Yes, you read that right! We're heading north to go west! There was no knock at the door and no envelope waiting in the mailbox...and no happy dance!
After much discussion we decided to take the Canadian way home (not at all like the Milky way...don't want you to be confused) which is longer and doesn't have the same stops to visit historic landmarks (Mt Rushmore and Yellowstone) or visits with friends along the way...but the end result is the same...HOME!!
One of the reasons we're heading out now is because we already have the one-way-non-refundable ticket from Vancouver to Toronto bought for my mom for the 11th. And she has to work on the 13th. If we waited til Monday for the passport we'd really be cutting it close for driving times! And losing 3 days of prime driving time didn't sit well with my mom. So she hit the shower and I got to gathering the last of our crap, I mean stuff...which in the end was quite a bit of stuff!! I really don't think I've forgotten anything either...the beauty is that whatever gets left behind can be mailed or brought to us in March....when they come for a visit for Samantha's 2nd birthday (YAY)
So here we are...just now on Hwy 400...done eating a delicious lunch my mom packed...Samantha's had one nap already....and DJ's currently napping...just passed Canada's Wonderland (watched a roller coaster and I'd swear I was on it just watching it!)...the truck is so packed that the only thing that could fill it up more would be sand or water....
I do know I won't have service tonite when we get further north...I know this from experience when we came this route in September! But if by some miracle there's a satellite in my vicinity, I'll post our whereabouts tonite. Otherwise...
Til next time...ciao!
Showing posts with label Immigration Journey. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Immigration Journey. Show all posts
Friday, July 3, 2009
Friday, June 26, 2009
Let the packing
BEGIN!!! I've already packed up 4 boxes of clothes and whatnot that was in my closet. Having two sick kids makes it easy to pack...they were in the living room being lazy while I was being busy like a bee packing what I could. Then I brought up the rest of the boxes from the garage...I don't think I'm going to need them all...I've sent A LOT of stuff back home with Howie over the last 3 trips he made here...so that alleviated some of my baggage...but at the same time, I've accrued a bit more too! Go figure! Well, with both kids having birthdays here, it's no wonder!
My poor babies were both fevered again this morning when they got up....so Tylenol was given first thing! Then we just snuggled all three of us in one chair under a blanky and waited til one of us got hungry. That would be me! I made them each a piece of toast tho with honey...DJ ate his up right away and Sam ate half her slice and some yogurt. Then we went back to snuggling...as much as I hate that my kids are sick...I do so love that snuggle time!
Right about noon time Samantha decided she couldn't take it any more and whined her way back up into my arms (my nephew was here for the day keeping them occupied in the living room) and promptly fell asleep! As I laid her in the crib she started her protest...so I nursed her back to sleep...she protested again when I tried to put her in her crib...but I won the battle and she fell asleep. Had a good sleep too!!!!
As did DJ...they both really needed it! I on the other hand didn't get that precious time to nap! As soon as I had DJ down for his nap...went potty by MYSELF!...then grabbed the boxes from the garage, Miss Crankypants was awake from her 2 hour nap
Even thru it all she was still able to give me cheesy grins!! She's getting really good at these! I love how she crinkles her eyes too!!! She's super model quality!!! hahaha
My poor babies were both fevered again this morning when they got up....so Tylenol was given first thing! Then we just snuggled all three of us in one chair under a blanky and waited til one of us got hungry. That would be me! I made them each a piece of toast tho with honey...DJ ate his up right away and Sam ate half her slice and some yogurt. Then we went back to snuggling...as much as I hate that my kids are sick...I do so love that snuggle time!
Right about noon time Samantha decided she couldn't take it any more and whined her way back up into my arms (my nephew was here for the day keeping them occupied in the living room) and promptly fell asleep! As I laid her in the crib she started her protest...so I nursed her back to sleep...she protested again when I tried to put her in her crib...but I won the battle and she fell asleep. Had a good sleep too!!!!As did DJ...they both really needed it! I on the other hand didn't get that precious time to nap! As soon as I had DJ down for his nap...went potty by MYSELF!...then grabbed the boxes from the garage, Miss Crankypants was awake from her 2 hour nap
Even thru it all she was still able to give me cheesy grins!! She's getting really good at these! I love how she crinkles her eyes too!!! She's super model quality!!! hahahaI think DJ's fever broke as he was full of vim and vigor after his nap!!! Which also means it's just a 24 hour thing, which is good! I should have both kids back to normal tomorrow, which is more than fine with me!
I started Breaking Dawn...was tough to put down too but I'm glad I did as DJ woke up EARLY this morning. Thinking ahead...this time change stuff going back to PST is gonna hurt for a while...yikes!
I do know for a fact that my passport was delivered at 7:21 am...what on earth did we do before the Internet?!?!?! So, now the ball's in their court as to how quickly they take care of business and get it back to me!!! My days remaining are starting to fill up quickly too!! There's just so much to do now that the date is set! We've also started looking for a new place to live as the house we're in now isn't gonna cut it...and the street we're on is just too busy for our little toddlers. Fun stuff I tell ya!!!
OK....I'm cuttin out early tonite...even partially ready for bed already too!!
Til next time...ciao!
Thursday, June 25, 2009
It all came down to
One phone call....I can hardly stand myself....but at exactly 8:36 this morning my life changed!! Literally!! This one phone call (and I NEVER thought of it being a phone call) came loud and clear all the way from the U.S. Embassy in Montreal....yes, you read that right! A phone call!!! This particular phone call said...
"We'll be issuing you your visa and we need you to send your passport to us...when will you able to get that to us?"
SERIOUSLY!?!?!?!! I'll have it to you by tomorrow!!!
"Good to know, I'll note that on your file"
Click
Did you hear me SCREAM at that point?!?!??!?!?!! OH. MY. GOD. I'm going HOME!!!!!!!!!!! Is there really anything else to say!??!! I get to go home! To Washington!!! To live there!!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Yeah...I like them apples!!! LOL
In other news...my two children are both fevered with DJ being the sicker of the two...he threw up dinner and then pooped breakfast and lunch out...my poor guy! SamSam's just got a low grade fever but she's been eating like a champ! I'm hoping it's just a 24 hour bug and they both bounce right back tomorrow...I'm also hoping I don't get it as I don't want it!!!
*sigh* all is right with the world now!!! The plan...well, they'll get my passport tomorrow by noon, they need to do their official whatevers to it....then express post it back to me in the envelope I left them two weeks ago (today, actually) which if they mail it on Monday, I might get it Tuesday...but Wednesday is a holiday (Canada Day) so Thursday looks more realistic...at which point we'll be hitting the yellow brick road on Friday!!! So 8 more sleeps!!! Putting us in Washington, in my hubby's arms for as early as the 8th quite possibly the 9th....heck, if we push ourselves it could be the 7th!!!!
I get to start Breaking Dawn tonite. The other book I finished last nite, and I gotta say...there was just too much going on it to make much sense....and too many characters that weren't done really in depth to get to know them....disappointed me really!
Til next time...ciao!
"We'll be issuing you your visa and we need you to send your passport to us...when will you able to get that to us?"
SERIOUSLY!?!?!?!! I'll have it to you by tomorrow!!!
"Good to know, I'll note that on your file"
Click
Did you hear me SCREAM at that point?!?!??!?!?!! OH. MY. GOD. I'm going HOME!!!!!!!!!!! Is there really anything else to say!??!! I get to go home! To Washington!!! To live there!!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Yeah...I like them apples!!! LOL
In other news...my two children are both fevered with DJ being the sicker of the two...he threw up dinner and then pooped breakfast and lunch out...my poor guy! SamSam's just got a low grade fever but she's been eating like a champ! I'm hoping it's just a 24 hour bug and they both bounce right back tomorrow...I'm also hoping I don't get it as I don't want it!!!
*sigh* all is right with the world now!!! The plan...well, they'll get my passport tomorrow by noon, they need to do their official whatevers to it....then express post it back to me in the envelope I left them two weeks ago (today, actually) which if they mail it on Monday, I might get it Tuesday...but Wednesday is a holiday (Canada Day) so Thursday looks more realistic...at which point we'll be hitting the yellow brick road on Friday!!! So 8 more sleeps!!! Putting us in Washington, in my hubby's arms for as early as the 8th quite possibly the 9th....heck, if we push ourselves it could be the 7th!!!!
