12/29/08 New Referrals ???????? DATE and DRUMROLL PLEASE xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

IT'S OFFICIAL.......... THE CCAA HAS REFERRED BABIES THROUGH 2/28/06........ WE ARE OFFICIALLY INTO MARCH '06

I am besides myself with joy !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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I'm waiting on the edge of my seat...... I've heard that the referrals have started to roll in, BUT, my agency usually tells us the cutoff date and they've yet to do this........ and this worries me. I am praying that all of February is gone, AND MARCH IS FINALLY UP............ O H PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEZE !!

This would truly be the best end to an upsetting year......:)

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Pirate steals another point AAAAAARRGH !!!

Pirate won on Sunday........... Winners Dog, and gained another point towards his Championship.
To finish a champion, you need 15 points, and of those 15 points, you need to win in something called a Major........ actually you need to win 2 majors. I'm still so new at this, I barley understand it all myself, let alone be able to explain it........ so forgive me.......... BUT, Pirate will show again this coming weekend, on Saturday and Sunday in Fitchburg, MA, and it's likely to be a Major................. so cross those dew claws............ for Pirate to win !!!!!

November 20th, 2008 off to another dog show :)

Off to another dog show.......... Springfield, Mass......... WISH US LUCK :)

November 9th......... Rhonda's new addition :)

Who woulda thunk it ????????? When people refer to "oh what a small world", they would be referring to a new generation of cars........ actually, these cars have been around for a while, just not in the U.S......... so here'sssssssssssssssssssssssss my baby Sister's new baby............... where going to have to put our two babies side by side, hehehe....... two little shoes.

November 7th, 2008 Another Dream Realized

Dave and I have a new baby we want to share with the World. For anyone that has ever known me, they also know that I've wanted a convertible FOREVER..... and now, YEAH !!!! We have one, and she's a beaut. Look at her cute hiney.
And her great big smile..............
We found her on Election Day. We went to a BMW dealer to look at the new Mini Coopers, and were thinking that we'd get on the list for the '09's that will be out in the Spring. Well, there she was, we just couldn't leave her homeless one more day. She's a 2008 Mini Cooper S Convertible, John Cooper Works model. Tricked out, and a one of a kind, limited edition....... now every parent feels that their baby is a one of a kind....... but this one my friend has documentation to prove it........ now the only thing that will fit in the back seats, are the set of twins, that we have been and continue to pray for.

November 3rd, 2008 Still in Florida

This was a fun day...... there is a beach in Jupiter that allows dogs to run free. Pirate was great loose, but Chelsea wanted to run in the water, and as you can see, it was quite rough, and we didn't want to chance losing our little girl........... we ended up keeping the both of them tethered.

I threw Pirate's frisbee...... thinking that it would float, and a wave got it and washed it away, and the darn thing sunk like a lead weight....... poor Pirate was searching for his lost booty. That frisbee was his favorite....... we've since replaced it, and he's as happy as ever. Hopefully, we'll get a chance to go back to this beach before we make our way back to the cold of Long Island.

Oh, on a side note...... we did great at the Nationals...... Pirate won lots of ribbons...... check it out at www.briardclubofamerica.org - look at the 2008 National Specialty show......under the link at the top "Nationals", Pirate won best puppy dog 6 - 9 Month old, and then best puppy dog 6-9 month old Sweepstakes.......... he also won the Puppy match...... what an incredible experience...... we will show again in Springield, MA the weekend of November 22nd........ and then the following weekend at Fitchburg, MA.

Pirate loves the water !

Ahhhhh, The Pro Shot Arrived :)

Don't he look perty !!!!! This is the shot that we've been waiting for. He was perfect in every way that day. Now, the next day, was another story........... in a few days, we will head to Kentucky and the Briard National Specialty....... crossing fingers, arms, legs, and toes that my Pirate Puppy Boy makes people smile, does nicely in the ring, and doesn't eat the sheep during his herding instinct test !!!!!

