This is so freaking cool!

Google errors

Well, I can't get to the blog right now. Google seems to think that I am trying to access illegeally - hopefully not a Google thing against folks accessing from MS. Nothing would suprise me... Good grief - even in China I couldn't access (view) the site, but this is crazy...

100 Best Adoption Friendly Workplaces

Well, Microsoft is #66. I'd rather see us at #16, but I'll take it. Interesting that the #1 company only offers 1 week of paid leave. I would have put JPMorgan Chase (listed at #4) as the #1 choice, since they offer great reimbursement and fantastic paid leave.

Also of note - almost all of these companies are in the east or south - Microsoft is the only northwest company, and there are 6 others from California... That doesn't speak well to companies in the western US. However, I would like some HR folks to note that Google is # 38...

Moms out there...

You've got to watch this. I feel as though she was channeling my last "discussion" with the girls...

Helping

Today was one of those days where you just find the time to help a friend. Good friends are waiting for their referral for their child from China - they DTC'd (Dossier to China for the non-china adoption folks) way back in June 2006. At this point they have been told to anticipate a referral at least a year from now - which is 2-2.5 years after paperwork submitted in order to get a referral. So - like many others - they are considering moving to a waiting child from China to expedite the process. Since they are paperwork ready they could be in China in about 6 months if it all goes smoothly.

However, one of my favorite agencies just hasn't made it easy for them - or for others in fact. They allow multiple families to review the file of a child at one time, and then if they are all interested, they get to "bid" on which family is best for the child. It actually is the reason that I moved from that favorite agency for my latest adoption. I realize that they are doing their best to find the best family for a child - but they are forgetting that the parents are their client, and the ones responsible for paying the bill!

It's such a tricky thing - navigating the adoption process - especially as a first time adopter. And so often these agencies who think they are doing the right thing are really making it much more difficult. Don't pass judgements on families who you have already approved for adoption. Don't make the road to adoption so hard - you'll put yourselves out of business. Find the balance.

So - for J & S - hang in there. Your child will come, and he or she will be the perfect one for you! It's amazing how many deadends I headed down before finding Miss Lucy. It doesn't seem to make sense, but in the end it really does.

Ocean

We love going to the ocean, and the girls had a great time. It was windy, cold and a bit rainy - and we had a fantastic time! We flew the kite, made sand castles, and collected shells. Our new au pair, Viivi, came along and had a great time I think - the girls are really getting to know and enjoy her!

We'll try to get down one more time before the nice weather is gone for the year.

Rage against the system

When we were in China I had my first experience with Lucy and her rages. They were beyond a full-out temper tantrum, they were just a pure, old-fashioned rage. It was easiest to just restrain her in a hold unti they abated - if you didn't, she would go on to throw herself on the ground, throw up, bite, pinch and more.

I think all kids deal with the shock of adoption in different ways. Gwenn slept her way through all of the stress, Ella ate her way - and Lucy appears to be ragin' her way through the stress. The rages have slowed down - from 3-4x day to about 1 a week right now. Huge progress. However, when you are in the midst of the rage, it isn't all that fun...