before our dossier is done, DONE! Yippee! But these last two things are proving to be stinkers.
On Monday I said I wanted to be done Tuesday, on Tuesday I said today, now I'm afraid to say tomorrow for fear of jinxing myself. I just want this paperwork done! Done so we can sit back and (impatiently) wait for a date to go get our baby girl.
Please send good vibes for paperwork to be done!!

USCIS approved!

2010-06-16T09:24:00.000-07:00

I'm back from vacation and a much needed break from adoption paperwork! I worked on getting a whole bunch of stuff done before we left and got some bad news. My home study says my background check was clear but my state background check shows this stupid theft I was accused of when I was 18. At first I freaked out that they wouldn't let me adopt, but they will, we just need to adjust the home study to say that. It makes me so mad because this stupid thing follows me whereever I go! I opened a bottle of soda in the grocery store I worked at and the gung ho wantabee cop accused me of stealing it! A .50 soda, seriously! The judge dropped it because it was so stupid, but it will always be on my record!
So needless to say I was ready for a break from paperwork. But when we got home last night we saw that our I171H form, our USCIS approval is here! This is the last big scary step. Makayla is really going to be ours, its so real! I know the judge in her country is not going to say no. I've been told that no judge has ever said no. that means she's ours! Oh I can't even believe it! Now just a few more things to have notarized this week, and our paperwork is on its way and we wait for a date to go get her!
Remember the MP3 player give away is still going on. $10.00 for one entry and $25.00 for 3 entries. Use the top chipin on the side!

Sony MP3 player givaway!

2010-06-01T08:30:00.001-07:00

This is our newest giveaway! Its a Sony 16g MP3 player. Here's a little about it.
Exercise your options with the slim and stylish 16GB S Series Walkman® video MP3 player. Featuring built-in stereo speakers, you can unplug your headphones and listen to your music out loud. In addition to superior sound quality, this S540 Series Walkman player lets you enjoy to up to 42 hours of music playback or up to 6.5 hours of video playback before needing to recharge. Plus, you can even record lectures, meetings and radio broadcasts via the voice and FM recording function. Headphones, mini USB cable and hands-free, flip-out stand included.

How to win this cool MP3 player? Just click on the top chipin, the one that says MP3 player on it. Buy as many entries as you want by donating to the chipin. One entry is 10.00, or 25.00 will give you three entries. So if you donate 50.00, you will have 6 entries! On June 30, we will draw the winner! Easy as that. Just make sure your email address is on your paypal info. Or put it under the message spot. So I know how to get a hold of you! Any questions just leave me a comment!
Happy entering!!

More great news

2010-05-26T17:01:00.000-07:00

Didn't I say everything for this adoption has been falling right into place? Well we had more great news today. Our fingerprinting appointment was scheduled for the 8th of June. Well I didn't want to wait until then, plus we'll be out of town to a wedding. So people have been telling us to just walk in and some offices will just do it. So thats what we did. It was this tiny office, and not a soul was in the waiting area. We told the guy that we can't make that appointment and he said "well, we can just do it now" Wahoo! So fingerprinting is done. I called USCIS to tell them it was done so they wouldn't wait until the 8th. I talked to the officer that is handling our paperwork, she was really nice. She said it will take a couple of days to come through, but she'll keep her eyes open.
Now I'm rushing to get the rest of our dossier finished so when this approval arrives, our paperwork is headed out of the country!

Passports finally!!

2010-05-21T19:41:00.001-07:00

Our passports finally came!! You can't really see mine, but an 11 year old was taking the picture. A lot of our paperwork is just waiting on our passport numbers to be finished.. We can get so much more accomplished now. Yippee!!

Bows to bring Makayla home!

2010-05-21T06:56:00.000-07:00

These bows raise money to help us bring Makayla home soon! There are 8 different ones to choose from. They are $6.00 a pair, or 3 for $15.00, shipping included! To buy them just leave a comment at the bottom, saying how many and which ones you want. be sure to leave your email address so I know how to contact you. Then you can pay with the chipin on her blog, just tell me what you are paying for. I will erase the comments when I fill that order!
Thanks for helping us bring an oprhan with Down syndrome home to her forever family!

