We received our I800 in the mail today!!!!  Finally!  Preparing and gathering all the paperwork to Fedex to our agency today.  We also found out that our information is at the NVC so waiting on our notice from them that our request has been sent to the Embassy in China.  Getting closer!

All of this waiting is taking its toll.  Ugh!!!!!  I received an email Friday from USCIS that our I800 has been approved.  They said that it should be here in 7-10 days.  Surely the mail won't take that long but until it's here I will be stalking the poor mailman.  I spoke with our USCIS officer today and she gave me the tracking number for the 2 day express package they sent to NVC (visa).  It was going out today.  Hopefully my I800 went out Friday.  Why things sit on peoples desk is beyond me!  We are cutting it close to going at Christmas.  I also stalk people's blogs and charts on adoption websites to see when families, at the same stage as we are, travelled last year.  I found one family today that received their I800 on 10/20/11 and travelled on 12/13/11.  I have no problem spending Christmas in China:)

I also received an email Friday from a lady who went to pick up her adopted son from the same orphanage Chelsea is at.  She sent me these pictures.  Isn't she sweet?!?  I also requested a new update with current measurements today and new pictures and videos.  I should have those soon. Her care package is supposed to arrive Thursday.  I requested that they put her outfit on her and take a picture so I can see how it fits.  We'll keep our fingers crossed for that.

So, the waiting continues...............

The last time I tried to update the blog my hard drive crashed right in the middle of it:)  Hopefully I will have better luck today.

We received our LSC on 9/4/2012 and sent our I-800 off on 9/6/2012.  As I kept watching the mailbox for our approval, I knew after 2 weeks something was wrong.  It was.  I received notice last week that I forgot to add Supplement 3 which shows that we had our Home Study updated for a 0-5 year old instead of a 2-5 year old.  Ugh!  We are praying this does not hold us up until after Christmas.  I spoke with our officer at USCIS yesterday and she said that we should have approval by the beginning of next week.  I already have all other forms and passport pic for Chelsea ready to go as soon as I receive it.

It is become very real in the past couple of weeks that she will be here before we know it.  The bedding is in.  I am picking out paint color today.  A carpenter is coming this weekend to expand the closet doors in her room and then hopefully paint next week.  My sweet nephew is passing along his bedroom furniture and I am having it painted also.  Then we can put her room together in the next couple of weeks!  I have cleaned out closets and other rooms.  Nesting:)  I have researched toys and things we will need.  I have registered at a couple of places.  Very strange adding these sorts of things into a busy life of work and two boys (11 & 9).  We can not wait for her to get here and see how our live's change!  We are always talking about "when Chelsea gets here" with the boys.  They are so excited and the end is in sight.

Hopefully I will have an update by mid-week that our last batch of paperwork is in the mail!

WE RECEIVED OUR LSC (LETTER SEEKING CONFIRMATION) TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!  This is the final approval from China for our little girl!  It only took 5 weeks which is on the short end of estimated time so we are moving forward fast, finally!  They estimate that it will be another 3-5 months before we go get her.   We can now start getting her room ready, buying all the things that we will need (car seat, stroller, I can't believe we will need all that stuff again)!  It also means that we can share her picture with you.  So introducing Chelsea Reagan DeForest...................

Doesn't she just look sassy?  This picture was taken just last week when we requested an update on her.  She is described as very outgoing, brave and does not have any obvious dislikes.  She likes to play outside, play with balls and puzzles, and listen to music.  We can not wait to meet her!  The boys are so excited too.

Here are some more pics of her....

They also sent some videos of her.  She is so cute and happy!  We are going to send her a care package soon with pictures of all of us so she can check us out too.  

Good morning!  We just got home from our 8th year at Pine Cove family camp.  We had a great time and have come back energized and refreshed.  We were fortunate enough to have Dr. Tim Kimmel as our speaker this year.  He is the executive director of Family Matters and spoke to us about Grace Based Parenting.  It was an incredible message and one that our family will be working on.  The main message was that we should look through a "grace lens" when parenting our children and treat them as God treats us.  We also have to remember that they are born sinners and until God intercedes we should not be surprised when they sin.  He has written some great books if you think this is something you would like to look into.  Next year we will be a family of 5 and get to introduce our daughter to Pine Cove.  We can't wait!

Now on to the adoption news.....we received our Pre-approval (PA) on July 24th!  One step closer.  Since our home study was for a girl between the ages of 2-6 and she will not be 2 until February we are having to update our home study.  This meant a trip back to the doctor for me this morning to have all my blood work and physical exam, again.  No fun, but necessary.  We will have a phone interview today with the social worker and update any information that needs to be changed.  Moving right along!

While we were in Texas I went to my favorite store there, The Busy B, and bought the first things for Chelsea!  (I don't think I've revealed her name on here but it is Chelsea Reagan).  Very excited to have some pink around the house.  Keep the prayers coming for a speedy process so we can go get our sweet girl.  When we have our definite approval I will post her picture for all of you to see.

One more cool thing, when we got home last night there was a ladybug on our doorstep!

Good morning from the beach!  A lot has happened with our adoption and with a sick Cayden, Summer Spectacular, and packing and getting to the beach, I haven't had time to write a post.

We were given a referral for a beautiful 16-month old girl on June 8th.  After lots of prayer, Dr. McGehee reviewing her medical records, and Neal, the boys, and I making a "Team-D" decision, we filed our LOI (Letter of Intent) (6/21/12) with the CCCWA.  We are so excited to know what she looks like!

I must admit that at the pool yesterday I kept looking at kids around her age and asking the parents how old their child is.  Holy cow!  She's young!  At least she'll have two great big brothers who seem very willing to take care of her.  I love that age and it is going to be a GREAT adventure.  When we receive PA (Pre-Approval), I believe I can share her photo.  We may have to wait for our LOA (Letter of Approval) first though.  I'll find out.  They are saying that may take up to 100 days.  Still a time to wait but she will eventually be here.

Next year, one more set of feet in the pic;)

We received our Log In Date!  It is May 30, 2012.  This is the date that our dossier arrived in China and was logged in.  We are excited!  Now we just need to find that special little girl out there and bring her home!

We went to the lake for Memorial Day weekend and did some tubing.  We had been out in the boat for about an hour and were talking about our China Girl and wondering how she would like tubing and being at the lake.  I looked over and guess what I saw, a ladybug!  Crazy!!  It was like she was right there with us.  We were all very excited!  Hopefully this superstition will be true and we will get a referral soon.

We are reading up on information regarding travel and things we need to start preparing to go.  One of those things is immunizations.  The boys are not excited about that part at all but I keep reminding them it is for their sister.  Hopefully they can be courageous and not to fussy when we go:-)  One of the immunizations takes three shots at different times.  Something to look forward to:-)