We're leaving on a jet plane...

So, it's the last minute rush to get everything packed and done before we leave. I'm tired and I just want to go to bed.

While in China, we won't be able to post here, so PLEASE come and see what we are up to by going here:

www.myadoptionwebsite.com/bringinghomeemily

See you all in 2 weeks!!!

Packing FUN!

Very few days left before we head off to China, and packing has begun. This almost seems too easy, and I'm starting to worry that we are forgetting something important. To reduce my stress, my Darling Husband (a NONE-list-making person) actually suggested that we make 2 (Yes 2) lists, one of things we can't forget to pack, and one for things we still need to buy (think he's getting nervous? No, me neither!! LOL!!)

Emily's stuff is pretty much ready, and we are watching the weight, but so far we're doing ok. I never thought that we could manage with ONLY 1-20kg bag each, although DH has not yet selected his clothes, so we'll see.

Alrighty then, off to do some more cleaning and organizing!! FUN!!!

TA !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Or in terms that are easier to understand, WE ARE GOING TO CHINA !!!!!

So, once again I got called while in the car, TOTALLY caught off guard (that's OK though, it's ALL GOOD!) We booked and paid for our flights to Beijing today, and we will get the rest of the information on Friday.

What we know so far:

We leave on Friday Sept. 11 (I know, not the day I would have chosen to fly, but we will create our own new "lucky" memory for this date - not to belittle anyone else's tragic memories, but it's time to start new HAPPY ones.)
We arrive home on Friday Sept. 25th - late at night, I believe (haven't got the tickets in hand yet so I can't remember exact time.)

We will apparently be signing for our adoption on the 15th, meaning we will meet our daughter no later than the 14th (hopefully the 13th??)as we arrive in China on the 12th in the late afternoon/evening.

For now, panic has started to set in, looking at the MANY MANY little things we have yet to do before we leave... AAAGGGGHHH !!!!

Besides that, life is good!

Stay tuned for more details as they are made available to us... And join us on the roller coater ride that is our ADOPTION !

No news is... NO news!

That old saying really doesn't apply here, NO NEWS really is NO NEWS (not good news:( !!

We still have no TA (travel approval) and are hoping to maybe hear something on Monday. Other families in the US and Europe have received theirs, so I can only hope that our wait is almost over and that we will soon be on a plane.
But for now... No news means we still get to sit here and WAIT!

I really am done waiting...done done! I hope this week-end goes by quickly, but it likely won't. "A watched pot never boils!" Why does that 'saying' get to work and not the first one? NO fair!!!

Care Package across the world

Technology is so wonderful (at times!)
We were able to contact a lady in China (Ann at redthreadchina@yahoo.com) who, for a small fee, put together a cute litte care package for Emily and tranlated a letter we wrote into Chinese for the Director of the orphanage. I wish I could see Emily in that cute little PJ - I hope I will very SOON. I pray the pictures that they take turn out OK. I know not to keep my hopes too high, but a small souvernir from her first 8 months of life will be nice for her to have.


Every day is a day closer to you Emily... We're coming...

Introducing...

So, there we were, July 21st ... just about finished our 16 hour drive back from Nova Scotia, after having only about 3 hours sleep - in otherwords COMPLETELY EXHAUSTED...
We had just dropped off my parents at their home (as they had joined us on our trip), and we were ready to drive the last 30 minutes to get to ours, when... SEAN'S PHONE RANG!!!!

IT'S A GIRL !!!!!

Barely conscience, we wrote down the information and drove home (not exactly how I was expecting things to happen... to say the least.)

It took a little while for things to sink in, after all we had not seen her picture yet.

Finally, on July 24th, we were able to go to our agency and pick up our daughter's file (as it first needed to be translated Chinese > English).

And this is what we learned:

Chinese given name: FU, JuiYi
Born: Jan.17th 2009 (only 6 months old!!!)
Currently in an orphanage in Jiangxi

Medical was done at age 4 months:
She was 60cm tall and weighed about 14 lbs

Other information they gave us:

• She can stand for a moment while being supported on armpits (obviously NOT walking yet, meaning WE get to see her first steps... YEAH!!!)



• She can hold her head up while lying on the stomach (I love pictures of babies on their stomach, I can just imagine her now...)
  


• She can giggle (that's necessary in our household!)



• She's energetic, little bit afraid of strangers (Great... our baby is afraid of starngers and the "boogey man" is going to China to pick her up!)
  


• She likes listening to music (ok that's good), wahtching TV (that's NOT good) and being hugged (we can definitely handle that!)
  


• Apparently "she has good appetite!"



• She likes colorful toys (so apparently they have SOME toys to play with, that's good to know!)

And finally, attached to all the documents were 4 pictures of our cutie.

FIRST, her mug shot (or as Sean said: inmate number 071905-011709)

And then, some cuter pictures that show off her good looks!

SO... INTRODUCING...

