Sunday, September 30, 2007

What happens next?

That seems to be the most common question we are hearing these days, so here goes. As Amber said, our plan is leave on the 8th. That still could change, because we still have to get our visas completed and our passports sent back to us by a visa expediting company (Thank you Connie!). Once we have them, and a few more confirmations go around the world to Kaz & back, we'll be all set. We should know for sure in a few days.
Next (as it stands now), on the 8th we'll drive down to JFK (or get a ride), fly across the Atlantic, land in Germany for a few hours (quite a few actually, and Frankfurt if you're curious), fly across the rest of Europe & a chunk of Asia to Almaty, rest up a bit (hopefully in a hotel room), meet one of our coordinators, be given the tickets for a flight from Almaty to Kaz (no idea really how long this is, I'm guessing a few hours), make the flight (this is now the 10th), meet another coordinator in Kaz, drive w/ another couple to the orphanage (they are actually called baby houses), meet the babies, and try to make our choice!
Deep Breath...
Now, we pick out our baby (which I am looking forward to and terrified of at the same time), and spend 22 days in Kaz, spending 4 hours a day (2 on Sunday) with our baby, while people in the background get paperwork and everything else processed to make this all official. We have a short court date before we come home, then Amber & I will return, get everything else done at home that we need to for a few weeks (2-4 I think), then we fly back to Almaty, pick up our baby, do some more paperwork & stuff (stuff is the technical term for I have no idea), and come home as a family. The second trip should be only a few days over there, so it'll be pretty hectic.
I've signed us up for a web slide show thing, so as long as everything continues as planned, there should be plenty of pictures by the middle of next week!!!!!!! It still feels a little surreal, but I think once we actually get on the plane, it will hit me.

Saturday, September 29, 2007

We have our LOI

Just heard word that we have our Letter Of Invitation! We also put tickets on hold for the 8th!
Only 9 more days!

Friday, September 28, 2007

FINALLY! We are going to meet our baby!!

We should be leaving on October 8th or 9th!! We have our final approval and our LOI is on its way. The region is open and we should be one of the first families there! There will be many babies available too since no one has been to Karaganda months. This feels so unreal. I have lists and sticky notes everywhere! I am busy packing, organizing, cleaning the house and of course calling everyone in the family! We are so happy and excited! I can hardly sleep and you know I like to sleep! We could have the baby home by the first or second week in December!

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