OUR GRADUATE

We're so incredibly proud of our girl! Congratulations, H. We love you.

SOME PICTURES

I finally got around to downloading the software for my camera on my laptop. I thought I'd post a few photos that I never did post, but wish I had. Here is a my son holding the last two links of the Ava chain after we realized that March 8th had made it in the batch!!

The last two links that represent March 7th and 8th will be linked together forever. They were placed in Ava's keepsake box.

Here is a photo my husband & I. We sent this photo to China for Ava for her photo book.

Here is our oldest son, "G"

Here is our oldest daughter, "H"

Here is our youngest SON, "I".........I'm so used to just saying our youngest!! Not anymore!!

TICKETS ARE BOOKED!!

Good news!!!.....We were FINALLY able to book our tickets today! We were also told that we will be arriving home on June 18th....We won't be needing to stay the extra time in Jiangxi!! AND we will be getting Ava on June 7th....NOT June 8th!!! AND I got an incredible deal on flights from Delight*Travel. I have been all over the place looking at prices of flights and I haven't seen a price that low anywhere ($837 a person)! Give Wyman a call and tell him Luna sent you. ;) It's actually starting to feel like we really are going!! We're leaving for China in 8 days!!!!

WE'RE LEAVING IN 9 DAYS......

We still don't have tickets, but as far as I know (only added that because I'm paranoid).....We will be leaving for China next Thursday. I started looking at flights that were available and the costs involved and determined that it's quite a bit more money if we left on Friday. We decided that we will go to Beijing now and we will leave on Thursday instead.

Our flights still aren't able to be booked until tomorrow. Our agency is still not able to get confirmation that we need to stay in the province the extra days to do the paperwork for the passports. They said we WILL make our flight reservations on Wednesday. They will no doubt plan for us to stay the extended time and we will change it later if necessary. All I know is my husband is back to work on June 22. I pray to God he has a little time home before he is thrown into his 13 hour work day on that Monday.

This is a crazy week to say the least. First, we're planning a B-day party for my son on Saturday. Why the hell don't people RSVP? Seriously. I only know of 2 kids that are for sure going to be there and one of them told my son at school. This is such a bad time of year with so many people going to open houses to have a B-day party. We also have my daughter's graduation on Sunday. I've got major stress at work. We have a virus that is messing with our software program at the office and I just want to go on the record and say that I HATE insurance companies and all they require from you. Nuff said.

Did I mention that I'm leaving for China in 9 days???!!! :)

TATE DAY!!

Another family together at last!! Congratulations, Lisa!

EMERSON DAY!

Dreams REALLY do come true! Congratulations, T & J.

15 MONTHS OLD TODAY

Another month older....How we hoped that we would have you with us by now. We love you, baby girl. We're counting down the days until we can get to you.

WHILE WE WAIT

I was really hoping we would be able to make some definite travel plans today, but no such luck. My agency said that they're still waiting to hear whether the province needs us to stay the extra days to do Ava's passport or not. If they don't get an answer by Tuesday.....They will have us book our return date to assume we're required to stay the 3 extra days in the province. They claim we can always change it, if needed. I'm sure we can ($$). At this point, I just want to book my tickets. If all goes as planned.....We will leave exactly two weeks from today.

I swear for the last couple weeks, I wake up every morning and the first thing I do is check to see if any other cases of the flu have been reported in China. I'm so scared that something will happen before we travel and they won't let us go. I will be so glad when this stress is behind me. I just want my girl home. I read on a couple of blogs yesterday where families had plane tickets and had to cancel....The province decided they aren't allowed to come right now. They weren't in Jiangxi, but I'm telling you....I'm going to be worried we will be cancelled right up to the very end.

In spite of the flu scare.....There ARE families traveling right now and there happens to be one very special family that just recently arrived in China. When I went to T's blog today and I saw a photo of T & J standing in CHINA......It just REALLY hit me! This IS really happening....THIS IS REALLY REAL! It will be 4 years in August that we started our paperwork.....It's ALWAYS been so far away. To see someone that I've known from almost the beginning....Someone that was logged in just one day before me....Someone who I've emailed a million times in the last 3 years and there were many of days that we both doubted we would ever see a baby in the end.....Someone who has made me laugh all the way through this process......Standing. In. CHINA. What a feeling it was! You can check out their blog here. I can't wait until they get their beautiful Emerson in a couple days. I'm going to be a crying mess. Be sure you check out their blog....You will be glad you did.

