The Mickey Mouse Kid

Before I first met Anna, Gerard and I talked about the day we would take her to see Mickey Mouse in Disney World. Gerard always said that we would hold off until she was a little bit older so that she could remember the trip and know who some of the characters were first. Before I left on my first trip we agreed that we would wait until then.

When I went to meet her for the first time she found a cup in my bag with Mickey Mouse of it. I was amazed to see her little face light up as she pointed at Mickey. Later during that visit I was taken to watch her eat. The dish and cup she was given to use had Mickey Mouse on it. One of my favorite pictures is of her eyeing me over her cup as she drank her juice.



Time passed as I waited to return to her. In the back of my mind I had been thinking if Anna is home by this date maybe we can take her to Disney for her birthday. That date came and went. During the wait I teased Gerard that she did know who Mickey Mouse was so we would be going sooner then he thought.

It was not until my second visit on my second trip did I realize that she was the Mickey Mouse kid. We had been walking around out side playing on the play ground and she took me in to see her care giver. The care giver when to get her some water and out came the same Mickey Mouse cup. I remember thinking I just want to touch it. I tried to give her some water from the cup but she would have no part of it at all. When I went to the bathroom I saw that this cup was part of a larger set Disney characters cups and plates that the children used to eat and drink from everyday.

I imagine that she probably drank from that cup and ate from that plate for over a year, everyday. I have looked for the cup or plate on Ebay and have not seen one that was close yet but I will keep searching.

Fast forward to today.

We were watching Lion King for about 4,339,555,456 time in a row, in the previews there is a part that shows a couple of kids packing to go to Disney. We were sitting there doing a puzzle waiting for the show to start and I said "Do you want to go to see Mickey Mouse?" The reaction was one that I never expected. She burst out with a frantic "Peas, Peas, go" pointing at herself and then the TV. I told she had to ask Daddy first. She found my phone and put it in my hand to call him, then once she heard his voice she took the phone away and started with "Peas, Peas, go" pointing at the TV and then herself.

Gerard not knowing what was going on I clued him in. I told him if I can make it happen what do you think? He laughed which translates to "Fine with me." I laughed because once I set my mind to some thing I find a way to get it done.

A couple of days pass by and no talk about going to Disney but my wheels are turning.

Anna's birthday is fast approaching and anyone who knows me well knows that I will be the first one to jump on a plane to go just about anywhere at a moments notice. So last week I was checking airfares on Spirit to Florida. I was shocked and amazed to see a 9 dollar flight to Orlando with a matching 9 dollar flight home. Panic set in and I clicked accept. I bought 3 round trip tickets to Florida for Anna's birthday week!!! Grand total of 166.00 dollars for 3 tickets (taxes and fees). I knew I would be able to get a cheap hotel in Orlando for late September but I never thought that I would find one at Disney's Caribbean Beach resort for 100.00 dollars. So for less then 500 hundred dollars we are going to Disney for Anna's birthday.

I am planning on only going to the Magic Kingdom for one day because our trip will be a short one so that we can be home for the weekend for a more traditional birthday party with family and friends. Elated does not truly explain how excited I am for us. This was a dream I had over a year ago that I never thought was going to be possible.

Tears of Joy

Last night I worked so La-La decided to take Anna out for a bit so I could sleep some. The last week here has been a bit crazy. My extra time was spent finishing up my Shutterfly photo books. I decided that because so many have not actually met Anna in person that I would make the 12 X 12 photo books from the past year and decided that one for each season would be nice. My plan is to keep them our so Anna can flip through them when she wants and believe it or not she loves to look at pictures of things we have done. So that is the reason for the long stretch between updates.

I got up at around noon and decided that today I would get a couple of the things that I have been avoiding done. I packed snacks and we were off. Anna played with her baby doll in the back seat while I ran to two different banks and talked to one of the two farms I am considering for her birthday party. Then it was off to see the stock broker to sign some paperwork.

I seem to always be the only one in this office which for me is good because I never have to wait. Anna still melts down when she has to wait or if I have to take her in and out of the car seat too much with no fun for her in between. Paper work signed some friendly chatting and we were off to the dollar store. Picked up some coloring books and regular books. No melt down! I figured it would be pushing my luck but I decided to check out the party store. I got to look all around the store with no melt down!

Would it be possible to get one more store in without a melt down. I know I am pushing my luck and was quite prepared to leave at the first sign of tears or climbing out of her stroller. Off to Kohls.

