At Ease, Everyone.

It was a false alarm. Now it's looking like the stork will land on Monday. If he actually did land in France, he decided to stick around and see the sites. He's not expected state-side until next week which means I won't be getting the call until Tuesday. And since I can't possibly be expected to work this close to referral, I put in a leave request for tomorrow, Monday, and Tuesday. I was already off Wednesday for the dentist, so now I'm not working until Thursday!!! Whooopie!!!

And its for the best really. I was fine today once I was in the truck, but while still in the office, I'm sure I annoyed more than one person with my incredible perkiness, and my eagerness to talk about anything and everything adoption.

So take a break, y'all. Enjoy your weekend! And then meet me back here first thing Monday for the Zoe Stork Watch!

Good Morning....Good Moooorning!

That was the Good Morning song!

I learned over the night, (because no, I didn't sleep) that a US agency has told one of their clients that referrals have been shipped. I heard this from the client, not from the rumor queen. If that's true, then it will be Monday at the latest.

Essentially, I need them to come in today to hear anything before the weekend. But now I'm headed off to work, so there will be no lunatic internet behavior today....at least not until I get home.

My poor customers. I really don't care who gets who's mail today. As long as everyone gets something, I figure we'll sort it out next week sometime. One of my less diligent co-workers refers to that as, "helping the neighbors get to know each other." hee hee...postal humor. And really, I'm about to have a baby here, so cut me some slack.

***You know I'm kidding, right? I'm really a very good mail carrier. I'm going fast today, but I'll still do my best. 80% accuracy is good enough.....oh okay, still kidding!

Gotta go....WEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!

What a day!

I'm worn out and all I did was surf the net all day. So much activity in the December '05 groups! It was really fun! That French rumor was the most exciting thing to happen, but now I doubt if its true. Referrals didn't arrive anywhere else today. Even other countries in Europe didn't receive them. I'm not sad, though, because with this much buzz, they have to be right around the corner. Maybe tomorrow???

Who wants to rock me to sleep tonight?

Happy Rumors!!!!

Someone in France says referrals have arrived there. I'm staying home today waiting for the TV repair guy, and I am once again glued to the internet. This time, however, my patience/stamina/nuttiness, has been rewarded!!!!

Please let it be true.
Please.

Oh my goodness, if it is true, we could get the call tomorrow, and I have no champagne!!! I can't even leave the house because of the repair guy. And I have no TV! Yikes!! We still haven't fully learned how to use our new handycam thingie.

Oh please, let it be true.

Just to kill time, here's a funny picture of my cat. Poe says, "Get me that referral NOOOOOWWWW!!"

I only cried twice today.

First, I spent the entire day on the internet. I'll be glad to go back to work tomorrow, because I am entering full on nut-job territory. I would iron one shirt and then run back to the rumor queen so see if there was anything new. I spent 30 minutes going back over old blog posts on my own blog and re-reading the comments. Man, you guys are nice. (And Trixie, you are commenter-supreme! If for some reason I'm not in the next batch, I fully expect those bunny slippers and chocolate)

My first cry was when I was re-reading everything on my agency's website. I would like to take a moment and tell you how much I love my agency! I love them. I always feel this way, but they have a new post up that truly reminds me that they do this for the babies. I really and truly believe with all my heart that their number one priority is to help orphans in China. Second up, they help families grow. I'm sure if I had read this at any other time, I would think, "Ahh...isn't that nice..." But in my current mental state, I was unable to control myself.

My second cry also dealt with my agency. I put it off as long as I could, but I gave in and called them today. I'm trying desperately not to be the crazy woman who calls all the time, so I space my calls and try like mad not to cry on the phone. Today I called the local office instead of the main one (spreading the love) and I asked about how match day would go. I know we said we'd take the call at home, but after talking to them, I really want to share it with them, too. One person in particular there has been amazing to me. So kind. And in the middle of my mental breakdown on the phone, she made me feel not only normal, but as if I was her biggest concern in the world. As soon as I hung up, I completely lost it. Snotty, nose-swelling sobbing.

Oh, and its not looking good for referrals this week. You never know, of course, but prepare yourself for another week of me going ever so slightly insane.

This week?

There are moments when I'm distracted. Sometimes at work. Sometimes during a TV show. And there are various other moments during the day when my mind is not completely focused on the impending arrival of referrals. But in the moments between the distractions, I am about ready to crawl out of my own skin. I have nervous energy. I can't stop looking at calendars and thinking, "If they mail them on X, I will get on the call on Y.

