Don't leave it until the end.

Our passports are in the hands of the travel agent in Vancouver, she is sending them back by courier right now.  So close to having everything in hand.

I booked a hotel by the airport with long term parking.  So, we'll be leaving Thursday after work instead of Friday morning.  We've never done this before.  Usually just get up really early and catch the first ferry.  I wasn't too happy about the idea of waking Jia at 3am.  The parking at the airport is $280 and to our delight, the hotel is only $149 and that includes parking for the whole time we're gone.  Wish I'd known about this option before.

I ordered brand new US money and it came in as all brand new bills!!  For everyone who has adopted in China, you know how challenging this normally is.  As Canadians, we weren't allowed to have new bills in the past.  So, we had to order and go through them making sure none of the bills had marks, or tears or folds.  Then sending them back and starting over again and again until we had the nicest pile we could muster.  When the Chinese would go through them, they would hold each one up to the light and look it over closely while wearing gloves.  And then go through them again and then have another person go through them and it would all get counted several times.  When we adopted Jia it was possible to wire the money ahead of time but when we got there the wire was missing and we spend some time trying to figure out how much we all had on hand.  So, I'm a bit relieved that we can carry it ourselves this time and I'm THRILLED that it's all so pristine.  Funny moment, I opened the envelope and there is a new blue band on each bill.  Supposed to be there but at first I thought it was all 'marked' and I'd have to return it all.  Nothing like leaving it all to the last minute.

I broke a tooth last week and got it fixed today.

The travel clinic called me this morning and she agreed with me that Jia needed more than one day before flying to make sure there is no reaction.  I just got a call back and they managed to squeeze her in on Tues.  Yay.

I made up our yuan conversion shopping cheat sheets today.  I get laughed at a lot in China when I whip out my little chart but it's the only way I can shop effectively.  It's too hard to deal with kids, pick out what you want in a barter system and do the math in my head all at the same time.  

I've got a cold that set in scary fast.  I'm coughing today and I'm all plugged up.  Ug.  Hoping there is some down/rest time this weekend too.  I really need to be well before we get on a plane.

Was looking at time frames, after LOA it was 5 weeks for Lili, 9 weeks for Fei, 8 weeks for Jia and 7 weeks for Luk.  It's felt longer but really, all is in line.

So, all in all, it's looking pretty good.  I have a four day weekend ahead of me and will have no problem getting our clothing packed.  We're off to Nanaimo tonight for the last few things we think we might need.

TA

TA came today.  The single most important piece of paper of the whole process.  Right now the last thing we need is our passports back from the Chinese consulate.  When they arrive you will all feel the relief across the valley.

We've realized that Jia isn't immunized against hepatitis a.  Mad rush today trying to figure that out.  Our local health clinic doesn't do them anymore.   Too late for an appt. at the travel clinic.   Our Drs office has a nurse on call that will give her the injectin if we bring the vial in from the pharmacy.   The pharmacy will sell it to us.  I found that surprising.  Problem  now is that the appt. is for Thursday and we leave the day after.  I'm worried about side effects.  Not sure what we'll do yet.  Any ideas or thoughts?  We left a message at the travel clinic.  They say they'll call in 24 hours.  Kids have no school tomorrow, contemplating having Eric just take her there and see if they can squeeze her in.

Parent teacher interviews today.  Both girls are doing fabulously. 

We finally figuered out Luks height tonight, 34 inches.  7 and a half inches shorter than Jia.

New name

 

Luk Andrew Feng Nelson

I've  changed my mind again, and again and again.  Had to send our final name choice in and the winner in the family vote this morning was for Luk Andrew Feng Nelson.  He'll be the only one of our children with a western name.  Andrew is Eric's middle name.  It just sounds better than Luk Tian, plus I see Tian as a girls name. 

Oh my

TA has been couriered.  Travel visas have been approved and processed.  Flights have been booked.  Cash has been ordered.  Eric is on his way home and picking up pizza.  Jia just fell asleep in the car on the way home.  It's been a long hard day for our little working girl.

Travel Visas

Keeping his picture on top. 

Ok, I'm not complaining, I'm grateful to be at this point for sure, I really am a just get it done kind of a person.  I thought I was prepared for the TA.  Nope.  Not at all.  Not in the least.  Holly Cow.  Last couple days have been so crazy.