August 31, 2008 *** BEST OF BREED !!!!!!!!

This shot will soon be replaced by the pro shot. Camera trouble, darn...... BUT, my Pirate boy won Winner's Dog, then Best of Winners and then Best of Breed....... (WD, BW, BOB)........ this is his winners shot, Dave had equipment problems........ :( But.......... it was an unforgettable day. We, because of our win, got to go into the Herding Group, this was loads of fun, and great experience. Pirate turned 8 months old the day before........ quite the Birthday present.

Today,(9/1/08) Winners Dog went to Cumano, and BW, and BOB went to Brava, both from Briards of the Coastline, and Ellen Jo's Briards......... Congrats Ellen :).

We are gearing up for the National Specialty at the end of the Month........ hundreds of Briards, and a week of fun and partying........ we'll go in style too, just bought a 2008 Toyota Sienna XLE AWD Mini Van.......... hopefully this baby......... OUR BABY...... :), will be here soon......... cuz we're gearin' up !!!!! WHOO HOO !!!!!

Time for smiles and snuggles again

My little boy...... all of 7 months now and soooooooooo handsome. He brings the smiles back to my face, and the warm fuzzy happy feelings to the core and depths of my soul. Here he is in 2 shots from just the other day.........

Here he is from just 5 months ago....... but his soulful eyes remain the same..... I just have to dig for them ~ hehehe. His color tag was black and blue, hence his nickname the first two Months was Bruiser.................... now the only one getting bruised around here is me :) He doesn't know his own strength.........

This was a video from Father's Day '07

Dad's sense of humor permeates this video.......... it's hard to imagine how things can change in such a short time........... we had a wonderful day !

My Baby Will Never Know Grandpa *6/29/27 - 7/21/08*

It's taken me some time to process this, well, I suppose I'm truly in the journey of processing the loss of my Dad, and dealing with the grief.

Dad had a horrific year, and if it wasn't one thing, it was another......... he passed suddenly in a slip and fall injury, suffering blunt trauma to his head..... it is with great saddness that I type these words........ my future little girl will NEVER know "My Daddy" ! I just can't believe that after all of the time in healing, surgery after surgery, complications from surgery in a recurrence of colon cancer, he finally goes home to Florida to start somewhat a new, and bam........ You just never know what's around that corner. (maybe that's why he tripped, he missed something around that corner).. I hope you don't think that this is in bad taste, but my Dad would have thought that was funny

He was a strong willed, pig-headed pain in the butt, but one of the most talented men that I will ever have the honor to know and to love, and to call Father. There is a huge gaping hole in my heart at this time.

He had a sense of humor, loved to be the center of attention, sang his heart out and always got standing ovations........ I often feel that his love, and intentions were misdirected. I wish I could say that they were mis-understood, but that's just not so, as often, in my mind, he didn't do the right thing........ BUT, regardless of all of his short comings.... now in retrospect, I wouldn't have traded him for another Father, as he is the reason I'm who I am today........ a big pain in the butt, nope, only kidding......... there I go trying to emulate his sense of humor again........, don't think it works as good for me :(........

I'm going to miss you Daddy......... Rest in Peace, and don't make too much trouble for yourself in Heaven...... for once, go with the flow, and do as you are instructed....... ahhhhhhh, this does remind me of something else.... must just be so brain fried from this whole week..... Pop's missed his own funeral...... yep, he certainly did. He was scheduled to fly out of Florida last Wednesday, during all of the inclement weather patterns on the East Coast..... he got bumped for some engine parts that were needed urgently for another Jet in New York........ then he was placed on a later flight, that never made it off the ground......... he was late for his own funeral, and we had to reschedule for the following day. Looking back, now I just smile, as Dad being such a difficult and controlling individual here on Earth, remained true even beyond......... BUT, we laughed again, as the next day, when we finally had the service, which was an outdoor gravesite service, Dad knew & was right...... he didn't want to be buried in the rain....... he wanted Sunshine, and that's what he got. Always the jokester....... he even pulled strings in the after life......... Daddy, I miss you !
Love Shelley - your favorite........ :)

