September It Is!

After a few days of nail biting and restless sleeps, our Letter Seeking Confirmation and other important documents from the Ministry were delivered via Purolator just after lunch, and not a second too soon!  Talk about cutting it close!

It was sent off today via rush courier to Beijing-- phew!

Our flights are officially booked- departing September 10 and returning September 23.  David pointed out that this will be the second time since 9/11 that we will have flown on 9/11.  We came back from St. John, New Brunswick on 9/11 in 2006 when I sang at the Canadian Country Music Awards, Song Writer's Circle. Dylan was just crawling then and only 10 months old.  So much has changed in 4 years.  Dylan starting Senior Kindergarten and Heather starting Nursery School. And in six weeks we will be holding our third child.

So I went out and bought a fine bottle of wine to celebrate tonight.  I visited Chateau des Charmes in Niagara on the Lake on my birthday and tried an Aligote. Although it always makes me think of Cirque de Soleil, it was a beautiful wine I had never heard of.  I had initially went to the wine store looking for one of my favourites--Mission Hill Winery but sadly, they did not stock it.  But I did see a French Jaffelin Bourgogne Aligote.  None of the staff had tried it, but I thought since there is only one particular vineyard in Ontario that can grow Aligote, this has to be good.  I'll let you know how I enjoyed it.

So, this evening, I will raise a glass of Aligote, and David will raise a glass of Malbec and toast to Nevin and our departure to China in six weeks!

tick tick tick

I spoke with our travel person at the agency today, and the plan is we are going to wait one more day to see if our letter comes from the Ministry of Ontario tomorrow.  With that information, we should know if we are China bound in September or October (we are praying for September).

Good news is that Air Canada dropped its airfare today for September and October travel!  More money to shop, I say!

Today the heat has been suffocating here.  I filled up the little pool for the kids, turned on the sprinkler before 9am.  I left mid-morning to get Uncle Brian his birthday gift, and stopped at the dollar store to get the kids some loot and travel stuff.  I am planning to put together a big loot bag for both of the kids filled with crayola, colouring books, toys, chocolate, and many of their favourite things while we are away.  I was going to give it to them the night before we leave, but I thought it might be fun to send them on a scavenger hunt with the grandparents...leave little notes with hints and pictures. They love those kinds of things...especially if there is chocolate at the end of it!

Now, I'll try to get some sleep tonight and see what tomorrow brings. Breathe.

Tender Moments

It was a busy few days, hectic actually.  After being notified of our first tentative travel date to China, it turns out it was miscalculated and we were left feeling a little disappointed finding out we may not travel until October.  Sigh.

As it turns out, there are three other families from our agency traveling Sept. 10, and our travel assistant made a call to China. They can accommodate us in that group, or wait until Oct 7.  Our agency is going to see where our paperwork stands with the Ministry of Ontario on Tuesday, and then we find out if we will indeed travel Sept 10.  Our Travel Notice is given to plan for travel 8-10wks following our Letter Seeking Confirmation.  In the US, they wait until they get that letter and book travel two weeks later, sometimes one week later.   Here in Canada, travel booking is done within that 8-10 week window, as they know the letter will arrive shortly before the 8 week time frame.  Now if  you're confused, you'll know how we've been feeling for the past few days with the following information.

They are allowing us travel, however, it is most likely we will be passing by our Travel Notice as it is arriving here in Canada and we are flying to China.  What that means is that once the letter arrives here in Canada, it will be processed and couriered back to us in China at our hotel.  The only risk by doing this is there is a slight possibility we may end up staying 1-2 days extra in China.  David and I discussed this and we both are willing to have our son a month earlier and stay an extra few days, than having to have him stay in the orphanage another month.

This isn't final yet, as we will find out on Tuesday at the end of the day.  Which means-- we could be leaving for China in six weeks! AAHHHH!

