I 600 sent to Vietnam!

According to our caseworker, our I 600 paperwork has been sent to Vietnam. Now...we wait for the USCIS confirmation that they did, indeed, get it!!! HOORAY!!!!!!!!!!!

Went to the Doctor - FINALLY

Okay, so I've been battling a cold since the beginning of July and it moved into my ears. I have been trying EVERYTHING to get it to leave....sudafed, nyquil, dimetapp, you name it, I tried it. Nothing, nada, zilch. I STILL can't hear. So, I FINALLY broke down and went to the doctor today. I was NOT thrilled about it. I decided to go as a walk-in. I'm thinking...two little ears, how long could it take?? Yeah, right. After waiting for over an hour, I was told to come back in an hour and a half. I wasn't even going to come back, but I did. And, I am glad. I have a TON of fluid built up behind my ear drums. After checking my ears and chest, I left 5 minutes later with a prescription for antibiotics. YAY!

So, for those of you that I've been whining to about my ears...I went. :) Hopefully, this works so I can stop whining to y'all, and avoid a trip to the ENT!

No More Procrastinating!!

Some doctor on television this morning said that the way to achieve inner peace is to finish all the things you have started. So I lookedaround the house to see things I'd started and hadn't finished and,before leaving the house this morning, I finished off a bottle of Merlot, a bottle of shhhardonay, a bodle of Baileys, a butle of vocka,a Pockage of Prunglies, tha mainder of bot Prozic and Valum scriptins, the res of the Chesescke an a box a chocolets. Yu haf no idr who gud I fel.

**You know, you really shouldn't procrastinate!!** :)

On with the Show!!!!

I just got the go-ahead to fill out our last paperwork! Yep, that's right......the I 600!!!! WHOO HOO!! After I get this filled out, it'll be sent to the wonderful folks at the USCIS and our wait for approval begins. The USCIS has approximately 60 days (business days, from the latest reports) to approve or deny our application to adopt and bring our baby home. People adopting from teh same province as our baby have typically been waiting 50-60 calendar days, BUT...I just heard today a few people receiving approval after only 30 calendar days. 30!!!!!

So, first things first, I have to finish the paperwork!!!! On with the show!!!!!

It Pays to Ask!!!!

I'm so excited, I had to share this with y'all. While we're waiting to file our I-600, I thought one way to pass the time was to think about things to bring to the Bac Ninh orphanage. Since beginning our adoption process, I've always had it in my mind to bring things for the older kids at the orphanage. I was thinking crayons, paper, stuff like that. I emailed JJH and 'WC Staff' at the California office to kind of get an idea of how many kids were at the orphanage, if I was 'allowed' to do this, that kind of thing. 'WC Staff' told me that a lot of people bring crayons and that kind of thing, but more treasured items would be towels, soaps, and t-shirts. I guess these kids only get two outfits a year, one for school and another outfit at Tet, so an extra t shirt would be really special. Also, these kids do not know what it is like to have their own towel. How sad is that???? It was suggested to me to save money and buy these items there, but to purchase soap here as it's better.

So.....here's the point to my post today. I got to thinking of hotels and how they have so many towels, soaps, etc. I contacted the Country Inn and Suites that's nearby just to get a feel for if they donate at all. I had checked out big companies like Dove, Crayola, etc., and they do NOT take requests for donations from individuals, and there are all kinds of other rules. So, I thought...LOCAL. I just got off the phone with the Head Housekeeper at this hotel and guess what???? She is right now in the process of turning over all their towels and she's going to box up the old ones!!! She said they're still good, we all know that hotels are picky about the quality of towels they have for guests. Usually, they give these old towels to Goodwill. Also, they get a lot of things in their Lost and Found, which ends up also going to Goodwill, so they are going to save that for me, too. She is going to talk to their manager about soaps and toothpaste, toothbruses, etc. She had even said how neat it would be to end up sponsoring this orphanage instead of donating to Goodwill!!!!

I just think this outpouring is so touching. My husband deals with selling parts and machinery to mines and companies worldwide. He has a good relationship with shipping companies...so if it gets to be too much, when it's time for me to travel to Vietnam, I'll just send myself a shipment to the hotel. :)

I was just so happy and had to share my news! It just goes to show, it always pays to ask!!!!

My Heart Weeps

A 4-month old little girl in our daughter's orphanage died on Friday in Vietnam. She had been ill for the past few weeks with pneumonia. She was just a little bit older than our baby.

I am speechless and unbearably sad for my friend and her family. They were in the same boat as us...they previously lost a referral, but now they must deal with this devestating blow.

My heart goes out to you and your family, Sweetie. You're in my thoughts.