January 2006

We have found out that is not likely we will travel with group 109. Group 109 got their referrals a couple of weeks ago along with 112 priority. We were still hopeful that we would be included in a batch of referrals that is thought to be coming in late January. Kat spoke with our agency yesterday and was told it is 90% likely we will be traveling in May.

We are very disappointed but thankfully Kat had already experienced her emotional meltdown the week prior when some rumors had circulated suggesting that we would not be going in March. We are both coping with the news better today and are trying to rationalize why this is for the best. It is really isn't for the best in our estimation, but what else can you do?

In the meantime, last week we purchased a high chair and put it together and yesterday, we assembled the crib and that felt good, even if it is way premature. The room looks much more complete.

Christmas 2005

In early December we embarked on a ski trip to Tahoe. We had a great time and Marz spent most of it trying to figure out what this snow thing was.

We promised one another that we would not go overboard during Chrismtas. We did pretty well on that promise. Well, Colin did much better than Kat. Kat got a little carried away buying presents for Sophia.

Sophia got a car seat, some books, a Pottery Barn kitty robe and skirt from Grandma Mary.

The best part is that Colin managed to get home for Christmas.

December update

December was a series of highs and lows. Ever the pessimist, I will start with the lows first. By December, it became painfully obvious that there was a significant slow down in the Chinese Adoption System. Group 108 got their referrals but was not combined with any other group. We were told by our agency that there would be a %50 chance we would travel in March, but also a %50 chance we would travel in May! The possibility that we would travel later than March had never really occurred to us and it was not a welcome thought.

The good news happened on December 8th. That day we (along with the dogs) went to pick out and cut down a tree at Santa's Christmas Tree Farm. The dogs felt compelled to mark nearly every tree they came across, a behavior we unsuccessfully tried to discourage. When we returned home, I noticed the answering machine light was blinking. The caller? United Airlines...The purpose of the call? To recall Colin to United effective in March. How did we feel? Ecstatic! Colin had been furloughed over 2.5 years ago and for the past year, he has been flying as a Captain for a cargo company on his beloved 727. Although he has loved flying as a Captain, it is a great relief to be returning to United.

The only potential down side is that we have not yet found out where he will be based. When I was furloughed as a flight attendant, I was recalled to the base I was furloughed from. However, pilots are recalled to wherever there is a vacancy, so that could mean San Francisco, but it could also mean Chicago, Washington, DC, Denver or Los Angeles. We know that we will figure out, it would just be nice to find out where he is going to be based as soon as possible.

An Overdue Update-November 2005

So, this is our long overdue post. We have lots of convenient excuses as to why we have been so tardy in updating our blog but we will spare you having to hear them.

I figure a chronological update might be the easiest.

In the first two weeks of November, Kat attended a training in Los Angeles to become her department's next DARE Officer. In this speciality position, she will go into schools as a uniformed police officer to teach drug abuse resistance education to 4th through 7th graders. She looks forward to taking over the DARE position in June. While in Los Angeles, she had the opportunity to meet Kimberley, one of our fellow group 110ers. It is reassuring to know that we will be traveling with some really nice people.

Kat's Mom, Mary, came to visit over Thanksgiving. We had a wonderful visit and we only wish she would visit more often. In the brief time she was visiting, she managed to paint a beautiful and fun mural for Sophia's room.

That about wraps it up for November. Our next post will cover December.