I've had a few people ask about things we need, so here is our Wish List on Amazon. Items do not have to be purchased from Amazon ... there is a link on each item that says "Buying this gift elsewhere?".
http://amzn.com/w/1CI6ZURETERGR
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Monday, August 22, 2011
Monday, Monday ......
We're still waiting for our LOA. It's frustrating because there seems to be no rhyme or reason to it. People that have been waiting less time than us have gotten theirs. I know that once Kenzi is home, we won't even remember the waiting. But it's hard to know that your daughter is in an orphanage and there are so many things you don't know ... does she have enough to eat (probably not), does she have someone to hold her if she gets hurt, does she get to play and laugh, stuff like that. I really try not to think about it too much, because there's nothing I can do to change the situation right now. Once we get our LOA, I have our forms ready to send to US Immigration, so that's my part in the situation ... being ready once we get the LOA.
In the meantime, it's pretty much the same old thing around here:
1. We're enjoying our last 2 weeks of summer ... sleeping in and just being generally lazy. Luke is very ready for Kindergarten to start!
2. I (Sherry) have lost my college teaching job for this semester. My classes didn't have the enrollment necessary to keep them. So ... that's been frustrating, especially since we still need around $10,000 for our trip to China. We're trusting God that this will all work out. I am looking for other jobs that wouldn't require paying for daycare. So we'll see if anything happens.
3. When we're going - We're still hoping to go get Kenzi by the end of the year. As long as we get our LOA by October 1st, we should be able to do that. We have decided that we will both go and Aaron's mom will stay here with the kiddos. It will be hard to leave them, especially if we end up being gone over Thanksgiving or Christmas. But we know those are just dates on a calendar and we can celebrate another time.
4. Kenzi's Middle Name - We're getting closer to making a decision.
5. Packing List for China - We need to clear a space in our former guest room to start getting stuff together for the trip. I've been buying little things here and there as they go on sale so we don't have a ton of stuff to get at the last minute.
6. Jacinda is potty-trained!!!!!!!! It took a loooooong time. At the same time, I'm trying to wrap my brain around having a little one around again. Luke and Jacinda can do a lot of things for themselves, including keeping themselves occupied for a few minutes so I can take a shower! Life will change around here once Kenzi gets home!!!
In the meantime, it's pretty much the same old thing around here:
1. We're enjoying our last 2 weeks of summer ... sleeping in and just being generally lazy. Luke is very ready for Kindergarten to start!
2. I (Sherry) have lost my college teaching job for this semester. My classes didn't have the enrollment necessary to keep them. So ... that's been frustrating, especially since we still need around $10,000 for our trip to China. We're trusting God that this will all work out. I am looking for other jobs that wouldn't require paying for daycare. So we'll see if anything happens.
3. When we're going - We're still hoping to go get Kenzi by the end of the year. As long as we get our LOA by October 1st, we should be able to do that. We have decided that we will both go and Aaron's mom will stay here with the kiddos. It will be hard to leave them, especially if we end up being gone over Thanksgiving or Christmas. But we know those are just dates on a calendar and we can celebrate another time.
4. Kenzi's Middle Name - We're getting closer to making a decision.
5. Packing List for China - We need to clear a space in our former guest room to start getting stuff together for the trip. I've been buying little things here and there as they go on sale so we don't have a ton of stuff to get at the last minute.
6. Jacinda is potty-trained!!!!!!!! It took a loooooong time. At the same time, I'm trying to wrap my brain around having a little one around again. Luke and Jacinda can do a lot of things for themselves, including keeping themselves occupied for a few minutes so I can take a shower! Life will change around here once Kenzi gets home!!!
Friday, August 12, 2011
Our Packing List
We're still waiting for our LOA. Don't worry ... you'll know when we get it because you'll hear us all screaming and jumping for joy!!!!
Jacinda has been very sad lately because she says, "I miss my sister." Breaks my heart every time. I forget sometimes that this process is hard on the kids, too.
A friend who is also adopting from China asked for my packing list, so I thought I'd post it here. Even though it will be a while before we go, I'm starting to buy things here and there so that we don't have to buy tons of stuff right at the end. It looks like a lot, but it all works out somehow.
Here you go:
Jacinda has been very sad lately because she says, "I miss my sister." Breaks my heart every time. I forget sometimes that this process is hard on the kids, too.
