Final Day

Lai Chun has been doing so well since we got him. He seems so happy to be with us and not at his foster home. I have to say they did a good job with him. He does everything himself, potty, eating, cleaning up. He seems to do more than Ling-Li at times. I still don't care who they are. He is ours now and will be a US citizen tomorrow around 5pm. He eats everything and has tried all new foods. We are at Starbucks for lunch right now. I small change from the deli we have been going to every afternoon. Tracey is very happy to be leaving tomorrow, I am too. I have left Ling-Li before, but not this long. Plus I was busy with things and not sitting around with time to think. Lucy's will be our last meal tonight, it's Tracey's favorite. All the girls there have names like Rain and Rainbow, Sunshine. I saw that home has a Temp of 81 and feels like 86. In GZ right now it's 95 feels like 110. Coming home will be bliss to all of us in so many ways.....

Todd

Swearing In

Today was a great day in more ways than one. First I'm feeling much better. That Cipro kills everything. Second we went to the US Consulate and had our swearing in with about 30 other families. We just swear everything in the paperwork was true. Then they produce Lai Chun's Visa for his passport. Our guide will pick that up for us tomorrow and bring it to our hotel around 5pm. After that we will have one more meal here and be done! We want to get home so bad we changed our plans. The last flight we had from Newark to Bradley was a 4 hour layover. I threw that flight right out the window and hired a Limo to pick us up from NJ and bring us home. We should arrive 3 hours early doing this. This will give us the chance to see Ling-Li Saturday night and not Sunday. So things are looking good and yes, we are feeling much happier. Got an email from Scott today and that was great, thanks man.

Todd

Cipro & CA

I almost made it, three more days here and I didn't!  I woke up at 6 with the Chinese Water Bug swimming in my belly just wanting to get out.  I won't go into the dirty, nasty details of it all, but I was in the bathroom all morning.  It's not like I don't know not to drink the water or eat fresh veggies and such.  There is another family here from our agency and the father was sick last week.  The funny thing is, he has an office not to far from here in GZ!.  He has lots of experience in China and never got sick before.  This will be a mystery on how the Bug got into me.  I have been taking Cipro and that has helped a lot.  So in my room I stay all day.  Tracey was nervous about taking Lai Chun to breakfast today.  He was a tad sketchy with her and didn't want to get out of the stroller to eat, but he did and everything was OK.  It's been nice to watch him get closer to Tracey over the last few days.  He had no choice today to be with her, since I'm knocked out, on my ass.  I would be sleeping now if it weren't for these hard beds.  You see here in China they sleep on box springs with no mattress and at home I have a Sleep Number Bed, I'm 35.  (Very Soft)  Our guide went to the CA today to file all of our paperwork for Lai Chuns Visa and Citizenship. everything went well and we have a swearing in Ceremony tomorrow.  I hope I feel better!

Getting Closer

Lai Chun had his TB test read at the clinic today down the road.  As I said earlier there was no redness on his arm where the test was done.  We were in and out quick.  Lai Chun and his Albinism don't like the Sun at all.  It really seems to put him out and make him really tired.  It's not like he's baking in it all day, it's just the short times we go out he naps and just isn't himself.  This is a huge learning experience for all of us.  I think we are just going to hang around the White Swan tomorrow. I don't think that's too bad, its very nice here.  Hopefully I can get some good shots of him near the indoor Waterfall.  It will be a long day.  Whoever said Time stands still while adopting in China had it right.  Tracey and I were talking about that today. We get up and hang out then have breakfast and go to Startbucks.  Come back to our room and it;s only 10am!   If anyone out there wants to Skype with us and see Lai Chun, my Skype name is Todd.Sipala Check China time, we are on around 6am then in the evening around 6-9 China time.  12 hours forward from East Coast. Miss everyone out there.  Lot's of Love and come see us when we return.  Shout out to Martha, Tracy LT, BaiChina, and Wuhan Yahoo Groups. Todd