I get to start Breaking Dawn tonite. The other book I finished last nite, and I gotta say...there was just too much going on it to make much sense....and too many characters that weren't done really in depth to get to know them....disappointed me really!
Til next time...ciao!
Thursday, June 11, 2009
The 5 Stages of Grief
I wonder if they apply to us today....let's see...
Stage 1 is Denial....I didn't get that, but in a round about way I guess we did! But I'm sure that's not the denial they mean...
Stage 2 is Anger...oh I think we've got that covered...or rather Howie does. No sense in both of us getting our panties in a bunch!
Stage 3 is Bargaining....and with people like this, there's no use trying to bargain. They'd see it as some sort of admission of non-existent guilt!
Stage 4 is Depression...I think I've got that one covered! The more I think about/talk about it, the more depressing it all sounds!!!
Stage 5 is Acceptance...not quite there yet! I guess we'll have to be there when we know one way or the other, now won't we?
Enough of that...let me brag about my children for a few moments! I'm so incredibly PROUD of how well they did on the 14 hours of driving we did! The way there, we left at 10 am...potty breaked around noonish....then again around 3 ish....and arrived at our final destination for 5:30. So for a 3 year old to go 7 hours with only 2 pee breaks is pretty darn good! SamSam struggled a bit on the second break, but that was cuz Daddy took her out of her car seat and she did NOT want back in! Made for a rough few minutes til I got situated in the back and handed her a timbit. Once we got to my g/f's house in MTL we were given a choice to go with them to her oldest son's soccer game (next to a park) or stay behind and walk to the park 3 mins away. We chose to go watch the game and then go out for dinner after. DJ had a snack with her boys before the game, but Sam didn't so she started getting REALLY fussy about 7pm for something to eat. So we snuck back to the truck and had some goldfish while Daddy tended to DJ. Then we all went out to Boston Pizza for dinner. Went back to the house and set up camp. We did the divide and conquer strategy for bed time...Daddy got DJ and I got Samantha....they were both out like lights almost simultaneously! And the spent their first nite in the same room together!
DJ got to use his new sleeping bag that he got as a gift for his birthday...and LOVED it!! Of course, by morning he was completely out of it (it was on the floor) but he did, however, stay ON the REAL bedwithnorail!!! Not bad...not bad at all!
Neither child was mad at us for waking them at such an ungodly hour!!! 5:45 is NO fun for anyone, let alone two toddlers!!! In fact, Sam was already up and talking to herself (the room they were in was right off the bathroom) so she was easy! And DJ just wanted to be hugged before fully waking up...I did that! We were out the door at 6 am! That was our goal! My phone said it would take a half hour to get there...but it didn't account for all the lights we got...red ones that is! So we arrived at 6:45 ish and tried to find parking...didn't want to do the metered stuff as we knew that re-entering wasn't a possibility. And since we'd driven right by the door to enter we knew that there was no one else there. We took the time then to feed the kids in the truck. Then the waiting inside the embassy...they were a source of entertainment for most people waiting. I know this because of the smiles! And DJ made a friend in a girl named Celia...he wanted to leave with her when they left....
As soon as we were done, we took off to our g/f's house to pick up our stuff....DJ fell asleep then and had a GOOD long nap! We took off just before noon and didn't bother stopping for lunch right away...especially with DJ sleeping....and we'd had a mid morning snack of timbits. (I'm such a terrible mother!!!) We stopped once we got back into Ontario tho because we needed gas...and it was 10 cents, if not more, cheaper than Quebec! So we got McPuke's for lunch...the kids liked that! *rolls eyes*
About 10 mins later DJ informs us he HAS to poop!!!! So we take the next exit and find a place with Tims in it and hit the toilets. And man did he ever (I know, it makes such blogworthy news!!) Back in the truck and back on the road we go! Not stopping again til Bellville where Howie actually let me drive for an hour!!! I was SHOCKED!!!!!! LOL Then we switched somewhere in Oshawa at another McPuke's so Howie could get back in control. Finally arriving back home at exactly 7 pm! Boy were they anxious to get out of the truck!!! Thankfully my mom had a nice dinner for us...she'd arrived at the same time as us with the food!!
Bed time was a little later than normal to let the food digest...and hopefully they'll sleep in a wee bit tomorrow! In any case, Howie's already gone to bed...in fact, everyone is in bed but me...so now its my turn...as I type this with one eye open....my contacts are SO dry!!!
Til next time...ciao!
Stage 1 is Denial....I didn't get that, but in a round about way I guess we did! But I'm sure that's not the denial they mean...
Stage 2 is Anger...oh I think we've got that covered...or rather Howie does. No sense in both of us getting our panties in a bunch!
Stage 3 is Bargaining....and with people like this, there's no use trying to bargain. They'd see it as some sort of admission of non-existent guilt!
Stage 4 is Depression...I think I've got that one covered! The more I think about/talk about it, the more depressing it all sounds!!!
Stage 5 is Acceptance...not quite there yet! I guess we'll have to be there when we know one way or the other, now won't we?
Enough of that...let me brag about my children for a few moments! I'm so incredibly PROUD of how well they did on the 14 hours of driving we did! The way there, we left at 10 am...potty breaked around noonish....then again around 3 ish....and arrived at our final destination for 5:30. So for a 3 year old to go 7 hours with only 2 pee breaks is pretty darn good! SamSam struggled a bit on the second break, but that was cuz Daddy took her out of her car seat and she did NOT want back in! Made for a rough few minutes til I got situated in the back and handed her a timbit. Once we got to my g/f's house in MTL we were given a choice to go with them to her oldest son's soccer game (next to a park) or stay behind and walk to the park 3 mins away. We chose to go watch the game and then go out for dinner after. DJ had a snack with her boys before the game, but Sam didn't so she started getting REALLY fussy about 7pm for something to eat. So we snuck back to the truck and had some goldfish while Daddy tended to DJ. Then we all went out to Boston Pizza for dinner. Went back to the house and set up camp. We did the divide and conquer strategy for bed time...Daddy got DJ and I got Samantha....they were both out like lights almost simultaneously! And the spent their first nite in the same room together!
DJ got to use his new sleeping bag that he got as a gift for his birthday...and LOVED it!! Of course, by morning he was completely out of it (it was on the floor) but he did, however, stay ON the REAL bedwithnorail!!! Not bad...not bad at all!
Neither child was mad at us for waking them at such an ungodly hour!!! 5:45 is NO fun for anyone, let alone two toddlers!!! In fact, Sam was already up and talking to herself (the room they were in was right off the bathroom) so she was easy! And DJ just wanted to be hugged before fully waking up...I did that! We were out the door at 6 am! That was our goal! My phone said it would take a half hour to get there...but it didn't account for all the lights we got...red ones that is! So we arrived at 6:45 ish and tried to find parking...didn't want to do the metered stuff as we knew that re-entering wasn't a possibility. And since we'd driven right by the door to enter we knew that there was no one else there. We took the time then to feed the kids in the truck. Then the waiting inside the embassy...they were a source of entertainment for most people waiting. I know this because of the smiles! And DJ made a friend in a girl named Celia...he wanted to leave with her when they left....
As soon as we were done, we took off to our g/f's house to pick up our stuff....DJ fell asleep then and had a GOOD long nap! We took off just before noon and didn't bother stopping for lunch right away...especially with DJ sleeping....and we'd had a mid morning snack of timbits. (I'm such a terrible mother!!!) We stopped once we got back into Ontario tho because we needed gas...and it was 10 cents, if not more, cheaper than Quebec! So we got McPuke's for lunch...the kids liked that! *rolls eyes*
About 10 mins later DJ informs us he HAS to poop!!!! So we take the next exit and find a place with Tims in it and hit the toilets. And man did he ever (I know, it makes such blogworthy news!!) Back in the truck and back on the road we go! Not stopping again til Bellville where Howie actually let me drive for an hour!!! I was SHOCKED!!!!!! LOL Then we switched somewhere in Oshawa at another McPuke's so Howie could get back in control. Finally arriving back home at exactly 7 pm! Boy were they anxious to get out of the truck!!! Thankfully my mom had a nice dinner for us...she'd arrived at the same time as us with the food!!
