We got an officer, BUT.....

I decided to call the USCIS office today and see if we had an officer yet.  To my surprise the operator said yes, just one second and she connected us.  I really didn't want to talk to her, I just wanted to know if we had been assigned one, but I am so glad I did.  She told me we were actually the next file for her to read, that she had obtained our fingerprints and sent for my alien file.  I asked about this alien file???  She said she had to pull my file to review my naturalization papers.  Which I also questions and stated that I didn't have naturalization papers.  She told me I did.  I explained to her that I was born in Turkey, while my father was in the Air Force and that once we returned to the states, the base he was stationed at told him he needed to apply for proof of citizenship for me.  I was 5 at the time.  I explained to her that I had asked the adoption agency and called the I800 help line and no one was able to help, as far as how to complete the form correctly.  Your choices are:   born in the US, which I was not, Naturalization, which I was not, or through your parents, which everyone decided was the right choice.  I marked and filled out the information saying I had obtained my own citizenship and gave all the info they wanted.  Then she quickly went through our file and saw that I had a birth certificate that was issued by the US Government.  She said because I had that, I didn't need the naturalization papers, but that she would still need to wait on my alien file.  In the mean time she said she would read our home study and do what she could.  


WHY?? WHY?? WHY???  


My paper work has been there since August 10th and we were fingerprinted on August 29th and it is now September 27th, how much longer can this be drawn out.  We need our paperwork in China by November 4th.  We are almost out of time!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Please pray for faster processing of our paperwork, that our fundraiser will help us get closer to being fully funded.  Please pray for my friends that are in country now, working hard to bring their children home.

Good night and God Bless you,

Suzanne

NEW GIVEAWAY ADDED

Robin, at Red Thread Stitches, contacted me and donated this beautiful dress, called  

"Just Stay Little".  It is a size 3/4.  She has also donated the shipping cost and will mail the dress directly to the winner!!!

Robin's SEWING BLOG: www.redthreadstitches.com

Please take time to visit her blog, she has many other dress available.

Remember the other items in our fundraiser.

Ipad II

Ipod Touch 

Handmade leather purse

This purse is made by Clare's new DADDY!!!

or a handmade dress!!!

Super adorable pillowcase dress panda applique

 

 

 

 

This item was donated by:  Frida's Closet

Visit her store at:  http://www.etsy.com/people/fridascloset1?ref=ls_profile

This fundraiser will run from Sunday, August 14 to Saturday, October 8th at midnight.  Winners will be chosen by: random.org and announced on Tuesday, October 11th, 2011.

With every donation:   $10 gets you 1 chance and 1 freebie option.
                                  $25 gets you 3 chances and 2 freebie options.
                                  $50 get you 8 chances and 3 freebie options.
Freebie--is a way for you to earn extra chances.  Once you make a monetary donation, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, I am begging here, share this blogpost and that will earn you another chance.   If you donate enough for 3 freebies your can also Facebook, tweet or post on your blog about this fundraiser for your other freebies.  I hope that makes sense.  After you blog or post come back here and let me know you have shared and I will add your extra chances to the fundraiser.  If you donate money multiple times over the fundraiser you will earn freebies for that also.  YOU must leave your NAME, do not post anonymously because I won't be able to find you, if you are selected.

You can donate to our FSP by using the button on the top right hand of the page or by mailing a check to the address listed above ( be sure and write "CLARE FOR THE FRISTOE FAMILY" on it).  BUT, if you donated using the CHIP-IN button, you will earn an extra chance, for being kind enough to help us with our out of pocket expenses.

Now, let's recap what your donations will do.

THEY WILL HELP US BRING HOME OUR BEAUTIFUL CHINESE BUTTERFLY!!!!

Thank you and may God Bless your weekend!!!

Suzanne

Aaron made it through surgery!!!

Well, Aaron made it through his ear surgery yesterday!!!  We got up bright and early and drove to Children's Mercy South.  As we were pulling into the hospital parking lot Aaron goes, "I can't go here, this is Hannah's doctor."  That tells me Hannah as been admitted too many times in her short life!

We got in and for a 3rd time went through all the admitting questions.  I guess that is okay, because that means 3 people are employed, but I am tired of answering the same 10 questions.  We were called back and his vitals were taken and they made the mistake of telling him he could play with any of the toys, just bring them to the nursing station when finished, so they could be cleaned.  We started with a little farm set and James, from Thomas the train.

He was sticking his tongue out at me, but got it in before the camera snapped.  Darn phone cameras are so slow.  I really need to find my camera!!!!

Aaron and James, before they told us to get him dressed.  He really didn't like the gown they gave us and kept telling us he was okay.