Monday

Today is the morning we have Lai Chun's TB test read.  I can see no physical evidence of a positive result, so I'm sure it is negative.  Plus I think I mentioned all our paperwork is going smoothly.  Let me tell you about Lai Chun a little bit, since I have got to know him.  He Loves to be happy and seems to think he needs to laugh every second of his life.  He loves turning on and off lights, looking in the mirror, and talking about cars/trucks/buses.  He truly is a little boy and is much different from my sweet Ling-Li.  Having a son is going to be great.  He has started mimicking our English already and even seems to know what a few words mean and he uses them correctly.  Last night he packed up a small bag of things, yelled Bye Bye, and proceeded to go into the closet.  He says good boy and I love you, plus he repeats many other words and sentences as you say them.  Lai Chun is such a big joy in our life and can't wait to be in our own home and show him how West Hartford life is. I spoke to Ling-Li last night and it made me happy and very sad at the same time.  We have nothing going on tomorrow, but have adoption things Wed., Thurs., and Fri.! I hope that makes things go fast and we leave Saturday morning.  I'll check in with you later.

More Shopping and Missing Ling-Li

I miss my daughter so much.  For any of you who don't know I stay home with my daughter during the day and Teach Jiu-Jitsu in the evening at my Dojo.  Ling-Li and I do everything together.  She is staying with Tracey's sister Missy.  Things at Missy's house have been a little off for the past 2 days, so we haven't Skyped.  I just want to see her before I go to sleep tonight.  I don't know how people go on business trips all the time. I guess if you do travel a lot you might not be as close to your kids as Ling-Li and I are.  That would kill me.  Please hug your kids for me right now.  I hope we finished most of the shopping we are going to do in GZ.  I am sending a large box home tomorrow.  Yes, I bought tons of things for the kids.  Have a great night everyone.

Shopping and StarBucks

Our Adoption Agency set up many touristy things everyday while in China.  We of course opted out of all the things. Our main concern and purpose is to bond with our new child, not to ignore him while we listen to a tour guide for 5 hours. This is funny, because our agency stresses the bonding time so much, but then wants you to see everything on the list. We are at Starbucks right now, drinking BlueEyes and using there WiFi. Much shopping will be had again today and hope to send home a couple of boxes tomorrow. Guangzhou is hot, it's a sub tropical island in the south. It's still much cooler here than in Wuhan. It's a pleasant sweaty hot. Wuhan was knock you in the face can't breath or move hot. We are happy. Kai Chun seems to be doing much better with Tracey. He can be left alone with her and she can even kiss him, just a little. For the most part it's me BaBa he wants. I love it!

Shots, Tears, and Cookies

The first thing we did today after breakfast was to get Lai Chun's picture taken for his visa.  35 RMB and 2 minutes was all it took. Medical also went real good this morning.  There are 4 posts to go to.  First is getting weighed.  Very fast and easy.  Second was ear, nose, and throat (ENT). She looked in his ears and Lai Chun wouldn't open his mouth.  So she rammed a stick in his mouth and pressed so hard down that it snapped.  I wanted to belt her!  After she saw the look on my face, she just let us go and gave my son a pass with flying colors.  Third stop was physical inspection. Feel his head and look at his whole body. Then was the dreaded fourth stop, vaccinations!  My boy needed 4 and a TB test because we are an I800 family.  The total cost was 1900 RMB and some tears.  Actually he was really great.  The crying didn't start till the 4th shot. One on each arm and one on each leg, he didn't like getting poked in the leg.  I gave him my camera to take pictures and a cookie he was happy.  Half hour more wait to make sure there were no reactions and we were off.  Tracey is at the white out party and Lai Chun is napping.  The white out party is filling out all the paperwork for his visa.  They call it that because there are usually so many mistakes that you need to use white out.  We are now free the rest of the day and tomorrow.

