Our house fiasco is nearing a close!

We finally sold our house! Woo-Hoo!

Moving to Utah 4 years ago, we were desperate to jump on a house ASAP with a reasonable price tag and in a good neighborhood. This was just before the peak of the market with high interest rates. We pretty much regretted it immediately. It is a cute house, but one of those annoying stacked split levels. Our two little bedrooms are on the top floor where we share a teeny-tiny bathroom. The 3rd bedroom and bathroom (in the laundry room) is in the basement - 3 levels down. This plan makes ZERO sense for a family. Last but not least, it is way out in the burbs - at least 30 minutes from work, friends, and family. This is not good for me - one who despises driving!

We have had it on the market, on and off again, for almost two years with no luck. Just as our crazy life goes, we were just about ready to take it off the market again because we're getting close to referral, and then we finally get an offer!

The good news is that if the sale goes through (contingent on inspection..... keep fingers and toes crossed!), we will finally be out and able to get into a house that we want to raise our family in. The bad news is that because we are almost breaking even (thankfully not a short sale - whew!), we won't have much money for a down, so we will need to rent for a while to build back up our savings. At first, the idea of renting made my stomach turn, but we realistically think it is a smart move. There is actually a good selection out there of much larger, nicer homes in better neighborhoods to rent for less than what our mortgage payments are now, so we can build our savings while living a decent home. Homes prices are also predicted to still drop in the next year, so we might get even a better deal on a house to purchase by waiting.

I would just like to add that we now believe that people who say that house ownership is the way to go are full of bologna. It has been nothing but a financial disaster for us! Granted, we bought and sold at a really bad time, but still, just sayin'.

Here's how it goes....

I am starting to FREAK OUT! I got the famous "first email" from my case manager from WACAP. This is the first of many to come that basically tells you to gear up because things are going to start coming at us really fast. YEEEKS!

Many of you have been asking what it all means when I say, "referral" and "matched", so here's a re-cap:

1. It is estimated that we will get a referral (or matched) with a child around December (give or take a month). We don't know who she is now, but at that time, I will get a call from WACAP saying that we have been matched and they will be sending the picture and child's information via email.

(If you can only imagine.... when we are next to be matched, I will be carrying my phone around like a delicate flower, then most most likely leap with super human strength to the computer when I get "the call")

2. We will have a few weeks to go over the medical information with a doctor and then officially accept the referral.

3. When we officially accept the referral, a court date will be set in Ethiopia for the adoption. That date is usually set 3-6 weeks after referral acceptance. Husband and I will fly out for that and stay about 7-10 days in Addis Ababa.

4. We'll come home (leaving her there... boo-hoo) for about 3-4 weeks until our embassy appointment date back in Ethiopia. I will fly back for that, take her from the orphanage to the guest house to start the bounding for a few days, then fly her home forever!

Date Night

As much as we are anticipating our new little addition and our new chapter in life, I am savoring the times that it is just the Kid and I. That time that I can just revel in his wonderfulness and give him my undivided attention. This was taken just before our "date night" of going our for spaghetti and a play. I think he is just such a handsome little guy and he melts my heart every day.

5 (part ll)

I have always thought that 5 is a lucky number and it is now proving true!

We have been on the waitlist 5 months

There were 5 referrals this week.

Found out that we are now #5 to be matched for a baby girl!

If my estimations are correct (with a little luck sprinkled in there), I will be in ET for the adoption court - or better yet - picking up our babe in 5 months.

WOOT-WOOT!

5

Was is not just yesterday that I typed "4 months"? And now, just a few hours later I am typing 5 months? Wowza!

Surely time flying might be attributed to... putting our house on market, deciding to carpet the entire house at once - meant moving everything out then everything back in, having my back act up - resulting in weekly trips to PT, arranging a camping trip with four other families down to Arches, Husband working late with coaching, taking care of a sick child, and last but not least, working 40+ hours a week. Not sure, but thinking that this whirlwind month just might have something to do with flying time.

I sometimes think (hope) (desperately hope) that life will calm down when we get our babe, but then again, I am not sure. The idea of factoring a baby into the month that we just had is, well, mind boggling. I am still bouncing back and forth with the debate of full time vrs half. We will sacrifice greatly financially by cutting my salary in half - with a great chance of inching into debt - but most of mom friends are telling me that it will be worth it for a few years while my little ones are still small. And reflecting on last month, going part time is almost a need if we are to fully experience the wonderfulness of our children and family (sans the busy stress). I am thinking they are right, and my thoughts are right, and leaning in the part time direction. Ho-hum. The plight of the working mom who just wants to be the best mom she can be - all the while making sure to keep her family afloat. Thinking men don't have this mind debate as often. ?

