Speedy's Trauma

Last week Tuesday we had quite an eventful day. We had a really rough day, after hearing that Sunshine's case had not been submitted to the Embassy, and I was really upset. It was not a pretty day for me but I was getting through, barely. Well, I must say there is nothing that jolts a momma & dad out of their crummy feeling and into excessive caretaker mode like a trip to the emergency room.

Poor Speedy was running around the wall that seperates the kitchen & living room. He was just told to slow down when the dog cut him off & he fell. He landed flat on his face because the dog had been in the way and he couldn't get his arms down. He stood up with blood pouring out of his mouth. Daddy jumped into action and Momma stood in shock. Daddy gave directions and momma grabbed all necessary gear including Giggles and off we went.

I must say Daddy had the hard job, keep Speedy calm enough to get through it. I also did not envy Daddy's role in the ER as he had to help hold still so the Doc, PA & Nurse could give him a mental block and numb him up. There was a lot of screaming and it felt like eons until it was finished. Seriously, I would have lasted 2 minutes and then told them to just put him out, it was pure torture. Speedy was a huge trooper. He did call the nurses and doctors stupid during the mental block but was very polite the rest of the time. Replying to questions with a simple "No, thank you." After our 2+ hours in the ER & with 2 stiches in his bottom lip we headed to the dentist for an after hours visit.

Now, it was my turn. I took him into the dentist where he had x-rays done. We went back into his office and he gave Speedy some nitrous oxide to keep him calm. After a quick exam the dentist told me that Speedy had brooken the tooth at the root (this is very uncommon--usually the teeth just get pushed back) and that he would need to take it out. We could come back in the morning or take care of it then. I opted for then since I knew tomorrow he would really not want to come back. The dentist numbed him up and then pulled the tooth, leaving the root behind. The only bonus I could come up with was that the Tooth Fairy would be coming tonight, which turned out to be the only part of the dentist he seemed to remember. Yay!

Wednesday morning he woke up with $5 under his pillow from the Tooth Fairy, what can I say the Tooth Fairy knew the trauma that came with the lose of that tooth. We all survived and Speedy's lip and teeth (the bottom teeth were just a tiny bit lose) are healing well.

Speedy had his first stitches at the age of 5. Giggles at the age of 2.

12 weeks....

It'll be 12 weeks to the day tomorrow since we met Sunshine and it seems there is no end in sight. We have yet to be submitted to the Embassy. The staff in Ethiopia are hoping to submit us next week or the following. Then we wait for approval from the Embassy and are given an appointment at the Embassy. Only now the Embassy isn't giving out appointments in a timely manner. It sucks and the way the Embassy is handling it seems to be very backwards. Whatever, hopefully by the end of March we will be travelling. I used to feel hopeful for that and now that even seems completely unlikely. Hoping for no more tears this week...today has been rough. I just want our baby girl home with us and it seems almost never ending. Please send your positive thoughts, prayers and good luck mojo our way...we'll take anything we can get! Just missing our Sunshine something fierce and if you could see her eyes you would know why.

And After!

The walls are not finished yet but they are down and the area is liveable! Here are some pictures. Next, Will is going to work on the ceiling and then he needs to "finish" the drywall and prettify it. We will paint this summer. It has made such a huge difference in our house! I LOVE IT!

View from the garage entrance THROUGH THE HOUSE
View of the front door from the kitchen sink

View into the dining room from the living room!

View of the stairwell into the basement.

My Little Protesters!!!!

Just a few snapshots of our little protesters! We are protesting a bill that our beloved Governor Walker has tried to push through, which in essence ends all bargaining power of unions. It would crush our educational system and seriously is only a drop in the bucket compared to how much needs to be cut. Generally, Gov. Walker just wants to get rid of unions! We were down at the capital this evening to show solidarity for our educators and other public employees. ON WISCONSIN!!!

Rally Bus Ride!

A less than enthused Speedy!

Raging Giggles!

Giggles is a proud supporter!

Before!

Turns out we are crazy! We decided to go ahead and tear down the walls between the living room and kitchen and make them half walls. We are prepared for the crazy ups and downs the project will bring but seriously it is fabulous to be busy with something else. The boys have been troopers and Giggles is seriously curious about all the steps.

As usual we have already hit a bump in the road and let's just say our house seems sort of "customized" as far as all the crazy things the previous owners have done to the house. It's just the odd things we find when we decide to do, what should be an easy project, and instead find large holes in the ceiling hidden by a very large light fixture. It's just that sort of house. Anyhow, here are the before pictures and tune later this month for the after pictures (i hope).

Front door & basement door

Kitchen wall View headed down the stairs (it's a lot of wood)

Living room wall

Kitchen wall & closet

Our Rollercoaster

Well, all it looks like it is going to be a long wait until we hear anything about our little girl. The US Embassy is carefully scrutinizing every case and so it will most likely be a while, especially since we have not even been submitted to the US Embassy to be scrutinized. I don't expect to hear anything soon and figure that with the new changes we will be lucky to have Sunshine home by Easter. It's going to be a long road and a bumpy one I am sure.

Here is where we are:

Submitted dossier ---check
Fingerprints ---check
Matched with baby girl---check (Aug. 6, 2010)
Court date in Ethiopia---check (Dec. 3, 2010)
Submission to US Embassy---????
Final Travel Clearance---????

End in sight.....none!

Sunshine's Room :)

It's finished and we are so happy with it. Thanks to Gwen, a colleague of Will's, for taking Will's vision and my theme and making it into exactly what we wanted. It is completely beautiful, if I do say so myself. It says a little girl lives here but does it without screaming "SHE MUST LOVE PINK!!!" There's a picture of her mural and pictures of other decorations in her room. Giggles and Speedy painted the flowers that decorate her coat hook. It's all just so darn cute and waiting for our little girl!

Wordless Wednesday!

Squirrel imprint (he must have jumped off our roof)