Bed time was a little later than normal to let the food digest...and hopefully they'll sleep in a wee bit tomorrow! In any case, Howie's already gone to bed...in fact, everyone is in bed but me...so now its my turn...as I type this with one eye open....my contacts are SO dry!!!
Til next time...ciao!
Not good news...
But not bad news either...if that's possible...or even makes sense!
We arrived at the embassy for 6:45, fed the kids breakfast in the truck, and then headed to wait at the entrance of the embassy. Doors didn't open til 7:30 and we were 2nd in line to get in the door. While waiting we read all the notices of what NOT to bring...which was everything we had in our bag!! And no cell phones! So Howie trekked it back to the truck! Thankfully we didn't park too far away!
We went thru security...down a set of stairs and waited in the basement. A gentleman came and took our "letters" (mine was B) and took us up to the 19th floor of the building. Where we waited some more. I got called back about 8:30 and we all went...Howie and the kids got sent back to wait...I answered some questions...and was told to go sit, but that when he calls my name again to come alone. Was about another 15 mins and I was called again, this time to do finger prints. And then sent back to wait more!! The kids were really starting to get antsy at this point! So I fed Samantha and she dozed for a short while...finally about 9:55 they called me to a closed room. Again Howie and the kids got sent out...I was asked to raise my right hand and swear to tell the truth, the whole truth...and so on. Then asked a series of questions. And they were perplexed...how was I able to cross the border twice since returning to Canada in September with no problems! So the end result: I wasn't approved, but I wasn't denied either...and after they do their "homework" and contact homeland security they'll inform me of their decision...either a 10 year ban for violating the first visa or the visa itself so our family can be reunited. Should know more in 2 weeks....so we continue our wait!
I'm quite numb actually!! Disappointed! Stunned! But yet I can't cry...or rather, I haven't yet....I'm sure when Howie goes home on Saturday it'll hit me hard! Not knowing when we'll see each other again...the uncertainty of it all is mind boggling! Our 4th of July plans are null and void...as is the semi-planned trip home on the 26th...we are plan-less til we hear from the consulate!
I hate not having a plan!!!
Til next time...ciao!
We arrived at the embassy for 6:45, fed the kids breakfast in the truck, and then headed to wait at the entrance of the embassy. Doors didn't open til 7:30 and we were 2nd in line to get in the door. While waiting we read all the notices of what NOT to bring...which was everything we had in our bag!! And no cell phones! So Howie trekked it back to the truck! Thankfully we didn't park too far away!
We went thru security...down a set of stairs and waited in the basement. A gentleman came and took our "letters" (mine was B) and took us up to the 19th floor of the building. Where we waited some more. I got called back about 8:30 and we all went...Howie and the kids got sent back to wait...I answered some questions...and was told to go sit, but that when he calls my name again to come alone. Was about another 15 mins and I was called again, this time to do finger prints. And then sent back to wait more!! The kids were really starting to get antsy at this point! So I fed Samantha and she dozed for a short while...finally about 9:55 they called me to a closed room. Again Howie and the kids got sent out...I was asked to raise my right hand and swear to tell the truth, the whole truth...and so on. Then asked a series of questions. And they were perplexed...how was I able to cross the border twice since returning to Canada in September with no problems! So the end result: I wasn't approved, but I wasn't denied either...and after they do their "homework" and contact homeland security they'll inform me of their decision...either a 10 year ban for violating the first visa or the visa itself so our family can be reunited. Should know more in 2 weeks....so we continue our wait!
I'm quite numb actually!! Disappointed! Stunned! But yet I can't cry...or rather, I haven't yet....I'm sure when Howie goes home on Saturday it'll hit me hard! Not knowing when we'll see each other again...the uncertainty of it all is mind boggling! Our 4th of July plans are null and void...as is the semi-planned trip home on the 26th...we are plan-less til we hear from the consulate!
I hate not having a plan!!!
Til next time...ciao!
Grrrrrrrr
Oh I had a nice long post all done and somehow LOST it!! I'm ticked too!! My thumbs were worn out!!!!
In any case...please pray our interview goes in our favour tomorrow! We're up at 5:30...on the way to embassy at 6...arrive and commence waiting at 6:30!!
If it goes well...the whole world will know!!! If not...who am I kidding?? The whole world will know!!!
Til next time...bon nuit!
In any case...please pray our interview goes in our favour tomorrow! We're up at 5:30...on the way to embassy at 6...arrive and commence waiting at 6:30!!
If it goes well...the whole world will know!!! If not...who am I kidding?? The whole world will know!!!
Til next time...bon nuit!
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
He actually WANTED
To go shopping!!!! I about fell over when Howie said he wanted to go shopping today!! At Canadian Tire no less! Such a guy's store!!!!! So we did that this morning and it was a good jaunt out. Got the kids out of the house, and also got the ant traps my parents have been talking about for a while now. Oh, and DJ got some water shoes for the water park...actually, his G'pa bought them, he just doesn't know it yet lol.
The butterflies have multiplied in my abdominal area!!!! Every time I think about what's coming on Thursday a wave of nausea rolls over me...I'm tired of waiting and not knowing!!!! And yet terrified of getting the wrong answer!!!!! They can do that y'know...they have that power over my life! I can't tell you how much that sux!!! It ALL comes down to this one moment in time!!! *SIGH* And there's nothing you or I can do about it either!!! Unless of course someone out there has the inside line with Mr Obama....lol
Got the clothes packed up, and the list made for what we need....you'd think we were going away for a week! Not just one nite! Its incredible all the stuff you need when you've got kids in tow!!
My g/f is all set for the Hughes Invasion tomorrow....hope she knows what she's in for! lol
Other than that, today was a nice quiet day 'round these here parts! Samantha is just smitten with her Daddy again...and sometimes I cease to exist...its kinda nice for a change!!!! I can actually sit in a different room from the kids and enjoy my time! Imagine that! Oh how I long for these kinds of days EVERY day!!! I need my life back!!! I want my own home....my own furniture...my own TV!!! My own bed!!! My own everything that I've worked hard for!! I especially want my husband back full time!!! Even his snoring last nite was like music to fall asleep too....well, for the first 5 mins anyways!! hahaha
Ok...off to bed early we go....ROAD TRIP tomorrow!!!
Til next time...ciao!
P.S...that car accident I spoke of yesterday was in this morning's paper...it happened around 5:30 pm (I drove by it on my way home about 8ish) and it involved a 65 y/o man who flipped his fiberglass 1934 Ford vehicle...he's in serious condition.
The butterflies have multiplied in my abdominal area!!!! Every time I think about what's coming on Thursday a wave of nausea rolls over me...I'm tired of waiting and not knowing!!!! And yet terrified of getting the wrong answer!!!!! They can do that y'know...they have that power over my life! I can't tell you how much that sux!!! It ALL comes down to this one moment in time!!! *SIGH* And there's nothing you or I can do about it either!!! Unless of course someone out there has the inside line with Mr Obama....lol
Got the clothes packed up, and the list made for what we need....you'd think we were going away for a week! Not just one nite! Its incredible all the stuff you need when you've got kids in tow!!
My g/f is all set for the Hughes Invasion tomorrow....hope she knows what she's in for! lol
Other than that, today was a nice quiet day 'round these here parts! Samantha is just smitten with her Daddy again...and sometimes I cease to exist...its kinda nice for a change!!!! I can actually sit in a different room from the kids and enjoy my time! Imagine that! Oh how I long for these kinds of days EVERY day!!! I need my life back!!! I want my own home....my own furniture...my own TV!!! My own bed!!! My own everything that I've worked hard for!! I especially want my husband back full time!!! Even his snoring last nite was like music to fall asleep too....well, for the first 5 mins anyways!! hahaha
Ok...off to bed early we go....ROAD TRIP tomorrow!!!
Til next time...ciao!
