Only 2 Weeks to Go!

It is hard to believe that the time is finally drawing near. It does not seem real to me yet. I know there are things that I should probably be doing, but I am not really sure what they are. At the same time I don't want to get things ready too early. I am pretty much packed. I have this fear that I will get all the way over to China and slap my head because I forgot something important!
Things still left to do: Go to bank and get money; pack for my daughter that is staying behind-this is the task that is overwhelming more than anything. Isn't that funny? Double check and make sure I have all the gifts needed; and so much more.
We received a skeleton of an itinerary today. Here it is:

May 9 Leave for LA early in the AM
May 9 Leave for Guangzhou at midnight
May 11 Arrive in Guangzhou and fly to Beijing-arrive at 11:55 am
May 13 Tour Great Wall and Forbidden City
May 14 Leave for Guangzhou and I think it is also our "Gotcha Day".
May 15 Legal process
May 16 Local sightseeing
May 17 Orphanage visit (maybe)
May 18-20 I don't know
May 21 Obtain legal documents
May 23 Medical exam
May 24 Consulate Appointment at 10:30am
May 25 Obtain visa for Melina
May 26 Come home!!

Here is an update on Mom. Last Friday her WBC was 0.3. (It should be 5) On Sunday she had a fever of 101.8 so I had to take her to the ER. Fortunately I have some wonderful friends at the hospital that were able to help us and get her isolated right away. I was not wanting her to have to wait for 5 hours in a germ infested ER with no WBC! The short story is they don't know what caused the fever, but it subsided around Tuesday with antibiotics. She has been in the hospital all week because of other complications, but she is being well cared for and should be home maybe Friday or Saturday. This round of chemo is much more difficult than the first. Please pray that she will be able to tolerate it better. If not, I think they will have to make some adjustments.
Anyway, even though so much of my life right now seems like a blur I pray that I would, like Mary, mother of Jesus, be able to treasure all these things in my heart. I so want to remember and tell my children, "Look and see what the Lord has done! This is how He has shown Himself faithful...!"
"To Him be all glory, both now and forever!"

We Have Our Consulate Appointment!!

It is finally official! Our consulate appointment (CA) has been confirmed for May 24 at 10:30 am! We will be leaving the States on May 9 and arriving in Beijing on May 11. That will be one day before we are supposed to be there but they said our coordinator would be there to welcome us. We are so excited and ready to go! Our return flight is scheduled for May 26, but we can change it to May 25 if we are not rushed and get Melina's visa in time. I think we will probably be ready to get home by then. Melina, here we come!! Please pray for us as we prepare for our trip. More to come when I have more time to sit and type!

TA Arrived Via FEDEX!!

TA arrived today! I did hear about it on Friday, but I haven't had much time to post. I will say I was a little disappointed in the way that it came. I was told by my coordinator that she "would call me as soon as she had it in hand." All day on Friday I had my cell phone glued to my hip. I was out of the house pretty much all morning and most of the afternoon so as soon as I got home I checked email. Nothing. Every few hours I checked. Nothing. I began to worry because others had gotten "the call". Where was ours??? Finally, when it got to be after 5 I checked email again and at 4:45 my coordinator had emialed me that she had sent it to me. UHGGG! When I checked the tracking info. it had been sent at 9:30 that morning!!
Well, we have it and that is good, but it will be GREAT when we get our consulate appointment (CA) which we are hoping for today. However, I don't count on too much with our agency. We will see and it will be all in God's timing, right?! I am peaching to myself constantly.
Next Post: Baby Shower

10 Years and a Day Ago

Ten years and a day ago our precious daughter, Madeline Elise was born! I just can't believe she is 10 years old! Am I old enough to have a ten year old?? She is growing up quickly and over the past year I have seen some wonderful changes in her. She is going to be such a big help with Melina! She adores babies and loves to give them a bath!! We celebrated her birthday a week ago at a gymnastics place and we all had the time of our life! Yesterday, she was able to spend some intimate time with her best friend, Emily. Her favorite way to celebrate her birthday is with tea and scones, so that is what we did. Daddy even showed up with his blue blazer on-granted it was over his NC State shirt and shorts, but nonetheless, he was handsome! We tried to keep manners going, but we just sort of broke out in silliness and had fun!
Madeline, happy birthday and we love you! We pray you grow to seek God and love Him with all your heart!

7 Years Ago Today

Seven years ago today, at about this time of day (4:30pm)I was convincing my obstetrician that my baby was coming "today". He wanted to send me home. He looked at me and asked, "What do you think?" I replied, "She's coming today!" Sure enough, she came and by 7:47 PM we were holding our second daughter, Meredith Ann, in our arms. What a joy she has been! She is full of life and laughter! She goes nonstop from the time she gets up to the time she falls asleep. Sometimes that doesn't happen early enough for Mommy! :)
So today we have celebrated her 7 wonderful years of life. It began with pancakes, sausage and eggs for breakfast, care of Daddy. Because it was her birthday she only wanted to do "a little school" so we only did math today. Well, she also went to writing class which she loves. At lunch, her local cousins came over for McD's and cake and ice cream and "a show". We have had a great day.
We are very thankful for our "little Meredith" and the joy she brings to our family. We are looking forward to watching her as she learns to be a BIG SISTER soon!
Come on TA's!!
(Okay, I wanted to post some pictures of Meredith, but I will just have to add them later.)
Happy Birthday,Sweetie Pie!