I've been tagged

So, for those who read my comments - you might have seen a mysterious one about Andrea tagging me. Apparently it's a kind of blog "forward/chain letter" type deal. Well, I'm not into those - but after reading Andrea's post I thought it might be fun to share some general information about myself. I realize a lot of people reading might now know anything aside from the adoption journey we have been on. So here it goes (things I think other people might find interesting about me):

Sam and I are high school sweethearts and until we got engaged we had a long distance relationship. (That equals 4 years.) We dated about 2 months before I headed off to college (Beloit, WI) and Sam went to New Zealand as an exchange student. Then he came home and headed to Pittsburgh for college. On my graduation day, he proposed in front of a house full of people and I moved to Pittsburgh for a year. We've been married for 8 years this October.

In my family I have 2 sisters, 2 brother-in-laws, 1 nephew, and 2 nieces. I also have NO first cousins.

Growing up I wanted to be the next Greatest American Writer and received a degree in Creative Writing - somewhere along the line I fell in love with layout and design. Some would call it Graphic Design - but I'm not an artist and really consider what I do layout. I'm enjoying doing it for fun after working in corporate advertising for about 5 years. However, when I have to go back to work - I'm not sure what I will look for. My interests and passions have changed...

Which brings me to....I really enjoy Sociology. I love to read books about class structures, welfare, foster care, family dynamics, and social histories (Holocaust memoirs, personal accounts of triumph). I sometimes think I would want to be a social worker - but that'll suck the life right out of you. I think I'd love to run support groups - help people by letting them vent and talk in a safe place with other people who understand what they are going through. But I don't think I have it in me to go back to school for another degree.

I collect mice. All kinds - although it's packed away right now, my collection is quite extensive (and there is not one Mickey Mouse to be seen). Once day I will have a house where my office can be decked out in mice. My collection includes statues, stuffed animals, china plates, wrapping paper, glass/plastic/ceramic figurines, brand new and antiques.....I haven't seen it in so long but everything you can imagine I have.

My favorite painting, The Old Shepherd's Chief Mourner, is from the Victorian Era by Sir Edwin Landseer. Some people think it's creepy but I love it - we have a copy hanging in our bedroom.

I love to shop and have an obsession with jewelry and handbags. It's a problem. :) I love pens. I have more than any one person needs in this computer age - but I can't stop myself from buying more. Everything from Bic to carved wood. I often ask people to buy them for me during their vacations.

Okay - I guess that's enough diving into my personality disorders :) Probably more than any of you wanted to know anyway. Maybe by the middle of next week I'll have more cute kid stories to share :)

Picture Update

Here are a few great pictures. One is from when my niece and nephew were in town. The others were some fun we had today on Ian's bed. The boys love playing on that bed! Ian saw this picture after and exclaimed "I didn't even crinkle my noise - that's so good of me!" It was so cute.

Personal Plea

Gemma - you closed your blog!!!!! Email me so I can get permission to read it again PLEASE!!! I hope things are okay.
thanks:)

The power is back

We have had power since Saturday night - which was a wonderful thing. Especially since Jesse has been fighting a fever. I took him to the doctor today and they had to run some extra tests. Hopefully it's just something his body was fending off and now it's on the mend. He had more energy tonight and I finally got to see his little smile again. I missed it so much after 3 days.

Driving to the doctor's office we pass an animal shelter. It made me remember going in there with Ian last March. We had arrived too early for his appointment and decided to waste time by looking at the cute animals. It was before we received our travel date and looking at all those cute little faces gave me a huge urge to bring something home. Just pick one of these caged animals and make it my own - nurture it and take care of it - most of all love it. I remember the one I wanted most was a beautiful kitten with an extra toe. :) She was adorable. Today's car ride made me think of that adventure because life has changed so much. In the back seat of my car, was the little creature I had been waiting to nurture and now it broke my heart to see him so sad again. I'd been hugging him and kissing him and snuggling him trying to rid his body of what hurt.....in the end I had to take him someplace that scared him and ultimately caused him more pain with pokes and prodes.

