We are on our way

We leave in 5 1/2 hours and I'm not even in bed yet. Pure craziness today trying to get last minute details taken care of and errands run. Eva has been having some anxiety about us leaving so the school nurse called me today saying that Eva didn't feel well. After 15 minutes of hanging out in the school clinic and talking her grief through with the nurse she ended up going back to class. She has probably told me 5 times today that she doesn't want me to go which makes this even more difficult. I've finally resorted to telling her to suck it up, be brave and we will be home soon. What else can I do?
According to our agent, we will have our Giving and Receiving Ceremony (adoption ceremony) Monday. (Sunday night here) I think we are going to get Lee first thing Monday morning. We will be traveling with one other couple, they are already there but will meet up with us in DaNang. They are first time parents adopting an infant boy.
I probably won't be able to post anything until we land in Ho Chi Mihn City on Saturday, I think we will only be spending two nights there.
I cannot express how thankful we are to have so much support here in Orlando and so many encouraging words from everyone. This has been a true experience that could only precede the arrival of a child. I have learned that labor is not only physical, this has been a pregnancy of the mind, heart and soul. I look forward to all of you getting an opportunity to meet Lee. He has no idea how much he is loved on this side of the world!
Rhissa

One week away

We are getting pretty pumped about leaving in a week. I have been getting things together the past couple of weeks. I have had a lot of help from friends who are helping me get organized. Trip's parents are going to watch the girls for the first week, they are coming to Orlando on Jan. 25, then after that our girls will stay with our friends the Bramuchi's.
I have most everything together and went out last night to buy some gifts for the ladies who work in the orphanage. I've been told that the best gift to give them is really good smelling soaps and lotions, so I went to The Body Shop and picked up a few things. I've been told that these ladies make about $20.00 a month so they don't use their money to buy luxury items.
I'll post more within the next week. I'm sure this next week is going to feel crazy with last minute things!

Our travel itinerary is set.

We received our flight itinerary from Cheryl Graham today with a return itinerary for Lee. How cool to see that ticket confirmation for a child on our flight back! We will spend around 22 hours in the air and about 27 hours total traveling with lay overs. The way back will be a little faster, but still a full day of traveling.
I'll post more if there is any new news.

Our travel dates are set

We were notified this afternoon that we will travel on January 26. We will return on February 10. Our flights will be pretty direct (but long!) I think our total travel time is something like 21 or 22 hours. I plan on saving every mindless reading magazine (People etc.) until then so that can cover some time in flight! Needless to say we are excited. Thanks to all of you who have emailed and sent us your well wishes. Your support and encouragement means everything to us.
Tomorrow is Lee's birthday, he will be four. I had wished to be able to have him in time to celebrate his birthday with him, but I understand that this is all in God's timing and not our own. I will post again soon!

Still no word

I talked to Dick Graham earlier today, they have requested that we travel in two weeks because of the crazy cost in the flights but we are not sure what Vietnam will want us to do. Dick and Cheryl are waiting to hear from a woman who works for them in Vietnam named Madame Chow. She is the one who contacts the government on our behalf.
She is also the one who will meet us at the airport and travel with us during our stay to interpret for us. I will post more when I know, right now it's late and it's been a crazy day. I'm glad tomorrow is Friday!

This is the picture of our girls that we put on our Christmas cards. If I can actually get a good one of them looking at the camera together, I will add that instead!

We have been given permission to travel

As most of you know we have been waiting for 6 months since the receipt of our picture of Lee to bring him home. What an experience this has been so far!
We got an email last night that was titled "Guess What?" from our adgents, Dick and Cheryl Graham with IAAP.
We were given permission to travel right away, they actually wanted us there by January 6, but we are not prepared enough to leave tomorrow! They are requesting a later date for us to travel, maybe next week. I was actually hoping to see an email from them now. We are just waiting to hear what our dates to travel will be.
In the mean time I have called our doctor to perscribe the neccessary medication for Lee. I need to pick it up tomorrow. I have several errands to run tomorrow, plus hair cuts for the girls, dance for Eva, eye appointment for myself and confirming our visas.
I'll post more when I know the date. We are getting very excited about bringing Lee home!