IT'S IVY EVE!!!!

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Hi! It's Diana posting for Mary! She is having VPN connection issues!

We arrived safely in Hangzhou and were greeted by our guide, Sun Pei Pei. Her English name is Rebecca. She is NO fun!!!!  She spoke in Chinese to the driver 100 miles a minute jabbering away on our hour car ride to the hotel. She said only one thing to me...

"are you aware, that the child you are getting has a very bad heart?"

Yes...

"Ok!"

So since I like to try to make the most out of even the worse situations, I decided to ask questions and talk to her. She answered very quickly and then went right back to her conversation with the driver. When we arrived at our hotel she pointed one way and said, "Pizza Hut down there!"

Here's the good news!!! Ivy Day is at 9:00 am Hangzhou time! Which is 7:00pm Central Time! Please lift up Mary and precious Ivy today.. This little girl is going to be SOOOO incredibly blessed when she meets her new Mama and big brother!!

Thank you!

Diana

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12 hours till gotcha!!

Pin It Last thoughts on this last day as a family of 7. This morning I was chatting on line with the family. Bryan tells me that Lexi tells everyone that her mommy is in China getting IBEE (Ivy) right now. She is doing amazing! I have everything laid out, unpacked, and ready to go. If we have several days where I can't do much of anything but hold Ivy, no big deal, I'm ready. I get a lump in my throat every time I try to picture what the moment I see her for the first time will be like. And I try to hold back the tears as I imagine those first days together. I wonder what her voice sounds like? What her baby skin feels like? Does she say any words? Does she tire easily. What does her smile look like, what does her laugh sound like? Does she still drink a bottle? What foods does she like? Will they have shaved her sweet little head again? Does she like music? Bubbles? Balls? Dolls? Will she let me in to her world right away or will there be some time where she wants nothing to do with me? Has anyone ever told her that they love her? That she was wonderfully, perfectly made? That she is important, special, beautiful, deserving, an amazing child of God?  You are baby girl! And I will spend the rest of my life making sure you know all of these things. Just one more sleep!!!! See you in the morning. Pin It

Hello China!!

Pin It We are here!!!
We had a very easy flight here, we were delayed over an hour but arrived with no problems. We had a little scare, Brady's medicine bag did not get put into our suitcase like it should have. He has severe asthma so this is really bad. Luckily Jill did bring some asthma med's and luckily Brady just came off a round of Prednisone before we left but regardless.....scary!!!! 
We landed at about 7am this morning. The HongKong airport is HUGE!!!!!! Immigration was so fast, no line at all. We had some trouble finding a shuttle to the hotel, too much luggage for 1 cab. We finally got one and were on our way. We got an early check in and got cleaned up. Then had a quick disgusting lunch at the golden arches because that was all we could find and then went on a tour of HongKong. It was cool but not something I would ever do again. I'm just not crazy about touristy type things and HongKong really reminds me a bit of Vegas and you all know how much I hate  really can't stand Vegas!
Anyway, tomorrow the real reason for this trip begins!! We leave HongKong for Hangzhou at 3:30. Our guide will be Sun Pei Pei. I have heard wonderful things about BAAS guides so I am sure Sun Pei Pei will take good care of us!
I have not been able to Skype my kids yet. I just got the Internet up but my VPN will not connect. I am praying that I will be able to continue blogging. I know HongKong does not have restrictions like China so that is likely why I can open my blog here. Skype should work fine, everyone is asleep right now so I have to wait it out. I'm so tired, we have done everything possible to get right on China time. Brady is already asleep,
it is 7:45pm. He and I did not sleep more than 2 hours the entire flight here. The seats were just not comfortable and did not recline because we were in the very last row! Anyway we did fine, Cathay Pacific has amazing service and kept my boy fed the entire flight. Just not a a place we could sleep. 
For all of you who are traveling soon........ Some words of advice while its fresh on my mind.
I packed all of my heaviest items in my carry on bags so that my 44 pound weight limit would not be exceeded. Well, they weighed my carry ons!!! And yes they weighed a LOT! She let me slide but I was sweating bullets. And my carry on bags do not have wheels. They are duffles. Do not do that!!!! The airports are big and if you have to change planes like we did you will be hauling around those super heavy awkward bags for a long time. I also decided to wear my heavy coat so it would not take up space in the suitcase. Dumb!! Here I am, walking over a mile in this huge airport, going through security wearing jeans, boots, a sweatshirt, a heavy coat, a 17 pound backpack, holding a 20 pound duffle bag and pulling a 44 pound suitcase!!!! Yes I looked like a Beverly Hillbilly!!! Now a bunch of my heavy items will get used in China and will not come home with me so I will be fine on the way back but please do yourself a favor and do not follow the suggestions of putting your heavy items in your carry ons and on your body...  and do use a wheeled carry on, not a duffle! So not worth it!!! 

