I am just AMAZED at what the adoption community has done for us!!! I was so stressed out on Sunday night and wasn't sure what I was going to do!! Thank you so much Patty and Judy for posting for us on Loving Chinas Children! I promise to all of you that I will pay it forward as soon as everything is back to normal around here!
God Bless All of YOU!!!!
Ginnie and Jay
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Monday, October 26, 2009
UPDATE
We are to have Cooper in our arms at 10:00 AM on Monday!!
I did get a bit more of a medical update on him today. I am sure I will learn more when I take him to the doctor but the way this paper stated his heart condition was that when he originally had his surgery there were complications that caused the next problem and that is why he now has the pace maker.
I know they have wonderful doctors in Taiwan, but it will be so much better to get him home and have him checked out here... this way all our questions can be answered.
We also get to meet the birth mother the next day! I am excited, I am nervous!
I will put together my list of questions for her while I am on the plane.
I did get a bit more of a medical update on him today. I am sure I will learn more when I take him to the doctor but the way this paper stated his heart condition was that when he originally had his surgery there were complications that caused the next problem and that is why he now has the pace maker.
I know they have wonderful doctors in Taiwan, but it will be so much better to get him home and have him checked out here... this way all our questions can be answered.
We also get to meet the birth mother the next day! I am excited, I am nervous!
I will put together my list of questions for her while I am on the plane.
Things happen for a reason
I know this is crazy, but our flight leaves Friday night and we are still a bit shy of what we need for this adoption. I am going to have a garage sale on Friday morning to try to get some last minute money together. We had everything situated financially and then the unexpected. So we are still a bit shy of what we need to cover our expense.
I just don't understand why the governments have to make adoption so expensive. I understand we have to pay for our travel, but to put so many demands on adoption families financially is wrong.
The whole family has been sick for the last four weeks with that terrible virus that is going around, so both Jay and I haven't worked and now four days before flight we are concerned and know there will not be enough to cover the hotel and expenses in Taiwan.
I could say I don't know how we got into this situation but I do know. I left the workforce to go back to school, things happen, the economy stuck.. just name it and that is what has happened around here!
I did go train today at my new job.. I don't get paid to train as I will be working for a public school.. the government again.. and they can not pay for two nurses on at the same time.. so in order for me to learn how to do my job I have to go in on my time but I do have to say.. I LOVE IT!!!
I can not believe that I have been so blessed and lucky to get this job at the school with the kids!! The clinic was full of kids, in and out, all day long and they were all WONDERFUL...
Well I will keep everyone posted.. I am taking it one day at a time. I don't know what else to do.
I just don't understand why the governments have to make adoption so expensive. I understand we have to pay for our travel, but to put so many demands on adoption families financially is wrong.
The whole family has been sick for the last four weeks with that terrible virus that is going around, so both Jay and I haven't worked and now four days before flight we are concerned and know there will not be enough to cover the hotel and expenses in Taiwan.
I could say I don't know how we got into this situation but I do know. I left the workforce to go back to school, things happen, the economy stuck.. just name it and that is what has happened around here!
I did go train today at my new job.. I don't get paid to train as I will be working for a public school.. the government again.. and they can not pay for two nurses on at the same time.. so in order for me to learn how to do my job I have to go in on my time but I do have to say.. I LOVE IT!!!
I can not believe that I have been so blessed and lucky to get this job at the school with the kids!! The clinic was full of kids, in and out, all day long and they were all WONDERFUL...
Well I will keep everyone posted.. I am taking it one day at a time. I don't know what else to do.
Friday, October 23, 2009
One week to go!!
Today is my husband's 40th birthday! My oldest daughter called to ask what we were doing tonight.. it was a haunted trail at Gatorland and then on to the homecoming football game.. I think this is a sign we have finally grown up, or is that grown old??!! Anyways, Happy Birthday, Jay!!
So tonight we will finish our packing for Taiwan. The baby's suitcase is packed, I hope the clothes I am bringing fit him. He looks so small in his photos. The last update I got he was only around 25 lbs.. which is around an 18 month size. I am bringing a pack of diapers and wipes, a toothbrush and sippy cups.. I am sure there are a million other things I should be packing.. but that is all I can think of.
