China Adoption....Our Journey to Jaden

Good news (really good news) to share with you.....

It is now 4:05 am.  Under normal circumstances I would be sleeping.  But not tonight. 

Valerie came to me at 3:00 am to tell me that Sadie had puked in her bed.  What?!  Scott and I got up to check and Sadie had not puked in Valerie's bed.  Valerie did have a bad dream though and we helped her get back to bed.  Problem solved. 

So why am I still up?  Well, since I was already up I thought I would just peak at the CCAA website.  I have friends who have laptops by their beds and have been checking the site through the night for the past couple of days.  Remember, Beijing is 12 hours ahead of us.  There site always updates in the middle of the night for us.  I didn't have the laptop by the bed, but "since I'm already up....."

The CCAA website was updated and they are sending referrals for families with LID's through 6/28/05!!!  Wow!  My friends Cindy & Jeff in Little Rock are LID 6/27 and they were the first people that I thought of.  I had to call them!!  They were in!!!  Cindy has been so afraid to hope that they might actually make it this month.  But they did and now we're praying that our consulate appointments are near the same time so that we can see each other at the White Swan in China.  After waking Cindy and Jeff up and listening to Cindy say, "OH MY GOODNESS!" fifteen times as her computer loaded (that was so fun!) I hung up and called my friend Julie.  I didn't have permission to call Little Rock in the middle of the night but I did have permission to wake Julie up.  Well, actually I gave her permission to wake me up.  I assumed it was reciprocal.  Julie and I determined that I would be the go-to-girl for tracking the package and so I hung up and called DHL Worldwide.  I was so nervous about calling to find out the tracking number but Cat with DHL was wonderful.  She said, "Oh, I love finding these packages."  She set to work and came up with all of the information that I (and all of my June friends) need.  Here's the scoop.

http://track.dhl-usa.com/TrackByNbr.asp?nav=TrackBynumber

Tracking #2858794875

Cat told me that the package was picked up in Beijing at 3:05 pm (that's just after Valerie woke us up!) and that it would be delivered Monday morning by 12 noon. 

Jaden Smith's picture is on its way across the ocean.  It's finally happening! 

I'm thinking that I was only having braxton hicks the other day when I said we were in labor.  This is the real thing.  Do you think I'll be able to sleep? 

One more thing.  For anyone that thinks I'm a little crazy for being up at 3am doing this.......

You have obviously never waited sixteen months on a baby!  ;-)  This is all good. 

I'm off to bed.  Good night!

Traci

Here's an update for those looking to see where we are....

Okay, the CCAA did not update their website last night as some of us thought they might.  Historically (since the new director took over several months ago), the CCAA will update their website on the day that they send the referrals out to agencies.  Typically, we can find out the tracking number from DHL and "watch" the referrals come across the ocean to the agencies.  Normally, it takes about 2-3 days for the referrals to be received and our agency calls us on the same day that they receive the referrals.  With that call they are able to tell us our daughter's name, age, province, SWI (social welfare institute/orphanage) or foster care info. and very general health information.  While these calls are being made by our coordinators there is a person who is translating all of the referrals.  When all of the translations are complete then the agency sends them overnight to the families.  We expect that our agency will receive at least 12 referrals this time (possibly more).  It may take the translator longer with this size group and so we may not receive her picture until two days after the phone call.  More patience.

This long winded explanation is meant to help you know how much more time we are looking at.  Once the CCAA website is updated (on the far right side of the page in the gray box) we're looking at two to three more days of waiting.  If I get the tracking number for the package then I'll share it here.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and everyone of  you who read this blog and who are supporting us.  This has been such a long journey for all of us.  I thank God for the strength, patience and perseverance that he has given us as we have waited for his plan to unfold.

At this point the waiting is pretty easy.  It's only a matter of days.  I have had the experience of labor and I can promise you that we are definitely in labor this week. 

Have a great day!  I hope the sun is shining where you are.  A thunderstorm would feel like sunshine to us these days.  This is a really fun time for our family.

Traci 

Construction update....

We were really hoping that the pool people were accurate on their predictions of "being in water" by Auction day.  Well, it probably won't happen.  I just spoke to Tom, the construction foreman and it turns out that the liner was just recently ordered.  It won't be here until the end of this week or beginning of next.  I could give more details but what difference does it make?  I know that we can wait and it's no big deal, but I was really hoping that the crew that will be here this weekend to help us with the auction would be able to jump in after working so hard.  Oh well......we'll just have to have everyone back for a pool party when it's complete.

