For those who are interested . . . .

My I600 was received by my adoption agency's Vietnam Rep on Sept 21st. I don't know how long it took her to turn it into the USCIS and I haven't received acknowledgement of it's receipt from the USCIS (which I understand can take up to two weeks to get). This was the last piece of paper I needed to submit, now all I can do is wait for the USCIS to approve my getting a visa for my new son. That approval will then be sent to the province who will schedule the G&R (Giving and Receiving Ceremony - aka formal adoption) then we will travel. USCIS I600 approval can take up to 60 working days although I have heard of some receiving approval within 5 to 10 working days. It all depends on how the initial review of the paperwork goes and how much of an investigation they decide to do - which depends on the quality and completeness of the rest of the paperwork from the province. I am praying for a short turn around as my agency is known for being extra careful and complete with the paperwork. Also, since they are investigating irregularities in baby abandonment to make sure the babies aren't stolen or kidnapped and my son isn't a baby - hopefully it will go fast. I'd really love to have him home before the end of the year.

What Was I thinking????

Krystal got an invitation to one of her good friend's birthday party at a place called "Amazing Jake's". It is like Chuck E Cheese for older kids with laser tag, put-put golf, a rock climbing wall, go-karts, carousel, game arcade and bumper cars. The birthday girl was turning 12 and most of the other kids are about the same age. Anyway, it is in a mall that is about an hour's drive from us. With gas prices still high, I decided that I would take the other two kids and we'd spend the 4 hours of the party roaming the mall and maybe Christmas shopping. You see, we don't have a mall where we live, we have a couple of shopping areas that have a pretty good variety of stores, but you can't walk to all the stores, you do one area, then drive to the next area, etc. It is hard to describe, but it is more like shopping centers than malls without all the little stores that malls have. I'm not much of a mall person, but I do like to go occasionally and just see what is there. The last time I was in a mall was just before Christmas last year when we went to pick up the Christmas pictures. So I was ready for my next mall experience.

Well, we got there a bit early as Krystal hadn't gotten her friend a present yet. We dashed to the nearest book store, bought the book Krystal wanted to give her, then dashed back to Hallmarks to pick up a card and a bag to put the book in. Headed over to Amazing Jake's. Nobody (for Rachel's party) was there (even though it was already 12) so we wandered around a bit while we waited. Aidan wanted to climb the rock wall and drive one of the go-karts, but I didn't want to spend the money and stay there. I wanted to wander the mall! We waited until the rest of the party arrived, the we took off. Aidan wants the new Lego Batman game so we headed off to Game Stop. No luck for the PC version of the game so we ducked into Limited Too where Caryn wanted to go. We bought something like $270 worth of merchandise - pajamas for both girls, 3 or 4 shirts for Caryn, some of the new WebKins, and some of the Kookie pens. But for every $50 I spent, I got $40 back in coupons to spend later so it isn't that much right??? Right! Then we went to the food court and the kids got MickyD's and I got a rice bowl from someplace else. Back to wandering and after striking out on the PC version of the Lego game at another store, Caryn sees the Children's Place and wants to check that store out. I managed to pick up a couple pairs of pants for Aidan here as well as a down vest thing that he just 'had to have' and a few more shirts for Caryn and Krystal. Finally we went back to the book store where they were having a 'buy 4 get the 5th for free' book sale. I found 5 book and the kids each picked up 3 or 4 (but the sale wasn't on kids books). Finally back to the food court for an ice cream then it was time to pick up Krystal. My attempt at saving money on gas cost me around $600 when all was said and done. What was I thinking?????????

This is last year's (2007) Christmas Picture. I can see another little face in a similar photo for this year's Christmas Picture (Please, God).

Just another busy weekend at our house: I get up early on Saturday to put the dog out - he starts yipping at way too early an hour to be let out of his crate and outside, while bringing him back in (he is 15 years old, blind and deaf so I have to go out into the yard and get him or he gets lost in the yard and will wander for hours, unable to find the back porch - honest! this has happened) one of the horrible cats scoots out the door. I yell for the kids to help (they are still asleep), toss the dog in the door and turn to chase the cat, only to find that the cat has taken one look at the 'great outdoors' and turned tail to run back in. Unfortunately, I have shut the door so he can't get back in. Luckily, he stopped and froze so I grabbed his tail and then the rest of him, scooped him up and managed to toss him inside. I go in, kids are still asleep so I start fixing breakfast. Aidan gets up and goes immediately to the computer to start his current game up. The girls are still asleep. Around 10:30 I wake the girls, they stagger out by11:30 and grab a bit of brunch. They start fighting with Aidan over who's day on the computer it is - a very regulated and maintained (by them) schedule - God forbid one forgets and gets on the computer on another's day. We talk a little bit about whether to run errands before or after riding lessons and decide to do them after. Kids get ready and off to riding we go.

After lessons, we hit Hobby Lobby looking for some stuff Aidan needs for his school project (build a Forest biome), then to Michaels as we don't find everything at HL. Stop at PetCo (as it is right next to Michaels) for cat food for the old, picky cat. Krystal wants to go to the book store as Brisinger has just been released so we head off to Mesquite (and the nearest book store). Kids are hungry so (after much discussion and arguing) we head to Razoos for dinner. Book store is a rare treat as I never get out for less than $300 and this trip is no different. Ayin has FINALLY found some books she likes so she stocks up, Aidan finds a couple of books he wants and Krystal gathers her stack. I limit myself to 4 books (all authors I keep) and we head out. Back home by 7:30 after leaving the house at 12:30.

Today (Sunday) we have to start setting up the room upstairs as a guest room (after re-arraigning the down-stairs bedrooms to make room for Sean); Aidan has a birthday party to go to, Krystal has Faith Formation, Aidan has to make his biome and Krystal has some paper she needs to complete (on the computer - even though it isn't her day) and print for school tomorrow. And I wonder why I never get the whole house clean.

Introduction

This is my first attempt at a blog. I don't know what I will say, but all comments are appreciated. I called it "Midnight Madness" because of a conversation I was having with my oldest daughter as I was creating the blog. She was telling me about a game some of her friends played the other night. Apparently it is similar to playing "Tag" in the dark - the darker the better. As the 'older' mother to three children, I often feel like I am running around in the dark -- so the title seemed appropriate.