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#1
02-08-2008, 07:41 AM
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Five Days to go!
We leave for China in 5 days! I can't believe after this long crazy journey, we're finally going. I'm afraid I'm gonna forget something. This is the biggest journey for which I've ever packed. Not the longest, but the biggest!
Any last minute things I should be thinking of?
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SpecialK  Community Moderator Not-so-Angry Adoptee and Mama to one adopted from China LID 8/10/06 Medical Conditions Checklist to Agency 6/29/07 LOI for Wei Jian Tong 12/7/07 PA 12/25/07 LOA 1/2/08 TA 1/21/08 Forever Family Day 2/18/08 Home 3/1/08 DH HunnyB    
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#2
02-08-2008, 08:03 AM
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Good luck on your trip! Just remember to enjoy yourself while you're there. It goes by so quickly.
The only thing I would suggest is to buy lots while you are there. I kept thinking that I didn't need lots of things from there for DD. My DH thought so, too, and both he and I have said that we wish we would have bought more while we were there. We'll be thinking of you! 
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Melissa DH Jack Agency App: 4/16/05 I600A App: 5/12/05 Fingerprints: 6/20/05 HS Sent: 7/26/05 I171H Rec'd: 8/27/05 DTC: 9/23/05 LID: 10/13/05 Brown Envelope: 1/13/06 Referral 2/2/07 Travel Date 3/22/07
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#3
02-08-2008, 08:38 AM
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Have a great trip and evjoy every second. Try to take time to write in a journal to your new child at least every other day. I did a little, but I wish I had more.
Have a great trip! We have good friends who leave in 5 days as well. I cannot wait to follow their journey.   
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February 2005: Filed Formal Application April 2005: completed Home Study visits June 2005: Filed I-600A July 16, 2005: Fingerprints done! August 26, 2005: Home study sent to BCIS! October 18, 2005: I-171 Arrived! November 7, 2005: dossier to agency!! November 11, 2005: DTC!!  November 22, 2005 LID!!!!!!!!  DOR September 4, 2007!!!!!!!  Forever Family Day: October 29, 2007!!!!!!!   
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#4
02-08-2008, 09:48 AM
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OMG- I can't believe you are leaving in 5 days!!!
I'm so happy for you. I can't wait to hear all about it.
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LID -March 22.2006|
#5
02-08-2008, 10:50 AM
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Awesome news!
We have no advice to give, other than to have a great time. How do you manage to sleep, knowing you are so close? I'm afraid I'd be so excited I couldn't sleep. Kevin
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KEVIN AND VIOLET (Piper is just our horse  )********************************** 10/14/06: Attended workshop. 10/26/06: Application approved! 01/04/07: I600A mailed off! 01/05/07: Everything certified but I-171H. 01/17/07: Everything authenticated but I-171H. 02/02/07: Fingerprints taken. 02/28/07: Received I-171H 03/14/07: DTA! 03/16/07: DTC! 04/04/07: LID!!!  04/23/08: LOI 04/28/08: PA. It just keeps getting better. 07/02/08: LOA. http://our-leap-of-faith.blogspot.com/  
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#6
02-08-2008, 12:25 PM
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I'm so excited for you! Have a fantastic trip!!!
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Proud wife, wife of a U.S. Marine  Signed with facilitator 1/23  Profile completed & sent out 2/2 M a t c h e d ! 8 / 2 3  Cameron is born 11/10 FINALIZED!!! 4/3/08 Cameron is diagnosed with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome 11/10/07 First emergency open heart surgery (atrial septectomy w/ bilateral pulmonary bands) 11/10/07 (10 hours old) Norwood Procedure 11/20/07 Sano Procedure 11/24/07 Heart Catheter 3/28/08 Emergency 2nd Heart Cath 3/30/08 (ballooned atrial septum 2x) Successful Norwood & Sano Revision 4/18/08 3rd Heart Cath 5/20/08 2nd Stage Glenn Procedure a success(+ballooned pulmonary artery)!!!  6/30/08 Swallow Study 7/12/08 (unsuccesful) Upper GI 7/14/08 See there is a boy that needs Your help, I've done all that I can do myself I try to be strong and see him through, but God who he needs right now is You Can you hear me? -Mark Schultz
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#7
02-08-2008, 12:40 PM
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Last minute ideas:
1. Pack your sanity. You don't have any right now, of course, so track it down and shove it in that suitcase before you go.  2. Extra battery/memory chip etc for your camera. I need lots and lots of pics when you return. Also make a note right now "As soon as I get home, no matter how tired I am, post pics of my son ASAP! or Crick will come after me!"  3. Don't forget your dh. LOL! He'll be in the bathroom or kitchen doing some last minute thing he feels necessary and since you packed your sanity....  4. Have a wonderful time and just think...when you get home, you'll be coming home as a MOM! 
