Update on Abby

Today we received an update on Abby from March 3, 2007, as well as more pictures!

She now weighs approximately 8 kg. (17.64 lbs.) and is 26.4 inches long. Check out that hair! She has changed just since the pictures from referral...can't imagine how she will look when we get there! (Hopefully, she won't be in college yet ;-) )

We are still waiting for our consulate appointment. If we get the one we requested, then we leave on the 23rd...yep, THAT 23rd, as in NEXT WEEK. Needless to say, packing has begun! :-)

TA Baby!

We got our TA today (travel approval; permission papers; another-link-in-the-going-to-China-chain)!!!

Now that we have the TA, we are waiting on the CA (consulate appointment) so we can leave ASAP.

Will keep y'all posted! :-)

One Month Later...

Well, here we are. It has been a whole month since first seeing Abby's picture. I have been very busy this month, painting our monstrous fireplace (4 days); buying a new double stroller and car seat; and trying to clear out Kate and Jake's rooms so that their younger siblings can join them.

When will Abby join us? Hopefully at the end of this month. We are waiting (LOTS of practice doing that!) for our TA from China (Travel Approval...basically gives us permission to get on a plane.) After our TA arrives, our agency gets us a CA (Consulate Appointment with the American Consulate in Guangzhou.) This determines our dates of travel. We are praying we get out of here by the end of March, as there are trade fairs for the last 2 weeks of April in Guangzhou and our agency does not send people during the fairs. If we don't get out by the end of this month, it will probably be May before we go. Of course, I am being my ever-so-patient-self during this new part of the wait... ;-)

In the meantime, I am posting the pictures from referral day. The top one is me and my DH ("Dear Husband"...gotta use the adoption lingo whenever possible) as we look at our daughter's face for the first time. The bottom one includes our Coordinator, Sonja, as well as Gayle and Jorgie, two of the other moms in our travel group. The woman seated is Michele, who along with her husband, Art, received referrals for beautiful TWIN GIRLS who will turn a year old on 3/22! We are really blessed to be part of such a fantastic and supportive travel group. Our daughter will have many "cousins" right here with her in Arizona!

One more thing...remember when I said that I would try to remember what we were doing on Abby's birthday, once we found out her actual birthday? Well, it was easy to remember. It was Friday, June 23, 2006. It was cloudy that day; Kate and Jake were finishing up the last day of Vacation Bible School; my dad was here and going home that evening; Jeff's mom took Kate and Jake for the night; Jeff and I secretly packed for our surprise trip to Disneyland. The next morning, the day that Abby was being taken to her foster family, Jeff, Isaac, and I woke the kids up at Mom's with news that we were driving to Disneyland for Jacob's birthday. It was a wonderful trip and I am so happy now to realize that God was giving us an even bigger surprise and gift that weekend! I can't wait for the next Disneyland birthday trip... this time with Abby!!!

Introducing Abigail...

The stork landed early! Yesterday at 1:32 pm, Hand in Hand (our agency) called with the fantastic news.

Jeff came home early; we grabbed the kids out of school and took them to Mom's. Then we went to the agency to pick up our packet!!!

I will have more info soon, but for now...her birthday is 6/23/06 (2 days after Jacob's!) She is in foster care and was received when she was a day old.

We are so blessed!

God is Good and He Says It's Jiangxi For Us!!

Quick post...

News today... Our nine families were all matched and referrals should be here soon (Thurs. or Fri.?) Our babies are in southern China, in the Jiangxi province.

WE ARE ECSTATIC!!!!!

More news to follow! :-)

Train Wreck

This has been a train wreck of a day.

Our agency called at 1pm to tell us that they do not know where our referral package is. DHL has no record of a package being sent from China. The China contact person has not been able to be reached, and even if she is, she might not know.

We have no idea what is happening, or when we will get our child. And she is our child now, as we are pretty certain the match has already been made.

This sucks in so many ways I cannot even begin to describe. The emotional high of yesterday is replaced by the complete frustration and grief of today.

We are praying...that seems to be our only option. Hopefully, it will all turn around soon. In the meantime, I am going to go bury my head in an anatomy book and save my tears for tomorrow, after my test is done.

It is Almost Official

Well, here is what was just published on the CCAA website (Chinese Center Adoption Affairs):


"The CCAA has finished the placement of children for the families whose adoption application documents were registered with our office before October 13, 2005." In CCAA language, "before October 13, 2005 , actually INCLUDES OCtober 13, 2005.

(sigh)

WE ARE IN!!!!! WOO HOO!! OH YEAH!!!!

Our agency is expecting the referral packets tomorrow, Monday at latest. Stay tuned for the pictures and info...

All Praise and Glory to Our Father, who has made this all happen. He is GREAT!!! I am awestruck with his blessings. And, I am humbled by his love. I can't even describe how this feels!!!! :-) :-) :-)