The weekends are nice and full of distractions, but here we are back to Monday, and I have 4 more days of when?when?when? to look forward to. I do have a few little projects to get ready for referral day. I need to get my list of questions ready for "the call." I'm going to pick my referral announcements. And I'm mentally planning how the day will go.

My agency waits a day after referrals arrive to make the calls. This gives them time to verify the babies are still available for adoption. I'm sure it will be torture watching everyone else announce referrals knowing we will have to wait another day. The only up side is that it won't be a surprise when the call comes. We can plan it out.

So far, we have decided to take the day off and take the call at home. I have my list of people to call. And then my list of people to e-mail. After the major excitement has settled down, I think we're going out to a nice dinner and then to BabiesRUs or Target to set up our registries. This is all flexible, of course. If I choose to sit on the sofa and stare at her picture for hours, I'll feel free to do that, too. :-)

The only thing left is actually when that day will be. Will the CCAA mail them out at the normal time (SOON), or will they wait until right before they leave for Chinese New Year? That would be the absolute latest. My guess is that they will be mailed some time this week, and I will get the call on Monday or Tuesday next week.

In order to help me pass the time, I have established a poll!! Everyone loves a poll! Its on the right. Please vote for what Province you think Zoe will come from. I've listed them somewhat in the most likely order. In other words, the Provinces my agency gets most referrals for are at the top.

Joy in a Brightly Colored Wrapper

Look what I got!! Someone who loves me found these and sent them to me. Normally, you can't find them until the day after Valentine's day, but here we are weeks ahead of time! This should help pass the next week or so. I plan to treat myself to one daily until our referral...like some crazy referral advent calendar. Mmmmm....

Getting Ready!

I got this little blankie for Zoe's care package today. So cute.

I've said before, I have no idea when referrals are coming, but indications are they will not be waiting for Chinese New Year to mail them out. Yeah! If that's the case, then I would expect to see them at the end of next week. In other words, in about a week and a half.

Getting pretty excited!

Computer Crash

I got an e-mail from Mick and James saying their computer (the one we let them borrow....I feel so guilty) has died. If you were wondering why there is a lack of posting over on their blog, it is because we gave them a piece of crap, end-of-lifer.

Hopefully, they'll wonder on into a business center and get some more pictures sent. I need pictures! (and it's all about me, you know)

Just a quick picture....

You can't do anything in this house without a cat somewhere close by...sometimes really close.

2.5 years of my life

Early in this adoption thing, we were invited to join a waiting family group. That was.....maybe....18 months ago?? I'm not sure exactly, but since then we have watched about 10 families receive referrals, go to China, and come home with beautiful babies. Every time is wonderful. And every time reminds me that there really is an end to all of this.

It's so easy to get caught up in the waiting. Preparing a nursery, shopping for baby stuff, checking the internet, waiting family parties, travel prep, and all the rest. The waiting really takes on a life of its own. It becomes such a huge part of who you are and what you do, that you can forget what the point of all this is. A baby. A family.

Every time we watch a family united with their child, and especially this time with Mick and James, it drives home the point that this is *really* going to happen. It's going to be over soon. We will have a child. Zoe. My daughter.

Oh my.

Olivia!!!!

Our good friends, Mick and James have their baby Olivia!!

My last Anniversary!!

Welcome to this, my (oh, please) last LID anniversary. The big 25!!! I'm among the first in Chinese adoptive history to reach the 25 month waiting point. Unfortunately, everyone after me will reach even higher milestones. I am so sorry for them, but at the same time, I'm thrilled to be getting off this Not-so-Merry-Go-Round.

I don't know when the next batch is coming out. 2 weeks? 3 weeks? I really have no idea, but it will be in that ball park, I suppose. I wish I knew, because you know how I like a good count down. All I can say for sure (I think) is that it will be less than 20 days before I see my Zoe. Hopefully less, but I'm trying to play it safe.

Later today I'm going to celebrate by going to Target and buying all of the travel toiletries. Jeff thinks I'm crazy, but I want to do something to mark the occasion and this is both fun and productive. I'll let you know how it goes!

Like the new look?

I'm no blog maven, that's for sure! Its nothing fancy, just new.

