4 Days To Go!!!

With only 4 days left, the packing has commenced...so has the panic, as luck would have it...I think I probably am doing better than I think I am...but I have chaotic thoughts of "Do I have all the pieces of paperwork that I will need" or "Oh, I can't forget xxxx." It will all come together, I'm sure. On a positive note, Baby's stuff is packed, minus the 2 new outfits I bought today :-). It all fits in a vacuum-seal bag, so it will take up less room in the suitcase.

In the meantime, my BFF and I enjoyed ColdStone Creamery tonight, which helped ease the stress for both of us!! :-)

5 Days and Counting...

It's Friday! ...and only 5 days to go!

Okay, Prayer Warriors, help is needed...Y'all have prayed this baby thru the past 4 months, and mountains have moved for us...BUT: I found out this a.m. that Baby is back in the hospital, not sure why...It could be sniffles, it could be pneumonia, it could be- well, her heart...and pneumonia with a hypoxic baby is a B-A-D combo...So, please continue to pray this child home!!! I am hoping to learn more on Monday.

On a positive note, my BFF and I went baby shopping tonight, bought Olivia's "coming home" outfit...I wanted her to have something pretty... I put the sheets on the crib, took out some of the blankets, all Classic Pooh, which I bought several years ago, so it looks like a little one might sleep there soon!! :-)

I'm including some pictures, too...the hat was going to be for Olivia, but it is a newborn size, and I didn't realize it until I got home...so I had a little fun with it!! :-) Poor little Charlie! He is such a good sport... HeeHee

6 days and counting!!!

With 6 days to go...the lists are endless!

I think I have MOST of the paperwork finished and organized, so I can concentrate on the bigger issue: PACKING! It occurred to me the other day that I have almost NO basics for my child! So, I bought her a package of socks, and onesies, and felt instantly better. :-) I have enough little outfits to see us thru the trip (and they DO sell clothes in China! heehee), but I need to buy diapers and wipes and baby tylenol and etc.etc. still. Thank goodness my BFF bought the baby a nice warm bunting suit to keep her warm in Henan, as it is still chilly there...and baby is little. :-)

I purchased our airline tickets yesterday, so we have ACTUAL flight confirmation...today I FedExed the cashier's check for hotels, in-country travel, and etc. Tomorrow midday is my pre-travel conference call with my travel group and my agency...It will seem very real after that, I suppose! Right now everything is kind of surreal...I look at the crib, carseat, strollers, and changing table, but they don't FEEL real yet. I also have to verify my daughter's american name- after tomorrow I won't be allowed to change it until after everything is finished. Good thing I love the name, eh?? :-)

My sweetie and I picked up the glider-rocker yesterday...it is heavenly to sit in. Can't wait to rock NiNi in it. Charlie (one of my orange boys) has decided he LOVES the rocker too! He also loves NiNi's crib, I find him (and his brother Spencer) snoozing in it daily! :-) He is going to be VERY disappointed when I put the 4th rail up high and he can't jump in there any more!

And to top things off, I've been sick this week...grrrr....
On a positive note: Girl Scout Cookies have arrived! Yep, tis the season to indulge in those heavenly treats! :-)

CA!! (Consulate Appt)

It is official!! I leave for China in 8 days! My consulate appt. arrived yesterday, so now is the scramble for flights, in-country travel, last minute fees, etc...oh, and PACKING!! It is amazing how much I need to cram in a small space...In just 13 days, I will be a mom. :-) The long wait is almost over! YIPPEE!!

My new roof is on, which is fortunate since it poured all afternoon. It looks really nice, MUCH nicer than that old, nasty wooden shake roof. I cleaned the carpets this week, too, so my room is clean, and ready for baby furniture to be set up. :-)

Farewell to my furry baby

On Thursday 2/18, I had to have my 17 1/2 year old kitty, Jade Marie, put to sleep. It was a painful decision; she was such a wonderful companion. For those who don't know me personally, my cats (I have 3 boys still) have been my little furry children all these years. Jade was the only adult cat I've ever adopted, and had such a feisty but sweet nature. She had had a tough life before she came to live with me, and didn't purr easily at first, so it was always a gift when she did. She looked at me with her big green eyes, and I'd melt. She'd been fragile for several years, and I'd run the gamut of treatments- IV fluids, antibiotics, anti-seizure meds, acupuncture, frequent labs, anti-nausea meds, etc. etc. She piddled in her sleep, so I had waterproof pads on the couch and my bed, and a large pad outside her litter box for the occasional "oops." She was a joy, and I've treasured the past 8 1/2 years. Rest well, my sweet friend...you are missed.

Travel Approval (TA)!!!

