Thursday, February 14, 2008

Please tune in for the next episode of "Shaffer Drama!"

It was the middle of a long Tuesday.....when "A" phone call came (NOT "THE" phone call you are all much anticipating with us) A well-"Trained" Alex says to Katie "You don't need to worry, but I am on the way to urgent care, I cut myself at work." Oh boy! So here's the story: Alex was prying off the binder of a book with a letter opener, when the book slipped and made the "World's Worst Papercut" across his knuckle, slicing off his skin, well, really creating a sort of "skin flap!" So far that he could see something that looked like bone!!! Yucky. There are many one-liners to come out of this whole situation, but they all begin with the fact that Alex has an office job, and was the first to EVER have to file a workman's comp. claim. The HR representative acually said, "Cool! I've never gotten to work a claim before! I'm so excited!" Yep, thanks for hurting yourself, Alex! You know how many employers have to post a sign saying 596 days with no injuries - well Alex's bank is now back to 0, thanks to Alex :-)

PS - I am writing this at the end - I surprise myself that I forgot to add MY personal drama. Background knowledge you may need, I work in a very bad area in S. Phoenix. Our school has 1,000 elementary kids, 200 1st graders! I was faithfully checking in with my blogettes at lunchtime, before going to the lounge to eat when I heard "Bang, bang, bang." My first thought: What are those %#*(! kids banging on? When the second round came, I realized what it was. I opened my door to see 2 other teachers doing the same. All 200 of our kids were on our playground, just across a 4 lane road from the gunshots! Panic mode struck and the three of us, along with 2 playground aids, ran to get the kids to safety! It was simply the most frightening thing I can remember! I found myself in the library with about 150 crying, scared 6 year olds, who unfortunetly know all too well what the noise was about! It was scary and I am so, so thankful that the kids are safe, that I am safe, and that Alex is safe. We are truely blessed! By the way, bank robbers who are still on the loose.

So, the saga continues - after 3.5 hours at urgent care, x-rays and stitches aside, Alex learns that he must see a hand surgeon - yes, for a PAPERCUT!

Day two....parent/teacher conferences, always a favorite of Katie's and a long night for Alex as he had his monthly event helping kiddos. Alex's day begins with a visit to the hand surgeon! Yep - surgery - for a PAPERCUT! Better yet, emergency surgery - for a papercut that cut of Alex's knuckle. And still better yet, NO TRAVEL FOR AT LEAST 2 WEEKS! (Enter a very upset Katie.) In hindsight, why was I upset?!?!? Not like we were really going to get a travel call or anything, sigh.... So after 13 hour days for both of us, Alex comes home.

Check out what he looks like, yes, from a PAPERCUT :-)




Can you believe the drama? A full arm cast!

Here are some classic one-liners that have already emerged
"You look like you grew a spatula out of your hand"
"You could get a second job dishing out pie!"
"Thanks for breaking our safety record, Alex - nice move!"
(from the Dr.) "Alex you should have surgery every Valentine's Day to get "out" of it from your wife. You could give her the free surgery socks" (Thanks Doc! and I guess that's a 2-liner!)


Please leave all additional one-liners in our comments - we KNOW that you have them!


Summation: Alex is fine! Good thing he had the surgery because he did slice his tendon and may have lost movement/feeling in his finger without the surgery! We do not have a travel call, but are considering traveling to Taiwan with visitation with Kai-Yi until the ruling comes. I would be traveling alone though, unless a family member would come with..... It's a hard decision, but more on that later... It was a good day for a friend though, more on that later as well!

By the way, Happy Valentine's Day!! I was spoiled rotten today! I got a kind, sweet, loving card signed by my husband, in his first grade writing :-) Along with some roses. And he had scheduled a pedicure, but I'm going to take a raincheck! What a good boy! He's the best spatula I know!

I got about 25 pounds of chocolate from my kids, along with fabulous fake roses, teddy bears in a box with music, and other dollar store treasures from my kiddos! I did also get a fake Coach purse, which I have to say is the best gift I have ever gotten! We had a "Read with Me Valentine! Party! I wish I could post the pictures because they are SO cute! They were on the sugar high of their lives as parents brought in cupcakes, cookies, candy, soda, etc, etc, etc! Crazy sugarland!

We also found out today that Kai-Yi's birth mother has 10 days AFTER the final ruling to change her mind. This is something we did not know. I hope our bad luck is over, that's all I can say. I'm so scared that a birthmother's change in heart will cause us to lose the little boy who we have grown to love as our son.