The gift giving is the hardest thing. I think of things I should bring for the nannies and then I read people's posts and think that my ideas are not good.. I am very confused. I think maybe we should just donate some money to the orphanage...
A family update for tonight.. I got a new job!! Yep!! I am going to be a school nurse.. NEVER in my wildest dreams did I see myself as a school nurse.. but I start the day after we get home. I will train all next week before we leave. I have a little office with four little cots and some chairs.. it is so cute!! And I will work 4 minutes from my house AND, the best part, I will be home nights and weekends and holidays with my children!!! God is good!!
Thank you to everyone that leave me comments.. I can't figure out how to write back.. so I am just posting a big thank you for all the support I get from my family and friends!!
I will be updating the blog while we are in Taiwan. I was told by many other families that have traveled to Taiwan that they have had no problems with blogspot while in Taiwan.. so watch here for pictures and posts.
Mia and her mom and dad are picking us up.. I have promised Mia to bring her some of her favorite cupcakes. So we are allowed two carry on pieces for the plane.. one will have my school books and computer and the other will be FULL of cupcakes and pumpkin cookies for my Mia!!!!
She said the first night we are there she is taking us to the night market to eat!! She said there are many different foods and shopping at the night market... she said they have one favorite food .. it is Chicken butts!! I told her NO Chicken Butts!!!
But we are going to try everything!!
More to come.....
So tonight we will finish our packing for Taiwan. The baby's suitcase is packed, I hope the clothes I am bringing fit him. He looks so small in his photos. The last update I got he was only around 25 lbs.. which is around an 18 month size. I am bringing a pack of diapers and wipes, a toothbrush and sippy cups.. I am sure there are a million other things I should be packing.. but that is all I can think of.
The gift giving is the hardest thing. I think of things I should bring for the nannies and then I read people's posts and think that my ideas are not good.. I am very confused. I think maybe we should just donate some money to the orphanage...
A family update for tonight.. I got a new job!! Yep!! I am going to be a school nurse.. NEVER in my wildest dreams did I see myself as a school nurse.. but I start the day after we get home. I will train all next week before we leave. I have a little office with four little cots and some chairs.. it is so cute!! And I will work 4 minutes from my house AND, the best part, I will be home nights and weekends and holidays with my children!!! God is good!!
Thank you to everyone that leave me comments.. I can't figure out how to write back.. so I am just posting a big thank you for all the support I get from my family and friends!!
I will be updating the blog while we are in Taiwan. I was told by many other families that have traveled to Taiwan that they have had no problems with blogspot while in Taiwan.. so watch here for pictures and posts.
Mia and her mom and dad are picking us up.. I have promised Mia to bring her some of her favorite cupcakes. So we are allowed two carry on pieces for the plane.. one will have my school books and computer and the other will be FULL of cupcakes and pumpkin cookies for my Mia!!!!
She said the first night we are there she is taking us to the night market to eat!! She said there are many different foods and shopping at the night market... she said they have one favorite food .. it is Chicken butts!! I told her NO Chicken Butts!!!
But we are going to try everything!!
More to come.....
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Decisions have finally been made!!
Okay, so I got up this morning to head to the USCIS office, I had fire in my eyes. I stopped to check my email before running out the door to see that they had finally gotten back to me! They had taken care of what needed doing and sent it on to the National Visa Center. So I emailed Lisa at our agency and she said.. BOOK THOSE TICKETS!!!! So I spent the next five hours on the phone and internet trying to find the best rate possible. That was tough. Each time I check the prices changed... and you can't book a round trip for a baby that is only going one way and you can't book two round trip and one one way trip and I was ready to scream!! But FINALLY!!
I got a great guy at Delta and then I booked our tickets via Expedia and then called Delta and gave them the info and they got Cooper on the same flight home!!
So we leave in 16 days!!!
I can honestly say.. I Just don't know how I am feeling.. scared, nervous, excited, relieved!! My head is spinning!!
So Mia, Jeb and Li-Ling will pick us up at the airport. We have a hotel only three minutes from their home.. we met and keep Cooper on November 2!!!! He is ours FOREVER!!! I can't beleive this!!!
I am posting the last photos they sent me of him.. they are dated since way back in March.. but we just got them in September!!
I got a great guy at Delta and then I booked our tickets via Expedia and then called Delta and gave them the info and they got Cooper on the same flight home!!