Traci

SERIOUSLY....

.....I CAN'T BREATHE!!!!!  I HAVE BEEN RENDERED SPEECHLESS at the thought of this being so close. 

I don't want to over exaggerate, but.......

.......I can hardly breathe!  Word just came out that TA's (Travel Approvals) came out today for the previous group.  TA's almost always come JUST BEFORE referrals.  I looked back at last month and last month TA's came out with referrals.   

Honestly, I don't know what to say.  I am absolutely.......what?  I don't know what.  The only thing that comes to mind is.....Finally.......Finally! 

I'll let you know when I hear something specific.  Keep your cell phones on your hips and charged.  I know I am.  We are having a baby and her name is Jaden.

Traci

It's official....some of our June group now have their babies....

Hello Everyone and Happy Father's Day!!  About eleven hours ago some of our friends on our agency's small June Yahoo Group received their daughters.  What a way to celebrate Father's Day!  Some of you may want to follow along on their journeys and so I'm posting some links for you. 

Gracyn met her parents, Temple and Sig today.  Read about them here:  Gracyn's Story

Ava, Abigail and Meika met their parents today as well.  Ava's parents are Rudy, Diane and big Sister is Zoe. Abigail's mother is Kathleen and her big Sis is Emily.  Meika joined Rich, Lynn and her big Sister Kiana.  They can be followed on The Story of You.  Go to the In China Now page and select their names.  Meika's site is password protected and I don't feel that I can give it out.  She's beautiful though, I can assure you!  Read about them here:  Ava, Abigail and Meika's Story

Rebekah joined her family today as well.  You can read all about Deb, Tim and sister Katharine.  Read all about them here:  Rebekah's Story

Enjoy reading about these children and their families.  I have been communicating with some of these families for a year.  They will be home on the 28th.  We should be one step closer by then.  There is another group from our small June group who should receive their TA's (travel approvals) next week.  They will leave early to mid-July to bring their daughters home.  By then we will be waiting for our TA's.  It is a very exciting time for our small June group.  There are approximately 37 families on that group.  We look forward to everyone having their babies at home with them. 

Happy Father's Day to all of those great Dad's out there!

Traci

Multiple posts again

Finally catching up on posting about the week.  Read on to hear about Memphis, horse camp and to obtain a construction update. 

Have a great weekend.

Traci

Memphis....

........time away for Mom to relax, reflect and realize how much she takes Dad for granted.  I had a great time.  I was able to lay down my wife and Mommy role on the pavement outside of the hotel and leave it there until it was time to drive back home.  I wasn't in the car heading back more than fifteen minutes before I was crying almost uncontrollably.  I missed Scott so much.  You know, he is the equivalent of my right arm.  I never really think about my right arm.  It's there, I use it and I take it for granted.  I do the same thing to Scott.  He's there, he's wonderful and after nine plus years, I'm taking him for granted.  Don't misunderstand me....I tell him that I love him, that I appreciate him, that I think he's awesome, that I think my kids have the best Dad on the planet.  I do, I tell him all of those things fairly regularly.  However, I sometimes forget to look at him.  Really look at him and reflect on who he is and how wonderful my life is because of him.  So, I called him. 

Guess what?  He said, "Hon, we're really busy here.  Can I talk to you later?"  Ummmm...(sniff, sniff) sure.  So, I call him later and he's at Lowe's buying guy things.  (Guy things that make a pool work.)  "Honey, can you talk now?"  He said, "Umm, yea I can."  In the mean time he's correcting the kids, talking to the sales lady and trying (at the same time) to tell me how much he loves me too.  Who said a guy can't multi task?  Hmmmmm.....

Maybe it's not just me then.  Maybe he's forgetting to look at me too.  It's okay though.  I made the nine hour drive home and we connected.  We put the kids to bed (on the floor in our room due to the heat upstairs) and sat up on our elbows talking.  We looked at each other.....for about 90 seconds before the lights went out and the snoring began.  After all it was late and we had to be up at 6:30 am to take the kids to horse camp.  I know it doesn't sound like much but it was a wonderful 90 seconds of looking into each other's eyes.  I was able to tell him how much he means to me and how grateful I am that he's my husband.  I also told him the "right arm" story.  I think he may have responded with something like, "Ummmm, okay.  Yea, you're my right arm too."  And he winked at me and kissed the tip of my nose. 