Ian didn't have a lot of illness when we was little. He's had two bouts of stomach yuck but otherwise he just doesn't get sick. I don't think I'd make a good nurse or doctor - I feel too helpless. My boys are going to get sick again - I'm sure a lot more in their lives......will taking care of them ever get easier?

missing in action

Hey everyone - sorry it's been awhile but things have been crazy. My sister, niece, and nephew came in for a short visit last weekend (kind of on a whim) we did a lot of running around. I have some cute pictures of the kids to post when I can. However, a huge storm rolled through our area on Thursday afternoon and we haven't had power since. It's been very hectic and very stressful. Not only do we have no lights, tv, radio, and the normal stuff - but we also have no stove, range, hot water heater.....our entire house is run on electricity. We have no gas appliances or anything....so we have been down and out for nearly 2 days. I know it doesn't sound like a lot but with Ian and Jesse, and the heat....and us having to take refuge at my parents' 1-bedroom apartment for the day....and eating out every meal......let's just say I'm tired. And I should buy stock in Alieve.

There has been a slight break in the weather but it's still not great. I'm currently at the library near my parents place so I could check my email, update the blog, and get a little peace and quiet.

What makes it worse is that a lot of our northwest suburban area is effected - which means driving anywhere causes heart palpitations because of traffic lights being out. This morning we drove through a huge dangerous intersection where the police were simply sitting in their cars watching the mayhem. It's ridiculous. Well - now I'm just ranting, so I'll move on and then shut up.

We have started the adoption process through our court system. Our papers are being properly filed and we are waiting for approval from Thailand. Once we get that all our other papers will be already ready to go. It's a nice thought that things are moving forward, even though 95% of the time I forget Jesse is not quite ours yet. (Legally, that is).

I'll post some pictures when I can.

Goings on

Another crazy week has flown by..although not really fast enough at times. We've been really busy running around during the day. My mom had her knee surgery and has been recovering at a live-in rehab center. Now, my mom and I are close.....but her feels toward Ian are a little hard to describe. She waited for him as long as I did, through all our treatments....all the ups and downs of the pregnancy....and right there when he was born - she's been through it all. Nothing against my nieces and nephew but they don't live locally (so it's a little different). She can hardly stand not seeming him for more than 2 days in a row, so we've been visiting her nearly every day. It was also important to her that Jesse not forget her, and he not lose this time of bonding with her. Well, finally today she got to go home!!!! Yippy - now at least we can visit in the comfort of her home. It doesn't seem like a big deal, but it was pretty stressful taking them to visit her at "the home". I was also so worried they were being too loud, too disruptive, too crazy....I'd walk in and my stress level would go through the roof - and they'd just want to be boys and play around. Ian got yelled at a lot (some rightfully so, others probably me over reacting...but no mother wants her kids talked about behind her back - especially if the talk is bad) - I tried to keep a pretty tight reign on them. But that's over.....

I've also been just having a hard week in general. I just finished this really great book - apparently I'm the last person on the planet to read it, "My Sister's Keeper" by Jodi Picoult. Now, normally I'm very snobby about what I read and books that have the author's name larger than the title....I tend to stay clear of those. I'm a hard core fiction fan - stuff from off the beaten path, authors with one or two titles or ones that have proven great writers (in case anyone cares, I love Gloria Naylor and Amy Hempel). (I also tend to read a lot of non-fiction but that's a passion for another entry). Anyway.....this book has gotten me thinking about the person I once thought I'd be. I once thought I had great stories to tell - tales to weave into the hearts of America. I'd win awards and (most importantly) be required reading in some high school because of my wit and expert characterization. Guess what....didn't happen. I don't really have a point behind this except my 10 year college reunion is coming up next year and that combined with reading this book has made me feel very small.

Speaking of small....I have to just move on and post something cute or else I'll never get to sleep tonight. We received the "biggest" gift I've ever seen...literally

Yes - this is both Ian and Jesse inside the wonderful tote bag sent to us by my cousin's family. Now I know Ian looks like a giant head but he really is a normal sized boy, at around 41 inches tall. :) And Jesse only looks unhappy because we was having so much fun prior to this swimming around inside the bag by himself.