July 15th-leave Newark for Beijing
July 16th-arrive Beijing around 2:30 pm (their time, which is 12 hours ahead of our time)
July 17th and 18th-touring in Beijing
July 19th-travel to Changsha, Hunan Province-this is where Elizabeth lives
July 20th-GOTCHA DAY! Get our baby girl at last!!!
July 21st-July 25th or 26th-stay in Changsha and complete the China side of the adoption
July 26th(roughly around this date) travel to Guangzhou
July 27th-Elizabeth's first birthday!!!!!
July 27th-July 30th-stay in Guangzhou, consulate appointment on July 29th, swearing in ceremony at the Embassy on July 30th.
July 30th-besides swearing in ceremony in the early afternoon, then travel via train to Hong Kong and stay in the Marriott Sky City in Hong Kong
July 31st-fly from Hong Kong to Newark International arrive around 2:30 pm and have to clear immigration/customs
August 1st-stay at Mike's house
August 2nd-arrive home via Delta at the Orlando International Airport around 5:30 pm.
I'll post flight numbers and more definitive information on when we leave Changsha and travel on to Guangzhou once those final dates have been determined.
Monday, June 29, 2009
We're leaving on a jet plane!!!
After a crazy weekend with alot of phone calls and looking for flights, and talking to our fantastic travel agent-we are booked on our flights to China!!!! YIPEE!!!!
We will be leaving the US on July 15th and returning to the US on July 31st. We will stay a day and a half in the Newark area with Patrick's brother and sister in law, as our sister in law is a pediatrician and we really want her to have a look at Elizabeth and reassure us she is OK. And to also give us tips on what we need to ask our personal pediatrician when we go for our first appointment.
We will then travel home to Florida on August 2nd and will arrive home (well actually the airport) around 5:30 pm!!!!
My mind is reeling thinking of all the things that need to get done, but I know they will get done eventually.
Stay posted for further updates
Until next time..........
We will be leaving the US on July 15th and returning to the US on July 31st. We will stay a day and a half in the Newark area with Patrick's brother and sister in law, as our sister in law is a pediatrician and we really want her to have a look at Elizabeth and reassure us she is OK. And to also give us tips on what we need to ask our personal pediatrician when we go for our first appointment.
We will then travel home to Florida on August 2nd and will arrive home (well actually the airport) around 5:30 pm!!!!
My mind is reeling thinking of all the things that need to get done, but I know they will get done eventually.
Stay posted for further updates
Until next time..........
Friday, June 26, 2009
More good news
Well finally a day seems to be starting off on the right foot for the first time in about a week. I received word this morning that our paperwork that I have been so desperately worried about was sent to the Embassy in Guangzhou on June 23rd!!! YEAH! This should mean that when our agency director requests our final consulate appointment today that all of our paperwork will be there and should not prevent us from getting our consulate appointment. Thank the Lord. This paperwork issue has been a source of BIG TIME stress for me. Most of you know I am a bit of a worrier anyway so why should this situation be any different. However, it is a relief to know that the pieces of the puzzle are starting to fit together now.
Patrick and I are beginning to realize in about one month we will have our baby girl and be well on our way to forming a lifelong bond with her. We know the transition will not always be smooth, but our hearts are in this 100% and then some and will do whatever it takes to help her through this very difficult transition that is about to occur in her life. She is sitting on the other side of the world today and has no clue that her life is getting ready to be turned upside down. Very heart breaking for a parent to think of the stress their child is going to endure but we pray that this transition will go smoothly for her and she will quickly realize how much she is loved.
Hopefully the rest of today will be just as gratifying as the last few moments have been. Stay tuned for the final travel dates!
Until next time.............
Patrick and I are beginning to realize in about one month we will have our baby girl and be well on our way to forming a lifelong bond with her. We know the transition will not always be smooth, but our hearts are in this 100% and then some and will do whatever it takes to help her through this very difficult transition that is about to occur in her life. She is sitting on the other side of the world today and has no clue that her life is getting ready to be turned upside down. Very heart breaking for a parent to think of the stress their child is going to endure but we pray that this transition will go smoothly for her and she will quickly realize how much she is loved.
Hopefully the rest of today will be just as gratifying as the last few moments have been. Stay tuned for the final travel dates!
Until next time.............
Thursday, June 25, 2009
We have TRAVEL APPROVAL!!!!!
Ok after a dismal week of receiving the news our adoption agency is closing, things have started to turn around. Our agency told us if travel approvals were received before the end of the month then they would help us with our travels to China, in China and home from China. You know we were praying for the travel approval to arrive!!! And it did-today!!!
Basically what happens now is our travel group all decides which date will work best for everyone to have our Consulate appointment in Guangzhou. As a group we are looking at July 28 for a consulate appt. Once this date is decided upon (which will probably be finalized by Friday morning) then our agency director will request a consulate appointment. Once the request is made we sit and wait 48-72 hours to hear the response. Once we have heard yeah or nay on the consulate request, we will then know what our exact travel dates will be.
