Consulate Appointment!

Today we had a meeting with Alex's Speech Teacher, Preschool Teacher and the Principal is there as well. Great news as he is progressing and met all the goals we set in our August meeting. Go Alex!!!

Of course in our haste to leave we didn't eat, AND Alex decided to touch my flat iron!! (Thankfully I turn it off before I was finished even using it and it had been off for about 5 minutes) He was in our bathroom, playing happily with his trains, cars etc and I was RIGHT there in my closet when I hear "Ouch Mommy" no crying and I saw his face (yes his beautiful little face!) and he says "burns" I had him point to what he touched - of course I really knew and he was just confirming my fear. No tears and we treated with cool wash cloth and antibiotic ointment. And since it was on his face I called the Pediatrician's office. It is only 1/2 to 3/4 inches long and very, very thin. It looks like a scratch.

After the meeting, we went for breakfast and we had just finished when the phone rang and it was Mike with A Helping Hand letting us know we had our first requested Consulate Appointment (you have to list 3 choices) and that is for 12/15. Woo Hoo! Now we get to make our travel arrangements to China. The rest of the arrangements will be made by AHH in China. Of course while I was talking to Mike the Peds office calls me back. LOL

Reco after talking with the Dr was cool wash cloth and antibiotic ointment. :) Great to hear!!
It looks great now and hope it doesn't leave a scar.

ALL DAY was spent making travel arrangements to China. First we called Delight Travel, then we decided to try to use our Northwest Airlines points - $1300 with the points, then since we have a gazilion American Express points Dave tried to use those.... No luck and VERY complicated. Luckily we can buy items with those points. I sent requests out to different Travel Agents and couldn't get a better deal. Dave booked the Northwest tickets but we could cancel up until 11:59 tomorrow evening. They charged $2300 for Aric's One Way ticket home???? Are you serious???

Well, Delight Travel called back or we called them again - I forget which - but we got a rate on Continental for $1100.00 and Aric's ticket is less than that. We booked it - that was only about 1 hour ago - shortly before 7pm CST. We only started at 11:00 am CST. Thank Goodness Delight is on Pacific time. They were very helpful and friendly.

We still have to dig into the baggage fees? How much they charge etc. I think from a cursory look earlier it is $15 for the first checked bag. Where it gets tricky is the rules in the US are different than the rules in China.... so this should be fun. :) Oh and we don't have seats yet..... we will have to do that later. I want it done now, so we will see...

Must go celebrate and shake off the exasperating experience that this was.

Travel Approval!!!!!

Today we received an update on Aric's size etc. I had sent questions for the staff at his orphanage and didn't expect to get them back until we picked him up. So I was totally surprised when we received and email from Angela (ladybugsnlove service they are GREAT!!) with most of the questions answered. Wow!!! I was so excited I called Dave who was driving to Lexington to share all the questions & answers with him. :) And our boy is 41.5 " tall and 44 lbs - very healthy for his age. He is in the 50 percentile for Weight and 90th percentile for his age on Height - it's the Peds Nurse in me. The first thing I must do is plot him on a growth chart!! LOL These are only the 2nd measurements we have had!! Then it hit me!! The orphanage doesn't release any information/updates until the adopting family has Travel Approval.

I suggested to Dave that maybe our SWI/Orphanage knows something we do not.

It wasn't 1 hour after I opened the email that I received the call!! Mike called and calmly says "how are you doing?" "I don't know MIke, How am I doing??" We got TA - so of course we are doing GREAT!!!!

Now we do have to request our Consulate Appointment at the US Embassy and this is at the end of our trip so we work the days back from the appointment. He is requesting 12/15, 12/16, or 12/17 - you must list 3 choices and then they have up to 5 (very long ) days to get back with you to confirm. We are hoping to find out on Monday or before works too. Then we can make our flight arrangements and travel plans!!

Woo Hoo- I am seriously going to have to pack all of this stuff I have bought for this trip. I have purchase all kinds of medicines that I don't want to be without - just in case..... Mostly in non-liquid, dissolving forms for the kids. I must have them with us on the plane cause what if we need them? And what if they lose our bags??

No worries.... LOL We have TA!!!