Here. Alive. Exhausted

yep that sums it all up!  we made it last night after 20 hours of flying.  don't even want to start calculating the math on how long it was door to door.  (okay did that and it was over 24 hours.  )

Judy and I in Orlando.  waiting to start the long long flight to Dylan 

checked into the hotel, gave up sorting thru the suitcases,  (was Dylan playing in here!!!) order in some food, and feel asleep.  then woke up, didnt' to hunt thru the suitcases looking for the white noise machine.  then had to hunt for the tiny black bags of adaptors, wait the wall outlets are all different, where is the outlet that matches my adaptor!!!?  found that, by crawling around on the floor (still in the dark so i wouldn't wake up Judy) plugged in adaptor, that fit.  plugged in white noise machine.  awww sleep.  10 seconds later smelled the smoke.  jumped out of bed, shut of machine and unplugged it from the wall.  i had been warned by the agency that things with a heating element would burn, didn't think a WNM had a heating element.  wondering if i can ship it back home along with the tons of warm weather clothing i don't need!   but will most likely just shove it back in the suitcase somewhere.


very dry here.  and it's super hot in the rooms.  even with the heat off!  okay 5am here and tired.  planning our day:  breakfast, walk, nap.  lunch nap.  shopping for formula... nap!  then bedtime.  maybe some dinner first.

will start taking pictures soon and upload those.

View from our window at the Novotel Peace Hotel in Beijing.  We're on the 13th floor.  I guess they're not concerned with the 13th floor jinx!  

Been up since 5am.   time to get ready to explore a bit of the city!  

So Happy New Years to all.  and in just a few short days, I'll finally have Dylan in my arms!!!!

First Leg Completed

Well so far, so excellently good!  Yesterday, Sunday, Judy and Bernie came over to the house.  It was nice to actually sit down and start talking about what will be in store.  All this planning and prepping and not much time set aside to just sit back and say Holy Crap!  am i really really adopting another child?  Am i ready?  Is she ready to have a family?  How will we manage this all?  okay so that's not the enjoyable part, so scratch that.  flash forward instead to putting Dylan in her stroller and walking Emma down to the bus stop.  Wave bye bye to Big Sister Emma!!!!   cuddling, snuggling, holding those teeny tiny hands.  okay yep, that's the enjoyable

The trip this morning started out beautifully.  We got there early early (4:30am!!!!)  and got THE best skycap, Al.  He instantly informed us that Delta's policy was to charge ($100) for checked in strollers when there wasn't a child traveling.  It's considered luggage.  but, he told us not to worry he'd talk to the supervisor and worst case, we can take it to the gate and check it in there for free.  He whisked off all four bags and the stroller, commenting on the enormous weight of one of the bags.  Came back a 10 minutes later, (ahhh the beauty of arriving early, we were completely at ease and not feeling rushed) he apologized for the delay, told us he was able to get the stroller checked at no charge.  when he weighted the  luggage, and noted that one was 57 lbs, we tried and tried to move items to the smaller, under weight bags.  Knowing we were on an adoption trip, commenting, Oh you're adopting a girl -- all the pink in one suitcase being the obvious giveaway, he finally declared, okay that's fine.  i see that you're trying.  he took the extra stuff put it back in the big suitcase and said, don't worry about it!  this on top of the fact that we weren't charged for the 2 extra suitcases.  According to Delta 2nd checked bags would be $100 each, but we weren't charged for this.  Hey, not going to raise a flag and say, oh wait is this supposed to be free?  and to make things even sweeter, he said he checked our bags all the way thru to China.  last adoption trip we had to get our bags at LAX, schlep them thru that massive airport and re check them at the international gate.  that sucked big time!  They say it gets easier with the next child,  i guess they were right!

so that adventure behind us, we're now chilling out in chilly Detroit waiting for our next flight.  THE BIG FLIGHT.  the one that takes us to my daughter's homeland.  Beijing, here we come.

One last note, I'm tired.  so I'm taking an author's privilege and NOT proof reading right now.  so if my post seemed to make a little less sense than they should, just remember...  i was up at 2:50am and am feeling rather punchy right now.