P.S...that car accident I spoke of yesterday was in this morning's paper...it happened around 5:30 pm (I drove by it on my way home about 8ish) and it involved a 65 y/o man who flipped his fiberglass 1934 Ford vehicle...he's in serious condition.
Monday, June 1, 2009
THE physical (NMM incl)
While waiting in the Dr's office for my intense physical, I did not pop a Halls candy in my mouth to get rid of the strawberry yogurt taste from breakfast! It wasn't my best idea...lol Also, while at said Dr's office, I did not feel the urge to cough and make everyone nervous...I'm so mean!!! Don't worry, I behaved myself!
Oh and at the receptionist's desk, I did not look like a senior citizen when I put my ear up to the hole thingy to hear what she said to me...pretty sad, but the whole area was glass enclosed!
OK, that's enough of the Not Me's that I've learned from MckMama...on to bidness!!! Yes, THE physical was this morning. After camping out on my sister's couch, I totally slept thru my alarm on my phone. It took my SIL shaking my awake before I heard it. Not bad...5 1/2 hours of uninterrupted sleep!!! I'll take it! I groggily made my way to the bathroom where I spruced up my hair, put my contacts in and got dressed. Drank down my protein shake and had a strawberry yogurt....and Kim graciously offered to drop me off at the Dr's office.
I got there for 7:10 am...walk in the entrance and BAM the office is right there! I look around and think "oh goody, I'm first!" The very first thing I'm to do is "wash" my hands with hand sanitizer mounted on the wall in front of me. Then I hand her my interview letter stating that yes, I am to be there for a physical. She then sends me to the waiting area....where there's a TONNE of people waiting...d'oh! I counted 14 other people there besides me. Some still half asleep! and more coming in behind me. So I grabbed the first chair, and started twittering....what else am I gonna do?! lol
About 8:10 my name gets called....I follow the gal and she takes all my info, makes sure I have everything, prints up a bunch of labels and takes my money!! (275 for this visit) Then sends me to wait in the hallway for a chest X-ray. As I'm waiting, there's a gentleman across from me and we get to chatting...he's also trying to get a visa for the U.S....and this is his second time in his life. He had one 2o years ago and then came back to Canada, and is now applying again. So I basically interviewed him! Come to find out that yes, I DO need a pre-paid envelope for them to mail the visa to me...and yes, it WILL cost more money (400 US) when I go for the interview....no, it's NOT a personal interview...picture a jail cell conversation...a partition of glass between us, with a slot cut into the bottom for passing documents. YIKES!!!
He also told me that when we get there (and DO get there early), take as little as possible as the security is strict, and then you're herded down to the basement to wait...he told me to sit as close to the elevator as possible...then when they open the building (8 am) they'll take us up to the 19th floor where you get in line for the cashier...go there straight away! Once you pay the fee, you get a number....and then you wait, and wait! It could take til 1pm for us to be done depending on how busy it is.
Then it was my turn for the X-ray. Strip the top half of my clothing off to put on a beautiful blue paper gown! CLICK and we're done. Get dressed and take the gown with me....go back to the waiting area....sit down, tweet some more, and my name is called, I follow and am put in an examining room...I was told to get completely undressed and put my gown on and wait. I did...and waited and waited. The room I was in was smaller than some walk in closets I've had!!! There were 6 really CREEPY pictures of butterflies on the wall...a desk, the exam table, and a book shelf in the room. Oh and a sink! The Dr comes in, asks medical history, checks over my vaccination records, checks my throat, my eyes, my breathing, and then focuses on my thyroid. Apparently it's enlarged...which could very well be the reason I'm not losing weight properly (or at all!) and his suggestion was to see my regular GP and get tested. Just so happens I have a physical with her next week!!! I'll be doing just that!!! He even calls in two other Dr's to check it out...huh? They both check and ask me to swallow, and poke at my neck...and agree, it's worth the follow up!
Then he sends in a female Dr to do the breast exam, and downthere test, from which I was exempt (whew!) and on his way out, he says, look at her thyroid. Am I such a novelty!?!?! Maybe it's because I'm Caucasian....who knows! But I will get it checked...dammit! lol
After she's done with her test, she tells me to get dressed while she sorts thru the paper work...gives me back my stuff and tells me to go back to the waiting area to be called for blood work. Someone calls my name (wrongly this time) and off I go for the poke in the arm. It was rather quick and not too painful!
I then get sent to reception and told to pick up my results on/after Wednesday...huh? I have to come back?? I wasn't aware of that! I'm hoping my sister will pick it up for me, and bring it with her on Sunday when she comes for DJ's 3rd birthday party!!!
I then walked back to the parking lot near my sister's to get the car and headed home!!! Home by 11 and the kiddos were in great shape! Sam was excited to see me!!! I was hoping she wouldn't be too mad at me for not being there this morning! It's all good! Then it was lunch and naps....and I spent that quality quiet time searching on the internet. We're trying to come up with a back-up-what-if plan! Roughly, it entails me and the bambinos moving to B.C. to be closer to Daddy...but nothing's set in stone...so I won't go into details. It's so mind boggling!!! Thought consuming and mentally draining!!!
So, off I go to read....getting to the REALLY REALLY good part of the book...which is too close to the end! And I don't have the next one waiting...whatever am I gonna do??
Til next time...ciao!
Oh and at the receptionist's desk, I did not look like a senior citizen when I put my ear up to the hole thingy to hear what she said to me...pretty sad, but the whole area was glass enclosed!
OK, that's enough of the Not Me's that I've learned from MckMama...on to bidness!!! Yes, THE physical was this morning. After camping out on my sister's couch, I totally slept thru my alarm on my phone. It took my SIL shaking my awake before I heard it. Not bad...5 1/2 hours of uninterrupted sleep!!! I'll take it! I groggily made my way to the bathroom where I spruced up my hair, put my contacts in and got dressed. Drank down my protein shake and had a strawberry yogurt....and Kim graciously offered to drop me off at the Dr's office.
I got there for 7:10 am...walk in the entrance and BAM the office is right there! I look around and think "oh goody, I'm first!" The very first thing I'm to do is "wash" my hands with hand sanitizer mounted on the wall in front of me. Then I hand her my interview letter stating that yes, I am to be there for a physical. She then sends me to the waiting area....where there's a TONNE of people waiting...d'oh! I counted 14 other people there besides me. Some still half asleep! and more coming in behind me. So I grabbed the first chair, and started twittering....what else am I gonna do?! lol
About 8:10 my name gets called....I follow the gal and she takes all my info, makes sure I have everything, prints up a bunch of labels and takes my money!! (275 for this visit) Then sends me to wait in the hallway for a chest X-ray. As I'm waiting, there's a gentleman across from me and we get to chatting...he's also trying to get a visa for the U.S....and this is his second time in his life. He had one 2o years ago and then came back to Canada, and is now applying again. So I basically interviewed him! Come to find out that yes, I DO need a pre-paid envelope for them to mail the visa to me...and yes, it WILL cost more money (400 US) when I go for the interview....no, it's NOT a personal interview...picture a jail cell conversation...a partition of glass between us, with a slot cut into the bottom for passing documents. YIKES!!!
He also told me that when we get there (and DO get there early), take as little as possible as the security is strict, and then you're herded down to the basement to wait...he told me to sit as close to the elevator as possible...then when they open the building (8 am) they'll take us up to the 19th floor where you get in line for the cashier...go there straight away! Once you pay the fee, you get a number....and then you wait, and wait! It could take til 1pm for us to be done depending on how busy it is.
Then it was my turn for the X-ray. Strip the top half of my clothing off to put on a beautiful blue paper gown! CLICK and we're done. Get dressed and take the gown with me....go back to the waiting area....sit down, tweet some more, and my name is called, I follow and am put in an examining room...I was told to get completely undressed and put my gown on and wait. I did...and waited and waited. The room I was in was smaller than some walk in closets I've had!!! There were 6 really CREEPY pictures of butterflies on the wall...a desk, the exam table, and a book shelf in the room. Oh and a sink! The Dr comes in, asks medical history, checks over my vaccination records, checks my throat, my eyes, my breathing, and then focuses on my thyroid. Apparently it's enlarged...which could very well be the reason I'm not losing weight properly (or at all!) and his suggestion was to see my regular GP and get tested. Just so happens I have a physical with her next week!!! I'll be doing just that!!! He even calls in two other Dr's to check it out...huh? They both check and ask me to swallow, and poke at my neck...and agree, it's worth the follow up!
