Stella playing with her new purse from Tina and Rattle from Lou Ann!

Home sweet home again

Wow...what a fast paced few days...this was trip #3 and court. I left on august 11th and sat in coach on Continental, stayed over in AMS with a friend who was laying over close by (saved money on a day room) and then KLM upgraded me to Business Class! My lucky Star shines again for me. On my 3 trips, 12 flights, I have been upgraded to business class on 1 leg out of two on each trip...very lucky!

I arrived in Almaty on Friday, stayed in yet another apt which was a very nice one bedroom located very close to the Silk Way Mall. That afternoon we walked to the Baby House to see Miss Stella. She was shining in her usual way. She recognized me and came to me right away, she loved her new pink toy purse I got her and she is sitting totally unassisted AND trying to pull up to stand! Shine on sweet girl!! I got to see Stella 4 of the six days I was there.

Court was Tuesday. It was tough. I stood up most of the time and felt I was grilled endlessly. I was dripping with sweat by the time it was all over. One because of the heat, and two because of the Judge. They said he liked me and he did tease me but the comments and questions were unmerciful! Here is a sample of what I can remember......Can you have your own child? I don't know.......Is that because you like yourself too much to suffer? No.....There are banks in the US with sperm you can buy, why didn't you do that? Because I wanted to help a child that was already here....Did you choose Kaz because it is a quick program? (WTF!!!!) No, it took me over 3 years to get to this day. If you were Muslim you could be the third wife to a man. Maybe I could have 3 husbands? Will Sabrina be a flight attendant some day? Maybe she will fly the plane? Where is the hardest airport to go through? Really you want to go there with me?? Okay I didn't say that but come on! Needless to say when I got the YES, I was beyond thrilled!! Oh did I forget to mention that part....I got a YES! I have a daughter and her name is Stella Sabrina Schultz!! Amen!

They tell me it will be about 45 days before I can return. 15 days for the waiting period after court, then they will start her passport and her new birth certificate with her new name and my name listed as her mother. I still can't believe it and I am so happy! There is a new Schultz and a new Mama is born!

When Stella was very, very small.......

Love love this!! Thanks Jane...I have never heard of this...I am going to have to buy the whole series for sure!

I leave tomorrow for my court trip...I still can't believe this is finally happening for me!!

Signs

Stella Sabrina shining!

Sabrina on bonding day 1

I just had to post these pictures...I can talk all day long about how my Stella shines. But when I look at her pictures of the first bonding day back in June...I can hardly believe it's the same child. I met Sabrina and knew immediately that she was "there" but it took me a good day after talking to so many of you...that I needed to give her a chance to shine. She is my Stella and boy does she shine!

If you read my posts from Looking for Sam, you know that I believe in signs and all sorts of kookiness ! In the end I know it is because the big Guy upstairs had these plans for me all along but for me it's entertaining and interesting. Sometimes it is motivating and makes me feel as if I am on the right path. I wonder about all the signs I had for the little guy. What did those mean? Did someone know me so well that they had to use the little guy to get me to Kaz in order for me to meet Stella? Maybe? I am stubborn and I was on course to meet a little boy.

Want to hear my latest signs? Way back, a psychic had told me that the little guy would be called "little sunshine" Stella means "star" which is a little sunshine. When I chose the name for her, I didn't know that. The other day for my blog I chose a song called "shine on", I had never heard it before then...it just seemed to fit for Stella. I was in a Claire's accessory store and while in there I heard "shine on". The tv was in the living room on Friday and the announcer was talking about something and said 'shine on". Last night I was watching a movie, I think the movie with Helen Hunt about tornadoes and on the ending credits they played a different song with the chorus....shine on!!

I can't wait to see Miss Stella, my lucky star, to see what surprises she has in store for me. I don't know if I will get to see her other then after court. WHEN...I get my big YES!!! Praying for a big YES!! I think it depends on the Chief doctor and she is by the book so maybe not. I will be leaving for Kaz on the 11th and arrive there on the 13th, court on the 17th, home on the 18th. I have packed clothes for Stella and things that I think I will need on the last trip. My interpreter has been gracious enough to let me leave things there for the remaining two trips.

I am going the apartment route again...I saved so much money even though it is not the most luxurious way to go. I spent over $4,000 on the first trip, (the trip that didn't count) and a lot of that cost was the $150 a night hotel and the team fee. Ouch! This apartment is only on the 3rd floor but it doesn't have A/C. It looks like it's in the high 80's and 50's and 60's at night so it shouldn't be as bad as that HOT week on my 2nd trip. That was HOT!! Cost per night is about $41 US a night. I can do anything for a week...right??

Wish me luck! Paka for now.......

order in the court!

Just found out I have a court date...it's august 17th!! Yay...but wait.... so much to do!! I am still awaiting my FBI prints as the first set never got back to me and I finally just today got an appointment with USCIS/NBC to update my prints....wonder if everything will get back to me before the 11th...when I am set to leave for Kaz? I wonder what will happen if they don't?? I also had to rearrange my work schedule and have training for work on Saturday. Oh the stress! I am not even thinking about the stress of the court date yet. Just that I have it and that's good enough for me!

Today I started going though clothes that I have recently purchased...that aren't for a boy...for some reason I have gotten all these clothes in size 12 mo....what was I thinking??Stella wears a 6 to 9 month....hmmmm....more shopping in my future.....it is a bitter sweet thing...want to buy clothes for sweet Stella but need to think about paying for my next two trips to Kaz......I have hardly worked since May because of the visa and the two trips........it's that responsibility thing again.......OK, so I discovered Etsy.com...and also the pillow case dresses....I ordered one for $10 and I think that if I can figure out how to make them, then we are all set! Maybe for the summer.

Oh, this song that I picked a few days ago...I had never heard before, it just sounded right for Stella. Today I went into a store and they played that. I wanted to cry in the Claires but somehow I felt they would look at me funny......

Paka for now!

this is weird......

Ok, this is weird...remember my post about the orbs and angels? Well I had my photos from my trip open and was browsing them really big....I get to these shots of the studio apartment in Kaz....look...more orbs! I haven't seen them on any of my other pictures so far....I counted 8 on this photo.....and I think that weird shape is a reflection........
I found about the same number on this photo...........hmmmmmm

Stella crawling... a little

Stella rolling over