The Whit Swan

I couldn't wait to post that title for a long time.  It's a funny thing how we just can't stand how long it takes us to go to China.  I mean we count the months off like days.  Then everyone asks you, when are you going?  Then a couple years go by and we get a call you need to leave in a week.  It's so crazy.  But here we are Guangzhou the last stop before home.  Our guide is picking us up at 8:50am and we walk over for the Medical Exam.  I finally get to meet Allison in person.  Her and her husband Mathew have adopted a little boy to and her and I have been emailing each other for months.  It will be great to see her and her whole family.  More fees to be paid and shots for Lai Chun to get.  I'll tell you all about it tomorrow.

Last Night in Wuhan

My wife and I are happy this is the last night in Wuhan.  Because of the Heat?  No.  Because of some of the mean people?  No.  It's because this means we are half way home.  You see we miss our daughter Ling-Li very much.  I am starting to tear up right now.  I know, I know, a big strong Jiu-Jitsu Master like me crying?  Yup!  When it comes to my first born I cry every time.  I keep telling myself we are here for Lai Chun and it would have been way too hard having her here.  It still kills me.  You should see Tracey, she's a hot mess.  She knows and loves Guangzhou, so that is a big plus for tomorrow.  We leave for the Wuhan Civil Aff. Office around 9:30am to get Lai Chun's Passport. Back to the Hotel to collect our things and then to the Airport between 12-1 to catch our 3:30 flight and arrive in GZ around 4:50.  Tracey and I will upgrade our room at the White Swan to the upper floors, it is so worth it!  Better everything and much more space.  I will put a new video up once there.  I hear Starbucks calling our names right now! What have we been doing all week without Starbucks? SBucks VIA saved us! There are a lot more adoption things for us to do in GZ, so I will try and keep up with it all day by day. Is anyone even reading this thing?  Do I sound like an idiot?  Anyway one last thing.  On our way up to the room tonight a 6.5foot white guy walked up to the elevator. We both said hi and heard an American accent.  I said where are you from. "A small state in the US" he hesitated to say where as he explained he thought we probably have never been there. Connecticut he said.  Tracey and I both blurted out, "That's where we are from"! Hartford and Manchester he said. Well we live in West Hartford.  He was amazed. The last 8 years of working in China, we were the first people he has met from CT. It was nice to have met him.

Bug Bites and Long Nail

I wanted to share with you the first few seconds of seeing Lai Chun sleeping in the nanny's arms.  The first thing you could see was these large sores on his hand, wrist, and legs.  Also on the base of his neck/upper back. These were bug bites probably from the dirty living conditions at the foster family's house. Lai Chun also had the longest nails I had ever seen on a kid, I mean woman would kill to have these.  With those nails he scratched the hell out of the bites.  It was very scary to say the least.  I'm very happy to have brought Hydrocortisone Plus and a steroid cream.  It's been four days now of applying both creams, I stopped the steroid cream yesterday, and they are mostly cleared up.  The two largest ones on his right hand and wrist are 90% better.  They were dying to get treated.  He is probibly more happy about this than Tracey and I.  When I take the cream out he persists on doing it himself.  I have to say, he is very well behaved and listens to most everything I tell him to do and not to do.  He has been saying Umm Umm Good when he eats and Wu Ba Ba Poopy when he needs to go potty.  It is very cute

Video of Lai Chun

Ok I don't know how, but I did it.  I was able to upload a quick little picture video on Vimeo of the first couple days.  I will try another one soon, so keep checking back! Vimeo.com/masterflyer

