One Week

Seven more days until I go to China. I'm starting to process that information...that and tomorrow is my last day at school. I'm going to miss my student aides. I had great ones this year. I finally was able to book my flight yesterday. That in itself was a bit hectic since I had a short time frame. We're flying on NWA...it should be an adventure. The total time is kinda long but I figure everything happens for a reason. We leave next Thursday and get into Beijing Friday night. Gotcha or Family Day is June 7th. Our Consulate Appointment is June 16th and we come home June 18th, just in time for Father's Day. I am super excited and nervous and still not totally believing this is all happening for real. I am mostly packed and just need a few things. I can't wait until next week.

Still No Concrete Dates

Alas...they, being my agency, still is not quite sure about how long we'll need to be in Nanchang so we haven't bought our tickets. Tomorrow is the big day. I hope there will be plenty of seats available at a decent price. It's nothing I can control so I just have to take a deep breath and let it out. Slowly.

Still Don't Have Concrete Dates

I am going to be leaving for China in 8 or 9 days. I still don't know which day I am leaving and which day I am coming home. I hope to have clarity tomorrow. All I know is that I am going to have my daughter in my arms in 2 weeks! TWO WEEKS from today!

I spent this weekend getting things together including double checking my paperwork. This is my last week at work. I also put together Grace's cool push along buggy and wagon. I was so proud of myself. I'm a regular Bob the Builder.

I hope I have everything that I need for Grace. I'm excited but yet I'm still have the whole waiting for the other shoe to drop...I guess it's knee jerk reaction from the past 3 years.

Trying Posting Via E-Mail

It seems that blogger is not working in China.  I have promised my family and friends updates while I am in China using blogger. So, with that being said, people have said that you can post updates via e-mail, including pictures.  So, I decided I am going to test it out.  Yep, I'm one of those people who likes to know how to do things beforehand so I won't get frustrated.  So, here goes.

 

 

Homestudy Update Check!

My social worker came today and everything went well. I do have the greatest social worker ever. I also got some news from my agency that Jiangxi might extend the amount of time to process a passport (from 5 days to 8 days) so we are waiting for that decision before final arrangements are made. I hope we hear about that soon. Mylast week of work will be next week. I can't believe it. It's almost time and it's so surreal. 14 days, 2 weeks left until I leave.

Did anybody watch American Idol and see Adam singing with Kiss? It was very good. He even had on the moon boots and interesting shirt. This is probably the only episode I have been able to watch all season.

It looks like I'll be traveling

Well, I got confirmation yesterday that I indeed will be going to China the first week in June. Now I am waiting for confirmation of my consulate appointment (they are asking for June 16th). I have so much to do and not a whole heck of a lot of time. Tomorrow my social worker is coming over to do my home study update that I must have so I am busy trying to get my house neater. YIKES!

Thank you Love N Ladybugs & My travel buddy (you know who you are!)

It was one of those days...not enough subs on campus and the chaos that goes with it. I was solo and I didn't have access to my personal e-mail. I would have known that I hadn't received "the e-mail"...the one my travel buddy got that I didn't that said Jiangxi was going to confirm appointments for us. Yippee! Travel the first week in June. I called my travel buddy who rocks and she gave me some hope and optimism. I didn't receive ANY e-mail updates which is weird because I have been getting them this whole week. My stomach is still a little twisted but I have cautious optimism.

But, I got my updates from Love N Ladybugs. They rock too! I'm posting one of the new pictures so you can see my girl. I am so in love with her. I just hope that I am not disappointed and that I really was supposed to get that e-mail. Say a prayer and cross your fingers...if you're Catholic, you can light a candle too!

Trying to be patient and my second shower

Can I just reiterate how great my friends and family are? I also have the greatest faculty and staff. I had my baby shower on Tuesday and I was so overwhelmed by their generosity. My kitchen was filled and it has taken me several days to get everything moved upstairs out of my kitchen. All I can say is Wow! Grace got some cool things. I can't wait until she gets to see them.

Speaking of which, my agency still is not getting any appointments at Jiangxi. It's mighty frustrating since others are still saying they have confirmed appointments there. Why is there a big inconsistency? Why isn't my agency really digging into this? I'm just worried because my paperwork expires in July and my baby girl needs surgery ASAP. I did get some hope in my fortune cookie fortune. It said something along the lines of obstacles will be removed in the upcoming week. Okay, I'm holding onto that.

