Holy Cow! Only 4 days left!

I can't believe that 4 days from now I'll be boarding a large plane for Beijing. We did some research on the plane itself. Ick. It won't be the most comfortable ride in the world, unless someone wants to donate $10,000 or more for us to get first-class tickets? ;)

I just spent the last hour making many copies of all our documents. We're to bring 3 copies of each with us (... just in case!) And then we have to leave a few other copies at home... again, just in case! I think I blew through another ink cartridge! LOL

Last night I spent the evening with some great friends of mine... our "dinner group girls". There are four couples that meet every-other-month to enjoy a dinner together, sometimes at home... sometimes out at a restaurant. The gals all went out last night to celebrate Becky's 12th 29th birthday. :-) We were pampered with pedicures while we drank champagne and ate chocolate-covered strawberries. Ooooohhhh! It was heaven. I'd never had a pedicure before... and man that massage was amazing. Happy Birthday Becky!!!

We came to a decision last night to not bring our brand-new laptop with us. Apparently there are some security concerns with the Olympics and what-not that we decided it was a risk we'd rather not take. So.... our dreams of Skype and Internet/camera phoning home won't come true. We do have a cell phone in China, though. We'll pick it up in Beijing and return it before leaving Guangzhou. If you want our number, please email me... I'll let you know. It isn't cheap (59 cents/minute), but much better than the rates we'd pay with our own phones!

As for the blog, we'll hopefully have access to the hotel business centers such that we can type short sweet messages each day. Unfortunately that probably means no photo posting until we come home. Sorry! I do plan to check email as often as possible, too... but again, we are charged by the minute, so I can't just bum around for long periods of time.

Since we were hoping to use the laptop for movies on our flight, we decided to go get personal DVD players last night. That's something we can use in the future anyway. According to a site we found, our seats do not have individual TVs on the flight. Oh what fun. Can anyone say Benadryl and Advil PM? We got our seat reservations. We're all in a row, in the middle of the plane... no window seats. Does anyone know the route of the plane anyway? I'm curious what parts of the earth we'll be traveling over. Europe? Pacific? Over the top? :-)

This Sunday we picked up bunkbeds from a family at our church, the Schnabels. They'll be traveling soon to get their two daughters from Ethiopia...check out their blog using the link to the left (Growing in Faith and Family). I just learned they are naming their oldest Grace, too. What a popular name these days... but how appropriate. It means "God's Blessing". The boys, by the way, are absolutely loving their new beds. Fortunately for our sake, Tommy can't figure out how to climb up to the top. Whew! Nana may have been making an ER visit if Tommy was able to venture up there often. :-)

So now we have bed space for 4 visitors at a time. Who's coming to visit?

Everything is Falling Into Place

Thank you to those offering rides, but I think we've figured it out for now. We'll just drive the little car to the airport, and rely on Mike's dad to help us all get home. :-)

Remember that last piece of paper that we needed from the CIS, the current I-171H? Our agency assured us we had other papers to satisfy the requirement, but it still hung over our heads. Well, it arrived in yesterday's mail. Halleluia! We're all set now! We also received in the mail from CWA our daughter's referral files (medical papers, etc) in Chinese. We had only ever received the translated English version. I guess we need to take the Chinese version with us to China. What a surprise... another color photo of baby Gracelynn (couple months old!)

The last few months I've been suffering from plantar fasciitis (inflamed tissues across bottom of my foot). I've had it numerous times in the past thanks to my three pregnancies, but thought I'd self-treat it this time. To no avail. After many weeks of increasing pain, I finally went to the doctor and now to a physical therapist. Ugh. It's still hurting. I can walk, but I limp and go slow. I keep thinking... "Finally I'll get to the Great Wall, and will limp the whole way up!" I pity those in my party already. Please say a prayer for me. I go to the PT in an hour for another stretching/therapy session. Ugh. So far, no help. I have 10 days to cure this. My PT recommended alternating my favorite sandals with shoes that support my toes. I love my sandals (high arch support!), but finally caved and went out yesterday to buy some good shoes (Ecco performance X-treme Janes). They better work after what I paid even at the outlet mall. I now own apple green/tan shoes... never thought I'd choose that color! LOL I can wear my custom orthotics with these shoes, and I must admit, so far today has gone a little better. Still very sore, but better. Grace will know me as that woman who walks funny and wears a goofy huge splint at nights.