Hot Pool, Spicy Noodles, Jinwu Duck Necks and a T-Bone

Today was even hotter than yesterday!  It hit 104 and it said feels like 125 plus!  After breakfast we said lets go to the Hotel Pool.  Great, right!  I mean in this heat a nice cool splash in the pool would be perfect.  The pool area was surrounded in glass ceiling and windows!  It seemed hotter than outside.  Then I stuck my foot into the water, holy cow! I said to myself how can the water be warmer than the air?  So the three of us went back to our room.  Since Lai Chun is in no need for his new Mommy right now, Tracey went downstairs for a Hair Wash.  Yes you read that right.  For about $3 she got her hair washed, head massaged and hair curled.  It took about an hour.  During that time, Lai Chun and I went out for Wuhan's famous Spicy Dry Noodles.  I guess they call them dry because they are dry when tossed into the hottest broth known to man.  The chunks of beef are so black from sitting in the hot sauce they made my lips numb.  Friends of mine know that I was very happy eating those.  All the food here is overly hot and spicy because that makes you sweat, and sweat cools you down. This place was not for the faint of heart. No English anything and I forgot my Translator apps in the hotel.  I went up said the word for noodles and gave her 10RMB=$1.50 then she handed me 3 poker chips and sent me in.  I brought those up to the window while everyone in there was gazing at the white haired boy and the tattooed man.   Leaving the noodle place he fell asleep within minutes and finally bought some Jinwu Duck Necks. As far as I can tell they are hunks of yup your right, duck necks dried and soaked in that same Wuhan spicy mix.  Tracey and I gobbled them all up.  For dinner we went to the Greenery Cafe. What a nice place.  I had the T-Bone and Tracey got the Grill Mix, lamb and steak and fish.  Lai Chun tried a tuna fish sandwich, but ended up eat most of my fillet. The paper we got with him never said he liked steak.  We stopped at my favorite corner store for ice-cream and called it a night.  Did I mention Tracey went for an hour foot massage too today?  She plans on going tomorrow too. See she really has nothing to do all day.  Lai Chun only want me and this is very hard on the both of us, at least she gets some tension relief!  Where's mine?

Getting Better

Here it is, our third day with Lai Chun and I'm exhausted!  I left the room for a a few minutes last night and that set him off for an hour of crying.  Sorry Tracey :( I wish I had just 10 min a day, but being with my son is such a joy I know it's harder for him than me.  Yesterday morning, his first with us, when he woke up all he did was cry.  Today was the complete opposite  He was happy and content.  Plays a little with Tracey and seems happy.  Lai Chun's smile is addictive.  I just can't wait to see him in his new house.  He will think its a mansion.  The Chinese culture thing gets to us a little.  When asked about his and Ling-Li's room, and we explained they have there own rooms, they told us that's not good and should put them in the same room.  This coming from an area that thinks ice cream is no good for kids!  We just smile and agree.  Dinner last night was, umm?  Grant told us to go to that department store 8Th floor to the Green Chamber to eat.  Well we stepped out of the elevator and it was a large food court.  Little did we know the Greenery Cafe, not chamber, was around the corner of the food court and didn't know this until after we ate.  Lai Chun slept through the whole time we were there.  The Chinese people have been very crude to him and his Albinism.  This stupid woman came right over to us, looked at him and screamed like she saw a ghost. Tracey even heard the word a few times.  Poor little boy, can't wait to get him to West Hartford!  Hope to get to the Greenery Cafe tonight.  The best time is between 4-4:30, after that there is a long wait.  Love you all and hope to get some pics up soon.

Our Second Day with Lai Chun

I need to start off by saying this can't be the same kid we got yesterday!  He won't stop talking! Today was the day he was officially Adopted by us. The paperwork went very smooth today.  Some of you know it as Red Foot day, because they dip the child's right foot in red ink and print it on the adoption paperwork. More money and gifts were given by us, answered a few questions on why we wanted to adopt another child from China and that was it.  He seems to be warming up to Tracey a bit too.  Lai Chun just let mama kiss him for the first time, and boy is she going for it!  He has been only coming to me the last day and a half and likes to hit Tracey if she gets too close.  We gave him his first bath with us and he loved it.  He is too independent.  I say that because I want to do things for him.  He took the soap from me and started washing himself.  It was a very fun and long bath time.  One other great thing is Lai Chun came to us fully potty trained.  He says Wu Ba Ba for both 1 and 2, then laughs when he goes.  The Temps here are off the charts. 103 and the report says feels like 125! The three of us are going shopping in a few hours.  To friends staying at the May Flower, go outside, turn left and the second Kids Clothing Store on the left is Great!  I bought some clothes last night and we are going back tonight before dinner to get more and some Wuhan shoes for him.  For dinner we will be heading to the Green Chamber on the 7th floor of the department store further down on the left.  For all the Albinism family's, Lai Chun loves both his hats and sunglasses!