Emily JiuYi Rose MacIsaac

And now... we wait for permission to travel to China, a.k.a TA, which we should get in about 4 to 6 weeks. Then, 2 weeks after that, we should be on a plane to CHINA !!!!

In the meantime, we need to keep busy. Thankfully there are tones of things to do to get ready for our trip...otherwise I think I'd go crazy.

Just imagine, in about 8 weeks she will be in our arms... We can't wait!!!! We're coming baby...

The calm before the storm...

So this is where we are at...

Out comes the sun...

Today the sun has come out! We might actually be able to go swimming at some point! Went up to Cheticamp yesterday and got crab RIGHT OFF THE BOAT! $2 a lbs!!!!!!!! Crab cakes later today, I can't wait!
It really is a different pace in a small town, things go slowly and there really doesn't seem to be much stress (at least by Montreal standards!)
2 more days then we have to head back to the craziness that is Montreal... Then again, things move almost too slowly here and THAT would stress me out.

I'm also stressed thinking that we have been matched with our baby and I just have not yet seen her pictures... I'M FREAKING OUT!!!!!!!!

RUMORs, RUMORS, RUMORS

There are apparently some rumors out there... There is a light! Since we KNOW we are next, all I want to hear is when referrals are actually arriving. None of that yet...

We are on vacation in Nova Scotia, visiting the in-laws, what a time to be away. We'll probably miss the first phone call about daughter! But it's also a funny feeling to think that we might get home from vacation and have baby pictures waiting for us!

Nova Scotia today is a little rainny and overcast, then again the weather is very typical of what it has been in Montreal ALL summer. We managed to get out and go for a walk by the beach, but no one was swimming. It's about 19 degrees, so Sean thinks it's plenty hot to go swimming... We'll see!

Now, it's off to have some of Sean's mom's pizza... They own a pizza shop after all, and we pretty much live on pizza when we come here; but it's the BEST pizza, so I really don't mind!!! Grandma pizza is also very anxious for pictures of her grand-daughter... soon, soon, soon...

Sunny Day!

FINALLY!!!!

After all these ugly, rainny, cloudy, windy, wet, depressing, gloomy days, finally a sunny day with - dare I say it - NO RAIN in sight!!!!
So, we are heading to the beach. I have a feeling we might not be the only ones getting this idea today, but... summer is too short. Bring on the crowds!!!!

In the world of adoption, the sun is not shinning yet. It's been VERY QUIET. No rumors mean I'm going crazy!!!! I live for rumors these days...

We decided that we needed to get away to change our thoughts (hopefully), so 2 days in Burlington (USA), and then 6 days in Nova Scotia (visiting the in-laws) will hopefully bring us up to the time when either rumors will be rampant OR we will be hearing about our little one. We're just trying to make it through this LAST (can't believe I'm saying that) LAST dry spell ! Then I'll probably have to brace myself for the chaos ahead. Sometimes I wonder how things will be on the other end of the spectrum? Will it simply be the oasis in the desert (kind of like "Thank God we're here, we made it!") or will it be like a hurricane in Kansas (chaotic, without a chance to really think or plan anything, just running on instinct)?
Oh, all the exicitment that awaits us in the next few months!!! Either way, BRING IT ON!

And now it's Friday...

I have been off for two days, although it seems longer which I guess is good?! However, I've had all this time to sit at my computer and check for rumour (of which there have been NONE!!) Pure torture...
And now it's Friday, which means that we won't hear anything until Monday, if we hear anything at all next week...

So, what does the weekend bring? Well, right now I'm listening to Sean practising his guitar (he's not bad!) But that's only 1 hour...

So... I need something else to keep my mind off of waiting for the phone to ring with a certain call...Anyone? Cleaning the house - started that got bored, shopping - tried that then saw baby clothes too difficult, sleeping - too depressing, snacking - yah, gotta stop that actually, watching TV - lots of re-runs which drives me nuts... SO?

Have a great week-end everyone...

Someone is watching over us...

As I have always believed, there is definitely somebody looking over us and helping us along our way. I got a call at work to inform me that I won a $2000 travel gift certificate to travel - ANYWHERE! I remember entering the contest back in March, but not really thinking much about it. How many of these "amazing" contests do we enter, never assuming that we'll ever hear anything. Well, I'm here to say, it can happen!
Especially if you have someone looking over you / looking out for you... You gotta believe!

I WON!!!!!!!

I entered a giveway for a $150 gift cetificate for: My Adoption Website, and.... I won!!! So we will be setting up a very nice site to be able to have our friends follow the end/beginning of our journey to Emily!!!

I can't wait...

ONE DAY, ONLY ONE DAY....

So... We missed this month by 1 day!!! China is now up to March 20th, we are March 21st. There is a certain amount of comfort in knowing that we are (likely) next - I say likely because I have heard of China "changing" your 'date' at the last minute. But there is still the nervous wonder of "when" next will be?
So, in the mean time, we are celebrating father's day with my family. Dad is getting a nice BBQ, and if the weather cooperated a little better we could go for a swim.

