Whew!!

We are on a tight countdown now!!! 9 more days until Aubri and I are on a plane!!!

Yesterday, after cleaning my bathrooms and bedroom and doing loads of laundry and making more lists of things to do...I had two huge kennelog shots in my knees so that I am not hobbling when I stand up while in China. Andy finally got his kindergarten physical filled out due to not getting it filled out when we actually went for the physical... and got a different medicine to help with his attention in class. It is extended release and will hopefully also keep him calm when he is at Grandma and Grandpa's. We shopped for last minute meds, Easy mac, oatmeal, Gerber puffs, more Space Saver bags, more toys for the kids in Changchun, stuff for Halloween etc. It was a very long day with kids happily teasing and playing with each other just enough to distract me and make me exhausted! We have more to attack today! I have already cleaned out the refrigerator and put away laundry and am starting on the freezer. ( I am taking a break here ;-))

We also shopped for my dad and some unforeseen needs there with my step mom. She has been very ill with a UTI and having a worse time understanding what is happening to her. I feel so badly for her. It is the pits to be sick, but to not remember why you are so sick is just so sad... She is so sweet about it all though. I think she will be on the mend and Pop will be able to keep Andy during the week. Andy being around seems to help her keep her spirits up. He is a little clown after all!

Deb will be taking care of my house and dogs, and she and Rae will help with Andy on the weekends. Alice will bring Andy to school and bring him home. Andy's kindergarten teacher has also offered to help if needed. I feel so much better knowing he will be well cared for , even if Pop has more difficulty with Evelyn and cannot keep him. He loves them all and will be happy! That means so much!!

Some absolutely amazing friends and family have sent financial help which has really helped!!! It covered the cost of Aubri's and my flights over!!! I have had a friend send some hand me downs for Sera which are absolutely gorgeous!! I also had another online friend send me a baby carrier which is going to be an absolute God send! Even Aubri will be able to use it to help carry Sera, who will probably like Aubri much more than me initially.

I have co workers at school working together to help keep my classroom running smoothly and dealing with potential crises which may arise. They are all so wonderful and caring about my kids and classroom staff, who are also going to be carrying extra weight while I am gone. I have amazing paras who are all so good with the kids, but is is hard when there is no one to make that final call in a crisis decision and subs will not be able to either since they really won't know the kids and their histories. I will be able to reach them all via email, but they will be in the thick of it so to speak. I know it is tough to step in on a class like mine and I am ever so GRATEFUL for all their help!!

I have online friends to write to for support when things get tough.. and I know they probably will at some point. That is just the nature of international adoption, or kids, period ,for that matter ;-) I know they will not be judgmental and I so value their input!

Our family is so extremely blessed to have so many people in our life who are willing to help this little one come home.

THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart!!!! (You all know who you are ;-))

Mom to 2, soon to be 3, little monkeys

- who needs to go do more laundry, put up Sera's bed and go out and get a car set, duct tape, dog food, quart ziplock baggies, small tupperware for restaurant leftovers to eat when we don't want to go out and what ever else I forgot yesterday!! I am taking my list this time!!! ( andy pulled it out and drew on it yesterday.... ;-) Please pray my kids will walk with me quietly! Ha!! Have I mentioned that I HATE packing for these trips!