A friend who is also adopting from China asked for my packing list, so I thought I'd post it here. Even though it will be a while before we go, I'm starting to buy things here and there so that we don't have to buy tons of stuff right at the end. It looks like a lot, but it all works out somehow.
Here you go:
Luggage
Checked luggage: 2 large suitcases (1 for each of us)
Carry-Ons: Backpacks
Personal Items: Laptop Bag and Purse
Luggage must be under 44lbs/20 kg for in-China flights and 100ml liquids were allowed.
Toiletries
Q-tips
Individual Wet Ones/Wipes
Disposable Razor
Shaving cream
Travel shampoo
Travel conditioner
Face wash
Travel size dove soap
Baby shampoo/body wash
Oatmeal bath
Travel size tissue packs
Floss
Lotion
Hair ties
Hand sanitizer
Toothpaste
Hairbrush
Hairspray
Hairdryer
Flatiron
Contacts and solution
Extra Contacts
Glasses and case
Medical
(medicines were in plastic baggies with dosing instructions cut from box and in the bag)
Immodium
Cipro
Tums/Liquid Maalox
Ibuprofen
Afrin Nasal Spray
Benadryl
Tylenol
Infant tylenol (include dosing chart)
Infant Ibuprofen (include dosing chart)
Childrenʼs benadryl (1/2 tsp dose)
Sunscreen SPF50
Thermometer
Pedialyte powder - individual
Bandaids and Polysporin
Nail clippers
Safety Pins
Tweezers
Bug spray
Scissors
Office
Post-its
Pen
Paperclips
Power strip – not sure yet about this
Plug adaptors
Household supplies
Small dish soap
Laundry detergent
Extra plastic bags, sandwich size
Extra plastic bags, quart size
Extra plastic bags, gallon size
Small diaper trash bags
Reusable shopping bags for carrying stuff
Baby (18 months old, unrepaired CL/CP)
Diapers (30), purchase more in China
Swim diapers
Wipes (1 refill pack)
Travel changing pads
Sling – not sure which one yet
Take & toss bowls
Spoons
Bottle brush
Toothbrush
Bottles/sippy cups (2 plus cleft nipples) – not sure what we’re doing about bottles/sippy cups yet
Burp cloths
Bibs
Soft, comfy blanket
Toys
Small inflatable beach ball
Books – only 1 or 2
Socks
Sweaters
Light summer coat
Swimsuit
Long pants warmer outfits
PJʼs
Short-sleeve onsies
Long-sleeve onsies
Several headbands
Sherry
Swimsuit
Swim cap
Socks
Underwear
Lightweight pants (2) (wear one during travel)
Lightweight capris (2)
T-shirts (7) (wear one during travel)
Flip flops
Tennis shoes (wore them)
Aaron
Swimsuit
Swim cap
Socks
Underwear
Flip flops
Tennis shoes (wore them)
Jeans (1 pair) (wear during travel)
T-shirts (7) (wear one during travel)
Undershirts
Shorts
Snacks
Plastic bin for snacks (doubles as a place to wash bottles, cups, etc in hotel rooms)
Individual serving peanut butter (14)
Granola bars
Pop-tarts
Individual Coffee
Individual powdered creamers (took too many of these last time – coffee and cream are readily available at meals)
Individual sugar packets
Tea bags
Goldfish
Carry-Ons
Adoption Paperwork – Holt will tell us what we need
Translucent folder for paperwork – I think Holt gave us one last time
Thumb drive with scanned documents – also, upload documents somewhere online
PASSPORTS
Passport organizer
Extra passport photos (6 each total) – Holt will tell us how many we need
Extra copies of ALL documents (passports, visa page, driverʼs license, credit cards) - I
also left extra copies of ALL paperwork at home where our parents could easily access
if needed - I was convinced that if I had copies everywhere, nothing would go wrong!
