5 Days And Counting

Five more days till we leave for China. As many people who have traveled this road before us have said, after over four years of waiting, it's absolutely surreal that we are truly on our way in only several more days. Add to that, the fact that in eight more days our daughter will be in our arms, well, I have no words, only lot's of emotion.
Friday was my last day of work before I began my family leave. I will miss my work colleagues, especially by partner Karen. She texted me yesterday to see if it has sunk in yet, and honestly it hasn't. It still feels like the weekend to me and that I have to get up early tomorrow for work (even thought tomorrow is Labor Day!). John says it will probably sink in once we're in China. We'll see. I've been working straight with small (week) vacations since I graduated nursing school (I'm not telling how long ago that was ;-) ). I've only taken a two week vacation only twice that I can remember, one was many years ago, and the other was when John and I got married almost seven years ago. Our anniversary is in October, and John knows exactly the day too!! (inside joke that I'll have to explain another time :-)).
So, travel preparations are iin full swing. I'm on my own for two more days. John has to work today and yes tomorrow Labor Day. But then he'll be done too and can join me in the bigger home preparations that we want to do before we leave. I've been busy preparing the lists, packing, reassessing the lists, shopping, then starting over and over again. I think we've got just about everything packed, or gathered to pack, all except our clothes. Yup, suitcases are almost filled and we haven't packed our clothes. Good thing we're not taking an entire wardrobe, we'd never make it with the 44 pound weight limit (China).
I've also been busy getting Renee's room ready. I didn't realize how much we'd accumulated over the last four years. Finding a place for everything has been a challenge.
Oh, I almost forgot, my work colleagues surprised me with a baby shower on Wednesday, and yes Karen I was truly surprised, you and Alison totally pulled it off, I had no idea. It was wonderful, work colleagues from all over the hospital came to wish me well. I truly appreciate it.
Needless to say I have alot of photos to post. I will make it a point to post them before we go.
This week I'll also be making sure that my sister and my nephew know how to post on blogger, should I run into any problems while in China.
We also want to make sure that we are skype ready. Hoping to show off Renee on the webcam while in China!!!
Hope everyone has a happy and safe Labor Day!!!

Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
but when dreams come true,
there is life and joy.
Proverbs 13:12

Behold, children are a gift of the Lord.
Psalm 127:3a

Our "Semi" Surprise Baby Shower

My sister and family "semi" surprised John and I with a baby shower yesterday!! "Semi" has to do with the fact that I knew that it was going to happen, and assisted my sister in choosing the date.  With the uncertainties of timing in regards to travel approvals and consulate appointments, my sister wanted to make sure that once the arrangements were made, that John and I would actually be in the country to enjoy the party!!

 

What I didn't know was where and specifically what time.  John was in on the "where" as of Saturday night, so although he put on a good show yesterday afternoon, making believe that "maybe it really wasn't today", ha ha, he was actually the one who drove me to the party!!

 

What a wonderful time we had!! Spending time with family and friends and celebrating our daughter's imminent arrival. 

 

Lot's more pictures to come!!!!

Oh My Goodness!! I've Got So Much To Do!!!!

No pictures with this blog post!! I'd be too embarassed for anyone to see my home at the moment.  I think that "nesting" has completely taken hold! Aside from cleaning, purging, sorting and organizing, I'm also gathering everything we need for our trip.  The old adage "it's going to look alot worse before it looks better" comes to mind right now.  I have one more week of work, then I will be in prep mode full time!

This week was filled with celebrations, first Wednesday with nursing colleagues of mine who treated me to a wonderful delicious dinner at Ciao Babys and showered me with beautiful gifts.  Last night my FCC friends took me to Gino's in Islip and again, delicious food, awesome friendship and more gifts!! I feel so blessed!!!!

We're Leaving On a Jet Plane!!!

Received a phone call yesterday from our travel counsellor.  We have flights booked!!

We are leaving on Friday September 11th and will get into Beijing about 2pm on Saturday the 12th.

I am assuming that we will probably do some sight seeing on Sunday the 13th, as we are due to fly out Sunday night

to Nanning.  I am also assuming that we will finally meet our daughter, woo hoo, on Monday, September 14th.

