album 11-10-2009 (252 photos), by KAMMY KRISELL

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10 hours and counting ....

Well ... it is "Cruise Eve". Kelley and I have 10 hours until we fly to Jacksonville, FL, catch a shuttle, and board the Carnival Fascination to Freeport and Nassau, Bahamas for 4 days.

We are both so excited we can't stand it. I am not looking forward to getting up at 3 am to be at the airport by a little after 4 am. Hopefully I'll be able to fall asleep before 1am ... If i'm still up at 1 .. I'll stay up all night.

I managed to get everything I need packed in my purse, and a carry on bag. No checking luggage at the airport, unless we have a last minute change of mind.

I can smell the salty air ... I can feel the breezes ... "I'm dreaming tonite, of a place I love." THE BEACH !!!!! THE OCEAN !!!!


HOORAY

Answered Prayers !!

I have been praying daily regarding my adoption. Do I try to find a baby locally? Do I try to go to another country?

Well, I got my answer today. I was notified by my agency that singles WILL be able to continue in the special needs program. Singles ARE NOT allowed to switch agencies to adopt off of a special needs list. What does this mean??? It means that I could get a referral VERY SOON.

I am so excited. While willing to pursue a concurrent adoption, I just never had the same feeling about another country that I have with China.

God has an amazing way of answering prayers ... and lots have been going up on my behalf lately.
So .. I have to give thanks where thanks are due... Thanks God, for leading my steps, and reminding me that it is YOUR time .. not mine !!!

Concurrent Adoption ????

A friend of mine the other day suggested that maybe Mari-Grace is not meant to be a big sister ... maybe she is supposed to be a little sister.

Another friend suggested that I open doors, and allow GOD to close the doors he doesn't want me to go thru.

So ... with these to statements in mind, I have decided to look into a concurrent adoption.
First, let me say, it really frustrates me that so few domestic agencies are willing to work with single adoptive parents. Sometimes it feels as if I am being punished for choosing to remain single and wait for the man God intended for me to spend my life with instead of settling for Mr. Right Now.

I can choose to adopt domestically thru the Department of Human Services. I am actually going to an information seminar with The Call in Arkansas. The Call works thru churches to place kids in foster homes. I am gathering information on the Foster-to-adopt program. I don't know if I'll do it or not , but gathering information never hurts.

I am also gathering information on 2 international adoption programs: Nepal an Kazakhstan.
Nepal is a country between India and China .. it is famous for the world's tallest mountain .. Mt Everest.
Kazakhstan was part of the former Soviet Union. It is an eastern European country.
BOTH countries are open to singles.

My BIGGEST issue with international adoption is finding the funds to do a concurrent adoption.
I may be asking for help from all of my friends and family to help with fund-raising.

Just PRAY that God opens my heart, and my mind, and gives me the strength and courage to go thru the doors that HE opens.

I need a new picture !

You know, I've lost 47.6 pounds. I haven't even taken a current picture to post. Rest assured .. I will take some pictures of me on the cruise. I'll make sure to get them posted so you can see this phase in the transformaton.

Life is going pretty good these days. Work is very busy, with the flu season in full swing, we are running over ourselves trying to keep up.

I got GREAT news at the doctor on Wednesday of this past week. My blood clot is resolving exactly on schedule. I will get to stop the coumadin the week of Christmas 2009 ! YIPPEE. I still have cords in my leg ... that is where the clot obstructed blood flow and caused the vessel to stretch. He said it could take up to a year for that to resolve, and it may never completely go away, but they are more uncomfortable than dangerous.

So, life is good... no complaints today !

22 days and counting !!!

The countdown is on for the cruise !!! We leave Little Rock at 6am on Nov 5 ... we arrive in Jacksonville, FL, board the ship and set sail the same day !! I am so ready for a vacation.

I'm trying to think if there is anything new and exciting to post .. and right now ... no.
I've got to leave in a few minutes to head to the doctor for a followup visit on the blood clot issue .. it seems to be doing well ... but shortly we will know for sure.