July 11, 2008 Pirate's Debut

Today was Pirate's Showing Debut........ Riverhead Kennel Club hosted the event. Pirate turned 6 months old a week ago, and that is the minimum age a dog must be to compete. We'll, we tried our hat in the ring, and I must say my boy is spectacular, as his Mom, (that'd be me), only holds him down. This is a first for both of us............ he's Heaven Sent, and my Champion Always.............. and tomorrow, we'll try again.................... :) Pirate won "Winner's Dog", AND, got his first point towards his Championship............ YEAH!!!!!!!!!

We are both needless to say........ EXHAUSTED. This day, has been incredible, and more fun than I've had in a VERY LONG TIME. ... my thanks to his Breeders......... Penny Morris, and Kathy Lanam, but also to Ellen Jo Myers............ who's dog won Best In Breed today.......... AND, then went in against all of the other Herding Dog Winners, and FANTASTIC NEWS.........Ellen's Dog Won Best in Group.

Monday July 7, 2008

CCAA Status
Reviewed through: January 31, 2007
Placed through: January 25, 2006

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL FAMILIES ABOUT TO SEE THEIR BABY'S FACE FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME.!!!!!!!!!

Another 4th Come and Gone

Well, last nights 4th Of July Celebrations proved glorious........ Dave and I also celebrating our 5th Wedding Anniversary, had a very special spin to our day........... mudslides was the drink of choice, frozen mudslides. These are one of our July 4th delights..... in fact, we had them flowing during our wedding....... frozen mudslides........ um, um good.

Happy 4th of July, AND, Happy 5th Wedding Anniversary

It's so hard to imagine that the last 5 years have gone by in such a flash..... that is, until you start to count those calendar months in terms of a China Log In Date..... then it drags at a snails pace. But, today we celebrate, not only the 4th of July, but our 5 year Wedding Anniversary.We have the cutest little Stars and Stripes outfit, that every year I pull out and take a ganDer at.It's so adorable, a little patriotic shorts set, with matching stars and strips sandals....... every year I imagine Baylon running around in this outfit on our special day. Every year, I say next year will be our year..... but that case scenario has been playing out for 4 years now. China has been surprising people with older children too....... perhaps she won't even fit in this outfit, when the time comes. Perhaps she will be a he............. oh well, stranger things have happened...... Well, here's to all of the families celebrating the 4th of July, through the eyes of their adoptive Chinese Children........... here's to all of the families, just celebrating being families.Funny, our next door neighbor gave birth to a little boy a couple of days ago, and I think that she is due to bring John home this day........ so there is much to be thankful for.
Here's to viewing this day through the eyes of a child and being blessed with laughter, health, and FAMILY................. HAPPY ANNIVERSARY DAVE, I LOVE YOU !!!!! HAPPY 4TH OF JULY - EVERYONE !!!!

July 1, 2008

Ya gotta just love this face..................... I just want to squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeze him, at's all ya can do...........

June 29th......... HAPPY 81st Birthday Daddy

June 28, 2008 28 MONTHS LOGGED IN "OY"

28 Months and counting.....................................................................

June 27, 2008

AND THIS IS WHAT STARTED IT ALL..................... this was all discarded as garbage on the beach, or who knows where...... but that's the point...... do you know where your garbage goes???????????????

This was embedded in Henry's foot, this is what, in the end, cut his life short!
Henry..... we had such optimistic, high hopes for you........ but your life will not go unnoticed.

Two new Osprey Poles are going in, in your honor.........

I did love you !

Shelley
Rest in peace dear Henry......!


People have got to realize that everything that they discard goes someplace......... next time you need to lose something, think about where it might end up................