I don't know the exact date we travel to Guangzhou, but I do know that our consulate appointment is Wednesday,

September 23rd and that we head back home on Friday, September 25th.

We're still waiting on our official day day to day itinerary which we should receive sometime this week.

 

Testing, Testing 123

Testing out the email capabilities of blogger.

 

Woo Hoo it worked!!! I was able to post the above by sending an email. Hope that means that I'll be able to email posts while in China, should we run into any blogger issues.

So...what's the picture above?? The bed in our back bedroom. Now covered with things that will ultimately be packed and brought to China with us. I'm still working on packing lists, and organizing exactly what's coming with us and where it will be packed among 3 suitcases (2 checked and one carry on) as well as one back pack (John will carry) and one diaper bag (guess who'll carry that :-)?)

We Have Travel Approval!!!!!!

Our agency let us know this morning that our travel approvals came in yesterday!!!
They have requested and already confirmed the provincial part of our trip, and have requested our appointments with the American Consulate. Depending upon the date of our consulate appointment, it looks like we'll be traveling sometime around September 10th. We should know more, including our tentative travel itinerary by early next week!! We're leaving for China in less than 3 weeks. We're gonna meet our daughter in less than 3 weeks. Yipppeeeee!!!
I'm ready to celebrate!!!
The heck with booze, bring on the chocolate LOL!!!

Care Package and Updates

Thanks to Anne with Red Thread China who sent the wonderful care package above to Renee Mei and her nannies. I was able to send a soft, stuffed bear to Renee, candy, chocolate and tea to her nannies as well as a letter from John and I. We sent a box camera as well. It will be thrilling to see the pictures Renee's nannies take of her. In regards to updated info, here is what Anne was able to find out:

Height: 68 cm (26.8 inches or 2 ft 2.8 in)
Weight: 8.5 kg (18.7 pounds) Wow!!
Head Circumference: 42.5 cm (16.7 inches)
Foot: 10 cm (3.9 inches)
Chest Circumference: 48 cm (18.9 inches)
Teeth: 2

Renee has 2 teeth, woo hoo!!!! Cheerios and fruit puffs will on their way my sweet little girl!!!
Unfortunately updated pictures were not available, but that's ok, John and I are looking forward to something even better than pictures. Soon we'll be able to see and hold Renee in person!! Nothing better than that!!!!
Still waiting on travel approval, should arrive any time now.

Guiping

When I first announced our daughter's referral, I noted that she was from the Pinyang Social Welfare Institute (SWI) in Guangxi Province, China. When we received her information from our agency, it clearly said Guiping SWI, not Pinyang. On questioning, Renee Mei is from Guiping and has been at the Guiping SWI since she was found.
In searching the web, I came across the picture above, of her SWI. This is where my baby girl is living now. She may not be aware of it now, but she'll be leaving this place in just a few short weeks, to begin her new life with John and I in the United States. Soon she'll be a "Long Island" girl.

We received our Visa's this week!!! How exciting it is to see the stamp in our passports! Now we continue to wait for travel approval, our American consulate appointment and ultimately our travel itinerary.

Renee, mommy and daddy are coming as soon as we can.
We love you so much already and can't wait till you are in our arms forever!!!!

Happy Birthday To Me!!

With all the excitement of the last week, I almost forgot it was my birthday two days ago!!
You have to admit that I received the ultimate birthday present last week, so anything after that was whipped cream and cherry on my birthday sundae!! It was a quiet, low key celebration with ice cream cake, candles and all the people I love the most, except for one.

Update: We've sent off our acceptance letter, and our Visa applications and we now wait for the CCAA to issue us travel approval. Once we receive travel approval, then our agency can request an appointment for us with the American consulate in China. Once we have that appointment date set, our entire trip can then be planned. This entire process should take about 6 weeks give or take.

Next step, massive packing, shopping and "to do" lists. We're gonna take down the suitcases tonight!!!! I'm so excited!!!

So What Would You Like to Know?......