So we leave in 16 days!!!
I can honestly say.. I Just don't know how I am feeling.. scared, nervous, excited, relieved!! My head is spinning!!
So Mia, Jeb and Li-Ling will pick us up at the airport. We have a hotel only three minutes from their home.. we met and keep Cooper on November 2!!!! He is ours FOREVER!!! I can't beleive this!!!
I am posting the last photos they sent me of him.. they are dated since way back in March.. but we just got them in September!!
Monday, October 12, 2009
One month later
Well it has been quite a month. Just when I think the ride is coming to an end there is always another hill to climb.
Let me start at the beginning. We had our day in court on 9/9. We were told that we had to wait until between the 22-29th of Sept, which gave the birth mom one last chance to change her mind. So on Sept 23 we got our official email from our agency that said TRAVEL DATE! We were giving our AIT appointment for October 28, which meant we needed to be in Taiwan on October 25 to get Cooper on October 26. But we asked our agency to move the date back one week. I can't remember why at this moment that we moved it back this extra week but I am sure there was a reason.
First, I had won a free cruise for October 12- 16, then it is Jay's 40th b-day on the 23rd, plus we have Halloween and so much goes on in this area for the kids.. so maybe it was just that I was thinking about the family on this end and knew that we needed that extra week. Plus it gave me an extra week of work for travel money, which was a big set back for us.
I called A Child's Waits Foundation as they had told me that they would get back to me in September as to helping with our final adoption expense. I knew we didn't have that last hunk of money to go if I didn't get help from someone. And Thank you Lord, they came through for us!!! I am so thankful to them for this!! They were so great about everything when I explained to them that I had been out of work because of going to school this past year.. and that I don't plan on being financially strapped EVER AGAIN!!
So now we thought we were set to book our flights. I found great prices for the tickets, Mia and her family have found us a GREAT hotel.. but because of all the "NEW RULES" Cooper had to have his last physical.. his final physical for his adoption and the doctor stated some things that were not spelt out in full details in our home study on his report.. so guess where we are today.......
The USCIS office in Orlando has been so crappy at helping me. The person that finally did send an email back to me did not answer a single question that I sent her. We have proof that our updated addendum to our home study got to their office via Fed Ex and was signed for at 10:23 AM on October 2.. yet they could not find the package until the 5th.. and as of this minute... I HAVE NO IDEA IF THEY HAVE EVEN OPENED THE ENVELOPE! They don't answer their phone and they don't respond to the emails I have sent.. so at 3 PM today.. if I don't hear back from them.. I am contacting my local rep.
Also for the last two weeks we have been fighing sickness. Jay got sick. Yep!! Sick. Then Ali got sick, then Chase, then Mallory, then me... it has been a rough two weeks. Now Jay is sick again and Mallory is still home in bed. We got checked for the swine flu but they told us it was a virus.. and sent us home with NO MEDICATION!!! My throat felt like it was on fire and someone was using sandpaper to coat the sides!! I was in tears. I have only been at work three days in the last three weeks. I went back last Monday and worked one day, had my scheduled day off and then on Wednesday work with a slight fever. But I could not call in again. So I went to work and went to my boss. She said I should have stayed home.. but I felt like I wanted them to see I was sick.. I just could not ask for more days off. But by 7 PM that night my fever was over 102 and they sent me home. Today is the first I have felt better.
So now back to the cruise.. that was to leave today. I really worked hard for this cruise and was so looking forward to a few days with my husband alone.. but I guess that was not in our stars. Jay got sick again this weekend and ended up in the hospital. He got home yesterday and is feeling better but this virus is just kicking butt and we want to make sure we are both healthy in two weeks.. so we felt is was best to not go on the cruise.
I called my boss for the exchange students and asked if I could send my mom and sister in our place. I worked hard to win this trip and was really hoping he said yes... which he did. So mom and Deb got their bags packed and got in the car to head to Orlando.. to be told by Royal Caribbean that they could not change the passenger list 28 hours prior to the ship leaving. BULL CRAP!! So someone that wanted to book a cruise yesterday would not be allowed to go.. I think that was horse Manure! So I had to call my sis and mom and tell them to turn around. My mom had never been on a cruise.