I was thinking things are about to get pretty exciting around here, and I decided the blog should be dressed accordingly.

Thank you, Simon.

American Idol is back!

And I wondered how I would pass the month of January! Thanks to Simon, Randy, and Paula, at least 2 of my evenings each week are now booked! Hooray!

I have Homework!!

This is the boring time of the month as far as referrals go. The excitement of the last batch is gone, (although with this batch, there was little excitement anyway) and it will be at least 2 weeks before rumors get cranked up again. The yahoo groups go dormant, and the Rumor Queen starts blogging about boring stuff.

Last night I was e-mailing my friend, fellow China waiter, and (hopefully) travel mate. I was complaining about how I will possibly make it thru the month and she gave me a list of stuff to do! Homework!! yeah! The list was made up of things like:

Wander around my favorite store for at least an hour and try on lots of clothes.
Got to the library and check out China travel books.
Practice using all the electronics we will be taking to China. (Good one!)
Get the new Chinese New Year Stamp for referral announcements. (see above)

...and it went on.

So this is my personal invitation for anyone to add to the list. I have at least 3 weeks before the next batch comes out and right now that seems interminably long.

Let's all help me make it thru the month, shall we?

They're gone.

Our houseguests for the past 2 weeks, my sister and her family, left today. I took the day off to shuttle her brood to the airport and I imagine they are somewhere over the Atlanic right now. Hmph. (that is the sound of me pouting)

Although I must admit the return to quiet is nice...and the not having to be on our best behavior for company is refreshing...I will miss them. They certainly helped the time pass.

I was excited when I thought they were going to be here for referral. My sister let me be in the delivery room when my niece (named for me) was born, so this was the best I could do to return the favor.....to let my sister be with us when we got our referral. We all know that didn't happen, but their presence around the house certainly eased the blow of missing the cut off. And look....here we are....already a week out from the most recent referrals. I only have about 3 more until the next batch, I think.

I didn't post as many photos as I planned, but that's only because I was busy enjoying the time. Here are a few:

This is Jeffrey and Georgia soon after getting off the plane, and immediately after Jeffrey announced to me, "I'm German now."

My favorite picture of me and Abby. I look like I should have a baby, don't I? And baby chub has never been cuter!


Her are all the girls in the family. (Except me...I was taking the picture)

A close up of Abby and Jeffrey.

And my Dad with Georgia.

Overall....a great visit.

Something else for me to worry about

I belong to more internet groups than one person should be allowed to. One for my agency. Another for my LID month, my agency's LID month, and more. In one of them, I learned a woman with a 12/19/05 LID, who should have gotten her referral in the last batch, was skipped.

Like me, she was questioned during the review process. And like me, she was assured by her agency that it wouldn't affect the timing of her referral.

The idea behind this kind of thing is that when you are questioned during review, your file is put to the side while they wait for resolution. In the mean time, the reviewer continues to work on other people's dossiers. When your issues are settled, you're put back in line where ever the reviewer is at the time.

The fact that my LID was so huge could work in my favor, in that when my issues were settled, he may have still been working on my day. Who knows. My agency says I'll be fine....but then again, her agency said she'd be fine, too.

Enchanted was Enchanting!!

Even if you aren't as lucky as I am to have a 5 year old niece to take to this movie, I recommend going anyway!! This movie was fantastic. It was funny! It made fun of the whole genre, but was charming the whole time. My sister and I left the theater wanting to skip and sing. No joke! Go see it. Here is a clip of my favorite song.

It's Official...we missed it.

The cut off is the 19th. The CCAA has posted it on their website. Like I said before, I'm grateful the rumors gave us warning. I think I had a few little cries, but nothing like I anticipated if we missed it. We're fine. A big ol' "eh, well....whatever."

My agency said, "...but now you know you're next, for sure." And we should be next. There's no one in front of us anymore. I suppose I'll get really, really excited again soon, but for now I'm still thinking about what else could go wrong. People have been skipped. LID's have been wrong. I feel sort of like I need to see it to believe it.

And of course, now we need to worry about our fingerprints again! We'll require a third set in April, so if for some reason we're not in the next batch and we don't travel quickly, we'll have that to worry about, too.

So as much as I'd love to parade around the internet with the word, "NEXT!!" in my tag line, I'm not quite there yet. I'm not wallowing in bed with chocolates to console myself, but I'm not starting a countdown either. Not yet, anyway.