VPN

I had a VPN all set up and running at home. I would use it many times before we left to see how fast the Internet ran. When I got here in China it wouldn't work! Must have been too old of a program? May 2010 too far past? I tried a few other ones and still not much luck. I really wanted to put up a video on my YouTube site and send pics to my FB page. I have my FB set up to send emails when I get a message. Read yours today TLT thanks. Can't even get on my Blog, glad I set it up through my email. Love and miss all you at home. I have 10 more days to get a good VPN going and I will! Thanks everyone.

Todd

It's the Best Day Everrrrr!

Where do I start?  How about this?  Our driver was late and he almost killed us on the way over.  He had to slam the brakes and I went from the 3rd back to the front, but who cares? We got to the Civil Affairs office and he was sleeping!  There were about 8 other family's getting there children.  All the kids were running around, flashes going off, lots of noise all around and there was our white haired cutie sound asleep.  The nanny who was holding him had to yell to wake him.  Lai Chun opened his eyes, and said he had to pee, so off they went.  Now Grant brought us into the office and we signed a temp guardianship document for the one day.  Tomorrow we go back and make the adoption official.  For those of you just joining me on this journey, Lai Chun has albinism, white hair, white eyelashes, and very light skin color.  His eyes seem to be light blue with slight redish hue in the center.  His nystagmis seemed less severe than we thought.  Lai Chun also seems to see very well and not that photophobic. He would look straight at the light without squinting or shutting his eyes.  He is seeing an eye specialist on Sept 7th so I'll let you know whats up. Now back to the meeting.  The nanny finally brought him to us in the office and the director came in to give us a photo book, Gold coin of the CWI, plus a few ofLai Chun's favorite snacks.  He took to me, so I was holding him.  Every now and then tears would roll down, but no sounds from him.  They kept on saying to ask questions about what he likes and any and all info on him.  My wife and I never really understood why they emphasize this.  What does he eat? What time does he go to bed?  What does he play with? Who was his foster mother? You see none of this matters to us.  He will eat what we eat and I'm sure he will forget about congee because we will never make mushy watery rice at our house.  He will go to bed when it's bedtime in our house.  He's only 2 1/2.  Hope that dosen't come off mean, it's just the way we feel.  He is starting a new wonderful life and everything will be better and different from now on.  Another thing about the Chinese way of raising children, they all think they are his parents too.  Our guide who we love said about his eye sight.  Do not get him glasses, children don't need them or wear them because they run around, this is no good for them.  Anyway I'll shut up now. When we returned to the hotel about an hour later, Lai Chun sat on the bed eating oreo cookies and being silent.  this went on for about two hours, then came the screeming and crying.  That only lasted for minutes.  When he calmed down I had to hold him in my arms and Tracey could not do to much with him.  I also couldn't leave him to go into the bathroom, so he came with me.  He cried a little more and still no talking or sounds came from my little boy.  He took my hand and brought me over to his bed and I laid him down.  When that unleashed the talking monster! He has been playing with Tracey as I type and hasn't stopped talking and laughing for the past 2 hours.  We are all over tired and I can't wait for the next few day's.  One more thing, it's been over 100F everyday.  My weather app says feels like 122 today!