Many times a day, I look out through this door, where I have a telescope strategically positioned....... honed right in on the nest. For three Summers now I've witnessed the cycles of life, and for three Summers, I've watched in awe, as these same two glorious male and female Osprey's, have propagated their species.........







This is the view from our bedroom window.... off in the distance you can see the hint of an Osprey pole. We've got 3 baby's currently thriving. Two years ago, gosh or is it three.... ah yes, it was three summers ago, we had a horrific accident take place in the nest. A baby Osprey got tangled in some fishing line, hooks, etc., that the Mom and Pop Osprey used to line the next.







If you search my archives you will find my story.......... BUT, this post is about fulfilling a promise I made to honor poor little Henry's life......... yep, I named him........ anyway, we have the poles all ready to go..... we built them last Fall with the help of the illustrious Jim Jones..... google him and you'll find some things about him. He's singlehandedly been helping to rebuild the Osprey population on Long Island for years. Anyway, I've picked out the weekend of July 26th...... cross your fingers that I can FINALLY pull this off......... got my sights all picked out, and we will have an old fashioned barn raising...... and raise the roof upon completion........ Henry, this is for you......... hope for good weather, and strong eager dedicated people!

Almost 4th of July..... Almost our 5 year Wedding Anniversary

Wow, thinking back on the past five years.... it's a whirlwind. July 4th, 2003, was an incredible day and night. We can honestly say that we had a 14 hour long Wedding. We chartered 2 Coach busses to drive our troops, and spent the day on a boat in New York Harbor. After getting married at the pier in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, we set sail, for not a 3 hour tour, but over 14 by the time we got back to Northport........ it was INCREDIBLE !!!!! Perfect weather, that came after months of torrential downpours..... thank God it cleared as we had no backup plans..... We had perfect weather, great food, wonderful company, FIREWORKS, and incredible memories. BUT Time has certainly passed by in a flash. Can't say that it's been smooth sailing, but I can say that in as much as life has had it's twists and turns, and we've both had to "white knuckle" it on numerous occasions, inspite of it all, I wouldn't change a thing.

To look at the photos, you'd never have guessed that we'd had been given my Breast Cancer diagnosis the day before the wedding. We chose to keep this a secret till the day following the wedding, so as not to tarnish ANYONE'S memory of our Wedding, a day that was planned with the love, caring and the tendernous of hummingbird gathering nector from a flower. That crashing news was left for the following day..... AND, the day after that, we hopped a plane for Fisherman's Wharf in S.F., and then onto Alaska. There we spent time with our thoughts and nature, there we had time to get close and personal with the Universe, all that was, and all that would be.

We started our adoption the following year, after we had anticipated the "ALL CLEAR", but 2 weeks after we sent in our application, I was diagnosed with a Primary Recurrence of Breast Cancer. Then our nightmare began. My Cancer became a Stage IV, Mets to three places in my lung, and my bone marrow throughout my system was abnormal. Long story short, I sit here typing today, CANCER FREE, going on 4 years later. Our adoption well, years in the making, BUT, we are going to celebrate our 28 month lid in just 2 days, and our 5 year Wedding Anniversary on the 4th....... my latest CT Scan reveals NO CANCER, and my bones are back to normal, and all that remains of the lesions in my lung is some scar tissue.

So, I am perfectly healthy. I am loving life, and still have time to get caught up in lifes daily dramas.... you'd think that wouldn't happen, but I'm human, and life goes on.

I couldn't complete this entry without thanking those I love..... especially my husband, our daughter to be........ our family and friends, but mostly, my furry family, which if you've read my blog, you know it keeps me going.... oh, and my Cockatoo Timothy too.

I feel that a Miracle occured in my life........ not just on this occasion, but countless times since my birth.

I love you Dave....... more than you will ever realize. HAPPY ALMOST ANNIVERSARY !

watch your volume, I will end up yelling for them.

