We got the WHITE envelope! Happy early Birthday, Julia Renee!

Adoption update! Michelle and I finally conceded that we both are not getting the "brown envelope". Bummer to say the least, but AAI has the documents that we will need while in China. So...We got the packet of those papers today! Nothing that spectacular. Just another step in the long road to Julia.

Speaking of Julia...her 2nd birthday is tomorrow. I didn't think that I would be that down about it, but I am. If only we had moved a bit quicker to get our paperwork going, she might be home already. The what if's kill me. I do have to remember that we are working on God's time, not Melissa and Wayne time. :-) I guess Michelle, Liz, and I were meant to go through this process together. My hope is that not only have I gained a daughter, I will have gained two life-long friends. We bought Julia a few birthday presents. Aunt Samantha, Aunt Theresa, Anna and I picked out an Eeyore pull toy, stacking barrels, and a little bug phone. I will post pictures of the presents once we get back from camping.

Ok...I've got to email Michelle about the raisins. I will post that story too, later. :-)

YEEHAWW...we got a "case" number and the OK to get our visas!

I got an email from Michelle at AAI today. Mary got word that we have a case number. Which means that they have processed (at least at the Embassy) our paperwork for immigration. Woohooo! So we are now hoping that will bring on the delivery of our brown envelope with all the paperwork we will need for Guangzhou. ~Snoopy Dance Time~ This is our number: GUZ 2005238027.

Also, Ming gave Michelle the go-ahead to get our travel visas! Another small snoopy dance. I'm excited. I get the feeling things are going to happen sooner than later. Liz and I are hoping to travel over Thanksgiving.

Ok..enough for tonight. Later! :-)

From itchy mom to itchy dogs/Letter translation

Well, the run on poison ivy is over, but now...the dogs have FLEAS. Oh lord, will it ever end?? So far Riley seems to be the bad one. Her longer hair gives them a better place to live; where as with Sherman, his short hair isn't a flea's cup of tea. :-)

No real news on the adoption front. I bid on some really cool stickers for the scrapbook we are working on for Director Lu. I've been talking to a nice woman whose son is from Xianning. She has nothing but really great things to say about Lu. YAY! I feel better about Julia being in his care as each day goes. I wrote a letter to the foster parents and had it translated into Chinese for them. It cost $50.00 but well worth the money. I wanted them to know how much we appreciate the job they have done and what they will continue to mean in Julia's life.

Ok..time to read some more Mercer Mayer books to Anna. She loves Little Critter books. Later!

AAI called...

No, still no TA, but they did ask about using video of Julia in a DVD that they are putting together with CCAA. They also called Liz and asked about using Isaac in the DVD too. How exciting! It apparently has something to do with a program called tomorrow's Child. I could be wrong, but I thought that's what Liz called it. I have a call into Michelle to ask about it.

We are also headed to Kent City today to get Cam's new bed. YAY! Then we are going to celebrate my birthday (#32) at either Olive Garden or Red Lobster. Whatever the kids pick. Hard to believe that I'm 32 already...man I feel old!!

Map of China

I'm posting a map of China, actually, I'm posting a map of Hubei. That's the province that Julia lives in. She is currently in the city of Xianning. She will be brought to us when we are in Wuhan. It's about 1.5 hour drive to get to there. Here's a little bit on Xianning.

Xianning, with an area of 9.853 square kilometers and a population of 2,696,100 is located at Central China. It neighbors Northern Jiangxi province on the east, adjoins Dongting Lake of Hunan province on the south, gaze at Jianghan Plain on the west and closes to Wuhan on the north. There are 2 cities, 4 counties and one tourist economic development zone under its jurisdiction. They are Chibi city, Xianan division, Tongcheng county, Jiayu county, Tongshan county, Chongyang county and Wenquan Tourist Economic Development Zone. There major traffic lines run through our city from north to south. They are Beijing-to-Guangzhou Railway line, No. 106 and No. 107 national highways, and the Yangtse River connects the east and west. So specially endowed with favourable conditions, Xianning is known as the southern Gate of Hubei Province.There are rich resources both above the earth and unearth in the region. Xianning is always famous for the beautiful names of the Hometown of Bamboo, the Hometown of Tea. Here, fine natural landscape and historical landscape are gathered. It is a green gem of Hubei province, with 41 percent of forest covering rate. Moreover, we have the Tomb of King Li, Chibi-the ancient battlefield of the Tree Kingdoms, Taiyi Cave, Chengshui Underground Defence Works, Jiugong Mountain Nature Preserve Area, Lushui Lake Tourist Vacationing Spot and Bamboo Sea.