We received our itinerary for in China. Here it is:
May 3: Fly from Dulles to Beijing
May 4: Arrive in Beijing; collapse in hotel room (Wu Fu Jing Grand Hotel)
May 5: Sightsee... Great Wall of China and Forbidden City
May 6: Fly to Guangdong Provine, meet and pick up Gracelynn, stay at White Swan Hotel in Guangzhou (Gotcha Day)
May 7: Registration and Notarization (official adoption)
May 8: Applying for passport and shopping (woo hoo!!!)
May 9: Visit the Six Banyan Temple and the Walking Street
May 10: Sightseeing, visit the Temple of Family Chen
May 11: Free Time (visit orphanage???)
May 12: Getting passport
May 13: Physical test and photo taking (for visa)
May 14: Applying for the visa
May 15: Getting visa
Sightseeing: Liu Hua Lake Garden
May 16: Leave Guangzhou for Hong Kong, Flight from Hong Kong to LA to Dulles


My understanding is that we will hopefully have Internet access throughout most of our trip, since we are only in Beijing and Guangzhou. However, I may not be able to access Blogspot to see the pages (Chinese censorship?). I should, despite unusual problems, be able to still post things on Blogspot. Unfortunately I may not be able to read responses. Please still leave comments! Those of you lurking, please chime in from time to time. I have no idea who is really reading... I'd love to hear from you (even if I can't read responses until our return). I'd love to print out the blog at some point with comments so that we have a record for Gracelynn of our trip.

Rides? Ugh

Things are moving along well. We do have a minor dilemma. We have no transportation to the airport! My mom will be in town, but she's taking two kids to soccer games that morning. Plus our 3 kids, her, and the 3 of us traveling would not fit in our minivan. Our original plan was to drop off the car at the airport parking, fitted with Gracelynn's seat, and we'd just drive ourselves to and from. However, the only available car to drop off for 2 weeks is a little Nissan Sentra. The four people would barely fit in it... let alone with 4 huge suitcases and 4 carry-ons! We could take my parents' car to the airport, but my mom needs it a week later to drive home to PA. So, we're stumped. I know upon our return we can hopefully get Mike's dad to come pick us all up, using our minivan... but I don't know about getting there. Anyone available to drive us on Saturday morning around 8 or so? Ugh. This just makes us more aware of how much we'll need another big car someday... especially for when the van is in the shop! We could squeeze 3 in the backseat of the Sentra when necessary... can't do it with 4 kids!

I suppose in a last-ditch move, we could call a cab. Can't imagine those rates though for a 40 minute drive. Anyone have any suggestions?

I recently joined our agency forum site. How awesome! I'm so bummed that I'm just now finding it. These people have a wealth of information in packing, in-China tips, etc. I guess I'll be doing a ton of reading soon.

Last week, I had the pleasure of meeting up with my friend's mom... the one who is doing our little girl's quilt. Can you say... "adorable!"? The quilt is so precious so far. The top sheet is finished. She just needs to complete a border edge, attach the backing and quilt it all. I was nearly in tears just looking at all the special fabrics: my favorite pajama bottoms, Mike's Redskin shorts, shirts from Reagan's friends, feedsack from the family farm, Grove City College material from my roommate, a lovingly cross-stitched panda bear, two appliqued figures from Mike's 95 year old great aunt, and so many more I can't possibly mention them all. Thanks again to everyone who participated. I'll be sure to post photos when it's complete. Thanks also to the wonderful ladies of Roanoke who spent hours upon hours working on this project. We are forever grateful.

13 Days to go...

What a crazy month ahead of us, eh? Thirteen days till travel. I am going loco trying to remember what to do, what to pack, what to remember while we're in China, what to have ready for the house for when we leave, etc. Sometimes I think life would be much easier if we were bringing the three kids with us... and then sanity comes back and tells me it's much, much simpler to travel as just adults. Our gracious and wonderful parents (Christy's mom Pat and Mike's parents Sylvia and Dave) are watching Ben, Reagan and Tommy while we are gone. They'll help to keep life routine and as normal as can be for the kids. But, I think I am writing a full book on life here. Morning and Bedtime routines, sports schedules, school schedules, foods the kids like, which neighbors to call, teachers' names, how to work the new washer/dryer, how to use our computer, how to switch the TV from cable to DVD, how to operate the Wii, how to make Tommy follow directions, where the "extras" are stored, etc., etc. I think my final book will be long enough to publish. Doubt there would be any buyers, though.

