We received our final confirmations yesterday and booked our flights! We're headed to China on July 1st. I have begun packing and will gradually add to it over the next week to get us ready for our early morning flight. The waiting is almost over!
I thought I would give you a few details so you'll know what we are experiencing. We'll try to post pictures, but access to facebook and the blog may be limited. First, we'll meet our daughter on Monday, July 2nd. We will have the rest of the week to spend with her, while taking care of the proper paperwork to finalize the adoption in the eyes of China. Our agency also arranges for us to see some things in Shanghai (east coast of the map), where she has spent her entire life. Then we will fly to Guangdong Province (south).
On Monday, July 9th, we will meet our son and repeat the process of the week before. We are being careful not to develop expectations. Bringing 2 children who do not know each other into a family where neither of them know the parents is a situation without many absolutes. The one absolute (though they may not know it) is that we will love and care for them no matter what.
Week 3 keeps us in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, the city of the United States Consulate. During this week, both of our children must go through medical appointments before all 4 of us attend the appointment at the Consulate. It is at this meeting where our daughter will be asked whether or not she wishes to be adopted by us. Because he is younger, our son will not be given the same choice. Assuming all goes well, we should leave the Consulate as family in the eyes of the United States. We remain in China for a couple more days while the childrens' visas are being printed, then we board a plane for home.
As always, thanks for reading along. We'll be in touch!