We're looking forward to a relaxing 3 day weekend around here. We plan on celebrating H's graduation/I's 9th B-day tomorrow at Olive*Garden with my Mom. Our soon to be 9 year old is having a kids party next Saturday with friends and H's graduation ceremony is next Sunday. Next weekend is going to be a busy one....AND the weekend after that we will be in China. Ohhhh, I soooo hope were in China. Fingers crossed to the very end.

AT LEAST I KNOW WHEN I'M LEAVING

I called my agency this morning.....Anyone that knows me, knows I like a heads-up even before the official word is sent out. ;) I was told that I need to leave on Friday, June 5th and be in province by Saturday, June 6th!! We will get the babies on Monday, June 8th.....Unless they surprise us and give them to us a day early!! The only thing that still needs to be worked out is our return date. The province might make us stay 3 extra days to do the passports. They will let us know in a couple days and we can FINALLY book our flights. She told me our departure date WILL NOT change. I pray to God she is right!!!

STILL WAITING.....

I haven't heard anything since Friday from my agency. I'm sure they're just busy busy busy preparing everything for us to travel *roll eyes*.....I called today, but never received a call back. I'm going to make sure I speak to someone tomorrow. This is getting old.

I *THINK* I'M GOING TO CHINA!!

I received an email from my agency this morning. The Civil Affairs in Jiangxi has agreed to confirm appointments for my travel group!! *INSERT SCREAM!!* They have suggested we travel on June 4th. *INSERT SCREAM!!* Our agency also suggested that we purchase flight insurance in case the swine flu gets worse and our dates would have to be cancelled. They're requesting our Consulate appointments today and we should hopefully have everything confirmed next week. What a relief *insert HUGE sigh* My oldest daughter graduates from High School on May 31. My youngest son turns 9 on June 3. Leaving June 4th would be perfect. Just. Perfect.

I started crying tears of joy when I read the email this morning (everyone in my office was crying!). I have been so down in the dumps this last week watching so many people making travel plans and here I sat with no idea when we will ever travel. I'm also crying tears of sadness today, because I want SO VERY MUCH that my LID twin gets her TA so she can travel with our group. M has had to jump through extra hoops because her paperwork had expired and she was forced into the Hague process. In this past week I know exactly how she felt watching her group get excited about upcoming travel.....Only to be held back. If you could send some positive vibes her way....I would appreciate it. I started this journey with her and I don't want to end it without her. It was the ONLY thing I could come up with with our travel delayed....Maybe, she could catch up. I'm praying like crazy that it happens. I'm also praying like crazy that referrals arrive again soon for all those waiting families. This wait has been pure torture as it is.....This damn flu bug needs to take a hike already!! This adoption community needs to start hearing some good news for a change.

TAKING A BREAK

Our agency isn't anticipating getting our Civil Affairs appointment until sometime in late June (maybe). I'll be back when I have some good news to share.

?

I have no idea what's going on with our Civil Affairs appointment. I have no idea if China has stopped issuing Visas. The only thing I do know is that I'm about at the breaking point. Right now, I believe our agency might be the ONLY agency that can't confirm Civil Affairs appointments. Is it possible that it's because of where they're located (more swine flu cases in that state)? I have been all around the Internet and can't find anywhere that says that China is going to stop issuing Visas to those in the USA, Spain, Canada and Mexico. I'm really hoping for a better day tomorrow. I can't even tell you how hard this is watching everyone else getting their appointments and airline tickets and we're sitting here STILL waiting. The whole thing is just wrong and quite frankly, I'm sick of it.