SOOOOO, drum roll please-at the moment it looks like we will be leaving home for China around July 15-16. We will arrive in our daughter's province around July 19th and have her in our arms around July 20th!!!!! Good Lord I really think this is going to happen, finally!!! That means that she will have been with us about one week when we celebrate her first birthday on July 27th!!!! Now notice the above statements were made with around certain dates, because things may shift a day or two in either direction. Once we know our consulate appointment then the FINAL dates will be known as well.
It has been our wish all along to be able to be with our daughter on her birthday. I think the family is disappointed we likely won't be on US soil until a couple of days after her birthday, and I do understand the disappointment. However, she will most likely be able to celebrate this milestone with her mama and daddy!! It brings tears to my eyes to even think about it. What a monumental milestone for her life, being with her forever family and celebrating her first birthday all in about one weeks time.
Stay tuned for the final travel dates, we are VERY close now
Until next time...........
Basically what happens now is our travel group all decides which date will work best for everyone to have our Consulate appointment in Guangzhou. As a group we are looking at July 28 for a consulate appt. Once this date is decided upon (which will probably be finalized by Friday morning) then our agency director will request a consulate appointment. Once the request is made we sit and wait 48-72 hours to hear the response. Once we have heard yeah or nay on the consulate request, we will then know what our exact travel dates will be.
SOOOOO, drum roll please-at the moment it looks like we will be leaving home for China around July 15-16. We will arrive in our daughter's province around July 19th and have her in our arms around July 20th!!!!! Good Lord I really think this is going to happen, finally!!! That means that she will have been with us about one week when we celebrate her first birthday on July 27th!!!! Now notice the above statements were made with around certain dates, because things may shift a day or two in either direction. Once we know our consulate appointment then the FINAL dates will be known as well.
It has been our wish all along to be able to be with our daughter on her birthday. I think the family is disappointed we likely won't be on US soil until a couple of days after her birthday, and I do understand the disappointment. However, she will most likely be able to celebrate this milestone with her mama and daddy!! It brings tears to my eyes to even think about it. What a monumental milestone for her life, being with her forever family and celebrating her first birthday all in about one weeks time.
Stay tuned for the final travel dates, we are VERY close now
Until next time...........
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Devastating news
I really don't know where to start other than to just share the information with everyone as we have heard it. Around 5:30 pm last nite we were informed our adoption agency is closing, effective June 30th. Someone from the agency is telling us that if we receive our travel approval before the end of the month then our current agency, and the one we have been working with for the last 3 years, will get us to China and back home. If the travel approvals do not come before the end of the month then our files are being transferred to a new agency who will then help us with our travels to China. All of those details have yet to be worked out and I imagine as today goes on we will get a little more info.
We hope and pray this does not delay things any longer than the usual expected time frame. Everyone knows how anxious we are to be with Elizabeth as soon as possible. At times since last nite I have felt peaceful, like this is just a bump in the road, but everything will work out. At other times, my stomach is a jumbly mess and doubt starts creeping in. I fear the real issue here is that our case, in particular, is going to fall a little behind the rest of our travel group due to the "new" paperwork that we chose to complete instead of renewing multiple times and spending a fortune in the process! The fear is everyone else in the group will be able to complete with our current agency, but us and the other family that is having paperwork issues like us, will have to go with the new agency. I guess it doesn't really matter as long as we get to China and come home with Elizabeth. But when you have been thinking and planning things are going to be a certain way for over 3 years, it is hard to shift that method of thinking.
The devil has really been at work in our lives the last few weeks. We had a few days of sheer bliss after getting our referral, then about 5 days later the bottom fell out. I won't go into details specifically, but I deep down, truly feel this is the devil at work. I can only say between Patrick and myself we have enough faith for about a dozen people combined! We will survive and thrive.
Of course, any and all prayers regarding this situation would be appreciated. I am trying to think positively that it is all going to work out just right, but a little extra thoughts and good wishes won't hurt!
Until next time.........
We hope and pray this does not delay things any longer than the usual expected time frame. Everyone knows how anxious we are to be with Elizabeth as soon as possible. At times since last nite I have felt peaceful, like this is just a bump in the road, but everything will work out. At other times, my stomach is a jumbly mess and doubt starts creeping in. I fear the real issue here is that our case, in particular, is going to fall a little behind the rest of our travel group due to the "new" paperwork that we chose to complete instead of renewing multiple times and spending a fortune in the process! The fear is everyone else in the group will be able to complete with our current agency, but us and the other family that is having paperwork issues like us, will have to go with the new agency. I guess it doesn't really matter as long as we get to China and come home with Elizabeth. But when you have been thinking and planning things are going to be a certain way for over 3 years, it is hard to shift that method of thinking.
The devil has really been at work in our lives the last few weeks. We had a few days of sheer bliss after getting our referral, then about 5 days later the bottom fell out. I won't go into details specifically, but I deep down, truly feel this is the devil at work. I can only say between Patrick and myself we have enough faith for about a dozen people combined! We will survive and thrive.