A non comparison comparison

yesterday Jeff and I calculated that there would be, an almost to the day, six month difference between how old Emma was, and how old Dylan will be on her Gotcha Day.  Six months.  And yet they seem so incredibly different.  i remember how much i loved Emma at that age, with those giant chubby cheeks and her mookie eyes (monster) and her fierce independent (some would say stubborn) ways.  I know enough not to compare the two girls, and yet I can't help but.   With Emma we could go anywhere, explore anything, try everything,  She was totally adventurous and game.  David on the other hand was horrified.  horrified, terrified, and freaked by everything.  so i figure I've experienced both extremes and i should be well prepared for whatever comes my way.  right?  Of course the scant updates I've gotten on Dylan assure me:  she lovely girl.  Well the same might have been said about Emma and we all know how that's not always the case!!!!

Just look at Emma's cheeckies!

Her other cheekies.  Which she regularity flashed us

Mookie Eyes,  (when she played an evil monster and would chase David around the room.  Something she knew he loved!  He's squeal with delight when she did that)

My Babies.  David and Emma,  big brother and sister to Dylan.

And once again, trying not to compare, I'm really disappointed Jeff isn't traveling with me.  We really travel very very well.  I, being, the crazy annal, detail obsessed, coupon crazed one, figure out where we're going, when we're going, how much we'll spend, and how we're getting there.  Jeff swoops in at the last minute and takes care of getting us everywhere else.  hmmm doesn't sound quite equitable when i explain it that  way, but trust me, after all the planning, I'm more than happy to sit back and have him escort us everywhere and figure out what the best restaurants are.  I can sit back and enjoy the vacation.  So not having him on this adventure is going to be rough on me.  I wish he and the kids were all going with me.  but that's not the case.  I'm thrilled that my SIL will be coming with me and helping me out, (oy, all those diapers...   gee Judy can you do just one, I "think" I've got it!)  

Jeff in Da Nang.  waiting to meet the kids for the first time.

The Battle of the (other) Bulge Begins!

How to get all my clothes, Dylan's clothes, orphanage donations, caregiver and official gifts all into one (scratch that)  two.  (nope not going to happen) possibly three bags!  uh uh ohhhh.  yep try as i might i discovered yesterday there was no way i was going to get by with just two suitcases.  Thanks to the help of my most awesome friend, CJ (AKA my other husband)  she and I tried and tried and quickly realized the donations and gifts alone took up a whole suitcase (50 lbs worth)  i still had my and Dylan's clothes to pack, plus our meds and toiletries.  and while i could have possibly found a way to squeeze all that into one bag... i just couldn't think of what else to eliminate.  I had planned on only so many outfits for Dylan -- figuring at some point I'd get laundry service,  same for me.  but with Winter clothing, there was just too much stuff.

So after realizing that the fee for overweight luggage was barely less than a whole new suitcase, i decided to go with the latter.  At least on the way back, we can double up 2 suitcases (putting one inside the other) and the 3rd would be considered Dylan's so we'll be fine.  The thought of leaving behind any of the many wonderful donations, or the gifts that i bought just seemed too sad and just not acceptable to me.  Luckily, when i ran it by Jeff, he agreed.  And of course, being 10's of thousands into this adoption, another $100 is certainly not going to be a deal breaker.  so, yeah, i get to back, and haul and carry and deal with 3 suitcases AND a stroller.  Thankfully SIL Judy will be traveling with me and i will definitely need her help!

Off to pack my little heart out.

2 days and 7 hours til travel
10 days to Gotcha Day!

Christmas Eve

The Last Christmas we'll spend as a family of four before we become a family of FIVE!  I had so hoped Dylan would be with us before Christmas.  But that didn't turn out to be the case.   Luckily Santa recognized we had a new family member and remembered to bring her her presents too!  (of course the kids keep telling me that Dylan can't have chocolate yet, so if Santa brings her any...  I guess I'm supposed to surmise that THEY should get her chocolate?)  I guess she won't mind.

2013 Our First 12 Stocking Christmas:
Jeff/Daddy, Rita/Mommy, Adam, Christina, Jon, Ashley, Becky, Alex, David, Emma, Dylan and 1 for the 3 dogs to share.

Well a few more days.  5 days and 8 hours....   Nothing like those 6:30 AM flights to start your adoption journey.  Hoping and praying the weather behaves and we don't have any airport shut downs.  When we flew to Vietnam in 2007 we had to deal with the extreme heat, now I'm worrying about the extreme cold, windy, icy conditions.  But then again, thanks to global warming it just might end up being a balmy 65 degrees in Beijing!

