Yesterday we got out Travel Approval from China and this morning we got confirmation of our Consulate Appointment date. I didn't get teh earlier one that I reqiested...apparently everyone is gunning for those early appt dates so the earliest one I could get was 10/25...that is the last appt we have in China. It is the part where we swear to love our child and they give us her Visa - then we head home!
So it looks like we will be leaving Atlanta on 10/12..yes that is my sons 2nd birthday...so we are going to "fake it" a few days earlyier for him.
We will officially have Luci on Monday 10/17 and I will be blogging from China and post pics...of course I have to figure out how to do that between now and then and how to skype and upload pics from a camera to an ipad, all kinds of technical crap that I really have no interest in polluting my brain with but apparently they put you in jail if you go to China and don't blog!
Actually I am the one that wakes up in the middle of the night and reads all the blogposts from people over in China. There is no way I could have gotten through this process without all the info I learn from BTDT parents and their blogs. I will pay it forward!
Oh - and those of you who know me...or have read enough of my blog to "know" me...you are going to love this!
The term "Waiting " and Tara do not go well together..and this whole record long wait for TA has about done me in physically and mentally. Well now that I have TA and CA my agency contact tells me to email their travel person to get the ball going...and then she said...."now let me prepare you"
OH SERIOUSLY - what else do I possibly need to be prepared for...
Agency: Umm...Well, your personalities might clash a little.
ME: Why would you say that? Is she bitchy....cause that isn't a problem for me- as we all know.
Agency: NO..just...like... calmer
Me: translate please...
Agency: she can be slow
Me: OK - do I neet to take over this process before I even bother to fool with your person. Anyone that is slow and deals with adoptive parents needs to re-evaluate their career choice. Seriously - do I just need to call a few of the known "go to" people and get this done myself?
I don't want to take on this task but I I did email their person at 1:30 and it is now 2:50 and I have heard nothing...I can tell already that this is going to be an exercize in personal restraint on my part...or I am just going to wig out.
What part of this process is going to run smoothly and easily?? Seriously!
OK - but all in all - good day - we have a date - that what we have been working towards for a solid year!
Stay tuned for more!
Tara
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Monday, September 26, 2011
This just in!
My agency( rockin Kelsey!) just shot me an email...yes, at 11:30 pm...
They have confirmed that my Travel Approval is sitting in the outgoing mail in the cccwa office! Thank you Jesus! My sanity is saved! I mean I am still going to be a wreck until I get over there but just a different wreck...a much better wreck.
A wreck with a time line and travel itenerary!
So, they express mail these things,Usually takes 2 days, it will arrive at my agency via DHL so I am hoping that Thursday we will have it and by Friday we can confirm a consulate appointment.
Then it is on like Donkey Kong people!
They have confirmed that my Travel Approval is sitting in the outgoing mail in the cccwa office! Thank you Jesus! My sanity is saved! I mean I am still going to be a wreck until I get over there but just a different wreck...a much better wreck.
A wreck with a time line and travel itenerary!
So, they express mail these things,Usually takes 2 days, it will arrive at my agency via DHL so I am hoping that Thursday we will have it and by Friday we can confirm a consulate appointment.
Then it is on like Donkey Kong people!
Mental Constipation...
Yep! That is the official diagnosis. I can't take credit for it...but it is definitely accurate! My boss JC and his wife just had kiddo #3 last week and there was definitely some waiting...and waiting...and waiting...
He explained today that when you are in that waiting part you get mental constipation, it is like your brain gets stuck focused on that one thing and you can't divert your attention to anything else. YES!!! That is exactly how I feel!
The wait for travel approval at this point feels like trying to walk through wet cement. My husband likened it to being on "pause" but everything around you is on "play". You can see everything moving and life going on as normal and you are there frozen.
So no...we didn't get TA today...a butt-load of other people did...hell they seem to be passing out TA's in McDonalds these days...except to me.
So I sat in my office today and stuffed my face with donuts while staring at the cute little Asian doll that arrived on my desk. It is for Luci's birthday, whenever we actually get to celebrate it. She is turning 4 Sunday so Ann is putting together a birthday cake and care package for her.
And I am bummed...but in the grand scheme of life...this is minor...I will live, but until then I might be a bit bitchy!
I will post again soon, to either let you know which mental ward I am checking into or when my flight is leaving.
Until then, say prayers for my two favorite angels...Rachel and Joshua. Two little ones that just got home from China and God has to work his magic on their little hearts. Joshua and his mom are in the hospital now and Rachel and her mom are on the way and will be in the room next door in the same hospital.
So do this...stop what you are doing and say a prayer for them ...if you didn't check your child into the hospital today then take a minute to thank God above that it isn't your turn.
Pray your heart out sincerely for these little angels and their families that made the decision to stand with these children and love them through the path they are about to go down, they will come out on the other side but getting there will be tough. They need all of our prayers.
If you would like to follow their journeys and encourage them along the way check out their blogs...and Joshua's mom is hysterical...even during the hard parts...you will love reading their stories.
Joshua www.cheaperbythehalfdozens.blogspot.com
Rachel www.Lori-immeasurablymore.blogspot.com
No, I am not advanced enough to put a fancy link in the blog, just copy the link into the address bar.
He explained today that when you are in that waiting part you get mental constipation, it is like your brain gets stuck focused on that one thing and you can't divert your attention to anything else. YES!!! That is exactly how I feel!
The wait for travel approval at this point feels like trying to walk through wet cement. My husband likened it to being on "pause" but everything around you is on "play". You can see everything moving and life going on as normal and you are there frozen.