An adoptive friend from church just called to tell me that had we been traveling two days earlier, we each could've saved $600 on flights! Geesh. That could've given us the money to pay for hotel rooms in Beijing to sightsee some more. Oh well. With Dad's and Mike's work schedules, we couldn't have really afforded to go for 2 extra days. Bummer. Guess we'll just squeeze in all of our sightseeing in one long, long day. :-)

I read about other adoptions daily it seems. Trying to soak in everything I can about what to expect (or what could POSSIBLY be expected). Every adoption, every child is different. A recent blog had me in tears. Despite the daughter's grieving process and dislike for her new mom, she eventually adapted well and is a spunky little girl 2 months later. It really made me think though about what will be going through Gracelynn's head soon. Poor thing will be dropped off with 3 English-speaking strangers who take her shopping, back to a hotel, visiting doctors, etc. All of which will be entirely new and strange to her. At some point, whether it's instantaneously or a week later, she'll realize all of the things she's leaving behind. Her orphanage, her caretakers, her friends, her routines, her responsibilities, eventually her language (especially since it's probably Cantonese or maybe even Hakka, which we don't know at all!)... essentially life as she knows it. It's a process she'll have to go through, but I know it will kill us to watch her grieve. Please be saying prayers for little Gracelynn. Her world is about to go topsy-turvy. It breaks my heart to know this too. I know deep-down that we can offer her a much better future here with us than she would receive in her Chinese orphanage, but I can't deny I'll be crushed to see her grieve.

I need to go back through these travel blogs and make notes on which shops to visit, what to buy, etc. I think we'll be paying big bucks for our overweight luggage! 44 pounds. Geesh. I weighed our medicine/toiletry/makeup bags the over day. Those alone weigh 8 pounds. That's without suitcase weight or clothes. I think we may have decided to just forget the concern and take what we think we'll need or want. I've learned of other families that bring extra bags simply full of supplies for orphanages. Maybe we'll do that. Pack a third suitcase with the toys for Grace, including things for the orphanage. When we return, that empty space will be filled with souvenirs instead! So many things are running through my mind regarding papers and legal stuff... it's so hard to believe that in one month, it'll all be history and we'll be starting anew with our larger 6-person family.

Long Wait for China

Our agency caseworker sends a weekly message. This week the tone was not uplifting for those who are still in the Non-special-needs referral list. The CCAA continues to only cover a week or so worth of dossiers (logged-in dates) each month. So, you do the math. Currently the wait is 27 months, and it's only expected to get longer with time. Had we continued the regular route, we may not have traveled till 2009 or 2010 or even longer?

God works miracles though. Not only will we have Grace in our arms in 3 weeks, but she is just perfect for our family.

We received our Travel Approval Letter in the mail yesterday. The "Notice of Travelling to China for Adoption" to be exact. Our agency forwarded it on to us. How neat, too! There is a very early photo of Gracelynn on the bottom. One we had never seen before. Our guess is that this photo was taken of her after she was found in February 2005. Still those pouty little lips... definitely her. :-)

"In accordance with the Adoption Law of the People's Republic of China and the Convention on Protection of Children and Cooperation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption, we agreed that the child, "Gracelynn", who is in the care of.....be placed with you for adoption. Please travel in person with this notice to the adoption registry office within the Civil Affairs Department of .... Province in China to proceed the registration formalities."

We officially have 3 months to get her. It was issued March 21, 2008... I think we'll make it. :0)

19 Days and Counting...

Well, we have our flights booked! We're heading from Dulles nonstop to Beijing on May 3. We'll return via LA on May 16. All three of us have our tickets booked (and Grace, too, on the return trip). Now, we're awaiting the final in-China itinerary. Our agency girl in China, Jane, is working on the details. She's also inquiring to the SWI on new updated information about Gracelynn. Not sure if we'll get more photos or measurements, but here's hoping. We'll be picking up Gracelynn on May 6 (Tuesday), and finishing the adoption paperwork on May 7. We'll be in Beijing for about a day and a half before we pick up Gracelynn.