Getting Ready to Meet my Son

This is it!  We are getting Lai Chun in 3 hours.  I'm so thrilled and nervous at the same time. I need to get his backpack ready and that's it!  Tracey and I went to the Bank today.  I was thinking about when Annmarie and I went in Langzhou. This one was so much bigger than that bank.  Turn Left out of the Hotel and its at the corner on the left.  Go upstairs to your right, take a number from the machine and wait your turn.  We were there almost an hour. Exchanged $1600 with no problems.  The May Flower said they would exchange $200 a day each passport, but that's not true so far.  Tracey tried $200 yesterday and they would only do $100.  we also went to a large department store today and the prices were more than at home! The small stores on the same street as our Hotel, left and right, had the best deals.  We plan on buying Lai Chun some clothes from these small stores and more for him and Ling-Li when we get to Gaungzhou.    We met David and Sherrye Anderson today.  They live in FLA and are Adopting a 17month old girl at the same time as us.  They are so much nicer than I thought they would be, why? Friends that know me will understand.  I'm just not crazy about people, but they seem so good at heart and the first impression always means a lot to me.  Plus there new daughter is the cutest thing!   Being here brings back many of the same feelings from our first trip to China.  It smells, the cooking oil is nasty, and it's not that comfortable to say the least.  They only difference?, I knew all this from last time.  Tracey and I are dealing with all the stress 100% better.  Our mind is focused on Lai Chun only. And my daughter.  From talking with her on Skype, she is not happy.  This hurts me very much.  I feel tears starting.  I thought she would be happier than she is.  Lingy my sweet girl, we promise to never leave you again!  I'm so sorry.  Stay strong my little monkey and I'll be home soon!  Love BaBa

Second Day

--- On Sun, 8/1/10, Todd Sipala <domoson@hotmail.com> wrote: From: Todd Sipala <domoson@hotmail.com> Subject: FW: Second Day To: domoson42000@yahoo.com Date: Sunday, August 1, 2010, 11:56 PM > Subject: Second Day > From: domoson42000@yahoo.com > Date: Mon, 2 Aug 2010 11:46:51 +0800 > To: domoson@hotmail.com > > We went to the store today to buy a few things. Grant took us to a very large mall and hit up the grocery part. I got some bowls and a spoon set. Pull ups, but I hope not to use them. Grant told us they potty train very early ( we trained Ling-Li at 18months) because they send kids to K at 2-3 years old. And a few snacks to go in Lai Chun's back pack along with his toys. Tracey bought a cute pocketbook and she's very happy. From there we went to the Largest Buddhist Temple in Wuhan. It was so historic and just great to see and hear the culture of it all. After returning to the hotel we took a walk to check out all the tiny shops on the street. > > Our room is soooo HOT! The AC has been on since last night and it's just not doing the trick. We asked for a fan to help move the air around. Hope that helps. Also the Internet is very slow here and can't use our Slingbox to watch our home cable box. So it's BluRays for the rest of the time in Wuhan. I set up a VPN to get over the Internet great wall, but that didn't work. I put a new VPN on my laptop and it works on and off. It would be better if the speed was faster. > > Our guide told us today that we will be getting Lai Chun at 3:00 tomorrow!! The Bank opens at 9am. It's a short walk from the hotel, turn left out the May Flower. We need to change $1600 to RMB. That will cover the cost of everything here and in Guangzhou. I hope. All our paperwork we need for Wuhan CWI is in order and ready. We make three trips there this week. Monday to get Lai Chun, Tuesday to fill out all the paperwork and make the adoption legal and give them gifts from home, and then Friday to get his passport and the adoption papers. > > I am so ready to see my son. I'm going to kiss his head so much. I hope the shock isn't too bad for him. I know things will be much better after we get home. 24 hours my son and you will be with your loving family. > > Todd >

China, Tattoos, and the May Flower

We made it!  We are at the May Flower Hotel in Wuhan. After traveling for more than 30hours, to be here in Wuhan where my son was born is fantastic!   The last time we were in China, it was the Winter.  I wore long sleeves and long pants.  The weather here is 95 and muggy....did I mention it's 11pm?  I have on a T-Shirt and shorts.  Everyone is looking at me, not just quick glances either.  Long hard starring is going on.  They might think I'm in a rock band or something.   The May Flower isn't as nice as we thought it was going to be.  4-5 star rating? Maybe I'm just tired and cranky.  I'm looking forward to shopping tomorrow and eating everything Wuhan.  Our guide Grant said McDonalds and Pizza Hut, we yelled at him and said NEVER!  I mean, I don't even eat that crap in the States!  I think he was pleased.  I'll take and post pics tomorrow when its day time.  I think we are going to watch some SlingBox and go to sleep.  Tracey and I Skyped with Ling-Li, boy do I miss her!  She will be a big Sister in two days and more than that, we will have our little boy forever! So looking up his name months ago, there were 3 different ways to pronounce Lai. There is Lay, Lie, and Low (cow). So we have been saying Lay.  Our guide Grant said it's Lie. All those people I have been correcting, I'm sorry. Todd