Small notebook for taking notes
Printed travel itinerary
Travel insurance info
Information sheet of all hotels
Information sheet of Western doctors/insurance info AND consulate contacts
Contact sheet for US doctors and important ppl, including adoption agency
Sunglasses
Playing cards/card games
Cash
Credit cards/debit cards – let Discover and Chartway know we are traveling
Converter (no adapter needed for us - check the voltage on your electronics)
Travel tissue packs (2)
Toothbrush (2)
Travel toothpaste (2)
Individual wet naps (6)
Deodorant
Ibuprofen
Tylenol
Benadryl
Hand Sanitizer
Gum/Mints
Snacks
Laptop/charger
Ipods/charger
Contact case/lenses/solution
Glasses
Travel face wash
Travel moisturizer
Clothes & diapers to last baby a few days
Reading material for plane ride
Makeup
Iphone/charger
Camera/charger
Gifts
Holt will tell us what we need to bring
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
New Pictures!!!!
We finally got the update on Kenzi we've been hoping for. She has grown a lot, so that's good. She can sit up by herself and walk a few steps if someone holds her hand. She has 6 teeth and it seems that her cleft lip and palate don't cause any problems with eating and drinking. She appears to have normal hearing. Her lip has not been repaired (obviously) and we think it will not be repaired in China. We're still not quite sure about that, so we're trying to find out more. Our surgeons here don't have a preference ... they're ready for whatever situation is presented.
Friday, July 29, 2011
A Non-Update.....
Nothing at all has happened this week adoption-wise.
1. We are waiting for an update on Kenzi. We're hoping to get new pictures and some answers to questions we submitted. Our agency said it could be 2-3 weeks from when we asked. Today has been 2 weeks and 2 days. So hopefully any day now ....
2. No LOA yet. We're at 28 days and the average is around 60. Lots of people do get them around the 30 day mark, though.
So that's it. Nothing. Luke and Jacinda pray every night that Kenzi would get home soon and safely.
1. We are waiting for an update on Kenzi. We're hoping to get new pictures and some answers to questions we submitted. Our agency said it could be 2-3 weeks from when we asked. Today has been 2 weeks and 2 days. So hopefully any day now ....
2. No LOA yet. We're at 28 days and the average is around 60. Lots of people do get them around the 30 day mark, though.
So that's it. Nothing. Luke and Jacinda pray every night that Kenzi would get home soon and safely.
Friday, July 22, 2011
An Update ..... of sorts ....
There's not much going on, but I thought I'd post an update of sorts.
1. We FINALLY got our tax refund!!!!!!!!!! YAHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2. We sent a few questions to our Agency regarding Kenzi. It could take a couple of weeks to get the answers. We're hoping to get some new pictures, but we aren't counting on that.
3. We have a few low-interest adoption loans we need to apply for. We are waiting to hear about a grant we applied for. I believe our application is being reviewed in August.
4. Waiting. That's mostly what we're doing. It seems the average wait for LOA (our approval from China) is around 60 days, and we're at about 21 days. But the LOA wait seems to have no rhyme or reason and we could get it much sooner than 60 days (or much later). I need to get our next US Immigration form (it's a long one) ready to go so that when we get that LOA, the form is ready to go out the same day. We're REALLY hoping to go to China by the end of the year, and we may be down to a matter of a few days making the difference.
5. We sent Kenzi's photo album to our agency and it's getting sent to China today. Hopefully by next week sometime, she'll be looking at all of our pictures we sent her! We also included a few sheets of stickers and a CD with Lullaby songs. I hope they can play it for her! (Click the pictures to make them bigger.) Aaron works with a guy from China and he has been so helpful to us. He translated the captions for the pictures.
The kids drew pictures for Kenzi!!!
1. We FINALLY got our tax refund!!!!!!!!!! YAHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2. We sent a few questions to our Agency regarding Kenzi. It could take a couple of weeks to get the answers. We're hoping to get some new pictures, but we aren't counting on that.
3. We have a few low-interest adoption loans we need to apply for. We are waiting to hear about a grant we applied for. I believe our application is being reviewed in August.
4. Waiting. That's mostly what we're doing. It seems the average wait for LOA (our approval from China) is around 60 days, and we're at about 21 days. But the LOA wait seems to have no rhyme or reason and we could get it much sooner than 60 days (or much later). I need to get our next US Immigration form (it's a long one) ready to go so that when we get that LOA, the form is ready to go out the same day. We're REALLY hoping to go to China by the end of the year, and we may be down to a matter of a few days making the difference.