Okay I am one of those Mommas that lets her child play with a toy usually a stuffed animal only while we are in the store then we put it back blow a kiss and wave bye-bye. I think this is a good exercise of control for Anna. Plus I have a problem with buying a toy for her every time we are in a store.

Two weeks ago we were at Kohls and she was loving on an Eeyore, putting them all to sleep. We waved bye-bye and left for home. She did not seem upset when we left. Yes I felt a little guilty because she seemed to love it but I thought this will be okay and it was. Today when we walked into the store she was so excited to see the Eeyores that we did the same thing picked one up to love so I was able to look for the couple little things I wanted.

I have been racking my brain for a cute Grandparents gift for Gerard's parents and my Mother. I think I have an idea for my Mother and today I found a picture frame for Papa. So now it is just Gerard's Mother's gift that has me stumped.

While I was looking at the frames Anna was playing and the stuffed animal dropped from her hands. I told her to be careful we did not want him to get hurt. She looked me in the eyes, grabbed the stuffed animal and said "It is okay,I'm here" while patting him on his back. To say I almost cried is an under statement. First she put more then two words together and even though it would be difficult for some one else to understand I heard it clear as a bell.

To see her hug and pat the little stuffed animal with such compassion and trying to comfort him just like I comfort her was amazing to say the least. Just then I looked up to see this picture frame and it read "A family is Forever." You know I had to buy it for her room. My plan is to take a picture of the three of us with her brand new stuffed animal. Yes we brought him home too!

Birthday party ideas and thoughts about pre-school

Today is a good day. I sitting with my Mom at Sloan-Kettering while she gets her vaccine for lung cancer. The research doctor told us today about 60 percent of the people in the study are showing an immune response. We do not know if she is one of those people and will not know until the end of the study in 2 1/2 years. For today we are thinking she is apart of that 60 percent.

Anna's baptism party is pretty much planned. I am hoping to finish the favors later today. Once I do finish them I will take a couple pictures. Now I have started to think about her birthday party. When I think about her birthday being right around the corner I am amazed.

Anna is very into animals. Most of the toys she plays with are little animals. Horses and lions are her favorites, since petting a lion can be dangerous I was thinking about a pony party. For the past couple of weeks we have taken a daily bike ride to see the horses up the street.

Gerard's only request is that there are little children at the party. The funny part is that is the hard part. Aside from Hans, Anna really does not have a bunch of children around to play with on a regular basis.

Which brings me back to the pre-school debate. I am going to send Anna to pre-school. I am lucky because my school district offers free all day pre-school. I know that this sounds great but I (and I stress I) struggle with the idea of being separated from Anna. My school district has assured me that if I feel Anna is not doing well being apart from me I can delay her for another year.

I will say I have not ruled out home schooling. I just have not had much time to investigate different programs. My reservation is the socialization factor. So I guess on my to "do list" is to finish getting her application filled out. Oh and I guess I have to find a dress for her first day.

Excitement

In the past year I have been in contact off and on with another woman who is trying to adopt from Anna's region in Russia. I so remember our first phone call very well because it was just hours before I broke my arm last year. Imagine my excitement when she dropped me a note saying that she was going to leave for Cheboksary on today. This week I have felt such a rush of feelings about my final trip over to pick up Anna, talking with her only made it better for me. Please pray for her as she travels half way across the world to hopefully meet her daughter.

Exactly one year ago

I can hardly believe that one year ago I was on a plane heading home with my daughter. The poor little baby in my arms trying her best to understand what was going on, who I was and if she would ever know or see anything that was familiar again. She and I had been up for close to 24 hours by the time Gerard picked us up from that airport only to face a 2 hour drive home.

As I walked from the gate at the airport her eyes were big and scared. Anna had only been with me a couple days so she did not know what to expect. We were one of the last people who got off the plane. Because we arrived at the airport close to midnight the shops and food stands were all closed. There were no more flights waiting to depart. The usually busy Newark airport seemed empty.

Gerard was waiting for us in his usual quiet manner no waving of arms or a big loud hello. He was just leaning up against the railing. His eyes lit up when he saw her then he hugged me.

Anna was in my arms not really holding on and looked at him with an indifferent gaze. No smile no real eye contact was made, she was very tired. I belted her into the car seat, tucked a blanket around her and she fell asleep quietly without any fussing.

Today the difference is surreal. Most mornings the second or third thing she asks for is DaDa. He calls us every morning to see how her night went and see what she is doing, if she has eaten anything. He likes a full run down every morning which I love. When she hears his voice on the phone there is no chance of her not talking to him. She puts the phone to her eye while finishing a puzzle and says "Lo" (which means hello). When he comes home she runs to the door to greet home with a hug a kiss and then proceeds to drag him to the floor to play with her. Everyday he does this with a smile on his face. I am pretty sure no one would ever believe that this happens everyday.