Well here's my guys at Coindre Hall, an old Gold Coast Estate that to date still has managed to evade getting a fenced in doggie run. We want to keep it an open dog run, but the surrounding neighbors seem to find fault with it.

Pirate is scheduled for his first dog show ever. He'll be at the Riverhead Dog Show in July, AND, if he manages to go around the ring without trying to tackle me, or rip my clothes off, we then get to the next hurdle, me not falling on my face.

We shall see..... :)

June 4, 2008

Sometimes, you just gotta kick back and ponder the moment. Reflect on the wonders of the World. If life were only that simple............... but ya know what???????????? It absolutely is!

It's All Going To The Dogs 5/21/08

Took our Pirate to a couple of dog shows this weekend. Saturday, was the Planting Fields, and it was a beautiful day. This is a shot from Roslyn, I believe that we were at the Roslyn Museum.
It was so cute, and I'm so sorry that we didn't take a picture, but, the parking was a bit of a distance from the show, and they had yellow school buses to take us to the destination...... well, Pirate just jumped up into the window seat, and I really should have had Dave take his picture from outside looking out the window. I've never known the World of dog shows...... but am loving every minute of getting Pirate ready for his debut in a couple of Months. Today was his first handling class, and he did great......... call name Pirate, but welcome Pennylane Classique Corsair's Booty, A Pirate Tail.....................

Looking Ahead / Taking One Day At A Time 5/16/08

Well, it's Friday night nearly 7 PM e.s.t., and I've just watched the World News and scouted out info on China.......... they focused on a woman that lost her son in the collapsed school....... and how many of the families that lost children, lost their only child, due to China's one child policy.
How awful....... so we sit here, and are thankful for our tiny circle here remaining intact........ and wondering how it will all unfold.

The newscaster just mentioned the Bejiing Olympics........ how can they even continue to talk about who gets to compete, and even think about the Olympics......... am I wrong? Maybe, perhaps life needs to go on in the face of any and all disparaging times...........

I sit here and can not help but feel a bit selfish, as I wonder how all of this will play out in terms of our adoption, and that is extremely dissatisfying....... I feel very shallow...... I want, what I want....... we've waited 27 months thus far....... that's right, we're 27 months dtc today...... I need to take a step back and remember, peoples lives are at stake..... I pray for the people of China tonight. Their futures have all changed........ has ours?

Earthquakes, Cyclones and Tornadoes 5/15/08

I'm greatly saddened by the enormity of the losses, and pain, that people are suffering all around the World. I feel a sense of closeness to the Chinese people, as our hearts have been so engrossed in this adoption. To think that our child is injured, scared or hungry is beyond my comprehension. Not knowing our child at this point (no referral as of yet), seems easier to me, than those that have just received their referral, or are waiting with baited breath to travel. To live here and witness the devastation halfway around the world, AND, know that your child is just beyond your grasp..... before when it was resonably safe was one thing, but now, with the travesties, loss of life, and uncertainties......... it's completely incomprehensible to me.

My heart bleeds for everyone waiting to pick up their child.......... my mind reels with painful frightening possibilities for the safety of everyone..........

Then there's the cyclone ravaged Myanmar. These people not only suffered Mother Natures indignations...... now they are at the mercy of their closeminded paranoid Government. How many will die from pure neglect, lack of supplies, basic necessities of food and water?

Our own fellow citizens here in the U.S. too are suffering from all of the storms in the midwest as of late, it's so very sad. Very, VERY sad................ makes me want to hug and squeeze my family even more, right this very minute.

Sorry for the spelling errors........... just too darn lazy to look things up, is there a spell check attached to this blogger site??????????????????

If you're reading this, and if you're safe, and resonably happy, even if you're unhappy.......... please be thankful.......... things can always get worse. Your World as you know it right this very minute, could be ripped out from under you, and we all need to be thankful. Okay........ off my soapbox.