Lots to do.  apps to load.  bags to pack.  prune juice to buy.   all things to keep my mind occupied while i wait.  Definitely the hardest part.  the waiting!!!!!

Less than a week now!

I'm racing like a mad woman,  A MAD WOMAN!!!!

Thankfully the kids recital (as beautiful as it was) is now over and Christmas is 2 sleeps away.  Luckily i was well prepared and bought all the kids presents so i can rest easy on that score.  I'd like to say i have everything done and the rest of the time i can kick back and just chill before my big trip HAHAHA

But I'm trying.  I finally figured out the whole VPN thing and got that set up.  So one less thing to worry.  Thankfully the good people on all those yahoo groups are always there to offer help and suggestions.  but where will they be when I'm in China and feeling utterly clueless?  I'm not sure why this adoption trips feels more stressful to me.  Probably because Jeff is not coming on this one.  The first go round was all about meeting the kids for the first time.  This one seems to be about how to get there, what to do when i get there, and how to avoid at all possible costs, having my sweet Dylan choke on the first piece of solid food that i offer her.  oh what stress!  and let's just throw in the fact that I'm deeply worried I'll forget something critical (like who's going to pick up Emma at the bus stop?)

Okay.....  thinking about something good:  Dylan of course.  can't wait to meet her and HEAR her for the first time.  We're so lucky to have gotten the few pictures we did, but to hear her speak, laugh, make any sound at alll.  ahh that will be sweet indeed.

10 days and counting

In ten short days, I'll be taking the trip of a lifetime!  Finally, I'll be able to travel to meet Dylan for the first time.  I look at her picture every night and wonder what she's doing.   Playing?  Eating?   Exploring life with her crib mates?   I can't even begin to picture her little world and see what she might be doing.
10 days.  just 10 days more and i'll be flying to her homeland.
10 days.  i'll be boarding a plane and headed to see her.
10 days.  it's not coming fast enough
10 days.  too much to do!

10 days.  my life, our life, her life will change forever.

Travel Approval has been Approved.

Who's got TA?  I've got TA.  If you want TA, then go get your own cuz i'm not giving mine up.   TA!!!

Yep, it finally came.  exactly as expected, a week late.  At least all the delays have been consistent.  We got the call from Steve at Holt last night letting.  It was the first time Jeff was around when Steve (the other man in my life) called so we were able to chat together.  Steve was concerned that if i opted for the first travel group, December 13, (which BTW, is the date you have to be in your child's province, not the departure date.  that is about a week earlier) I wouldn't get a Consulate appt.  So I'd be really looking at the 12/20 travel group.  And hard as it was, it just made more sense to wait 2 more weeks to travel for Dylan and not miss the kids' recital.  Christmas i would have missed... but factoring in worries about not getting flights, and the super high season rates.... well it was the right decision.

So I emailed Todd (travel dude) and started getting things a'rocking and a'rolling.  Right now the plan is to fly out on Sunday 1/29 (based on lowest fares -- a joke really... and available seating)  we should be able to fly back on Jan 16, but Todd thinks we'd save money if we flew a few days later.  So who knows, maybe some extra sightseeing days in China or even.... in HONG KONG!  

So, all good in the end.  I'm at peace with delaying my travel (a small lie, but if i repeat it enough it will come true)  She'll be home in January and we can begin the bonding process and the settling in.  yeah!

On to mo' fun news... on a recently, pretty crappy day, Jeff decided (foolish boy) to take me to the RV store to cheer me up.  Oh it worked BIG time!  we're now this close } { to getting a new trailer!  loved the pop up, but man, after a while you really hate all the work involved in setting in up and taking it down.  And of course a new trailer requires a much larger truck to tow it... so guess who's getting a new car!!!!  (Bob Barker would be so proud!)  so we're going car shopping today.  We had planned to do this anyway, my Pilot being too small for a car seat, 3 kids, 2 adults, 3 dogs...  so it was inevitable... just not calculated and budgeted for this year.  Jeff's equally excited about the new trailer and knows i needed a new truck...  He's already put dibs on it for the first tailgating party.  I can't imagine him dragging a giant 32' beast of a trailer to a tailgate party, but hey, if that's what makes him happy.. so be it!

So today, Saturday, is a very good day.  I'm thrilled beyond words knowing Dylan will be home and knowing exactly when I'll start being her mommy.  LOVE LOVE LOVE.... that's what i feel.  

