Update on Phoebe

We actually have NEWS!!! This is a long story with a happy ending...

On Wednesday, March 14th, before we left for our vacation, I contacted our adoption agency and told them we would be going out of town. I gave them our cell phone numbers and my Mom's home number "just in case they had some good news for us"! I also had questions about where we were in the process because I thought we should be through the "Match Room" in China (another step in the process). The agency emailed me back "Sorry, you are not through the Match Room yet, it takes 2 to 4 months". BUMMER! Especially since we are already "matched" with our girl! Well, wouldn't you know, on Friday, as we're driving, I got an email from the agency...
"Congratulations! You are through the match room and can download Travel Packet 2! We anticipate that you will be traveling soon!" So as soon as I got to my Mom's (midnight), I downloaded TP2 and found that I had several papers to fill out and get notorized. Also, I had to download the information to get our VISAS. They wanted all of this done and sent back in 5 to 7 business days. Ok, I was in Florida, without all of my adoption papers and without my passport, which I needed to send for our VISAS. Bryan calmed me down and said we would take care of it on the Monday after we got home.

On Monday, March 19th, the agency called me on my cell phone...My LOA (Letter of Acceptance) had arrived from China! They wanted to overnight it to my Mom's house, have Bryan and me sign it and overnight it back, and they would quickly send it back to China. This letter is extremely important. It is our "acceptance" of Yuan Yu Kang. I know, I know...another paper stating that "YES, WE WANT HER!" China has a lot of paperwork!!!

We got the FedEx on Tuesday, signed it and sent it back...yeah!!! On our way to Orlando that afternoon I said to Bryan, we have a problem...how can we get the TP2 paperwork notorized and sent out on Monday when you have to fly out on Sunday????? Again, he calmed me down and when we got to our hotel he inquired if they had a notary and they did! She notarized all of our paperwork, FOR FREE! She was so happy for us! She also made all my copies and provided us with the FedEx packaging. We got it all sent out on Wednesday! DONE!

After we returned home I completed our VISA applications, made copies of our passports and today I sent them off to the company that will do our VISAS. We only have one thing left to do that is weighing heavily on my mind...we have to get re-fingerprinted because ours expire on April 26th. Our appointment for that is next week!

So, after all of that, I think I can safely say we will be traveling very soon to get our sweet girl!!! Only a few obstacles in our way, China's Trade Fair in April and a China holiday the first week of May. I would love to travel prior to both of those, but it's not likely. You can bet that as soon as I know WHEN...I'll let you all know!

I am seeing the light at the end of the tunnel! My agency has also told me they will be getting updates on Phoebe in April, so I'm hoping for a recent picture of her. Woooooo Hoooooooo! I'll post it if I get it!

Much love to all...