5. We sent Kenzi's photo album to our agency and it's getting sent to China today. Hopefully by next week sometime, she'll be looking at all of our pictures we sent her! We also included a few sheets of stickers and a CD with Lullaby songs. I hope they can play it for her! (Click the pictures to make them bigger.) Aaron works with a guy from China and he has been so helpful to us. He translated the captions for the pictures.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
What's Next?
Now, we wait. We are waiting for China to issue our LOA, which is our Letter of Acceptance. This means that China has reviewed all of our paperwork and we are officially approved to adopt that specific child. Right now, the average wait is around 60 days, with some people receiving it in as few as 30 days. While we wait for that, here's what we're up to:
1. Jacinda's Readoption paperwork - I still have not submitted the last few documents to our local circuit court. Once we get her readoption done, we will be able to get an English birth certificate for her. Theoretically, this should make it easier to enroll Jacinda in things that require a birth certificate.
2. Photo Albums - I'm a little behind on organizing our pictures and putting them in albums. Like, about 7 years behind. Oops.
3. Figuring out bedrooms - Jacinda and Kenzi will be sharing a room. So we need to figure out what kind of beds they need and getting that set up. Their room is VERY small, so we need to figure out how to maximize the space.
4. Tax Refund - We STILL don't have our tax refund. We should hear something any day now.
5. Travel Plans - We're trying to figure out who is going to go to China to get Kenzi. At this point, it's looking like it might be Aaron and my brother, John. There are a few reasons I may not go, namely that we have no one to take care of both kids while we're gone. Plus, I'm not a good traveler. But we're still working all of that out.
6. Yard Sale - We're having another yard sale on July 16th. Our wonderful friends are hosting it for us! We made about $400 at the last one.
7. Stuff for Kenzi - We can send her a small photo album. Aaron has a friend at work who will translate the captions for the photos into Chinese for us. We can also put in a few sheets of stickers and pictures colored by Luke and Jacinda. The last thing we can include is a CD of lullaby songs her caretakers will play for her. We're hoping they will be able to play the CD for her and then we can play it at home and it will be familiar to her.
8. Medical Questions - We can submit 5 questions to Kenzi's orphanage. Her medical report we have already received was just done in May, so that is fairly recent. We're waiting to hear back from our cleft team to see if they have any questions/requests. We will also ask if she uses special bottles since her lip is still unrepaired. There are special cleft bottles that you can squeeze because cleft kids can't suck out of a regular bottle.
So as you can see, we have plenty to keep us busy!!!
1. Jacinda's Readoption paperwork - I still have not submitted the last few documents to our local circuit court. Once we get her readoption done, we will be able to get an English birth certificate for her. Theoretically, this should make it easier to enroll Jacinda in things that require a birth certificate.
2. Photo Albums - I'm a little behind on organizing our pictures and putting them in albums. Like, about 7 years behind. Oops.
3. Figuring out bedrooms - Jacinda and Kenzi will be sharing a room. So we need to figure out what kind of beds they need and getting that set up. Their room is VERY small, so we need to figure out how to maximize the space.
4. Tax Refund - We STILL don't have our tax refund. We should hear something any day now.
5. Travel Plans - We're trying to figure out who is going to go to China to get Kenzi. At this point, it's looking like it might be Aaron and my brother, John. There are a few reasons I may not go, namely that we have no one to take care of both kids while we're gone. Plus, I'm not a good traveler. But we're still working all of that out.
6. Yard Sale - We're having another yard sale on July 16th. Our wonderful friends are hosting it for us! We made about $400 at the last one.
7. Stuff for Kenzi - We can send her a small photo album. Aaron has a friend at work who will translate the captions for the photos into Chinese for us. We can also put in a few sheets of stickers and pictures colored by Luke and Jacinda. The last thing we can include is a CD of lullaby songs her caretakers will play for her. We're hoping they will be able to play the CD for her and then we can play it at home and it will be familiar to her.
8. Medical Questions - We can submit 5 questions to Kenzi's orphanage. Her medical report we have already received was just done in May, so that is fairly recent. We're waiting to hear back from our cleft team to see if they have any questions/requests. We will also ask if she uses special bottles since her lip is still unrepaired. There are special cleft bottles that you can squeeze because cleft kids can't suck out of a regular bottle.
So as you can see, we have plenty to keep us busy!!!
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