LOA

Yesterday I got the phone call that I had been waiting for, our LOA was in.  We waited 71 days for this step to occur.  I really thought I would cry when we finally reached this milestone.  But no, I was really nauseated as it sunk in that I would be going to China, leaving my other children at home and bringing home another daughter.

I went out to eat with my sister and I started thinking about all the things I need to do.  I need to finish the girls room, by a baby bed, carseat, and prepare to leave for China.  I then started thinking about if Clare got sick, what would I do.  I was worried about giving her Tylenol, Adivil or an antibiotic??????  It hit me, this is no different from bringing home any of my children.  I had to test each of my children with these drugs and that I had only known each of them, outside of my belly, for a short time.  Clare is no different, except for the fact she is 5 years old and on the other side of the world.  It is scary, very scary to me.  But I will soon board a plane and go and get my Chinese Butterfly!!!!!!!

Here are pictures from her 5th birthday party!!!!!

They told me that she was not interested in wearing her hat, until after her party was over!!

I enlarge this one, so you could see the beautiful cake they bought her for her birthday. 

Clare we are coming, very soon, to get you.  We love you and can't wait to get to China!!

Suzanne

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!

HAPPY 5TH BIRTHDAY CLARE!!!!!!!

I LOVE YOU AND SO WISH I COULD BE WITH YOU AND GIVE YOU ALL THE HUGS AND KISSES YOU DESERVE.

We are working hard to come and get you.  We are still waiting on our Letter of Acceptance.  This is another one of those, "just sit there and try to be patient steps."  I am having a very hard time.  Each day just eats away at me a little more.

Here are some beautiful pictures of our Princess.

Here is a link to her.  She is playing with one of the Christmas presents I sent.  http://littleflowerprojects.blogspot.com/2012/01/mei-meis-baby.html

Later today, I will post pictures of her birthday presents.  I chose not to send anything at this time and to just get her what she needed when we bring her home. 

Please pray we get our LOA soon.  I want to go and get my girl!!

I LOVE YOU PRINCESS CLARE!!!!

Your Forever Mom



Prayers needed, Please.

Tomorrow Hannah will be having surgery to repair her laryngeal cleft, replace her ear tubes and an ABR (sedated hearing test).  Please pray that all will go well and she will have an uneventful and quick recovery.  She is scheduled for 7:30 am.

Hannah had her pre-op physical today and I am not sure why we even had to go.  They didn't bother to take vitals, listen to her heart, lungs or bowels.  They did look into her ears and throat??  My 4 year old could have done just as good a job!!!!!! 

Here is a sneak peak into what Clare has been up to lately:  http://littleflowerprojects.blogspot.com/2011/12/mei-mei-helps-out.html.  I hope you enjoy it.

Thank you for the prayers!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Suzanne

It's Monday!!!

The waiting is the hardest part.  First you wait on your spouse to say yes, finding the perfect child, finding out if she is available and if you qualify.  Next you wait for the ruff draft of the home study and then back and forth until all corrections are made.  You wait over 2 months on immigration, then on notarizing, certification and authentication.  You finally send in your dossier and wait, some more, until they tell you it is safely in China, translated and in the governments hands!!  Then you WAIT some more.  We are on day 32 of a process that can take well over 100 days.  I am already doing crazy!!  I am currently working on the girl's bedroom.  As soon as we get our LOA, Letter of Acceptance, I will go and buy a baby bed, sheets and car seat.  I am trying really hard to "forget" about it. but it isn't working well.  I have done well with every step, until now.  I just can't get it off my mind!!  I am glad tomorrow is a working day, so maybe we will hear something tomorrow.



I finally had to get Hannah's hair cut.  On the 30th of December, I took her to Great Clips.

At this point, they had only combed her hair and she was trying to cut the first part.

It took about 30 minutes of screaming to get the whole style cut.  She is now tired but very cute looking.  I already miss her long, curly hair, BUT she can't get it wrapped around her finger.  She had been twirling it while I was getting her in the van.

Loudly complaining and fighting for 30 minutes, really wears a girl out.



We are only 2,480 dollars from being fully funded!!!!!!!!!  THANK YOU--- HEATHER!!!!!!!!!!!

Suzanne

Happy New Years!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wow, I can't believe it is 2012.  I feel like we just started our adoption and than other times, I feel like we have been at this for years.  We had a wonderful time with our family and friends New Year's eve.  We ate, played games and laughed the night away.  I also realized we are getting so much closer to when we get to go and get Clare. 

Our Log in Date, or LID, was December 5th, 2011.  This means our dossier is in China, translated and at the CCWAA, waiting to be looked over.  Now, I have to just sit and wait for our Letter of Acceptance.  This is going to be hard,  I currently have no paper work to do, and nothing to look for.  I do however have other children to keep me busy.

Hannah is scheduled to have surgery on Wednesday.  This was suppose to have been done before Christmas, but was cancelled, because they ran out of ICU beds.  Please pray she will get to have her surgery and that everything will go well.  She is suppose to be in the ICU for 2 days and then a day on the floor. 

Aaron will head back to pre-school on Wednesday.  He is going nuts being home all the time.  We have been lucky here in Missouri and the weather has been awesome.  It has been in the 60's for 3 days, so he has gotten outside. 

Abby will start  back going to ballet 2 times a week for 3 hours as  well as her youth group activities.  Daniel will do the same, minus ballet.  He will restart Boy Scouts next week and is getting closer to working on his Eagle project.  We will resume school, next Monday.  Neither of them are looking forward to that.

I heard from a friend tonight that her son, who was home schooled, was appointed into West Point, starting this June!!!!!!!!!!!!  We are very proud of you Ethan!!!   Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!

We also found out a week before Christmas that we had been blessed with a much needed grant.  We are now currently only $2500.00 away from being fully funded!!!!!!!!!!  Can I hear an AMEN to that.

I am going to try and be better about blogging this year.  I am not sure what happened, other then life, since I last blogged.  I do have a lot to tell you and tons of pictures to load.   I am working on another fundraiser and will hopefully get it up and running soon, so I can quit worrying about money and just get everything set up and ready for Clare.

I am praying everyone has a wonderful and BLESSED 2012!!

Suzanne

Look what Saturday brought.

One of my facebook buddies was in China last week and took these pictures of Clare.  

Thank you Shannon!!!!!!!!!

Suzanne

WE ARE DOSSIER TO CHINA as of November 16th!!!!

We are coming soon to get you Clare!!

I can't wait to hold this sweet baby girl!!

Suzanne