Misadventures of an Adoptive Mother !

Hi, It's JoAnna again from chilly Texas ! Okay, I never thought I'd say that, but it's pretty cold down here... I thought I'd post this week about something I know many have had to go through when they are adopting, just as my husband and I did. You can read more on our adoptions on my website.

Las Misadventuras de una Mamá Adoptiva
The Misadventures of an Adoptive Mommy

Long ago, in a land far away, and after a long and beautiful courtship, Jerry & JoAnna were married in a candlelight ceremony, surrounded by family. This is how the fairy tale began, but the circus that it is today is a different story altogether !

You see, we got married and at the time thought we’d set up the 5 and 10 year plans and all would go according to schedule, and well, there were other plans in store for us.

After trying to conceive for a couple of years, we found we were unable to. Thanks to the grace of God and my “Tia Metíche” (Busybody Aunt) we were given the opportunity to adopt our beautiful baby girl in 2002. Then again my Tia had a hand in 2005 when we brought home 3 gorgeous little brothers.

So we went from being total DINK’s+doggy (dual income NO kids) to a family of 6+3 doggies in a matter of 3 years. As you can imagine the adjustments for all were quite harrowing at times, but the circus that ensued has been just grand !

Here’s the list of things I never imagined would happen, but did !

1. No one prepared me for diaper changes !
I didn’t have the 9 months of becoming a mommy and then about a year of un-stinky baby poop to prepare me for the ugliness that would greet me when I first changed the diaper of our precious 15 month old baby. OH MY GOODNESS – that was really scarry ! My Mom kept telling me that I’d get used to it, but I didn’t and our precious poop monster was potty trained in record time !

2. Never feed a 15 month old an entire granola bar.
Okay, so this one was not my fault… let me explain. We had just adopted our little girl and we were in Mexico City waiting for an appointment at the US Consulate. I had to run and make copies and find a notary while Daddy stayed with the baby for while. When I returned, there was an onslaught of poop and no explanation. 4 diaper changes later, Daddy fessed up and told me he’d given her a granola bar as a snack. We vowed to hold off on granola until the potty training was complete.

3. Their favorite words...
Being that we didn’t have children and from one day to the next had a toddler on our hands, the adjustment period for me was shockingly fast. About 3 weeks after bringing our new little one home I found her in front of the TV with a very distinct “chin*%^$” on her lips and pointing the remote all the while. Ooooops ! We quickly explained that that was not a nice word, but it didn’t really matter and it became her favorite. As you can imagine that word made it’s way into conversation just because she felt like it ! Today it has stopped and she regularly corrects me !

4. Toothpaste can be found in the most unusual of places
Everyday I am amazed by the amount and location of toothpaste that we’ve found in our home. From the ceiling fans to the couch, in the DVD player and in their hair, my 3 boys have found new and industrious uses for it and Im sure that one day they’ll find a new and improved use for it that will change history !

5. The forbidden
This one I blame on my family and all the other mothers out there that did NOT tell me that it was a huge no-no to have stickers, markers, stamps, crayons, pencils, clay, sharpies, sticky notes and tape readily available to your children ! “We’ll set up a great craft area for them” I told my husband, at the time I thought was a good idea, but now I understand how crazy I was to allow free access to these goodies. Today our house is colorful and this home is now completely theirs, daddy & I just live in the room downstairs !

6. Heart Attacks will be frequent
Life with our little girl was beautiful, the perfect child who cleaned up after herself and loved helping Mommy. We have a 2 story home and never heard her upstairs at all – life was golden…

Then, the boys came home, they were 3, 4 and 5 when they came to live with us. The very first day we were in our home, I was calling 911 in a panic ! Our 3 year old had found a piece of hard candy and swallowed it whole, next thing I knew the other children were frantically calling me upstairs – I don’t think I’ve ever been faster in all my life. I ran upstairs and tried to dislodge the candy, but it wouldn’t budge. His little eyes were searching for help and all I could hear was this little gasp from time to time.
I put 911 on speakerphone and called for help.
The operator asked me if his lips were turning blue, to which I answered “I can’t tell, he’s too dark!” and then finally she helped me get the candy to make it’s way down his throat. He had a great time when the paramedics got here and loved his new toy – a tongue depressor !

