had our interview this morning. It was so much easier then what I had been expecting, but I was still emotionally drained. After having it set and canceled so many times, by the time it actually occured, I was a total train wreck. I mean, how many times can you get all dressed up and prepared, and only at the last minute be told it was canceled? By the time we got back to the car after the interview, I just broke down, after not only days but months of waiting for the moment, it was such a HUGE relief it was over. The committee still needs to meet to give the final approval, but I have no doubts that we will be approved. They seemed really pleased with the care that we have given Gus.
Now I really feel like I can relax and enjoy our time here. We are doing some shopping this afternoon while Libby is sleeping, then going to visit her at the orphanage.
Thanks for your prayers and well wishes!
Beth
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Deja Vu All Over Again.....
Ok, so shower curtain that sticks to the butt, a toilet that won't flush, gosh, it's deja vu of our last visit to Mongolia, but wait....the shower curtain is an adustable rod that can be moved, and the toilet, well, just wait 5 minutes and it WILL flush!
Yes, we are in Mongolia, and totally thrilled to be here!
To recap....
We were to be at the Appleton airport at 7:30AM Saturday morning. At 6:45 I thought to check our flight, and was HORRIFIED to discover that our flight out of Appleton was CANCELED, not just delayed, but CANCELED! UGH! After some frantic phone calls, we got booked on a flight out of GreenBay only 10 minutes after our original flight was to leave. Crisis averted. It was smooth sailing, er, flying from there. We got into UB exactly when we expected to.
Our interview with 2nd Committee was scheduled for 3PM on Monday. May, our guide, left a message for us (that we got at 2:10), to meet outside the hotel at 2PM to leave for the interview. At 2:35PM, May called the front desk to tell us that our interview had been canceled, but it would be held the following morning (Tuesday). So this morning we got up early, only to receive a phone call from May at 10AM to tell us that our interview was canceled for the second time, and would take place on Wednesday morning. I was a little upset until she told us that we had been given permission by the head of 2nd committee to visit our daughter. May said she would be at our hotel in one hour to pick us up to takes us to Libby. WHAT!?! We totally weren't expecting to see her until Thursday at the earliest, so we were thrilled!
So how do you describe the moment you meet your daughter for the first time? Well, you really can't, it is totally amazing. Libby is beautiful in so many ways, such perfect features, and she is a snuggler! Yay! It took Gus a long time to be a snuggler, but Libby just reaches out to be held and snuggles right into your shoulder her with her head laying against us. But I do need to say that she is DEFINATELY going to be Daddy's Little Girl. She is already in love with him, and him with her. He even had her chasing him around the room. Watch out Gus! You have a new "chase" partner! Libby also comes readily to me, but she obviously has eyes for her Daddy. She did fall asleep in my arms though, exactly the same way Gus did the first day we met him. Unfortunately we haven't gotten a real smile out of her yet, but we were close several times!
We have our 2nd Committee meeting tomorrow at 11AM (hopefully), and then we will go back to the orphanage tomorrow. We are hoping that we will be officially able to take custody of Libby either Monday or Tuesday.
I'll try to post again soon!
Beth
Yes, we are in Mongolia, and totally thrilled to be here!
To recap....
We were to be at the Appleton airport at 7:30AM Saturday morning. At 6:45 I thought to check our flight, and was HORRIFIED to discover that our flight out of Appleton was CANCELED, not just delayed, but CANCELED! UGH! After some frantic phone calls, we got booked on a flight out of GreenBay only 10 minutes after our original flight was to leave. Crisis averted. It was smooth sailing, er, flying from there. We got into UB exactly when we expected to.
Our interview with 2nd Committee was scheduled for 3PM on Monday. May, our guide, left a message for us (that we got at 2:10), to meet outside the hotel at 2PM to leave for the interview. At 2:35PM, May called the front desk to tell us that our interview had been canceled, but it would be held the following morning (Tuesday). So this morning we got up early, only to receive a phone call from May at 10AM to tell us that our interview was canceled for the second time, and would take place on Wednesday morning. I was a little upset until she told us that we had been given permission by the head of 2nd committee to visit our daughter. May said she would be at our hotel in one hour to pick us up to takes us to Libby. WHAT!?! We totally weren't expecting to see her until Thursday at the earliest, so we were thrilled!
So how do you describe the moment you meet your daughter for the first time? Well, you really can't, it is totally amazing. Libby is beautiful in so many ways, such perfect features, and she is a snuggler! Yay! It took Gus a long time to be a snuggler, but Libby just reaches out to be held and snuggles right into your shoulder her with her head laying against us. But I do need to say that she is DEFINATELY going to be Daddy's Little Girl. She is already in love with him, and him with her. He even had her chasing him around the room. Watch out Gus! You have a new "chase" partner! Libby also comes readily to me, but she obviously has eyes for her Daddy. She did fall asleep in my arms though, exactly the same way Gus did the first day we met him. Unfortunately we haven't gotten a real smile out of her yet, but we were close several times!
