Getting ready...

This mommas heart has been through the wringer this week - so very excited to meet my son but already missing my wonderful hubby and precious daughters who are staying home... 18 days is a LOOOONG time to be away! SO glad that I'll have one helper with me that I can cuddle and hoping sweet son will let me love on him too.

In prep for the trip EB and I made a paper chain for the nights momma will be gone, to help her visualize when we'll be back... She is excited to take one link off each night until mommas home :)

Appreciate your prayers - Bob has set me up with my own wifi and VPN so (if I can operate them) I'll try to post some while we are gone for those who want to follow along. Thank you SO much to everyone who has supported us in so many ways - we couldn't do this without you!

Test

Just testing to see if I can post from my phone :)

TA!!!!!!!

We found out on Friday, April 13th, that we got our Travel Approval!!!!! So very very excited (and a little all over the place!). I (Mama-bear) fluctuate between being ecstatic, to not believing that its finally here, to freaking out over the details in preparation, to longing for sweet JJ and wondering how he is doing/how he is going to respond to this all (heartbroken at the heartache he is about to go through), to being ecstatic, not believing its finally here, freaking out.... you get the idea ;)

We are still waiting to hear back from the US Consulate with our CA (Consulate Appointment) date. After we have that confirmed we will be booking flights - right now its looking likely that we (CC & Mama-bear) will be headed to China around the last of April, first few days of May... and hopefully home by May 16th. Loooooong time in China...

Will post the details once we have them... but are rejoicing to be at this stage! Not long now!!! :)

Waiting...

 on our Travel Approval... Our Article 5 was picked up on March 30th from the US consulate in Guangzhou but because of Ching Ming (grave sweeping holiday in China) it wasn't able to be dropped off at CCC*A until Thursday April 5th. After we get our TA all thats left is to schedule our consulate appointment, book flights, and GO to China!!!! I cant believe that it is all happening, is all so close.

My goal for this next week is to try and get some meals in the freezer (for Bob and the 2 girls while we are gone and hopefully a couple for when we get home too- am also hoping that it will be a good distraction technique, this momma is so ready to go get our son).

Would really appreciate your prayers as we are in this final stretch:
1) For JJ's heart/emotions - he has/is likely heading back to the state run orphanage, a place he has hasnt lived at since he was a few months old, we think... is a HUGE and hard transition for him right before meeting us and having another HUGE and hard transition... and is also not a very nice place :( is heartbreaking when I really think about it :(

2) For us here as we prepare to travel and also try to prepare for Bob and 2 of the girls who will be staying at home...

3) For our TA to come this week. TA's were taking 2-3 weeks but then last week they started coming in around 7 days so we are praying that ours will come that quickly!

Looking forward to the next post being about our TA!!!! :)