Fingerprinting appointment!

2010-05-15T14:07:00.000-07:00

These are the only pics we have of Makayla, and probably the only ones we will get! They are so funny, they look like she has so many layers on that she can't move her arms! And from what I've seen from friends that have adopted they bundle them up good, even in 70 degree weather!Usually the only way people get updated pics is if another family is traveling to the same orphanage before you. Well no one has been to our orphanage yet, we will be the first! There is one other family in the process of adopting at our orphanage, but they are still doing their home study so we'll be traveling first!

I got fantastic news today. We got our appointment date to get our fingerprints done for our I600a form. For those of you that don't know, that is huge! Sometimes the government wants all this extra paperwork, and I've heard of some major headaches people have had. This form has kept me on edge more than any paperwork so far! I think we may hit our date and travel the first of July like I was hoping!

Oh I've never been so excited, my hubby was laughing because I was doing a little jig. He said he's never seen me more excited for something in my life!!

Auction closed

2010-05-14T11:05:00.000-07:00

the auction is now closed. I will notify the winners shortly. If you see thst you've won you can pay through the chip in button. Just make sure to leave your name and auction number of the item or items you won. You can also send me a check, just wait until I contact you to get my address. Congrats to the winners!!

Auction extended!

2010-05-11T14:54:00.000-07:00

The auction has been extended until this Friday the 14th at noon, mountain time!! So go keep bidding!

Auction rules!

2010-05-03T22:53:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Makayla's auction! Here are the rules!

1. To bid, simply comment under the item you want to bid with your bid amount. Please bid at least 2.00 higher than the highest bid!

2. The starting bid is under each item, please check the comments to make sure your bidding high enough!

3. If you are outbid, you may bid as many times as you'd like!

4. bid on as many different items as you'd like!

5. Please only bid if you are serious about buying. Our contributors have great items for you to bid on. And please make sure to leave your email or a way for me to contact you in case you win.

6. If you have any questions, please leave it in a comment under the item.

7. The auction will run until Monday May 10, noon, mountain time.

Please feel free to post the auction on your blog and facebook! And check back, new items may pop up at any time!
Sorry they are number backwards from 30 to 1, I don't have the patience to change it around, just remember what number you are bidding on!
Also, no matter how I change the setting, I can't get them all to show on one page, so you'll have to go to older posts to see the rest of the items!

Auction item #40, Ladder to Heaven t-shirt

2010-05-03T22:12:00.000-07:00

Donated by Lily, this cute t-shirts show the ladder into heaven. Perfect for our little angels! Comes in sizes 2t up to an adult 2x.

Starting bid $4.00

Auction item #39, Lily's Life is great t-shirt

2010-05-03T22:11:00.000-07:00

Donated by Lily, this girls t-shirt is too cute. And you can see it turns you into an instant diva! Pick from size 3 all the way to adult 2x!

Starting bid $4.00

Auction item #38, Ladder to Heaven doggy

2010-05-03T22:10:00.000-07:00

Donated by Lily, He comes with a Ladder to Heaven tee-shirt and adoption papers. He comes unstuffed (the stuffing is supplied!) so your child can have the fun stuffing him and adding a special note if they wish.

Starting bid $5.00

Auction item #37, The Rainbow Roll!

2010-05-03T22:08:00.000-07:00

Donated by Sharon,The Rainbow Roll is a great way to get your child's art supplies organized and ready to travel. All the colors in the rainbow fit in this handy little roll. It holds 16 regular crayons, twistable crayons, or pipsqueak markers (skinny ones).This little roll is very compact and will fit in your purse, a small backpack, or your coat pocket.It is made from 100% cotton fabric.When rolled up, it is secured with a covered button stretchable band- very easy to manage (crayons and markers not included). This is another perfect gift for any child on your list. You pick the color!

Starting bid $5.00

Auction item #36, more bows

2010-05-03T19:26:00.001-07:00

These are so popular that we've added some more! Minnie Mouse and two different butterflies!