Yippee!! The phone call I've been waiting and hoping for came this afternoon! I have travel approval as of today! :-) The package that was rumored to be heading to my agency arrived. Travel plans can't be finalized until the US Consulate in Guangzhou re-opens next Monday after CNY...but the TENTATIVE plans are: San Francisco to Beijing 3/3; to Zhengzhou, Henan on 3/7; Gotcha Day 3/8 (3 weeks from today!!); to Guangzhou on 3/12; return to USA 3/19. WOW!! That would mean I leave in 16 days, and will be a mom in 3 weeks!!

I am over the moon...and there is a touch of nostalgia for me, also, since today (2/15) was my Grandma's birthday...I'd like to think she is watching my journey, and smiling. :-)

Blog Title

I've been asked where "with grace and gratitude" came from. In 2007 (the same time my paperwork went to China), H*llmark had a Mother's Day CD called "A Mother's Love." Olivia Newton John sang a song called "Grace and Gratitude." It was so beautiful, and has stayed with me. "Grace" is important for 2 reasons: It is my daughter-to-be's middle name, and this whole journey I've been led by Grace...so many little and big things have fallen into place effortlessly, the roadblocks have been moved...it is just meant to be, without a doubt, and orchestrated by the Master's Hands. "Gratitude" is an important concept to me: anyone who has read/watched "The S*cret," or read "The G*me of Life and How to Play It" can relate. Your attitude shapes your perspective, which shapes your world, and I find I have so much to be grateful for on a daily basis. I believe that being grateful helps to keep my attitude positive...for the most part! ;-)

Happy Chinese New Year and Valentine's Day!!

Today is both Valentine's Day and CNY. I celebrated by having lunch with Gina and Miss M. Miss M is 2 1/2, and has been home for almost 7 months. She kept us entertained all thru lunch, with her Kai Lan doll, requesting my diet pepsi, and being...well, 2. :-) It is always good to visit with the two of them. Gina is my adoptive friend, and she has been a great resource; PLUS, she is the only one of my friends who KNOWS how this feels because she's been there...it was a nice afternoon.

As for my Valentine's Day...I had a visitor at 12:10 this a.m., technically it WAS V. Day...He brought me a dozen red roses, a really romantic card, a DVD (we bought each other the same one! lol), a teddy bear that lights up, and GREEN MnM's!! :-) What a thoughtful Valentine, to spoil me that way!!

I have travel visas!! It took 2 trips to SF, to the Chinese Consulate, but I have them! :-) All my travel paperwork went to my agency this past week, AND my orphanage fee...now all we need is Travel Approval and Consulate Appt...I am REALLY hoping it comes this week or by the first of next week...we have a VERY narrow window here...my INS paperwork expires 3/25 (!!), so I need to be IN Zhengzhou (where I will receive Baby) by 3/14!! My agency is confident it will happen, so I am choosing NOT to panic, but to trust them. :-)

It is time to start creating packing lists- FINALLY!! The travel suitcase I bought 3 years ago can come out of the box!! It has a built in scale, and lots of organizational pockets, so I think it will be fabulous for this trip. :-)

I went and registered yesterday, also...THAT made things seem VERY real!! I had a list, so I'm hoping it is a good start. My coworkers have already helped so much: because of them, I have a crib, car seat w/stroller and 2 bases, high chair, shelving unit with the plastic bins to stay organized, a 2nd stroller, and I have been promised a pack n play and a changing table, plus a few other items! The only furniture I've purchased is the dresser (love Ikea!!)! :-) To all my coworkers- thank you for your assistance, it is MUCH appreciated.

Happy Chinese New Year to all! And Happy Valentine's Day, esp. to MY Valentine, who makes every day special, not just Feb 14th! :-)

LOA!!

Yesterday (Feb 1st) I received an email stating that I have LOA!! Yippee!!! I am officially going to be a mom!

Today FedEx delivered the documents to sign and return. Two documents were my LOI in English and Mandarin; I had to write "I accept LiuNi" on both, and sign/date both. The third document was gorgeous, on a very lush linen-type paper. It was titled "Letter of Seeking Confirmation From Adopter." I had to read it, check the box stating "I accept the adoptee mentioned above," and sign/date it. I FedExed it back this evening; I was lucky that the delivery guy ran late so it will reach my agency tomorrow!! :-)

I also received "Travel Packet II," and directions for wiring the orphanage fee. So happy that I can do that ahead of time, instead of carrying that much cash to China. LOTS of things to do in the next 4-6 weeks...my lists now have lists!!

I am amazed, excited, so grateful, and...more than a little terrified!! After all this time waiting, it is finally my turn! :-) It still feels a tad surreal...and probably will until I hold this darling baby in my arms for a while. :-)