January it is.

After a lot of back and forth, soul searching, over thinking, dilemma deducing,  I finally decided to postpone our adoption until January.   As I STILL haven't gotten my TA, the possibility of getting on the 12/13 group was looking slimmer and slimmer.  The next group would be 12/20.  assuming i had my TA by then, I'd be traveling at the worst time for many reasons:  missing the kids recital, Christmas, traveling at PEAK travel times.  $$$$$$$$$, not to mention possibly getting stuck in country if any govt offices "unexpectedly" closed for a day or two or three.

So i decided to wait the 2 weeks and travel with the Jan 3rd group instead.   Technically, it's just another 2 weeks, but considering i was CONVINCED I'd be in the Dec 6th group, it feels more like a month delay.  But, it is as it is....  Nothing I can do about it.

This gives me a bit of a cush too to plan things.  I was seriously freaking out at the thought of leaving in 2 weeks without a single reservation!  didn't have airline tix, hotels, nada....  at least now, i have a very solid chance of getting my first choice consulate appt in Jan, getting a reasonable chance of a good route to china (forget the money, just as expensive in Jan as Dec... go figure!)  So, i have to believe this is all for the best.  At the very least the enormous pressure i was feeling has evaporated.   I do have the time now to get things coordinated.  so that's good, right???

So until January.  Until i can finally meet my Dylan.  We'll have to celebrate Christmas again just for her.

Trip Postponed. Life Sucks.

I will not be traveling to China with the December 6th group.  No One will be traveling in that group.  US Consulate was booked solid and the 5 families with TA were all denied an appt and postponed a week.  And that's the families that have their TA.  I got bumpkiss.   I got shaft.

They added a 2nd group to December to help the families that were paper ready.  This means there's still a December 13th group and now a December 20th group.  In both scenarios I'd miss:  the kids recital, Christmas..... and I'd be paying top dollar for high season tickets.  Oh and let's talk about the random government office closures would could unexpectedly delay us a week or so -- while in Country.   With a new child.  Who will probably HATE me.  and have horrible constipation.  and we'll get some nasty fever, infection type thing and gross green snot will pour from every orifice.

So we decided the safest bet is to wait and travel with the Jan 3rd group.  SUCKS!!1  fricken SUCKS big time.  No Dylan for Christmas.  No Dylan for us this year.  My heart breaks.  My heart aches.  I hate this part.  I hate it so much.

Shitty damn week.  David floods the toilet and chaos ensues.  He decides to experiment with a Bic Lighter and paper towels,  more chaos... of a different nature.  Parenting Styles  }}}}}} CLASH {{{
SHIT HAPPENS.

not happy.  pretty miserable.  I want this baby girl here with me now.  I hate that I'm secretly relieved i won't have to travel with only 2 days notice.  I hate that I'm happy I'm not missing the recital and Christmas.  rotten mother.  bad bad bad.

misery loves company so I'm sharing my misery.  see, bad person BAD.

Flood part duex

History most definitely repeating itself.

6 years ago, as we waited to bring David and Emma home from Vietnam, we had a pipe leak in the bathroom.  The kids' brand new carpet was soaked.  Luckily we got to the leak quickly enough and the carpet was saved.

Fast forward 6  years, and I'm once again waiting to bring home a child.  This time David managed to clog the toilet in the JUST remodeled bathroom causing 4 rooms to flood.  This was painful on so many levels.  i had been tackling the giant mound of piled up items in the kitchen and dining room. The remodeling project had taken way too long with too many problems.  I was desperate to get all these things finally put away, sorted, organized.  ahhh words i live by.  Now nearly complete and seeing a future clear of chaos, the flood happens.  carpets soaked beyond ruin.  rugs destroyed.  chaos chaos chaos.  words that hurt!

This time we got the insurance company involved, which turned out to be a really good idea.  they are paying for a brand new carpet and will have all the (brand new) baseboards replaced.  So while i stare with hatred and the newly tripled pile of crap stacked up in my kitchen i think... i can not take this!  i had a complete emotional breakdown.  my body ached.  my heart ached.  i really felt like i had hit a wall (i get what that means now!!!)  i collapsed in a puddle of misery, sorrow, anger, depression, exhaustion and self pity.  I did NOT need this!