We have our 2nd Committee meeting tomorrow at 11AM (hopefully), and then we will go back to the orphanage tomorrow. We are hoping that we will be officially able to take custody of Libby either Monday or Tuesday.
I'll try to post again soon!
Beth
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Photos of Libby's Room
As promised, here are photos of the room that is waiting for its little girl!
Now, it's almost midnight and I'm going to bed!
Our Bags are Packed!!!
Our bags are actually packed and ready to go. (Are you happy now Michele?) Being the typical Americans, we have two checked bags a piece, plus the umbrella stroller, plus I have one carry on and Matt has a carry on plus his briefcase (silly people, OF COURSE Matt is bringing his briefcase!!! It's end of quarter!). I told our guide that we would try to pack lighter then last time, yeah right! But hey, we also had to pack for Libby, including diapers, food, toys, etc., plus gifts for the Mongolians, so that adds up!
Now that our packing is done, we just need to finish some cleaning tomorrow (I say just, we also need to mow the lawn, go to the bank, pick up meds, have breakfast then drinks {much later in the day} with the neighbors, etc.), and we are all set. Our flight takes off at 9:22 AM Saturday morning, then we fly to Chicago, then a 13 1/2 hour flight to Beijing, then on to UlaanBaatar, Mongolia. We get in to UB at 9:30PM UB time Sunday night, which would be 8:30AM Wisconsin time Sunday morning. So yes, it is about a 24 hour trip. (But I've got the last 3 "Twilight" books to read (THANKS MEGAN!!!).
Our interview with the Mongolian government is Monday afternoon. Please pray that they keep the appointment! We should hopefully be able to visit Libby for the first time either Wednesday or Thursday.
I am going to post photos of Libby's room tonight, but that may be the last time I post until Monday or Tuesday. Please pray for a safe journey for us to UB!
I don't think I'll believe we're actually going until I'm sitting on the plane in Appleton!
Beth
Now that our packing is done, we just need to finish some cleaning tomorrow (I say just, we also need to mow the lawn, go to the bank, pick up meds, have breakfast then drinks {much later in the day} with the neighbors, etc.), and we are all set. Our flight takes off at 9:22 AM Saturday morning, then we fly to Chicago, then a 13 1/2 hour flight to Beijing, then on to UlaanBaatar, Mongolia. We get in to UB at 9:30PM UB time Sunday night, which would be 8:30AM Wisconsin time Sunday morning. So yes, it is about a 24 hour trip. (But I've got the last 3 "Twilight" books to read (THANKS MEGAN!!!).
Our interview with the Mongolian government is Monday afternoon. Please pray that they keep the appointment! We should hopefully be able to visit Libby for the first time either Wednesday or Thursday.
I am going to post photos of Libby's room tonight, but that may be the last time I post until Monday or Tuesday. Please pray for a safe journey for us to UB!
I don't think I'll believe we're actually going until I'm sitting on the plane in Appleton!
Beth
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
It's OFFICIAL!!!
We heard from our agency this morning and it is official! We will be interviewed by 2nd Committee (which is made up of Mongolian Government Officials) on June 23rd.
We booked our flights. We leave on June 20th at 9:30AM out of Appleton, arriving in UlaanBaatar Mongolia on Sunday evening, June 21st. We have our return flight arriving in Appleton on Sunday July 12th at 9:30PM, however, it is very likely that our return flight will change, either coming home later or earlier, depending on when the Mongolian Government issues the final approval after they interview us. After we are approved, we still need to work with the US embassy in UB to get Libby's VISA, etc.
I will post more info when I get it!
Yay!
Beth
We booked our flights. We leave on June 20th at 9:30AM out of Appleton, arriving in UlaanBaatar Mongolia on Sunday evening, June 21st. We have our return flight arriving in Appleton on Sunday July 12th at 9:30PM, however, it is very likely that our return flight will change, either coming home later or earlier, depending on when the Mongolian Government issues the final approval after they interview us. After we are approved, we still need to work with the US embassy in UB to get Libby's VISA, etc.
I will post more info when I get it!
Yay!
Beth
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Pink! Pink! Pink!
Today I am working on finishing up Libby's room. As soon as it is done (and as soon as I buy discs for my camera!), I will post pictures. It is turning out so cute!
Beth
Beth
Friday, June 5, 2009
Still No Word on Travel
Here it is, Friday afternoon, and still no specific travel dates. We were told two weeks ago we would have travel dates last week, then last week we were told we would definately have travel dates this week. I had heard that we will have our interview (which is where we are interviewed by several Mongolian Government Officials), between June 20th & June 30th. If that is the case, we will need to leave the US on June 18th. Ugghhh, I wish we knew for sure so we could make our airline reservations, but even then, I won't truly believe we are going until we are sitting on the airplane!
And we really do need to travel soon or I am going to spend all of Matt's money on cute little 12 Month baby girl outfits!!!
So, please, pray for us that we get our travel dates soon!
Beth
And we really do need to travel soon or I am going to spend all of Matt's money on cute little 12 Month baby girl outfits!!!
So, please, pray for us that we get our travel dates soon!
Beth
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