I am now enjoying a 4 day weekend. Today I sent the Kid to school while I had a "Me" day. I am keeping him home tomorrow for a "Kid and Me" day. Just the two of us are spending the weekend together alone downtown at my parent's house. My parents are on vacation and Husband is staying behind doing house projects (we live about 30 minutes out in the blucky burbs ... oh, how I miss city life!). I figure that I should appreciate the last few times that it might just be the Kid and I flying solo. We always seem to build great memories when we have these times. Granted, it is always fun with the whole family, but just a different kind of fun when it is the two of us. When we are together, we are increasingly spending more talking about "Baby Sister". The kid shows nothing but excitement. One day he will shrivel up with embarrassment to know that I revealed this to bloggerland, but he has a baby doll. A little black baby doll that he got to "practice" on. He dresses her, feeds her, sings to her, and tucks her in. He is just that kind of great kid and will make even a greater brother.

VIdeo Clip

This is an area just outside of Addis. Even though it is heartbreaking to see, I do like to find these clips. Not only does it give me some insight as to the hardships many Ethiopians face, but it is educating me on various humanitarian projects out there.

http://vimeo.com/13771428

There is another clip is on PBS.org which is my favorite. Not sure how long PBS will have it featured on their website, but it will be worth your time to check it out.

Go to www.PBS.org , click on "videos to watch", then "NOVA", then "A Walk to beautiful".

The Stuff of The Kid's mouth

Tim's friend, Andy, mentioned yesterday that I should start a blog dedicated to my 4 yr old son and the things he says. He is right. The Kid has the most mind boggling stuff come out of his mouth and I know that I will regret not writing these things down one day. My son's imagination does not lack and I often ponder what is conspiring in his mind. I will not be surprised if he is a writer or an actor one day with his dramatics (and not the "Earth Scientist" that he is determined to be - so that he can go dig up mummies and bring them home to re-bury in our yard).

Here's his most recent noteables:

1) The Kid's music teacher started singing a song (or playing an instrument?). The class was standing around listening when all the sudden, the Kid just dropped to the floor and laid motionless. Looking so authentic, the music teacher ran across the room to his aide. When he got down to Kid's level, Kid opened his eyes, cracked a weak smile, then feebly said, "I just faint when I hear beautiful music".

2) "Mom, when we get "baby sister", will she get food from your boob?" (No - from a bottle). "Oh, sorry, I guess I must have drank it all up."

3) The Kid was looking at pictures of us dancing at our wedding. "Mom, I think that dad must have danced so hard with you at your wedding that he shook you up so bad that my egg cracked in your belly, and then I came out."

4) "Teachers, I won't be kissing any girls (in the class) until I get married." (as in.... have no worries, teachers, I won't be on the prowl just yet. The girls are safe for now.)

5) The Kid and I stopped for ice cream and he asked if we were on a date. I said yes, so he said, "Well then, you look like a princess, smell like a flower, and your are really not THAT fat."

6) Just today we were at the pet store buying two African dwarf frogs. The lady at the counter said, "Are those your frogs?" and Kid responded matter-of fact, "Yes, they are my little sweethearts."

7) After the Kid got a time-out (I think that mischief comes hand-in-hand with his active mind), he came downstairs, looked me directly in the eyes, and said, "Does it make you happy, mom, that you make me so sad? Does it not make you feel bad at all that you hurt my feelings SO much that I even cry when you put me on time-outs?"

8) We revealed his newly painted and decorated room. I had visions of him standing awe struck, hugging us, and crying out exclamations of complete and utter joy. Instead, it played out like this: When we opened the door, his jaw dropped, he stood in shock for about 30 seconds (So far, so good!), then declares, "I hate it! Paint it back! Paint it back! You have RUINED...MY...LIFE!" We then had to tackle him for the next hour as every little 33 pound fiber of his body was determined to get his tooth brush so that he could scrub off the new paint.

9) "Mom, instead of chores (because they are apparently "just too hard" for him to do), I want you to get lots of apples today so that I can eat them, make my teeth loose, pull them out, put them under my pillow, get the money from the Tooth Fairy, so I can go and buy all the cars from Josh. (He is our neighbor that has a good gig going with The Kid by selling him his junky Match Box cars for $1.00 a piece). "But mom, I do have a question. If I do accidentally swallow a tooth when eating an apple, won't it hurt my pipes (intestine) as it goes down my body and then how will YOU get it out of my poop for the Tooth Fairy?"

10) The teacher asked the class if they could name a word that starts with "B". Kid raises his hand and said, "Beer". The teacher then said, "Don't you mean bear" Kid said, "No, beer... the stuff that big people drink."

11) Because life is more nutty than usual, I have been a little absent minded.... to put it kindly. The other day after I had tried in vain to get the key in to open a car that was not ours - and would have probably stood there cursing at the broken lock for hours until the kid corrected me, he said, "Mom, I think when you went to the bathroom, you peed out your brain and then flushed it down the toilet."

11) Here is my favorite! The other day he stopped, leaned against the counter, sighed while putting his hand on his head and looking up to the sky, and said, "Mom, I just LOVE my life". :)