we are home

we couldn't access the blog from China, so sorry never updated anything.  We got home last night and the kids were so excited to be together! what a journey, we are so thankful and so tired!

Only 1 person missing!!! 15 days until we meet

kids are excited to meet their mei mei and jie jie

getting ready!

We actually leave March 4, not 3rd.  Spent the afternoon talking with friends about China and their very different experiences with the adoptions of their 2 children from China.  So nice to be able to get helpful travel tips and ideas, oh and to vent about what a roller coaster this whole thing is.  Thank you Chaputs! and thanks Harris' family for the massive roller/duffle bag suitcase. You will never get it back in working condition, but thanks!

travel dates

We have our tickets!!!! We leave on March 3 and fly into Shanghai and have our consulate appointment in Guangzhou on March 15.  We fly home out of Hong Kong on March 18.

finally

Tomorrow we will hear if our appt. at the consulate is scheduled, but everything else is ready.  It looks like we will travel to China from Mar. 4-18, fingers crossed and we'll keep you posted.  Looking forward to booking our tickets, meeting our daughter, and bringing her home to her family.

Travel Approval Arrived

We got our travel approval today, no consulate appointment date until next week because Chinese New Year begins tomorrow and government offices closed, but most likely leaving end of February!

travel update

Looks like the earliest we will travel will be March now.  The families that received their Travel Approval Notices this month have their appointments with the Chinese Consulate the last week of February and the first week of March.  The trip is planned around these appointments, so even if we receive our Travel Approval in February, the actual date of our appointment will be further out.

At least in the most recent pictures, Jia looks so happy and healthy.  I can't imagine how hard it would be for a parent of a child with special needs,  who needs surgery, or is in an orphanage that isn't so great.

We are getting Jia's bed this weekend and setting up the girls' room (with Jia's matching bedding-thanks Harris Family!!!).  Molly has all sorts of ideas how to arrange it-we'll see if we can make them work!