So no...we didn't get TA today...a butt-load of other people did...hell they seem to be passing out TA's in McDonalds these days...except to me.
So I sat in my office today and stuffed my face with donuts while staring at the cute little Asian doll that arrived on my desk. It is for Luci's birthday, whenever we actually get to celebrate it. She is turning 4 Sunday so Ann is putting together a birthday cake and care package for her.
And I am bummed...but in the grand scheme of life...this is minor...I will live, but until then I might be a bit bitchy!
I will post again soon, to either let you know which mental ward I am checking into or when my flight is leaving.
Until then, say prayers for my two favorite angels...Rachel and Joshua. Two little ones that just got home from China and God has to work his magic on their little hearts. Joshua and his mom are in the hospital now and Rachel and her mom are on the way and will be in the room next door in the same hospital.
So do this...stop what you are doing and say a prayer for them ...if you didn't check your child into the hospital today then take a minute to thank God above that it isn't your turn.
Pray your heart out sincerely for these little angels and their families that made the decision to stand with these children and love them through the path they are about to go down, they will come out on the other side but getting there will be tough. They need all of our prayers.
If you would like to follow their journeys and encourage them along the way check out their blogs...and Joshua's mom is hysterical...even during the hard parts...you will love reading their stories.
Joshua www.cheaperbythehalfdozens.blogspot.com
Rachel www.Lori-immeasurablymore.blogspot.com
No, I am not advanced enough to put a fancy link in the blog, just copy the link into the address bar.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Sugar Honey Ice Tea!!!!! Seriously!!!
(Yeah - I stole that litle one from Nicole at Bakers Sweets - and it's coming in handy these days!)
See this chart below - it has over two hundred people on it, gradually working their way up as their approvals for each next step come in- and see who is at #1...yeah that is me - FigNewton...So where is my freakin TA!!!
Several people that have 8/30 Art 5 dates (one week later than me!) got their Travel approval last Friday. What is up with that??? The people under me are getting pinked - I am still sitting there all white!
This part of the wait is about to kill me! Daily torture!
I have eaten so many cheese danishes and honey buns - the vending machine is almost empty! My shoulders and neck are pretty much concrete blocks!
The nice side effect of this holding pattern is that my house is super clean and about 90% de cluttered.
Truth be told - I ahve a fantasy of living in a hotel...those Hilton girls have no idea how good they have it!
I feel so good when I am staying in a hotel room - everything you need, nothing extra, everything is clean and the bedding is heavenly! That is my happy place.
I know I can never actually create that in a house where actual people and kids and dogs...and a man happen to reside...but this adoption nesting fit I have been in the last 2 weeks has gotten me dangerously close to my little hotel oasis.
However I know it will be short lived - about 2 minutes after I get on the plane for China and leave my husband and son behind...
Seriously - can you imagine what is going to happen to the house while I am gone - It kind of makes me laugh - cause I know it will be bad! Maybe I shoudl remove all the bedding (substitute sleeping bags), buy a huge stock of paper plates, plastic cups and utensils...what else can I do to prevent the destruction??! Maybe make my husband and son stay in a hotel while I am gone - win/win right!
Luckily my best friend Kristi has already said she would make sure the house is cleaned before we return with Luci...don't want to traumatize the poor thing by arriving home mayhem and destruction.
Oh yeah- Ann in China got the book I sent and added the items below and delivered them to Luci this week.
And...since the timing of our travel kinda sucks I will be getting together a birthday package for Luci since I won't be there with her.
So - I will let everyone know when our TA arrives...until then I will be emptying our office vending machine of all the pastries!
Tara
See this chart below - it has over two hundred people on it, gradually working their way up as their approvals for each next step come in- and see who is at #1...yeah that is me - FigNewton...So where is my freakin TA!!!
Several people that have 8/30 Art 5 dates (one week later than me!) got their Travel approval last Friday. What is up with that??? The people under me are getting pinked - I am still sitting there all white!
This part of the wait is about to kill me! Daily torture!
I have eaten so many cheese danishes and honey buns - the vending machine is almost empty! My shoulders and neck are pretty much concrete blocks!
The nice side effect of this holding pattern is that my house is super clean and about 90% de cluttered.
Truth be told - I ahve a fantasy of living in a hotel...those Hilton girls have no idea how good they have it!
I feel so good when I am staying in a hotel room - everything you need, nothing extra, everything is clean and the bedding is heavenly! That is my happy place.
I know I can never actually create that in a house where actual people and kids and dogs...and a man happen to reside...but this adoption nesting fit I have been in the last 2 weeks has gotten me dangerously close to my little hotel oasis.
However I know it will be short lived - about 2 minutes after I get on the plane for China and leave my husband and son behind...
Seriously - can you imagine what is going to happen to the house while I am gone - It kind of makes me laugh - cause I know it will be bad! Maybe I shoudl remove all the bedding (substitute sleeping bags), buy a huge stock of paper plates, plastic cups and utensils...what else can I do to prevent the destruction??! Maybe make my husband and son stay in a hotel while I am gone - win/win right!
Luckily my best friend Kristi has already said she would make sure the house is cleaned before we return with Luci...don't want to traumatize the poor thing by arriving home mayhem and destruction.
Oh yeah- Ann in China got the book I sent and added the items below and delivered them to Luci this week.
So - I will let everyone know when our TA arrives...until then I will be emptying our office vending machine of all the pastries!
Tara
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