Follow up articles

Hi all.....here are the links to the follow up articles in our local Family Living magazine.  From this link find the Family Living link and we have an article in both the Sept/Oct and the Oct/Nov issues.

We don't know much more than we did last week, except that her full name will be Madeline Lu Ren .  I am now nesting, which so far consists of washing the clothes that might fit her and putting them in her closet/drawers.  Girl clothes are so cute!

http://www.idahostatejournal.com/special_sections/

Meet Zhuang Lu Ren, AKA Madeline!

FINALLY today our Fed Ex arrived, not without a little drama!  She looks like a little buddha all bundled up in several layers of clothing.  She was born November 29, 2007 and we will probably be celebrating her 1st birthday with her in China!  I sure can't wait to see that serious face smile!  To say we are excited does not even skim the surface of our emotions that go back at least the three years of our log in.  I can not stop sharing the news with everyone I know, but please feel free to pass it on.  The orphanage describes her as sometimes obstinate, loves music and laughs out loud.  Love it!  We'll share more as we know more.  Still not sure when we travel but hope to know soon, perhaps over Thanksgiving, so she'll be home for Christmas!  

The Night before Christmas

Well, almost!  I feel more anxious about this than anything I've ever felt!  By now, most of you know we received The Call we have waited nearly three years to hear.  Our agency got word from their contact, Grace, in NYC that our referral is here in the US and Grace with send it FedEx.  How awesome that such great news will be coming from someone with such a great and appropriate name.  No news yesterday, so I pray today is the day this roller coaster gives us a breather.  I don't even like roller coasters!  I can't sleep, obviously, and just want to hold that envelope in my hand.  Want to know for sure.  I have heard reports that not everyone with the same Log-in date as us (2/16/06) is getting a referral in this batch, which is odd for China to only do a portion for one day.  That they even have this new batch a week after the previous batch is unheard of with China, they usually go about once a month between batches.  If that package does indeed show up today I'd call this new batch a miracle.  I can't believe our agency would give us a false alarm, so I have to believe that we are really getting it!  

When we got the call, I was home, Leo was sleeping and Kevin was at work.  I almost didn't answer the phone so I could shower but decided to.  During this whole process I feel I've been pretty steady, calm and collected.  Even when the slow-down came, we decided to stay the course and trust, trust, trust.  So my reaction to the news on the phone quite took me by surprise.  First, I wasn't expecting to get myself geared up for a call for a few more weeks yet, so my guard was down.  As soon as she said "I have news for you..." I lost it and out came this sobbing laughter that I barely managed to stop long enough to ask her some questions, only to have it continue for the next hour.  I couldn't get a hold of Kevin at work, Leo was asleep so Abby and Taylor were the first to know.  I tried to finish my chores for the day but ended up in  a pile on the living room floor, sobbing and laughing at the same time for only God  to hear (thankfully, as it wasn't all that pretty sounding!).  I'm not a person that cries a lot, so I suppose that all the calm I've had over the last three years was masking my true anxiety and it all came pouring out.  I finally got Kevin at work, whose response resembled "You're 'crapping' me!"  (blame those years with the Navy).  So after I shocked him, I got my stinky, un-showered self on the phone to everyone we knew and told just about all the neighbors on our street.  And now we wait, just a little longer.  

I've started talking to Leo about Madeline, and here's how a typical conversation goes.

J:  "So Leo, we are going to have a new baby in the house.  Can you say Madeline?"

L:  "Man-lin, oh, right!"

J:  "Yes, and she is going to sleep here in this crib."

L:  "Oh, crib, OK!  Bee-bee Man-lin, right!"  

Let's just pray he is still so agreeable when she does indeed arrive.  Thank you everyone for your support and prayers, which I feel wrapped around us like a warm blanket.  This blog has been a great release for me, to get out the anxiety that goes along with this process.  Glad you can follow in our journey.

Sweet November

Looks like we will be hearing in November!  They processed up through the 15th, so we will definitely be in the next batch.  I am disappointed but not defeated, and am looking forward to getting out all our girl stuff we've collected over the last few years and going through that.  Leo is doing great in a bed so the crib is ready for you, little Madeline!  Hope to have you home by Christmas or soon thereafter.