Then he sends in a female Dr to do the breast exam, and downthere test, from which I was exempt (whew!) and on his way out, he says, look at her thyroid. Am I such a novelty!?!?! Maybe it's because I'm Caucasian....who knows! But I will get it checked...dammit! lol
After she's done with her test, she tells me to get dressed while she sorts thru the paper work...gives me back my stuff and tells me to go back to the waiting area to be called for blood work. Someone calls my name (wrongly this time) and off I go for the poke in the arm. It was rather quick and not too painful!
I then get sent to reception and told to pick up my results on/after Wednesday...huh? I have to come back?? I wasn't aware of that! I'm hoping my sister will pick it up for me, and bring it with her on Sunday when she comes for DJ's 3rd birthday party!!!
I then walked back to the parking lot near my sister's to get the car and headed home!!! Home by 11 and the kiddos were in great shape! Sam was excited to see me!!! I was hoping she wouldn't be too mad at me for not being there this morning! It's all good! Then it was lunch and naps....and I spent that quality quiet time searching on the internet. We're trying to come up with a back-up-what-if plan! Roughly, it entails me and the bambinos moving to B.C. to be closer to Daddy...but nothing's set in stone...so I won't go into details. It's so mind boggling!!! Thought consuming and mentally draining!!!
So, off I go to read....getting to the REALLY REALLY good part of the book...which is too close to the end! And I don't have the next one waiting...whatever am I gonna do??
Til next time...ciao!
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
I must admit...
I'm still positively GIDDY about the news from yesterday!! So much so, that I've even counted sleeps!!!!! There's 44 sleeps til the interview...that's the major one!!! And then when (not if) we're approved for the visa, from today, and the plan we've tentatively talked about, it's 59 sleeps til the kids and I are on our way home!! Home...what a wonderful word!!! The plan, is that my mom will come with us and then fly back. This way she can help me with the kids, save Howie his job, and see where we live now as she hasn't seen the new place we moved into a year ago. So June 26th, I'm gonzo!!!! Which also works out well in that I should now be able to attend my cousin's wedding on the 19th! Providing I find a sitter for my kids as they weren't invited....anybody out there wanna sit for me?!?!! LOL
I've decided not to tell DJ about the pending plans to go home until they're final and the approval is granted...otherwise, he'd pester me daily....and God forbid anything does go wrong, it would break his heart! I mistakenly told him about how Daddy's coming for his birthday, and he now asks frequently if it's his birthday...or he'll tell me how Daddy's coming for MY birthday. It's cute, but annoying!
I made the physical appointment for June 1st....they suggest a week in advance, but looking at my mom's schedule, this works best for both of us. I have to be IN Toronto for 7 am (ICK) and the appt itself is about 2 hours long. Then there's the chest x-ray and blood work. So we talked about just me heading in to T.O. while she minds the kids at home....which is better than having them strapped into their car seats for 5 hours...altho, it would be good practice....nah!
I also have to go get a tetanus shot by my GP before going to this physical as it's the only thing on the list that I'm missing, and I need proof of all the other vaccines I've had in my life. BLAH! That's on my list of things to do tomorrow. I hate needles!!!!
Going to bed early tonite as I stayed up WAY too late reading that dang book!!! I'm totally sucked in now (get it?) and if I go earlier to bed, I can get in more reading but get to sleep a wee bit earlier than last nite's 2 am!
Til next time...ciao!
I've decided not to tell DJ about the pending plans to go home until they're final and the approval is granted...otherwise, he'd pester me daily....and God forbid anything does go wrong, it would break his heart! I mistakenly told him about how Daddy's coming for his birthday, and he now asks frequently if it's his birthday...or he'll tell me how Daddy's coming for MY birthday. It's cute, but annoying!
I made the physical appointment for June 1st....they suggest a week in advance, but looking at my mom's schedule, this works best for both of us. I have to be IN Toronto for 7 am (ICK) and the appt itself is about 2 hours long. Then there's the chest x-ray and blood work. So we talked about just me heading in to T.O. while she minds the kids at home....which is better than having them strapped into their car seats for 5 hours...altho, it would be good practice....nah!
I also have to go get a tetanus shot by my GP before going to this physical as it's the only thing on the list that I'm missing, and I need proof of all the other vaccines I've had in my life. BLAH! That's on my list of things to do tomorrow. I hate needles!!!!
Going to bed early tonite as I stayed up WAY too late reading that dang book!!! I'm totally sucked in now (get it?) and if I go earlier to bed, I can get in more reading but get to sleep a wee bit earlier than last nite's 2 am!
Til next time...ciao!
Monday, April 27, 2009
2 Pigs, a Pony and a Cindy-Lou Who
That's what SamSam had in her hair today....all at once!!! It looked SO cute!!! I did take pix, but they're not uploaded yet...and frankly I have much more important news.........
I HAVE AN INTERVIEW SCHEDULED FOR JUNE 11TH AT 8 AM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I was in absolute SHOCK when I decided to check my email and discover and email from NVC! I can honestly say I wasn't expecting anything to happen til July or later....so mentally I'd been preparing myself for that time frame...to get this email and be told my interview is in JUNE is just beyond amazing!! Even more amazing is that Howie will already be here that week and go with us to Montreal!!! What HUGE relief that is that I don't have to make this journey by myself with the two kids!!!! I'll have help and support and PROOF we have an amazing marriage!!!
I feel like the huge weight named WHEN has been lifted off my shoulders!! I could conceivably be home, in Washington, for the 4th of July!!! What better way to celebrate than with fireworks! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
OK..just needed to get that out!!! whew!
So...now the fun begins....I'm calling the only Dr in Ontario that does the physical required ($275.00 fee of course) tomorrow morning first thing. Then I'm calling my GP to get all medical records and immunization records to take with me. Then I need to go get pix done that have to be a specific size and colour and position, that are needed for the physical. And I need to stop researching things on the Internet as it's only makin my mind over fill useless info! Albeit some of it was pretty interesting to find out.
For instance, you get approval right then and there...but it takes a week for the visa to arrive via mail. OK, good to know!
Also found out I'm to arrive with a specific type of envelope already pre-addressed to me for the said visa to arrive in...good to know!
I also found out that I'm to arrive at 7 am for the doors to the embassy to open at 8 am and that it's first come, first served for the interviews...VERY good to know.
I also found out that for most adults there's 3 vaccines that on the MUST list, of which I don't have a current tetanus shot....good to know! (man I hate needles)
The estimated waiting time at the consulate on the day of interview is 1-3 hours...VERY good to know as I'll have two toddlers in tow!
And if it wasn't for my g/f Jackie and her wicked googling skills...I wouldn't know any of that above info!! So thank you VERY much Jackie!!!!
The only thing I'm having a hard time figuring out is how we're gonna get home...Howie's visit is June 6th to the 13th...the interview is the 11th, which means I should have the visa in hand by the 19th (when, not if, approved!!) and he'll be out of vacay time when he leaves us here on the 13th...OY
My dad did casually mention that they might not have anything going on the month of June and could drive with us...ya think he wants me gone!??!! LMAO Methinks so too! So much so, that he bought me the winning lottery ticket for Wednesday's 32M lottery...if you don't see a post from me Wednesday nite, you'll know I won and am going into hermit crab status!!! Sayonarra!!!!!!!!! LOL
I'm SO wound up right now...and beyond elated! Please pray we get a compassionate interviewer that wants us to be reunited regardless of past over stepping of previous visas!! From what I understand the whole interview lasts all of 20 mins! Oh and of course, costs money!! LOL What doesn't with these people!??!!?!
Ok...I've rambled enough...
Til next time...ciao!