The UPS package arrived at approximately 11 am this morning.
I didn't even hear the truck pull up, I just looked up saw it parked across the street and let out a scream..."John, it's here!".
We ran outside, and impatiently waited for the UPS driver to get out of the truck. Lo and behold, two drivers exited the truck with our package. They crossed over and walked up our walk and John and I were like little kids on Christmas morning! One of the UPS drivers explained that he was training the other. We got two for the price of one today!!!!
John and I asked if we could take their picture as they were the "stork"! They said that this was a first for both of them. They agreed to the picture and were so nice, wishing us congratulations and good luck.
It's a huge packet with alot of information. It reminds me of the first package La Vida sent us almost 4 years ago. That was when the journey began. I was overwhelmed when I first looked at that packet, but was able to digest it bit by bit, and ultimately we finished our dossier which has led us to today. Our daughter and another packet, that is just as intimidating. But I know that we'll again, get everything done to bring our daughter home.

Well, here's some info on Renee Mei:

She now resides at the Social Welfare Institute of Guiping City (not Pingnan?!?)
and has been there since she was found.
As of early May, she was about 14 pounds and 24 1/2 inches tall.
She is a moderate sleeper.
She can hold her head up when she lies on her stomach.
She can roll from her back to her stomach by herself.
She can grasp a toy near her hand.
She can lcoate the direction of a sound or a voice.
She laughs aloud!
She follows you by moving her head from one side to the other.
She knows her name when it is called.
She is active and restless (oh boy!)
She has a ready smile!!!
She is quick in reaction and loves to play with toys.

Most important, she is now our daughter now and forever, and I can't wait to meet her to shower her with all the love that I have for this miracle that the Lord has blessed me with.

Update.......

The package made it Farmingdale, NY at 7:45 AM !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It left Farmingdale, NY at 8:20AM and is out for delivery!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Woo Hoo!!
Farmingdale is 5 minutes from here! Don't know driver's route though, so again,
let's be patient if we can ;)

Tracking Our Referral Package

We got word yesterday that our referral package would be overnighted to us and arrive today!!!!
Needless to say as soon as I learned the tracking number, I've been tracking it on line.....
It made it to Philadelphia at 9:44 PM last night.....
It left Philadelphia at 10:16 PM last night...
It made it to Louisville, KY (Kentucky??, from Philidelphia??, ok whatever) at 12:02 AM ....
It left Louisville, KY at 4:52 AM....
It made it to Jamica (Queens!!!!!) at 6:41 AM.....
It left Jamaica, NY at 6:59 AM !!!!!!

OK, Jamaica is 45 minutes to an hour west of here....

A Big Decision Made

After much discussion and prayer, John and I made a big decision.
If you'll note above, we are no longer naming our daughter Marissa.
Although after my father passed away, we had decided upon Marissa Renee, before that it was always Renee. Up until Tuesday, everytime we talked about our daughter or prayed about our daughter, we still said "Renee". Her name has been Renee in our hearts, for almost four years. When we found out what name Renee was given at her orphanage, we thought that "Mei" which means beautiful, would be a perfect way to not only honor the memory of my father, but to acknowledge her past and culture.
So, my daughter will be named Renee Mei Sang "G"
My friend Diana who had redesigned my blog for me previously, made the above changes for me last night.
Thank you Diana, everything looks awesome.
We have a new ticker now....now it's days since referral and till we go to China to bring Renee Mei home.
I have some pictures of the baby's room to post as well as some pictures that John took of us while we were receiving the "call". Some are blurred, but the happiness shows through. I'll post them hopefully tomorrow.
Our Fedex package is due to arrive tomorrow as well, here's hoping I can catch a picture of the "stork".

It's A Girl!!!!!!!!

My hands are shaking....
We are so happy to announce the referral of our daughter...

Jin Mei Sang

9 months old on Friday!!!!