There are so many more stories and things to tell… maybe next time !
I’d love to hear your stories too, Im sure that together we could all compile a great book.
Besitos,
JoAnna

www.vidriosa.com

Hola y Felicidades Navideñas !

Monica has graciously invited me to join the wonderful mamitas that will be contributing to Cielito Lindo (ayy ayy ayy ayy, canta y no llores....) - sorry about the spontaneous singing.

My name is JoAnna . I grew up deep in South Texas and now live in the Texas Hill Country. Just about 4 years ago I decided to leave my engineering job and stay home with my family, we have been blessed with 4 children (ages 6 to 9 !) who are the light of my life. Vidriosa Glassworks has grown in many ways since I first began making glass pieces and today is a great success, and it affords me the luxury of staying home with my children. Life in our home can be very busy, but there is always time for play, travel and fun.

Really, I don't need a job !

In my business I meet so many people from many different walks of life. Art shows are a way of life for my family and I'm blessed with being able to share my story with my customers. It seems lately that every time a man who seems really interested in my work comes into my booth, they then call about 1 to 2 days later offering me a job. And not just any job, no sean mal pensadas ! A little background... In a former life, I was a Chemical Engineer and making very good money. But one day I woke up and what seemed like the perfect life, a house, a dog, 2 great cars and all the toys we could ask for, was just not my idea of what it was I really wanted out of life. Although I'd followed my parents plan of finishing school and getting a great job making lots of money, I really wanted to be a Mamí. My little sister, whose career is very important to her, gave me the whole "how could you do this to women" speech, but there was a real yearning in my heart to have little ones running around the house.

My husband of 18 years and I decided it was time to start trying for those babies and after a long run of fertility treatments we were just not able to conceive. It was by the grace of Diosito that we were able to adopt a beautiful little girl of 18 months. And then 2 years later we were blessed with 3 hermanitos. Our adoption story is a great one filled with the ups and downs and blessings that only could have come about through divine inspiration.

Fast forward to this last fall and my many art shows... It seems that every man that has come into my booth and looked interested in my product has something to offer. From Xango to Pampered Chef, to Nona-V, Airbonne and Tupperware, there is always an offer of a way for me as a stay at home mommy and as a great sales person to make some extra income.
If they only knew, that I thoroughly enjoy being at home with my children and not having the stress of a 9 to 5 job. If they knew that Vidriosa is doing wonderfully thanks to the following and relationships I've been able to create with my customers, that to date we have over 45 wholesale accounts and counting. And, If they only knew that 25 of the 24 hours in the day are filled with childrens activities, working on my glass and craft projects with the kids, being the Arts Writer for Insite Austin Magazine , being the creator and Director of Artejanos, volunteering for Meals on Wheels and our ACTS Community, playing Bunko with the ladies, and keeping the house in "semi" order, they would never even dream of offering me a job !

Thankfully Vidriosa has blessed me with more business than I can keep up with in a day and I really don't need a job !

I'd love to hear from you and your experiences with this "dilemma" and if you're doing this I applaud you, I just really don't have time for another job. You can find me online at Vidriosa Glassworks and on facebook and myspace too.

Many blessings to you and yours.

Feliz Navidad y Prospero Año Nuevo - I want to wish you a merry christmas, I want to wish you a merry christmas, I want to wish you a merry christmas from the bottom of my heeearrrrt ! ~* My children are singing too ! *~
JoAnna

Dia de los Muertos Votive Swap - Join in

Join this swap

Dia de los Muertos 2008 VOTIVE Swap

I swap with Swap-bot!
Swap Coordinator:

Swap categories:
Art Crafts Seasonal
Number of people in swap:
4
Last day to signup/drop:
October 2, 2008
Date items must be sent by:
October 22, 2008
Number of swap partners:
2
Description:
It's almost that time again...Day of the Dead, Dia de los Muertos !
Dia de los Muertos or Dia De los Muertos is all about Celebrating the lives of Loved Ones who are no longer with us.
For this Swap you will Create a HANDMADE EMBELLISHED GLASS VOTIVE CANDLE HOLDER for your partners Altar. Embellishements can be made of plaster, clay, wood, painted, etc... But please no store bought already decorated items. Make it lovely and colorful, flashy and fun.
It's entirely up to you how you make it, but your VOTIVE HOLDER should be something that can be placed on the DOD altar AND LIT FOR THE OCCASION.
Two (2) different Swap Partners, thus a Total of TTwo (2) VOTIVE HOLDERS WITH A DIA DE LOS MUERTOS THEME are required for this swap !
So, please create a beautiful Dia de los Muertos Inspired VOTIVE HOLDER that you yourself would love to have!
US ONLY PLEASE --- US ONLY -- US ONLY --- US ONLY
Users who have demonstrated that they are not good swap partners and have very low ratings will be banned from this swap, so please only serious swappers need apply. If you have more than 2 Negative Feedback postings, you will be removed from the swap.

