I started training for a half marathon in an effort to lose weight before I go pick up my little boy. I want to be the kind of mom that is fit enough to take him to the park and play with him, not just let him roam on the playground. (at least until he is too cool for that). In training, I also got "roped" (in other words, I was asked and said, heck yes) into participating in the Las Vegas Ragnar. (If you don't know what that is, look it up, http://www.ragnarrelay.com , it's a lot of running with no sleep over two days). Why wouldn't I join? So I completed my first half marathon on Oct 26. It was such an AMAZING experience for me, don't ask my time as my only goal was to cross the finish line. (I am on the left side of his mouth just getting ready to cross)
Two weeks later my friends and I drove to Las Vegas to complete the Ragnar, another incredible feat to finish. I had three legs of the relay to run, totaling 16.4 miles (total miles for the relay was 187). With no sleep and all three legs uphill, it was quite the workout. I just kept thinking to myself as I was running uphill, "at least there's no snow and I don't just have cardboard on my feet for shoes", as the old adage went. I just put the music on and reminded myself to keep putting one foot in front of the other until you pass off to the next runner. Then relax (collapse) in the van until the next run. We had so much fun doing it, we are planning to complete the Wasatch Back Ragnar (In Utah) next year.
Since the beginning of this year.....with watching what I eat and the help of training for these two big events, I have lost close to 50 lbs. (no pride in sharing my accomplishment). I am almost to the person I want to be when I fly to Haiti to pick him up.
Now on to what you all really want to hear. My papers are still in with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). I have a case number, which tells me they are working on it. I received a letter the other day which told me my case has been sent to the NBC (National Benefits Center) and I will be receiving a letter from them with a date and time that I am to go down to the local office to get fingerprinted again for their reporting. After that I wait until the results are sent back to USCIS for an approval to bring a child into the country.
While I wait, I am forwarding all of my dossier paperwork (just lots of notarized stuff) to the adoption agency to make sure everything is correct and in order. Once I get the approval from USCIS, my dossier gets forwarded to the Haitian government for approval to adopt a child from their country. Basically I (we all) have a bit of waiting over the next little while. I wish I had more exciting news for everyone, but I just don't.
In the meantime, I keep working on myself to make sure I am the mom I want to be for him when he gets here. I work on myself, physically, mentally, and spiritually. I am making sure that I have a stable home for him, with stable people in my life who will play big roles in his life as well.
As a side thought: If anyone has cans or metal they would like to donate I am still recycling to raise money for this process. You can drop it off at my house, or message me and I will come pick it up (if you live close enough).
Kayleen's Kid Quest continues.... I will try to be better at updating everyone.
