Last night we got our more official travel dates. We're leaving March 2 and returning March 17 which of course is Benjamin's 6th birthday. It'll kind of suck not being home for his birthday (as we aren't getting back in until very late) but we told him he can stay home from school on the 18th and we'll celebrate his birthday then as a family of 5! He was ok with it as long as Eliana brings him back a birthday present, don't think that'll be much of a problem.
Gotcha day is March 7! Or so we think based on the info we have so far from our agency. They said we won't have final in-country dates until a week before we leave. However, our conuslate appointment is on March 14 and arriving/departing dates are confirmed! For those that have our password check out our tentative itinerary on our travel blog.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Thursday, January 20, 2011
We're going in March
After a very long and anxious day of waiting, late this afternoon we finally got word that our agency could not get us a consulate appointment until March 14. While we are a bit disapointed that we won't be traveling until March at least we know when we are going and can now plan accordingly. They are still confirming some dates but it looks like we will be leaving on March 3 and returning on March 16. We really really hope we'll be back on the 16th because the 17th is Benjamin's birthday and it would be really hard not to be there with him that day. But it is what it is and we are excited just the same that Eliana will be home with us soon, just wish it was sooner!
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Got our travel approval today!
Besides school being closed and Howard's work opening 2 hours late today we got the phone call we've been waiting for. Our travel approval (TA) has finally gone through! Our social worker said we should know our travel dates by Thursday. Our travel dates will be based off our consulate appointment date (when Eliana gets her U.S. visa) which our agency is scheduling now. We're hoping for an appointment date of Feb. 22 which means we would leave around Feb. 9 but it could be later. Hopefully not too much later. We'll keep the posts coming!
Saturday, January 1, 2011
New Trip Blog
We just started a new blog to document our journey to China to bring Eliana home. Our intention is to post pictures and videos on this blog but due to our privacy concerns those posts will be password protected. The blog can be found at the following location: Our Journey to China. If you would like the password contact us but please understand that we can only share this information with family and friends.
We do intend to keep this blog going providing updates on the process and general thoughts on adoption, just no media.
Speaking of updates...
We still don't know exactly when we're going to go but it's looking like it will be mid-February. Hopefully, we'll know more next week.
We do intend to keep this blog going providing updates on the process and general thoughts on adoption, just no media.
Speaking of updates...
We still don't know exactly when we're going to go but it's looking like it will be mid-February. Hopefully, we'll know more next week.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Article 5
We learned yesterday that our Article 5 was issued. What this basically means is that the U.S. Counsulate in Guangzhou notified the CCAA that we now are able to bring Eliana into the U.S. This clears the way for CCAA to issue our TA which is our official invitation to travel to China and bring her home. We should be getting this TA in a few weeks and once in hand we'll be able to make our travel plans!
When we travel to China will depend on when we can get our embassy appointment in Guangzhou to get her U.S. passport and visa. As this date can vary quite a bit we can have anywhere from 5 days to 5 weeks notice before we travel. So, we're now busy making travel preperations and finishing her room (a little more painting before her furniture is delivered on 12/29) her room!
We're very excited!
When we travel to China will depend on when we can get our embassy appointment in Guangzhou to get her U.S. passport and visa. As this date can vary quite a bit we can have anywhere from 5 days to 5 weeks notice before we travel. So, we're now busy making travel preperations and finishing her room (a little more painting before her furniture is delivered on 12/29) her room!
We're very excited!
Saturday, November 13, 2010
I-800 Approved!
Today, as I was working in Eliana's room and saw the mailman deliver our mail I had a good feeling. So, I went outside and got the mail and sure enough there was mail from the DHS. It was our I-800/I-800A approvals, a major step towards bringing Eliana home!
These approvals essentailly give us permission to bring Eliana into the U.S. and are the first steps towards obtaining her citizenship. Next we have to submit these approvals and some other paperwork to China to get our official travel invitation. Once we get that we can finally make our travel plans to bring her home. Now we just have to wait for one more document (a formality now that we have the I-800 approvals) before we can send this next paperwork submission!
We're getting closer! Good thing we bought the paint for her room today, she'll be home soon!
