Getting back to Normal

Sorry for the delay in posts, in fact I was horrible when we were in China and found myself using the computer time to post on facebook.  But truth be told, most of you are my facebook friend so I probably didn't miss many.

We have been doing good since getting home.  I have had a bad sinus infection and finally got antibiotics yesterday so am hoping to feel better soon.  But everyone else seemed to fair the travel and jetlag pretty well.

Miss Elizabeth has done fabulous.  She is happy and finally slept through the night last night.  The other nights she just woke up crying but went back to sleep.  We will wean her into her sisters room over the weekend.

She is still apprehensive about the boys, which is weird since her foster family only had boys.  She loves the two girls and tries to play with Judah but he keeps wondering when she is leaving! hahahah not such luck little man.

The weather is back to typical WA spring rainy weather, it makes me actually miss Guangzhou a little:)  But summer is on it's way and WA summers are the best.  I am not looking forward to trying to entertain all my kids this summer and/or keep them busy enough to not sleep all day, play electronics etc.  They will be outside alot as far as I am concerned.

We will be having a huge pigroast to celebrate E coming home and the two boys' one year home, which was year ago 10 June.  Can't wait to have fun with friends and family.

We are indebted to our adult children who stepped up and took care of the 6 kids we left home with them.  They all did great and I don't think scared their big siblings off from future visits or babysitting.  hahah time will tell.


Note:  E testing out the playpen

 Note:  My awesome Mothers Day gift from my kids -thanks to my oldest daughter (now we just need to add Miriam who was with us in China and Elizabeth:)

Well, back to the grind...take care and talk to you soon?

We have our princess!

Just a quick note and an apology for not posting on there as promised...seems facebook has been easier to post too.  We received our daughter this morning. She cried for only a minute when the staff that brought her had to leave.  Otherwise she has been smiling and eating like a champ.  She is napping now and was a little sad before nap time.  I am sure when she wakes up she will be confused.

We are forever grateful to the Baobei staff and foster family for all they have done to save this girls life, give her a loving home and then in turn being so supportive to us.  May God bless their servant hearts.

While we wait

Seems like all we have done the last 4 years is wait...with each adoption its gotten harder to wait in some ways....so we try to stay busy.   This past weekend my daughters and I along with my granddaughter went to a Princess tea at our church, because you know we are all Princesses of the King of Kings:) and so are you!

I am so beyond blessed to have the adult children that I have. (my daughter, her hubby and one of their kiddos on the left and my son and his wife on the right )  My daughter and her husband are always there interacting with their siblings (my other kids:), supporting our adoption fundraisers and advocating. Our son and his wife are always willing and ready to step up and take care of our kids so we can go on our trips..seriously we are blessed!  I can't wait to give back to them one day if/when they decide to adopt.

Now off to wait for our travel expense list/agenda:)

We are traveling soon!

Praise the Lord we got our CA set....its a week later than we hoped for, but nonetheless we will be on our way in two weeks to get our sweet princess.  I have been praying for her foster family who has had her since she was 10 days old.  It will be so hard for them to let go - we are fortunate enough to go to Shanghai to visit them though.  It will be nice to be able to thank them in person.  I suspect there will be many tears from both sides.  We are eternally grateful to them and the Baobei foundation for taking care of her.   Well, off to plan airline tickets, packing and cleaning and stocking the house with plenty of food for the kids:)

TA, kind of, sort of

We got an email today from our agency asking us if we would be able to travel next week or the following week...looks like our TA should be recieved super soon so they wanted to be ready to ask for consulate dates...of course we said we would love either dates, but especially the first set.

Now we sit more and wait to see what happens!  We are one step closer to the princess!!!

Spring Break

As I am writing this I am actually seeing the sun shining through the window!  I think Spring has finally reached us!

The kids were on spring break this week, but I have to say its been a completely uneventful week.  Nothing exciting.  I spent the first day all day, at Seattle Childrens with our cleft palate son determining when his next surgeries will be.  The second day was spent getting my shots updated and travel meds for the trip.  Day three was spent shopping for a very special gift for our daughter's foster family, day 4 an attempt to get the kids shots up to date since they are off, and today we will finally have some fun bowling and roller skating.

Next week bring the dreaded but wonderful adoption yard sale.  We are always blessed by so many wonderful people making donations and of course other purchasing those donations.  Its so much work, but so worth the work.  Every penny matters at this point!

We have been waiting for a week and half now for our travel approval.  I would love to think we will get it this upcoming week but the reality is it will probably be closer to three weeks.  Maybe I will be wrong and it will be two weeks:)  Ahhhhh...the wait is never fun - both hubby and I have been swamped with so many things lately it will be nice to get away on this minivacation.

ARTICLE 5~~~

Yes today I got an email saying the embassy processed our article 5 and our agency should be picking it up today and sending off to Beijing!!!!  Hopefully our TA wait is short, but I am not counting on that..this waiting game seems to always be so variable.....yay though for Article 5!!