Nicky on February 29th, 2008

From the International Adoption Clinic in Boston. Please see the abstract and source here.
Since 2000, American families have adopted 1,700 children from Ethiopia. Little is known about the health and development of these children. Patients and Methods Retrospective chart review of the arrival health status of all 50 (26F:24M) children from Ethiopia/Eritrea seen in the [...]

Continue reading about Health of Children Adopted from Ethiopia

Nicky on February 26th, 2008

I have quite a few jobs.. some careers, some whims and some small businesses. Jrock and I were talking in the last while about how we’re going to pay the bills while I’m on mat leave.  At least we’ve figured out the part-time work! after that is finished, but the mat leave is quite a challenge.  [...]

Continue reading about Thinking of a new business: Family Dolls

Nicky on February 21st, 2008

One of our on-line friends was waiting for a referral (after a very long road of waiting) and received a call when she was in Las Vegas two/three weeks ago!  Jrock has been in Las Vegas all week for a conference, and I couldn’t help but feel we were going to get lucky in Vegas [...]

Continue reading about Just a feelin’

Nicky on February 19th, 2008

There are definitely some advantages of living in Kelowna… man, it’s only mid-February and Spring is on the way! 
The first evidence: tulips - I think? or maybe irises - popping up in the side garden of the house.

The second evidence - that warm breeze coming across the lake… Hamish and Maggie and I were out [...]

Continue reading about Signs of Spring

Nicky on February 17th, 2008

Our house is finally at the point where we can have people over!  It’s still not all finished, but as of Friday at about 5:10pm, I have a fully functioning kitchen.
We invited some friends over, and I had a vague hope that the oven would be in by then.  On Thursday, the plumber came and [...]

Continue reading about First dinner guests

Nicky on February 15th, 2008

I got these photos via email… it’s interesting on so many (cultural, health, economic, political, etc.) levels…
(if anyone knows where this came from originally, please let me know.)

Germany : The Melander family of Bargteheide
Food expenditure for one week: 375.39 Euros or $500.07

United States : The Revis family of North Carolina
Food expenditure for one week $341.98

Italy : [...]

Continue reading about Food for thought

Nicky on February 14th, 2008

I’ve really tried to keep our kids in mind while we’ve been renovating our house - places to play, to run, to sleep, to craft, etc. But there is one area that I hadn’t child proofed - our living room and the hall entry. In fact, I bought some *expensive wallpaper for the little wallway [...]

Continue reading about Trying to kid-proof

Nicky on February 12th, 2008

In the last week we’ve had some news concerning the referral wait. 
First, our agency emailed with up-to-date wait times.  Our particular request (one child under 1 and one child under 4) changed from an estimate of 2-6 months to, now, 6-10 months.  Needless to say, I was somewhat aghast. Jrock was steady, since he had [...]

Continue reading about Waiting Update and Retail Therapy

Nicky on February 7th, 2008

A very super happy loving laughing full-of-hugs birthday wish to my husband - who as of today, is firmly planted in his thirties!

I had a cake made for him by an amazing cake artist - you might recognize our animal babies - Hamish, Vega, Haatim, and Maggie. We surprised him at work for lunch today!

We [...]

Continue reading about Happy Birthday, JJ!

Nicky on February 5th, 2008

Ok, so I was out shopping the other day, and decided to go into Toys ‘R’ Us and stare at all the baby stuff that I can’t buy because I don’t know how old my kids are.  This is just one of the lame activities expecting adopting mothers do - besides blogging and checking my [...]

Continue reading about What’s missing?

Nicky on February 3rd, 2008

This is not good - I need this guy for heavy lifting!
 
Jrock was playing hockey on Friday and out on the center-ice, reaching for the puck, he was slammed by another player on his side.  Youch! So his side was all messed up.  (He looks very brave in this picture, but he’s been groaning and [...]

Continue reading about Man down!

Nicky on February 1st, 2008

Ok, so now my husband is even starting to get antsy.  A couple nights this past week, he’s said “I think it’s tonite!  check the email!” but then, no.  No referral.  Guess he doesn’t have woman’s intuition…
But when Jrock is getting antsy - you know we’re due.  Any day now.  Any day….

Continue reading about Five Months