AND IT ONLY GETS WORSE

This was just posted in the forum on RQ (I copied it and pasted it here):


this was posted on our company intranet a short time ago. The company is a large international company so they should have the correct information. I am not sure from where it is though."The Chinese visa application centre have advised that due to recent events regarding the swine flu outbreak, the Chinese Embassy have suspended issuing visas to travellers holding passports with entry or exit stamps (dated anytime from the 20th April and onwards) from the following countries: Mexico, Spain, USA and Canada. This is irrespective of nationality. This change is with immediate effect and applies to both new applicants and any travellers holding existing valid Chinese visas. The Chinese authorities have also advised that there is a strong possibility that travellers arriving in China by flight, on a previously issued visa, may be refused entry by Immigration officials, if their passport shows any evidence of recent travel to any of the above countries. This information is yet to be updated on the Chinese Embassy?s website. Further updates will be posted here when they are received."

ONE STEP FORWARD....TWO STEPS BACK

One step forward and two steps back or is it two steps forward and one step back? I don't really think it matters right now, but I'll tell you why it's the title of my post for today. We received our TA today (Yipee!!) AND we even got our Visa's (Yipee!!) and we ALSO received notice from our agency that the Province that Ava is from (Jiangxi) is NOT taking Civil Affairs appointments right now because of the Swine Flu. That means travel is a no go until the Province decides we can go. Remember in the CCAA announcement regarding the Swine Flu....The following was mentioned:

Adoptive families are advised to follow the arrangement of local registration authorities and cooperate during the entrustment of child for the harmony period and the adoption registration process.

My agency said that the Province is reading that and saying that THEY get to decide when we can travel. From what my agency said this is not just our Province.....It's a whole bunch of them. We have our TA, our Visa's, they can book our Consulate appointment, but they can't confirm the Civil Affairs appointment in Province. Sadly, you need to be able to do that to complete your adoption. I'm hoping this is resolved soon. I'm more than ready to bring my daughter home.

WHERE OH WHERE IS MY TA???

I thought it would be here on Monday....Then, I thought it would be here today. Now, I'm thinking next week. I know there is still Thursday and Friday, but I'm not feeling anything showing up then. It's alright if you're not following my logic.....It's even a bit confusing to me at times. ;)

At least some NSN TA's have arrived this week. That's GREAT news!!!....It means they're not holding them because of the flu. My TA will come....I just want to know WHEN!!!!!!! As soon as it arrives....I'll let you all know.

A LITTLE UPDATE

I was hoping that I'd be able announce yesterday that we received our TA (travel approval), but no such luck. I heard a couple reports that more might be on the way.....Hoping by Wednesday ours arrives.

My son started feeling better about an hour or so after he threw up yesterday. He is going to have to wait until Wednesday to return to school, because of the new rules they have put in place because of the Swine Flu. Poor little guy really wants to go to school today, but it looks like he and I have a day home. =) My husband is feeling a little better today too. Like everyone said....We need to get sick NOW and then be healthy for China.

I watched my package arrive by FedEx yesterday to the National Visa Center. I gave them a couple hours and called them hoping my approval was put in their system. I guess they don't work that fast. I know, it shocked me too. ;) Anyway, they told me to call back later this week. I do have the name of the person that signed for it.....Just in case they can't locate it. From what I have heard, they're now sending them to the Consulate by electronic scan. I'm hoping by the time my TA is here.....My paperwork will be where it's supposed to be. Wouldn't that be nice.....

So, another day at home stalking Rumor Queen for me......Hoping to see some more TA's roll in. I'm glad to see the Swine Flu reports seems to be less and less the last couple of days. I'm hoping that by the time we travel, if they're still talking about it.....It's just a little blurb on the last page of the paper. It's stressful enough getting ready to travel....Without the fear of being quarantined looming over you.

HOW THE MORNING STARTED OUT

(My husband and I are sound asleep in our bed.....Dreaming of China.......Our 8 year old son enters our room)

"Mommy, I just threw up."

(BTW, my husband started a cough, sore throat and runny nose yesterday afternoon)

ANOTHER GOOD DAY

I JUST received a call from the Congressman's office that our local USCIS is sending my approval by FedEx on Monday to the National Visa Center!! They even gave me the tracking number!! I told them they have NO IDEA how happy they just made me! Finally, everything is falling into place. I'm not even going to worry about the news that they just quarantined 300 guests at a hotel in Hong Kong because ONE guest tested positive for the Swine Flu. Not even going to worry about that.....I'm going to China!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!