May 8th, 2008

Not much happening on this end. These pics were taken yesterday or the day before, it's been so busy around here lately, I can't remember :>)

Referrals have arrived, and log in dates have grown to include the 12th of January '06 I believe. CONGRATS TO ALL, wish it was us.......... hehe, but I suppose we'll get there in time.

Some thoughts regarding when we will get our referrals are leaning towards Christmas, which sounds mighty fine to me.

In the meantime, we're here, coasting along. Haven't begun the nursery even to this date......... what are we in our 26th month of paper pregnancy?

We are concentrating on the house, business, and puppies..... still much to be done since our reconstruction.

So, that's it for now.......... my thoughts and prayers are sent out to all the little babies waiting for their Mommy's and Daddy's to hold them and heal their pains.........

Happy upcoming Mother's Day to all, especially those first time Mom's..........

Shelley

Just gotta keep on keepin' on I suppose 4/23/08

Well, today was a big day at our agency. A new batch of children (SN's), had come in last week, and today was the day they were to decide who would be blessed with new arrivals or not.

Dave and I had never requested a match to a special needs child, but when I saw the two little faces of these twin girls, my heart melted, and I just had to ask Dave his feelings too.

I was completely taken back when Dave expressed interest, and together we dove right in. We shared our news with family and friends, which perhaps wasn't the best idea in town.

Today, I sat by the phone, trying to remain optimistic, though my fears were mounting. When the call finally came in, and my S.W. stated it's not good news, it was all I could do to remain calm and get through the conversation. "I did everything in my power", she said, or something to that effect.

Now, I'm just left with such a sense of loss. I know Dave, who's NEVER phased in these types of situations, is devastated in his own way.

I feel especially sad for his Mom, who got sooooo excited about these two babies. So, what do you do in this situation. We've been waiting for nearly 26 months. I feel as though my heart was ripped out. I feel such a sense of loss. This process is endless.

When I think back to the initial application, in '04, when we had to pull out of the process. The wait time back then was a mere 6 months. Now, it's tripled from that time, no end in site.

I feel truly sad for the people that have put in and requested a match with a child before, this, and got refused. How many times can you go through this type of rejection.

All any of us want to be are parents. All we want to hear is laughter in our homes......... wipe away tears, and love and nurture.

So, that's about it. We understood that requesting a match to these twins was such a long shot, but still the pain is no less. I wish them a wonderful life, with their new family, and may they have speedy travel...

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo's your almost Mom :). I'll think of you for the rest of my life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Bless you all.

Ohhhh, come lie wis me Mon Petite......... let us run off to Za Casbar !!

Last Weekend... Easter Sunday

My boys first walk in the woods......... there will be MANY more of these :)

Me, Pirate and Chelsea girlie girl at the Town dock.

March 20th..... Our One Month Anniversary Together, I'm helping my Mom dance the China Crawl - so WE WAIT AND PLAY

Happy Spring Everybody........... this is one of my VERY first outings.. perhaps my second. We go out and socialize as this is extremely important for a Briard such as myself. I also like to play with kids, and I get to fantasize about my new little Sister / Sisters that are already born in China. Gee....... I'm from France, she / they're from China........ we're a pretty mixed up family.
But, I sit, and ponder the future........... hmmmn......... I SOOOOOO WANT TO PLAY NOW :).
C'MON ALREADY........ ENOUGH OF THE CHATTER....... LET'S GO FISHING OR SOMETHING FUN!!!!!!!!!!
I'm helping my Mom forget the calendar, and just how long it is taking to complete our family, BUT, if Baylon was here already........ I wouldn't be........... THANKS FOR THE SLOWDOWN CHINA......... yipeeeeeee....... I love my new family............ got the heck out of cold Wisconsin, and made it to the North Shore of Long Island......... C'MON GUYS LETS GOOOOOOOOOO !!!!!