Birthdate: October 24th, 2008

Guangxi Province

Social Welfare Institute: Children Welfare Institutes Pingnan County

"For this child I prayed, and the Lord granted me my petition which I asked of Him."
1 Samuel 1:27

Latest News

The latest news: it appears that the cut off this month is 3/22. A two day batch. Many are not surprised as 3/21-22 were high volume log in days. I am so upset for my 3/23 and beyond friends. Missing by one day has to be really hard. Last month when the CCAA got to 3/20, we missed it by two days.
The last RQ update is that the 3/22 cutoff is an R4, which means we are almost certain this is the case. The highest rating is an R5. Also, an agency is reporting that they are waiting for a package today. Could they be referrals???
I've communicated with my agency to contact me when our referral is ready, then I'll call John and we'll both head home and call LaVida together. What a drive home that promises to be. Sure hope there's no traffic ;-).
We may hear today....wow, or tomorrow????
I'll keep you posted.......

Breathe, Breathe.....Breathe

Just checked Rumor Queen and latest rumor is that 3/22 has been matched!! I have to remember to breathe. Could this really be it???? I'll keep you posted.
I'm finding it a bit hard to concentrate at the moment :)

Waiting As Patiently As Possible!

John and I had chinese food last night, and oh how I would have loved to find the message above in my fortune cookie!

I have to say, this has been the longest month on record. At least in my mind. I have been so anxious, nervous and tired, oh so tired! Although, I also helped out all week at my church's Vacation Bible School, as well as working a full time job, so I think I've earned my "tired"!!

Based upon RQ's projections, the next batch of referrals should arrive around July 20th. As today is the 11th, that's about nine days from now. Nine days, nine days, nine days. Oh my goodness. We might receive our referral in about 9 days. Not 9 months, 9 weeks, no...9 days. What if we have to wait till August?? Well I'll deal with that if it happens.

And Now It's July!

It's now July, and there's a very distinct possibility that we will receive Marissa Renee's referral this month.

To say that I've been giddy....stressed.....anxious....excited....try all of the above!!

It's getting harder to concentrate at work. Which is not good as we are trying to put into place plans for when I'm on leave. "ON LEAVE" oh my gosh, that's actually gonna happen! I'm giddy all over again.

I'm trying to stay calm, but based upon Rumor Queen's projection that July referrals may arrive around July 22 (give or take a couple of days), then we are looking at approximately 20 more days till we see our sweet baby's face. 20 DAYS...oh my goodness!!

We've been waiting over 3 years, 3 months and 10 days. Actually, September will be 4 years ago that we started the paper work. So you would think that the next 20 days should be a breeze to get through, right...??? WRONG!

So, I'm continuing to pray for peace and calm while we enter this last leg of our wait. And as John and I have always done since the very beginning, we continue to pray for our little girl. Mommy and daddy love you sweet girl and we look forward to the day when you are put into our arms forever!

39 Month LID Anniversary

Oh boy, in all my excitement over hoping that July will be the month that we receive Marissa Renee's referral, I missed Monday, June 22nd, 2009, which was our 39 month LID anniversary.

39 months ago , (3 years and 3 months) ago, our dossier was logged in with the China Center For Adoption Affairs. So much has happened in that time, both happy and sad.

I've also gotten the opportunity to meet some awesome people on this journey. Friendships have been forged that I know will last a lifetime, not only for us, but for our children.

I am still hoping and praying that we will receive MR's referral before our 40th LID anniversary.

I've been attending a bible study at my church about the book of Ruth, and this past Tuesday night, we discussed patience and waiting on the Lord to work things out. Ruth listened to her mother-in-law Naomi who told her ...."Sit still my daughter, until you know how the matter will turn out;" Ruth 3:18a. Well, that's exactly what I've done over the last 4 years. I am "sitting still" and I know that my Lord is in control of everything.

Oh My Goodness......I Think We're Next!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh my.......referrals have arrived and it appears that the LID cut off is 3/20. It's not official yet, but that means......only 2 LID days left till 3/22. And, since the CCAA has assigned 6 LID's per month over the last 2 months, I am cautiously optimistic that...........

We're Next!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I can't express what I'm feeling at the moment. Happiness, anxiety, glee, and relief that this long wait is almost over.

Now it's time to break out the legal pads and the many "To Do" lists to be created.

Over the next 4 weeks, it's time to get our home "baby" ready. I intend to clean and declutter this house from top to bottom. All except the garage....that project will belong to John ;-).

Where's my pen??