So you can imagine with all the extra talk we've been doing about Nevin, the children are well aware that Nevin is coming home soon.  And as I was trying to have a quiet moment to think about everything today with a cup of tea, my two year old daughter came up on my knee for a cuddle.  One look at her, and there's no way anyone could say no.  She kissed me and snuggled in, and my heart sank.  I said to her, "You know Mummy is going to miss you so much when we go to China."  She played with my hair and answered, "I'm going to miss you too, Mummy." Then she added (word for word, no joke--), "I'll be so worried about you Mummy."  What a sweet little girl. I'll be an utter and complete mess when I say goodbye to them.

The weekend was filled with little moments like these.  David's Dad and Step Mother came up for a "sleep over" last night.  We don't often see them, as they live in Orangeville, and Nana Evelyn is 88 years old with some health problems and ambulatory issues.  It was nice to chat with her about the adoption, as she adopted her two children 55 years ago.  Adoption back then consisted of parking your car two blocks away, out of sight, walking to the door, taking the child, some paper work and that was it!  Can you imagine?!  So she was very keen to learn about the process, especially all the details in China.

Dylan's Grandad was very proud to be here today, as Dylan mastered riding his bike without training wheels!  It couldn't have been more perfect, as I know there is a strong pang in his heart when he can't be here for all the special moments.  Dylan and Heather both being winter babies, Grandad and Nana Evelyn have missed many birthdays because we live in a fairly active snow belt. So I think Grandad was rather chuffed that he was part of this feat accomplished by his first grandson. He gets the same tear in his eye when he looks at his grandchildren as David does when he looks at his children.  Lets face it-- none of us ever dreamed we'd have three children.

So after they headed back to Orangeville, Dylan headed to his Grannie's for a sleepover, Heather went for a nap, and I started organizing Nevin's clothing and baby stuff for the trip.  Its a little early to pack, but I have the same overwhelming and compelling feeling of NESTING.  Its exactly the same as when I was in my last trimester with the kids, only I'm not as big as a tractor, and I don't pee a little when I laugh or sneeze!

Dylan Masters Riding A Bike Without Training Wheels!!!!!

LETTER SEEKING CONFIRMATION!

We got the call!  Two weeks early even! Our agency said this is the fastest any client in the agency has received their Letter Seeking Confirmation.  Which also means we could be travelling in the middle of September!

At this very moment, we are taking turns calling family and sending out emails.

I will post our LSC tomorrow as it is expected to arrive via Purolator in the morning. 

I just wanted to shout from my virtual roof top to everyone!

Prediction for October Gottcha Day

Let me begin this post with a little side note.  In March of this year, China has changed the way it processes adoption through the Waiting Children Program.  In short, this method is supposed to be faster with quicker process times. Having said that, and because we are the among the first three families to matched using this new system, the exact time lines were still unknown when we received Nevin's referral.  The other two families were matched the month previous to us.

With all that being said, it looks like we will be going to China in October (missing the first week as China basically closes up for Moon and Harvest Festival for a week).  Even though its only two and a half months away, it means that Nevin has to stay in an institutional setting for another two and a half months.  HUFF!  My fellow adoptive parents can certainly identify with the excruciating wait.

So in the meantime, I've been slowly crossing things off the list. Shopping for the things we will need, appointments with the travel clinic so that David and I are vaccinated, researching Baotou and Hohhot (which are hardly Westernized like Beijing), finding out where the pearl and silk markets are.... Which leads me to ask if anyone knows where I can buy those individual coffee bags-- they're like tea bags but have coffee in them.  I've searched the grocers here in Midland, Ontario and no one is carrying them anymore.  I know there is a Starbucks in Beijing, but I think I'm the only person in the world who doesn't like Starbucks.  Worst case scenario, I can pack some instant coffee, but would prefer the bag idea, just for packing sake.

And of coarse my weird dreams are still happening. I dreamed we were boarding the plane to head to China and I realized I left EVERYTHING I packed for Nevin at home on my bed.  (again, cue the twitch and wake up panicked). I guess it will be here soon enough.....packing the week before, saying goodbye to the kids (oh god), and driving down to the airport with my heart in my throat.