Game Face

I didn't get the best news today. My agency still can't get appointments for my province. They don't know when they'll get one either. It's so frustrating because there are other agencies who are getting their families appointments with the civil affairs office and my agency can't. I'm super frustrated and upset. I know it's not their fault. I really hope it's not because my agency is in Texas. I guess what worries me most is the uncertainty. Add to that is my daugter has a heart issue that needs surgery when we get home. I don't know exactly how she's doing. The last pictures I saw of her looked like there might be a little blue around her lips. I know she needs to have this surgery done before she's 2 years old. The other thing that complicates matters is that my I-600 paperwork expires July 15th. So, I don't know whether to renew or not because that will tack on at least another 6 to 8 weeks and I don't know want more time to elapse. I want to get Grace home as soon as I can. Tomorrow is my work shower and it's so bittersweet for me because my plans are so much in the air. Yes, I know I'm getting my daughter which is good, it's just the other things that worry me a lot. I know there are people still waiting and I shouldn't be complaining and whining. I know that too. I have a lot to be greatful for. And yes, I know there is probably a reason why the timing is off for me and I know it's in God's time but you know. it still SUCKS! I have had my game face home but when I'm alone I feel pretty helpless and sad. Okay, I'm putting my game face back on.

Happy Mother's Day

I celebrated my first Mother's Day...well without my daughter. I had a great day. I made myself eggs, bacon and biscuits and then I bbq-ed for my family this afternoon. I even made a cake! It was good...the whole meal. My mom asked if I will do this again next year and I told her I would but she would have to entertain Grace. So, what do I want for Mother's Day? That would be that Jiangxi would reopen again and to make it even sweet, pictures of my Grace from Ladybugs N Love...I asked them for another update just to make sure my sweetie was doing okay.

I have another shower on Tuesday at work. I am super excited. It makes it all so real. I have to say how lucky and blessed I am to have the great family and friends that I have. In light of that, Happy Mother's Day to all mothers including those still waiting. I'm still praying for ya'll.

Two steps forward,one step back

I got the call I have been waiting for at 2:15 today. I got TA (travel approval) but it came with a downside. My province, Jiangxi is temporarily suspending adoptions because of the swine flu. That leaves my travel plans up in the air. I am supposed to be getting a daily update and my agency is supposed to be calling them every day. I'm hoping it will begin again next week. However, I just read on RQ that some agencies were getting appointments...maybe my agency isn't because there are so many of us (it's both sn (me) & nsn) going or the fact that my agency is in a state close to Mexico. Who knows? Speculation is not going to really help me. I just have to take a deep breath, relax and say the mantra that Shannon & I say to calm down, "Martina, Josephina Catalina Cucaracha" (it's a title of a Cuban folk tale with both love). I'm still happy...I got my TA. What's one more bump in this journey right? I have been waiting already almost 3 years...one more week...easy schmeezy...yeah right!

No TA Yet

I spoke to my agency today about my TA. There is a package on the way but she's not sure it's in the package (if the package contains TAs)...she she there is a possibility that it is in there since I have been waiting for a month now! Yep, it's a month today! But she also said she's still shooting for May 28th departure date. I can only hold onto that hope.

Hope's A Graduate & Still Waiting

This evening my furry baby Hope graduated from basic obedience class. She did pretty well working on her heel command and stay. She even demonstrated "down" until she got freaked out by the noise of the dumpster. She got a certificate and wore a doggy graduation cap.

I'm still waiting for TA. I was told that it should be coming this week sometime...not sure when. I'm concerned about getting my visa. It was sent off last week by my agency and I haven't heard when I'll be getting that stuff back. I just want to go soon!

I have the best friends & family

Today was my baby shower given to me by my mom, dad, best friend and sister. I had the best time and I have the best friends and family. I'm so overwhelmed by it all and I'm so thankful for everybody for their support during this long wait. I'll post pictures of the shower as soon as I download them onto the computer. Right now I'm off to write my thank you notes and start sorting everything out. I also got to get ready for work tomorrow. I have someting after school every day this week. Hope graduates from obedience class on Tuesday evening. YEA!

Did anybody see The Amazing Race tonight? They were in Beijing. It made me so excited to see the sights I hope to see in a few weeks (I'm praying for my TA this week).

I'm not crazy, REALLY!

Okay...don't laugh but you know how I'm such a believer in signs. So, today while teachers were checking in their testing stuff, I was talking to some teachers who had asked me about my travel (my shower invites went into teachers boxes yesterday or the day before). So, I started explaining about the swine flu (or whatever the initials they are calling it) and how it might affect my travel but my agency has said that it shouldn't affect my TA (they are expecting it next week) and that if I wanted to travel, it's not recommended but they would support me if I wanted to go. I was also telling them of my paperwork dilemma (my I 600A expires July 15th) and my daughter will need medical attention very soon. Anyways, as I was explaining this I looked over at the teacher sitting across from me. I have to add that she was my 8th grade English teacher, so it makes this sign even better. She had on the biggest ladybug earrings that I have ever seen and I have never seen them on her before. I've always told God that if he was going to send me signs to send big huge ones so I would see them (sometimes I am so global that I miss the details). Anyways, I believe the ladybug is a sign that everything is going to go as planned...traveling last week in May or first week in June. All will be well. I really feel by the time we travel, everything will be back to semi-normal. I think there will be less media coverage and less panic. I'm also going to start a novena for all of us waiting for our A's that they won't be interrupted or affected. Yeah, and maybe I'll light a candle too.