Not exactly what we all envisioned when were eighteen and madly "in love" with some schmuck, but I think it's absolutely great.  Even better than the little girl dream.  Arial doesn't have anything on me!   

I love you Scotty!  Thank you for being so good to the kids and I.  Let's shoot for another 90 seconds again real soon. (There's something not right about that statement.)  Get your mind out of the gutter and look at my Memphis pics.....

Left to right on the top:

Susan, Traci and Cindy

Left to right on the bottom:

Caroline, Deb and Karen

Thanks for the laughs ladies!

We had a wonderful carriage ride around Memphis for one hour on Saturday.  It was so relaxing and enjoyable.  This is our driver with his dog, Catfish.

This is the famous Beale Street in Memphis.  Perhaps this is why I missed Scott so much.  When Scott and I dated we spent a lot of time listening to live music and Blues was our favorite.  The perks of dating a musician. 

I kicked back in my chair at B.B. Kings and put my feet up on a stool.  We listened to music and I thought about my guy.  I thought about all of those dates long ago.  Pre-kid, pre-rental business, pre-nursing career days.  It's fun to remember.  Beale Street would have been even more fun if he had been with me.  Not because I didn't have fun with the girls.  Not at all.  It just evoked a lot of really great memories.  Sitting and thinking about him isn't nearly as much fun as actually sharing a table.  I enjoyed the girls in Memphis.  We really had a great time.  I look forward to getting together with them again soon.  But the next time I go to Beale Street, I think I'll go with Scott.

                                                                                         Cute isn't he?

Horse camp 2006

Horse camp started Monday morning.  I missed the first day but I was able to hear all about Molly (Valerie's horse) and Alexis (Kevin's horse) when I came home Tuesday.  Valerie & Kevin have both been very excited.  However, Valerie is really over the top about it.  Who knows, maybe this is her thing!  After staying at the camp and watching for more than an hour Tuesday morning we signed Valerie up for another horse camp in July.  She will be eight by then and she can ride by herself (without being lead.)  Here are some pictures of the fun they had this week.  On the last day of the week they decorate their horses for a show that they put on for the parents.  They did a great job!

Introducing Alexis, Kevin's horse for the week. 

And this is Molly, Valerie's horse. 

These pictures show their week pretty effectively.  This was a great summer camp for them.  I think we'll be doing more in coming years. 

Scott and the kids are talking about cleaning out the stall in the red barn and buying a horse someday.  This city girl wants to be sure that everyone understands that I am NOT taking care of a horse. I'll look at them, take pictures of my kids riding and caring for them but I am NOT doing horse care.  Yuch!  Taking care of Sadie is plenty of work for me. 

Backyard construction update.....

I haven't posted updated pictures of the construction disaster in our back yard lately.  It is so messy.  Our floor is nasty every single day.  I can't keep up.  I figure I'll stop trying for awhile.  Here's the updated photos.  We're still hoping to be swimming by Auction day, which is next Saturday the 24th.

This was after they backfilled on Wednesday and then placed the grounding grid around it.  The inspector came on Thursday and approved everything.  That leads us to today - Friday.......

  We have a place for deck chairs folks!  And a slide for the younger visitors.  I hope that they are right and that we are able to swim by next Saturday.  I think that will be a nice way to celebrate seeing Jaden's picture next week.  (Okay, so we may not see her until the week after the auction but I'm being optimistic.)

Next we'll have the liner installed and then fill with water. 

Scott is trying to keep up......

Here is Scott down over the hill working on the electric.  He has all of the electric run but he is still making the connections at the house and at the heater and pump.  I think he plans to be done this weekend. 

We'll be floating on our backs before long.

Time to go swim suit shopping!  By the way, this house is a B.Y.O.T. house......Bring your own towel.  I've decided that's going to be my number one request.  Bring your own towel so that I can keep up with all of the laundry around here and still have pool time myself.  I don't think I could stand adding an extra load of towels to the to do list everyday.  Lame, huh?  If that makes me a bad friend then please forgive me.  Oh, and don't forget your towel! ;-)

Take care!  Traci