Two Posts in one day- Is it Possible? Could it Be? Yep, that's right! We got TA!

Today I went to work early, and focused really hard on a huge project that has to be done before we travel. I didn't check Rumor Queen at all, and I didn't even think about anything adoption related. And, you know what? We got the call at 3 pm, our TA was received! I nearly fell over, I never expected to hear anything today. I started hyper-ventilating, dancing around the office and then wondered why I didn't feel as though I was in the least bit prepared for this. When did we want to travel again!? Luckily Linda here at the office helped me by pulling out the calendar and trying to walk me through the dates. We are requesting a November 1st Consulate Appointment. That will mean we will probably travel the 19th of October or thereabouts. I'm so excited, nervous, scared, happy- the next three weeks are going to go by fast- I've got to get packing!

Travel Approval is on the way!!

Our agency also expected our TA to come on Monday so they checked with China to see where it was. Although it was ready for signature last Thursday it did not get signed by the director until Monday. Sent Tuesday, and should be in Wasatch's hands on Friday. That's great news, right?!! So happy to know it is on the way.

That all being said, and really I am happy, but have I mentioned how much I dislike snail mail now, and how much the Chinese and US government seem to love it?

Wasatch needs that piece of paper to make our Consulate Appointment (the last step). If it comes on Friday it will already be the weekend in China and we won't be able to make our Consulate Appointment until next Thursday because of the holiday week. I'm still hoping it comes on Thursday instead but if not I will be patient (easy when you don't have a choice *wink*) and wait another week. It just would be so nice to be using the time next week to set travel plans, not just waiting again.

I know that we are right there, the end of this strange endurance test is in sight. We are almost in China with our baby Ava in our arms...I just still hold out hope that I will catch a break at some point in this process.

Some things I have learned in the past year:
Not everyone uses scanning, email and fax; it does not waste enough time- they still use the postal service.
I'm really not good with steps with erratic, undependable timelines.
I so appreciate lines.
I only understand first come-first served.
I have to rely on a logical order of things to keep my sanity in check.
And I continue to learn how to throw this all out the window and be flexible.

Hmm... Probably good preparation for our travel and for when Ava comes home...

She's losing it people....my day in summary...

Everyone in adoptive parent land knew that today was going to be the day for Travel Approvals. I've been waiting 17 days- the average for when one should be approved. There are about 10 people on RQ waiting for the good news. Last week, I think there was one approval. This day should have brought a landslide of them....Can you sense the anticipation? So, I woke up, got the kids ready for school and headed off to work. I'm plenty busy there. I should be able to keep my mind off this right? I actually thought to myself- I'm so cool and relaxed- I'm not going to check RQ or obsess about TA today, if I get it I get it and if I don't... (here, my friends, comes the downwards spiral) well, I may not get it all week, which puts us into the October holiday, which means TA would be at least two weeks away, and can I handle it if I don't get TA today?, maybe I better make a cheer up letter now to myself for after I don't get TA and I'll list all the good things about waiting to travel until November, I better check RQ and see if anyone else got TA, only two TAs from the same freakin' agency- what the hell? Is CC@AA trying to make us crazy? Is this some sort of endurance test? Well, I better call my agency and see if they heard anything. And I'll be casual about it, so they don't know I've turned into a momzilla (oh wait, my cover was blown along time ago)... nothing there yet, maybe tomorrow. Ugghh... Yep, I'm a freak. What's that phrase about whatever doesn't kill you?... oh yeah, it will make you stronger. I'm really strong right now- a really strong freak.

Waiting for Travel Approval

Today we are officially waiting for our Travel Approval. This generally has been taking 2-3 weeks. Our Visas came by FedEx yesterday and I've started talking to a travel agent. It is likely we will travel in October!  The previous post was straight from Shutterfly and it is an electronic version of the photo book I put together for Ava. It talks about her story and the journey we have taken to come together as a family. I want to take it when we travel so I can introduce her to her brothers and our home.
So here is a bit of trivia for you... which way would you think we would travel from New Jersey to China non-stop? Perhaps over the Atlantic, or west over the Pacific? This is how my mind works - east or west, right? Nope, neither!  In fact, we will be flying right over New England, Canada, over Baffin Island, over the North Pole, Russia/Siberia, Mongolia and into China. I found this to be so interesting! What an adventure!

Photo Book

Click here to view this photo book larger