You can't apply for a travel visa without travel dates, hotels, addresses and TA from China (which is a formal document giving us permission to come and get Luk, an invitation).  When I heard Nov 18, I was thinking it was the end of Oct so I had over two weeks.  Nope again.  Only 10 days and it was already late afternoon.  I downloaded the visa application and started filling it in online, realized I was missing some information, went to e-mail Fonnie and then promply deleted my work.  Then printed them out so I could handwrite them.  Called Eric at home and asked him to go in the safe and get a couple documents.  Called the adoption agency, called the travel agent, called the travle visa place.  Figured out really quickly that we have a major time crunch made even worse with a long weekend in there.  Decide that Eric will fly over and deliver the applications and documents in person in the morning, then hear that there is a storm on the way and quickly change the plan to him taking the ferry over instead, thinking they'll run longer if there is a storm.  Meet the family at Walmart and have some visa photos taken.  Buy some diapers and shoes for Luk now that we have his size.  Get my hair cut at Walmart because I know the odds of getting mine done this Sat. are slim where I normally go.  Loved the hair cut.  Bought advent calendars for the kidlets since we'll be arriving home Nov 29.  Take Fei and go to the dollar store and get all of the wrapping paper and gift bags we need and some ear buds for Eric to use on the plane (Fei downloaded some music for him) also remembered to get new luggage locks since I have locks and keys but can't seem to get anything to match.  Phew.  Get home, Jia is sleeping and I'm relieved because I can quietly get some paperwork finished for the visas.  Realize that they want a self addressed, prepaid return courier bag at 10, so call my Mom to come with me to the office (because I'm afraid of the dark and the office is super spooky in the dark).  We get home at 11, show Eric what all of it is.  He crashes on the couch because he and Scott have to get up at 4am to make the 6:30 ferry.  Jia wakes up at 11:30 ready to party since she is well rested.  Get her snacks and some juice and take her to my bedroom and we play unitl 1:00am.  Set my alarm for 4:00am. 

I got up this morning feeling like supermom.  Kids are up, I had time for a shower, lunches are packed, kids have their dance shoes and phones because it's Wed. and Mom pickes them up from school.  I've packed Jia's tablet, her leapster and snacks because she's going to work with me.  Had thought to stay home then realized Sue had to be in Victoria.  Eric called, he was there, all seemed ok.  Then he called back.  Problem.  He had given me Lili's adoption papers and Chinese passport.  ARG.  I never checked.  So, all effort was for naught.  Then he called back, told me if I went home I could photo copy Jia's and e-mail them in.  Ok.  Grab Jia, race home and then have to call Eric back.  Jia's passport from China isn't expired until 2015.  Again, all for naught.  Can only get away with a photo copy if it's expired.  The stress.  OMG.  Now I'm driving back to work and my guts are hurting and I notice I have hives starting on my arms and Jia is demanding that I take her back to work and I've told her 20 times that we ARE going back to work.  I scanned and e-mailed them and then called Eric feeling all defeated.  He put Cynthia on the phone and she said Eric could write a declaration that the passport was lost.  Great.  I told her that at this point I was fine and comfortable with lying.  Now the Chinese passport is in a courier bag ready to go and Cynthia will take it to the consolate tomorrow and say it was found.  No time lost.  Had to pay the upcharge for faster service   and it's substantial but if all else goes ok it should be here by Tues.  We leave next Friday. 

Yesterday I forgot to ask if the TA was on the way from China or from Victoria.  Huge difference.  Then we find out that the Consulate now requires a copy of the TA.  Eric phoned Fonnie and let her know he was in Vancouver and she said it just came into their office, so obviously from Victoria - phew.  Fonnie was able to scan a copy to Cynthia in time for the visa application drop today too.  Major phew. 

I just got an e-mail with our confirmed adoption date, TA (dated Oct. 24) attached and there is a tiny picture of baby Luk attached that we don't have.  It's grainy and black and white, hoping the original color photo is attached to the original TA.  Also have our Hague Convention Notification of Agreement letter.    They are being couriered to us and should be here tomorrow.

It's crazy here at the end for sure, but it's happening, it's finally happening.  Now, how to unclench and try to relax a bit?!  I know I say it often, I am just NOT a relaxed person.  Need to find some lunch for Jia and I now.  She has no clue there is anything amiss.  She has been having a blast being a working girl and she has kept Grampa very, very busy this morning.  Sure hope he didn't mind :) 

With Jia's adoption we needed to get flights during a school break and it was a nightmare.  Mom and I spent two whole days on the phone and we paid dearly for flights that left at 3am.  I'm happy to report that this time the flights are the cheapest I've ever seen and they seem available.  Just working with our travel agent now.  Hoping they'll be booked today.

UPDATE!!!!!!

 

Finally!!!

Soooo Exciting to see him!!  He's holding the camera we sent.  OMG, such a beautiful boy.  Standing and wearing a diaper.  23lbs.  13cm feet and 87cm for height.  16 teeth. 

Oh my word, Catherine is on the phone with me now, I don't know how she did that, saw his pictures as they were posted, wild.  Now she is pointing out we have 10 days to get ready.  Possible adoption day on the 18th!   Not confimed yet, but the likely scenario.  I can't think straight.  Feels so overwhelming all of a sudden.  Breath, breath, breath.

He is so beautiful.  Can't wait to get there!

Luk's Room

Room has been done for a while, just getting to taking and posting pictures today. 

Now if only there was a little boy playing in there!

Added a picture of the crib in our room, just in case that is what he is used to.  Not sure if he is a babyish 2 year old, or a little man on the go.  Can't wait to find out!