Starting bid $3.00

Auction item #35, single bug bows

2010-05-03T19:23:00.001-07:00

By Kristen, for those that like just one clip! Too cute!

Starting bid $2.00

Auction item #34, burp cloth and bib, blue flames

2010-05-03T16:10:00.000-07:00

Another biker baby item donated by Tera! Includes a burp cloth and bib!

Starting bid $3.00

Auction item #33, burp cloth and bib, dogs

2010-05-03T16:04:00.000-07:00

Donated by Tera, this is too cute for your little biker babe! Includes a bib and a burb cloth!

Starting bid $3.00

Auction item #32, key fobs

2010-05-03T16:00:00.001-07:00

Donated by Gretchen, These are great for carrying your keys, so you don't lose them or drop them. Comes in a set of 4 so you can keep one for yourself and give the rest as gifts. They are about 7 dollars each retail!

Starting bid $5.00

Auction item #31, bib and burp cloth,orange flames

2010-05-03T15:54:00.000-07:00

Donated by Tera, this is a burp cloth, bib set for your biker baby!

Starting bid $3.00

Auction item #30, $25.00 Mary Kay gift card!

2010-05-02T20:31:00.000-07:00

By Jessica, a $25.00 gift card towards Mary Kay makeup. Make yourself look beautiful!

Starting bid $6.00

Auction item #29, boys t-shirt

2010-05-02T15:11:00.000-07:00

Jessica makes these cute t-shirts. You pick the size and the picture on the front. You can talk to Jessica to see what other pictures she has. This one was given to Jax on his birthday. She also has a pirate face, and a cute monster face!

Starting bid $3.00

Auction item #28, burp cloth's

2010-05-01T15:07:00.000-07:00

Set of 3 crocheted burp cloth's.

Starting bid $2.00

Auction item #27, bow holder and bows

2010-05-01T07:41:00.001-07:00

Donated by Darlena, you get a bow holder, a white crocheted headband, and the bows and flowers you see here! 7 bows altogether.

Starting bid $7.00

Auction item #26, girl t-shirt

2010-05-01T07:35:00.000-07:00

Jessica makes these super cute t-shirts. You pick the size and the picture on the front. You can talk to her about what pictures she does, here's a couple of examples!

Starting bid $3.00

Auction item #25, Paul Cardall gift set

2010-04-30T18:45:00.000-07:00

Donated by Paul Cardall, award winning pianist and recent Heart transplant recipient. He is an inspiration for all CHD mommies! Includes 6 CD's, and 3 songbooks, autographed by Paul!

Starting bid $30.00

Auction item #24, Minnie mouse painting

2010-04-30T18:43:00.000-07:00

Hand painted by my friend Angela in the UK! Its 18cm squared, mounted but not framed!

Starting bid $10.00

Auction item #23, Mickey Mouse painting

2010-04-30T18:41:00.000-07:00

Hand painted by my friend Angela in the UK! Its 18cm squared, mounted but not framed!

Starting bid $10.00

Auction item #22, Summer wood letters

2010-04-30T18:34:00.001-07:00

Summer wood letters donated by Kristi. So cute to decorate your home for summer! 6 inches tall and the widest is 4 1/2 inches wide.

Starting bid $5.00

Auction item #21, hair clips

2010-04-30T08:16:00.001-07:00

By Kristen, set of bows. Includes single butterfly, black polka dots, purple butterflies, straight clips, white bows.

Starting bid $5.00

Auction item #20, moon blanket

2010-04-30T08:13:00.001-07:00

I have pulled this item off the auction. My friend just emailed me to tell me her son is gravely ill. She was the last one to bid on the blanket, and she really wants it for her son, so I'm pulling it and sending it to her ASAP so she can have it for him. Please pray as is time here may be short!

Auction item #19, set of 8 notcards

2010-04-30T08:04:00.000-07:00

By Alicia, set of 8 notecards and envelopes!

Starting bid $2.00

Auction item #18, Gift card to Vinyl Exclamations

2010-04-30T07:58:00.000-07:00

A $25.00 gift card to Vinyl Exclamations by Kecia. Put your favorite saying in your home or decorate your kids rooms!

Starting bid $8.00