Can You Help?

Today I am asking you to help out someone you don't know. In fact, I don't even know her personally, just "virtually" from email chat groups and following her blog. Teri is currently a single mom to a 4 yr old daughter from China. Many months ago she applied to bring home a 2nd baby girl -a waiting child with some special needs - to be "mei mei" (Chinese meaning "little sister").

The good news is, she has finally received her travel approval and expects to go to China in two weeks to pick up this special baby! Not so good news...a friend who had promised her $1,000 to help with her final travel costs, orphanage fees, etc. has had to back out last minute due to unforeseen circumstances. So now she is forced to look for donations from anyone who can help - with even as little as $10 or $20 - to help with her costs while in China. Even as little as $5 will buy a decent meal in China!

This is your chance to directly impact three people's lives - a desperate mom, an anxious big sister, and a baby in an orphanage in China. If you are able to help out financially, thank you. If not, maybe you could just say a prayer/light a candle/think good thoughts for her that somehow this will all come together in time for her to leave in two weeks! Goodness knows I am trying to fund my OWN adoption, so I don't have much to give her either - but tomorrow is my payday and I am going to chip in $20...

Her blog and directions on how you can "Chip In" are posted at this site: http://twolittleladybugs.blogspot.com

Congrats Becky!

Congrats to my Yahoo Group friend Becky & Family who finally met their sweet baby Laney today!

Check out this cute Ladybug piggy bank I found this weekend. Love it!

Be there...and BE Square...

Aaaaah - cubicles...there's just nothing like the pale brown or gray of a cubicle wall staring you in the face every morning when you get to work, is there? Or the ability to listen in on your cubicle neighbor's personal phones calls - or their hacking and sneezing when they come to work sick. I am talking about GOOD TIMES people!!!

As I've mentioned previously, the hospital where I work is moving to a new location Oct. 1. There is a lot of stress around the office regarding the move (how do you pick up and move 3,500+ employees, hundreds of patients & their families, and TONS of medical equipment seven miles east?) Lots of logistics to deal with surrounding all that.

A couple weekends ago we got to see the main hospital up close - all the wonderful natural light, beautiful artwork and amazing color schemes were just awesome to see! This week we finally got a glimpse of where our new digs will be in the office building across the parking lot. It looks somewhat like this:

You can imagine my absolute JOY upon witnessing this for the first time. I know, I know, the hospital is about providing the patients with a great, healing environment - not the office workers...but REALLY? Does it have to be like THIS? This takes me back to the fond memories of my days as an insurance claims adjuster (circa '97-'03). Not the best of times, really...

I do realize that many, many people all over the world go to work in this type of environment every day and survive it - and so will I. I suppose I've been spoiled the last few years, sharing a private office (yes, with a DOOR even!) with just one colleague. It's back to the cube farm for me. I guess I'd better enjoy the next five weeks of semi-privacy while I have it.

In other news…there is really no other news...what have I been up to? WORKING. Hopefully I will have a little bit of time this weekend to post some more pics of new "Lia stuff" I've received. This little girl is going to be one well-dressed cookie!

Baby Blues...and Happy Surprises...

For the past few days, I've been feeling kind of down about the extending wait times and the prospects of seeing Lia before 2010...I know I need to stop visiting certain website and blogs that depress me and just keep myself focused on the prize...there is still a long way to go. Anyway, I posted a little bit about my current state of "baby blues" to one of my Yahoo LID groups yesterday and everyone there was so supportive and I know that they all understand the ups and the downs of this process, because they are going thru it now, and many of them have been thru this before. It's nice to have people who can justify that we all have our hard days during the wait - and that's OK.

When I got home from work last night, Steve said "You got flowers!" - which was a shock. Was it my birthday? No. So I looked at the card. They were from my Yahoo Group Secret Pal. Not sure if she saw my post and KNEW I was having a rough day, or whether it was a coincidence, but it certainly was a lovely (and much appreciated) surprise! They are a beautiful display of pinks and red in a wonderful vase:


So THANKS Secret Pal for thinking of me. It really helped lift my spirits. And thanks to all my Yahoo group friends for the great support system we have in place.

I was also pleasantly surprised yesterday afternoon when my boss called me into the conference room and shut the door (rarely a good thing!) It turns out the hospital has been doing some salary analysis' and my job description/title was approved for a small bump up in pay! Whoo hoo! Again, nothing major - this is a non-profit after all - but every little bit helps, and when added to the bump I received at my annual review in June - it ends up being a nice little raise!

So two happy surprises to end a day that started out pretty rough...not too shabby.

Four months down...

...and how many more to go? Nobody knows. So I will continue to wait patiently. I do have to admit, the last month DID fly by! Maybe the next 20 will too? Also, two quick Happy Birthday shout outs to my mom (Aug. 9) and dad (Aug. 16). Wish I could be in Seattle to help celebrate! :) Unfortunately, I get to work all weekend - the hospital is moving to it's new location at the end of September and this weekend is the first, of several VIP "Grand Opening" parties planned over the next month. Thank god Steve has volunteered to come help. The parties should actually be fun. It's neat to see people's reaction to the new hospital for the first time - like, WOW! The artwork and design in the new building is amazing and creates a truly, light-filled, healing environment for patients. It's easy to believe that miracles can happen in a place like this...

More cute stuff...THANKS!

My sister is clearly in "Auntie" mode. Some recent fun arrivals from her include a Hello Kitty purse and lunch bag (yes, we realize a lunch bag for an infant is a stretch - but it was so darn cute!) She also threw in some cute bath toys (stuffed turtle and crab sponges) My friend Jen picked up a cute Little Ladybug book, along with a a ladybug bath sponge. The hat & mittens, Elmo shoes, puppy slippers, and shiny white maryjane's were all sent by my mom. Yes, the folks in Seattle are going to make sure Lia is the best dressed kid in town! (I take credit for the Chinese lantern bib - found it online and couldn't pass it up!)

With all the new arrivals, Lia's closet is slowly taking over the "guest room". I've asked friends and family to pass along hand-me-downs, as well as check sales and used clothing stores for sizes up to 4T - so I am already developing quite a collection as you can see. Very few are "infant" clothes, since I'm not sure how big Lia will be when I get her referral, but she certainly will have PLENTY of clothes to wear throughout her toddler and preschool years!

Thanks Yahoo Group friends! In July I received a very cute patriotic "I love the USA" red, white and blue bib from Vicky & family in Florida for the July bib exchange. My Secret Pal sent a giant package for June & July that included an adorable pink/brown zebra stripe tank and cuffed jeans, several "mama & baby" themed children's books, Chicken Soup for the Mother & Daughter soul (for me!) as well as some cute stuffed animals - a duck, a pig, and a black sheep (which actually looks a lot like my schnauzer, Luna!) My secret pal ROCKS!

A past colleague of mine, who is now a colleague of my mom's in Seattle - Dana - was in China this May picking up her darling daughter Mia. While there, she had this Chinese chop (stamp) made with Lia's name and a butterfly on it. What an awesome gift for me to be able to pass on to my daughter one day! The chop also has a rabbit carved into the top of it's handle.

As I mentioned...my secret pal ROCKS! In additon to my June-July "baby" gifts, she (he, they?) also sent a separate "housewarming" gift as they noticed I moved into a new home in July. Three lovely dishtowels and a beautiful asian-inspired plate to add to my kitchen. LOVE the colors! My secret pal also has great TASTE! :)

That's all the fun for now...more to come. Check out Lia's 100 Wishes Quilt page for more postings there, I am slowly getting caught up! I probably have 30-40 more to post. Keep 'em coming - they are amazing and inspire me every day.