This is the map of Hubei. 

The entire Wagner family (minus Julia because she's still in China!)...even MOM in the water. Major Miracle! 

Wayne and Anna swimming in the ocean. 

Uncle Wendell, Anna and Cam with the flounder they caught. 

Wayne, Cam and Uncle Wendell with the SHARK they caught at our favorite red sand beach. 

Both of the kids swimming, thanks Aunt Cherrie for the noodles! 

Cameron at the pool at the Sleep Inn in Daytona 

Anna on the plane from Detroit to Orlando 

Updates, an Ultrasound picture, Yahoo groups and my poison ivy

Well, every time I come to check out the site, no one has updated stuff for me!! :-) Ok...so here goes...

1. I have been talking to Michelle on a regular basis. She still feels as though we will get our TA (travel approval) at the end of October. I'm holding on to that with all my heart. It's hard to believe that I could be holding Julia 2 months from now. I guess only time will tell.

2. We bought Cameron a new bunk bed for his room off of Ebay today. It's a cool black one with a twin on the top and a full size on the bottom. We are looking at something similar for Anna and Julia, but I'm not sure yet. Michelle says she loves the ones that her kids have. That it's worked out great for them. I'm not sure if her Alivia is little stinker like Anna. ;-) Anyways, Cam is excited, now we need to head to Kent City to pick it up. He not sure what kind of bedding he wants for it. I guess that gives me something else to shop for.

3. Here's a picture that Sharon with the late august DTC group posted. I love it! I will probably print it out and put it in Julia's lifebook. Since we don't have an ultrasound picture of her like we do of Cameron and Anna, so this is as close as we are going to get. :-)

4. Speaking of Yahoo groups, I've joined a few. People with August DTC dates (more NSN adoptions), late August DTC just for SN adoptions, WCC (Waiting Children China) for families that have adopted or are adopting SN kids from China, COO (Carry On Only..travel group for those wishing not to check any luggage, which is NOT us!), GGRCCC (Greater Grand Rapids Chinese Culture Club), MI-WCC (The Michigan version of the WCC), Atresia/Microtia (for people with the condition or families with kids with m/a), AAI (Adoption Associates has their own group for families that are adopting from China), Xianning and Xianning Culture (for families that have adopted or will be adopting from the Xian An SWI or Xianning City), Toddler Adoption China (speaks for itself). Phew...it's a full time job just keeping up with all the posts. Some groups have lots more action that others. Most have been hugely helpful. I'm hoping to meet some of the folks from the late august group. They are really a great group of women.

5. We bought an awesome backpack for the laptop. Even the computer gets something new for the trip!! :-) It's a Kensington that we got directly from Dell. It's super nice and it's got lumbar support for Wayne. I think he will be the one hauling all the paperwork and electronics from here to China. Poor guy! He needs to start working on those back muscles now. Anyway, the backpack is hella cool.

6. Thanks to Aunt Cheryl for taking care of us in Florida. Wayne says this was the best trip so far. Special thanks for the secret gift...I'll let you know what we pick out. ;-)

7. I'm trying to arrange a get together with Liz, Brion, Michelle, Randy and us. So far...it's not been working out. Wayne is headed to New Jersey this next week for work (7th-14th). I'm going to try to put tons of energy into Cam/Anna's rooms to get things organized. Right now, Anna is sleeping in the toddler bed in our room. Not my ideal situation, but...she's happy and sleeping better. I'm sure that Julia will sleep in our bed anyways...

8. Sooo...some of you are wondering how I faired on the poison ivy front. Well, I still have some scabs from the worst parts. BLEH...I have been fighting this stuff for nearly 6 weeks!!! DON'T EVER GET POSION IVY! On top of that while I was in Florida I had an allergic reaction to the change in my laundry soap. More itchy bumps...more tubes of Cortisone 10. I'm not going to lie. It sucked, it sucked BAD. As of now, I still have a small rash on the backs of my arms and the tops of my thighs. :-( Not a happy camper.