We are making some plans for the summer (which is either going to go by REALLY quickly or REEEEEAAAAALLLLLYYYYY slowly) I'm actually okay with either, but we'll have to see where my mind wonders to this summer (busy projects or viewing internet updates every 5 secs. > I'm hoping my mind is occupied with busy projects...)

Only 5 1/2 more days of work until my summer holidays officially begin. Summer was supposed to have started this morning, but if this is any indication of what the rest of summer will look like, I'm NOT happy!

So, now we wait for the next update. Let's hope it come quickly! Around July 12th would be nice...right on time for my BIRTHDAY! What a present that would be!

So much too do, So little time

I'm looking at all the things that should get done around the house, and I wonder when I will get around to them all?!? Which chore to attack first, which can wait until later... Then again, I could go and watch a movie and ignore them all!

Last winter we bought some rope lights that were on sale at the end of the Christmas season. We thought we were being "smart" by waiting until they were on clearance. So we bought them to put up in our gazebo, dreaming of future romantic suppers in our backyard with the warm glow of white lights around us. We took 4 boxes of WHITE lights. Did we 'check' that they were WHITE? Why would we, they were rolled up in boxes that said WHITE LIGHTS on them. You know where this is going...
So Sean goes out today to set them up. Again, assuming they are ALL WHITE, he set them all up BEFORE plugguing them in. He then came inside to invite me to see his work. I tried to say that I would rather see them later tonight as I probably wouldn't get a great effect during the day, but he assured me they were worth seeing.
So... White, red, yellow, purple! 4 strands, 4 different colors! DAMN people who changed the items at the store!!! Oh well, my new motto is: "Things may not always work out as planned, so when God sends you lemons, make lemonaid!"

On a happier note, Monday often comes too quickly, but this week-end I'm actually looking forward to Monday, 1) We may start to hear some rumors about where things stand in China, 2)it is the beginning of the end at work (only 4 weeks until summer vacation) AND 3) it will be June, only my 2nd favorite month of the year!

Have a Great week-end...

We're getting CLOSER....

Well, they started moving again, and quite the move it was. They actually made it all the way to March 14th (my "BEST CASE" guess.) There are no more BIG days until OUR DAY, March 21st, so... dare I say it... we MIGHT MIGHT MIGHT actually be NEXT!!!!!

I will be on the edge of my seat - and on RQ every 2 seconds - until we start to hear news of the next update.

In an unrelated story (well not totally unrelated), I had a very vivid dream a few nights ago that I was holding a very cute, blue-eyed (caucasian) boy in my arm. I still remember the feeling and it just felt so nice. He was wide awake and smiling up at me. There were several women in the room (I think they were friends) but I was the only one with a baby and he was mine. I could not take my eyes off of him so i have no idea who the other people really were. I just remember an intense feeling of joy. Anybody good at analysing dreams? Why would I dream of having a caucasian boy with blue eyes??

Congratulations Louise and Rick!!

Sean and I just spent an amazing Saturday evening at a good friend's wedding. All the rain could not dampen the INCREDILE event! Everything was wonderful, and the bride was beautiful (the groom didn't look so bad himself)!

Mother's Day

Yes, this wonderful day is quickly approaching, kind of like a car wreck. You can see it coming, but can't do anything to change the outcome...

Yes, it will be a lovely day spent with my mother; however, it would have been an even lovelier day spent with my daughter. It's hard to think that she is probably alive somewhere out there at this point, but that I won't get to see her on Mother's day.

At least I can resolve myself to saying that it is VERY VERY likely the last year that I won't be a mother on Mother's Day!!!

Still trying very hard with the positive stuff... you gotta give me credit for that !!!!!

Sad News...

It looks like after being quite hopeful recently, the SWINE flu had put a wrench in our optimistic plans of heading to China this summer or early fall. They have not yet announced how long the delay will be, but they are simply worried about people travelling to China.
Here's hoping that we get some better news this week or next...

In the mean time, spring time is finally here. My garden is in full bloom and we can finally get out and enjoy the great outdoors! Our fair city is so beautiful in the spring!

OOPS, I did it again!!

Once again, I absented myself from my blog for FAR TOO long... Sorry to those that check for updates once in while.
It's not like I haven't been busy...

Between EXTREME cold...



and EXTREME heat...



we managed to follow the updates on RQ...

We can't believe that they are all the way to March 8th '06!!!! Only one more BIG day before our day, can you believe it!?!?! If they make it to the 14th next month, we might actually be next next!!!! Either a picture or travel to China around my birthday in July... what more could a mom-to-be ask!?!

So I PROMISE PROMISE PROMISE to update more regularly now, especially that we are REALLY close...

STAY TUNED, our crazy wait is almost over...