So to end my post.. nothing has gone as planned. We still do not have an answer from USCIS as to their update of our 171-H for immigrations, we have the money in the bank for the air tickets- THANK YOU AGAIN TO A CHILD'S WAITS Foundation!! I have my clothes sitting in a pile on Cooper's bed waiting to go into the suitcase but we are still up in the air as to when we are leaving!!!
Let me start at the beginning. We had our day in court on 9/9. We were told that we had to wait until between the 22-29th of Sept, which gave the birth mom one last chance to change her mind. So on Sept 23 we got our official email from our agency that said TRAVEL DATE! We were giving our AIT appointment for October 28, which meant we needed to be in Taiwan on October 25 to get Cooper on October 26. But we asked our agency to move the date back one week. I can't remember why at this moment that we moved it back this extra week but I am sure there was a reason.
First, I had won a free cruise for October 12- 16, then it is Jay's 40th b-day on the 23rd, plus we have Halloween and so much goes on in this area for the kids.. so maybe it was just that I was thinking about the family on this end and knew that we needed that extra week. Plus it gave me an extra week of work for travel money, which was a big set back for us.
I called A Child's Waits Foundation as they had told me that they would get back to me in September as to helping with our final adoption expense. I knew we didn't have that last hunk of money to go if I didn't get help from someone. And Thank you Lord, they came through for us!!! I am so thankful to them for this!! They were so great about everything when I explained to them that I had been out of work because of going to school this past year.. and that I don't plan on being financially strapped EVER AGAIN!!
So now we thought we were set to book our flights. I found great prices for the tickets, Mia and her family have found us a GREAT hotel.. but because of all the "NEW RULES" Cooper had to have his last physical.. his final physical for his adoption and the doctor stated some things that were not spelt out in full details in our home study on his report.. so guess where we are today.......
The USCIS office in Orlando has been so crappy at helping me. The person that finally did send an email back to me did not answer a single question that I sent her. We have proof that our updated addendum to our home study got to their office via Fed Ex and was signed for at 10:23 AM on October 2.. yet they could not find the package until the 5th.. and as of this minute... I HAVE NO IDEA IF THEY HAVE EVEN OPENED THE ENVELOPE! They don't answer their phone and they don't respond to the emails I have sent.. so at 3 PM today.. if I don't hear back from them.. I am contacting my local rep.
Also for the last two weeks we have been fighing sickness. Jay got sick. Yep!! Sick. Then Ali got sick, then Chase, then Mallory, then me... it has been a rough two weeks. Now Jay is sick again and Mallory is still home in bed. We got checked for the swine flu but they told us it was a virus.. and sent us home with NO MEDICATION!!! My throat felt like it was on fire and someone was using sandpaper to coat the sides!! I was in tears. I have only been at work three days in the last three weeks. I went back last Monday and worked one day, had my scheduled day off and then on Wednesday work with a slight fever. But I could not call in again. So I went to work and went to my boss. She said I should have stayed home.. but I felt like I wanted them to see I was sick.. I just could not ask for more days off. But by 7 PM that night my fever was over 102 and they sent me home. Today is the first I have felt better.
So now back to the cruise.. that was to leave today. I really worked hard for this cruise and was so looking forward to a few days with my husband alone.. but I guess that was not in our stars. Jay got sick again this weekend and ended up in the hospital. He got home yesterday and is feeling better but this virus is just kicking butt and we want to make sure we are both healthy in two weeks.. so we felt is was best to not go on the cruise.
I called my boss for the exchange students and asked if I could send my mom and sister in our place. I worked hard to win this trip and was really hoping he said yes... which he did. So mom and Deb got their bags packed and got in the car to head to Orlando.. to be told by Royal Caribbean that they could not change the passenger list 28 hours prior to the ship leaving. BULL CRAP!! So someone that wanted to book a cruise yesterday would not be allowed to go.. I think that was horse Manure! So I had to call my sis and mom and tell them to turn around. My mom had never been on a cruise.
So to end my post.. nothing has gone as planned. We still do not have an answer from USCIS as to their update of our 171-H for immigrations, we have the money in the bank for the air tickets- THANK YOU AGAIN TO A CHILD'S WAITS Foundation!! I have my clothes sitting in a pile on Cooper's bed waiting to go into the suitcase but we are still up in the air as to when we are leaving!!!
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