I HAVE AN INTERVIEW SCHEDULED FOR JUNE 11TH AT 8 AM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I was in absolute SHOCK when I decided to check my email and discover and email from NVC! I can honestly say I wasn't expecting anything to happen til July or later....so mentally I'd been preparing myself for that time frame...to get this email and be told my interview is in JUNE is just beyond amazing!! Even more amazing is that Howie will already be here that week and go with us to Montreal!!! What HUGE relief that is that I don't have to make this journey by myself with the two kids!!!! I'll have help and support and PROOF we have an amazing marriage!!!
I feel like the huge weight named WHEN has been lifted off my shoulders!! I could conceivably be home, in Washington, for the 4th of July!!! What better way to celebrate than with fireworks! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
OK..just needed to get that out!!! whew!
So...now the fun begins....I'm calling the only Dr in Ontario that does the physical required ($275.00 fee of course) tomorrow morning first thing. Then I'm calling my GP to get all medical records and immunization records to take with me. Then I need to go get pix done that have to be a specific size and colour and position, that are needed for the physical. And I need to stop researching things on the Internet as it's only makin my mind over fill useless info! Albeit some of it was pretty interesting to find out.
For instance, you get approval right then and there...but it takes a week for the visa to arrive via mail. OK, good to know!
Also found out I'm to arrive with a specific type of envelope already pre-addressed to me for the said visa to arrive in...good to know!
I also found out that I'm to arrive at 7 am for the doors to the embassy to open at 8 am and that it's first come, first served for the interviews...VERY good to know.
I also found out that for most adults there's 3 vaccines that on the MUST list, of which I don't have a current tetanus shot....good to know! (man I hate needles)
The estimated waiting time at the consulate on the day of interview is 1-3 hours...VERY good to know as I'll have two toddlers in tow!
And if it wasn't for my g/f Jackie and her wicked googling skills...I wouldn't know any of that above info!! So thank you VERY much Jackie!!!!
The only thing I'm having a hard time figuring out is how we're gonna get home...Howie's visit is June 6th to the 13th...the interview is the 11th, which means I should have the visa in hand by the 19th (when, not if, approved!!) and he'll be out of vacay time when he leaves us here on the 13th...OY
My dad did casually mention that they might not have anything going on the month of June and could drive with us...ya think he wants me gone!??!! LMAO Methinks so too! So much so, that he bought me the winning lottery ticket for Wednesday's 32M lottery...if you don't see a post from me Wednesday nite, you'll know I won and am going into hermit crab status!!! Sayonarra!!!!!!!!! LOL
I'm SO wound up right now...and beyond elated! Please pray we get a compassionate interviewer that wants us to be reunited regardless of past over stepping of previous visas!! From what I understand the whole interview lasts all of 20 mins! Oh and of course, costs money!! LOL What doesn't with these people!??!!?!
Ok...I've rambled enough...
Til next time...ciao!
Friday, April 24, 2009
Say what now?
I got some news today....some good, some bad...well not bad, just not what I expected AT ALL!!! I did remember to get all my paperwork out of my room today before nap time happened...and I did actually call the NVC to see what the normal deal is when at this stage of the game. Spoke with a curt, but nice fellah, and he informed me that my case is now considered COMPLETE! Which is the GOOD news!!! No more paperwork is needed from me!!!! So now it's a matter of scheduling...which he explained to me.
They do interviews during the 2nd week of every month....so he checked for me and no I don't have an interview for May...which isn't such a bad thing really as I'd be in Seattle/Maui during that time frame and I'd hate to miss out on it! So I can call back during the 3rd week of May and check if I'm on June's schedule.
And then he said something about Montreal....to which I very nicely replied "Say what now?" Yeah, apparently the only embassy close to me that does these kinds of interviews is in Montreal...so that's what the MTL on my case number stands for...gotcha!
DANG this adds a bit of a spin to it doesn't it!??! I checked on my phone's maps app, and MTL is about 6.5 hours away....toss in a potty trained toddler and it may well take me 8 hours to get there! Does this sound like fun!?!?!!? HA So I put the word out to my peeps that I'd be in their area and would love to get together, and one of my g/f's graciously offered us to stay with her whenever we need it! YAY!!!! One problem solved!!!
Then my mom asks when I told her the latest, "so it might not be til September then" SAY WHAT NOW!?!?! Oh heck no!!! I haven't even thought that far ahead! I told her that July was all I could mentally deal with right now! GAH!!!!
I did ask the guy too, at what point will I know the answer...is it immediately? In a letter?? What? and he didn't have an answer for me...blah!
So, there ya have it! DJ's eye is doing good! Not nearly as bad as it looked last nite, but I can see where I missed putting vanilla, as it didn't look bruised int the under part of his eye, close to his nose, last nite....but he's a trooper!! Let me put polysporin on it and everything!
Til next time...ciao!
They do interviews during the 2nd week of every month....so he checked for me and no I don't have an interview for May...which isn't such a bad thing really as I'd be in Seattle/Maui during that time frame and I'd hate to miss out on it! So I can call back during the 3rd week of May and check if I'm on June's schedule.
And then he said something about Montreal....to which I very nicely replied "Say what now?" Yeah, apparently the only embassy close to me that does these kinds of interviews is in Montreal...so that's what the MTL on my case number stands for...gotcha!
DANG this adds a bit of a spin to it doesn't it!??! I checked on my phone's maps app, and MTL is about 6.5 hours away....toss in a potty trained toddler and it may well take me 8 hours to get there! Does this sound like fun!?!?!!? HA So I put the word out to my peeps that I'd be in their area and would love to get together, and one of my g/f's graciously offered us to stay with her whenever we need it! YAY!!!! One problem solved!!!
Then my mom asks when I told her the latest, "so it might not be til September then" SAY WHAT NOW!?!?! Oh heck no!!! I haven't even thought that far ahead! I told her that July was all I could mentally deal with right now! GAH!!!!
I did ask the guy too, at what point will I know the answer...is it immediately? In a letter?? What? and he didn't have an answer for me...blah!
So, there ya have it! DJ's eye is doing good! Not nearly as bad as it looked last nite, but I can see where I missed putting vanilla, as it didn't look bruised int the under part of his eye, close to his nose, last nite....but he's a trooper!! Let me put polysporin on it and everything!
Til next time...ciao!
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Detailing the details...
So, my g/f Jackie reminded me that I'd started a website last year...and I'd completely forgotten about it...seems they've forgotten about me even! Humph...who needs them?! lol I think I started it with an email addy we no longer have too, as I tried all the current ones to no avail.
I'm gonna give the history of "us" here...so that when I reconnect with people from years gone, I can simply direct them here instead of having to type it all out again. Saves my brain!
Girl meets boy in July of 2001, after separating from her first idiot, and I do mean idiot! Amazingly enough, we met online first...but it was just in passing. I knew he lived waytheheckoutinSeattle and didn't really want to 'put myself out there' and get to know him. So hellos were traded, probably played a few games of crib at the MSN gaming zone (no longer doing the cribbage boards) but other than that, not much. Then a mutual friend planned a get together for who ever wanted to come to his house for the weekend. Turns out, he lived about 2.5 hours from me, so I couldn't NOT go!!! I mean, c'mon! I talked my g/f (also online) in Montana into coming with me. So she flew out the day before and then we drove up together. Oh what fun!
The very first person I meet when we get to this guy's place...was Howie!!! He showed us where to park and waited for us to get out of the car to give us a hug. It wasn't exactly this moment that I "fell" but I was struck by how incredibly handsome he was (and still is!!!) No, it wasn't til the next nite that we clicked and things fell into place. And by the third day we were both smitten!! BUT he lived in Seattle and I lived in Cambridge...not at all conducive to dating. So we decided to try the long distance approach and see where it would lead us.
He came back at the end of summer in September for my birthday (a couple days after the fact) and met most of my family, asked me to marry him and headed west once again. I was supposed to go meet him in November, but he got into a car accident the week before I was to arrive and was incapacitated....so I switched gears and got off my flight in AB and drove down to visit my g/f in Montana....GREAT trip!! Then in February I finally got to fly out to Seattle for a wedding of dear friends of ours (online, of course!) and he popped the question with a ring this time showing me how serious he was! BLING!
