New Name

After many attempts, we finally have a name for our new daughter. She will be called Callie Lynn JeeMin Ragland. We are so excited for her to come home. The wait will be long and painful, but we know that she has excellent care and is happy. That provides us with comfort. Now, the buying begins! We need more car seats, another high chair, baby furniture, nursery decorations . . .the list keeps growing!

Our New Daughter

We received a referral! She is a beautiful girl born on April 12, 2009. She is living with her 35 year old foster mom and her family in South Korea. We hope that we will be able to go get her in 3 to 6 months. We are so excited and can't wait to meet her. I've attached four pictures. The woman in the picture is her foster mother. This is the foster mother's first baby. My heart breaks for the birth mother that had to relinquish such a beautiful child, but the foster mother will definitely have a hard time after caring for this wonderful being for so long. Pray that time passes fast!

We have been waiting for a referral for 7 months today. My patience is still holding. Luckily, we are so busy that there isn't much time to think about a referral. We held our annual benefit for the day school. The crowd was low this year, but we still received lots of donations. We truly enjoy giving back to a school that helped us through the first year of Jenny's life. Travis is still really busy with school. I've been on a frantic search for both flu vaccines for Jenny as well as both of us. The mass flu clinics being held around the state seem to be our best bet. I just want to make sure that Jenny is protected. I guess I just can't understand those parents that refuse to vaccinate their kids. Both vaccines went through the same testing process. I definitely think any risk with the vaccines is outweighed by the risk of serious complications from either form of the flu. I know of two children with Jenny's disorder that passed away last flu season from complications from the regular seasonal flu. I wish all parents would take the precautions because even if your child survives what about the child that contracted the flu from your child? What if that child becomes seriously ill or even worse dies? I guess I will get off my soapbox for now. I just get frustrated with parents that can't see the danger they put all kids in by not vaccinating, not just theirs.

Family Photo Session

We had family photos made a few weeks ago. It was our first ever family photos. They turned out pretty good. Jenny is not always an easy subject to photograph. She hardly smiled in the group pictures and my mouth seems to be constantly open! I was talking-imagine that! I've posted a few of the best pictures. A woman I went to high school with that is a few years younger than me took these. She is very gifted! If you need pictures, check out her website. (www.melissamccrotty.com/blog/) She is located in the Russellville/Pope County area.

Jenny's New Hairdo

We had been having trouble with Jenny chewing on her hair, so we cut it short! I am still getting use to it. I loved the long hair and hadn't cut it (other than bangs) since she was born. After the haircut, only one lone stripe of blonde hair remains. I was under the misconception that cutting her hair short would make my life easier. Boy was I wrong! The washing is fast, but drying her hair takes forever. I have to use a round brush to get it to curl under because her hair is super straight. The good news is that since cutting her hair she hasn't chewed on it anymore.

Travis is staying busy with work and school. He goes so much that Jenny and I hardly see him anymore. This week has been the worst. He had class Monday night, Tuesday night, work on Wednesday night, class again on both Thursday and Friday night and work all day Saturday. Thankfully we will see him all day Sunday.

We are still waiting for a referral! I'm finally patient. It really hasn't bothered me that much in the last week and a half or so. It will happen when it happens.

Six months waiting!

Sunday will bring us to six months waiting for a referral. I really had hoped to have a referral by now, but the waiting continues. I guess I shouldn't rush the referral since the wait to bring home the child will be harder I think. For the last week or two, it has felt to me like it just isn't going to happen. I know it will, but the wait is driving me crazy. Patience is definitely not a virtue I have.

Jenny is happy and healthy. We are trying real hard to keep it that way. Travis is busy with work and school. As for me, I spend my time trying to keep up with work, Jenny, Travis, the adoption wait, house work and everything else.

Labor Day Weekend

We enjoyed our three day weekend. We spent Saturday cleaning the house. That wasn't much fun, but it was very necessary. Saturday night we listened to the Razorbacks play some football. Way to go Hogs! On Sunday, Jenny and I went to my parents since Travis was working. Jenny loved riding on the four-wheeler with her Pop. She also loved getting to see all the animals my parents' neighbors have. She got to pet two very gentle horses. My parents followed me home on Saturday afternoon so we could go shopping in Conway. It was so nice to get to be home on Monday. Travis came in from work and we had a nice breakfast together. We decided to take Jenny to the park to let her play. She loved it. She got to swing and slide. The playground area we went to had only one other family, and they didn't stay long. The attached picture is Jenny loving the swings and her walking with her Daddy. It was a fantastic weekend!

On the adoption front, still waiting for a referral!!!!!