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Adoption.Com Forums Administrator - any admin situations or questions, please pm me or email me at admin@adoptionmedia.com Mom to 4 fun loving kids (adopted from foster care) 5 years into our forever family!
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#8
02-08-2008, 06:02 PM
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Congratulations! I am SO excited for you! Just remember to take pictures of everything, even if you don't think it's important at that moment... those obscure photos of people in the park, your hotel, shops, etc... will be a big part of your reminicing and memory book creation later.
Also don't forget to buy things for your daughter for CNY, Adoption Day anniversaries, etc. Perfume bottles, Fans, Cloissone jewelry, etc. Finally, don't forget to stop and take it all in and journal daily. Here I am 3 months and 2 days since holding Ian for the first time and I so wish I had stopped to smell the roses a little more while we were there. It's easy to get caught up in the chaos of the process, but your memories and thoughts in the moment will be what you'll want to remember months and years down the road... Congrats again Karen & Bruce!
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Steph- http://theboyandthebulldog.blogspot.com/ 4/6/07: LID 5/22/07: Sent LOI 7/30/07: LOA 8/17/07: TA! 11/6/07: Gotcha Day 11/16/07: Ian sets foot on US Soil!
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#9
02-08-2008, 09:04 PM
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Wow congratulations! So happy for you.
I know it sounds weird, but you may want to bring snacks for yourself. I would assume that you have to watch the tap in China. We had to do so in Russia. On my first trip in Russia, I didnt like the food(and i have some allergies). I ended up ingesting the water and I paid for it on the flight home. The snacks may tide over your hunger and help so you dont have to drink the water. Go get your beloved child! Amy K, NJ
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Adopted baby Joanna from Tver Region 10/06
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#10
02-08-2008, 11:51 PM
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LOL remember your passport!
I'm so excited for you.
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Karen Our Homepage _________________________________________________ 03/20/06 First daughter in our arms 12/12/06 Decision to adopt again 04/15/07 LID
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#11
02-09-2008, 08:35 PM
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Quote:
I'm not sleeping so well. Actually I'm sleeping well, just not all night through. Thank you for the suggestion! I can't believe we're actually going. Crick - you just might find pictures of Micah before we even get home!
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SpecialK Community Moderator Not-so-Angry Adoptee and Mama to one adopted from China LID 8/10/06 Medical Conditions Checklist to Agency 6/29/07 LOI for Wei Jian Tong 12/7/07 PA 12/25/07 LOA 1/2/08 TA 1/21/08 Forever Family Day 2/18/08 Home 3/1/08 DH HunnyB
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#12
02-10-2008, 08:32 AM
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One quick thing that we did not have with us, could not find, and dearly wished we did:
a pill cruncher (little apparatus where you drop the pill and screw down to mash it). Margaux had to take antibiotics and extra vitamins and they only were offered in big pill form. I had to crush them down with a spoon and it took FOREVER. Good luck on your trip! I know it will be wonderful!
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Rachel (34) , Chuck, (45)  , Sophie (6 bio) Margaux  born in Fengcheng, Jiangxi, China on 4/29/06 in our arms forever on 2/25/07http://www.sophieandmargaux.blogspot.com/
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#13
02-10-2008, 08:38 AM
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Quote:
The hotels provide some bottled water in your room each day, and there are local stores to buy it from, so stock up on some when you get there 
__________________
February 2005: Filed Formal Application April 2005: completed Home Study visits June 2005: Filed I-600A July 16, 2005: Fingerprints done! August 26, 2005: Home study sent to BCIS! October 18, 2005: I-171 Arrived! November 7, 2005: dossier to agency!! November 11, 2005: DTC!! November 22, 2005 LID!!!!!!!! DOR September 4, 2007!!!!!!! Forever Family Day: October 29, 2007!!!!!!!
Last edited by Trace7 : 02-10-2008 at 08:42 AM.
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#14
02-11-2008, 04:25 AM
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Quote:
That is the best advice! Don't let the process frustrate you. Enjoy every sight, sound and smell. Your time in China will fly by and you will miss it so much. Congratulations. Have a safe and wonderful trip! April
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April Mommy to the wonderful Aiden b. 2/24/04 in Hefei, China a. 5/22/07 DTE 3/26/08 for our Ethiopian Prince b. 5/16/06 Still searching for our Buttercup...
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#15
02-11-2008, 05:00 AM
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Only 2 more days now until you leave!
__________________
February 2005: Filed Formal Application April 2005: completed Home Study visits June 2005: Filed I-600A July 16, 2005: Fingerprints done! August 26, 2005: Home study sent to BCIS! October 18, 2005: I-171 Arrived! November 7, 2005: dossier to agency!! November 11, 2005: DTC!! November 22, 2005 LID!!!!!!!! DOR September 4, 2007!!!!!!! Forever Family Day: October 29, 2007!!!!!!!
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