I'm down 47.6 pounds in just less than 6 months. I am pleased.

If I think of anything else, I'll post later.

Bumps in the Road

I was talking to my boss, yesterday, about the adoption. He actually attends the same church I do, so I know he will be supportive in stressful times.
We were discussing how God always answers prayers ... sometimes a yes, sometimes a no, and sometimes a wait. I made the comment, in reference to me adopting a special needs child, that his answer was wait.

Tony, my boss, reminded me that God will provide. He always does. He also made the comment that the road won't be easy. Sometimes there are bumps in the road ... and no one ever said the bumps wouldn't hurt. How true this is. Up until now, the journey has been so easy. The initial homestudies and dossier submission were flawless. Even the first round of renewals was easy. But when I decided to "Take control" of the situation, and try to speed things up by asking for a special needs child ... I hit my first bumps in the road.

Bump #1 ... USCIS couldn't get my fingerprints to register, so I had to get a letter from my local police department stating I had good conduct.

Bump #2 ... The blood clot in my leg put me in the hospital. It has taken a month or so to fully recover.

Bump #3 ... The bigger bump on the emotional path ... I asked to see a file for a little girl with a bilateral cleft lip/palate. I was told that China would not give a special needs referral to a single person ... WOW ... that bump hurt...but I was ok.

Bump #4 ... Jealousy...my friends who were part of my original DTC/LID group told me they had accepted a referral for a little girl with a cleft lip. Talk about a bump knocking me on my butt ... this one did. I am thrilled for my friends. The little girl is beautiful. She seems to be a perfect child for this family. I can't wait for them to see her, hold her in their arms, and know that she is theirs forever. BUT ... I was jealous. Why them and not me? Why should the fact that I'm single exclude me ??? Truth is ... I don't know. It's China ... they CCAA is in control.

The bumps are there. I just have to remember, that sometimes, the bumps will be bigger than others. No one promised the bumps wouldn't hurt, but they are necessary to get to the goal.

God is good. He will provide !!

JieJie Update

What a cutie ! She is doing so well. Only 1 accident since Sunday night, and it was my fault.
JieJie has the best personality. Just a real sweetie. She's sleeping in her pet taxi...and I am the only person she'll let hold her. I am in love!!!!

Meet GiGi

This is JieJie ... pronounced GiGi ... Jie Jie is Chinese for "big sister".

I chose this name for her because I wanted something cute in Chinese. Jie Jie fits her well too.

She is a 9 week old maltepoo. She is supposed to be paper trained .. but I'll expect a few accidents the first few days. So far, I've had her 3 hours ... no accidents yet !!!!

I needed a "baby". I need something to occupy my time until Mari-Grace comes home.

JieJie is so cute. She has a great personality. When you pick her up to hold her ... she lays very still. When you put her down .. she explores. So far, she won't leave my side.

Let's pray we make it thru the night. She was taken away from her brother, so tonite may be a little hard. Hmmm... this might just help me practice my bonding techniques.

WISH ME LUCK !!!!!

JieJie so far has a very sweet personality. She is exploring the living room now.

Stress !!!

Yes .. I am stressed out !!!

First of all ... I'm coordinating Moon Festival this year. I've never done this event before, so I am praying daily that it will turn out well. It will be outdoors on October 3.
I am also hoping that the families will enjoy the educational/craft events I have planned.
So nervous about doing a new format.

Second ... IT'S INVENTORY TIME !!!! I really hate year end at the pharmacy.
We have to count EVERY pill in the pharmacy ... we have about $250,000 in inventory in the pharmacy, and only about $50,000 in the OTC areas. It is critical that we have things right.
Our store has a past history of coming in at less than 2% error (we are allowed 10%). So .. keeping up with this status is difficult.

Third ... Payroll is killing me...we can't seem to get anything done ... but THAT is a story in itself.

I am looking forward to the weekend of inventory ... I get 3 days off ! I need a break BAD.
Perhaps a massage, pedicure, and manicure is due !