Ok...I need to finish this for tonight. My fingers need a break. Take care and love you all!

LID!!! (Log In Date)

Hey all! We got a LID!! Michelle emailed me to let me know that we have a date. It's 8/31. Just as Alynn on the WCC board had predicted. YAY! I will work on an official time line later.

New Look

Hey Aunt Cheryl,

Just wanted to ask if you liked the new look of the blog. :-) It's rather Barbie-esque, but fitting for a 2 y/o little one. Just let me know what you think.

Take care! See you in a few days!!

Poem from the late august DTC group

I wanted to post a poem that came from one of my Yahoo groups. :-)

May you be safe and sleep soundly through the night,
May you be safe as you wake to the morning's light.
May you feel my love from so far away,
May it comfort and protect you throughout each day.
I will pray for you my little oneUntil our time of waiting is done.
I will pray that the Lord keep you safe from harm,
Until the child of my heart becomes the child in my arms.
~Author Unknown

Family Reunion

Today was the McKenzie family reunion. It got off to a bit of a slow start. I think we need to send out postcards to remind people what time things are suppose to start. I had a great time talking to Suzie, Lynnea and Tommy as usual. Rebecca, Suzie and Kraig's little girl is just adorable. Full of smiles and giggles, I can't wait for Julia to get here. :-) Everyone wants to know when she's coming...Man, is that the million dollar question. If I only knew when we will get to go... There are some families on the WCC board that are getting NOVEMBER consulate dates. UGH...I sure hope that doesn't mean that we won't get to go till December or January. I don't think that I can wait that long!!

Ok...I'm super dee dooper tired so this is it for tonight...6 short days till we are in Florida!! Love ya Aunt Cherrie!!

Poison Ivy, Interlochen and our Journey

Ok...so the poison ivy started a week or so ago and I didn't know that's what it was. It's now spread into something fierce and it's killing me. I got the doc to give me more prednisone, so hopefully that will help. Otherwise I'm headed to Florida looking like a lepper.

We took our usual Labor Day camping weekend to Interlochen. It went really well I think. We were talking about how life will change when Julia gets here, that grandma's camper might not be big enough for all 5 of us. I would love to have a camper of our own, hopefully we can make it happen. Cam had a great time with Max and Mackenzie again. They played baseball the whole time, along with Gameboys. Theresa and Tyler spent the weekend with us too. We shopped and had fun playing cards. I bought my first Buddha. He's black and holding a globe. I put him up in the living room. I think he looks great. I did buy Julia one outfit. Kristen picked it out at Sam's Club. It's a cute little twin set with pink twill pants. :-) I will post some new pictures of Cameron and Anna from this weekend once we get our new camera set up.

Speaking of Julia, no word on our brown envelope or a LID. Michelle said that Ming was going to ask about them today. I hope we know something soon. We now think it might not be till closer to December that we travel. Wayne is happy, he didn't want to miss Deer Season. He would hate to miss hunting. I'm sure he would be fine without it, but I know that it's important to him. Soooo....I don't think we'll have anymore adoption news till we either hear from Ming on the LID or get the brown envelope with all the paperwork that we need to complete once we get to China. Later!!

Countdown to Daytona!!

While doing all the laundry today, I started to put clothes together for our trip to Florida. YAY! We leave on the 16th, which is only 19 short days away and that's 19 days closer to being in China! :-) I think the kids are happy about the trip. All Anna wants to do is go shopping. Cam wants to go to Daytona USA. I want to go to Aunt Catfish's!!! Wohooo!

Not much to report on the adoption front. We are now just waiting for China to give us the ok to travel. In about a month or so, we will apply for our visas. More fed-exing stuff to Chicago to the consulate. This time we need to use a courier. I'd just as soon drive down to Chicago for the day. That would be a fun road trip...me, Liz and Michelle. I'm still waiting to get the OK from Wayne to set up our family website. We decided on the Our China Adoption site (www.ourchinaadoption.com). I like the amount of pictures that you can load. I want to be able to post a boat load of them once we get our Julia.

Only one other thing to share, I've got some weirdo rash. :-) I thought it was poison ivy, but now I'm not so sure. I'll be heading to the doc's office tomorrow. G'night for now!