The little girl who just a year ago flipped through a sudoku book to avoid eye contact will now engage me by laying on the floor and pretending to cry so that I will pick her up and tell her she is my forever baby while I rock her. The same child who looked at us strangers with an indifferent gaze runs to us now when she sees us hug with her arms up in the air, then she takes our faces and makes us kiss. What a difference a year has made.

There have been challenges believe me. Actually I have a blog entry in my head that I am having some difficulty writing but I hope to be able to get it out soon.

Has it really been a week?

This week has been crazy. It seemed like I worked every day. Plans for her Baptism are well under the way. I had been thinking about what type of little favor I could give that would not cost a ton of money. I am big on favors that you can eat I really do not like a bunch of stuff hanging around my house.

Anna spent quite a bit of time with Gerard this week during the week. Yesterday was a town get together were they had a blow up bouncer that she loved. She loved it so much that they came home to get me up so I could see her bounce. There were a number of little kids in the bouncer and all I could think is in a couple of weeks one of these kids could be in her pre-school class.

One little girl was bouncing around to all the adults and trying to kiss them through the net. Gerard was alarmed because it took him by surprise that a strange child would want to kiss him. When Anna saw this she came over and kissed both of us through the net and bounced closer to us so the little girl would not have the option to bounce near us again. Okay I admit I loved it.

I think I have found the perfect thing for her Baptism favor. Have you ever seen the Legend of the Sand Dollar? Well I was thinking it would be perfect printed up and tied to a cookie or some chocolates.

Legend of the Sand Dollar
There's a pretty little legend
That I would like to tell
Of the birth and death of Jesus
Found in this lowly shell

If you examine closely,
You'll see that you find here
Four nail holes and a fifth one
Made by a Roman's Spear.

On one side the Easter Lily,
Its center is the star
That appeared unto the wisemen
And led them from afar.

The Christmas poinsettia
Etched on the other side
Reminds us of His birthday
Our Happy Christmastide.

Now break the center open
And here you will release
The five white doves awaiting
To spread Good Will and Peace.

This simple little symbol,
Christ left for you and me
To help us spread his Gospel
Through all eternity.
Anonymous


I did manage to steal a couple of minutes away to take her picture on the beach in her dress. I want to put the one or a couple on each of the tables. I am trying to figure out how to attach a couple Bible verses that relate to Baptism. I have found one that I love but if you have another I would love to hear them.




I just love taking pictures of her on Long Beach Island.

Matthew 3:16: "As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him."

Mission work...what do you think?

For the past couple of weeks I have been thinking about a mission trip to Haiti. I know it sounds a little bit crazy to some and like the timing is all wrong. Here is my question if that is the case then why does this keep coming into my thoughts? Why when I think about going on this mission trip or another type of mission trip perhaps to a different country a feeling of relief comes over me if it is not right?

One of the doctors who I work with just came back a couple of weeks ago from Haiti. The mission trip was organized by the Missionaries of the Poor I had been thinking about this before she left but I had been thinking about trying to find one in Russia or another Eastern European country. Believe it or not this came into my mind when I started to look at nursing jobs abroad. Yes the cat is out of the bag this it what I have been thinking about or maybe becoming a traveling nurse in different parts of the country.

I know Anna is my main concern but perhaps this IS all possible. Yes Gerard thinks I am crazy and has flat out said no! He has said no to other things that turned out to be the best decisions we have made in the past to so I think I may be able to get him on board still. He himself passed up a job a number of years ago that would have taken him to Russia. Sounds funny to remember those times. He would have had to live there for 6 months.

Back to the mission trip, I think Anna would be okay for a week or so if I were to decide to do this. For me right now financing the trip is my main concern. I know that I will more likely then not go on one in the near future because the thought of going and helping seems to be on my mind every morning.

This morning I read an article about a team in Afghanistan who were killed. After reading this I am leaning more toward going even though you would think a sane person would have put mission work completely out of her mind. When you have the ability to help others that is a gift and one that should not be thrown away or under used. Life is not about things or how much you have. Even as I say this I look around my house and almost feel guilty for the shear quantity of stuff I have when others have so little.

I think I have changed and I am not sure when I did or what single event if there was one that has changed me. Perhaps I am just growing up both as an adult and a child of Christ. Maybe I am just realizing that living a comfortable life and not helping another is an empty life.

