Well the tears haven't started yet...

but they will come I'm sure! It was a huge surprise today to find out that referrals have arrived at several agencies here in the US. No one, and I mean NO ONE, agencies included, expected them. Unfortunately it looks like they will only cover through the 22nd of July. Remember, we are the 26th. I feel like there is a rock in the pit of my stomach and I've got a major headache. I guess I just need to have a good cry and get on to waiting again. This will push our projected travel up to the first part of December - MAYBE. I almost feel like I don't care anymore. I do. But I guess I don't want to care anymore. Think I'll go crawl in a hole now...

TA's and CA's are comming!

A TA is your travel approval from China - or permission to come pick up your baby. CA is your Consulate appointment where you apply for your child's visa to come home. You're agency can't schedule your CA without a TA. The CA is pretty much the last stop on the journey. For those who got referrals last month (end of July) TA's started arriving yesterday and a couple agencies are trying for CA's the first two weeks of September! That means the families will be leaving the end of August!! Four weeks from Referral to Departure is almost unheard of. It is typically 6-8 weeks at least. It is good news though that something is speeding up in this process!!!

Referral information is expected out this week. Of course we would get the month where there are virtually NO rumors until the very end of the month! I think we will actually see referrals arriving the end of August/first of September.

Almost back to school...

We went to a picnic yesterday for Trace to meet his classmates. Today we picked up papers at the school and met his teacher. He got to put his stuff in his desk and find his locker too. His teacher's name is Mrs. Kraker and I think she is going to be great this year. She is high energy, very organized and best of all - FUN! She also seems very interested in working with us on the allergy issues. I'm looking forward to the new year and the best part is, it starts monday!!! Whoo-hoo!

We are still waiting for the rumors to start in ernest this month. There have been a few but they are all conflicting, so basically nobody knows anything yet! As soon as I know I'll post it here - I know there are lots of you waiting!

By-the-way I'd love to know who all is checking in here. If you have a chance drop me a note by clicking on 'comments' below this (or any) post! Thanks - I can't wait to 'hear' from you!

Indiana Beach

We took the trailer out for its second trip last weekend. Two of our neighbors went also. It was about a three hour drive to Indiana Beach and we avoided the freeway where the sniper shootings have been. We spent all day Saturday at the park. In the morning we mainly played in the water. Caden and Jenna were too short for the water slides but they had fun in the swimming area. We went back to the trailer for a nap and dinner then went back to the park until eleven! The kids had a blast on all of the rides - Trace especially loved the roller coasters! Caden surprised me by loving the bumper cars! He kept yelling at Rick to get Sarah or Jacob. All in all we had a great time with friends and can't wait to go again (Labor Day).

No new news on the adoption front but keep checking frequently! We could start hearing rumors as early as this week that are reliable. The general feeling is that we will be included this month!

We tried and tried to get Caden to raise his hands - but there was no way! He held on with a death grip and smiled the whole time! 

The fabulous five! Waiting in line for the Frog Hopper at Indiana Beach. We went back in the evening after spending the morning mostly at the water park behind the kids. They rode this ride 3 times and wanted to go again! 

Just a Quick note

I've had several people ask me 'What's next?'. Well, we THINK we are next, but we won't know more positively for another week or two. I promise to post here anything I 'hear'. IF we are next then we will probaby know by the rumors about a week before referrals arrive. Again, I'll let you all know! Once referrals arrive we will get a phone call from our agency telling us her name, birthdate and where she lives. The next day we will receive pictures and a medical history via overnight fed-ex. We have a doctor review the information and then send back our acceptance, which is faxed to China. Then guess what we do? WAIT AGAIN!!! This will be the hardest wait because we will know who she is. If all goes well, we will be in China to pick her up about 6 weeks later. We won't know until about two weeks before we leave the exact dates though. We would appreciate your prayers this month!