He go boarded with the farm, so we went and found a box of cars, from the movie Cars and a SCHOOL BUS!!!  Aaron loves the bus.  He really wanted to keep it, so we explained how it needed to stay there for the other kiddos. 

Well, then we were done with the cars and found this firetruck.  Look out everyone.  He did try to escape.

Just before they came to take him back to surgery.  It didn't look like that was going to go well.  He kept telling the OR nurse he wanted to go home.  The anesthesiologist came in and showed him some pictures of her dogs she had on her camera and she got him to walk back to the OR room with her.  We were entering the waiting room when he realized we weren't there anymore and I could hear him yelling for me, I wanted to cry.

Out of recovery and almost ready to go home.  All he wanted was to go home and get the IV out.

This is the  school bus we got him.

This is Hiro, from Thomas the tank.  He was suppose to get it for his birthday, but he was so miserable looking I wanted him to have it early.  So, we left the hospital and I drove to the closest Walmart and couldn't find it.  We stopped at Sonic to get him a slushy and remembered that US Toy Company had a large selection of trains.  So, we stopped there on the way home and they had 2 different styles to choose from.  I get out to the car and hand it to Aaron and he quietly says, "Thank you, momma."  Made my day.

His adenoids were removed and a new set of tubes were placed.  The doctor told us the left tube had moved and was positioned over the bones in the ear, so they had to cut it out and patch his ear drum and place the tube in another location.  They say the patch shouldn't hurt his hearing.  I don't think it did, the volume on the tv is about 80% lower then it had been and Aaron is no longer screaming when he talks.  He still screams, but now there is a reason other than he can't hear and it usually involves Hannah.

Remember there are 2 weeks left on the Ipad fundraiser!!!  Thank you to everyone that has donated, prayed and shared.

I can't wait to meet this beautiful little girl!!

Suzanne

Exciting Announcement!!!!

A wonderful family has graciously donated and 8 gb Ipod touch to our giveaway!!!!!! 
1 Apple iPod touch® 8GB MP3 Player (4th Generation) with Touch Screen, Wi-Fi - Black



So, now when you donate, you have a chance at an Ipad II,



Ipod Touch,
handmade leather purse,

or a handmade dress!!!

Super adorable pillowcase dress panda applique

Winner will get choice of size.

Super adorable polka dot pillowcase dress sweet panda applique for your little princess specially for this back to school or any other occasion, this dress has a scolor combination.
It has an embroided design and not an ironing type design.
An exclusive Frida's Closet design

Available Sizes: 3-6 9-12m, 18-24m, 2T, 3T, 4T, 5T and 6T
3-6M/ 12" length
6-9M/ 13"
9-12M/15"
18M-24M/ 17"
24M-2T/ 18"
3T/ 20"
4T/ 22"
5T/ 23"
6T/ 24"
On you order please let me know the size you need.
Allow 7 -10 days to get the product. Weekends not included

All of our creations are made in a pet and smoke free environment

This item was donated by:  Frida's Closet

Visit her store at:  http://www.etsy.com/people/fridascloset1?ref=ls_profile

This fundraiser will run from Sunday, August 14 to Saturday, October 8th at midnight.  Winners will be chosen by: random.org and announced on Tuesday, October 11th, 2011.

With every donation:   $10 gets you 1 chance and 1 freebie option.
                                  $25 gets you 3 chances and 2 freebie options.
                                  $50 get you 8 chances and 3 freebie options.

Freebie--is a way for you to earn extra chances.  Once you make a monetary donation, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, I am begging here, share this blogpost and that will earn you another chance.   If you donate enough for 3 freebies your can also Facebook, tweet or post on your blog about this fundraiser for your other freebies.  I hope that makes sense.  After you blog or post come back here and let me know you have shared and I will add your extra chances to the fundraiser.  If you donate money multiple times over the fundraiser you will earn freebies for that also.  YOU must leave your NAME, do not post anonymously because I won't be able to find you, if you are selected.

You can donate to our FSP by using the button on the top right hand of the page or by mailing a check to the address listed above ( be sure and write "CLARE FOR THE FRISTOE FAMILY" on it).  BUT, if you donated using the CHIP-IN button, you will earn an extra chance, for being kind enough to help us with our out of pocket expenses.


Thank you,

Suzanne

Fall Harvest and Garage/Bake Sale

The last five days have been so busy!!  My son came up with this idea 3 years ago to have a Fall Harvest Concert.  With his dad's help, they organized this event and then decided to add food to it, thus I was now involved.  Thursday we went to Sam's and purchased all the supplies and took them to the church.  We then went home and went through our check list and made sure everything was in the right place.  They have actually been planning this event since the end of last years concert.  Friday we were loading equipment and stuff to take to the church, this was about the eighth trip this week with supplies. 