That following April I moved to Seattle!! Well, Lynnwood really, about 20 mins north of Seattle. I arrived on a visitor's visa that was to expire in 10 days. We immediately drove downtown and applied for an extension....and waited and waited to hear back. I'd originally gotten a 6 mos ticket (justincaseitdidn'tquiteworkout...) and by that date in October, we still hadn't heard back from immigration, so we let the ticket go. FINALLY heard from them in November that I'd been granted the extension and it's expiry date had already passed. Excuse me? WHAT?!?!?! Called immigration to let them know we'd just gotten the letter and asked what next. OY what a process. Sent a letter in stating the obvious and requesting yet another extension.
During this point, we got married. 03/03/03 a number he can't forget!!!!!! In Vegas, ONLINE!! Oh yeah, we did it internet style!!! That way no one had to get dressed up or leave their homes, it was awesome!!!
So in May of '03 we applied for an I130...Petition for Spouse of Non Immigrant....and we waited and waited and waited!!! Going on about life as a family. OH yeah, boy has a son from a previous marriage...Jake! GREAT kid! But I'll brag about him another time.
With the world being as technologically advanced as it is, we were given a case number that I could monitor online and see where it was in the process. Well, one day in 2005, I check it and see that it's now past the date that I submitted my forms and and and...where's mine?!?!! So I call them (this is akin to going to the Principal's office...knots in your stomach blech) and ask what the deal is....and they've lost my application. Ok, not lost, but definitely misplaced!!! And then they try to pass off that they're doing an "internal shuffle" of how forms are being dealt with and that I was going to be passed on to the California office immediately. I'm thinking this is a good thing, and I should go to the top of the list right...WRONG!! I go to the bottom of the list of that day...and wait and wait.
In the meantime we're still living our life and enjoying our family. And actually expanding it! Our son DJ was born June 7th, 2006! It wasn't til his first birthday that we got a letter saying that our application had been approved and that we were being passed on to the National Visa Center (NVC from here on out) WAHOOOO!!!!! Finally some progress!!!
Get a letter from the NVC stating that we now need to send in 380.00 and they'll get going on our app! Unreal...it was like a slap in the face! The good thing is they give you a year to come up with the funds!
That's when we found out that we were pregnant with Samantha....our surprise blessing!!! And it took us til January to get the $$ together and mail it off. Wouldn't ya know it...the blinking fee has gone up!!! It's now 400.00 and we needed to re-send our payment! ACK!! I'm about ready to pop with this baby and you're hassling me for more!?!?!?! So, it wasn't til after her birth that we got it mailed in...I was a little pre-occupied! LOL
Since then it's been a whirlwind!!! Got another letter in June saying that we needed a background check done on myself by the local police. So I go online and pay to get one done from the Lynnwood Police. In late July Howie got a surprise bonus from work that we had no plans for...so we talked about it and decided that getting hiring an immigration atty would be the best thing to do....at this point, it had been over 6 years since I'd set foot on Canadian soil and was wishing to go home for a visit at some point in my life.
My sister Joanne happened to be visiting when we called a lawyer....oh I'm so glad to have had the extra set of ears listening and taking notes. Turns out we'd done the whole thing WRONG!!! All that filing and waiting....was to have been done while I was in Canada....HUH?? No one told me that!! Never once had we lied about where I was living! In fact, at one point, during one of the many calls I made to Immigration, I was told "As long as you have a petition pending, you're alright to be in the States." Come to find out....that's if Howie was American.....tiny little detail that we had no clue about!!
The lawyer then advised us to move and move right away, back to Canada!!!! Continue with what we were doing, but get our butts back to the homeland! Within 5 wks I had me and the kids packed up, ready to go!
We left Washington on September 20th about 5am....and drove with two kids, cross country to my parents house here in BFE....Brantford, Ontario. Howie flew home on the 28th as he has a pretty good job where we were, and his son is still here going to high school. And ideally, we'd all like to be living together in WA!
Howie and Jake came for a visit in December for Christmas and New Years, and while they were here, we popped over to the local law enforcement office and requested a background check on me. Within days we got it and I sent it to the NVC on Jan 9th. And the waiting continues!!! Got another letter on the 23rd stating that we had MORE paperwork to send in (Why on earth didn't they ask for it in the last letter!?!?!?!) and in the request was another background check. Called them and asked if the one I sent in wasn't good enough or if it was overlooked....do I really have to do it again?? *side note: every little thing you have to get for them, costs money...every thing you send them, costs money!!!* The answer I got from them, "Please call back in 10-15 business days and we'll have an answer for you" You have GOT to be kidding me!?!?!?! I managed to wait a whole 6 business days and called back again....and got correct info. The background check they want done on me HAS to be from the RCMP with fingerprints. OY!
Call the RCMP and it's gonna be $75.00 to do the prints and send them off to Ottawa, oh and it'll take 120 days for this to happen. WHAT!?!?!?! I don't have that kind of time!!!!!!! So I do some research online (mom did really) and found out that if you do electronic prints it takes 72 hours. That's more like it! There was one place in Kitchener that does them for $35.00....SOLD! Had my appt on March 2nd and got them in the mail on the 12th...super quick!!!! I mailed them to NVC on the 12th (quicklikebunny) and got notice that they received my paperwork on the 23rd.
And the waiting continues!!!! *sigh*
What's the next step, you ask? Well, from what I've read online, they'll be sending me a letter telling me when my interview is. Typically a month in advance....and with notice that I'm to go to one THEIR doctors and get a complete physical done with chest x-ray, HIV testing and TB testing. I get the results in a sealed envelope and I'm to take that with me to the interview. This is the YAY/NAY interview!!! I try not to think too much about it as it's quite nerve wracking! They could very well say "NOPE, sorry, you broke the rules by overstaying your visitor's visa, too bad, so sad...." OR they could say "YES, please be reunited with the rest of your family and live in WA...." Either way, I'm pretty freakin sure there'll be tears!!! Not just from me either!!! My parents are anxious to get on with their septuagenarian lives!!!! While they keep reassuring me that they LOVE having my kids here and what a blessing it is to be a part of their lives at such a young age....they really want us GONE!!! And I really WANT TO BE GONE!!!! I enjoy being an adult!! I miss my husband TERRIBLY and I abhor single parenting!!! I'm a much nicer mom to my kids when Daddy's around!!! I have way more patience for them when he's around to share the burden! He came for a visit in March for Samantha's 1st birthday and it was HEAVEN!!! I could go to the bathroom in peace...shower with NO interruptions!!! Things other parents take for granted!! lol Ok I'm rambling here....back on track....After said interview, which we're guessing should take place sometime in May (hopefully not during the week I'm in Seattle/Maui!!!) then the plan is to have DJ's birthday here in Ontario on the 7th and take off on the 8th!!! Hit the road Jack, and don't look back! I have to keep this goal in mind or the possibility of not going home is just too depressing! In fact, we've now incorporated "please help us get home to Washington" as part of our daily prayers at bedtime with DJ! He's quite desperate to get home too!!! When Howie left in March he BEGGED to go with him on the plane!!! How heartbreaking is that!?!?! So thinking and saying we're going home in June is puttin the positive out there!!!!
Ok....in a rather large nutshell...there it is!!! Took me a couple hours to do this too...with several interruptions....I'd like to thank Google for that draft auto saved stuff!!! Couldn't have done it without ya! LOL
Til next time....ciao!
I'm gonna give the history of "us" here...so that when I reconnect with people from years gone, I can simply direct them here instead of having to type it all out again. Saves my brain!
Girl meets boy in July of 2001, after separating from her first idiot, and I do mean idiot! Amazingly enough, we met online first...but it was just in passing. I knew he lived waytheheckoutinSeattle and didn't really want to 'put myself out there' and get to know him. So hellos were traded, probably played a few games of crib at the MSN gaming zone (no longer doing the cribbage boards) but other than that, not much. Then a mutual friend planned a get together for who ever wanted to come to his house for the weekend. Turns out, he lived about 2.5 hours from me, so I couldn't NOT go!!! I mean, c'mon! I talked my g/f (also online) in Montana into coming with me. So she flew out the day before and then we drove up together. Oh what fun!