So....if life truely has valleys (ups and downs) I think our family is due for a little of the "up" side. Please continue to hope and pray for us to get our final ruling and to be able to make the best decision for our son as whether or not to travel before our ruling.

Barb, we are thinking about you!

My "sista" - Alex and I are SOOOOO excited for you and your family!

Welcome to the world baby Dylan!

Thank you for all those hangin in for the end of this ridiculously long post :-)

5 comments:

Shana said...

Hi five to you too, Alex!

That was my attempt at a one-liner. Serioulsly, though that sucks for Alex, I am sorry to hear about the war wound (he, he). Katie, sounds like scary stuff at school and glad you and the kids are O.K.

Sounds like you have some big decisions to make as far as travelling but if it were me and I could take the time, I would do it a hearbeat. Best of luck with whatever you guys decide.
-Shana

Rydley said...

Oh, this is too much drama for you guys! I'm so sorry!

For what it's worth, I had one of my worst "bad mommy" moments over a papercut. Jia was reading and started fussing and talking about an owie. She held up her hand and I kissed it and then continued to make dinner. I turned around later to see that her other hand was bleeding all over the place, her shirt, the chair, everywhere! It was a paper cut from the book! Sigh...

Chris said...

That ranks right up there with the world's worst week ever!!
Praying you 2 make the best decisions you can for the travel!!
Keep us posted.
Hugs
Chris

Sarah said...

Ohmygosh. That's some papercut!

Debberoo said...

Poor Alex!

I'm so sorry you are still waiting on that final ruling :( Hopefully you will get word any day now.

Learn Chinese!

Timeline


January 8, 2007 Attend Adoption 101 Information Session in Mesa, AZ
January 22, 2006 - Apply for preapproval from our agencyand Taiwan
January 23, 2007 - Application for USCIS (I-600A) form submitted
January 28, 2007 - 1st Homestudy meeting
January 28, 2007 - Sign adoption contract with our agency
January 29, 2007 - Approved to adopt from Taiwan
February 1, 2007 - Clearance from state of Arizona
February 6, 2007- Maricopa application to adopt is filed
February 13, 2007 - Clearance from state of Michigan, Medical clearances, and Fingerprint invitation arrive from USCIS
February 24, 2007 - Fingerprinted for USCIS
March 11, 2007- Homestudy Complete and Court Certification from Maricopa County received
April 28, 2007 - Homestudy is translated into Mandarin
July 1, 2007 - Finally receive 171-H in the mail
July 6, 2007 - Get new case manager
July 22, 2007 - Sign adendum to contract
August 8, 2007 - Our lucky day! Referral for Lin Kai-Yi, born 6-3-06
August 8, 2007 - accept referral
August 13, 2007 - Sign Child Referral Agreement
August 23, 2007 - Paperwork arrives in Tucson
August 24, 2007 - Paperwork arrives to us
August 26, 2007 - Documents notorized (How many adults does it take to use a stamp?)
August 28, 2007 - Documents certified by AZ Sec. of State
August 29, 2007 Documents sent to TECO to be authenticated
September 4, 2007 - Documents arrive in Tucson from TECO
September 6, 2007 - Documents sent to Taiwan! YEAH!
September 10, 2007 - Update day! We receive 4 pics and a video!
October 2, 2007 - Receive word from TWCA that our hearing date is October 9, 2007 (this happened extreamly fast!)
October 9, 2007 - Keep your fingers crossed for a quick 1st ruling (even better yet, keep your fingers crossed for a final ruling!)
October 11, 2007 - October updates are here!
October 19, 2007 - Receive more pictures and videos from Ray's visit to Taiwan!
November 5, 2007 - November updates are here!
December 2, 2007 - December updates are here! Can't believe there has been no news all month!
December 13, 2007 - FINALLY! Word of our First Ruling! Yippeee! It happened on Dec. 13th in Taiwan (yesterday here)
January 4, 2008 - January updates
February 4, 2008 - February updates
February 28, 2008 - Leaving for Taipei!!!
February 29, 2008 - Arrive in Taipei!
March 4, 2008 - Gotcha Day! Can you even believe it!?!?!?
March 5, 2008 - FINAL RULING FINALLY FINALLY FINALLY! (by the way, our paperwork says the final ruling was issued December 24th!)
March 6, 2008 - First AIT appointment
March 7, 2008 - VISA DAY!
March 10, 2008 - Leave for home!
March 10, 2008 - Arrive home with our boy!!!!!!!!!!!
July 5, 2008 - Find out about Wil's arrival!
March 10, 2009 - Wil Shan-Yi Shaffer is born at 3:38 am 8 lbs. 4 oz. 20 inches long