Catching up...

For years now, it seems Ive been avoiding friends and not really doing my best to keep in touch with anyone. I don't really understand why this is, but earlier this year I promised myself that I would do my best to begin making lasting friendships and to really apply myself to getting in touch with old friends and apologizing for not doing a better job at the keeping in touch game.

This weekend, I went down to south texas for a family visit and did my best to call those whose numbers I still had. While we were there, we went fishing and did our best to visit all those great taquito stands and seafood restaurants I miss so much.

First there was Anna, my lesbie friend... well she isn't, but we like to call each other that. For over 25 years this has been one of my best friends, my maid of honor and the funniest and silliest chica in my life. Her three children, a boxer named Sugar Mama, a little one named Mamacita and a little chihuahua named Papasito, are the loves of her life. Together they make up my nieces and nephew ! We got together over taquitos and laughed about the craziness that my life has become. I keep trying to convince her to move closer to us, I'll keep everyone posted !

Next there was my friend Ceci... since elementary school, she's been there through all the changes, the friends, the life events and it had been years since we'd actually seen each other. In all this time, she's been married, had 5 children (good Lord !) and has been working as a police detective. Needless to say, life has been very busy for her, but all through it, she hasn't changed a bit. We got together at the park and I was so impressed, she's such a good mommy, and Im such a bad one ! She came to the park with snacks and drinks, wet wipes and sanitizer and I just came with the 4 kids ! It was really nice catching up.

Then I went over to my friend Rachels. We've been best pals since we were about 4 years old and I'd lost touch with her about 2 years ago. All her numbers were changed and there was no telling how I'd find her. I even went so far as to call all my friends, and all other relevant names in the phone book, but no luck. So I just drove over to her house in hopes that a. they still lived there and that b. she was home. Much to my surprise she was there ! I waited for her and said hello to her mom. I had no idea her little brother had passed away in March and I felt so bad for not being there for her. When she came out, she was in tears and so was I, it was so nice to sit with her again and catch up. She's as loving as ever and I made a promise to call her once every month to keep up with all her goings on. My friend still loves me ! even though Im really bad at keeping up with anyone.

And then I called Cris on the way home, we have a lunch date once hers and mine are back in school.

Life is grand - Blessings !
Jo

Fun with Spanish

Today, for the first time in a long time, I had to pull some of my spanish out. All of course to help my dear sister-in-law in getting back at my big brother, hell, what are siblings for right?

She wanted something that would convey to him the old "what comes around goes around" or "you reap what you sew", something to say "I told you so". I didn't even stop to ask why and just ran at the chance to get my big brother - what love !

After some searching on line I came up with some good ones, but nothing like we really needed... so I called my dad, never mentioned a word about why I needed these sayings of course and he gave me the best ones of all !
If he only knew they were to get back at his son, he'd never had given them to me !

So, good luck to Jenn and hopefully she'll get the point across.
Here are some of the good ones we came up with !

LO QUE VA, VIENE .... what comes, goes is the literal translation of this one.

this one says "he who sows winds, will pickup storms"
quien siembra vientos recoge tempestades

momo always said "se te va aparecer el diablo" meaning the "devil will appear to you" whenever I was mean as payback or a warning. ie. if you hit some one, your hand will dry up and fall off, "se te va a secar la mano" or if you said a bad word "se te va a secar la lengua", your tongue is going to dry up.

cosa mala nunca muere -- bad things never die

de guatemal a guatepeor -- from bad to worse

There really isn't a you're gonna get it other than "vas a ver" and followed by the above, "se te va a aparecer el diablo"

or "quien te manda, por malo" as if saying "it's your own damned fault, because you were mean"

and lastly...
"el que da, recibe" -- as you give, so shall you recieve