Luckily Jeff had the great idea to get out of the house and check into a hotel.  The kids had slept on the floor the first night and of course, neither slept (it was like camping to them) and 2 exhausted kids and parents struggled throughout the day.  so when Jeff suggested that we get out of the house and stay in a hotel, i lifted my pitiful, exhausted head just enough to say.  Yes, Please.

What a difference not being home makes!  Freedom!!!  I could relax a bit.  and then, of all the miraculous surprises... late last night, at dinner, Jeff checks his messages and tells me we got an update on Dylan. and there are PICTURES.  i couldn't rip the phone out of his hand fast enough.  not only pictures but our first ever picture of Dylan smiling!  (what a goofy crooked smile you have!!)  ohhhh  i could just feel the 80 pounds of anxiety armor sliding off.  she was smiling AND she was wearing the headband we sent her.  AND she was holding our  (HER) family photo album.  Oh good god, this couldn't have come at a better time.  this couldn't have been wished for and received at a more critical moment!   Suddenly all the ick that had been building up around me seemed so much more manageable.  Just take care of one small thing at a time.  just one small box put away.  one load of dishes.  just one thing at at time.... i could do this!

Never mind that i was stressed beyond all understanding.  Never mind that i was hoping and praying to travel in LESS THAN 3 WEEKS, and still had no Travel Approval, no tickets, no hotel reservations, hadn't packed one single item yet.  I saw my baby girl smile for the first time.  That's all i needed.  I'm going to get through this.  and to be all 80's nostalgic:   I WILL SURVIVE.   Hey don't judge me, i had to go there!  let me have one goofy moment!

Tick Tick Tick

Counting down the days.  Am I stressed?  Does a whale have humps?  Does a bird swim?  Does a turtle eat lamb?  See I'm so stressed i can't even get my analogies right!

I'm trying the hardest i can to slow it down and concentrate on the MUST DO TODAY items and push til tomorrow any non essentials  But trust me, this is easier said than done.  I have to finish the kids bathroom, so i can finally organize and store all the items spread far and wide between the kitchen and dining room and get them back where they belong!   The kids have their dance recital in December and costumes have to purchased, dance shoes have to be ordered, hair appts have to be scheduled, make up has to be applied, dress rehearsals have to be attended.  And WHO, will do this for me?  yeah... that's right... No One I Know... I'm trying to build a mom brigade who can step in and help out.  Of course their all busy getting their own kids' ready for the dance recital but if i beg maybe i can get them to each take on one small task.

Well no time to whine and lament.  have to run off and buy more tile so we can finish the closet in the kids' bathroom.  then rush back and get things ready for Halloween.   I know i have to get a better system in place considering i just got an email from Emma's teacher.  She was supposed to have turned in a project today.  umm okay? what project was that?  Hadn't i gotten the information TWO weeks ago?  or the reminder email last week?  ummm probably. but the real question is.. did i read it and just immediately blanked it out!!!  Ahhh Mommy Brain on Crack!

Hot Diggity Dog

Last Friday i was CRUSHED.  I had not gotten the expected Article 5 Notice.  I called Steve at the agency, and he told me "well it had been taking 3 weeks, but now it's looking more like 4 weeks"  well where does that put me in terms of travel?  "looks like the 2nd December group, the one leaving December 13".  

in China by December 13.  to be exact, in Dylan's province ON December 13th.  That would mean missing the kids dance recital, missing the lead up to it, (extra rehearsals, hair appts, make up application, picture day, dress rehearsals)  who would do all of that with the kids?  I'd also be gone for Christmas.  Something i didn't think would bother me.   Turns out it did bother me.   Add to this the slight warning Steve issued, "during the holidays, it's not always easy to get appts, and appts made with the US Consulate, can sometimes be changed.)  So I'd risk being in China longer than expected.  Given ANY other month, this would be pretty cool.  But December is also high season so the flights, hotels, etc are at a premium.   I was crushed.  this was the worst news i could get (yeah there are far more worserere things, but on Friday THIS was the WORST).