Now, mix into this preparing for a garage/bake sale.  In between all the needs of the concert I was loading garage sale stuff into the trailer and taking it to the church too.  The only reason I did the garage sale the same weekend is because it was the big Oak Grove city wide garage sale and there are always a ton of people out shopping.  Friday along with everything else, I managed to make 6 batches of brownies, my daughter Abby made 9 dozen chocolate chip cookies, my mom made 9 dozen lemon cookies and 3 dozen spice apple cookies. 

We were finally about ready to leave when we realized it had started raining.  We ran to the trailer and covered up the sound equipment, just before it started raining really hard!!!  That lasted about 45 minutes.  My husband got off of work early, which was a miracle.  He took the first load to the church, while I stayed home and finished cooking and packing for our over night camp out.  Abby and I finally made it to the church and started unloading stuff.  We believe that God would keep the rain away, so we could get everything organized.  We finally headed to bed about midnight.  (I just remembered that at 10 am., Aaron started to really complain and cry about his ears being broken, so I had to make a trip to the pediatrician.  We found out that his ears, again, were full of fluid, but not infected yet.  But, I have a wonderful pediatrician and he went ahead and gave us a prescription and told me to fill it whenever he started having a temperature.  In and out by noon.)

Aaron kept waking up cold, Hannah was up and down and just was not a happy baby.  So, I finally gave Aaron my covers, Hannah to her daddy and got up.  It is now 3:09 am.  Off I went to finish setting up the garage sale.   What seemed like forever, and the sun came up.  I was cold, tired and sick of this garage sale.  I found myself a picture of the reason for this sale and I was more motivated.  People started showing up and started buying things.  I was so excited!!  about 1:15 pm Aaron came up to me and said he needed to go to the doctors, again, because his ears were broken.  I didn't have a thermometer with me, but he was hot and had rosy cheeks.  Off to the pharmacy I went and got his prescription filled.  As I pulled into Walgreens, I realized how dark it had gotten.  Then as I walked in, I felt the first drop.  I hurried and dropped off the prescription and went back to the sale.  It rained for about 10 minutes, ever so softly and stopped.  A couple of hours later I went back and started him on his antibiotic.  It would rain 3 more times, very softly, before the sale ended.

It was finally 3pm and I remembered I forgot to defrost the BBQ pulled pork, so I put it in the oven and prayed it would be done in time for the big concert.  People were still shopping, but now others were wanting their dinner.  I went from garage sale manager to head cook.  The pulled pork finished in just the right amount of time and the hot dogs cooked and were ready to serve at 5 pm.  I was a little late, they were suppose to be ready at 4:30, but I was happy everything was ready at 5pm.  The concert went well and everyone seemed to have a good time.   My son, Daniel's, band made their debut performance and they did a pretty good job.  Sure made this momma proud!! 

Here are some pictures of our day:

Hannah, just about done for the day!!  Even before the first act finished.

Aaron in the bounce house.  I wasn't sure I would ever get him out.

The rain was pouring down!!!!  But we weren't going to let it stop us.

Daniel playing base guitar.

Final act of the night!!

Remember the pouring rain I mentioned above??  Well, many of the guest started picking up my garage sale tables and taking them into the church.   I wish I had a picture of what it looked like inside, you could barely move.  The next day, I spent about 6 1/2 hours driing out the clothes and all the other wet items.  On Monday I took 15 bags of baby clothes to the laundry mat to dry,  they were on the last table carried in and were soaking wet!!!!  I want to thank everyone that helped us out, it could have been a lot worse!

We made about $161.00 for the Oak Grove Community Service League and about 100 cans of food!!

I am happy to say we made $373.19 at our garage/bake sale.  That is enough to make sure our dossier will get to China, as soon as we have our I797!!!  The agency is working with us, in regards to the 2 payments we now owe them and they are allowing us more time to raise the money to pay them and are still going to send our dossier.

 ISN'T GOD GOOD????


I thank Him every day and night.  He has been with us every step of the way!!!

Suzanne

Plase pray.

I just have a few moments to post.  Exciting news, a wonderful family has stepped forward and is making a prize donation to our fundraiser, I will have more time after our big garage/bake sale tomorrow.  Please come back and look.

What I want for today, is for you to pray for our garage/bake sale tomorrow.  We are in need of about $3300.00, in the next few weeks, just so we can submit our dossier to China. Please, Please pray for us and also for a quick I800 approval.


Thank you,

Suzanne