If anyone has Skype loaded on their computer, let us know if you want to chat. We now have our computer cameras all set up and ready to chat via the Internet with our family back home. Here's hoping everything goes well with that! How cool it would be to see our kids back home while we have Grace with us.

On a slightly different note, we had a happy day yesterday. Reagan was baptized at our church! Mommy got to stand at the stairs and dry off a shivering little girl, but she was so happy. Here's a picture of her, coming up the steps out of the baptistry. She was great, speaking in front of everyone so well and excitedly. It was a joyous day! Two families in our home group were even there to watch, so she had an audience.

The Latest

I'm so sorry to have taken so long to post again. I guess in my mind I'm still waiting, so I forget to let others know. Last week we were asked to not buy tickets yet... they were still working on dates. My agency case worker said to wait till Monday. Today, we were told we could "reserve" our tickets, but not purchase them yet. May 3/May 16. My understanding is that we are probably leaving the US on May 3 and leaving Guangzhou on May 16. They are trying to bump that up a day or two, but it's probably unlikely. But we're happy with that. The timing still works great with everyone's schedule. In fact, Mike and my dad could potentially still work an extra day too, since that means leaving on a Saturday.

So, we told the travel agency our plans, and what CWA said. They said that they'll arrange the flights once we get the final word. So... no "reservation" per se... but CWA says we'll know for sure by tomorrow morning. I'm also hoping to stay at the White Swan. That's the big "adoption family" hotel in Guangzhou. We'll find that out soon, too.

Today I spent much of the day talking with a China-adoptive mom from our church on the phone and emailing with the orphanage Yahoo group. I found all sorts of great advice of what to take (meds, simple toys, $$) and what not to take (too many clothes, a stroller, etc.) It's been a fun day. T-minus 26 days and counting? We'll see.....

Always Something...

Today I spent the day worried over a paper that has not yet arrived. We're awaiting our new revised I-171H form that will state our new updated fingerprinting date. We were under the impression that this form was necessary for us to make travel arrangements and fly to China. Our fingerprints were done... we were simply awaiting the new form. I emailed our agency caseworker, our homestudy provider, and the USCIS person in charge of our file... after also phoning USCIS information line. We were getting nowhere and were basically told that we would have to just wait. (And possibly postpone our trip.) We were getting to the point where we'd call on our congressman, but alas... our agency caseworker emailed later in the day to say that we were fine! We didn't need the form... just the current form (with outdated fingerprint date) and the receipt that we did indeed get our new fingerprints! WHEW!

In the meantime, I learned that the Olympic torch will be passing through Guangzhou 2 days after we adopt Gracelynn! (Assuming that our dates still hold true.) How cool would that be? It will also be passing through the same town where Grace's orphanage is. It's possible that we'd be near the orphanage at that time. We'll have to see how things progress and if seeing the torch is possible.

One month till we leave? Perhaps! We'll keep you posted.

Say a Quick Prayer

Despite how wonderful the dates and timing have worked out, we still have one little hurdle to jump. Remember our frustration over not knowing whether or not to send a motion to USCIS regarding our I-171H (to state "special needs" child)? Well, it did get sent... and about a week later, we learned it wasn't necessary. Ugh. So, last week we sent a letter to USCIS explaining that we were given incorrect advice to go forth with the motion to change our I-171H. Our current I-171H simply states "one child", so we should be okay with the way it is written. I am doubtful that we'll receive our money back (over $500), but I'm hoping that the motion will be canceled and will not prevent our new I-171H being sent to us.

Our fingerprints expire on April 22. So, on March 20, we had our fingerprints retaken. Once those are processed, we should received a new, updated I-171H with a new fingerprint expiration. The I-171H itself doesn't expire till September. We simply need the new form that states a non-expired fingerprinting date. It hasn't arrived. We cannot travel until it does arrive. Now, usually it should arrive in about 3-4 weeks after fingerprinting. So, we SHOULD be fine. I'm just a little worried that the motion we filed will somehow screw things up. I've also been advised by other adoptive parents NOT to mess around and call and try to expedite things with the USCIS... usually that causes more delays. So I guess we wait and hope we'll receive it soon. Say a little prayer for us....