Discussions with Jeff pursued.  I told him i could not be in the December 13th group.  (he wanted me to travel in 2013 so we'd get the tax credit.  screw the money i yelled!!)  I was not willing to miss the kids dance recital and spending Christmas with them.  That would mean I'd be leaving early January instead.  But, that would also mean Dylan would spend a whole extra month, alone, without her family, without us.  Peering into the future, i saw myself sad and miserable on Christmas Day.  Dylan should be with us.  She should be home with her family.  This is all wrong.   Talk about your Sophie's Choice.  Abandon my two kids to bring Dylan home, or neglect Dylan to be home with David and Emma.  Both scenarios miserable. a no win either way.

well, today Tuesday, i got an email saying i got my Article 5 Notice!   yippity dippity dawg!!!!   I rushed to tell Todd Travel Guy and of course he blew my bubble by warning, "you haven't gotten TA yet, let's wait til you get that before booking any flights.  TA's could take 2 to 4 weeks"

okay so today i tell  myself  BREATHE... just breathe.   please breathe.  I'm sure I'm experiencing mild panic attacks.  I've been an unbearable beast at home to all.  I am not a pleasant person when I'm stressed.  and I'm oh so stressed.

Dylan needs to be home with us now.  I just want her home so we can begin the business of being a family!

The Frustrated Flyer

Found out today that my Article 5 Notice was not issued this week!  This is the last US based document before i can get my Travel Approval from China.  It had been averaging 3 weeks, but I was just told it's taking 4 weeks now.  The agency assured me that the TA is still coming in at 2 weeks and even earlier.... so to not lose hope.

Any other month i wouldn't care one way or another BUT  December is the kids dance recital and i REALLY don't want to miss that.  So far, I've missed out on the November travel date, there's a possibility now that i might not make the December 6th travel date which leaves the December 13th travel group.  If it's the last one i would be gone the whole week before the recital and miss the kids performance.  I'd rather delay travel to January if that's the case!  But Jeff really wants me to travel in December so we can get that adoption tax credit for this year.  Priorities.  Little does he know i could care less about that!

So, in one scenario, i miss the kids' performance BUT I bring Dylan home in time for Christmas.  On the other hand, i delay travel to January (damn it will be FREEZING  in China!) i don't miss my wedding anniversary or the recital, but Dylan spends another few weeks without her family.  and that stupid tax thing.  Oh yeah, the flight costs drop significantly in January over December..  so maybe it won't be that bad

Honestly, i really don't know what to do.  (sad face)

what's in a middle name, anyway?

Question:

Dylan's Chinese name is Zhong An Na (Zhong is the last name)  In keeping with tradition, we use the child's first name as their new middle name.  So Dylan An Na Ashton would be her name.  Problem is An Na, looks exactly like Anna.  Which would mean I'd have to spend a lifetime saying no it's not Anna, it's Eh'na.  So do i just go for Zhong instead?  or add an apostrophe as in An'Na?  Or just call it a day and pretend, yes, it is Anna!

Lots of Zeros Equal.... ZERO!

Progress made today on Dylan's room.  Zero
Progress made today on adoption paperwork.  Zero
Progress made today on travel plans.  Zero

Somebody better step up her came if she's going to be leaving in LESS THAN 6 WEEKS!!!!

The Countdown

Holy Smokes!  I just realized in LESS THAN 6 WEEKS!  I'll be traveling to China to bring home our baby girl!  SIX WEEKS!  I'm so Not Ready!  we had a contractor showdown and he won... he walked off the job!  so now we've been scrambling to get the kids' bathroom done, so that we can finish the girls' bedroom, so that i can finally see just how much i have... or don't have for Dylan.   Getting stressed just thinking about it.  Breathe.... breathe... BREATH.  no time for panicking!

This will be a whole new child experience for me too.  which probably adds to the anxiety.  So far I've escaped the poopy diapers, the formula, cleaning baby bottles, potty training adventure.  Not anymore!  How we went from requesting an OLDER child and being told, due to Jeff's age, we'd have to adopt an older child, to miraculously receiving a referral for a tiny 22 month peapod -- is beyond me!  Add to that that Dylan's SN is cleft palate... basically a NON special need when you think about it.  Are we lucky?  are we fortunate?  who knows!  I'm just dying to bring her home!

Presenting the Littlest Ashton: Dylan An Na!

Little 2 year old Dylan is waiting for us to bring her home!  I will be traveling, hopefully this December, with my sister in law Judy to China and I can't wait to meet the sweetest, littlest babe in the world!

It's been a crazy year for us! Jeff winning the election.  Me convincing him there was still room in our lives for one more child.  Jeff, miraculously agreeing!   We've had some big ups and some major downs on this journey.  But this is Dylan's story!  And I know we all can't wait to meet our littlest princess!