A fellow blogger friend Stephanie will be taking a trip to Africa and is asking for donations. She is in the process of adopting from Ethiopia and may visit an orphanage where her daughter will be from prior to her referral for the mission work, how amazing is that!

So these are the things that go through my mind when I am quiet. I would love to hear feedback about different mission trips others have been on and what organizations they went with and why.

Plans are set!

Last November I had Anna Baptism planned but unfortunately it was the weekend after my Mother's first surgery so I cancelled it. I know that this is something that I wanted to take care of as soon as possible but did want to wait until my Mother was in the clear so to speak. Now that she is we spent the week preparing for the Baptism and setting up a little party to follow.

In retrospect I am glad that I waited because I feel like I can have a bigger party. My original plan to try and get it all done before I went back to work would have been quite difficult. Gerard and I are really falling into the Mama and Daddy roles, having this level of comfort actually has made it easier to plan this special time for Anna.

We went to a class this past Wednesday and I enjoyed hearing what Sister Pat had to say. I wanted this to be and feel like a celebration. For us this is a sacrament that symbolizes Anna's entrance into the Christian faith. I am very excited.

The dress that I bought for her last year still fits just a tiny bit shorter so she will get to wear that still. The weather should still be nice. I finished the invitations this morning and will mail them on my way to work. I booked a nice restaurant for a luncheon afterwards so that is taken care of too.

I just want to fit in finding something for me to wear, favors and pictures of Anna in her dress. I wish it were in the budget to have a professional photographer at the party. I hate the thought of my camera hanging around my neck the entire time.

Hoping and praying for my friends (Great Big Giveaway #2 information)

I wanted to let everyone know that Melissa and Nathan's Great Big Giveaway #2 is in its final hours. I am so happy that I was able to help her out with this giveaway. The bonnet and bloomers that I made for her are one of the featured prizes. I would love to see her reach her goal.

I can tell you that there is a special feeling that you get when you are able to help another realize their dream of becoming parents. Their profile was shown last week it appears that God has a different child hand picked for them. I like to think that this is because he wants them to be prepared financially. Adoption can be extremely expensive I know that first hand and even as prepared as I was I struggle at times balancing everything.

As always I would like to ask for you to say a quick prayer for Adrienne and Jim's Bennett. He is back on the ventilator due to a collapsed lung.

The first time at the Movies!!

First let me tell you that Gerard and I went on our second date to the movies. The first was for ice cream, even though I really do not like ice cream. We saw Sleeping with the Enemy He did not want to go see a romantic movie so I told him it was spy movie. About half way through the movie he asked me when was the spy part coming. To this day when that movie is on TV we laugh about how I tricked him.

We have been trying to spend every Sunday together as a family. This Sunday morning I had wanted to go to the beach which Gerard hates to do then the rain came so that was out. "What about the movies" he said? Anna is in LOVE with Buzz from Toy Story When ever we talk about Buzz. She says "Buzz" then does an air kiss his way. Anything that has Buzz on the package I have a better chance of getting her to eat.

In the short 5 minute ride to the movies Anna fell asleep so I worried maybe this is not a good idea. We decided that if she acts up we would just leave. I am one of those people who have a lot of patience and empathy for that Mother who has 1 or 2 children who act up when they are out even before Anna came home. Now that Anna is here I am sure I could have even more. She makes me sweat. I also believe that when you are out especially your child is acting up you should try your best to not impact others and remove yourself. I feel even more strongly about this when others have paid a good bit of money for an experience. I am lucky I usually do not have to save long to do something special but others may have had to save for weeks to do the same thing.

Okay off my soap box and back to the movies. We got our drinks, popcorn and shuffled into our seats, three by the wall (my favorite seats). About 2 minutes later the movie started. Anna sat between us with her eyes glued to the movie. Not a sound from her mouth. To say she was mesmerized is an under statement. At first she was like my people are up there on the screen then out came Buzz. I thought the movie was great. A couple parts of the movie were a bit darker then I like for a children's movie and I was thinking this is very 9-11 ish for me. The ending was a good ending for this series and quite sweet.

La-La and I laugh because we joke that this movie will breed a new generation of hoarders. I not convinced that I am not right about that after seeing the whole movie. We went to an early show and were home by 7 pm but I do think she was wand up because of the movie so going to sleep was harder then usual. Anna even with her limited vocabulary was able to communicate to me about Buzz, her baby, the monkey and many of the other characters. She ended up falling asleep in my arms in the rocking chair after 11:30 pm.