So hopefully, in the next few weeks, I can post that we have indeed received our Letter Seeking Confirmation, after which our agency will book our travel.  Any families to travel in October, I'd love to hear from you.

Fireworks and Family

Despite the children completely avoiding their naps, we managed to avoid any remarkable melt downs our tantrums. After a quick bite to eat, I bathed the kids and dressed them in their pjs, with warm jackets and hats, as it was supposed to be very cool evening. Equipped with blankets, flashlights, bug spray for just in case, iPhone that I'm still learning to use, we headed back to Little Lake at just about the time the kids normally head to bed. I was pleasantly surprised they did not fall asleep on the way into town.

We met my brother, sister in law and niece, and parked our blankets in the perfect spot-- near the slides and perfect view for fireworks. My brother bought the kids glow sticks, which they loved, and my children entertained every child for a 20 meter radius with their battery operated, light up the night, laser bubble stun guns. These were awesome and made at least 100 bubbles every time the trigger was pulled.

When the sun went down, it was iffy there for a minute whether the kids would be awake, or have a melt down from the noise. This was their FIRST fireworks show.

I think I missed nearly the entire beginning, as I watched their beautiful little faces light up from the fireworks, and watched their smiles grow, and hands over their ears. It was a little long for them, and Heather struggled to stay awake.

At the end, droves of people emptied the park like cattle, and Dylan cried the entire walk back to the car, wanting to stay at the park and play in the dark and watch more fireworks. Needless to say, they both fell fast asleep about five minutes down the road.

It was indeed an exhausting day, and only when I collapsed on my bed that night, did I realize I hurt from my shoulders down to the ends of all my toes. But it was a great family day, one I'm unsure the kids will remember, except through pictures. But it is one of many Canada Days that will be locked away in the memory books for years to come.

Happy Canada Day!

It has become tradition for the Campbell Family to head for Little Lake in Midland, Ontario for Canada Day. It is my hometown, a beautiful place that I hold dear to my heart. A place where I gigged at many times in my "younger" years, and now a place my children love to be carefree, swing, slide, run, and burn all their energy.

Today could have only been more perfect if Nevin was home. I thought about him a lot today. Watching my kids have the time of their lives--fearless on air inflated amusement apparatuses- or apparati if you will....the paddle boats, spinning swings, etc.

The weather was just a little cool at times, but the sun was out all day, and it was perfect.

I thoroughly enjoyed my daughter dancing like a little mad fool by the stage while some young rock band belted out some fairly good covers. There is no doubt in my mind my little girl will be drawn to the arts as she grows up, as she loves music and dance at two years of age. Dylan, he loves music as well, but I think that boy will be a talented jock of some sort. Boundless energy, pacey and daring, and naturally talented at most sports type activities. Made me wonder what Nevin's interests will be, what he will love and things he will be drawn to.

The idea this afternoon was to come home, let the kids have a nap, have dinner and head back into town for fireworks. HOWEVER, Dylan was very adamant he would not try to yawn while resting on the couch, and Heather is in her room rearranging furniture and emptying her toy box. So at this point, we aren't certain how this evening will pan out. Other than that, Canada Day has always been about being with the kids, and enjoying our beautiful town and country. Next year, there will be five of us on Canada Day, with even more to celebrate.

A delightful surprise today was bumping into Janet and her two girls from China. She is the friend I mentioned in an earlier post who talked to us about her adoption journey, so it was really special seeing her today. Her girls have grown quite a bit, and her oldest was demonstrating how to make her armpit squeak...talents of a perfectly balanced adopted child! It was delightfully entertaining, to say the least! She was pleased and surprised to learn we are receiving a boy.

Tomorrow I will post about the fireworks. Lets hope it all goes well. As long as there are swings and a slide, these little critters of mine always stymie up the energy to play. I don't know who will sleep more sound tonight-- David and I, or the kids.

Enjoying the paddle boats!!!