Thats all for now!!! Tomorrow is our last day without Ivy!! Her last day in the orphanage. Her last day without a family.  Pin It

Quick last post from the USA

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I can not believe the time has finally come!! 
My heart is beating so fast and my wheels are turning but I'm going nowhere!
I am nauseous and dizzy. Emotions all over the place. But all in a good way. God is Good!!
Leaving tonight for HongKong
Arriving in Hangzhou on Sunday the 12th
February 13th is IVY DAY!!!!!!
February 14th we will finalize the adoption.
February 17th we will visit the orphanage, pick up Ivy's passport and fly to Guangzhou.
February 18th is Ivy's medical exam
February 20th we will visit the Guangzhou Safari Park
February 21st is our consulate appointment
February 22nd we will pick up Ivy's Visa
February 23rd we FLY HOME
We arrive in San Francisco at 10am and leave San Francisco at 12:55pm (my mom and sister are coming to see us during our overlay!!!!!! Amazing!!!! So Blessed!!)
WE LAND AT HOME, SKY HARBOR at 3:45pm on Thursday the 23rd
Friday the 24th Ivy will go to Phoenix Children's Hospital at 2pm and the rest will play out as we go!
We covet your prayers during this transitional time for our family. We are so blessed!! Pin It

7 more days until I hoild you in my arms!

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A little bit of Lexi and our Itinerary!!

Pin It We have our Tickets, Our bags are packed, there are daily surprises packaged up for Little Miss Lexi, there are some meals in the freezer, the pantry is stocked, a schedule has been printed out,
WE ARE READY!!!!!


8:45pm Thursday Feb. 9th Leave Phoenix


Fly in to San Francisco and switch planes, flying Cathay Pacific to HongKong.


We land in Hong Kong Saturday Morning around 6am


We will be in Hong Kong until late Sunday afternoon.


We land in Hangzhou at 5:30 Sunday evening


Monday Feb 13 is Ivy Day!!!! We do not have an exact time yet, hoping it is in the morning!!!


Friday Feb. 17th we fly to Guangzhou


Tuesday Feb. 22 we have our consulate appointment


Wednesday Feb. 23 we get Ivy's Visa and fly back to Hong Kong


We then continue on to San Fransisco and finally


Thursday Feb 24th @ 3:45pm we ARRIVE IN PHOENIX


Thinking about the flight home makes me nauseous so I'm going to try and think about that one as little as possible. Praying for just a snugly cuddly non eventful journey home!!!

These 2 are ready for some 24/7 together time!!!!!!

I think they will have plenty to keep them busy.

 Spending every day with Daddy is going to be 
quite the treat!! Daddy even plays Doll House!

 Lexi's love language is 100% spending quality time together and physical touch, this girl needs her snuggle time!!

And her Daddy will be thrilled take over the cuddles that she usually insists are for Mommy

It's going to be a fun 2 weeks!! And when I get home...... oh the adventure will just begin!!

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TA!!!!!

Pin It Praising God right now!!!! We got TA tonight and we are leaving for China NEXT WEEK!! Our sweet hard working adoption coordinator  tried so hard to get the authorities  to allow us to travel this weekend but China said no, not enough time to have the paper TA in hand and all the provincial stuff in order before our arrival. So we gracefully accept a 21st Consulate appointment and scream with delight that Ivy will be in my arms on the 13th of this month!!!!
Thank you for your prayers!

Here is a picture of my ~driver?~ carrying my backpack to my gate for me..... ha!!

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