Whew.

Well today was.... a day.

I started off the day waiting... waiting for UPS to deliver our final two documents from the Chinese Consulate.  Once I got them it was first to the copy machine to make copies of the "seals" and then on to the UPS place here in Snyder. On a side note, there was a 20yo guy in front of me in line... mailing a letter.. regular USPS.. the lady there agreed to do it even though she wasn't the Post Office, BUT, this kid had NEVER.. in his life mailed a letter.  He had no idea how to address it, put a stamp on it.. etc.  CRAZY!  How the world changes.....

Anyway, I hand over my final to documents and as I got in the car to leave, I checked my email.  There was an email from my agency.  They were letting me know that they had reviewed the portion of my Dossier that they had and it was READY to go to China.... except one thing (minus the 2 documents that will be there by 10am).. Well apparently I needed a Dr's letter about the medication I take and it wasn't there.  This is where panic starts setting in.  See, If i get these documents to the agency tomorrow.  I can be about 99% sure that my Dossier will head to China next Friday.  If I wait... until next week.. It'll most likely be another week or two.  Sigh.  

Now I understand when we're talking vacations and other misc. time frame items, a couple weeks isn't much difference, in the scheme of things.  Let me explain what goes through my head with EVERY delay I run into.  I have TWO.. BEAUTIFUL... SWEET...little angels sitting in separate orphanages thousands of miles away.  Two weeks, one week, one day... it's all time I am losing, all time, they don't know that they're loved.  All time that they don't know they have a Mommy and a Daddy that adore them! So... when I hear about another possible delay... I panic.

I went straight to the Dr.'s office and he was busy of course, spoke to the nurse that was there and begged and pleaded my case and she assured me someone would call in a bit.  The next nurse called with bad news.  Couldn't possibly be done until Monday.  *sigh* This is where my heart sinks and I start having a pity part about all the bad "luck" I've had lately (well my family has had lately).  I do the only thing i know to do, call the wife of my Dr. (sorry Luann), she didn't answer but I left a msg.  I'm welling up with tears and feeling defeated when my mom encourages me to just go back up there and explain.  So I go up and knock on the door and was pleasantly surprised by my Dr. and his nurses assuring me that they are on it! I waited about 15 min, had it in my hands, hugged the nurse, jumped for joy and went straight to the UPS office.  Thank you Dr. Burleson! You saved me from a REALLY bad day, more importantly, you saved our girls from another week away from their parents!

When I went into the UPS office I could see my envelope still in the pile for them to pick up.  They let me add this paper to it without additional charge.  Whew.  That saved us $50.  The envelope is on its way to our agency as I type.  Tomorrow, hopefully, it'll arrive by 10am and they will begin examining our final documents.  This is the end of our paper trail.  Sure, there will be a little bit here and there but this is the big one.  Our ENTIRE Dossier is done.  And I, the most disorganized person on planet earth, did it.  Amazing.  I'm crossing my fingers there's not another bit I've missed.  I'm praying I've paid attention to every little detail.  I've checked my lists twice a zillion times.  That doesn't mean I didn't miss something.  It's scary scary! Our girls are depending on me. 

So now what? We wait.  By next Friday our Dossier will be translated, bound, and express mailed to China.  Then we will enter the longest and final "wait" for LOA.  Could be quick, could be slowwww.  No telling.  After LOA, 10 weeks (approx) until we know when to go.  We are praying for a QUICK LOA.. Emily turns two August 14th.  We would REALLY like to see that birthday.  

We shall see... fingers crossed.. toes crossed... 

Rob & Jenn