CA

Our CA is August 11th. Hello China! It's finally here. We are so happy. We bought our Airline Tickets last night and got all our in China info today, that included CA, hotels and a few other details. Tracey and I decited to skip Beijing this time around and fly straght to Wuhan. We plan on shopping for a few things we need on that Sunday to be ready for our son on Monday. My cute little boy. So this is it. I will post every day while in China and try to bring you there with us. Hope you enjoy our journey to the last member of our family.

Todd sent this from his iPod

TA

So we were hoping our TA would be here by Wednesday. Tracey, Ling-Li and I went out around 4 today for what else? Shopping for Lai Chun. While at Five Brothers eating burgers and fries, our AA left a message that we are TA! How great is this? We hope to leave in two weeks. We already got our Travel Visa, so that's done. Plus we plan on flying straight to Wuhan, Hubei and not stopping in Beijing first. Great, Hot times ahead! I'm very Lucky!

Todd sent this from his iPod

Hardest Wait So Far

So it's going on two weeks since our A5. We are now waiting for TA. This by far has been the hardest wait to deal with. Ling-Li took 3 years to get, but we didn't know who she was until two months before travel. Just knowing our sweet little boy for almost 8 months has been tough to think about. Now the last wait before travel has stopped time in our house. Lai Chun needs to be home where he belongs and will be cherished and treated with respect. That little boy won't know what hit him with all the kisses we have been saving for him.

On a great note, his room is about 99% done. I think all it needs is a small lamp and more toys. I bought him some med sized trucks today along with a collection of dinosaurs. Plus we plan on taking a backpack (Spider Man, I bought it yesterday) with a bunch of small toys and books and candy and.....to give him when we first meet him. I picked up some of those things today and a car seat/booster for my truck. So things are getting done on that end. I love you son and need you here to make our family complete.

Todd sent this from his iPod

Visa Letter

We got the letter from National Visa Center today. It says our I-800 petition has been sent to Consulate General of the U. S., Visa in Guangzhou! 

Todd sent this from his iPod

Skype

So I'm getting excited knowing we could be traveling in two months to get our son. On the other hand leaving Ling-Li is killing me inside. I will make sure my sister in law has Skype all set up on her PC and also for my in laws. I need to see and hear my Lingy everyday while we are in China. Skype will be our best tool to bring us back home during our travels. Lai Chun will also get to meet his Big sister from half way around the world. Every time Ling-Li and I go somewhere she takes my ipod and needs to show people pics of Lai Chun and say thats my brother Lai Chun, he's in China. It's too cute.

Last Vacation before Lai Chun

As a special vacation for Ling-Li, since this will be her last one as an only child, we are going to Nickelodeon Resort in Orlando, Fl. We are leaving tomorrow at 5:30am. Will I even be able to sleep tonight? I promised Ling-Li I would get Slimed, but she doesn't want to. I have to say I'm excited about meeting SpongeBob...I do love him. Lai Chun will be on my mind like always. Just having the idea in my head that our next vacation we take he will be with us. His hat on, sunglasses and putting more sunblock on him....that will be the best vacation ever.

My Family

LOA

So here it is, about 18months into our second adoption. Today a FedEx truck pulled up to my house. In his hand was our LOA from China! Today is a happy day for my family. Our first adoption was a China NSN and went very different from this one. First time around we finished all our paperwork and meetings within the first year. Then we waited with virtually no contact from our agency for two years. We literally got the info on our daughter and TA at the same time. Travel was two months later. This time around we started again with China NSN. The wait now was 5 or more years. At that point we switched over to SN Program. Within days we were matched with Lai Chun. He has Albinism and is from Wuhan CWI in the Province of Hubei. He turned two on Jan 1, 2010 and will be home, where he belongs by August.