Countdown!

And here we are...less than 48 hours from departing for China. We are excited, overwhelmed, unbelievably happy, and scared. We're going to do our best to blog and post pictures daily while we're in China, but please forgive if technology or tiredness wins!

By the way, we will be 13 hours AHEAD of you when we're in China (for those on Central Time).

Just a few more details on our travel:
We leave Nashville Thursday, August 23 at 6:30 am (YUCK, thanks Shane for taking us to the airport so early). After a layover in Newark, we'll fly to Beijing, and will arrive there Friday, August 24 at 1:45 pm. Jason and I plan to get our bearings, walk around a bit, settle into the hotel, etc.
Saturday, August 25 we have an organized sightseeing trip with the rest of our travel group from the agency. We'll see the Forbidden City, Tianeman Square, and the Great Wall.
Sunday, August 26 we'll fly to Guangzhou, arriving at 3:55 pm.
Monday, August 27 is GOTCHA DAY!! It's also my parents' wedding anniversary, so it's even more special for us. :) From what we've heard, it's quite surreal when you're handed your baby, and it happens very quickly. We're preparing ourselves for Vivian to grieve, fuss, shut-down, etc. for a few days, so extra prayers are needed during this time of transition.
Tuesday, August 28 we'll be starting the adoption paperwork, and will sightsee and have some free days between then and September 5. Hopefully we can enjoy the city and spend our time bonding with Vivian.
Thursday, September 6 we have our American Consulate appointment.
Friday, September 7 we take the official oath as Vivian's parents, and we receive her Visa to travel.
We leave Guangzhou Saturday, September 8 at 9:00 am with a stop in Beijing. From Beijing we'll fly to Newark, and will arrive in Nashville on Saturday at 10:09 pm.
How tired do you think we'll be upon arriving to Nashville???!!!

A special thank you to our families, who have showered us not only with money, supplies, diapers, etc., but with the support and strength we've needed along the way. We love you all very much!!

Look for an update Friday or Saturday from China!

Travel Plans!

We have our travel approval and consulate appointment - it's really happening! We leave Thursday, August 23 for China, and will receive Vivian (Gotcha Day) on Monday, August 27.
We'll be coming home on Saturday, September 8. Our plan is to blog as much as we can while we're away so we can share photos and videos of our little one.

Here's a little itinerary:
August 23 - leave the US
August 24 - arrive Beijing
August 24/25 - sightseeing in Beijing
August 26 - fly to Guangzhou
August 27 - Gotcha Day!
August 28-September 4 - sightseeing, free days and adoption appointments
September 5 - medical exam for children
September 6 - consulate appointment
September 7 - take oath and pick up Vivian's Visa
September 8 - leave China and arrive in the US

In Guangzhou we'll be staying with the other CHI families at the Westin - a brand new hotel. Check it out at: http://www.starwoodhotels.com/westin/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=1706
Our hotel in Beijing is the Wangfujing Grand Hotel.
www.wangfujinghotel.com

We'll keep you posted with photos and video while we're gone!

it's a girl!!!

Our referral is here!!!

Lei Yi Tai (means "delightful," "peaceful")
Born September 16, 2006 (almost 10 months old)
Leizhou Social Welfare Institute
Guangdong Province, China

She is healthy and beautiful! We think she's adorable!!

On May 11 she weighed 14 pounds and was almost 26 inches long, and no teeth yet.

We're in love!!!

The Stork is Flying!!!

It is confirmed that referrals are on their way from China - they left July 4. Our agency has confirmed that DHL has 3 packages to be delivered tomorrow, Friday, July 6!! After two years, we are really about to see our baby's sweet face, and to know all about her. We'll update the blog tomorrow once we we get "the call" and are able to peel ourselves from the ceiling!

Thank you thank you thank you to everyone for your support, and thank you, God, for guiding us on this wild and wonderful roller-coaster! Please continue to pray that Vivian is being cared for, and that her biological parents feel a sense of peace knowing their daughter will be loved and cherished.

One day makes a huge difference

Well, it is official; we will receive our referral in early July. Our agency received referrals this morning for their November 2 families, but not November 8. All over the world parents from November 2-7 are seeing their babies' faces for the first time, and a huge congratulations goes out to all of them.
Although very disappointed and a bit teary at the moment, I suppose there is some peace in knowing we are absolutely next since we missed the cutoff by one day. Please continue to pray that our child is receiving the care she needs until we can get there to bring her home.
Here's hoping to a speedy rest of June, and maybe a July 3 referral (Jason's birthday).
Thank you again for all your support on our looong journey.

This is better

This morning we received word that referrals are on the way for parents who were logged in October 27-November 1, 2005. It seems worse than it is (6 days' worth). Those folks who track information relentlessly thought if referrals came through October 31 it would be a good thing. Apparently October 27 and October 31 were HUGE days for parents being logged in.
All this to say, we're 7 days away now, and it looks good for our referral to come in early June. Early July at the latest, which means we will likely travel in August or September.
It's starting to feel real now...

a setback

Referrals came (a week later than expected - on April 6) and they were for parents logged in October 25 and 26, 2005. Two days' worth of referrals is unheard of, and a huge disappointment for those of us waiting "on the cusp." The CCAA has been averaging 13 days worth of referrals; we are now 13 log-in days away.

For the first time last night I had a good, hard cry. A cry for the child we've waited and prayed for month after month, and a cry for my family, who has been through so much in the past year and just deserves a bit of happiness. Nothing would make me happier than for our parents to be able to hold our daughter and take in the sheer joy of a baby.

This morning our adoption agency called to check in with us and to say how sorry they are for the wait. We are very lucky; we have a good agency that's doing the best they can to serve their families. Our agency still thinks we have a chance of being included in the next batch of matched parents/babies, and that the 2-days' worth of referrals was a fluke. Time will tell!

Thanks again for your continued prayers.