The very first person I meet when we get to this guy's place...was Howie!!! He showed us where to park and waited for us to get out of the car to give us a hug. It wasn't exactly this moment that I "fell" but I was struck by how incredibly handsome he was (and still is!!!) No, it wasn't til the next nite that we clicked and things fell into place. And by the third day we were both smitten!! BUT he lived in Seattle and I lived in Cambridge...not at all conducive to dating. So we decided to try the long distance approach and see where it would lead us.
He came back at the end of summer in September for my birthday (a couple days after the fact) and met most of my family, asked me to marry him and headed west once again. I was supposed to go meet him in November, but he got into a car accident the week before I was to arrive and was incapacitated....so I switched gears and got off my flight in AB and drove down to visit my g/f in Montana....GREAT trip!! Then in February I finally got to fly out to Seattle for a wedding of dear friends of ours (online, of course!) and he popped the question with a ring this time showing me how serious he was! BLING!
That following April I moved to Seattle!! Well, Lynnwood really, about 20 mins north of Seattle. I arrived on a visitor's visa that was to expire in 10 days. We immediately drove downtown and applied for an extension....and waited and waited to hear back. I'd originally gotten a 6 mos ticket (justincaseitdidn'tquiteworkout...) and by that date in October, we still hadn't heard back from immigration, so we let the ticket go. FINALLY heard from them in November that I'd been granted the extension and it's expiry date had already passed. Excuse me? WHAT?!?!?! Called immigration to let them know we'd just gotten the letter and asked what next. OY what a process. Sent a letter in stating the obvious and requesting yet another extension.
During this point, we got married. 03/03/03 a number he can't forget!!!!!! In Vegas, ONLINE!! Oh yeah, we did it internet style!!! That way no one had to get dressed up or leave their homes, it was awesome!!!
So in May of '03 we applied for an I130...Petition for Spouse of Non Immigrant....and we waited and waited and waited!!! Going on about life as a family. OH yeah, boy has a son from a previous marriage...Jake! GREAT kid! But I'll brag about him another time.
With the world being as technologically advanced as it is, we were given a case number that I could monitor online and see where it was in the process. Well, one day in 2005, I check it and see that it's now past the date that I submitted my forms and and and...where's mine?!?!! So I call them (this is akin to going to the Principal's office...knots in your stomach blech) and ask what the deal is....and they've lost my application. Ok, not lost, but definitely misplaced!!! And then they try to pass off that they're doing an "internal shuffle" of how forms are being dealt with and that I was going to be passed on to the California office immediately. I'm thinking this is a good thing, and I should go to the top of the list right...WRONG!! I go to the bottom of the list of that day...and wait and wait.
In the meantime we're still living our life and enjoying our family. And actually expanding it! Our son DJ was born June 7th, 2006! It wasn't til his first birthday that we got a letter saying that our application had been approved and that we were being passed on to the National Visa Center (NVC from here on out) WAHOOOO!!!!! Finally some progress!!!
Get a letter from the NVC stating that we now need to send in 380.00 and they'll get going on our app! Unreal...it was like a slap in the face! The good thing is they give you a year to come up with the funds!
That's when we found out that we were pregnant with Samantha....our surprise blessing!!! And it took us til January to get the $$ together and mail it off. Wouldn't ya know it...the blinking fee has gone up!!! It's now 400.00 and we needed to re-send our payment! ACK!! I'm about ready to pop with this baby and you're hassling me for more!?!?!?! So, it wasn't til after her birth that we got it mailed in...I was a little pre-occupied! LOL
Since then it's been a whirlwind!!! Got another letter in June saying that we needed a background check done on myself by the local police. So I go online and pay to get one done from the Lynnwood Police. In late July Howie got a surprise bonus from work that we had no plans for...so we talked about it and decided that getting hiring an immigration atty would be the best thing to do....at this point, it had been over 6 years since I'd set foot on Canadian soil and was wishing to go home for a visit at some point in my life.
My sister Joanne happened to be visiting when we called a lawyer....oh I'm so glad to have had the extra set of ears listening and taking notes. Turns out we'd done the whole thing WRONG!!! All that filing and waiting....was to have been done while I was in Canada....HUH?? No one told me that!! Never once had we lied about where I was living! In fact, at one point, during one of the many calls I made to Immigration, I was told "As long as you have a petition pending, you're alright to be in the States." Come to find out....that's if Howie was American.....tiny little detail that we had no clue about!!
The lawyer then advised us to move and move right away, back to Canada!!!! Continue with what we were doing, but get our butts back to the homeland! Within 5 wks I had me and the kids packed up, ready to go!
We left Washington on September 20th about 5am....and drove with two kids, cross country to my parents house here in BFE....Brantford, Ontario. Howie flew home on the 28th as he has a pretty good job where we were, and his son is still here going to high school. And ideally, we'd all like to be living together in WA!
Howie and Jake came for a visit in December for Christmas and New Years, and while they were here, we popped over to the local law enforcement office and requested a background check on me. Within days we got it and I sent it to the NVC on Jan 9th. And the waiting continues!!! Got another letter on the 23rd stating that we had MORE paperwork to send in (Why on earth didn't they ask for it in the last letter!?!?!?!) and in the request was another background check. Called them and asked if the one I sent in wasn't good enough or if it was overlooked....do I really have to do it again?? *side note: every little thing you have to get for them, costs money...every thing you send them, costs money!!!* The answer I got from them, "Please call back in 10-15 business days and we'll have an answer for you" You have GOT to be kidding me!?!?!?! I managed to wait a whole 6 business days and called back again....and got correct info. The background check they want done on me HAS to be from the RCMP with fingerprints. OY!
Call the RCMP and it's gonna be $75.00 to do the prints and send them off to Ottawa, oh and it'll take 120 days for this to happen. WHAT!?!?!?! I don't have that kind of time!!!!!!! So I do some research online (mom did really) and found out that if you do electronic prints it takes 72 hours. That's more like it! There was one place in Kitchener that does them for $35.00....SOLD! Had my appt on March 2nd and got them in the mail on the 12th...super quick!!!! I mailed them to NVC on the 12th (quicklikebunny) and got notice that they received my paperwork on the 23rd.
And the waiting continues!!!! *sigh*
What's the next step, you ask? Well, from what I've read online, they'll be sending me a letter telling me when my interview is. Typically a month in advance....and with notice that I'm to go to one THEIR doctors and get a complete physical done with chest x-ray, HIV testing and TB testing. I get the results in a sealed envelope and I'm to take that with me to the interview. This is the YAY/NAY interview!!! I try not to think too much about it as it's quite nerve wracking! They could very well say "NOPE, sorry, you broke the rules by overstaying your visitor's visa, too bad, so sad...." OR they could say "YES, please be reunited with the rest of your family and live in WA...." Either way, I'm pretty freakin sure there'll be tears!!! Not just from me either!!! My parents are anxious to get on with their septuagenarian lives!!!! While they keep reassuring me that they LOVE having my kids here and what a blessing it is to be a part of their lives at such a young age....they really want us GONE!!! And I really WANT TO BE GONE!!!! I enjoy being an adult!! I miss my husband TERRIBLY and I abhor single parenting!!! I'm a much nicer mom to my kids when Daddy's around!!! I have way more patience for them when he's around to share the burden! He came for a visit in March for Samantha's 1st birthday and it was HEAVEN!!! I could go to the bathroom in peace...shower with NO interruptions!!! Things other parents take for granted!! lol Ok I'm rambling here....back on track....After said interview, which we're guessing should take place sometime in May (hopefully not during the week I'm in Seattle/Maui!!!) then the plan is to have DJ's birthday here in Ontario on the 7th and take off on the 8th!!! Hit the road Jack, and don't look back! I have to keep this goal in mind or the possibility of not going home is just too depressing! In fact, we've now incorporated "please help us get home to Washington" as part of our daily prayers at bedtime with DJ! He's quite desperate to get home too!!! When Howie left in March he BEGGED to go with him on the plane!!! How heartbreaking is that!?!?! So thinking and saying we're going home in June is puttin the positive out there!!!!
Ok....in a rather large nutshell...there it is!!! Took me a couple hours to do this too...with several interruptions....I'd like to thank Google for that draft auto saved stuff!!! Couldn't have done it without ya! LOL
Til next time....ciao!
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