These approvals essentailly give us permission to bring Eliana into the U.S. and are the first steps towards obtaining her citizenship. Next we have to submit these approvals and some other paperwork to China to get our official travel invitation. Once we get that we can finally make our travel plans to bring her home. Now we just have to wait for one more document (a formality now that we have the I-800 approvals) before we can send this next paperwork submission!
We're getting closer! Good thing we bought the paint for her room today, she'll be home soon!
Monday, October 4, 2010
How it all went down
Today we received news of our "official" match with our daughter! Read on to find out how it all went down!
Beth had a feeling for the past few months that September was going to be our month. Given her track record on being right with her feelings, Howard was pretty optimistic as well. But she was getting nervous so about a week ago she contacted our social worker to "see where things stood". Our social worker, "D", inquired with our agency China Team as to where we were. They had a few follow-up questions for us on the scope of the special needs we were open to and gave us a general idea of where we stood. Based on what they told us, it was starting to look less likely that we would be matched in September but still likely to happen within next few months. Regardless, we still held out some hope for September.
The morning of September 20 arrived and since Beth religously checks all the discussion boards concerning China adoption we knew that a new special needs list was coming out on this day. It was also our understanding that if matched families are usually called between 8 and 10am. So, we were cautiously optimistic and maybe a bit anxious that morning. So, we begin our days as normal going to work. 9am - no phone call, 10am-no phone call, 11am - no phone call. By this point we figured it just wasn't going to be our month and the dejection sets in. At noon no longer expecting a phone call, Howard leaves the office to run a few errands. At approximately 12:04pm EDT, Beth's cell phone rings. She looks at the number displayed on the caller ID. It's our social worker's number.
The call went something like this:
Beth : "Helllllo?"
SW: "Hi Beth! It's D"
Beth: "Hi!."
SW: "Are you sitting down"
Beth:"Yes, and I am crying already!"
SW: "J just called and you have been matched with a beautiful daughter from China"
We have a daughter. She's about 26 months old and is from Shanghai, China. Aside from a minor heart condition that's already healed and being a little small, she's very healthy.
After composing herself, Beth tries to call Howard. She tries his cell, no answer. She tries his work number, no answer. She sends a frantic text message saying Debby called, call her ASAP! Howard finally looks at his phone as he's leaving the BB&T Bank on I and 16th streets in DC. As he's walking down I street towards 15th he calls her back and receives the good news.
The craziness has begun.
Beth had a feeling for the past few months that September was going to be our month. Given her track record on being right with her feelings, Howard was pretty optimistic as well. But she was getting nervous so about a week ago she contacted our social worker to "see where things stood". Our social worker, "D", inquired with our agency China Team as to where we were. They had a few follow-up questions for us on the scope of the special needs we were open to and gave us a general idea of where we stood. Based on what they told us, it was starting to look less likely that we would be matched in September but still likely to happen within next few months. Regardless, we still held out some hope for September.
The morning of September 20 arrived and since Beth religously checks all the discussion boards concerning China adoption we knew that a new special needs list was coming out on this day. It was also our understanding that if matched families are usually called between 8 and 10am. So, we were cautiously optimistic and maybe a bit anxious that morning. So, we begin our days as normal going to work. 9am - no phone call, 10am-no phone call, 11am - no phone call. By this point we figured it just wasn't going to be our month and the dejection sets in. At noon no longer expecting a phone call, Howard leaves the office to run a few errands. At approximately 12:04pm EDT, Beth's cell phone rings. She looks at the number displayed on the caller ID. It's our social worker's number.
The call went something like this:
Beth : "Helllllo?"
SW: "Hi Beth! It's D"
Beth: "Hi!."
SW: "Are you sitting down"
Beth:"Yes, and I am crying already!"
SW: "J just called and you have been matched with a beautiful daughter from China"
We have a daughter. She's about 26 months old and is from Shanghai, China. Aside from a minor heart condition that's already healed and being a little small, she's very healthy.
After composing herself, Beth tries to call Howard. She tries his cell, no answer. She tries his work number, no answer. She sends a frantic text message saying Debby called, call her ASAP! Howard finally looks at his phone as he's leaving the BB&T Bank on I and 16th streets in DC. As he's walking down I street towards 15th he calls her back and receives the good news.
The craziness has begun.
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