Over the Rainbow

Somewhere way up high there's a place that I heard of once in a lullaby. And finally we have landed in that place, Taiwan! Dreams that you dare to dream, really do come true. Our travels where thankfully uneventful. Only an hour an half take off delay from LA. It was the longest plane ride, you can't even imagine. I new it was a fifteen hour flight from LA but what I didn't realize was just how long fifteen hours really is. My ankles swelled and by the end of the flight I had no ankles. Total travel time was 32 hours. The airport in Taiwan was very easy and quick to go through. First we exchanged our money over to NT. Then we bought bus tickets to the high speed rail station. We made it to our train 1 minute before it arrived. The train ride was nice and relaxing. We sighted many rice fields along the way. At our train arrival we had a driver waiting for us holding a sign with our name. On our drive to the hotel we realized we were not in the US anymore from all the mopeds and dogs roaming the sidewalks. Then we checked in and got all settled. We laid down to take an hour rest and woke up five hours later. We got ready, explored around the hotel and ate kim-che noodles from 7-11 that you just add hot water to. All the restaurants were closed by the time we were ready so that was our romantic dinner. We can't get this laptop to read our SD card from our camera so we just have the web cam picture for now. We are going to try and figure this out so we can post some Gotcha Day picture tomorrow.

I think I have everything reading for tomorrow. I have gifts for the social workers and foster families. We have backpacks with a few toys and candy for each of the kids. We made a list of questions for each foster family. I hope to fill in a lot of blanks on the children's history and personality. It is 12:30 AM, I should probably try and get some rest now. 9 more hours! Next post will be our Gotcha Day with Naveia and Kai.

One More Day!

We got a surprise update today!

A picture of our handsome boy. I don't know the story behind this photo. It seems they took them to get a photoshoot before leaving their birth country. Naveia's photo does not do her justice. You will have to wait to see her when I get a hold of her and doll her up. We also got the kids daily care routine. Some new things I learned about the kids. Kai still drinks a bottle of formula. This is common for a toddler in their culture. I am kinda glad that he does, bottle feeding him will be good for bonding. Naveia likes dogs and sleeps with a stuffed animal dog. Ahh, Buddy has a new friend.

ONE more day! We are finishing up our to do list tonight and tomorrow morning. Our last evening will be spent taking the kids out to eat (they want chinese buffet), quality time playing, snuggling, whatever they want from us.

Seven more days....

Only seven more days! We will be leaving at this time next week. I am having so much fun making arrangements for this long awaited journey. I got our plane tickets in the mail yesterday. I love seeing the kids names on there ticket that will bring them forever home. I got all three hotels we needed reserved. Train tickets booked. Dr. appointments for the kids when we return are set. I have our itinerary all planned out. We are going to have so much FUN. Thankfully we finally found some luggage to borrow, so I can get packed. Thanks Hofmeister! I bought myself some new cute Skechers walking shoes. We will be doing a lot of walking. I told John he needs to lift some weights this week to get his arms ready for carrying about 40lbs of kids in each arm. Sorry I am just rambling on, I am just excited and in a hurry to get back to preparing to leave.

Things left on the to do list; get a car seat installed in van, find a friend that will lend us their laptop/notebook, pack, paint closets and install shelves (I know we are last minute), clean up around the house, I better just go get busy now. bye

Countdown Begins

11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 Taiwan here we come! Yes, Yes, Yes, we got our travel dates! Praise God! It happened today on my son's 6th birthday. I got the call early this morning. I decided not to tell anyone, not even my husband. So I wrote on a bright green paper "the countdown begins,,, we are going to get your sister and brother. Love, Mommy" I wrapped it up like one of the presents. All the family was over for Zane's party, he unwrapped it and Zarra read it to everyone. They were all very happily surprised.

I am so excited! This is the moment I have been waiting for. I booked our flights right away. We are leaving on March 9th, receiving the kids on the 12th, and will be home on the 19th. Now I have to find a hotel that is not booked. I want one that is near a metra station, so we can use that for transportation. Fellow adoptive parents that have traveled any suggestions? Please leave me a comment.

I can't believe I will be holding my babies in two weeks. Friends, family, fellow bloggers thank you all for your continued prayers through the hard times. Your support has meant a lot to me.

Fundraiser

Donate to Mandi & Matt to help raise the funds needed to travel and bring Drew home to his forever family. Go to http://bringingdrewhome.blogspot.com/ click the chip-in button on the right column. Donate $10 for one entry or $25 for 3 entries. They have some great give aways if your entry is drawn.

Hopeful

My adoption agency has agreed to talk with the orphanage social worker. I got our hemo specialist to write a letter for us. All in hopes of still getting an early March travel date. The mother in me is hopeful that this will all work out sooner than later. On the other hand I am at peace and know that God is in control. We will see His good work completed on a date He has already chosen. My two bio kids where both two weeks over due! Do you think God wants to keep building me up in the patience department? Uhm, it seems so. Well I better go pack up my spring cloths just in case we get a moments notice to leave. The weather will be high in the 70's low 60's. I am ready for some warmer temperatures.

Delayed

Sorry I have not posted in awhile, but there has been no updates. I wanted my next update to be the exciting News of when we where leaving. Well this post is not that exciting update I had hoped for. Today I got somewhat of an upsetting update. Due to medical reasons they are delaying travel until mid to end of March. Don't worry it is not an emergency. O.k. so now I have open that box of questions. What medical reasons, you may be thinking? We have only recently shared this with our close family but it is nothing to keep a secret forever. Naveia has a medical condition called ITP, it is a blood clotting disorder. If her platelets are low she can bruise and bleed very easily. At this time her counts are to low for her to travel. Please pray for her healing and my patience. I just want to bring my babies home and take care of them myself.