2 more days

I think I will start packing today. I've been mentally packing for awhile, but I'll actually start getting the suitcases together. I'm not as nervous, or as excited as I thought I would be. Somehow this trip just feels very business-like at the moment. I'm sure that will change the minute they bring out little Miss A, but I somehow need to steel myself for leaving her in a baby home for several more months after we leave. Knowing how I felt about Dylan the second he was in my arms after he was born this just seems impossible, but I remind myself that thousands of parents do this year after year and need to think I'll get thru it one way or another. We have our visas and passports back. Our camera and camcorder batteries are all charged up. These are obviously the most important things we'll be bringing with us. And I bought some disposable cameras yesterday and will be hoping the caretakers are willing to take some photos of her while we're away. I was told the orphanage is requesting diapers from us, which mostly we will purchase in Russia. I may try to fit a few packages in our luggage. My goal for today is just to get some Intl Calling Cards to give to our employees so they can call our hotel if needed. I think I need to look in like small liquor stores for these.

Checking things off my list

Lets see, today I called our credit card company and our bank to make sure they knew we would be in Russia and not cancel our cards for suspected fraud. I made sure we would be able to access cash from Russia if we need it (although I'm hoping the $3000 cash we'll be bringing will more than cover it. I went to Radio Shack and the helpful man explained to me to look on our electronic devices and see if they say "100-240v", meaning they'll work both here and in Russia. And YES, the laptop, camera battery chargers, camcorder charger allsay they'll work over there so all I needed to purchase was a simple converter plug. I plan on bringing a power strip too. And I even scheduled to have a quick hair trim before I go.

Still to do, purchase some calling cards for our worker and my mom to call us at the hotel if there is an emergency, complete the little photo album to leave for Miss "A" and buy a few small toys for her to play with on our visits, clear out my cameras of old pictures, make sure they are freshly charged and ready to go, and something I have been putting off and should have done YEARS ago.....make our wills. I know it sounds awful, but I want to make sure everything is in order, a custodian and guardian are named for Dylan & Madison, and I mailed off Steve's life insurance check to ensure his new additional policy is in effect before we leave. I'm just nervous about Steve & I flying on a flight together without our kids.

6 more days!!!

Flights are booked

We leave Tues morning at midnught July 21st, arrive in Russia July 22nd at 4pm (with a 7 hr lay over in Korea....no fun) then return Monday July 27th. I'm actually excited that we get all day on Sunday to ourselves without anything to do so we can explore for a day. I just can't believe this is all falling into place. It sent off our passports today to get our visas......kinda scary putting your actual passports in a mail box! 18 days......I know it will go fast. 4th of July is this weekend and next weekend we are doing a long river weekend so it will be time before I know it. Better make sure I have everything together and ready.

We have travel dates!!!

OMG I thought we were going to have to wait MUCH longer! Our dossier must have just made it to Russia....way to go Russian facilitator! He must have worked quickly to get our dates....woohooo!!!!!! It will be the week of July 20th. I'm not sure of the exact dates yet, leaving Los Angeles either Satruday night the 18th or Monday night the 20th, arriving either Monday or Wednesday in Russia. I'm not sure exactly how many days we get to visit Miss "A" (as I'll affectionately name her). I just got the email this evening and couldn't actually get a hold of anyone on the phone. My mom is off work that week as her company is on shut down, so thats PERFECT and I can rest easy that Dylan is being completely cared for :o) I've never been away from him that long, its going to be hard, but I know Gramma will spoil him. I'll post when I have flights and more details. I'm a little bummed that it looks like the hotel most adoptive families stay in is booked so we'll have to most likely stay in a less westernized, more Russian hotel with less amenities. Oh well, we'll survive.

More to follow!!!

Updated dossier is back from Sacramento

Now it is enroute to Russia. I wish there was SOMETHING I could do to speed the process up from here, but it is out of my hands. I can just pray for its speedy processing and hope we get travel dates SOON, but more than likely this will take 4-6 weeks. I need to keep reminding myself that we could not have updated our dossier earlier due to the fact that our region was having a problem with the California apostilles and wasn't accepting them for a few months. This issue just got resolved about a week before we got our referral.

So, I just keep "shopping".....picking things out but not buying yet. Here is the fabric I have chosen for the room.....VERY girlie! I'm kinda going for a shabby chic princess look. I found a place that will sew a crib bumper and skirt for me, along with the drapery panels. The crib I want is on sale right now too, so it's killing me not to buy it yet but I just can't do that yet. Theres still such a long road ahead of us.