Of course, any and all prayers regarding this situation would be appreciated. I am trying to think positively that it is all going to work out just right, but a little extra thoughts and good wishes won't hurt!
Until next time.........
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
No real news yet
Well, things have now kind of come to a grinding halt. All of our paperwork has been submitted to get our travel approval since we fall under the new criteria of the Hague process. I little different that the original way we started things filing an I600. But about 18 months ago we had to make a decision about renewing paperwork for our I600 versus letting things expire and applying for the adoption under the new Hague rules. Well we ultimately decided to let things expire and renew under the new Hague rules. I am now questioning that decision, as it may delay our travel approval a little longer than the rest of our travel group.
I have memorized USCIS Hague Adoption Unit's telephone number as well as the phone number for the National Visa Center and have called them quite frequently the last few weeks. I can now just say "Good morning" to whoever answers the phone and the person then says to me "How are you this morning, Mrs. MacDonald." I don't think this is a good thing when they recognize my voice on the phone!!!
So-I guess the end to this story is-we are officially waiting again-this time for travel approval. No one else in our group has received travel approval yet either, and are probably getting anxious like I am. I REALLY would like to be with Elizabeth on her first birthday.
On other news-I had told you all in the last post that my sister was having surgery and asked for prayers to help her through this ordeal. She did great with the surgery, in fact, it has been one week ago today. I spent the weekend at my parents house and went over to my sisters each day to check on her. She was fortunate she only had to stay in the hospital for 2 days, but it has taken until today for her to say "I feel good today." She has had quite a bit of pain around her incisions and is having problems with coughing most of the nite when she is trying to sleep. She is eating some now, but still only soft foods and liquids. The surgeon tells us it will be 3 weeks before we have any idea on if the surgery was successful. Bless her heart, but she has been a good sport through it all.
Not really anything else too exciting on our end. I'll keep you posted once we have our travel approval. Once we have that information then we will know when we will be in China. Please pray that our paperwork sails through each point and that there are no holdups whatsoever, so that we can travel with the 7 other families that are in our referral group and be on our way to our little girl.
Until next time................
I have memorized USCIS Hague Adoption Unit's telephone number as well as the phone number for the National Visa Center and have called them quite frequently the last few weeks. I can now just say "Good morning" to whoever answers the phone and the person then says to me "How are you this morning, Mrs. MacDonald." I don't think this is a good thing when they recognize my voice on the phone!!!
So-I guess the end to this story is-we are officially waiting again-this time for travel approval. No one else in our group has received travel approval yet either, and are probably getting anxious like I am. I REALLY would like to be with Elizabeth on her first birthday.
On other news-I had told you all in the last post that my sister was having surgery and asked for prayers to help her through this ordeal. She did great with the surgery, in fact, it has been one week ago today. I spent the weekend at my parents house and went over to my sisters each day to check on her. She was fortunate she only had to stay in the hospital for 2 days, but it has taken until today for her to say "I feel good today." She has had quite a bit of pain around her incisions and is having problems with coughing most of the nite when she is trying to sleep. She is eating some now, but still only soft foods and liquids. The surgeon tells us it will be 3 weeks before we have any idea on if the surgery was successful. Bless her heart, but she has been a good sport through it all.
Not really anything else too exciting on our end. I'll keep you posted once we have our travel approval. Once we have that information then we will know when we will be in China. Please pray that our paperwork sails through each point and that there are no holdups whatsoever, so that we can travel with the 7 other families that are in our referral group and be on our way to our little girl.
Until next time................
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Not too much going on-but still need some prayers
The last week has been a little more quiet. We sent our paperwork off to USCIS to get our I800 approved so that we can be approved to travel and pick up Elizabeth. I believe it will still be another 3-4 weeks before we have travel dates.
We have been doing a little shopping, making plans for when we are away, looking at airfares and different travel routes, and finalizing the decorating of the nursery. Just little things to pass the time!!
On another note, some of you know my sister has been having some health issues for awhile now. Well, long story short-after many rounds of testing, and meeting with specialists, she is going to have surgery tomorrow. I know she is very scared, and a few prayers for quick healing and to help soothe her fears would be greatly appreciated. I will be traveling to see her this weekend and hopefully she will be able to go home by the end of the weekend.
Not much new to add here but stay tuned because once we do have travel approval to be in China I think things will be happening very quickly and swiftly.
Until next time.......
We have been doing a little shopping, making plans for when we are away, looking at airfares and different travel routes, and finalizing the decorating of the nursery. Just little things to pass the time!!
On another note, some of you know my sister has been having some health issues for awhile now. Well, long story short-after many rounds of testing, and meeting with specialists, she is going to have surgery tomorrow. I know she is very scared, and a few prayers for quick healing and to help soothe her fears would be greatly appreciated. I will be traveling to see her this weekend and hopefully she will be able to go home by the end of the weekend.
Not much new to add here but stay tuned because once we do have travel approval to be in China I think things will be happening very quickly and swiftly.
Until next time.......
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